Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Wii again: Euro launch
Hey, while I was playing Zelda (I finished it!), someone forgot to tell me the Wii came out here in Europe! Only kidding, only kidding, the advertisements and press coverage has been absolutely everywhere over here, but as I said, I've been too busy playing my US version to spot many of the local TV commercials (which apparently are very good).
Nevertheless, after playing Zelda, my friend Adam decided that rather than being very interested in the Wii, and being the kind who doesn't mind delays, he decided now had to own a European one. So, that Thursday night, Ryan (of Gamesfest 2006 fame) drove us all into Glasgow for the midnight European launch. We knew there was almost no chance of being able to actually get a console (and we were right), but we waited in line to pick up a second Wii Remote for multiplayer Wii Sports fun, and surprisingly enough I also managed to snag Gamestation Sauchiehall St's last Component video cable (they had 3). It's an unofficial Mad Catz one, but is nice and beefy and is no doubt identical in quality to the Nintendo version.
The line wasn't exactly the best place to soak up the launch atmosphere, because, well, there wasn't really any. We were behind a grumpy old hairy man, who scowled at me when I grinned and excitedly exclaimed "WIIIIIIIIIII!". I ask you, whatever happened to excitement in this hobby that's supposed to be centred around fun? Joke's on him though, because we brought along a crate of Diet Pepsis and handed them out to the friendlier Nintendo fans in the line, inbetween sessions of DS multiplayer Mario Kart, and he didn't get any, so there. The doors opened soon enough though and we were let inside despite not having consoles preordered, where we talked to a nice guy who we will probably never see again about the DS, region lockouts and the ridiculously cheap exchange rate.
Gamestation, like most retailers in Glasgow, somehow had no Wii Remotes either, but they had plenty of Nunchuk attachments (bafflingly, a few got sold) and plenty of the rubbish silicon skins to go over the remotes (who honestly decided to bring such a ridiculous product to the market?) So, we continued our Wii Launch road trip to the nearest 24 hour ASDA (it's a supermarket). Driving along the motorway, we discussed gaming days of olde, and how we hope that Sony Computer Entertainment get their arrogant tushes kicked.
When we got to ASDA, we tried our luck and asked the guy staffing the entertainment section if they by any chance had any Wiis left. Of course they didn't, but we DID get to hear a story about the 7am line outside and how one customer bought a wristband for £400, so he'd be able to stand in the line and THEN go inside to spend another £179 on the console itself, which is probably just about as good as getting a PAL Wii (I'm kidding). Outside, the line at the neighbouring Toys-R-Us had already begun, tents and all.
So, when we got home, we hooked up the Component cable and sampled some Wii Sports and Zelda with a fresh look. Yum.
Posted at 10:10 PM
