In talking with an amiable EB Games employee killing after-hours time outside of his store in the Southern California area, we have learned that his store, and quite possibly the whole EB/GameStop chain, will only authorize as many Wii pre-order sales as they were allowed to sell for the PS3. In the case of this particular store, a maximum of 8 Wii pre-orders would be guaranteed to those willing to fork over the $50 deposit. Two of these systems would be made available to store employees if desired, bringing down the public number to only 6.
The store in question handed out about the same number of PS3 pre-orders. This is quite curious, considering that Nintendo is planning to release at least a million Wii consoles at launch, while Sony will ship out no more than 400,000 in North America. If there will be more than twice the volume at launch, why wouldn't twice the pre-orders made available?
We should stress that this does not mean that every EB and GameStop will only have six Wiis to pre-sell. The employee mentioned that a major factor which determines how many units a particular store would be allocated had to do with how many games (not just Wii games, all games) it could get customers to pre-order. He cited one store getting 25 PS3 units to pre-sell based on "how many copies of Madden they got pre-ordered." Other stores may be getting that many or more Wii pre-sell authorizations. We won't know for sure until the dust settles at the end of Friday.
Brick-and-mortar EB Games and GameStop stores will officially start selling pre-orders later today. If you were planning simply walking in to one in the afternoon and expecting there to be plenty of systems available for reservation, don't be surprised if you get shut out.
Update by Aaron Kaluszka
Here are two pictures of the preorder lines in Berkeley, CA taken shortly after 10AM, after unlucky latecomers had already left.
Being two of the larger EB Games stores, each store had 32 preorder slots, compared to a PS3 allocation of 16. Approximately 50 people arrived early to stand in line at each location. All confirmed customers were given a launch list to peruse while waiting.
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Originally posted by: Jonnyboy117
Yep! This sounds to me like GameStop is intentionally trying to create mass hysteria for a system launch when it's not at all warranted. Why? Well, attracting curious gamers into the store to ask about Wii, which they've heard might be "sold out" weeks before launch, gives the store a chance to sell these people any number of other knick knacks such as strategy guides and warranty plans for systems they don't own yet.
With one million Wii systems around North America on launch day, I find it very hard to believe that any GameSpot store will be getting less than a dozen, or a FEW dozen, of them. Think about how many copies they get for a typical new game release, how many shiny copies are in the display case. Now consider that very few games ship in quantities greater than one million on the release date.
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
As of now, I might be pulling an all-nighter...
Dammit, dammit, dammit...
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Originally posted by: VGrevolution
I think alot of you guys are going to be in for a shock who think you will be able to walk into your local store on launch day thinking you will find a Wii.
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Source: Gamestop/EB about
With over 4,400 stores located throughout the United States and 15 countries
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Source: Walmart Stores Investor Tab
As of September 30, 2006, the Company had 1,123 Wal-Mart stores, 2,142 Supercenters, 570 SAM’S CLUBS and 109 Neighborhood Markets in the United States. Internationally, the Company operated units in Argentina (12), Brazil (296), Canada (279), China (66), Costa Rica (133), Germany (85), Guatemala (125), Honduras (38), Japan (391), Mexico (845), Nicaragua (36), Puerto Rico (54), El Salvador (59) and the United Kingdom (326).
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Source: The Hollywood Video Company Stuff
and more than 700 Game Crazy specialty retail outlets nationwide.
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Source: Toy R' Us investor stuff
the company sells merchandise through 587 toy stores
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
As of now, I might be pulling an all-nighter...
Dammit, dammit, dammit...
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
As of now, I might be pulling an all-nighter...
Dammit, dammit, dammit...
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Originally posted by: NeodymiumQuote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
As of now, I might be pulling an all-nighter...
Dammit, dammit, dammit...
I'm so unbelievably upset.
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Originally posted by: KDR_11kIt worked for the 360 why shouldn't it work for a console that ships many more units?
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
The PS3 didn't have this many people lining up for it
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I expect to see even more increase in demand for this thing once Nintendo rolls out its actual ad campaign and I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if it gets pushed into "Furby" or "Tickle Me Elmo" status this xmas.
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My advice: better safe than sorry.
Even if the Wii doesn't skyrocket in popularity, I'll still have it in a convenient bag I can immediately walk out with and little to no line to worry about and that's worth preordering in my mind anyway.
That said, I'm sure you'll get one during Nov, even if the launch shipment sells out.
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Originally posted by: Shecky Didn't seem that the PS3 was as heavliy advertised. Heck I heard news about the Wii preorders on various local and web news outlets.
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Just remember to keep an eye out when you go pick it up.
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Agreed
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Originally posted by: Jonnyboy117
...and warranty plans for systems they don't own yet.
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Originally posted by: Pale I just think camping out to avoid camping out is silly.
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Originally posted by: davidctaylor
GOOD *GOD* EBGAMES SUCKS!
*cut stuff about coupon craziness*
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: Pale I just think camping out to avoid camping out is silly.
You don't live in a frozen hell-hole.
Waiting in line during an Oct. morning in NH is a kindness compared to waiting in line during a November midnight.
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Originally posted by: PaleHahah, oh boy...
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: PaleHahah, oh boy...
Well, I'm f*cked.
If that storm just hit NY, it means NH is next...
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Originally posted by: couchmonkey We were lucky if they didn't break on the way home!
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: Pale I just think camping out to avoid camping out is silly.
You don't live in a frozen hell-hole.
Waiting in line during an Oct. morning in NH is a kindness compared to waiting in line during a November midnight.
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey We were lucky if they didn't break on the way home!
Given its tendency to overheat, the PS3 can only be aided by the cold.
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Originally posted by: ssj4_android
Has Best Buy begun Wii preorders yet? Will they be taking them? I'm sure I could just go into Meijer the first day and pick one up if I wanted to.
