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Report: Prelaunch Wii kiosks only at GameStop

Texas paper says retailer only store for hands-on time with new system before it goes on sale; stations expected mid-November.

GameStop told its managers at an annual sales conference last weekend that it would be the only retailer with Wii demo kiosks at launch, according to a report in The Dallas Morning News.

A GameStop spokesman confirmed for GameSpot that the company would have Wii kiosks in stores before the Wii launch but would not confirm that the retail chain would be the only stores to have them. As for when the kiosks would start to arrive in stores, he could only give a "mid-November" time frame. The Wii is scheduled to release in the US November 19.

The GameStop representative also confirmed the newspaper's report that the Grapevine, Texas-based retail chain had not yet decided whether it would be taking any preorders for the Wii or the PlayStation 3 hardware launches this November. A shortage of Xbox 360 systems at last year's launch of the system left the retailer unable to fulfill many of its preorders.

As of press time, a Nintendo representative had not responded to GameSpot's requests for comment as to which other retailers might have demo kiosks.

286 Comments

  • NickActon

    Posted Oct 13, 2006 5:37 pm GMT

    i have the rights to a Wii and LoZ:TP !!! i was at EB games at 6:30am and was 8th in line out of 14 reserved for that certain store!! NOV 19th!! PLEASE HURRY!!

  • Urizen5

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 3:23 pm GMT

    For those who don't understand why the kiosk would be available so close to launch, the reason is simple. They are designed for people who aren't gamers and try to have them interested enough to buy the system by Christmas not at launch. Fanboys, such as I, will already own one on launch, Nintendo already has my soul. Hmm......

  • volcombabe

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 12:26 pm GMT

    OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOVEMBER 19 heck yesssssssssss i can't wait u know im gonna get one.... what now and that means that the new Zelda game is coming out to LOL

  • slasher2119

    Posted Oct 8, 2006 9:37 pm GMT

    omg i cant wait, i work at eb and eb and gamestop are now one and the same, since the controller is wireless the people behind the counter will probably ask for your car keys or something important before handing it over.day one when we can preorder them im preordering one

  • Dwbot

    Posted Oct 8, 2006 9:38 am GMT

    Cant wait i already have the week ofthe 19th off and and i plain to be there and minnight of the release date!

  • -Battalion-

    Posted Oct 7, 2006 5:16 pm GMT

    Hope that means EB Games, too. My town doesn't have a Gamestop.

  • MegaManX9101

    Posted Oct 6, 2006 2:09 pm GMT

    -drooool-
    Now i REALLY love gamestop...

  • legs1986

    Posted Oct 6, 2006 10:37 am GMT

    black_ice23

    "yea eb is pro xbox fo sho they dont tell much bout any other system"

    That's not true, we love Nintendo too. Reasoning behind it, besides the fact that those 2 companies love us and give us freebies... Sony's last console, PS2, had about a 20% defect rate through our company. Had the same problem with other companies, however we were the ones really honoring our warranty on the defects. Thanks to that, Sony hates EB. Loved gamestop however as they didn't really do too many defects. Granted we're the same entity now, but the stores are still separated so you will definately notice a difference in opinions at them.

  • vjso2

    Posted Oct 6, 2006 4:54 am GMT

    This is a sign. I'm sure walmart will have kiosks too.

  • Kantoma

    Posted Oct 5, 2006 3:08 pm GMT

    Sweet, Brother. I love demos. They'll probably chain the controllers down, but it'll be interesting to see how they secure a wireless remote to the kiosks

  • BIkDlam0ndz

    Posted Oct 5, 2006 10:26 am GMT

    they shouldnt wait no longer. First come first serve. If u order it when preorders start then u like is sure to have one. If u not gona preorder or u dont care about the wii then shut up. Why r u here

  • Big_Will

    Posted Oct 5, 2006 7:38 am GMT

    doesn't matter, it'll be a while before i get one anyway, so i'm not worrying about seeing it in action.

  • elozl

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    Well who cares if you are still gonna buy the Wii??? and you dont need to be on a kiosk to play it !

  • black_ice23

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 3:39 pm GMT

    thats kinda dumb 4 real they should start in october i heard wal-mart aint settin up the wii demos cuz they afraid of pplz gettin hurt wit the motion sensor remote
    but they still setting ps3 dumb

    yea eb is pro xbox fo sho they dont tell much bout any other system

    i wonder if they gonna set up any kiosk in canada for gamers lik me i wanna try it
    but i think ill wait a while b4 i buy in case any system or game glitches lik da 360 so i may wait till smash bros comes out 2 buy it or after christmas or w/e

  • ZeroWil

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 3:04 pm GMT

    I think giving preorders for the Wii would be fine. I doubt the Wii will be sold out anywhere soon.

  • EverAB

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 12:45 pm GMT

    I haven't had a laugh like that in a whikle, thanks TrembL

  • MetroidBounty

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 12:44 pm GMT

    I can't wait to camp out for the Wii. It will be fun I wonder if the Wii will really be here on the 19th since it is a sunday and nothing ships on Sunday?

  • redfop

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 10:24 am GMT

    ok ima write this fast cuz im going to gamestop right now but **** YEA

  • cloud1914

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 10:23 am GMT

    yey i get to wait in line!!!!

  • TrembL

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 9:53 am GMT

    williamwu1985....why would Game"STOP" give a discount to Game"SPOT" members?

  • Monstromo

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 9:53 am GMT

    Sorry, we are sold out of Wii's but you can play our really cool kiosk once those 14 annoying kids are done with it.

