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More Wii/PS3 Preorder rumors

Here's your update for the week: October 9th thing we reported on earlier turned out to be false. Whoops. Same goes for the "we'll call you" thing we didn't report on. This was all sorta expected.

So what's new? Well, for starters, some actual real news has been trickling out of Gamestop/EB Games. Specifically, that PS3 preorders start in anywhere from 1-4 hours in the US, depending on your timezone and if your Gamestop or EB location is in a mall or not. Put down $100 towards either model of the PS3 and you'll get it at launch. The catch: numbers are severely limited. I haven't seen the exact number each store is allowed to reserve get leaked yet, but I think it's safe to assume it won't be large. This, of course, isn't a real indication of the real total number of PS3's that will be available everywhere at launch, it could be more, but we probably won't know that until shortages are already happening.

On the Wii side of things, Gamestop/EB haven't said anything. Current assumptions are "some time this week", but Nintendo has been very reluctant to let anyone know what kind of counts they'll be getting, so retailers are incredibly hesitant to let people put down money. Some aren't, though. Like FYE. You can waltz right in to your local FYE (if you have one) and put down $50 towards a Wii. Will you get one? Who knows! To our knowledge, FYE has received no magical extra information about counts over Gamestop/EB, so they're just letting you preorder blind. Other retailers haven't started, but if the Best Buy info we discussed earlier is based in reality, and is any indication of what other large retailers like Circuit City or Fry's might do, we won't hear anything about preorders until kiosks are in stores later this month.

As for online preorders, Amazon has periodically made the Wii available for purchase three or four times now, and it has sold out almost immediately. Again, no clue if these orders will all get cancelled, but it's something. Gamestop/EB have recently updated their website(s) to give the Wii and PS3 their own proper sections, but still haven't put any bundles up for purchase. While you won't be forced into a bundle at brick & mortar stores, it's pretty much expected that you'll be forced into one by buying online. That's just how it works, unfortunately.

So. That's where we're at. If you want to preorder a PS3, you should probably have left before this got posted, or leave real soon. If you're waiting for a Wii, stay tuned this week, and get on the mailing list.

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