games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Rumortoid: MGS 4 pre-order bots responsible for Amazon downtime photo

Today was quite possibly the worst day for Amazon to experience downtime. Planned to be the day that Amazon began accepting pre-orders for the Metal Gear Solid 4 80 GB PS3 bundle, everything fell apart when Amazon experienced some serious downtime this morning -- downtime that many are attributing to the popularity of the MGS 4 bundle and subsequent flood of pre-order traffic.

While technically true, rumor has it that the downtime is actually attributable to several bots set up prior to pre-order availability with the sole purpose of pre-ordering every bundle they possibly could, presumably to resell the bundles at inflated prices on eBay. Considering the stability of Amazon's site during their Wii pre-order bonanza, it seems likely they'd be able to withstand the onslaught of MGS 4-hungry shoppers.

Reports of those that actually got their hands on a bundle seem slim, leading one to wonder whether Amazon will be honoring these automated pre-orders. So, how many Dtoiders got their hands on the precious MGS 4 pre-order booty before the great strain of our collective lust brought Amazon to their knees?


Continue: More Shopping stories





prev next

35 comments | showing # 1 to 35

FinalFist's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 16:44
FinalFist
Shiiieeeet, I pre-ordered two months ago.
Arttemis's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 16:59
Arttemis
Yeah, they apparently went out-of-stuck of the bundles within 30-60 seconds. A lot of people who didn't have 1-click-shopping weren't able to type in their information before they were all sold...

That's pretty crazy.
Aerox's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 16:59
Aerox
Where did you manage to preorder the bundle from? No site that I've seen has been offering them until today, when Amazon put it's up and EBGames put one up with the stupid headset bundled in for an extra $50.

This sucks, Sony is making it as hard as possible for people who want to buy a PS3 to get one. You can barely preorder them anywhere, most stores I guess are being forced to sell them first come first serve. So, since I can't go to the midnight launch, I'm fucked. The next shipment of the 80gb PS3s isn't supposed to be out until June 30th at the earliest, and at that point I'm sure MGS4 spoilers will be so rampant that the game will be ruined.

Sony, you know why you're losing the console war? Because you're only selling the piece of shit 40gb and making it hard as fuck for people to get a halfway decent system.
Pariah's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:00
Pariah
I wish their was tighter control of the speculative market on Ebay. Sigh, I guess some people will pay a premium for whatever it is they want.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:00
wardrox
I assumed Amazon went down because of an error with the site update due to go live today.

An update successful on all the other domains (EU/JP/etc) which stayed up.

I don't see any way bots could cause this disruption.
Merry Ho's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:01
Merry Ho
I can't wait for that day at goodwill when i find a MGS4 Steel PS3 for like $20 and I buy it and laugh
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:06
wardrox
Also, have a graph.

Statistically, Amazon looses $500 per second when down.
Krazot's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:07
Krazot
Well this is my first post ever on Destructoid but I have to say something about it. At 12:59 on my pc clock I already had the page open and refreshing the screen and saw it pop up with the pre-order button, I managed to snag hopefully one of the first ones(I got my confirmation email and everything, stating it will be shipped) and my buddy who works in the same Cube as I do got it as well 20 seconds later. We will see what happens I guess, but Amazon is saying even with 1 day shipping it won't arrive till June 16th so I am not sure whats going to happen.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:14
Samit Sarkar
That pre-order bot crap, if true, enrages me — and I don’t even want to buy the bundle. People who are out solely to ruin things for others really piss me off.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:14
Dexter345
Breaking news: some people are jerks.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:15
brainderailment
@Merry Ho, these aren't steel Ps3s.
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:15
ThunderHeartXI
[img]http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4374/456rx0.png[img]

Hahaha, oh wow.
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:15
ThunderHeartXI


I fail, here's the image.
Unicorn's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:20
Unicorn
fucking dickslap bastards.
scottoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:24
scottoid
man fuck those guys!
teach4food's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:29
teach4food
I received an Email from Amazon yesterday informing me of the sale today at 10:00 pst. I tried and I tried and all I got was errors. Soooo pissed!
Arttemis's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:40
Arttemis
@ThunderHeartXI

That price is what 3rd-parties are charging for the bundle, not Amazon.com's retail price.
What you're looking at is basically Amazon's version of Ebay.

