How to Resolve Wii Envy

Dear Gothamist,

I'm sure there are other people who want Wiis but are much too cool to wait in line or fight for one. But they're still hard to come by. I need me some citizen journalism action on this issue. Where are people getting Wiis, if anywhere?

- Wah Wah Wii Wii

It's so true. The Nintendo Wii has been out for almost two weeks, but they are still moving off the shelves almost as fast as they are being stocked (600,000 units have been sold so far!). We asked a few Wii owners and potential Wii owners for their strategies and thoughts:

Wii Wanter: I spoke to the Nintendo World Store today [Wednesday] and they said that they get them every morning, but they sell out within an hour. The guy said the person to get the last one was there at 5:30AM.

Wii Owner #1: [When asked where to find a Wii] In my living room, bitches! We suffered in line launch Sunday (and failed) and returned the next morning. But yeah, Nintendo World is the only game in town. Bring Cocoa.

Wii Owner #2: I went to Toys R Us at 3AM on Black Friday. No Wii shipment, by 5:30AM, then security kicked us out at 7:30AM. But I went back at 9:30PM at night and they had them - one per customer.

Maybe Wii Wanter: Stopped by the Nintendo World Store this morning [yesterday, Thursday 11/30]. Got there at 8:40, maybe down a third of the block, 50 people a head of me? By 9:10 they came around saying they were sold out. More tomorrow at 8am they say.

Our best guess: If you want a Wii, you need to brave the elements (hey, part of owning a Wii is the interaction!). Plan on going to the Nintendo World Store early - they seem like the one place consistently getting Wiis. You might have to plan on going another day, too, as the lines seem unpredictable. It's hard to say how early, because the holidays are coming up, people are probably more willing to wait on line during the weekends, and parents are rabid to get Jimmy and Jilly whatever they want on their holiday lists.

Elbow grease is necessary in order to eventually get Wii Elbow, so suck it up, dress appropriately and be nice to your fellow people in line because you never know when you'll need spot on line saved so you can run to a Starbucks for the bathroom.

Do you have any tips for Wii consumerism?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 1, 2006 1:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Tim

Can anyone confirm, does the NWS get shipments every day? A friend and I plan on staking them out tonight/tomorrow morning.

citylion

I was on line monday at around 5:30am. No dice for me.

More interesting news is that people that were in more towards the front of the line were offering their spots up for $50.

The store gave out tickets at around 7:30am for as many units as they would have available and then told the rest of the line to go home.

Tough cookies.

I overheard that the first person in line was camped out in front of the store from around 1am with a tent and all.

dee

I am going to offer some of what i've learned in past weeks trying to get 1. Best buys get shipments for sunday mornings. get there EARLY... check daily @12 noon at gamestop & EBgames (same company) their UPS comes between 2pm-4pm with only 4-8 in each shipment. Walmart and target get higher quantities per shipment but you have to go face to face and pester the employees while making friends w/ them to find out when they get theirs. EACH OF THESE PLACES SHOULD HAVE 2-3 more shipments b4 Xmas. I have 1 on EBAY

rj

I have a wii and it gets me in shape more than actual exercise actually, expecially wii sports. I truthfull am a fit person but the wii usually leaves my muscles aching after a few hours of playing wii tennis or wii bowling.

Erik

How do you get a Wii?

Let's just say: it helps to know someone who's in a relevant industry.

^_^

mc

Sorry. Lost my quotes somehow.

m [11],

You've made Rodney's point perfectly.

Your statement implies that parents have some sort of undeniable obligation to get kids either exactly what they've asked for and/or what's hot currently.

As if you'd be a bad parent for not getting one.

That's pretty fucked.

Kids are doomed.

Isn't that the truth?

Consumerism, people, consumerism.

Mé

Jason:

m [11],

You've made Rodney's point perfectly.

Your statement implies that parents have some sort of undeniable obligation to get kids either exactly what they've asked for and/or what's hot currently.

As if you'd be a bad parent for not getting one.

That's pretty fucked.

Kids are doomed.

Isn't that the truth?

Consumerism, people, consumerism.

Rachel

>>>Our launch night. Waited for 10 hours on the street at night to pick up our preorder at Nintendo World Store.

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a preorder?

I

Matthew

Our launch night. Waited for 10 hours on the street at night to pick up our preorder at Nintendo World Store.

Matthew

Our launch night. Waited for 10 hours on the street at night to pick up our preorder at Nintendo World Store.

Angry Asian

I just walked into Toys R Us in Times Square and picked one up last week. They got like 5,000 units in. They're probably all sold out though.

Some young guy

#9, don't generalize please. You're thinking of the Playstation 3 craze. I haven't seen anyone try to maim or kill over a Wii. Yet. However, as someone who takes his visits to the park like a good boy, I must say playing Wii Sports is actually a pretty decent workout.

Jason McElroy

m [11],

You've made Rodney's point perfectly.

Your statement implies that parents have some sort of undeniable obligation to get kids either exactly what they've asked for and/or what's hot currently.

As if you'd be a bad parent for not getting one.

That's pretty fucked.

Kids are doomed.

m

Rodney--I had a Nintendo when I was 7 and I am a size 2 who works out twice a day...mostly by running in the park or cycling outdoors.

A gaming console does not a fat lazy drone make.

Rodney P. Sweetchops

No #11, I'll tell my children that "Santa" doesn't want them to become fat lazy drones and buy them a sled or ice skates instead.

will

[9] funny, i tend to think of people who channel naomi klein without irony as "brainwashed sheep"

m

Rodney--are you going to be there on Christmas morning to explain why Santa didn't bring a Wii? Are you going to tell them that it's not that they were naughty, it's that Santa didn't want them to become a 'brainwashed sheep'?

Get over yourself.

meg

I saw a guy on the subway with a Wii. His bag was from J&R.

Rodney P. Sweetchops

Seriously all you mindless consumers who salivate over a fucking GAME CONSOLE and will do anything to get your hands on one have some sort of mental disorder. Are we so brainwashed by our corporate masters that we have to wait in line for hours, behave like absolute assholes and treat our fellow humans like trash for this product? This product that may bring us a few hours of enjoyment but will ultimately be thrown aside and forgotten in favor of the "next big thing" that they shove down our throats.

Get a grip and go to the park, stop turning the human race into a bunch of brainwashed sheep.

fayzex

From what I hear, all major electronics retailers (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.) will be receiving a very large shipment of Wiis this Sunday. From the stories I've read, managers hesitate to announce these things for fear of a stampede, so go ask to speak to the manager of whatever store you visit and quietly inquire if he has any Wiis for you... Also, Nintendo World and Toys R Us (the one in Times Square) receives the largest shipments.