Possible PS3, Wii demo kiosks

by Blake Snow { Aug 31st 2006 at 12:25PM }

We're not sure where the above images originated, but both surfaced on internet forums this morning. If real (as the looks might imply), Wii kiosks won't use widescreen TVs like the console did at E3. Not that you'll enjoy the demo experience anyway trying to swing your arms in a cramped retail aisle with an on-looking crowd.

[Thanks, Drake Lake]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rhine @ Aug 31st 2006 12:30PM

The Wii Seems so much happier :/

JimmyHACK @ Aug 31st 2006 12:34PM

LOOK LIKE SOME GOOD GENERIC STORE KIOSK, READY TO BE BROKEN WITHIN WEEKS

Gabriel @ Aug 31st 2006 12:35PM

Playing on the PS3 kiosk will give you a aching neck

Tyler @ Aug 31st 2006 12:37PM

I agree with Gabriel, that PS3 kiosk is just a sore neck waiting to happen. what's with the weird filtering on the images, they look bad...

reebo @ Aug 31st 2006 12:41PM

The PS3 kiosk looks evil. Satanic, even.

What's with the little screen above the monitor on the Wii kiosk?

Rhine @ Aug 31st 2006 12:44PM

Reebo: probably where the game instructions are

JimmyHACK @ Aug 31st 2006 12:45PM

heh ya, that tv is up high, but the 360 ones at walmart were up even higher, man i hated playing the cod2 demo on them haha.

i do like the design of the ps3 one more expect for the height of the tv.

guess it also is a deterant from someone sitting there all day and letting others get their turn...

oh well, dont mind my hdtv at home is perfect eye level and will enjoy both of these systems playing on it this holiday season...

Agent MOO @ Aug 31st 2006 12:45PM

Can't wait to see a Wiiosk at bestbuy...

JimmyHACK @ Aug 31st 2006 12:48PM

TAKING ALL BETS!!!!

How many kids till the Wiimotes break???

Phranctoast @ Aug 31st 2006 12:50PM

its so the people around you can also watch.

wow.. so much ps3 hate that people even need to rip on the damn kiosk machine. unfuckinbelievable

Z-247 @ Aug 31st 2006 1:07PM

It's not just ps3 hate. I don't like it when *any* demo kiosk puts the tv that high. I think people are commending the Wii design for not following that recent trend.

Assuming these are real, that is.

Chris Taran @ Aug 31st 2006 1:07PM

@11

If you can't see a flaw in how high that TV is set on the PS3 kiosk then the only thing that's unbelievable is your fanboyishness.

It doesn't have to be set up that high for onlookers to see it as well. The Wii kiosk looks like it would be easy to spectate unless maybe you were directly behind the person playing, which you shouldn't be for risk of getting elbowed by said person waving the Wiimote around.

Jonn @ Aug 31st 2006 1:08PM

@#12
Yep, cause it's not like the PS3 kiosk could actually be flawed. Oh no.

All Your Lost Socks @ Aug 31st 2006 1:08PM

I think it would make more sense to have the sign for the PS3 kiosk -above- the television. But kiosk displays are always too high up. Your neck always hurts. It's part of the trying-out-a-game-for-the-first-time-and-sucking-at-it-while-a-few-stragglers-watch-you-until-your-neck-gets-stuck-that-way experience.

Goober @ Aug 31st 2006 1:08PM

Both just look like 3d renders to me. Doesn't mean they're not official, just that they're probably not real.

Subnet6 @ Aug 31st 2006 1:10PM

"what's with the weird filtering on the images, they look bad..."

I'm guessing these were scanned from a magazine.

Jonn @ Aug 31st 2006 1:11PM

I meant #11. Whoops.

Bob Johnson @ Aug 31st 2006 1:16PM

I hated the Wii name until now. I can see peeps in a store stopping at that display and saying WTF is a Wii? Then after playing a simple game making a $150 impulse buy. The PS3 is certainly not getting many impulse buys.

SickNic @ Aug 31st 2006 1:19PM

They originated on your rival games blog site, Kotaku:

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/here-they-are-the-ps3-and-wii-demo-stations-197826.php

Luke @ Aug 31st 2006 1:25PM

I'm all for Nintendo.. but is that a Sony TV on the Wii Kiosks?

Jeremy @ Aug 31st 2006 1:31PM

that ps3 kiosk does look like it would hurt you neck. i remember playing a 360 on a tv up that high at some store, i forgot which, but after like 3 minutes my neck started aching

The Intangible Fact @ Aug 31st 2006 1:51PM

@ 21 Luke

Lol, Sony has to make their money somehow.

bounchfx @ Aug 31st 2006 2:06PM

ROFL @ the Ps3 Kiosk.

if that is real.. wow.

the ps3 looks even bigger than it already is with that, plus the whole kiosk just looks like ass.