  • GodsBusy

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:41 am GMT

    @SirFatalChaos

    Camp out for the Wii? Why? There's going to be TONS of them around - the PS3, on the other hand . . .

  • williamwu1985

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:25 am GMT

    Shut up, why this news always in top, I hate gamestop, expentive shipping, add tax , made normal ps2 game 60 dollars. 50+ 6 shiping + 4 tax, i can find cheap game anywhere in buy.com, newegg, or even overstock.com. gamestop and ebgame never give discount for gamespot member, they are cheap and ass.
    since they are the only place to preorder wII, i will not pickup a wii.

  • grandgundam3

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:22 am GMT

    i'd rather get my Wii from Game Crazy. at least the people there have some knowledge of video games, unlike the Gamestops in my area. or the whole city for that matter. and let's try to act surprised for Gamestops sake if this whole kiosk thing is false

  • Dualmask

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:09 am GMT

    Wouldn't be surprised if this weren't totally accurate, but there's a Gamestop not even two blocks from my house so that's good news for me anyway.

  • Turisman4

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:04 am GMT

    I would't be very surprised if this was fake.

  • judgenxcutioner

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 8:03 am GMT

    Great now we have to wait in line with all the other fat, sweaty nerds to get to play this thing!

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 7:04 am GMT

    wii and the psp and the 360 will dominate the christmas market. sony lost out on the ps3 and putting kiosks in stores would ultimately lead to some idiots attempting to break the case and steal them....now if they were attached to beautiful women...well i wouldnt steal em, but i would try to get their numbers!

  • jww156

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 7:04 am GMT

    AS I MENTIONED EARLIER BEFORE, THIS STORY IS FALSE...I RUN A A GAME CRAZY AND WE WILL ALSO BE GETTING KIOSKS/DEMO UNITS.

  • Jimbo9981

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 5:31 am GMT

    Mid-November, huh? That's not much advance time, time that could be used to get people accquainted with the system and interested in purchasing it. Nintendo may have made a serious blunder!

  • DFTricks

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 4:53 am GMT

    Kinda of confusing, why would they do that if Nintendo is realeasing it on the 19!?!

  • MarioMainic

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 4:01 am GMT

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
    That so bad for gamespot .

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 2:47 am GMT

    Hmm this is bad news......

  • greenleaflink

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 2:09 am GMT

    I dont like this...

    Best Buy, Futureshop, Source, WAL-MART!!!!!!! are way more popular in 'consumers' not much people know about EBGAMES [non -gamers]

    this isnt a bright move...if i was Nintendo id market it in malls, theatres, everywhere possible where people/family gather.

    wal-mart especially.

  • SirFatalChaos

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 10:33 pm GMT

    "my eb isnt doing preorders, so I get to camp out that nite lol, my gf is gonna regret saying shed go with me, november in Canada= Cold lol" - zac41

    LOL HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAH

  • zac41

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 9:08 pm GMT

    my eb isnt doing preorders, so I get to camp out that nite lol, my gf is gonna regret saying shed go with me, november in Canada= Cold lol

  • legs1986

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 9:05 pm GMT

    They haven't updated this yet; however my manager just got back from the mentioned confrence. EB/Gamestop is the only retailer who will have Wii kiosks PRE launch.

  • MrHomind

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 7:43 pm GMT

    sweet I live 5 miles from a gamestop

  • XxgAmErXX6655

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 7:16 pm GMT

    I don't care I just want the Wii on it's launch day!!!!!

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 7:15 pm GMT

    I guess I'll have to go to GameStop

  • jww156

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 5:46 pm GMT

    I run a Game Crazy...we'll have them too, probably around 2 weeks before launch.

  • demaxx_1

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    That's cool.
    I live literally 2 miles away from the gamestop hq, and it's nice to see G-vine on the interweb.

  • RahKayne

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 5:27 pm GMT

    There are tons of gamestops and ebgames where i live east coast

  • majindan

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 5:05 pm GMT

    F.Y.I. Gamestop/ebgames has officially taken the majority marketshare of the retail side of gaming.

    1. Gamestop
    2. Wal-Mart
    3. Best-Buy

  • majindan

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 5:03 pm GMT

    Gamestop IS EB Games and vice versa...merger last fall and they're officially one company. As far as the 360 fiasco goes, it was Microsoft's fault because they told the guy in charge of pre-sells too late to stop taking reservations. In any case the guy from Gamestop was fired anyway because even after Microsoft called in to stop he said keep reserving a week longer.

  • umbaquaw

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 4:58 pm GMT

    Lol, a gamespot? That would be a kickass place though.. And Surillo, I wouldn't be talking if I were you about lyers and people doing anything to see something get sold. You can always just go on your PC and downloads the patches and burn em OR you can even order them on a cd straight from Microsoft. And just becuase someone can't get all there facts straight doesn't mean they are lying or Pro xbox, seems like you are just as much as too blame as that employee.

  • LikwidX3

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 4:06 pm GMT

    i dont care, just gimme the system when it comes out

  • RealSkyDiver

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 3:55 pm GMT

    I know for sure that you will see a Wii and PS3 in bestbuy so this news is WRONG. Of course EBGames will have them too since both are owned by the same company an technicaly they're the same.

  • Champ_1221

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 3:38 pm GMT

    Is it gonna be at eb games cuz eb games and gamestop have the same website?

  • NFunspoiler

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 3:32 pm GMT

    I dont see why they would only release them to Gamespot... since Walmart and Target are much more broad stores and more people would play the Wii there.
    I've never even SEEN a Gamespot.

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