Well, as I mentioned I would do in my screed against the PS3 launch, I got up this morning in an attempt to procure a Wii, the new Nintendo gaming console that went on sale today (and in some places, at midnight last night). Here’s what’s sitting in front of me right now (spoiler alert!):
Actually, I turned out to be that guy. The guy who ended up getting the very last one the store had in stock, the guy hated by everyone in the line behind him. My morning unfolded thusly:
6:55 – Wake up, throw on clothes, brush teeth
7:05 – Eat a hearty breakfast of Pop Tarts and Diet Coke. Check e-mail.
7:15 – Leave house
7:25 – Arrive at Target. Get line pass, numbered 42 of 42. Queue up.
8:00 – Store opens. Line moves inside.
8:35 – Leave store, Wii and Zelda in hand.
When I first got there I saw four people lined up outside the store, so I thought no big deal. I had seen people up the street at Best Buy with couches and tents, so I had actually been a little worried. Then as I was walking up to join them, the store manager came out and started handing out line passes. When I greeted her with a sunny smile, the grinned back at me and passed me a ticket, saying “You got the last one, buddy.” They had received a shipment of exactly 42 Wii consoles, and I was number 42 in line. Apparently people had been showing up since the wee hours (ha! get it?) to get line passes and being told to come back at 8:00, but I just barely slipped in.
Several people gave me exasperated and faintly malicious looks as they fell into line behind me, but it looks like I barely made it. Now it’s time to hook this sucker up and see if it’s as wondertacular as everyone is expecting it to be.
Branden is on a first name basis with the staff at the local Game Crazy. He had been on the pre order list for the Wii there, but the store got shorted on their supply and there wasn’t enough for him. Did I mention he’s friendly with the staff? Yeah, one of them gave Branden her place on the list so he could get his Wii. Now granted, she didn’t want it for herself… she’s getting it for a christmas present for her kid. But, still.
So far we’ve played Zelda, Rayman Raving Rabbits and Super Monkey Ball. We all like it… even me. And I suck at video games.
That’s awesome. I get the feeling that I was very lucky to get one on launch day without being connected or camping for hours. That said, I hear that unlike the PS3 there will be regular shipments arriving at stores throughout the rest of the year and beyond.
I may have to check out Rayman. I’m not normally into platformers, but I hear consistently good things about it.