Wii Launches, Sells Out Peacefully

porcupine8 writes "Like the Playstation 3, the Nintendo Wii sold out on launch day this weekend. Unlike the PS3, the launch was a peaceful affair with no reports yet of console-related violence in the US. This may be partially due to the fact that Nintendo promises to have a total of four million units in stores by Christmas, with the bulk of those going to North America. Midnight launch parties on both the east and west coasts ushered the new console in with a bang." Please, if you've managed to snag a Wii yourself, share your opinions below! Update: 11/20 17:25 GMT by Z : A few quick impressions from 24 hours of owning a Wii, and some links on the subject if you Read More.

All I have to say so far is pretty positive. I snagged Rayman Raving Rabbids, Zelda, and (on a lark) Red Steel. I haven't had the heart to play Red Steel yet, but Rayman is a great, quirky mini-game game. I think this format is going to be pretty common for the Wii, and I'm actually looking forward to it. Zelda is ... Zelda. I really, really like it, but if you're getting tired of the same old thing you're going to be disappointed. My big complaint is the glacially slow internet connection. I have never owned a Genesis, and so wanted to snag Sonic for some cheap laughs. Purchasing Wii points took about half an hour, and I never actually managed to download the game (despite having paid for it). I'm hoping that today, with less hammering on the servers, I'll have more luck. Expect a more complete review next week. In the mean time, Chris Kohler at Game|Life has had a Wii since last week, and has some considered opinions on its launch issues, and a bit more specifically on virtual console problems.

That just means...

[Anonymous Coward]

That Wii gamers are peace-loving pansies, and PS3 users are bad-ass tough guys.

Therefore PS3 games will be cooler.

-PS3 fanboy, loal x 3

xkcd

[TheRagingTowel]

This one nailed it: Console Lines [xkcd.com]

Long queues reported for a Wii...

[phase_9]

And there was me thinking it was just women who suffered from this social problem... :P

It has its very own

[sa1lnr]

form of violence. http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s= &threadid=2183346 [somethingawful.com]

Re:Resell

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't understand the meaning of this word. Resell? Wii? Huh?

financial incentives

[theMerovingian]

That's because the robbers make roughly 60% less money for each unit of felonious prison sentence.

No way would I go to jail for 10-25 years just to make $250. But, for $600 it starts to look more attractive.

Stop calling /. editors Wii fanboys

[A beautiful mind]

You don't know what is a fanboy until you read this:

The first buyer, Isaiah Triforce Johnson, had been waiting outside the store for more than a week. He wore a Nintendo Power Glove, a wearable controller that came out in 1989, while shaking hands with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. Johnson said he had legally changed his name to include a reference to Nintendo's "Zelda" series of games.

The difference is...

[91degrees]

Ninntendo fans are violent psychos who take potshots at their natural enemies - Sony customers. Sony customers are much more docile and peaceful.

Any word about Cartman ...

[Anonymous Coward]

getting his hands on the Wii? I hope the poor fella stayed be patient for 2 months and did not end up freezing himself to the future all over again ... those atheists are pretty nasty creatures to deal with.

console-related violence

[flyingsquid]

No violence? Yeah right. While I was waiting for a Wii someone actually jumped on my head. As if that wasn't enough, he then threw a turtle shell at me.

Re:That just means...

[rlbond86]

or PS3 users just don't realize they're getting ripped off -Only spent $250 on his console

Re:As I expected

[Techguy666]

'm sure no one camped out for a week for the Wii (like so many did for the PS3)

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNew s/20061119/nintendo_wii_061119/20061120?hub=SciTec h [www.ctv.ca] Isaiah Triforce Johnson camped for *more* than a week. Wearing a Nintendo Power Glove. Of course, if you legally change your name to reference Zelda, of course you're expected to do crazy things.

Re:Internet connection issues?

[Jarlsberg]

But since it's Nintendo, even connection errors is really FUN, aren't they? ;P

Re:console-related violence

[sammy baby]

Hey asshole, I'm the guy who jumped on your head. You want to know what sucked most of all?

When I finally got to the front of the line, there was a sign that said, "We've sold out of Wiis, try another castle."

