PS3 looks certain to upset the naysayers who warned that the new console will be a damp squib when it launches on 23 March in Europe as major retailers in the UK have found the console has had lots of pre-orders already.

"PS3 pre-orders are coming in thick and fast. It is the fastest selling games product we have ever sold online and it is shaping up to be our biggest ever pre-order campaign for a console," Gerry Berkley, head of games at Woolworths told games mag GamesIndustry.biz.

According to a Woolworth's press release, the chain was taking a PS3 order every 20 seconds.

Amazon also reported that pre-orders were going well and was certain that the console would be in its top seller list for this year.

But gamers are taking a different view of this news and it appeared that the demand is not as big as made out. One person posting on Kokatu.com said that it wasn't worth parting with £425 when the rest of the world gets it four month's early and for half the price.

"So I'm bored of it, I'm sick to death of hearing about delays, lame excuses for such delays and lame excuses for the massive price," said ElNini in a posted comment to the site.

While the outlook for PS3 doesn't appear to be as bad as first thought, Asda is busying itself for a rush of customer eager to snap up the PS2. The supermarket, owned by Walmart, has cut the cost of the console to £49. The promotion is part of its "Why pay more?" campaign and will last for a week. About a month ago the same supermarket offered DVD players for nine quid. So, it's nice to know that the money you save buying the oldie-but-goodie console can go towards the hideous amount of cash you will have to part with to buy a PS3.