I dont know many details but it seems Sony launched the PS3 in Russia on 4/20. Official launch numbers are unknown but from the video on youtube they seemed to be well stocked and it seemed in the one store its successful. Theres about as many people in the store as there are consoles. What do you guys think?

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ0wjjLJmAY

LOL nobody buys consoles in Russia unless the modchip is available to play pirated games. Usually the console is sold with the modchip already installed. The only game market that has to some extent overcome piracy is PC gaming because of radically reduced prices. Legitimate copies of localized PC games are sold for $10-15. This is the maximum that can be charged for the game, otherwise people would buy a $5 pirate disc or just download the game from the internet (many internet providers connect their users with a LAN which typically contains huge repositories of pirated softare, games, music and movies).  Russian market won't save the PS3 - that's for sure.

I see full shelves, and why is it that I do not see anyone walking out with a system or purchasing one??

I agree with dedoslav.

You can buy any VideoGame/DVD/CD outside the metro stations in moscow for 100-200 ruble (€3-6 ).

I see limited sales without mod chips.

@dedoslav & Kzin

do you think the wii sells better because you can buy a modchip for it ?

or are people in russia not interested in the wii ? 

@Vienna

Not too sure on the whole as I am not in Russia now. I am in Canada, just happen to visit my girlfriends family in Moscow once in a while.

She is actually in Moscow right now and she said that while she was shopping for a new laptop last week, she saw quite a few Wii's available in the stores.

She said she almost bought her mom a Wii instead of a new laptop :P

On that note, are the Consoles and Games sold in russia, the same format as the rest of Europe?

well i think that russia got the pal wii

the have SECAM in russia and for example: france has SECAM too. france got the pal wii

please, if iam wrong - someone correct me :)

 ...  ... if you noticed on the video it has times... the launch didnt start till 20:00 at the end it showed the beginning of start of sales... everyone in there was waiting till the store let the launch begin. 

Looked pretty good for Sony, but in the other hand, it was the same thing in Japan and US at launch.

Russia would be a good indicator about how new control methods sell against raw power, high-end graphics and strong brand. If we only could get accurate sales numbers. And this is because of how unequal people at Russia are by their income, theres basically no middle-class. Those people who can afford Wii, most propably can easilly afford the PS3 and vise versa.

And just as said, Russian videogame sales lives pretty much from piracy. Just like most of the ex-eastern block -countries VG sales also. :)

Vienna: If i recall, SECAM is pretty much compatible with PAL, so i think you are right.