Gamers have begun to queue at London's Virgin Megastore for the launch of the PlayStation 3 at midnight.

First in line was 17 year-old London student Ritatsu Thomas who has been at the store since 5am, March 21.

“I’ve never been first in the queue, I went to the Wii launch but got there too late so I thought to myself this time I want to be first”, Ritatsu told website Pocket-Int.

Just 10 people had arrived at Virgin Megastore by midday, but with 12 hours still to go a spokesman for the firm said they expect hundreds to turn up later today.

The first 150 gamers picking up a PS3 at Virgin will also receive a free copy of Resistance: Fall of Man.

Meanwhile, HMV has announced it will hand out free copies of Virtua Tennis 3 to the first 150 people buying a PS3 from their Oxford Street store, which opens its doors at 7.30am tomorrow morning.