The State Of Wii Preorders

1up has a hilarious article up looking at the state of Wii Preorders across the U.S.. Despite the fact that preorders began (and likely ended) this morning at EBs and Gamestops across the country, the employees of the megalithic game store were less than fully prepared. From the article: "WEST VIRGINIA: GameStop #1330: 'We don't know. I mean, we're gonna be doing reserves. We're just waiting for them to tell us we can.' WISCONSIN: EB Games #4626: 'It looks more like we'll just sell that one. Because there will be 2 to 4 million units available on launch day, and EB/GameStop will be getting 70% of them that first come first serve would be doable. Even a smaller store like ours could be getting upwards of 50 units day one.' WYOMING: EB Games #4294: 'Any day now, man. Any day now.'" Despite my wife's best efforts, I missed out on a preorder by three people in line. Stupid cross-country trips.

Pfft

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not a next-gen launch unless you spend two days urban camping. Harassing "normal" customers, being hasseled by employees, and forts made from shopping carts: That's a launch!!!

Nursery rhymes

[Anonymous Coward]

This little gamer went to Gamestop.
This little gamer went to EB.
This little gamer got a preorder.
This little gamer got none.
This little gamer cried "Wii Wii Wii" all the way home.

Chasing the Wind?

[andphi]

So, it appears that the chances of pre-ordering are Wii-mote?

I don't understand why these game systems are shortaged at launch. 80 or a 100 XBox360s for a town of 130k people? One or two PS3s or Wiis per game store? Are they trying to funnel them through the big box stores? Are they under-estimating demand or trying to create artificial scarcity?

If a car company could only supply one new car of each type per dealer per town, they would look foolish. Why is the same kind of behavior normal when applied to game consoles?

I was first in line.

[gundamstuff]

I showed up at the local ebgames at 9:50 (store opens at 10) I was extremely lucky because there is lack of interest in my neighorhood. I'm black and live in a black neighborhood on the south side of chicago guess the wii aint' gansta enough you know? Two other white guys were there we the only guys in line. So went in and all reserved one wii and zelda. I called back around 11:30 to ask the manager how the preoders were going she only had two left. (she was alloted 12 for the store) Apparently people came all over from illinois even from the far south suburbs. But yeah I got one Whooo am I glad black men love the PS3, if I had been in a white neighborhood I would have been screwed.

Re:Chasing the Wind?

[The MAZZTer]

So, it appears that the chances of pre-ordering are Wii-mote?

Someone should put you in jail for that pun. And then send you to hell. And then put you in some sort of jail they have set up in hell. (Paraphrased from a friend of mine.)

Re:My GameStop was different, I guess.

[Kenshin]

Thanksgiving is going to be awesome this year, having a nice shiny Wii to tote to the in-law's house to show to the kids. :)

Should we notify the authorities ahead of time?

(No, the jokes won't stop.)

Re:Monday for Canadian Wii preorders

[AcidLacedPenguiN]

Well you see, this is all just EB/GameStop's elaborate plan for the next-next-gen console launches: The Pre-pre-order. The idea is to avoid standing in line for your pre-order, so you can put money down in January 2007 for the opportunity to be first in line to put money down on putting money down on the PS4, Xbox 720, or Nintendo's WiiWii.

Re:Pretty organized

[tsalaroth]

Waiting in line to purchase something that doesn't exist yet? Priceless.