Nintendo Wii Launch | The Long Cold Wait (Birmingham)

By Neil Flynn 08.12.2006 19

UK Wii Launch Report (Birmingham)
Neil Flynn :: Friday December 8th 2006


The Wii has become such an unprecedented success for Nintendo in such a short time, that the demand for the console is completely outstripping supply worldwide; it's about time that they re-claim their market share back.

As an Avid Nintendo fan I had to ensure that I received one on launch day, unfortunately being unable to secure a pre-order, my hopes were low. At close to 8pm I felt my chances of getting a launch Wii growing increasingly smaller. However it turns out that UK retailer Gamestation (Birmingham branch) had an order of 580 Wii's with 3 available for general sale and strangely did not fulfil their pre-orders. With this sudden twist of fate I rushed back to my flat, grabbed some food, game and clothes supplies and set out to endure a four hour wait in the British winter.


The Long Cold Wait


I had never been to a Midnight launch before so this was a strange and nerdy experience, packed to the brim full of all sorts of gaming fans from different company camps

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Smilie awsome mate!!! hooray!

Waiting for Wii was scary with hobos, drunks and fanboys but making the trip home was inevitably even scarier knowing I my precious Wii could have been taken by a mugger hiding in the darker areas. However more people were interested in the free 15

I see all these people insulting the Nintendo corporation because of the lack of mature content. Yet there is something about Nintendo (at least their games) that strikes a certain unadulterated feeling of joy!!!  Pokemon Y - 1048-9263-5562

According to IGN about the first 1-2 hours of Twilight princess isn't that good...but after that it becomes like "ZOMG teh beast!!!!!111"

So far i've had 5 mins on wii tennis....and thats it


I want a WII!!!!!!!!

Avoid Games Like the Plague, productivity++

Not telling (Relbmurg)

?

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

i hate everyone who already has a wii.

...yew bastard?

Awesome write-up, Flynnie.

And what's dissapointing about Zelda?

Yup, nice one Flynnie.

( Edited on 09.12.2006 11:25 by nin10do )

Barry Lewis [ nin10do :: General Writer :: Feature Writer :: Fountain of Industry Statistics ]
"We're mentalist psychic Scots, which means we can read your mind. If you're lying, your head explodes and we laugh."

I got Wii yesterday, I wasn't lucky enough to get one at midnight however, I woke up at 5AM in the morning & then left to go to Truro (the local city) at 6AM, then I arrived at 6:45 & spent 15 mins in the rain, but OH WAS IT WORTH IT. They only had 40 Nunchucks in stock, & you couldn't preorder them, so queing was worth it, to think that if I had gone any later, I wouldn't have gotten a Nunchuck!? The horror! So I left the shop with:

A Wii
Wii Play
2 Wiimotes
2 Nunchucks
Wii Sports
Zelda
Yoshi's Island DS

Also, I won the raffle! So I got a copy of NSMB signed by Charles Martinet! Smilie (I already have the game so I'm giving my old box away with the new game Smilie)

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

Jammy sod superlink.

My gamestation only had 1 Wiimote per customer, so I have to get mine today.

Other than that It's been amazing.

So, you couldn't even get Wii Play? Smilie

I didn't buy any extra controllers, it was one Wiimote & Nunchuck per person, but I just got an extra Wiimote with Wii Play Smilie

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

SuperLink said:
I already have the game so Im giving my old box away with the new game Smilie)

To me, yes?Smilie

No really.

For a tenner?

Less posty, more gamey.

Actually, I was thinking of giving it to a friend for free Smilie Smilie

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

Thinking you say? Smilie It's an overrated pastime. Allow me -

Tenner from artmonkey+artmonkey's newfound friendship and respect>nothing from no-one+kicking self when 'friend' ebays copy of NSMB.

The sums speak for themselves.

On topic, nice one Flynnie. Any pics of the Nintendo reps? I want to compare them to Sega ones.

Less posty, more gamey.

Go away! Smilie

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

All I have to say is that I got a Wii, Wii Play and Monkey Ball, for queuing only 2 hours at midnight, with NO PREORDER.

*giggles* ^^

ZeroSimon said:
According to IGN about the first 1-2 hours of Twilight princess isnt that good...but after that it becomes like ZOMG teh beast!!!!!111So far ive had 5 mins on wii tennis....and thats itI want a WII!!!!!!!!

Yea i had hoped that the Wii Tennis would be a bit better but it doesnt seem to offer much. Its quite annoying. However the other Wii sports are great. If anything Wii Tennis is the worst of Wii Sports

Benmeister said:
Awesome write-up, Flynnie. And whats dissapointing about Zelda?

It just doesnt feel magical....albeit i have not given it enough time. I think my expectations far surpass the actual game. It could still be good. Infact you get a good treat in the first couple of mins.

SuperLink said:
I got Wii yesterday, I wasnt lucky enough to get one at midnight however, I woke up at 5AM in the morning & then left to go to Truro (the local city) at 6AM, then I arrived at 6:45 & spent 15 mins in the rain, but OH WAS IT WORTH IT. They only had 40 Nunchucks in stock, & you couldnt preorder them, so queing was worth it, to think that if I had gone any later, I wouldnt have gotten a Nunchuck!? The horror! So I left the shop with:A WiiWii Play2 Wiimotes2 NunchucksWii SportsZeldaYoshis Island DSAlso, I won the raffle! So I got a copy of NSMB signed by Charles Martinet! Smilie (I already have the game so Im giving my old box away with the new game Smilie)

How lucky, i went back into Gamestation on friday daytime to look for another game , perhaps Call of Duty or Red Steel. Perhaps some one who has both could tell me which is better? I wanted a nunchuck but they sold out of pretty much everything. Wii motes, TV cables, Nunchucks etc. They still had Zelda in stock though...

I got to meet Charles Martinet! So Smilie

artmonkey said:

On topic, nice one Flynnie. Any pics of the Nintendo reps? I want to compare them to Sega ones.

Unfortunately i never thought about writing up until later on in the morning. So i didnt snap any pics. I should have talked to GOD before i left and taken my Digi Cam. Shame i know. Let me tell you though there was one or two fitties, the others were meh.

knighty said:
All I have to say is that I got a Wii, Wii Play and Monkey Ball, for queuing only 2 hours at midnight, with NO PREORDER.*giggles* ^^

Me too No preorder. Although double that waiting time, Ohh well still same result!

I'm waiting in my nice warm house for a whoop-off stupid Parcelforce van to pull up. I reckon it wont come till Tuesday now. They really are the worst company in the world.

awww unlucky mate! from where did you order your Wiiiiiiii Smilie

I see all these people insulting the Nintendo corporation because of the lack of mature content. Yet there is something about Nintendo (at least their games) that strikes a certain unadulterated feeling of joy!!!  Pokemon Y - 1048-9263-5562

It just doesnt feel magical....albeit i have not given it enough time. I think my expectations far surpass the actual game. It could still be good. Infact you get a good treat in the first couple of mins.

Oh shit, I hope that doesn't happen with me Smilie

( Edited on 10.12.2006 00:34 by Benmeister )

C.O.C.K.Z. said:
awww unlucky mate! from where did you order your Wiiiiiiii Smilie

Amazon, but it's not thier fault because they dispatched it on time. It's Parcelforce fault and they haven't even tryed to attempt to deliver it, it's just been sitting in the depot since 5:00am Friday mornig and hasn't moved since. It was ment to come last Friday (8th launch day of the Wii) as well, but now it's looking more like Tuesday.

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