[charlie @ Oct 26th 2007 11:59AM]

I can only speak for china, but uh, the wii has been available all over china since it launched in japan. launching the console domestically doesn't make a big different imo because the console costs about $300 here (chip included & installed) and all of the games are of course copies. it's been this way since the wii modchip came out - before that only real games were available at retail price.

[jase @ Oct 26th 2007 3:54PM]

I was about to say something similar. i only had the opportunty to spend about 9 days in Shanghai and i am pretty sure i saw the Wii there several times. For that matter I also saw in in Bangkok and i can go arond the corner and pick one up in Singapore (albeit for $800 sing, which is outrangeous)

[yelohbird @ Oct 27th 2007 9:05PM]

uh, Charlie, i dunno where you've been looking...I picked up my wii in beijing, chip installed + 10 free games for RMB 1800, which is something around US$230. Additional remote and nunchuck for RMB 200 (US$25)

[charlie @ Oct 28th 2007 3:41AM]

Okay - whatever, I don't have one. It used to be US$300. My point is, it's been available in China for a long time.