Nintendo is trying a different approach to some early Wii marketing. In major urban areas throughout the country, Nintendo is holding private parties for "ambassadors", whom they have personally selected, and a whole crapload of their friends. We're not sure whether the ambassadors were randomly chosen, but we doubt it. (Where the heck were our invites, Nintendo?) In any case, the ambassadors recently received a mysterious package in their mailboxes. What was inside? A ridiculously hot, super-amazing black DS Lite, as well as a cardboard Wiimote mock-up personally signed by Reggie Fils-Aime himself.
The ambassador in Miami took some pics, which can be seen here. There's also one in Chicago who's giving away two free tickets to some hardcore Chicagamers (yeah, we just made that up) willing to meet him in some shady location. Also of note is the date of the event (September 29th) and an excerpt from the back of the cardboard Wiimote: "The event will occur several weeks before Wii launches..." This is probably the strongest evidence we've seen for a late October launch.
Seriously, rendezvous points? Whole vans, spiriting away gamers to some secret Fortress de Nintendo? Next time, Reggie, sign us up as well.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2006 @ 7:41PM
All Your Lost Socks said...
:O
*catches breath and dies*
Pick me, pick me D:
(first post ^^)
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8-29-2006 @ 7:48PM
Nushio said...
I'd like to be a Wii Ambassador for Mexico. I know of tons of places where they could host the secret party in Monterrey, NL. Mexico.
They really need advertising for the Wii down here, so if anyone from Nintendo is reading this, drop me a line!
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8-29-2006 @ 7:49PM
Capt. Castellanos said...
please be an october launch.
i will be so happy.
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8-29-2006 @ 8:00PM
Franky Digital said...
Pretty sure the Nintendo ambassadors are randomly chosen from people who are Nintendo/Nintendo Power members, just like all of their other contests and promotions.
As an side, the wording "several weeks" unsettles me. All those rumours had me hoping for an early October launch. T.T
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8-29-2006 @ 8:04PM
Elric said...
The "Ambassadors" are indipendent video game suppliers. Our supplier just informed me that I and 1 guest are invited.
I will take pics and vids all day long.
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8-29-2006 @ 11:29PM
Neko Tsukimi said...
I melt in a pool of envy... But then again, I don't really know 30 people... But I could possibly find some. Nintendo definitely treats people PRETTY nicely I must say.
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8-30-2006 @ 12:58AM
TJ said...
I'm getting to go to the Denver party, and I worked for awhile with the guy who's the Ambassador here.
Nintendo tracked him down via a story about his HUGE collection of Nintendo toys/plushies/collectables/candy/whatever else you can think of.
Just emailed him about weather he got one of those packages...just might have to steal that cardboard Wiimote from him.
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8-30-2006 @ 5:37AM
BPMΩ said...
I would so loved to have been picked for this. And I could get 30 people to attend easily (host it as a DeVry Phoenix event. Yeah!).
Though I'm plenty happy with my Enamel Navy DS Lite, so the free Onyx (though pretty cool) would be useless to me. Maybe I could sell it on eBay... Ah, well.
And, something I found amusing (from the Miami Ambassador's page):
"Nintendo will provide:
6 Playable Nintendo Wii's.
6 Flat Screen TV's.
Free soda and alcohol.
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8-30-2006 @ 5:59AM
friedgreenmushrooms said...
6 Wiis x 4 Wiimotes = 24 players
Yeah, 6 unhappy people are going to be standing around and watching others have fun. And trust me, no drunken Nintendo fanboy is going to give up that controller, even if Nintendo's hired goons have to tear his arms off to get it.
Person 1: "Oh, you're going to the bathroom. So I can play?"
Person 2: "No, because I'm bringing the Wiimote with me. I'll leave the door open and play from there. Pfft, idiot."
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8-30-2006 @ 11:07AM
gil said...
I assure you, the ambassador for chicago is not in anyway affiliated with anyone. i know him personally, he simply has a blog on blogger.com and he recieves quite a bit of traffic, so nintendo contacted him and the rest is history. as for the "shady location", he is asking for people to go to a chicago park district at 7pm. not that shady, i think. besides, its a hipster neighborhood with suburban kids and their trust funds.
enjoy.
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8-30-2006 @ 9:26PM
Kyle Fisher said...
in case you haven't noticed, there is a tear in the left side of the chair, meaning that it must true and not a hoax. personally. I'm excited to lay my hands on a wii. I love wii.
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8-31-2006 @ 6:58AM
Risto Raistakka said...
Yeah.. I Could be the one to have party in Finland.. I have now waited Wii at least one year (..First i waited for nintendo revolution before the name chanced) for now and because not so many people have chance to go to E3 or places like that i'd would be good that even some finnish people should chance to play Wii before christmas. ^^)
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