We've been getting a ton of tips on the Toys "R" Us pre-order madness that went down last night and today. Here are some highlights.

From Johnathan:

While shopping tonight at the Fair Lakes Shopping Center in northern Virginia, my wife and I happened upon ten determined gamers (or related parties) camping outside the local Toys R' Us. We decided to interview them, for the sake of science, journalism, and the American way.

All ten gamers showed up near-simultaneously at approximately 1:00 pm. Our interview took place at 10:00 pm, nine hours into their 22 hour wait. Temperatures had already dropped to fourty degrees F, and had hopefully plateaued.

The first order of interview-business was to establish who was waiting for the PS3 and who was waiting for the Wii. Of the ten campers, seven were waiting for both consoles. Another couple was waiting for a PS3 and a Wii, only one each between the two of them, while the final Wii had a lone claimant. If you have been following along with me on the math, that is 8 PS3's and 9 Wii's, among 10 people. You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear the chimes ring, like this... We were surprised to learn that not one of the soon-to-be-reserved consoles was headed for a resale.

Sony and Nintendo were already present at the campout. While observing the campers, we spotted one PSP, whose owner thought he had heard of Kotaku before. One of the campers plead guilty to possession of, but not intent to use, a Nintendo DS. As far as we could tell, it was buried in a blanket fold or a coat pocket somewhere.

My wife got really immersed in the interviewing process and plied the campers with additional questions. Three of the campers intended to pass the time gambling and pursuing a state of comfortable numbness through the business end of a bottle. Connect Four and Uno kept another handful of campers occupied. Two campers claimed to have books handy, and the kid with the PSP was thoroughly engrossed in his digital distraction.

If I were a journalist or a blogger, I would return in the morning for a body count or an update, but instead I will presume that they all get their consoles, and game happily ever after.

UPDATE: Check out the reports from Arizona and Alaska after the jump.

From Anthony, who has a penchant for Random capitalization:

Here's what went down in the Hartford Area of the TOYS R US stores.

I got to our local Toys R Us around where about seven people were already camped out since noon yesterday, They asked, "Are you here for PS3? Because they are all gone. They only have 6 systems 1 of them is the 20 gig unit. Of course you can stay if your here for the Wii they're gonna have 15 of those."

They all proceeded to laugh in unison at the thought, So me and my buddies took out our stuff and sat down then they were like, " Umm. We were serious." I was like, "We're here for the Wii".

They were all shocked and proceeded to ask what the big deal was with the unit. They were clueless. Turns out they were Ebay-ing their units only one person actually wanted to keep theirs. I and the two other friends felt the odd men out as we were getting Wii instead of PS3.

But we braved on nonetheless, After a Long COLD night We fell asleep only to be awoken by chatter. I open my eyes and what do I see? Like an Army sent out from the heavens about 40 people lined up behind me.

So then someone decides to be brave and asks "Who here is getting a PS3?" The guys ahead of me rose their hands. Then the guy asks "Who here is getting a Wii?" The army behind all raise their hands.

The seven strangers are no longer smug, and decide maybe there is something to this Wii thing so they ask me about it. I explain they decide they actually want to buy units and KEEP them. So anyway's long story short... Guess its too late for that. Stores open I get my #1 in line for Wii Ticket and proceed inside to claim my preorder.

Urgh! Why did I choose such a bad time to move?

Finally, from Rob, our field reporter in Cape Cod. (Hi Rob!)

A few days ago I decided to do the whole "pre-order" line madness to save myself the trouble of camping overnight on the 19th. I had planned originally to get a Wii, as well as a PS3, to sell on Ebay. Yes, I am that guy, and I am very sorry for that. Really, I am. So the plan went as followed: We got up at 5:45 AM and took quick showers, we got out the door at 6:30AM and headed to our nearest Toys "R" Us.

