Want a Wii for the holidays? No promises, Nintendo says

Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:44AM EDT

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After nearly two years on the market, you'd think it'd be getting easier to score a Nintendo Wii. But the red-hot console is still tough to find, and Nintendo execs say they can't promise a healthy supply for the coming holiday season.

Nintendo's CEO says that demand for the Wii in the U.S. is "unusually high" compared to Europe and Asia, according to Forbes.com. And while Nintendo is on track to crank out 2.4 million Wii consoles this year, that may not be enough to satisfy stateside gamers, Forbes reports.

Here's the quote from Nintento CEO Satoru Iwata: "We are really intending to increase the shipments to the U.S., especially compared to last year ... However, I can't give you a 100% commitment [that you'll be able to find a Wii this holiday season]." Ugh.

Based on the latest numbers, Iwata's probably right to hedge his bets. Nintendo sold a whopping 666,700 Wiis in the U.S. last month, and the console just passed the Xbox 360 in terms of total sales.

Meanwhile, this online Wii stock tracker doesn't paint a pretty picture. On Wednesday morning, the Wii was sold out at Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, eToys, Kmart, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart, while Buy.com and Newegg had only Wii bundles in stock.

Show of hands: Who's still in the hunt for a Wii?

Related:
A Wii Bit Short On Supplies [Forbes.com]

 

Comments on Want a Wii for the holidays? No promises, Nintendo says

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  • 26 Posted by nicer14207 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    when you pick up your Wii, get the game Boom Blox.

  • 27 Posted by soundpreacher on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just happened to look at Wal-Mart one day, and they had three. I jumped and got it - all my bills are behind, but I got a Wii now! Of course, I couldn't sell my Game Cube for $0.01. It was worth all the wait - XBox and Playstation have been going for better and better graphics, and Nintendo went with trying to put in more fun.

  • 29 Posted by lil_al_18 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    The easiest thing to do to get a wii is to go to some stores and ask them what days they get the wii system in. Most stores will unload their truck n by the very next morning they should have a couple in stock. Rush to the doors n be the first to buy one. I bought one n i love it.. Now im trying to buy a Wii fit but those r always sold out too.. Im trying though!!

  • 30 Posted by romedmrniceguy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    i like the wii, but except for the super mario games they dont have any worth buying, even the ds has better games.... maybe nintendo needs to tell its developers to stop making some crappy games because with only 10 percent of its games getting a good review it not worth $250 of my money

  • 31 Posted by kristenmcly on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    It took me four months to get a Wii. We searched all over the place. It is the same with the Wii Fitness game, that is really hard to find too.

  • 32 Posted by ignatdj on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    El Consumismo me la chupa. sigan perdiendo el tiempo.

  • 33 Posted by navy4169134 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    what the heck are they talking about. i live in jacksonville, FL and they have it just about everywhere. at best buy at game stop, the mall, those suckers are easy to get.

  • 34 Posted by harry95_he on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why do people line up for this stuff? I'm a gamer, I was a hardcore nintendo follower since SNES, had N64, GC, GBA... nothing else. When I bought the Wii(called 3 times a day, woke up at 7AM and got it on January 2007), it kept me entertained enough so that I could encourage others to buy theirs, and the same thing happened to them. The Wii will get you boring fast, and while innovative, unless you are a SUPER casual gamer just get a 360 or something. For those who think 360 gamers are nerds, think about it; at least you can play with friends online and not input a 15 digit friend code. I'm not dissing the Wii, I just want to inform you it's not all that for most people once they buy it.

  • 35 Posted by mimi1177 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got a pretty basic bundle at ToysRUs.com this week. They're bundle was less expensive then the Walmart one. Very hard to find but definately worth it.

  • 36 Posted by samuraicameron on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got mine about a month or so after they came out...I had to wait outside of a gamestop in below freezing weather from 4:30 in the morning till 7.

  • 37 Posted by boomis78 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I used to be a hardcore Nintendo fan, and bought all the consoles from the NES through the Gamecube with no regrets. I recently thought about buying a Wii, and had I been able to find one in stock in my area (Phoenix) or been able to find one online at close to retail price I would have. I understand systems can be sold out, but I was looking for a Wii recently, two years after they came out, and Nintendo STILL hasn't caught up with demand? To me, that indicates they may be keeping the supplies low intentionally. Whatever; I decided not to deal with it. I may buy one if I'm in a store and see one, but I decided not to look for it anymore. My 360 keeps me busy enough, at any rate.

  • 38 Posted by norma0509 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    WELL I GUESS THAT ME AND MY SON WERE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES..MY SON WON A BRAND NEW WII LAST CHRISTMAS IN A RAFFLE AT OUR BOWLING ALLEY.WHEN I GOT THE CALL I COULD'NT BELEIVE IT! TURNS OUT HE ONLY USED IT 4 ABOUT A WEEK AND GOT BORED..I PUT IT BACK IN THE ORIGINAL BOX..I HAVE HAD MANY OFFERS FOR IT BUT EVENTUALLY HE'LL WANT TO USE IT ONE DAY.

  • 39 Posted by michele.sanchez@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    We were lucky enough, when my brother decided that he didn't want his anymore, and we were able to buy his Wii from him for a good price. I'm glad we did.

  • 40 Posted by vivaralba on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    i just got a wii i wanted it for christmas but was out and then in january was also sold out now in july i finally got it try some local gamestops

  • 41 Posted by raynesrock on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    what a joke...the Wii continues Nintendos trend of the past 8 years to cater to the low end kiddie cartoon consumer. how mainstream gamers have been caught up in the Wii phenomenon astounds me...

  • 43 Posted by jammin_dolphin2012 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    i just got my wii three weeks ago. we looked every everywhere for like a month and could never find one. We finally got lucky and the day we went to wal-mart they had just gotten two in that day. wiis are fun and worth the money. the only problem is finding controllers seeings how a lot of stores do not sell them seperatly. my advice would be to buy a chager that comes with remotes or buy games with remotes. who ever has a wii, wants to get a wii, or is getting awii have fun. i know i do

  • 44 Posted by domino_angel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everytime I have seen a Wii in stock, it was at Target. If you like pinball games, get Williams Pinball for the Wii, it's awesome. We are spoiled for Wii's in this house, my fiance and I both have one!:D

  • 45 Posted by the_herp_wrangler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Me and my dad got one Monday, we looked at walmart and a game shop... uh, we got ours at target, there were 7... yes 7... idk if its the same for anyone else, but i figured i would mention it, the lady there said that not alot of people come there to get wii's

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