GameStop to be only retailer with playable Wii units at launch

by Blake Snow { Oct 2nd 2006 at 2:50PM }

In wake of rumors that Wal-mart won't have playable Wiis, Dallas Morning News is reporting that GameStop announced exclusive Wii launch kiosk rights at the company's annual sales conference in Dallas this past Saturday. This confirms an email Joystiq received from an anonymous employee late Friday suggesting the same. Playable Wii units were also on the show floor at the conference with 4,000 employees and various GameStop vendors attending (pictured right).

Keep in mind some retailers rig up their own playable units (not official manufacturer kiosks), so prospective buyers at other stores might be able to enjoy hands-on time, albeit in a more limited fashion, with Wii prior to buying. While exclusive launch demo units are good for GameStop business, it's surely a bad thing for prospective gamers (and possibly for Nintendo), at least at launch. So does this move hurt initial Wii sales?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

crono141 @ Oct 2nd 2006 2:58PM

I don't think it will hurt sales. Like was stated in the article, best buy, circuit city, et al will probably set up their own kiosks, because there won't be any PS3s left on the shelves and not everybody is gonna want a 360.

It makes sense for retailers to put up their own demo stations. Its plugging a product they're selling, why WOULDN"T they?

Z @ Oct 2nd 2006 2:56PM

Doesn't make sense to me. Normal non-gamers go in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy. The only people that will see the Wii before Nov. 19 are gamers at gamestop. Weak.

Back_lit @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:23PM

It isn't a good idea purely because the Wii is a system you HAVE to play to understand, and how are casual gamers going to get a chance to play it if it isn't at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc etc? I suppose Nintendo COULD be getting paid a fair amount for it, but I would call into question that amount in the short run vs. what would be gained in the long run with maximum exposure. Also, with the PS3 having 15000 demo units...I think Nintendo needs to grab the spot light as best they can.

vc @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:03PM

Devil's advocate says: if the play experience is inferior, this may help sales. Don't want people figuring out that the console ain't that hot prior to making the purchase.

DocB @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:02PM

It wont really matter, as the initial launch will sell out simply to traditional gamers anyways. By the time more Wii's are in stock, and Nintendo begins to seek out to the non-gamers, the demo units will have found their way into other stores.

Chessasaur @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:09PM

How are they going to rig up the demo stations so that you can use the Wiimote freely while still keeping it from being stolen?

Draco @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:18PM

how do they keep people from stealing anything? they can put the metal tab inside the controller or something, which would set out the alarm if it left the building.

Regula Oblique @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:17PM

I second that question Chessasaur

Aram @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:21PM

or really long security cable attached to the remote and the nunchuck attachment... hopefully they won't set it too sensitive so it won't trigger the alarm by just pulling on it!

Eric @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:22PM

#5 - Perhaps that's why Nintendo is opting for GameStop and EB Stores for the kiosks. At my store we can keep a good eye on just about the entire store just from behind the counter. We can get busy, but other places like Target and Best Buy may not be able to be watching the kiosk at all times.

#1 - As with the 360 in general media (i.E. local TV news stories and advertisements everywhere) i would think it possible for Nintendo to get their message out there that the console is coming and what it is capable of w/o necessarily having kiosks in all stores. Don't sell the intellect of the non-gamer too short.

Sri Lumpa @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:23PM

"How are they going to rig up the demo stations so that you can use the Wiimote freely while still keeping it from being stolen?"

The same way that they did it for various game expos I suppose, by tethering it with a wire long enough to allow free playing.

Willis @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:23PM

#5 & #6: Retailers will probably attach the Wii-mote to high tensil strength wires like they do when they display cell phones and digital cameras. The other end being secured to the kiosk.

Or the otherend could be attached to some serious dead weight, like an overheated PS3.

Phoenix42 @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:26PM

Well, when your console's slogan is "Playing is believing", yea, I'd say it's bad.

CcntMnky @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:37PM

Is no one else gonna ask it?

When do the stations arrive at GameStop??? I remember X360 demos showing up in Wal-Mart before the system launch, will we get the same thing here?

Pretty Obvious @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:41PM

Itll probably hurt the Wii more if they have kiosks then without them. The last thing Nintendo wants is to have this system sitting next to a 360 or PS3 kiosk.

The consumer will know what the inferior product is at that point and innovative or not, the controller wont be enough to save the Wii at that point.

