Finding a Wii where there is none

Let's be realistic here for a moment, shall we? If you didn't pre-order your PlayStation 3, your chances of getting one this holiday season are looking approximately slim to none -- but with the Wii, you may have a shot. Thankfully there are enough retail employees out there leaking valuable inventory data that we, the consumers, can hopefully use to find ourselves a console. While we can't exactly vouch for the validity of these tools, we'd first recommend the Wiiseeker, which appeared to cull the data leaked by Target employees regarding Wii locales, and mashes that up with Google maps. But if all else fails, Wiiloaded has a last ditch guide for snagging a Wii which might serve useful. We're making no promises, but with a little luck maybe your sorry self will be able to find something better than procrastination as your new year's resolution.

[Thanks, AJ]

Read - Wiiseeker maps mashup
Read - IGN Target stock
Read - Wiiloaded guide
Read - Nintendo Wii Locater (another Target/Gmap mashup)

[patrick @ Nov 6th 2006 4:20AM]

See this is why I am glad that my Uncle is the regional manager of the gamestops in my area. On Nov 17 I will have a PS3 and A Wii in my hands. Yes I know that the Wii doesn't come out on the 17th but I will have them both on the same day. They will be an early Christmas present so no $600 price tag for me. Also I don't have to stand out in the cold for a pre-order or go wandering all over God's creation looking for one. This is the same way I got my Xbox360. You got to love those shipping departments and warehouses as they "loose" things alot ;).

[Steve @ Nov 6th 2006 4:48AM]

It's "lose" by the way.

[Kota @ Nov 6th 2006 7:08PM]

...can we get one of these for best buy!!! please!

[StooMonster @ Nov 6th 2006 5:30AM]

"It's like waiting for Christmas... times a thousand!" said Cartman on Southpark this week.

PS3 looks boring, same-old same-old with better graphics; Wii looks fun. Fun, that thing consoles were once.

It's looking like many people agree, who doubts than Nintendo are going to sell out of 4m units by year end?

[Matthew @ Nov 6th 2006 5:34AM]

"You got to love those shipping departments and warehouses as they "loose" things alot ;)."
Sounds to me like patrick is stealing two consoles worth 900 bucks or however much the Wii is.

[Mike @ Nov 6th 2006 5:56AM]

I'm glad patrick is commited to keeping prices low.

[PJK @ Nov 6th 2006 6:19AM]

I'm glad everyone agrees on how much a douchebag patrick is.

[Alvin Ong @ Nov 6th 2006 6:22AM]

It's committed by the way

[tehuberone @ Nov 6th 2006 6:36AM]

It's . by the way.

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 6th 2006 6:47AM]

Now now.
Let's not get distracted by all the bad grammar to the point where we forget about how much we all hate Patrick.

[Jamar @ Nov 6th 2006 6:49AM]

I, on the other hand, don't mind waiting because I want a Japanese Wii anyway (from what I've heard, the Virtual Console selection is different for the two) so I'll buy from one of the many gray-market importers here in China (If this is made in China like the DS lite it'll be easier for me to find- an exchange of money in the right places and couple of "extra" batches will be made to ship straight to the Chinese importers, so I'm told).

[patrick @ Nov 6th 2006 6:53AM]

I'm not stealing them and neither is my Uncle. It was just a joke He is buying the PS3 for me and my Parents are getting me the Wii. So poor little Sony and Nintendo will get their money and not have to shut down. I wouldn't steal a game console just like I don't pirate games, if I don't have the money to get them I just wait.

On a side note, why do people seem to like pointing out spelling mistakes on a comment that someone made on a gaming blog? It's not like this is supposed to be a college dissertation or anything. Most of the time I just make a quick comment and really don't bother with spell check. As long as I get my point across that's all that matters to me. I'm not flaming anyone I'm just curious.

[Richard Dawkins @ Nov 6th 2006 6:53AM]

As well as being a thief, patrick is a creationalist too.

[Jamar @ Nov 6th 2006 7:22AM]

Really? If he's proven himself to be a thief, then you can accuse him. If he hasn't (note that he said it's a JOKE) then don't accuse him of it. And what on earth is a "creationalist"?

[Jahz @ Nov 6th 2006 7:11AM]

If you are looking for said "valuable data", check this out:
http://wii.discretecorp.com

[patrick @ Nov 6th 2006 7:42AM]

Thanks I didn't relize a little joke would be taken so seriously and it was a joke admitidy not a good one but a joke none the less.

As for a "creationalist" I think he means to say "creationist" Which is someone who belives that God or some other higher being created everything. He is probably refering to the statement I made about "looking all over Gods creation" for a Wii. For me that was an expression kinda like "hells half acre" or "gods green earth" that I heard as a kid and was in no way meant to express my belife system. As I am an Evolutionist.

