LONDON: Computer games fans slept on the floor of a London store on Thursday to be among the first in Europe to buy Sony’s PlayStation 3 console, despite concerns over its price.

A small group of shoppers snatched a few hours’ rest in sleeping bags at the Virgin Megastore and enjoyed a sneak preview of a motor racing game before the machine goes on sale at midnight.

But there was little sign of the frenzy that surrounded its launch in the United States and Japan last year when thousands queued or camped outside stores.

Only a handful of gamers were queuing at major London stores early on Thursday. Police have raised concerns about young people being mugged for their consoles at late-night launches.

First in the queue at the Virgin Megastore was student Ritatsu Thomas, 17, who arrived at 5am on Wednesday with his own sleeping bag. He has passed the time playing computer games on a huge TV in the store’s basement.

Most of his friends want one of the new consoles, but have been put off by its 425-pound price tag, he said.

“They want to buy it but don’t have the money. A lot of people are opting for the Wii/360 combo,” he said referring to friends who have bought two consoles made by Sony’s rivals.

Buying a basic version of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 for about 200 pounds and Nintendo’s Wii for 180 pounds would still be cheaper than buying Sony’s offering.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable said British consumers were being “charged over the odds” because the Sony machine costs less in the United States.—Reuters