KBeat @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:46PM

"Playing is Believing"

Only if you shop at Gamestop apparently.

anti-fanboy @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:49PM

If Nintendo is looking for non-gamers why aren't they puting playable demo kiosk in places like ToysRUs Target or Walmart because most non gamers shop at those stores and if they see paople playing the games and having fun they are more likely to buy the system.

SpottedNigel @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:51PM

Not having iPods at regular retail to start didnt hinder those sales much.

Gerwurztraminer @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:53PM

Surely Gamestop isn't surly about it.

Robotic House Plant @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:02PM

This is not good. Kiosks help drive sales. For a retailer to not allow space for a kiosk is a major stand on the retailers part. I really don't believe they'll rig their own-- but I could be wrong. The only place I've really seen that is that game company inside Hollywood Video.

Adv2k1 @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:04PM

I can see the Wii totally having a place at the sofa at Best Buy.

Sort of like how they have Dance Dance Revolution and stuff on the side of the game section. They can have an emploee next to it at all times and teaching people how to play and all the details of the system and that way nobody can steal because its under watch.

bm @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:05PM

@"Pretty Obvious"

lol

Or you could look at it the other way around, people who know nothing about polygons or shaders or whatever are going to look to a Wii and a PS3/360 side by side and go "meh, *another* one of those same old playstations they always sell? Let me see that tennis thing!"

aj @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:23PM

this includes EB Games right? To be honest i don't think nintendo is going after non gamers this holiday. They know the hardcore gamers are gonna buy it so that's why they are waiting until next year. They'll sell out on hardcore gamers alone they don't need non gamers yet.

MetaHuman @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:14PM

Maybe GameSpot's organizing a special event for the launch. More often than not the several Gamespots I've been too have more options in creating kiosk space. Usually at Best Buy, Target or whatnot the console's just hooked up to a TV (or more recently, cheap flat-panel LCDs that go dark after a couple months). Because of the unique nature of the player interface maybe a modified style of kiosks will be shown in GameStop.

Mr. Khan @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:22PM

I would agree about not dissing the intellect of the non-gamer

Some of the biggest hits in gaming have spread via word of mouth, think of the NES, and i would also agree that GameStop is more secure for such an unorthodox console than my local Wal Mart, the chance for random vandalism is much much less

Remember that a lot of overhyping does not = console sales, think of the Dreamcast...

I think that Nintendo is staging this to be as close to the NES launch as humanly possible, it worked once...

darryl @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:50PM

Smart business decision.

Jeremy Wright @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:21PM

I only buy this if kiosks don't drive sales. If all that was required was a TV, then this'd be a non-issue. If kiosks don't work, then fine. If they do work, then having as many as possible makes total sense.

Next-Gen-Gamer @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:23PM

Just thought I'd throw this out there. For those of you who claim bias among the Joystiq bloggers, go check out 1UP's article about the conference. Apparently the source site says that GameStop hasn't made any official decisions about pre-orders. So of course, in 1UP's infinite wisdom, they claim that GameStop isn't taking pre-orders at all.

Just something for those thinking bias only exists @ Joystiq.

joe smith @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:03PM

I think they are afraid of: 1) the games will look like ass next to PS3 and Xbox 360 (they are GameCube-level games, after all)and 2) if people try to just pick up a controller and play and it sucks, their whole "the controller makes games more accessible" claim goes out the window.

mark @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:22PM

Nintendo has already said in an interview that they are targetting non-gamers AFTER the launch, so it isn't really that surprising that they wont have demo-stations at major department stores. I also think it isn't really needed.

A lot of experts think that the Wii is going to sell out this Christmas anyways, regardless of demo stations. Demand for the Wii is very high already, and a lot of people haven't even played it yet!

josh @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:30PM

guys, i'm sure Gamestop greased Nintendo's palm for this - Wal-Mart (the biggest retailer) already said they wouldnt have Wii Kiosks at launch, so GameStop (which is a big retailer, though no wal-mart) probably agreed to put the Wii kiosks front and center, and do extra Wii ads, if they exclusivity.

