Nintendo defends UK Wii supply

While gamers will have had no problem getting hold of a PlayStation 3 over the console's European launch weekend, it is a different story for those searching to buy a Nintendo Wii.

The Wii was launched in Europe on December 8, with Nintendo promising in a statement that it would "maximise all resources for a repaid replenishment program to consistently pump Wii consoles into the supply pipeline." Right now, in both the US and the UK, however, it seems consumers have to move quickly to find one.

The only outlets where customers could easily get hold of a Wii seemed to be auction Web site eBay, where the console is currently selling at an average price of £200 (RRP £179), and the Amazon Marketplace. Retailers--including GameStation, Play.com, Amazon UK, and Game--were all out of stock at the time of going to press, according to online stock-checking sites.

A Nintendo spokesperson told GameSpot that the company has indeed been making regular shipments of the console since its launch, although he declined to give figures. He said, "It is still very much the case that regular shipments of Wii are being made to retailers across the UK and have been since launch. It's simply a fact that demand remains incredibly high for Wii with some retailers reporting higher interest now than at launch. Every unit we make right now is selling."

He urged those wishing to buy a Wii to "not give up" and to try using sites such as Yahoo, which have search functions to check stock levels at a variety of stores.