4 of 52

Write now Article Tools

The Myth of Wii and A Nintendo-OPEC Conspiracy

My darling wife told me shortly after Christmas that she would like a Nintendo Wii. The last game console we had was a Game Cube and I think we played games on it a total of three times in as many years. My kids ignored it because "Dad doesn't know anything about gaming technology and should have bought a Play Station instead of a lame Game Cube".

But a happy wife makes a happy husband, and my adventure began.

Well, not immediately. Being the procrastinator that I am, I waited until two weeks before Valentine's Day to begin my quest, assuming I would make a trip to WalMart or Best Buy, purchase a console, and have it wrapped and under the Valentine's tree in plenty of time. The fact that there's no such thing as a Valentine's tree was the least of my problems.

I went to WalMart. No Wiis. I didn't bother about asking them when they'd get some, I just assumed I could pop over to Best Buy and pick one up. Wrong.

Sam's club: No Wiis. Game Stop: No Wiis.

I pitched the idea of a Play Station to the wife. "After all, the graphics are much better" I explained confidently without any knowledge or research to back up the claim.

Nope. She wanted a Wii because she'd seen the commercials on TV and saw that it was so physically interactive. It would be a great exercise aid.

Okay, no problem. I went on line where you can buy anything as long as you're willing to wait for it to ship. Wrong. I couldn't find any Wiis available on line for less than $500.00 - twice the MSRP and they we're all from suppliers I didn't know if I could trust. I came across more Valentine's Trees available on line than Wiis.

Valentine's Day came and went. I got a beautiful Kimber .45 and my wife got a promise from me that I was hot on the trail of her game console. I started checking with the folks at the stores and begging them to call me as soon as they got a Wii. They all refused, saying that it was first come, first served. Apparently the things sold so fast that potential buyers would commit violent acts if they found out someone had one in stock and was holding out or alerting other buyers when a shipment came in.

I was sure that someone at the stores must have stashed a Wii somewhere for special needs, but even a claiming to be from the Last Wish of the Terminally Ill Hobbits Foundation got me no traction. At one point I became delusional in the search and came up with a theory that there actually was no such thing as a Wii and it was all a devious marketing

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Perspectives on game consoles?
We want to hear your view. Write now!