It makes sense for GameStop, since the curiousity factor may drive nongamers into Gamestop. For Nintendo, it makes sense if Gamestop (a hardcore gamer chain) agreed to push the Wii. After all, the typical Wal-Mart /Best Buy over-30 casual gamer is probably one who is already interested in the Wii's casual games and nostalgia factor.

ddaydj @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:39PM

I work at CompUSA in Hawaii. While we won't have an offical kiosk setup I can assure you we'll have one up and running all throughout the christmas season for people to try out and play. Wii Sports is gonna be great on some of the TVs we have here.

phantom42 @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:44PM

14 (Pretty Obvious)

you mean like how consumers have chosen the psp and its graphical power vs the ds?

gamesarefun @ Oct 2nd 2006 6:56PM

Look, the reason why Gamestop will get this exlcusive during launch day is probably because they have commited to promoting the shit out of the wii instead of the ps3.

go back to some earlier posts about how some chains (may or may not be gamestop) will be merchandising the wii in the front of the store with the other stock in the back.

the other chains (toysrus, etc) probably could not or did not want to commit to the same marketing initiatives and prefer to keep their options open to selling all 3 systems.

rh @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:28PM

You guys are having a meaningless debate.

The 'average consumer' does NOT ready Joystiq. Simply said, this isn't the kind of story that makes the front page of the news. Therefor only 'hardcore gamers' or those who are already interested in the wii, reading every tidbit of information that comes out in regards to the wii, will know that the wii will only have kiosks available at Gamestop.

Josh @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:22PM

As long as Nintendo gets Wiis into mass-market retailers after Christmas, all will be well. After all, the first four million units will EASILY be gobbled up by gamers alone, let alone the next two million by March 2007.

It's still kind of disappointing, news, though. In any case, I know I'll be hitting up my local GameStop (what about EB Games?) the day they get a Wii in!

SquirrelPhister @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:43PM

@28 Next-Gen-Gamer

what the fuck are you talking about?

fumar @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:52PM

@29 The Wii does not have "GameCube graphics". It has nearly 2x the computing power and has more than 2x the memory. The Wii is more powerful than an Xbox. It just can't put out 500 million triangles or send a 1080p signal. I expect the lighting to be really good for Wii, with decent textures, and Xbox quality jaggies.

Both Wii and PS3 will sell out to the hardcore gamer this year so the nongamer isn't a factor, yet. It's not a good idea to just forget about all the other retailers besides GameStop, but I'm sure there will be playable consoles at other stores. At the Fry's near me, they have a special area away from the Xbox360 kiosk that has an HDTV, 2 comfy chairs, and an Xbox360 that is near the main enterance. the bigger Best Buy's do the same thing with their Xbox 360's and PS2's. For both 360 demo areas, they used wireless controllers and just put the 360 in a ventilated plastic case. I would expect to see the same for Wii as it would work better for demos than a traditional kiosk due to all the extra motion involved.

secret_character @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:51PM

#9 is right on. Wiimotes really need to be wireless to get the full effect, and only stores like gamestop/eb could realistically keep track of them.

I doubt Nintendo turned down walmart/target for demo kiosks; rather, these stores turned down Nintendo due to the added labor cost of having someone on hand as wiimote security at all hours.

Wild Homes @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:13AM

this is an interesting move on Nintendo's part. I don't buy that Nintendo is settling for the hardcore this holiday season: they're coming to the party against a lame duck short PS3 launch, and a reasonably more expensive 360. Nintendo understand they can win the day, and if they're serious about having four million in the channels by year's end, they'll have the units available to do it. early adopters will not suck up all those four millions-- there simply aren't that many hardcore Nintendo gamers in America. and don't spam me-- I'm not saying Nintendo won't sell out, but I am saying Nintendo will not sell out this holiday without using that broader appeal to reach beyond the Nintendo Defense guys. and for that reason it doesn't seem to make sense not to put the unit into buyers' hands unless you're worried that it isn't pick-up-and-play friendly. I know that's one of my concerns: I'm not really interested in learning whole new movements and excercises to play each title. my patience with demos over Live is already short, I can imagine having to read some tutorial about how to kick a field goal in Madden by flapping my arms like a chicken.

maybe Nintendo don't really feel like giving consumers a good chance to say No Thanks before they really get to know the console. who knows.

Luis Martinez @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:38AM

The article states exclusive at launch. Nothing says that afterwards the rest of the retailers can't get a kiosk.

Anonymouse Rep @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:33PM

One of my GameStop managers confirmed today that they will be getting the kiosks - he's just not sure when. He also stated that they don't expect to see anything from Sony as far as a kiosk until around March.

One other thing that he said about the conference was that he was highly impressed by the Microsoft presentation, and felt that this holiday will belong to them, if for no other reason than the Wii will not have enough units for sale to meet demand. He is VERY concerned about Nintendo being able to keep up with shipments - and in his words, "There's no way in hell PS3 is going to sell more than the initial shipment because none of us expect to SEE more than the original shipment - and that's presuming that they actually GET an original shipment."