Re:Resell

[Dragon of the Pants]

Actually, Nintendo won the profit war the second the first PS3 was sold. :p $0.00 > -$300.00.

Re:Whoops

[ack154]

One thing that can be said about a lot of internet users is that they take a lot of cheap shots at people just to boost their ego.

I fixed that for you...

Re:Craigslist

[OS24Ever]

My favorite so far was an eBay auction that was starting at $100,000 because he was a solider that had been deployed to Iraq and wasn't going to be home with his family for Christmas because he just got back and was being re-deployed. PIcture is of a guy in fatigues with a little boy holding the box. The cynic in me thought anyone can buy fatigues and claim that.

Re:European market

[Chibi Merrow]

as long as you don't end up punching people while waving your arms around like an idiot

Speaking from experience... My fiance stabbed me twice while she was playing Zelda and I was sitting on the couch next to her doing work... Thankfully the Wiimote is rather blunt, so no real damage done... But you have been warned!

-Chris B

Re:Wii Launch Not Going Very Well

[cloudwilliam]

Don't be too hard on the AC. After all, I heard that use of the Wii caused cancer in lab rats. (I don't have a link, but my word on a Slashdot forum ought to be good enough.) And to be fair, the reviews of Twilight Princess weren't all superlative. The worst one I read--at Gamespot--called it merely "great." Sheesh.

And as far as hardware/software glitches, I'd have to say BFD. I'm not aware of any industrial manufacturing process that produces 100% flawless materials. And, as the AC pointed out, the incidents of problems are far below those reported for the 360. I'd have to say that's...pretty good. Of course, I haven't seen any numbers for the PS3, but then again, I don't hate it (or the 360). So I haven't been trolling for any bad news, no matter how insignificant, to feed my resentment over an emotional involvement with a gaming console.

Re:console-related violence

[Anonymous Coward]

No violence? Yeah right. While I was waiting for a Wii someone actually jumped on my head. As if that wasn't enough, he then threw a turtle shell at me.

I think you've been eating too many mushrooms.

Re:console-related violence

[HoboMaster]

First it turned into a monster and hopped away, then it said the REAL Wii was in the next castle. Rinse, repeat x8.

Re:xkcd

[HoboMaster]

The Best Buy by my house took a full hour after opening to sell out. I'd meant to get there half an hour before opening, but due to an exceptionally crazy saturday night, was in no condition to get up when my alarm went off.

More proof that alcohol is bad, kids: if you drink, you don't get a Wii.

Re:Big Brother Mario is watching?

[cloricus]

Haha if my attempt at fishing in Zelda at the shopping centre on the coast was anything to go on I doubt it. Nintendo has no reason or interest in watching people fail pathetically! :P Grr now to get my hands on a Wii when they get to Australia!

Re:Wii Launch Not Going Very Well

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm confused... why do you people always ask the Sony fanboys for Link?

Re:Resell

[JamesTRexx]

You mean like this? VG Cats take on the consoles [vgcats.com]

Re:Craigslist

[AcidLacedPenguiN]

You're damn right, speaking as a university student I'd sell my blood for cereal money if I could. Those suckers at Red Cross aren't going to get my blood for free you know.

Re:xkcd

[rackhamh]

More proof that alcohol is bad, kids: if you drink, you don't get a Wii.

To the contrary, I find that the more I drink, the more I Wii.

Re:xkcd

[HoboMaster]

See, that's because you brok the seal. =P

The big secret: Sony selling the ebay machines

[virtcert]

Here's my conspiracy theory for the day:

Sony shipped only a small number of units just to whet the appetite of the public.
They are keeping the remaining stock to sell on eBay themselves for thousands of dollars each.

They finally figured out there's no point in selling the first runs at retail when they can get much more revenue with a small 'official' distribution, and then make the big money themselves instead of letting scalpers have all the profits.

Now, pass me my tinfoil hat and tell me I'm wrong...

Re:The big secret: Sony selling the ebay machines

[bberens]

Yeah, little did they know that ebay would require 50 positive feedbacks before they let you sell a PS3. There's no way Sony could get 50 positive feedbacks.