Wiiblog.

Although I am not going to post the video itself from YouTube (considering the ramifications associated with posting embedded video on our sites), I will however post a link to the video clip.

Colbert said that he hasn’t been able to tear himself away from his Wii due to the Mii creation system and use of Miis in Wii Sports, most specifically Boxing.

He created a virtual avatar of himself, and also one of Nancy Pelosi. He then showed a small montage of game footage showing his Mii beating her Mii senseless in a Boxing match.

All hilarity aside, Comedy Central has had a lot of airtime devoted to Nintendo’s new gaming machine. From “Thanksgiving Wiikend” celebration, where a Wii was given away per hour for a few days, to having 2-part episode of South Park centralized on the Cartman’s lust for a Wii.

What does this say for the PLAYSTATION3 (that is the official names, all caps. No, I didn’t make that up)? Not a lot. The most press Sony can muster for its system is news reports of people getting beaten up, stabbed, shot or otherwise maimed for standing in line on launch day for their chance to get a system that doesn’t have any must-have titles (can be argued that Resistance: Fall of Man is a must-have but I can’t see it as anything other than another alien-filled FPS with the same controls we have been using since GoldenEye for the N64 (or Halo if you want a slightly more modern representation using 2 analog sticks rather than the 4 C-buttons of the N64 pad.))

On Sunday, the United States was host to the release of Nintendo’s next console system, the Wii. With it’s unique remote control that senses the motion behind it and the graphics of 2 Gamecubes with the power intake less than two thirds of a single Gamecube, it is not as easily compared to it’s beefier, bulkier brothers, the PS3 and X360.

(more…)

Today at around 1pm, our local Electronics Boutique was host to one of Nintendo’s official representatives that distributed 2 remote controls as well as the vital Wii Start-up disk, that allows the Wii to access anything. The remotes allowed the manager and employees to load up the initial Wii Channels, but not allow them to access the Weather, News, or online shop channels, which will most likely gain support when the system is formally released this Sunday.

The game, which has been in GameStop/EB stores nationwide was the retail version of Excite Truck. I suggest nonbelievers of the system go and play around, either on versus or on their own. Though strict rules have been scrawled by the manager and taped to the Wii kiosk explaining the various stipulations one must go through before being able to strap your wrist onto the Wii remote.

1. Relinquish either your drivers license or a major credit card. (this rule is set-up so that if someone was to try and run off with the remote, break it, or otherwise compromise the playability of the system, they will be charged for the damages that may entail)

2. If you are holding the remote, your hand should have the wrist-strap (included with every remote) wrapped around your hand to avoid accidental throwing of the control.

3. Do not hand the control to anyone else around you unless told to do so by an employee (because they haven’t given their ID or CC, allowing them not to be held liable for said destruction/disappearance of the remote)

4. We reserve the right to turn off the system at any time if these rules are not followed.

After reading and heeding the rules, I strapped myself in for an hour of entertainment, which turned out to be about half frustration and learning followed by blissful entertainment that made me not want to give the remote back..which is most likely why they took my license in the first place.

Upon questioning the employee about games and/or accessories to the system that had launched before the system, he stated only Spongebob Squarepants and Trauma Center: Second Opinion were available today. Pictures of the local EB setup and a more in depth Hands-on of Excite Truck will be coming soon.

(yes, that was lifted from the Daily Show)

I think its a humorous name, so it’s the title of my first poll.

Friday Morning
1am: Upon hearing rumors of people waiting throughout the night for their slight chance to preorder a Wii piques my interest and makes me curious as to whether people will go through with their plan or whether they were just saying that to startle me into waiting. I slowly drive by EB with a look of relief as I see no one waiting in front of EB and no cars waiting around the area. Having seen this with my own eyes, I decide that it was just talk and go home for a quick rest before coming back in the morning.

7am: I eagerly rise out of bed in what I hoped to be an easy experience heading out to the local Electronics Boutique (EB Games) and reserving one of 20 Wii that will be sent to our local store.

8am: I arrive at EB to find approximately 30-40 people standing in front of the EB that is scheduled to open at 10am. The wait for whether everyone in line is here to get a Wii or not begins.

(more…)

Friday the 13th will mark the beginning (and most likely end) of Wii preorders at GameStops and Electronics Boutique nationwide. This preorder will allow buyers to set aside a specific amount ($50-$100, the Stillwater employee wasn’t sure) to set aside a Wii system when they are released November 19th.

According to the voice mail I received earlier today, Our local EB will be receiving approximately 20 Wii on launch date, with more to follow with each coming shipment. While this may seem like a minuscule amount, the PLAYSTATION3s Stillwater’s EB will be seeing come launch day (November 17th) is 12 or less.

Although our EB is scheduled to open at 10AM to allow preorders, a few gamers have expressed their concerns of such small amounts of units. One in particular has told me he may end up camping outside to try to stake his place in line. I will hopefully be attending this to see how the preorder situation in Stillwater is handled, as well as to secure my own Wii come launch day.