How long would you be willing to wait to get the latest in gaming technology? For many people in the area, including two ETSU students, the answer is days.
These people are willing to face long hours waiting in line until the clock strikes midnight Thursday to get their hands on the latest Sony gaming system, the Playstation 3.
Gamers of all ages are currently camped out at local electronics retailers, awaiting the arrival of the PS3. At Best Buy, 3222 Peoples St., anxious gamers are waiting in tents, vans and cars. At Wal-Mart, 3111 Browns Mill Rd., people are waiting inside the store near the layaway department, sitting and sleeping in camping chairs.
These patient people are waiting for a myriad of reasons – for themselves, for friends or family, or for reselling the system.
“I’m getting the PS3 for my boys as a Christmas present,” said local attorney Jerry Fabus, who started waiting at Wal-Mart on Tuesday. “I play the games with them, and this is the one thing they really wanted.”
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, there were six people waiting at Wal-Mart, including two ETSU students. Caitlin Pedigo, a pre-business major, was spending the night for a friend. Mickey Rhoden, a Daniel Boone High School student, was spending the week at Wal-Mart in order to sell his PS3. “I’m selling this bad boy,” Rhoden said. “I’ll be buying it later, after the price drops and they fix the bugs.” With limited quantities, the system is sure to garner high bids on eBay this holiday season.
The anxious fans were all excited about the PS3 and the new games scheduled to be released with the console. “I’m looking forward to ‘Tony Hawk’s Project 8,'” said Desmond Fitzgerald, a Science Hill High School student. Other anticipated games included “Final Fantasy XIII” and “Kingdom Hearts 3,” both of which are scheduled for future release.
Several of the night’s attendees are veterans of the console waiting game. “I waited for the Xbox 360 last year for my brother,” Pedigo said. “I waited for 12 hours for the 360,” Rhoden said.
Proving that modern gaming is appealing to a wider market, both Fabus and an ETSU student who asked not to be idenfied, admitted that their first gaming experience was with the now-antique video game system Atari 2600.
“I’ve been gaming for 10 years, since Super NES,” Fitzgerald said.
With days left before the release, one might wonder how these hardcore fans plan to make it until launch. “My wife, mother-in-law, and I are doing six-hour shifts,” said Fabus. “I’ve got court tomorrow and Thursday, so I can’t miss that.”
Others were not so lucky. “It’s undecided right now. I sleep pretty well sitting up,” Rhoden said. All four students admitted that they were missing classes, but noted that they had worked out a plan with their professors to make up the missed work.
With recent news that PS3 shipments worldwide have been cut from an estimated 4 million to a more manageable 2 million by the end of 2006, many gamers fear that they may not be able to purchase the coveted system in the near future.
There have been rumors that the system’s release may be delayed at some stores by hours or even days.
“We’ll get numbered rainchecks at midnight [regardless of whether the systems are available or not],” said Fabus. “We can come back later and pick them up.”
Regardless of the outcome, it is clear by this week’s launch turnouts that gaming is reaching new heights of popularity and generating more excitement across all ages and areas of interest than ever before.

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