Math fun with the PS3 and GameStop [Update]

I read a disturbing comment today that GameStop's PS3 pre-order fiasco had depleted up to 80% of the available launch day consoles available in North America. Aside from being completely illogical (as many other retailers will surely be getting their fair share of PS3s), the comment did inspire me to do a little math to estimate how many consoles GameStop may have actually pre-sold (and how many would be left for me to hunt down at other retailers on launch day). After whipping out my handy solar-powered calculator, I came up with the following figures:

• 400,000: number of PS3s that Sony has stated that they've allocated for North America to all retailers
  
• 3600: approximate number of GameStop stores in North America (according to their website they have 4400 stores globally)
  
• 12: average allotment of PS3s per GameStop on launch day (based on their publically announced allotments of between 8 and 16 units per store. Of course, actual per store allotments may vary, but this is their baseline estimate.)

And here are the calculations:

• 3600 x 12 = 43,200 PS3s pre-ordered today via GameStop
• 400,000 - (3600 x 12) = 356,800 PS3s that are unaccounted for and will be sold by other retailers. In other words, despite the usilly 80% rumor, you'll get your chance for a PS3 at other stores.
  

Here's some more fun facts conjecture:

• 3600 x 2 = 7200. That's the number of all available GameStop PS3 preorders today that went to GameStop employees (based on their cap of allowing 2 PS3s to be sold to employees per store). That represents nearly 17% of GameStops total allotment. Thanks for putting the customer first, GameStop.
• 43,200 x $100 = $4,320,000. That's the approximate number of dollars ($$$) that GameStop earned today and will be collecting interest on for the next month-and-half. I wish I could be collecting interest on somebody else's $4.5 million dollars for a few weeks for doing nothing and promising nothing.

GameStop also likely has a "few thousand" PS3s in reserve for some sort of online bundle pre-order madness, but, even then, I'm doubtful that it represents much more than was sold today. There's quite a few to go around for other retailers around North America. Now, try your hand at using the numbers above to come up with some of your own creative PS3 math....

Safe Harbor Statement: The above information is based on published information, logical assumptions, a dash of creativity and a healthy dose of voodoo witchcraft. I am in no way claiming that I know how to add or subtract, much less multiply and divide. And the batteries on my solar-powered calculator were running pretty low.

[Update: Two rogue GameSpots changed to GameStops.]
[Update 2: Tweaked some verbiage to better explain a couple of the calculations (no numbers or calculations were altered).]