Wii Midnight Release Information

[GeneralMBison (GMB)]

This information is for the one who are going to try to get a Wii at midnight Nov. 19.

The official stores that will open in midnight are: Wal-Mart, Toys'R Us, Gamestop/EB Games.

The unofficial or some of the retails that may open in some areas at midnight: Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, FYI.

Just wait till early morning stores (around 4 to 7 AM): Best Buy, Circuit City.

Here is the story of the two "official" stores that will open:
Nintendo said on Thursday that it chose GameStop and Toys "R" Us as the U.S. retailers that will host the launch of its new Wii video game console, which goes on sale on November 19.

GameStop and Toys "R" Us have already taken Wii "preorders," in which customers are able to reserve a console in advance of the official launch.

With demand for the Wii already building, video game retailer GameStop and toy store Toys "R" Us said they had quickly run through the supply of consoles that they allotted for the early orders.

The Wii launch will take place two days after Sony's PlayStation 3 hits U.S. stores, marking the start of the holiday shopping season when video game makers traditionally reap more than half of their annual sales.

In a repeat of Microsoft's introduction of the XBox 360 last year, the Wii and the PS3 are expected to be in short supply as demand outstrips the companies' ability to turn out the new devices.

The Wii comes with a motion-sensing controller that lets players simulate swinging a tennis racquet, hitting a golf ball or wielding a sword. Its $249.99 price tag is a fraction of the cost of the PlayStation 3, which is priced at $499.99 or $599.99, depending on features.

Toys "R" Us' flagship Times Square store in New York and GameStop's Universal CityWalk store in Los Angeles will host the official launch event.

While other consumer electronics retailers, such as Best Buy and Circuit City, may also start selling the unit at midnight on November 19, the partnership could mean that Toys "R" Us and GameStop may have access to better Wii supplies.

A GameStop spokesman said the company was not releasing any Wii allocation or reservations figures. A spokeswoman for Toys "R" Us said the retailer "will be in a great stock position" for the midnight launch.

Even if GameStop and Toys "R" Us do not snag a better-than-average supply, aligning themselves with Nintendo and the launch publicity could help boost traffic in their stores, as customers come to them seeking the new system.

Toys "R" Us, which has struggled in recent years with difficult market conditions for toy sellers, earlier this year installed a former Best Buy executive as president of its U.S. business and has said it is looking to expand relationships with electronics manufacturers as it tries to boost sales.

The "official" Nintendo midnight launch events at Toys "R" Us and GameStop will feature live music and entertainment, and a countdown to the moment that the console goes on sale.


So here are my ideas that you can try to get a Wii at midnight:

1. Call your local stores if they are going to do a midnight release.
2. Check on Saturday around your local stores in the afternoon (around 3 to 5PM) to see if there are people forming a line to get the Wii.
3. Bring a friend with you so one of you can camp out in one store and the other can camp out in another store near-by.

If you got any comments or any more information about the midnight release, then post here.

[cornbin]

Thanks for the info, GMB. Of course there are neither of those stores near me but I know that the Super Wal Mart here is selling at midnight.

[Nate]

Well I am going to camp out at a local Best Buy, but now that I hear that Toys R' Us, Gamestop and Wal-Mart will be hosting a midnight launch.. I don't know. Little kids will get the Wii before me??!!?!
I might reconsider where I will buy my Wii.

[Bran-Man]

I think you should have a friend in line with you so that you can leave it for the bathroom or something and no cheap-scape tries to take your spot. Expecially at a walmart I'll need it and the plans for me are to get to the walmart around 9 on saturday morning and spend the day goofing off and playing the GBA and DS.

Might be cold, but its worth it.

[Alb]

Bringing Friends and a Cell phone is really the most important thing you can bring. The more people that are there to help you, the more likely you are to succeed. Your friends can also go scout other near-by stores and get supplies if need be.

The cellphone will help you communicate with people at last minute to let them know things. It'll also help you if you need to call in sick for work or make some other excuse.

[cornbin]

Oh my christ! The Wal-Mart Supercenter,which is open 24/7, here will be selling 19 Wii's at midnight. Can you wait in a line inside though? NO YOU CAN NOT! This is an outrage! I'm going to get there at 10,ask where the line is and wait. You might say 10 is late but people here and exactly killing each other over it and besides it's 2 hours,enough to hold by bladder seeing as how noone will be with me. Anyway I'm pissed off about it! Grrr...