Posted on 12/18/2006 12:26:42 PM PST by BulletBobCo
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- We all know the new Nintendo Wii is the number one present to give this holiday season. You've heard the stories of those who camp out in front of stores the night before shipments come in, or those who pay double the cost on eBay. It's obvious that people will do almost anything to get their hands on this hot new item.
I found myself waiting for a Nintendo Wii one late afternoon. A massive shipment had just come in that morning and the line didn't look too unbearable, so I decided to wait and try my chances at getting one for my boyfriend. Since it was a little late in the day, I knew the odds were against me, but for some strange reason, I was feeling optimistic. (Snip) Closer and closer until finally, I was handed a white box. (Snip) I was shaking with excitement and felt like this was one great day.
While paying at the register, the man handling the Wii's said very loudly to the line full of people still waiting, "Sorry folks, that's it. There's no more for today." Instantly I started hearing groans and seeing other disappointing gestures. (Snip) All at once, I felt their angry, jealous eyes shift focus to me. To them, I was an easy target. But I felt confident that I could deal with angry Christmas shoppers. (Snip) I was caught off guard in a game of tug-a-war when a security guard intervened and rescued me from the chaos.
He took me outside. And the crowd followed.
The security guard flagged a police car. I thankfully jumped in. And it was a police escort for me and my Wii back to work.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
And some of my friends said I was crazy for standing in line for 3 hours to pre-order one...(and then, of course, I ended up getting a second at Nintendo, thus nullifying my wait--but at least I wasn't almost mugged!)
PS3 was the game to get.
Cartman buried himself in the snow and went into suspended animation to the year 2757 and then back in time to two months ago all because he couldnt' stand to wait for the Nintendo Wii.
I don't believe the author is telling the whole truth. It is very hard to believe the NYPD chauffered her back to her place of employment simply because she had opted to purchase a child's game in a private transaction.
~ Blue Jays ~
It's nice having my birthday in January...it simplifies this artificial hype nonsense.
You are assuming that:
Nope, PS3 wasn't the game to get...
Wii's launch has blown PS3 away... Look at anything remotely connected to video gaming.. the buzz and talk is all WII... PS3 priced itself out of the market.. Nintendos got a home run on its hands and knows it... and not only that, they actually are making money on every Wii they sell... while Sony is losing hundreds of bucks per system.
PS3 got a lot of hype, but once the actual release happened, Wii has stolen Sony's thunder big time. With only 1 launch game even worth a damn.. (resistance fall of man) and a late to the game attempt to kludge in motion sensing.. and a price tag way way way to high and number of units shipped way way way to low.. Sony blew it.
Sony's already had to adjust its sales expectations DOWNWARD, while Nintendos has had to adjust upward.... Sony also announced firmware update to make its motion controller more like the Wiis... an announcement only a few weeks after launch....
Sony knows its in trouble... Sony may very well have lost the crown of #1 console in terms of installed base this time.
Now yes, a launch does not a system make, but Sony definately has misstepped... Nintendo mistepped huge with Gamecube alienating many 3rd parties from the system.... They've learned their lesson, and launched with a huge number of new games, plus the virtual console, and of course the Franchise to end all franchise's ZELDA with launch.. its a convergence never before seen on a console.
New way to interact, large number of new titles, countless old titles by virtual console and an absolute must have killer game at launch.... and at less than 1/2 the cost of the PS3 and 60% of the cost of a low end 360.. Nintendo has hit the trifecta plus one.
The PS3 is a lovely piece of machinery, but the Wii is going to reclaim the console crown for Nintendo... I can't tell you how many folks I know who had been saving up for a 360 or PS3, who have changed their minds to a Wii after actually playing one....
I for one look forward to seeing what the DS/Wii bluetooth is going to unleash over time... Gamecube/Gameboy cable interaction had some promise that was never fully realized...now without cables, and a truly net ready system... its going to see where this all leads.
What a bunch of Wiieners.
My we've come a long way since my favorite Christmas as a kid.
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/se_racing/164
This is from CNN. It's fiction.
This "holiday" season has really been an exhibition of very ugly behavior. I know it happens every year, but one of the local outlet malls opened it's doors at 3 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, and the traffic was literally backed up for MILES getting into the parking lot - and this was for "B" stock crap that couldn't sell at the anchor stores.
I know there are people who are not well off who would like to get their children a computer or a toy that in no other way they would be able to afford. I understand and I sympathize. But from what I understand, the blatant line-cutting and cheating was pretty shameful this year. One of these situations is going to get ugly, and that's going to be the last "doorbuster" sale we hear about. It's as if people having nothing left to live for but possessions.
It's virtual people. Get a LIFE!
I thot liberals wanted to share with the world. Oh, never mind, they want everyone ELSE to share with the world.
Oddly, my son is considering an refurbed Xbox which he can get for $100. He can buy $150 worth of games to play on it for the price of a Wii. And the graphics seem to be just as good.
Is that the one where you hold the controllers in your hands and punch at the T.V. screen like a total dork? And then they fly out of your hands and break your T.V. screen making you look like even a bigger dork?
Wait until after Christmas. There will be big sales to get their pissed off customers back.
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