Welcome to 2008! It's the beginning of a new year and 2007 was arguably the best year for gaming yet, so we're hoping 2008 is even better for you and for us. May it bring you nothing but the best of times and the most fun games you could want. We're getting some great Wii games this year, so we can't wait to see what you all have to say.
And, as always, we want to thank you for stopping by our little corner of the internet. We try hard to make sure this is the best place to go for Wii news and fun stuff involving the console and Nintendo. We really love the Nintendo community and thank each and every one of you for your input. You're all great and have helped us grow into a pretty awesome blog over the years. So, here's to 2008 and an even better year for Nintendo's console.
Not that it wasn't a great year, don't get us wrong, but as far as new games go, the year is ending without a single new release available. This means that we're forced to look to any holiday gifts we may have received or, well, something far worse: no games at all. This is the last weekend of 2007, how are we supposed to end the year without any new games to play?
Enough about us, how will you be sending out 2007? What will you be playing? Any new Wii owners ecstatic to have their first weekend with their console?
Consoles and games are always a popular gift during the holidays, and as we saw yesterday at DS Fanboy, the reactions are often as good as -- or even better! -- than the gifts themselves. Well, if people got so excited about getting a DS, how must they have felt about the highly elusive, often-unavailable Wii? Thanks to a number of videos uploaded to YouTube this week, we can share in the holiday joy of several lucky new Wii owners.
Nintendo did some good things for popular online retailer Amazon.com this holiday season, as its Wii console sold at a rate of 17 consoles per second. Of course, this only pertains to when the console was actually available for purchase, which wasn't all that often. This all contributed to a very lucrative holiday season for the retailer, which experienced its strongest sales on December 10th. Then, it sold 5.4 million items, which comes to about 62.5 items per second.
It may not be the Wii version of Guitar Hero, but it's certainly something worth recognizing, regardless. Turns out, some savvy folk decided to sync a loose collection of colored Christmas lights to the colored fret buttons in Guitar Hero, allowing for quite the display. It reminds us of those other Christmas lights.
Everyone likes an uplifting story during the holidays, don't they? Heck, we like to read or hear about them any chance we get. And this story is no different, as one little girl in Australia suffering from arthrogryposis, a degenerative muscle disease, recently got a wonderful gift from Nintendo.
After trying a family friend's console and having a great time, that same wonderful friend wrote to Nintendo directly and got little Taylor a console sent to her, free of charge. As you might imagine, she was absolutely thrilled to receive something that can keep her active without pushing her so hard, but also something that brings a smile to her face and is quite fun. Merry Christmas, little Taylor!
Well Mr. Cat, we'd like to take some time to see how most are celebrating their Christmas. Is that okay with you? Great!
With the Wii so damn tough to hunt down still, we figured we'd ask how some of you lucky folk to receive one, as well as those of you who already own it, are utilizing it in your holiday celebration. Hit up the poll below and let us know!
For a lot of you out there, today is Christmas. It's a big holiday here in the United States, where Wii Fanboy HQ is located. Many strive for the Norman Rockwell holiday, with family and food and fun all around. As we spend much of our day with our families, we're going to take a more relaxing schedule today regarding the site, so you won't see the full onslaught of Wii news from us. So, check us out as much as you can today, but also give your family the attention they deserve.
From all of us here at Wii Fanboy, we wish you a happy and safe holiday. Thanks for reading and taking the time to be a part of the community we have tried to build here. We appreciate everything you bring to the site each and every day.
The consoles aren't the only things to be sold out this year -- a number of Wii games and accessories have been scarce as well. Were you looking to buy something for someone's Wii this year, only to be thwarted? I personally had to check at several stores just to find a copy of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, and forget picking up extra controllers without a lengthy search. How's your shopping experience been?
We're always happy to hear about someone getting in on the Wii experience for the first time. New adopters who might have been turned away from gaming at one point in the past or are in on the activity for the first time warm our heart, because it shows the impressive power of the console. But, what was that we said about hunting one down?
Columnist Mark Morford works for the the San Francisco Gate and recently did something he's never done before: got up at the crack of dawn to track down a Wii. He got in line at his local Best Buy to get a system and, sure enough, he got one. It wasn't just for him, but for his little sister. Such a selfless act can only make us appreciate the fellow more.