When we arrived we noticed a much bigger-than-expected crowd of around 30 people. When we got in line, the man next to us said something that, at the time, I thought was kind of weird, "So, you're here for an Elmo, right?" Having not been told that the new TMX was to be unleashed upon the world, I joking replied, "Yeah, I'm all about Elmo." We stepped into the heated breezeway and took up camp. Eventually I discovered that he was very serious, as were the majority of the crowd. Easily 2/3rds of the entire group were waiting for an Elmo.

Around 7:00 AM the manager of the store came out and told us that there were only five 60 GB PS3s up for grabs (there was also one 20 GB PS3, but really, does that even count?). Considering how we hadn't spent the night prior camped out in front of the store like the 6 people in front of us, my plans for quick-ebay-cash were summarily dashed. Thankfully, he mentioned that the store had been alloted 15 Wii, surely guaranteeing us our precious urine/penis joke console of choice.

The remainder of the time, until the doors were opened and a mad dash for the Elmos and the R Zone section began, was spent watching employees drink coffee in front of us, turn their heads in disgust, and the ever-spiteful close walk to the door to make you think they're gonna open it up but god fucking dammit they won't.

At 8:30 they opened the doors and as quickly as the PS3 pre-order tickets were produced, they were snatched up. We never even actually saw one.

Funny moments from the experience:

A girl waiting in line for an Elmo talking about "how stupid" it is to wait in line for a video game system, and how, "They'll probably never take it out of the box." Unless she was talking about everyone's plans for Ebay, I like to think she was grossly misinformed.

A woman coming at 7:30 AM trying to cut in front of the mass of people waiting for a PS3 since 9:00 PM the previous day.

A Halloween mannequin dressed in a Toys "R" Us uniform that every-so-often made me think an employee was coming to open the door.

My girlfriend, in a daze, remembers very little of the experience. Kind of like Vietnam.

The horror. The horror...

Fortunately, Felipe is living in the ideal conditions for a late October console camp-out.

Hey guys, just got home from a 24hr stay at a Toys R Us. The store here (In Tucson, AZ) had 7 Premium PS3's and 1 Core. Also 20 Wii's. It was funny to see that the first 8 (including myself) all went for PS3's while the rest wanted Wii's. Everyone waiting for the PS3 was going to sell it on ebay, everyone asking for the Wii wanted to keep it. No sign of a PSP but a BUNCH of DS's. Anyways, it was fun first time doing it, everyone was pretty cool, other than that goddamn cold. Pre-sales for consoles were at 50 bucks each while games started at 5.

Oh yeah, managed to convince about 5 people to get Wii's, that's the fun part. Managed to convince two people not o get PS3's. haha!

Our non-continental state brother Mathew had this harrowing (yet heartwarming) tale to tell:

I just got back from a 16 hour wait for Wii/PS3 in the Toys R' Us line. At first they said they would give us one of each but they decided later one or the other. I'm here in Alaska and it was fucking cold. 20 degrees outside... fuck me. The store got 17 Wii's and 4 PS3's 60GB and 1 Core system. I was 5th in line and I chose a PS3... yeah well it will pay for my Wii OK?!?!

Jesus it sucked at least the people in line were reasonable and we all decided to line up our cars instead of sitting outside. Early in the morning around 7:00 AM a shitton of people started coming so we all got back in our marked spot in line. Then it started snowing. It snowed 3 inches by 10:00 and it was pretty miserable. The people in line were really cool though at least.

The Toys R' Us manager was really awesome and I'm going to send a letter to her corporate manager that she was great. After the store closed she let us all come in by 2's to warm up a bit and go to the bathroom (I'll exclude that in my thank you letter) After she left for the night she brought out big bags of candy and when she came in, in the morning she brought the whole line Starbucks Coffee and Hot Chocolate. She also came and told us exactly how many units they had and who would get them. She also gave the "line captain/mascot" a direct emergency contact # in case some shit went down in the line.

Wow. Sounds like FUN. Wish I could've been there with you. Hahahaha, just kidding of course. My 60GB unit will be handed to me for free at some upcoming Sony party. Hahahaha, again, just kidding. I'm totally screwed. Michael McWhertor

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