EARLY RISERS
All-night campers stake out Bath K-mart for PlayStation 3
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Mark and Seth Snowden of Hornell huddle under blankets in front of the Bath K-Mart, waiting for the store to open early Friday so they can buy the new PlayStation 3. Long lines and sharp conflicts were reported across the country as limited quantities of the Sony game box went on sale.

BATH - Just how popular are the new PlayStation 3's that went on sale last week?

Popular enough for two Hornell teenagers to set up overnight camp at the Bath K-Mart - two nights before the electronic game box went on sale Friday morning.

Mark Snowden, 14, and his brother Seth, 17, appeared in front of K-Mart at about 10 p.m. Thursday. They explained to store manager Katherine Deuhl other campers already had staked out the Hornell Wal- Mart, where PlayStation 3's were to go on sale first thing Friday morning.

According to Deuhl, the Bath K-Mart was to receive at least two PlayStation 3's for retail sales. The store would distribute coupons for the game boxes on a firstcome first-serve basis. "Those boys will get their Play Stations," Deuhl said.

According to Seth Snowden, the PlayStation 3 has superior graphics compared with its predecessor, the PlayStation 2. "The graphics are more realistic and there are more options and game varieties," he said. Retailing at $599 apiece, each PlayStation 3 also boasts wireless internet connections for on-line gaming.

Seth and his young brother, Mark, have mastered the fine art of PlayStation 2 gaming, although they insist they spend no more than an hour a week with their game boxes.

As for missing school Thursday, 14-year-old Mark said he is home-schooled and had negotiated the time off with his parents.

Seth meanwhile had brought a workbook of Bible stories to study during the day.

PlayStation 3 sales rocketed across the country last week, prompting overnight camp sites not only in Bath and Hornell. Early bird shoppers were reported camping in front of one Rockville, Md., Circuit City store since Monday, waiting for the game to hit the shelves.