What was great about this particular story is that despite it being so close to Christmas, and the Wii's unavailability still, the line was full of friendly and calm people. There wasn't any of the crazy Black Friday stampeding or selfish shoving in line, but people who had come to experience something wonderful. Playing is believing, sure, but these stories make us believe in something else: humanity.
Have any of your experiences in hunting down a Wii been different?
For many of us, it's the holiday season, when we start thinking about gifts we want -- and gifts we'll be buying for others. For Wii owners -- or those who want to be -- that tends to mean a scramble, unless you asked, and purchased, early. But eh, who does that? Are you hunting a particular game for someone, or hoping they'll find it for you? Are you hoping to discover a couple of games this year, conveniently purchased by others? If so, which titles? Are you buying game-related items for someone else?
Even Santa has mouths to feed. So, he's offering up his unique services, along with 2007's most-desired item, the Nintendo Wii, to the highest bidder. We guess milk and cookies just aren't enough for old Saint Nick anymore.
Via an eBay listing, the fat man has agreed to personally arrive at the household, completely in uniform, and hand deliver the console to the lucky recipient anywhere in the continental United States, making their Christmas one "he/she will never forget." The auction has a ridiculous Buy It Now price of $9,995, but bids are starting at $3,995. Of course, we don't have to tell you how ridiculous this whole thing is, as we're laughing thinking that someone would actually shell out the money for this.
'Tis the season for giving and so forth, so here's a cockle-warming story regarding one child's altruism.
Upon discovering his father was helping to assemble a toy collection for foster children, nine-year-old Brandyn Waterford decided to make his own contribution. However, rather than donating the usual motley collection of tattered cuddly toys, dog-eared comics, and crappy, half-baked games, Brandyn honorably surrendered his Wii, a birthday gift from his parents, to Agape Villages Foster Family Services.
"I decided to give away something I really like so another kid could have a really good Christmas," said the young benefactor. Awww, bless. Group hug, everyone!
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, which means that once again, Wiis are absolutely nowhere to be found. Do you know anyone who's hunting them this year? Between the ridiculous bundles and the horrific markup on eBay, it's not a good time to be in the market for a console, but what's a desperate shopper to do? If you're looking, tell us what plans you're making for the possibly-inevitable disappointment, or some of your hunting experiences. If you know someone who is looking, or you're just in a good mood, leave a few words of encouragement!
With Black Friday just around the corner, you're likely doing some last minute sharpening of all your swords and battle testing your armor against your little brother. It's going to be crazy out there as you try to procure a Wii for your loved one or, even worse, yourself. We feel for you.
But, odds aren't looking that good. Considering that the Wii was the gift to have last year, as well, this year isn't looking any better. Retailers are having trouble keeping the console on shelves and Nintendo is having trouble making enough for those shelves. It's a unique situation, in that popular holiday gifts often change from year to year, but the Wii looks like it has the staying power.
What's your plan of action for procuring a Wii this holiday season? Do you have any friends or family trying to get their hands on one?
Everyone likes an uplifting story during the holidays, don't they? Heck, we like to read or hear about them any chance we get. And this story is no different, as one little girl in Australia suffering from arthrogryposis, a degenerative muscle disease, recently got a wonderful gift from Nintendo.
The consoles aren't the only things to be sold out this year -- a number of Wii games and accessories have been scarce as well. Were you looking to buy something for someone's Wii this year, only to be thwarted? I personally had to check at several stores just to find a copy of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, and forget picking up extra controllers without a lengthy search. How's your shopping experience been?
For many of us, it's the holiday season, when we start thinking about gifts we want -- and gifts we'll be buying for others. For Wii owners -- or those who want to be -- that tends to mean a scramble, unless you asked, and purchased, early. But eh, who does that? Are you hunting a particular game for someone, or hoping they'll find it for you? Are you hoping to discover a couple of games this year, conveniently purchased by others? If so, which titles? Are you buying game-related items for someone else?
'Tis the season for giving and so forth, so here's a cockle-warming story regarding one child's altruism.
With Black Friday just around the corner, you're likely doing some last minute sharpening of all your swords and battle testing your armor against your little brother. It's going to be crazy out there as you try to procure a Wii for your loved one or, even worse, yourself. We feel for you.
