Dentist Hires Temp Workers To Stand In Line For Play Station 3's

[matcom]

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The frenzy for the latest piece of video game hardware reached a new high in Columbus, as a man hired workers to stand in line at Wal-Mart stores to purchase PlayStation 3 consoles.

"This is the only way I can get what I want," said Murray Newlin, a Columbus dentist.

Newlin wanted to buy 15 of the consoles as Christmas gifts for grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was prepared to buy available units from Columbus and Phenix City Wal-Mart stores, as well as Auburn and Opelika, using a crew of 60 workers he cycled through in eight-hour shifts, according to one of the temps he hired.

Midday Wednesday, Newlin abandoned his bold strategy, after other potential PlayStation customers got wind of his plan and began complaining -- to him, the store managers and the employment agency he used.

The next-generation PlayStation goes on sale at midnight tonight. Demand is expected to far exceed the new unit's supply, as with the launch of the Microsoft Xbox 360 in 2005 and the Sony predecessor, the PlayStation2, released in the year 2000.

The PS3 is loaded with new technology, including graphics optimized for new high-definition televisions, a Blu-ray disc player and wireless Bluetooth controllers. It also comes with the heftiest price points for game systems yet -- $500 for a basic unit or $600 for a more advanced one.

Undeterred by either the high price or Wednesday's pounding rain and threat of tornadoes, eager gamers stood outside the Airport Thruway Wal-Mart, waiting for its release.

"They're outside," said store manager Bill Abercrombie. "We've told them as long as they stand organized, we're not going to say anything to them."

He wouldn't say how many units he expected, only, "Nowhere near enough."

Other stores were giving hopeful shoppers bad news early.

"Our initial plan was to pass out tickets at the entrance equal to the number of units we had to sell," said Joe Cortner, manager of Columbus' Milgen Road Kmart. "But we were informed recently that there may not be any units on (Nov.) 17th."

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/16022766.htm