Today was probably my fifth attempt to purchase a Wii and I spent 2 hours looking for one. I went to a Best Buy, 2 Circuit Citys, a K Mart, Target, EBGames, and Toys R Us. None of them had a Wii system. But they all had something else in common. At each store I saw PS3 and Xbox 360 systems on the shelves. I had the most luck at the Toys R Us, because at least they could give me some solid info. They told me to check on Saturdays because they get Wii systems early on Sunday mornings. The other stores did not know when their shipments arrive; they claimed Wii systems come in randomly, nor is the amount known.

None of my friends have ever seen a Wii on a store shelf. The one that does have a Wii had to wait in line several hours.

Then just buy a 360.

The one time I saw Wiis on the store shelf was when I got mine the first day it came out.  Since December, I've seen PS3s on the shelf, but no Wiis.  Even just casually glancing, I still have not caught a glimpse of them.  But I know they're being constantly produced because my friends have steadily been acquiring them, so keep up the tenacity!

I saw some at my local Best Buy (I think?) and at a local Wal Mart last month.  I haven't seen sales numbers in a while; I'm curious how well they are selling to keep Nintendo from having stock on shelves.

Wii is cheaper. ;p

I've seen some, just from casually glancing both at various Wal-Marts and Gamestops, but hardly what I'd call "plentiful" supplies. PS3, on the other hand...I think my local Wal-Mart has had the same ones displayed in the case for ages.

Yeah, I still have not seen an actual, live Wii for sale yet.  The only Wii I have seen in real life was at my friend's house last Christmas.

Which brings to mind this Penny Arcade strip:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/02/10

Can you reserve one by prepaying in full?

My local video game shop is selling a Wii bundle pack (Wii, extra Wii-mote + Nunchuck, two games, and accessory clip-on pack) for $499. They refuse to sell any of it seperately.

Also saw a Japanese model in Chinatown recently on one of my excursions to try and find some Gundam merch (go figure. Ultra rare video game console, but no f---ing action figures).

I like the Wii controller. I like Zelda, Mario, and Resident Evil 4. Microsoft makes operating systems. I like their operating systems.

I don't think June NPD data is out yet, but in May, the U.S. chart went like so:

DS -- 423,000
Wii -- 338,000
PSP -- 221,000
PS2 -- 188,000
360 -- 155,000
PS3 -- 82,000

I'm a Linux guy myself.
Don't really care for Windows that much.

Does anyone really "like" windows? Isn't it just a mean to an ends, a necessary evil?

The amount of time I spent with Vista proved Microsoft isn't happy unless it changes fifthteen million %&)*ing things around that were fine to begin with. Why fix what ain't broken and fix what IS broken... oh wait never mind... there's no money in that.

Hey cool, I thought I'm the only one. =P

Why not order one from an online retailer, I wonder?

I'm a Amiga guy all the way ^^

I've tried, but I can't find one that doesn't offer a 'package deal'. Amazon has Wii systems, but you have to pay a heavily padded price. It retails for $250, which means I'm willing to pay that amount plus the sales tax, and possibly shipping. One of my friends did see a Wii on a store shelf, but I don't count that because the store would not let him buy it. It was an Ebgames and they wanted to sell it as a 'package only', with a bunch of stuff you either don't want or need.

My question is, why are the stores legally allowed to do this? If you demand that they sell the system separately, why are they allowed to not listen to the customer? It's not an unreasonable demand.

I can afford to buy a package deal from Ebgames right now. But I refuse to buy one because I thoroughly disagree with the concept. I don't want any retailer to think that what they do is acceptable.

Quite honestly I didn't think they were allowed to do that.

A store doesn't legally have to sell you anything.

-Joshua

If an item is in display in the store and you want to buy it, the store can't legally refuse to let you buy it, unless it's a demo or decoration I suppose. That would be false advertisement and you could even push for discrimination (why would they let someone else buy it but not you?). So if you saw EBgames advertise the price for the system only, either in-store, online or in a publicity pamflet, they have to let you buy it. If not, if it was always advertised as a bundle, you're out of luck, as a store can sell any item at any price regardless of the suggested retail price.

One of many lowlife EB practices that make me ashamed to have worked for them for seven months...Was a Game Doctor part of the Wii package? My manager seriously considered that for our old PS2 bundles (since those were practically the only things that the District Manager looked at, saleswise). Making people buy a 2 year extended warranty with the system helped us get that quota up though...

I didn't get a straight answer when I asked my manager if we were legally allowed to force the customer to buy a bundle instead of just the console. Some (read: every single one) customers were pretty POed when we explained they had to buy a bundle deal and more than one did make the claim it was illegal.

This may be relevant:  http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14397

An interesting quote:  "As I understand bundling, the primary reason for it is because there's no margin to be had on the hardware. So, retailers oftentimes by the time they stock a product and get it from the distribution centers to their stores and onto the store shelves are actually losing money on the hardware itself, not altogether different from the hardware manufacturers," (Hal) Halpin(,  former head of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association) explained.

