Europe waits for Wii as December 8th launch arrives

7 December 2006

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Posted by:Ferry

Happy Wii Day to European Nintendo gamers as December 8th arrives right about now and with it the launch of the Wii console. At Gamestation in Birmingham where Nintendo held one of their many European launch parties, hundreds of people were waiting in line while being entertained by DJs and drinks on the house.

Nintendo UK today responded to claims that it will be near impossible to get hold of a Wii before next year if you haven’t pre-ordered. “There are many hundreds of retailers across the UK who do not take pre-orders and as such will have stock available from launch,” a spokesperson for Nintendo said before running away from a stampede of Nintendo fans going home fast all disappointed, because they either didn’t pre-order early enough or the store didn’t get enough stock to supply those waiting in line this night. But more Wii shipments are promised before Christmas.

In extreme cases like on Tuesday 5th December, three days before Wii launch, a waiting line began to form outside HMV Oxford Street in London, UK. Here’s an interview from Cake with ‘em.
At that location today among the guests were football legend Ian Wright, tennis superstar Pat Cash, boxing champion Ricky Hatton and the lovely Nell McAndrew (who was Lara Croft between 1996 and 1997). All playing lots of Wii sports at the Wii launch party.

The Wii commercials in Europe were aimed to spike the interest of non-gamers. Notice how the Nintendo brand isn’t even mentioned. Here’s the entire four-part series:

Better late than never Channel 4 News caught up on the new console release at Nintendo’s Wii House in the UK and asks why Wii sounds like Pee? But they make up for it by pointing out that getting physical is a big fun-factor with the console’s games, that and the last second comment from the female presenter makes up for the male presenter’s tie.