New Nintendo and Playstation, opportunity for arbitrage? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Clarkey · 10-23-2006, 10:00 AM

I saw on t.v. that they will both be on sale in November. I'm not interested in buying any of these new video game systems for myself but I know in the past that people have made some cash preordering these things and then selling them in the bargain finder or on ebay for more. Do you guys think there will be an opportunity to do this this year? I'm assuming that with two of them on sale at the same time they may not sell out and therefor the demand may not exceed supply like it has in the past.

Where can a guy pre-order these, Walmart? Could a person just return the thing for cash if no arbitrage opportunities manifest? I guess I'm just being lazy and looking for others to spoon feed me on this one.

Oh yeah, I also seem to remember the same opportunity with tickley elmo about 5 years ago. I heard there is a new elmo toy, maybe that's another opportunity?

I_H8_Crawford · 10-23-2006, 10:07 AM

Forget about the Nintendo Wii - they have tons of stock according to everywhere, so people will be able to pick them up at the local WalMart or wherever.

The PS3 on the other hand... I think that one will be in shorter supply - I'm considering doing the same thing myself, but if I can't make money off of it, I'll just keep it

kipperfan · 10-23-2006, 10:16 AM

I think this topic has came up in a past thread but since this one is right here and I am lazy....does ay have any recmendations on which of the two systems to go for?

I am a gamer who plays nothing but sports games..i dont know if that makes a difference as to which system would suit me better? I have found in the past Nintendo systems arent the best platforms for sports. Any insight?

Hack&Lube · 10-23-2006, 10:29 AM

You can forget about it. The PS3 is completely sold out via pre-orders already well into the 4th and 5th batches and beyond. All the pre-orders are already over plus more.

Last Monday, people were lined up outside all the EB games stores overnight in the snow and rain for their pre-orders (I was there and didn't get any). $200 deposit with no guarantee of getting one for months after the first 3 were gone. Just this Friday I went to several Zellers (their presell was 8AM Sat. morning) and there were people in their sleeping bags at closing time outside the doors! (I cruised by Market Mall and Sunridge to check - leaving when I saw I had no chance of getting one) $799 full cash up front, force you to buy two games as well - and they were still gone within a minute.

Toys R' Us pre-orders were completely filled plus more months ago with no guarantee from Sony that they'll receive any stock.

Most retail stores are only getting anywhere from 0-5 units at the most. EB had average 4 units each, Zellers only has 200 nation-wide meaning they only had about 0-3 units per store on the first batch. Futureshop and Bestbuy will probably only have about 3 units each as well. You'll never get one.

You've totally missed the boat already. There is absolutely zero chance there will be any PS3s on shelves for several weeks to months after they are released in November. They've already all be pre-sold. It's absolutely unrealistic to expect to get any PS3s this late in the game. You can't be lazy on this one, I'm afraid unless you're willing to camp outside Wal-Mart or Futureshop/Best Buy at probably 9PM the night before release date in late November (with no guarantee you'll get one), you're not going to be able to even see one until much into the new year.

If you got into the first batch, you could likely sell your PS3 for anywhere from $1500-$2000 given current prices on ebay, etc. for pre-buys. Batches following have diminishing returns. You might make something like $200 for later batches but is it worth your time to stand in the snow outside a mall for 12-13 hours?

You're probably also way too late for the new Elmo bandwagon I'm afraid unless you want to lineup again though there will still be more Elmo's than PS3s.

Hack&Lube · 10-23-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

So you're saying there's a chance.

A very very small chance. Many dozens of people waited overnight at EB and Zellers for 12 hours and were turned away in the morning. If it's worth your time go ahead and try.

ken0042 · 10-23-2006, 10:50 AM

I think Hack&Lube needs to watch "Dumb and Dumber" again.

Myself, I put this up along with scalping. Some 10 year old will be in tears because he didn't get his PS3 for Christmas after being an extra good boy all year long, and some 40 year old will have an extra $200 in his pocket to show for the boy's tears.