[Joe Sosa @ Nov 6th 2006 7:31AM]

Uh...now, seriously, what is a Wii? and in what way does it differ from Play Station?. (I might just add it to my list of things to consider for Xmas, etc.)
Thanks,
Joe. [e-mail]

[Jamar @ Nov 6th 2006 7:39AM]

Playstation was 2 generations ago. The Wii uses a remote control that you wave around the TV, performing physical actions that correspond to in-game actions, instead of just using a controller. The new Playstation 3 has the same motion-sensing technology, but it's shaped like a normal controller.

[Richard Dawkins @ Nov 6th 2006 7:44AM]

It's so hard to joke on the interweb.

Patrick your post about stealing being a joke was at same time as my "joke". :)

[patrick @ Nov 6th 2006 7:50AM]

Yea I understand that humor is sometimes lost on the internet. But I take no offence at the flames directed at me as I know I am not a theif and that's all that matters. No hard feelings :)

[Alvin Ong @ Nov 6th 2006 7:44AM]

I don't care, I'm getting PS3 not Wii

[Vanillacide @ Nov 6th 2006 7:49AM]

Boring!

[Eugene @ Nov 6th 2006 7:58AM]

Looks like Target is going to be a good fallback to the various Midnight Madness events. There's a 24-hour Wal-Mart within reasonable driving distance, so I'll probably end up there. I might make a pass at Best Buy, but I have a feeling the line-up there will start way too early for my taste.

[adam @ Nov 6th 2006 8:41AM]

wiiseeker.com is a joke and a half. i work at a local target store and i know for a fact we are getting wii's (we have the display setup and even some accessories avaiable for purchase now) however my store does not come up on the map. and also engadget, the link on the IGN forums is gone that shows target's stock.

[jason @ Nov 6th 2006 7:29PM]

maybe no one at your store is participating and leaking Wii information to the website you jackass

[mark @ Nov 6th 2006 8:59AM]

"See this is why I am glad that my Uncle is the regional manager of the gamestops in my area. On Nov 17 I will have a PS3 and A Wii in my hands. Yes I know that the Wii doesn't come out on the 17th but I will have them both on the same day. They will be an early Christmas present so no $600 price tag for me. Also I don't have to stand out in the cold for a pre-order or go wandering all over God's creation looking for one. This is the same way I got my Xbox360. You got to love those shipping departments and warehouses as they "loose" things alot ;)"

Yeah, thats the most bullshit thing I have ever heard. I work at Best Buy and if we even think about selling one early, its our job. same goes with managers, all the way up to district. same goes with setting one aside. employees cant, managers cant. if you do, you're fired. plain and simple. im getting a wii and waiting in line like everyone else, ds in hand. so, bottom line: stop lying.

[patrick @ Nov 6th 2006 9:19AM]

He Didn't set one aside for me he had to put down the deposit for the pre-order just like all the other people did. It's just that being a manager he was first in line so he got mine first (he showed me the receipts). As far as getting the Wii early that is what he told me so I believe him until I find out otherwise. Maybe he can get away with it I don't know, if not no problem I can wait a few days for my Wii I will just play the PS3 and be happy.

Also I know you can be an evolutionist and still believe in God. I just said that I was an evolutionist not that I didn't believe in God.

[Jamar @ Nov 6th 2006 9:26AM]

Missed the part where he said it was a joke? Obviously.

[mark @ Nov 6th 2006 8:59AM]

"As I am an Evolutionist."

You can be an 'evolutionist' and believe in God as well.

[Giltronic @ Nov 6th 2006 12:05PM]

anyone see southpark?
cartman was obsessed with the wii, and freezes himself because he cant stand the wait. to be continued this wednesday.

[At0m5k @ Nov 6th 2006 9:49AM]

And people wonder why there are so many problems on Earth...

-___-

[L. M. Lloyd @ Nov 6th 2006 9:46AM]

Am I missing something? Every report I've seen so far about Nintendo, has them on target to have more than four million consoles shipped by the end of the year. Now seeing as how the 360 has taken a year to get to six million consoles sold, that would either mean that there will be ample supply for everyone, or the Wii is going to be the best selling console in the history of the video game industry!

It seems to me this whole scarcity issue is nothing but a lot of hot air being cooked up by reporters to make this generation of the console war seem more heated than it really is. I would be surprised if anyone who wants one has a problem getting a Wii before Christmas.

[Vanillacide @ Nov 6th 2006 9:59AM]

@ L. M. Lloyd

Yep, Nintendo's target of 4 million Wii consoles sold globally before end of 2006 versus PS3's 480,000 may make it look like there will be high availability...

...but the pre-order sell outs at retail, market analysts bullish comments, publishers comments (EA, THQ, etc) predicting strong sales, make a strong case that it will be very difficult to get hold of Nintendo Wii this holiday season.

