On the cool side, the controller artwork was created by Todd McFarlane, and they each come with Halo figure from McFarlane Toys. The headset, however, is just an uglified version of the standard Microsoft one, with a Halo 3 logo slapped on it.

For $60 a pop, the controllers aren't a horrible value proposition, but to pay that much for a baby-shit-colored headset should test the devotion of even the hardiest fanboy. – Matt Buchanan

Product Page [GameStop via Ars Technica]

If pre-ordering this is anything like pre-ordering anything else at EB, you'll hand them five bucks and they'll try and get you to pre-order the Halo 3 Zune Strategy Guide as well. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Gamestop - Thanks Marco!]

They'll give you $50 for an old-school Xbox, $200 for a Core Xbox (sans hard drive), and $250 for a Premium Xbox (with hard drive). Not a bad deal at all. – Louis Ramirez

UPDATE: We spoke too soon. Turns out that if you eBay your used Xbox 360 you might fetch a few extra bucks. GameStop has the better deal on the other systems, but you can sell your Premium 360 for $300-$400 on eBay (if you throw in some games). It's not as easy as bringing it to the store, but you'll get an extra Benjamin for going the extra mile.

GameStop Offering 360 Elite Trade-Ups [Kotaku]

Was the retailer demands the only reason for the price drop? Perhaps, but there have been a lot of PSP2 speculation lately. If you don't have a PSP, now may be the time to jump, especially with this system getting down to a more reasonable range, the possibilities with the device as a media player and especially because of some good game titles like Puzzle Quest, Ratchet & Clank and, of course, Lumines.

PSP Core Drops to $169 Tomorrow [Kotaku]

Sony raises PS3 price in Canada? [GameSpot via digg]

Police say they discovered that the "robbery report was bogus", and that there may have been more people involved. The four PS3s still haven't been recovered, but you can bet these two kids are busy stashing the consoles where the cops can't find them. That, and hoping they don't have to go to PMITA prison. – Jason Chen

Holdup was fake, cops say [SacBee via Joystiq]

Our first story takes place in a Best Buy in Toronto, Canada. Reader Charles writes:

...Due to the fact that I used to be employed by Future Shop (a Best Buy owned corporation) during the summer, I knew for a fact that it is not possible to reserve one; I thought I'd ask anyway.

Then someone gets ballsy.

I approached an employee standing near the front of the store and I asked if the store was allowing for reservations for the Wii. He leaned in a little closer to me (which I found to be more than a bit awkward) and whispered, "I can reserve one for you...for a price". I was quite surprised at his response, and even though I had no intention of paying him any extra money, I asked him how much he was charging. He replied, "How much are you willing to pay? Don't lowball 'cause I have other offers." I told him to forget it and walked away.

The dickery doesn't stop there. Reader Kristopher adds to the insanity:

I went to my family's house in Palm Desert, CA, for Thanksgiving and found the local Gamestop to check out for Black Friday. I went there at around 2PM when things settled down just to actually test out a Wii. There wasn't many people in there by that time; probably around four people all in line. I patiently waited so others wouldn't think I was cutting in line to buy something. I politely asked the employee if I could use a controller for the Wii demo station, in which I was responded by an abrupt, "NO." I then paused and asked if there was a reason why not, in which I was stopped mid-sentence by another abrupt, "NO!," and this time the exclamation point is critical because I was literally yelled at in-store. Since I'm a sales manager at my current job I understand Black Friday could have been a stressful day for them, so I proceeded to tell him calmly that, "It may have been a stressful day, but any manager will teach you that in customer service, people don't liked to be yelled at in the store and most managers would fire you for something like that." He then looked straight at me and then the next person in line and said, "Next." I was pretty frustrated at that point, so I asked him to see a manager, in which he told me he was the manager and said, "Please get out of the store."

Well, I obviously left at that point to avoid any more confrontation. I definitely think my Gamestop experience was pretty ruthless.

Have your own stories? Send them in to us. Our emails are on the left. – Jason Chen

GameStop Wii Bundle Details [via i4U]

This scheme is going to be hard to police, but retailers will probably scan employees' console serial numbers and compare it to serials listed on eBay—which if employees are smart, won't be. Unless EB/GameStop HQ buys up auctions and THEN compares the consoles to the listed serial numbers, it's unlikely that anybody will actually get caught.

