Ayesha Al Khoori
ABU DHABI // Gamers across the Emirates have turned out for the launch of the PlayStation 4.
Some came dressed as video game characters to take part in a contest offering a PS4 as first prize. Others dressed up for the fun of it, and were content to queue for five hours before the console went on sale at midnight.
Shoppers queued up for a midnight launch of Sony’s first console in seven years at the Geekay store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates.
Store manager Zia Ahmed said customers often wear costumes for product launches and one regular customer was dressed as a character from the historical action-adventure game Assassin’s Creed.
But while many customers who pre-ordered the console left shops happy, there were others who were not so pleased when they realised shops did not have enough stock.
“Many customers came in requesting it, mostly teenagers, and they get upset when we can’t sell it to them,” said Nazir Shaikh, senior sales assistant at Jumbo Electronics on Al Falah Road.
“One customer wanted to buy it as a gift for her child and we had to contact our other branches but, unfortunately, we didn’t have any extra.
“Because some customers booked the devices three months ago, they deserve it first, and we gave priority to them.
“Almost 20 pieces were sold within hours and we only have a few left.”
Mr Shaikh said the store had been taking customers’ names and numbers so they can be contacted when a second shipment arrives.
Nate V, the department manager at Virgin Megastore in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wahda Mall, said the day had been “pretty hectic”.
“We had a midnight launch and many customers came in, even though we only opened for one hour,” he said. “They are still coming in throughout the day.”
He estimated that about 3,000 customers had pre-ordered the PlayStation 4, as they had informed shoppers there would be shortages. Virgin Megastores were only supplying consoles to those who pre-ordered.
“There is a worldwide shortage from Sony. Pre-ordering started four months ago, and we informed people that there are limited quantities,” Mr V said.
“[The customers] will be able to purchase them eventually, but not before Christmas.”
Happy customer Mohammed Al Junaibi got his hands on his pre-ordered console from the LuLu Hypermarket in Khalidyah Mall.
“They called me yesterday and told me to come pick it up, I was excited, of course,” Mr Al Junaibi said.
“This is like the equivalent of buying a new car for some people. I find it better than buying a new car.”
He said games such as Call of Duty: Ghost and Battlefield 4 are already released, while Watchdogs, which he said many people are waiting for, would come out soon.
Explaining the gamers’ costumes, Mr Al Junaibi said: “I think it’s fun, especially if you’re young.
“I used to wear costumes a long time ago, the days of Nintendo, although I choose to abstain now since I’m older and I choose to play more mature games.
“Growing up, we didn’t have such events, but now, with online communities, people with the same interests get together and it is easier to find people who play the same games.”
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
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- 600-seat auditorium
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Full time contracts
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Part time contracts
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
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