Wal-Mart jumps the PS3 gun?

We strolled into the Walbrook Lane Wal-Mart (near Bearden High School) around 11 p.m., trying to catch an eyeful of midnight launch madness in the 24-hour store. There was no line visible outside as we approached, making us suspect the devoted followers of Sony’s latest might be camped out between the coconuts and the lingerie.

What we found was even more disturbing: There was no line at all. A sales representative staffing the electronics department told us in broken English the line was not there but at the front of the store, register 25. She apologized when telling us all 10 PS3s were “taken.” (We assumed she meant they were reserved or spoken for by the queuers.)

Upon reaching register 25, there was no line. There was no one. There was, however, a plastic Wal-Mart bag of lunch meat and bananas. We came to the conclusions that

1. we misunderstood the woman in electronics and
2. Wal-Mart must be making a killing feeding the queuers.

Midnight came and went without any sign of a major console launch. Could this particular Wal-Mart have sold the PS3s before midnight, when it was still Nov. 16? If so, was this store isolated in its decision, or did someone higher up make the mistake? And what possible consequences can Sony take against the retail giant? Tune in for the next installment of "The Knoxville Gamer and the Case of the Premature Launch."