Most likely just a scare tactic, but one less console sold on eBay means one more console in the hands of someone who actually wants to play. – Jason Chen

Rumor: EB/Gamestop workers fired if PS3/Wii listed on eBay [Joystiq]

We doubt it's necessary to pre-order a Wii now that there's going to be two million Wii units available on launch day, but if you live in Sweaty Crack, North Dakota, where there's only going to be five units, we suppose it's good to reserve one.

GameStop and EB Games stores will begin accepting limited pre-orders for the Nintendo Wii console on Friday, October 13, on a first come, first served basis. Due to extremely limited supplu, we expect to reach our limit very quickly, most likely in minutes. We will not accept additional pre-orders at that time. To avoid an unnecessary trip we strongly recommend you call your local store to determine availability. A $50 reservation deposit is required, which can be funded with cash, credit or trade. As we cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch. Reservations/Purchases are limited to 1 per household.

We're planning on just waltzing in and grabbing one on launch day. – Jason Chen

Breaking: GameStop (Finally) Announces Wii Pre-Orders [Kotaku - Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

On Tuesday, October 10, 2006, you will begin taking reservations on the Sony PS3 under SKU 020072 (PS3 Premium Edition) and SKU 020071 (PS3 Core Edition). YOU MAY NOT BEGIN TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE PS3 PRIOR TO October 10, 2006. Reservations are to be processed on a "first come, first serve" basis for your customers.

From:*********

Subject: PS3 reservation plan and reservation allocations!!!

Date: 10/09/06 3:26pm

Attention store personnel:

On Tuesday, October 10, 2006, you will begin taking reservations on the Sony PS3 under SKU 020072 (PS3 Premium Edition) and SKU 020071 (PS3 Core Edition). YOU MAY NOT BEGIN TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE PS3 PRIOR TO October 10, 2006. Reservations are to be processed on a "first come, first serve" basis for your customers. Under no circumstances are reservation "places in line" to be held for customers. Our online reservation program will be activated at a future date: online reservations will be available as "bundle-only."

No forced bundles or any other customer "requirements" are allowed (our online reservation policy may vary). Reservations will be limited to one system reservation per household (customer is allowed to reserve 1 Wii and 1 PS3 if desired)

As these systems are in short supply and high demand, all stores are being allocated on their reserve quantity. Stores are not allowed to reserve above their assigned reservation allocation for any reason. Reserving above your assigned qty can result in disciplinary action.

Your assigned allocation for the PS3 is "16" units TOTAL between the 2 system choices. You are only allowed to reserve "16" units TOTAL of PS3. No more than 2 of these systems can be set aside to be purchased by store employees.

Please use the tracking form below to insure that you only reserve 16 units. Please record each customer's name and phone on the form below each time you complete a PS3 reservation.

As you process each reservation, you will need to communicate the following message to each customer:

Reservations/Purchases are limited to 1 per household.

The reservation guarantees the customer a place in line only: it does not guarantee that the system will be available at launch.

Gamestop is not responsible for allocation shortfalls or shipping delays caused by the manufacturer.

Online product pricing and availability will vary and be fulfilled independent of store reservations.

As a service to your customers, please try to capture each customers correct e-mail address when processing the reservation. This will allow us to send updates to the customer as more games and accessories become available for their system.

Rumor: Leaked PS3 Pre-Order Memo [Kotaku]

[Kotaku]

Can't wait for your PS3 to hit stores? Here's a little tip: Gamestop is selling 32 Sony PS3 games on pre-order right now. First come/first served people and they'll be shipped to you as soon as humanly possible. Games include Devil May Cry 4, Metal Gear Solid 4 and the ever-popular Scarface: The World is Yours. All are going for $60, though Metal Gear Solid 4 is being billed as a December 1 launch. Now go stand in line!

32 Sony PS3 Games Available for Pre-Order on Gamestop! [i4u]

GameStop: 30% '360 Pre-orders Undelivered [Next Generation]

Xbox 360 in Stock again: GameStop Offers new Titanium and Steel Xbox 360 Bundles [14u]