Hakan · 10-23-2006, 11:01 AM

The zeitgeist of this thread is one of stupidity.

flambers · 10-23-2006, 11:05 AM

The main question is what is better XBOX 360 or PS3?

Assuming of course people could actually buy a PS3?

I would think the PS3 is too expensive........ However I have never seen one. No idea what it offers.

Hack&Lube · 10-23-2006, 11:09 AM

Just saying the forecast calls for 100% chance of err... "arbitrage" and a 0% chance of "walk in the park" with scattered showers.

All the various gaming systems offer different things to different people. It depends what you want.

JohnnyFlame · 10-23-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I think this topic has came up in a past thread but since this one is right here and I am lazy....does ay have any recmendations on which of the two systems to go for?

I am a gamer who plays nothing but sports games..i dont know if that makes a difference as to which system would suit me better? I have found in the past Nintendo systems arent the best platforms for sports. Any insight?

I would think you need to wait for word of mouth before making a purchase. Wii comes packaged with Wii Sports and it is said that this is the best thing besides shooters for the new system. I'm thinking if the new controller works as advertised that the Sports games(golf, tennis etc.) are going to be a lot of fun to play. Zelda with the sword control should be a riot.

BUT it all depends on whether it works as advertized -- It does and Nintendo's claim that their system will be all about fun will be true.

To me the other two offer zilch new except powerups to what they already had -- IE better graphics.

I'd be quite content to wait till their price drops considerably before buying but if the Wii lives up to the hype it's likely I'll spring for it.

kermitology · 10-23-2006, 11:34 AM

I'm cashing in all my various reward points to get a Wii, an extra controller and two games.. Madden 07 looks pretty sweet in the control scheme. I'm hoping that EA Sports translates similar working with the Wii-mote to the NHL franchise.

I don't own an HDTV and I don't really play games a huge amount so I don't have much interest in XBOX360 or PS3.

But yeah, as for the topic at hand.. You missed the boat.

ernie · 10-23-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flambers

The main question is what is better XBOX 360 or PS3?

Assuming of course people could actually buy a PS3?

I would think the PS3 is too expensive........ However I have never seen one. No idea what it offers.

Well developers are pretty much universal in saying for gaming the power of the machines are essentially equal. The PS3 is better in some aspects but the 360 in other just as important aspects.

The PS3 will have more power overall but much of it is geared for other things as Sony is looking for the PS3 to overcome the PC and be the multimedia center of the home.

For GAMING developers are pretty much universal in saying the power of the machines are essentially equal. The PS3 is better in some aspects but the 360 in other just as important aspects. The PS3 has a touch more power for gaming (and i mean just a touch) but the power is harder to harness than the 360 and may never be realized. Developers also seem pretty adamant that the extra storage on the Blu Ray disc will not be used for actual gaming content but rather extras such as behind the scens stuff (not important to me or most but it could be for a few). Developers will only use that extra space for gaming content if they get paid for it...ie. a game that is twice as big will cost twice as much. but that would bankrupt the developer when game sales tank so it won't be done.

In the end it will depend on the games. Metal Gear 4 will be solid seller for the PS3, however, to be honest I'm not that impressed with the actual gameplay I've seen. Cutscenes and canned animations look great but the actual meat of the gaming looks so-so to me. On the other hand Devil May Cry looks superb...if what they are showing is actual hands on footage and not canned animations (you never know with Sony. Note: the hands on from gamespot indicates they were very much underwhelmed by the visuals overall). But then Sony goes and does the Gran Turismo HD thing..essentially an online game that will cost anywhere from $400-$1000 to buy all the cars and race all the tracks...on top of the $70 you will spend to buy the install.