The retail price that Amazon charges is $499.99.
ChrisFurniss's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 17:49
ChrisFurniss
Yeah, I logged on at 10AM sharp, obsessively refreshing to try and get a bundle. Even with one-click ordering I was unable to get a preorder. I was going as fast as humanly possible, too. To drop a Fish Called Wanda reference: ASS-HOOOOOOOOOOLE!
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 18:00
ThunderHeartXI
@Arttemis

I know, but that's what the pre-order botters are now charging, due to inflation of the price.

You'll pay an arm and a leg if you didn't pre-order it, it seems.
ChrisFurniss's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 18:07
ChrisFurniss
@thunderheart those prices were up there before the preorder debacle.
Itchy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 18:08
Itchy
*previous owners sit back and laugh

*Europeans cry to sleep

**Previous owners accounted that they're Europeans feel, oddly, neutral.

OMFG 5 DAYS LEFT HOLY SHIT
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 18:31
mix
Good thing I preordered mine when I preordered Patapon!
TheRemedy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 18:43
TheRemedy
Psssh, more like everyone was ordering the dnd 4E books!
trunxkam45's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 19:01
trunxkam45
I got mine in!
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 19:11
naia-the-gamer
As someone who attempted to do some of Amazon's Holiday preorder contest stuff, they do a shitty job trying to make things fair. Some people log onto the https servers from what I've heard as one tactic. Some of them are jerks enough to gloat about it on Amazon's boards and try to sell theirs for a premium. It's deplorable.

Good thing I'm not interested in Metal Gear Solid 4 at all.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 19:35
Corak
I hate the ebay fucks that do this shit. I've had it happen to me as well usually around the holidays with their great deal stuff a few years back. Woke up early, was set to go, site was all fucked up.
artson1966's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 22:03
artson1966
i got mine with one touch ordering, Now i will be selling my 60gig on ebay after this one arrives maybe. I may just put this one up, But unlike others it won't be for greed it would be because i really like my 60 gig more.I really am not sold on the 80 gig becuase of the lack of total BC but I hear that they may have an update sometime this year making the 40 and 80 gig BC if that comes true then I for aure would keep my steel 80 gig. I agree that these bot geeks and there greed do ruin it for us honest buyers looking for a great collectors addition .
Tash's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 23:40
Tash
I got mine (at least I got email confirmation, etc). I'll be cautiously optimistic until I hear otherwise. No ebay for this guy. I've been waiting for this bundle for too long.
thebigghurt's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2008 23:57
thebigghurt
for anyone of the people who ordered this on amazon you will not be getting the steel version. the steel version is only a 40gig and available at konami.com only
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 00:10
Volomon
Haha what a bunch of idiots they must all think they are getting the limited edition or something. When this ships their will be tons of them at every Gamestop and every Walmart. Who hells going to hit up ebay for it?
Rational_Jesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 00:21
Rational_Jesus
I got mine right after 12:00 with no problems. A couple minutes later my friend tried the preorder and it was already out. I must have been lucky, I got my order notice shortly after. I've wanted the PS3 since I got my HDTV in December, and when they announced the MGS4 bundle- that was all I needed. I have no idea what the availability of these bundles would be, so the preorder on Amazon made sense. Plus I saved about $40 bucks in sales taxes. Yay internets!
LiesAllLies's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 02:13
LiesAllLies
@ Volomon

It "is" a 'limited edition', of sorts. It's an 80Gb PS3 console (black though) So is one of the few backwards compatible versions of the PS3 (and currently only one sold retail) - but I'm sure you already knew that ;)

But what I'm alluding to, is that (knowing Sony) they wont sell this model again, for quite some time. So people are trying to get in quick. I for one know that BC is still very important to some gamers...

So glad I bought a 60Gb when they were still around :)

Alex
Sniper BoB 13's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 03:02
Sniper BoB 13
From what I know this is going to be VERY hard to get a hold of. The gamestop I frequent is getting.... 2. The gamestop with the largest amount I know of has 5. As for other retailers I have yet to find out...
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 09:42
deiga-the-semivaliant
Oh goddamn I need one so baaaaaaad...
Itchy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2008 16:41
Itchy
There seems to be a lot of confusion with surrounding these PS3's and Metal Gear.

Steel PS3
40 gig PS3. Limited Edition MGS4 pack. Dualshock 3 controller. NO PS2 compatibility.
Price: $600

Black PS3
80 gig PS3. Normal edition MGS4 pack. Dualshock 3 controller. Near full PS2 compatibility.
Price: $500
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos

    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Crossfire Remote Pistol review
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    more reviews
    Driver
    Avatar
    GT Racing Motor Academy
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50909 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jonathan Holmes: Why No More Heroes HD could mean a Wii total victory





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman    		 Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
         		Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong
    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006