Actually, you might be able to buy a Wii - Nintendo News

"There are many hundreds of retailers across the UK who do not take pre-orders and as such will have stock available from launch,"

Please name one in London!

Good luck finding a

* nunchuck
* rgb cable
* classic controller
* super monkey ball

though. I've never understood why this happens with console launches, surely now is the time to provide the extras while people are laying out a fair sum of money?

Either people are buying this because they can't get a PS3, or there's a massive demand for a cut-down motion-based console like the Wii or both. Whatever it is, no one can claim the public only buys cutting edge high tech games systems.

Well goodluck to you guys, I'm sure they'll be quite a few of us disappointed tomorrow, this reminds me of the lauch of the N64, when it came out back in '97.

One shop around here preorderd 600, they got 10. Even the big retail chains don't get many. So, I seriously doubt that you can pick one up.

/cancels preorder

My concern is now the fact that I've arranged a 4-player marathon session for tomorrow but only pre-ordered 1 remote, figuring I could just nip into town and pick some up, but am now hearing that nobody has any.

Supermarkets are the only options as far as I can see, unless anywhere like Comet is getting them in and hasn't been doing pre-orders?

I just can't understand all the fuss over this.

Bizarre.

Imagine it, some people might have to get one a day or two after christmas!
Its an outrage i tell you, whoever is responsible should be bought to justice!

Well imagine the PS3 euro launch then wen it comes, wot, with just a few months left, it's gonna be PS3-mania all round the country x100! LOL

Tonka: Haha, good one. Made me giggle :)

Zomoniac: Yeah, I'm in the same boat (up Wii creek without 4 wands?). Think I'm gonna have to have a drive around tomorrow to see if there's anywhere doing them. Will hopefully get WiiPlay tho so that's at least 2 I'll have.

Get a quote from that mad ginger bitch who's the CEO of Nintendo Europe, let's have a laugh.

Peej

I have a PS3 pre-ordered with Gamestation since May, I wonder if I'll get it... for launch (whenever that happens)

Whatever it is, no one can claim the public only buys cutting edge high tech games systems.

'Cutting edge' isn't just about who has the most polycounts and gigaflops and mippety-maps and hippety-hops, yaknow.

On a related note. Apparently the Wii remote is bluetooth based. Clever people have been meddling with PC connectivity.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=asY_I8y6C0M
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vp1_pZ-AteA

Yeah... might. If you managed to find one of the places that actually has the damn things and doesn't already have mile long queues.

More info.

http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie

"I just can't understand all the fuss over this. "

have you played one yet?

You're going to be buying a new Nintendo console within 3 years and you know it. But at that price, it's easier to swallow I guess.

*sigh, PS3 fanboys, just like the PS2 games, akward camera angles, akward controls and now no rumble feature in the pads, sounds like lots of fun.

Don't get me wrong, I use to own a PS2 (and then caught myself on), and they're were a few good games for it, plus there looks to be a few good games on the new console, but not that many.

I think I'll be buying an Xbox 360 as my second console, in about a year or two, not going anywhere near that PS3.

To be fair to Nintendo, I think certain retailers haven't helped the situation with confused information to customers (e.g. Woolworths sending emails confirming despatch, closely followed by emails about stock shortages / delays until the new year).

Zomoniac : I've got two pre-orders in, one from Woolies, one from Comet. Haven't heard a peep out of Comet, unsurprisingly.

I agree, Play.com where taking bookings for months, and just last week all the harware for the Wii was sold out, plus the Zelda game. I assumed that once these items were "sold out", it meant that anyone who had booked any hardware or the Zelda game, were going to be getting one on launch.

My gf is getting me the Wii as an Xmas present, and we're picking it up from game tomorrw, but now I have to see if I can get over £200 + worth of games and accessoires, that I had previously ordered from Play.com. I'm really annoyed with them, I thought tey were mre professional than that.

"To be fair to Nintendo,"

Oh yes Nintendo are only doing it for the love of gaming and any fuckups can't possibly be their fault. It was probably the evil US retailers hijacking Euro shipments and diverting them that meant the US had such a good launch and we're getting the shaft...again.

"Supermarkets are the only options as far as I can see"

My local Asda isn't getting any.

No mention of them having thousands of Wii's stuck in Germany then? This statement is a bit of a kick in the teeth considering thousands of us have literally just been let down on guarenteed pre-orders.

I can't understand the fuss over these shortages. My local Game seemed laid back about availability, and I've been able to preorder a Wii and several games with (seemingly) no problem at all. They've even been relaxed about picking up my Wii, saying just pop in whenever, Friday or Saturday, and I'll be able to pick up my bundle.

