The Hardest to Get Holiday Gift ... Ever?
Posted December 5, 2007, 8:55 am in Games by Growing BolderBetter cross Wii off your Christmas list. Move over Furby and Tickle Me Elmo. The Nintendo Wii has not only become this season's must have gift -- it may be the hardest to get holiday gift of all time. It's now nearly impossible to get hold of and causing near mass hysteria as parents and grandparents stalk the few units that make it to store shelves.
The Wii is the motion-based gaming platform that is the toy your child, grandchild and grandmother can't live without. And don't think Nintendo is playing with the supply chain to create this holiday fueled desire. The company has ramped up production but simply can't keep up with the white-hot demand.
The $250 gaming console is already widely sold out around the world and video game analyst Michael Patcher says that it's unlikely that supplies will recover until April. The result is a secondary market on eBay where one Wii system is being offered (obviously tongue-in-cheek) for $1,000,000. For those not amused, the serious price is north of $500. Some retailers like Best Buy are getting in limited supplies weekly and holding them until Sunday. The doors open at 10 a.m. and lines stretching around the building are forming in the Wii hours.
What's the excitement about? The secret to Wii's success, according to industry analysts, is its ability to reach consumers outside the traditional gaming community. It's ditched the sometimes difficult joystick-type controllers for an easy-to-use (and some say more enjoyable) motion-based control. The result is an experience that appeals to gamers and non-gamers of all ages. Growing Bolder attended a recent trade show to see why it's all Wii want for Christmas.
Click the play button below to see some Wii gamers in action.
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Posted 11:22 am December 5th, 2007As a matter of fact, the Wii's competitors are experiencing higher sales due in part to the shortage of Nintendo Wiis. The Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft X-Box 360 have both cut prices as well, but are still more expensive than the Wii. Nintendo allegedly has no plans to lower their price, since the demand is sky-high as it is.