I'm wondering.. are they going to use the wired wiimotes for the wii kiosk?. only thing that really makes sense to me... unless all stores go all best buy and have the controllers wireless.. which would be a terrible idea

now I just looked at the picture again.

what the hell are those big white lines coming down off the wiimotes? at e3 they only had a little hand lanyard thing like the ds came with.

hm

I want these in stores!

Matt @ Aug 31st 2006 2:13PM

The television on the Wii kiosk actually appears to resemble that of a Samsung, in particular the same model line that accompanied the Xbox 360 kiosk's "back in the day".

"so much ps3 hate that people even need to rip on the damn kiosk"

Actually, the Xbox 360 kiosk was terribly painful at Wal-Mart also, where it shared the same height configuration this alleged PS3 kiosk holds now. If I wanted to say negative about Sony, I'd bitch about my PS2 breaking because of an un-supported Disc Read Error, or complain that the Playstation 3 costs 50% more than the Xbox 360 I own and provides near-identical graphics. ;)

I recall talking to our Nintendo rep about the Wii kiosks back in I think it was June, and she hinted that a final design had almost been selected, and that they were in the middle of beta-testing the last select designs. The concern, with them, was more that of preventing Wiimote theft than breakage, actually.

darryl @ Aug 31st 2006 2:22PM

"Playing on the PS3 kiosk will give you a aching neck"

What if the kiosk is only 5 feet tall?

Evan @ Aug 31st 2006 2:27PM

"How many kids till the Wiimotes break???"

Accelerometers are solid-state. Analog sticks have a greater chance of breaking.

Are those cooling vent holes on the side of the PS3 kiosk?

vidGuy @ Aug 31st 2006 2:31PM

I'd be surprised if Nintendo didn't use 16:9 screens. The whole point of the 360 kiosks was supposed to make the games look as great as they could; Nintendo should follow suit by making all demos run in 480p 16:9. Looking at videos and screens, 16:9 can give the impression of a much crisper presentation.

I hope Nintendo makes the cord a little longer than the ones at E3; word was those had a tendency to snap back when pulled. Oh well, it's no problem for home play.

I agree that the PS3 kiosk looks uncomfortable. I'd guess that the center of the screen is about 7 foot off the ground (Wii's screen is probably a foot and a half shorter).

Anyway, I wonder if these are real.

Gabriel @ Aug 31st 2006 2:33PM

@26
In this case the screen wouldn't be tilted down...

blahman @ Aug 31st 2006 2:38PM

When I see the Wii kiosk, the first thing I think is "free controller." Well, more like "for the price of scissors, I can get a brand new Wiimote."

Mr. X OMG @ Aug 31st 2006 2:39PM

At first it didn't look like the PS3 screen was so high but then I remembered how massive the console was. Does it even fit in a store? XD

Naw, kiosks always seem to have too high of a screen like the 360 kiosk at walmart. You literally have to look up 90º in order to see what your doing. Heh, maybe i'm just short.

I like the wii kiosk better and it looks so much more friendly. Why use red and black to attract customers? I also didn't know that the sensor strip for the wii was that small.

The question I have for all the stores out there is where will you put 3 console kiosks plus the DS and PSP ones? That's a lot of shelf room.

B33 @ Aug 31st 2006 2:59PM

"or complain that the Playstation 3 costs 50% more than the Xbox 360 I own and provides near-identical graphics. ;)"

PS3 is $100 more then a 360... And it comes with much more... The $300 360 is useless. It doesnt count.

Eric @ Aug 31st 2006 3:22PM

according to GoNintendo.com, it's from the Official Nintendo boards.
...
The Wii is missing the nunchaku though.

Blax @ Aug 31st 2006 3:26PM

@33/B33

Just like the cheaper PS3?

Jake @ Aug 31st 2006 3:30PM

These are real, trust me. They came from a manager's manual from gamestop. All of GameStop's material is produced by Imagine! Print Solutions. (http://challengeprinting.com/why_test.asp#GameStop) A guy I know works there and he got an extra manager's manual. It show cases these demo units among other things.

molecule @ Aug 31st 2006 3:42PM

"The Wii is missing the nunchaku though."

Yeah, some commenter on Kotaku mentioned that too...The way I see it, there's only four choices:

-1. SOME of the Wii's kiosks will only sport two wiimotes to simplify the experience for newcomers and casual gamers--exactly the kind of people Nintendo is targeting.

-2. The nunchucks are "hidden" in slots on the sides of the kiosk itself or something so as to give newcomers and more casual gamers the illusion of simplicity; try not to be overpowering, in other words.

-3. This picture was taken of the kiosk early in the prototypical stage, and the sole focus [at first, anyway] was centered on making it compatible with two wiimotes--the nunchucks would be added later on, as they're simply less important.

-4. The picture is fake.

B33 @ Aug 31st 2006 3:56PM

"Just like the cheaper PS3?"