The only thing I wasn't able to reserve were any additional Wiimote's or nunchucks, as they said they weren't sure how many they were getting. But they do have copies of Wii Play, one of which I've added to my bundle, so I'm happy.

When I pop in, I'll just see what they have and maybe try to get another two Wiimotes and another nunchuck. But at the moment two Wiimotes and a single nunchuck is all I need. I'd rather not spend too much on a bunch of Wiimotes that I'm not going to use that much at the moment anyway.

good luck with Play - they screwed me on my 360 order after confirming categorically with me on the phone in July that I was allocated one and would get it on launch day or even day before.

I got it eventually mid/late January.

They also cocked up my oblivion preorder.

Now I'll go to a highstreet shop if I want anything on launch day.

EBay seem to have been given the lions share of machines the price they are going for is insane £400+ for basic package.. Considers selling pre order!!

I know a retail shop in MAN that will have a few Wiis in store at launch and doesn't take preorders.

I'm not telling but if I found one (I've only been in england for a year) there must be more than one.

So does anyone know where these fabled stores are that will have stock tomorrow?

I sure as hell can't think of one, but now Nintendo have let me down by getting mine stuck in Germany I have all day to search for one in the stores.

Meh, mines going to be delivered so I don't care. Anyone know if you can play Virtual Console games without the classic controller?..didn't order one with my console like a donkey...

"Good luck finding a

* nunchuck
* rgb cable
* classic controller
* super monkey ball "

all wrong on that except the RGB cable.

My mums going in to get me one tmo. Im number 31 on the list in game. getting it for xmas so wont be able to play it till then! SUCKS!!

Nearly three weeks after the Wii's release in the US, you've got to be one lucky bastard to find one on a store shelf.

toysRus are first come first served where i live.

so i will be there before it opens hopeing to get one of the 8 they have.

@ Darkedge

sorry to here that mate, i've been using play for years and have (touch wood) never had a problem with them...

Play.Com have emailed me to say that they have posted my Wii today.... however, I have also recieved emails saying that Zelda and the 2nd Nunchuk that I ordered cant be supplied at launch! - Fan-fuckin-tastic! Nice of them to let me know the day before to give me lots of time to get them elsewhere......

I was out locally today asking around about the Wii and if it'd be possible to get one.

Game and Gamestation said no chance and that they had two two pre-order lists, one for the launch day and one for the next shippment. WHSmiths said that they were only getting one and they had three preorders to fill and Currys said they had 5 consoles and all of them has been preordered.

I'm not gonna run about or hang around in queues to get one so I'll just wait it out until maybe jan, feb or even march.

Either people are buying this because they can't get a PS3, or there's a massive demand for a cut-down motion-based console like the Wii or both. Whatever it is, no one can claim the public only buys cutting edge high tech games systems.

Also see NES vs MasterSystem, Super NES vs Megadrive, N64 Vs PS or even PS2 vs GC/XBOX.

There's also other factors that come into play like cost, useability, features, timing, availability, marketing and ease and cost of development for 3rd parties.

11:30 walk down asda 12:10 walk out with a wii fingers crossed

I'm first in the queue at my local Currys and I've just received (getting home from work at 9pm) a letter saying my preorder won't be fulfilled. I also preordered at Play, Chips, Gamestation and none can get me a Wii. I just called and Asda isn't getting any here either... Damn it!

In line at Game on Oxford street right now. There's a *massive* line around the block but the guards at the front claim they have enough stock for everyone. Was hoping for some sweet merch but it looks like only the first few people in line scored the baseball caps and the wii branded space blankets. The highlight on the night so far has been seeing that famous Nintendo mascot Sonic the Hedgehog in all his blue-tighted glory.

In line at Game on Oxford street right now. There's a *massive* line around the block but the guards at the front claim they have enough stock for everyone. Was hoping for some sweet merch but it looks like only the first few people in line scored the baseball caps and the wii branded space blankets. The highlight on the night so far has been seeing that famous Nintendo mascot Sonic the Hedgehog in all his blue-tighted glory.

You may be able to get a wii, but it looks like wii play and extra wiimotes are like gold dust...

Come to Australia we are the Wii land of plenty :)

Betwixt 3pm and 4pm on the Amazon.co.uk website! Get ready to do some refreshing!
Not me though...I'm staying up playing Portable Ops online, waiting for the postie to get some Wii on my carpet!

If you were desperate enough you could import an Aussie/NZ Wii - they're the same internally, you'd just need an adapter for the power brick.

MY WII IS COMING! Out for delivery at 0521! Anyway, I repeat, Amazon.co.uk is doing a limited run between 3 and 4pm of Wiis. So go there and keep refreshing if you aren't as lucky as I!