The Game Doctor would actually fall outside of the realm of legality, according to part of that article I linked above, but controllers and games are not.  You can argue that they are forcing you to buy 3rd party accessories or bundling games that you would otherwise not choose, and that you could agree to meet the minimum equivalent that they are requiring if given the option to substitute... say, swap Madden 07 for Excite Truck or Elebits or Wii Play (Wii Play could also substitute for a controller too). 

The argument could go that Nintendo is forcing Wii Sports on the masses, which actually could be reason enough to bring suit against Nintendo by either consumer or 3rd party advocates.  Wasn't Nintendo challenged for bundling 1st party games with systems before?  I believe that was why for most of the time consumers have an option to get a standalone system or one bundled with software.  I do think, at least this time, in Nintendo's defense that Wii Sports is an excellent tutorial/demonstration for the Wiimote.

I had a dream in which I was in a lake with some other people. A giant crocodile, perhaps 500 feet long, was lurking in the lake. We were so small compared to the crocodile that we made baby crocodile noises. It swam alongside us and we crawled onto its back. Eventually, it cajoled us into its mouth, to offer protection against the male also lurking in the lake. Anyway, I suddenly woke up and noticed it was 9:57 AM. So much for getting there early. So I evacuated my bladder, got dressed, grabbed my credit card and headed to Toys R Us. There was a small gathering of people and I waited roughly 10 minutes before it was my turn to indulge in unnecessary materialistic acquisitions. I forgot all about a memory card and the charging station I had previously decided to buy. I now have a Wii, so that little part of my brain that wants one can finally shut the f--- up. I'll be heading back to Toys R Us to get the stuff I forgot and later on, see what this new Hyrule has to offer and also send zombie skull fragments in various directions....

Edit:

Total price was $462.08...I got...

  -System
  -Zelda TP
  -RE4
  -Nyko Charger
  -1 GB Memory Stick
  -Component Cable

No Wiis near me either...did any other console ever have this much shortage? I was gonna try TRU today but I woke up a bit too late... at 2pm. I figured they were sold out by then, and a call confirmed it. Oh well, maybe next time. I'm not rabidly interested in anything until MP3 comes out, I hope I can find one by then.

edit: I thought Amazon was the cheapest available...no tax (where I live at least), no shipping. You just pay strictly the base price. Unfortunately Amazon's Wii sell out in the blink of an eye, and you never know when a batch will suddenly appear.

I got my Wii on a launch date(costco), but after I played my TP and Wii Sports, some excitetruck, I sold it maybe two weeks later.
great console with not so many appealing games yet, I will buy it again this november with MP3, SMG and SSBB.

Heh, interesting dream... perhaps subconsciously you're scared of your fellow males (or some of them anyway) and feel the need to take comfort with a mother-like female. Well, that's the most obvious interpretation, but only you really know Anyway, congrats on getting your hands on a Wii! That price does seem a bit high, I'm guessing you purchased it as a package and they jacked-up the price (how annoying), but you have one so you can be happy!

cheers,

-avatar!

Actually, I don't know! In my normal dreams, I'm decidedly prey. But this time I had a helper! I don't know what the hell that means. I have to admit, it was pretty damn clever of us to make those alarm clock type noises that baby crocodiles make. How do I think of this stuff? Anyway, the Wii is rather happy on my TV stand. It told me itself, "Twas an unpleasant time in the storeroom. Didn't know what sort of owner I would get. Heard about the Wii Smasher. We all know about him. Anyway, your biological presence is most warming and approvable and I hope one day, possibly, you will bring me the head of the Wii Smasher."

Just got a Wii today. Am currently watching my girlfriend kick the shit out of a Jesus lookalike in Wii Sports Boxing.

Any game recommendations? I have RE4 Wii Edition, and have already played through Twilight Princess on the 'Cube . . .

Rayman and WarioWare are solid Wii rentals. Trauma Center looked good to me, but my brother said it was almost the same as the DS version just with a lower difficulty.

Not much out yet that I'd consider paying full price for (other than VC downloads).

Maybe Mario, although a lot of people here don't seem to have enjoyed it.

cheers,

-avatar!

From what I understand, Trauma Center is a fair bit different from the DS one.  A friend of mine who played both said that the actual way of doing a lot of the operations has changed.  Additionally, apparently the final normal chapter is completely new and takes place after the final chapter of the DS game.  Then of course there are the "Z" missions with Nozomi Weaver.  Does anyone know if the extremely hard bonus missions you unlock after finishing the game were in the DS one?

Regardless, I personally haven't played the DS Trauma Center, but I can heartily recommend the Wii one.  It's a bit on the short side, but I had an absolute blast playing it.

Yes, after you beat the DS game (which is long and challenging itself) you unluck the boss missions which are crazy hard!

cheers,

-avatar!