Nope. The cheaper PS3 comes with a hard drive and is barely different then the $600 version. Don't need a wireless adapter or already have one? You can plug yours into the PS3. Don't mind using two cords for High definition rather then just one (HDMI)? No problem, you don't need HDMI to play high definition. You don't need a 60gb hard drive and if you do, you can always buy a extra one and trade them out. In the end the $600 one is mainly for the hardcore crowd... It's actually useless and I'll be surprised if Sony still plans on releasing the $600 version (the official site removed the two different version specs).

shoop008 @ Aug 31st 2006 4:09PM

Those are probably wired Wii remotes. If you cut the cord they wouldn't work. Would make sense as the batteries would run out too much. I doubt they would make use of the nunchaku in the demo unit. Probably just have Wii Sports up there for demonstration.

My question is the picture above the Wii Tv. Is that a smaller tv showing a video on how to use the remote or just a goofy picture of a guy using the WiiMote?

x876543 @ Aug 31st 2006 4:50PM

Just glad the sensor bar (above the Wii console, below the TV) is only about a foot long. I was hoping it wouldn't be something like corner sensors or a 2 foot bar. That looks like it will be barely noticable under or on top of a TV.

jakob @ Aug 31st 2006 6:25PM

the wii looks like a slice of heaven, seriously.

vidGuy @ Aug 31st 2006 6:35PM

"I also didn't know that the sensor strip for the wii was that small." by Mr. X OMG

"Just glad the sensor bar (above the Wii console, below the TV) is only about a foot long." by x876543

The sensor bar is about 20 cm long, or roughly the length of a Bic pen. I doubt it will be an eye-sore at all.

??? @ Aug 31st 2006 6:56PM

Looks all nice and WAL-MART, but let's get the pre-orders going first, kids!

Patrick @ Aug 31st 2006 8:57PM

yeas but will the PS3 display be 1080p? Because Sony says I HAVE to have that to have that full "4D" experience..

MrD @ Sep 1st 2006 1:36AM

#3

"Playing on the PS3 kiosk will give you a aching neck"

If I'm not mistaken, every single demo kiosk I've played at (besides portable demos) has given me an aching neck.

Manny @ Sep 1st 2006 1:48AM

The Wii Kiosk looks like it belongs inside of a Ladies Footlocker store,
The PS3 looks like it can go inside of a Hot Topid or something. The PS3 looks better, it doesn't look like a bitch kiosk

Hitoriga @ Sep 1st 2006 4:22AM

Actually I think it is a brilliant idea for PS3 to put it that high. It prevents people from hogging the console and not sharing it with other people. I believe the Genesis used the same tactic when making their kiosk. It really hurt your neck, so you stopped playing and let other people play. Of course there are always the crazy people, who do not care about inflammation of the cervix.

Anonymouse Rep @ Sep 1st 2006 8:00AM

One other detail about Wal-Mart kiosks - it's not like Microsoft, Sony, OR Nintendo really have a whole lot of input into the gaming cabinet designs in those stores. The controller arms, sure.

But the locations of the TV's and the actual game cabinets are strictly Wal-Mart. Otherwise, Microsoft would've done something to make their kiosk fit more in line with what the interactives at GameStop and Best Buy look like. You have something very similar at Target as well - the big box retailers don't want to give an advantage to any one system in their line.

I will grant you that the 360 was on the endcap at Target for quite some time - but that was also a paid display. Once Target decided that they wanted to redo that endcap, the 360's had to go inline, just like everyone else.

jon @ Sep 1st 2006 9:32AM

The playstation is ugly!! its way too wide. they cant be final chosen designs as the ps3 one way too complicated. the red glow is bad, and has that feeling.

The wii has a weird retro feel to it, but i dont like the clear tacky box its contained in.

aj @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:20PM

Are the PS3 controllers attached to those grey things that make them tilt downwards? if they are, WTF? How is the motion sensor suposed to work if you have to use all your strength to pull them up.

Are those bars hanging down from the Wii kisko or just ropes attatched to the wii...that makes more sense.

GregAshlin @ Sep 6th 2006 12:53PM

For all of you complaining of the height on the PS3 kiosk...it's probably on purpose (if it's real.) Retailers don't want you to stand in line and play the system...they want you to get a little taste and then go buy one and take it home. That's why they have short demos in them, and not the full version of the game. You are less likely to spend hours in front of a tall kiosk than you are to play a big, decide you like the game, then go pick one up and take it home to play. I do agree that it looks like "gloom and doom" however. Kinda creepy.

I dig the Wii setup. Definitely gives off the vibe I've come to expect from the system.

Both of them feed off of the old PS2 kiosk they had out in big box retailers the past few years.

Steven @ Oct 8th 2006 4:04PM

"How many kids till the Wiimotes break???"

Dude! You can drop your Game Cube off a two story building and it would still friggin' work! What makes you think a scrawny kid is ganna break the wiimote?

Do you not see the ventalation holes on the PS3 display?

And what about the size of the PS3? if I hadn't taken a second look I'd figure it was bigger than the TV! are they trying to make a bedtime cuddle buddy or a giant cd rack?