[Eugene @ Nov 6th 2006 10:29AM]

No question, if you really want a Wii on 11/19, you're going to be able to get one. In 2001, I didn't have much trouble procuring an XBox or Gamecube prior to Christmas day and I did not line up on their respective release days. Plus the XBox 360 is obviously not going to be in short supply by now, so yeah, it's all pretty much media hype. It may be tougher getting Wii accessories than the consoles themselves.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Nov 6th 2006 10:16AM]

Yeah but four million units doesn't just "look like there will be high availability." Four million units in a month and a half makes it far and away the largest number of units ever shipped for a console launch! I mean, it is one thing for people to have been worried about getting a 360, when there were only 360,000 units sold before year's end the first Christmas. It is totally understandable for people to be similarly worried about getting a PS3 with less than a million shipping before the end of the year. However, I find it HIGHLY unlikely that 4 million people will want to get a Wii for Christmas. That would make the Wii a better seller at launch than the Playstation, or PS2! In fact, I am pretty sure that would mean the Wii would sell more units in a month and a half, than the GameCube did the first entire year it was on the market!

I just don't see it.

[Manuel @ Nov 6th 2006 10:29AM]

OK not a thief only a liar and a joker ... got it.

[Vanillacide @ Nov 6th 2006 10:55AM]

PS2 sales in US market only:

November 2001 919,131
December 2001 1,971,318

November 2002 1,318,000
December 2002 2,733,000

November 2003 850,000
December 2003 1,970,000

November 2004 694,000
December 2004 989,000

November 2005 531,000
December 2005 1,500,000

So, if Nintendo plan to sell 2m in USA (of 4m globally) this holiday season, it would equate to approx two-thirds of PS2 sales for its 2001-2003 holiday seasons; and similar to PS2's 2005 Nov+Dec sales.

Surely not that unreasonable?

[L. M. Lloyd @ Nov 6th 2006 5:18PM]

2 million is pretty unreasonable for a new console at the beginning of a console war. Most households don't own every major console, especially when that companies previous console was considered the 'loser' of the last console cycle. Most households wait to see which one is going to be "the console to have." $300 is a lot to spend on a Christmas present (more like $400 or $500 really when you include games and accessories), especially when there is more than a fair chance that you still might have to turn around and spend another $600 because you got "the wrong console." Also, Nintendo has said repeatedly that the "bulk of the units" will be shipped to the U.S. so I would say you are most likely looking at 3 million, not 2 million units in the U.S.

I'm not saying it is impossible that the Wii could ever sell out, I just think it is highly unlikely, since that would mean that it would have to sell as well right out of the gate as the best year ever of the PS2, which thus far has been the most successful gaming console ever. If, for example, the Wii is greeted with the same 'enthusiasm' the 360 has been, then there will be about 2 million of them just sitting on shelves Christmas day!

I think people got worked up into a frenzy by the laughably low supply levels of the 360, and now have it stuck in their minds that it just isn't a proper console launch without critical shortages, stories about huge profits being made on eBay, and general panic about how you are going to get one before Christmas.

[Dull @ Nov 6th 2006 1:48PM]

The Wiiseeker is funny. It lists 53 units at a Best Buy that has been closed for about 10 years (here is St Paul). The old building is now a Bingo Hall. I would love to win a WII while playing Bingo.

[slowerpig81 @ Nov 6th 2006 5:45PM]

#1 why does it, on the site, say "what's your 5 digit zipcode?". UUh... zipcodes are 6 digits.
#2 Nintendo planned to ship 4 million units by the end of their FISCAL year, which is march 31, 2007 (i think)so its actually about 4.5 months.

[nosotros213 @ Nov 12th 2006 3:52PM]

You're stupid. Zip codes are 5 digits bud. Fiscal year ends on Dec. 31st but the RETURN is March 15th. Then again, you ARE "slower pig"...

[adam @ Nov 7th 2006 1:06AM]

well, i found out that my target is getting 12 of both the wii and the ps3. i would think that my store's info would have been leaked since the info probably came from the distribution center as they know first which store is getting what.

[j @ Nov 12th 2006 11:54PM]

Well for all my panicking I walked into a toys r us today, 45 mins after they opened and picked up one of 7 they still had, no line of nothing..... Suck it trebeck.

[skelzer @ Nov 12th 2006 11:57PM]

psst, patrick... it's "thief" and "belief".


;)

[flying.snake @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:53PM]

This online monitoring service might help the ones who are still looking for a wii to buy before xmas : www.windicator.com. Go there and sign up to get a text message or email sent to you when the Wii gets restocked at major on-line retailers.

[Amrit @ Feb 2nd 2007 12:24AM]

found a website thats selling a wii to the lowest unique bidder. its not like a normal auction. the idea seems cool though.

www.goguju.com

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