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Originally posted by: Pale Anyone who didn't get a preorder, don't even worry about it. You will be fine on launch day. We will have all sorts of coverage as to what stores are doing what. There will most likely be stories of stores releasing things early. It will be fun and chaotic. You will be glad you didn't miss out.
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Originally posted by: g4everX8 Just an insite. The Wii will NOT, repeat NOT!! sell out immedietly. There will be pleanty in stores the day it launches. I waited in line for the gamecube, come to see there were cubes in stores most of the day.
PS3 on the other hand...lol. Look at the $2,000 dollar pre-orders for sale on eBay.
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Originally posted by: Bloodworth One thing I was happy to hear is that the preorder ensures your spot in line on launch day. So the major duration of my camping out (a measly 2 hours) is over. I don't know if they'll open at midnight or not, but as Smash Bro said, I'm more than happy that I can just arrive right before the store opens instead of calling and running around town or waiting in a longer line after the awareness increases 10-fold.
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Originally posted by: WindyManQuote
Originally posted by: ssj4_android
Has Best Buy begun Wii preorders yet? Will they be taking them? I'm sure I could just go into Meijer the first day and pick one up if I wanted to.
Best Buy isn't the type of retailer that does pre-orders. They'll put whatever they get in for launch on the shelves, and then it's first come, first serve.
That's how I plan on getting mine!
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Originally posted by: WindyMan
Best Buy isn't the type of retailer that does pre-orders. They'll put whatever they get in for launch on the shelves, and then it's first come, first serve.
That's how I plan on getting mine!
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Originally posted by: g4everX8 Just an insite. The Wii will NOT, repeat NOT!! sell out immedietly. There will be pleanty in stores the day it launches. I waited in line for the gamecube, come to see there were cubes in stores most of the day.
PS3 on the other hand...lol. Look at the $2,000 dollar pre-orders for sale on eBay.
Let's wait and see what happens after the Wii commercials start rolling before we decide what the Wii will or won't do at launch.
As for the PS3, these are the initial hardcores trying to get one early, believing that they won't have the chance to get one for a while.
The Wii has only seen the very, very beginning of its rise to popularity, and it already attracted more impressive numbers than the PS3 which people SHOULD be FAR more anxious to reserve because the PS3 is slated to be far harder to come by.
The way I see it, I ain't throwing down any bets on what will happen when these two launch.
QuoteI wonder why? They can't be too hard to produce..
They were taking controller reservations too (along with SD cards, Wii points cards,etc.) and said that nunchuk controllers will be limited.
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Originally posted by: VGrevolution When I see that Toys R Us is ranking it as the hot holiday item, I can't help but think Tickle Me Elmo.
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Originally posted by: Svevan
You guys are being too fanboy-optimistic.
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Originally posted by: Smash_BrotherQuote
Just remember to keep an eye out when you go pick it up.
The site won't load, but I assume you mean people jumping each other for popular xmas items.
If someone can deprive me of my Wii within the 30 feet from where my car will be parked to the Gamestop door, then they're either lightning quick or 7' tall and 300 lbs.
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Originally posted by: Svevan You guys are being too fanboy-optimistic.
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Originally posted by: SheckyHAHAHA... if it were only people trampling each other. No, this was a Tampa Bay man getting held up at *gunpoint* for a new TMX Elmo doll. I think it happened in or just outside the store.
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Originally posted by: Svevan I hate to be too cynical about your attitude, and only time will tell, but you have to really put a lot of faith in those lists to think that it will cause the largest game console launch ever to be that big of a disaster.
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But hey, Smash Bro, if I don't have a Wii on launch day and can't review games for the site, then I'll buy you lunch.
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BTW, why haven't you entered the Naruto contest?
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Umm, what?
Last I remember, the 360 suffered shortages all over the place and wasn't even that popular at launch.
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Originally posted by: VGrevolution
One thing I wonder, how many Tickle Me Elmos were made? If a gift is super popular unless you release millions of them (Even at 250$ it still is a good christmas gift price) they will sell out, now will Wii be that popular?
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Originally posted by: ArbokQuote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
One thing I wonder, how many Tickle Me Elmos were made? If a gift is super popular unless you release millions of them (Even at 250$ it still is a good christmas gift price) they will sell out, now will Wii be that popular?
Suffice to say, if you don't plan to get one on launch day chances are you will be out of luck until the next shipment. Given the launch size, though, I don't think it will be too hard to pick one up on the 19th, depending on location as it will be much harder in the cities. It was the same way with the Gamecube and the Xbox around here, so I would be surprised if the same didn't occur for the Wii.
Still plan to do "line duty" that day, though, but not for more than a hour and half before the store opens.
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Originally posted by: Ceric
I enjoy hunting for games and Accessories but I refuse to hunt for the essentials, aka the console itself.
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Originally posted by: Bloodworth
They were taking controller reservations too (along with SD cards, Wii points cards,etc.) and said that nunchuk controllers will be limited.
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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Traditionally, controllers have always been the rare items in console launches.
The N64 suffered a horrible shortage of controllers.
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Originally posted by: pap64
40 dollars for the Wiimote itself is pretty good, considering all the crap it has inside.
What drives it over the edge is the 20 dollar attachment. I mean, couldn't they have bundled the two together and charge either 40 or 50 bucks for it? I mean, there are games that pretty much require the nunchuck, so might as well include alongside the Wiimote. *Shrugs
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Originally posted by: Pale Heh, you guys take a console from two generations ago into account when deciding the controllers WON'T be available, but you don't listen to one generation ago when controllers were in great supply and it wasn't hard to get a system at launch.
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All of you with preorders have to stop trying to convince the rest of the world that they won't get stuff. =P