At E3 the best game from nearly all accounts was Gears of War for the 360. It comes out November 7. Splinter Cell

It is likely that games that come out for both consoles will be identical in look and content. In fact, Call of Duty 3 which is a launch game for the PS3 and comes out at the same time for the 360 IS identical in look and content from any hands on that I've seen of late. The only difference is the motion sensing of the PS3 controller (which is not near as advanced as the Wii controller). The only real exception to this rule is Fight Night 3. They have increased the visuals for the PS3 version and added another game mode, but this is really due to the fact they've essentially had an extra year to work on the game. They could do the same upgrades for the 360 if they wanted to as we'll probably see for Fight Night 4.

Note:
-No EA NHL 07 for the PS3.
-No FIFA 07 for the PS3
-No winning eleven/pro evolution soccer for the PS3 this year
- PS3 availability figures offered a while back were recently commented on by a Sony exec "The honest answer is it's more of a target" of the PlayStation 3 shipment figures. "Clearly we've had production issues." Sounds like they won't be near the amounts they were hoping for on launch day.

RougeUnderoos · 10-23-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernie

But then Sony goes and does the Gran Turismo HD thing..essentially an online game that will cost anywhere from $400-$1000 to buy all the cars and race all the tracks...on top of the $70 you will spend to buy the install.

There really is one born every minute.

photon · 10-23-2006, 12:47 PM

They were really cracking down on presale sales on eBay, but now they're more open.

PS3's are going on eBay right now for between $1500 and $2000 US it seems!

But as H&L said, your chaces are pretty slim at this point. I doubt we'll see more pre-orders, so you'll be relegated to lining up at stores to get one.

I got my Xbox 360 from Wal-Mart this way, I just showed up on my way to work and walked in to get one of the tickets. Since this launch is even more constrained for PS3s and the higher publicity, I'm sure there'll be lots more people there to try and turn a quick buck.

I've got my pre-order in, so I'm happy

More info on PS3 and eBay:
http://blog.nonmundane.org/archives/...-get-delisted/

North East Goon · 10-23-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I saw on t.v. that they will both be on sale in November. I'm not interested in buying any of these new video game systems for myself but I know in the past that people have made some cash preordering these things and then selling them in the bargain finder or on ebay for more. Do you guys think there will be an opportunity to do this this year? I'm assuming that with two of them on sale at the same time they may not sell out and therefor the demand may not exceed supply like it has in the past.

Where can a guy pre-order these, Walmart? Could a person just return the thing for cash if no arbitrage opportunities manifest? I guess I'm just being lazy and looking for others to spoon feed me on this one.

Oh yeah, I also seem to remember the same opportunity with tickley elmo about 5 years ago. I heard there is a new elmo toy, maybe that's another opportunity?

Think of the kids, ya heartless bast*ard!

Kidding of course.

kermitology · 10-23-2006, 01:05 PM

Photon, are you getting the Wii as well?

photon · 10-23-2006, 01:09 PM

No, I just got the PS3 (didn't figure the Wii would have the same pop in price). I wouldn't mind getting a Wii down the road, but between my PC, 360, and DS I already have too many games to play

Igottago · 10-23-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernie

The PS3 will have more power overall but much of it is geared for other things as Sony is looking for the PS3 to overcome the PC and be the multimedia center of the home.

This will be the deciding factor for me. I will play games, but mostly sports, which are available on both the 360 and ps3 anyways. I will get the machine that has the best multimedia features; listening to music, etc. So far I don't know many details on which actually does have better multimedia features.

SpitFire40 · 10-23-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

I'm cashing in all my various reward points to get a Wii, an extra controller and two games.. Madden 07 looks pretty sweet in the control scheme. I'm hoping that EA Sports translates similar working with the Wii-mote to the NHL franchise.

I don't own an HDTV and I don't really play games a huge amount so I don't have much interest in XBOX360 or PS3.

But yeah, as for the topic at hand.. You missed the boat.

I wouldn't count on it... EA's NHL studios aren't really focused on Nintendo's consoles.

Clarkey · 10-23-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Think of the kids, ya heartless bast*ard!

Kidding of course.

I don't care about the punky little kids, they would still get the thing, their parents would just have to pay more for it.

Well it looks like my poorly thought out little scheme will not work after all.