We Wait for Wii (Boston edition)

After confirming yesterday there would be 32 units available at two downtown Boston locations -- the GameStop at the Prudential Mall and the EB Games at the Copley Mall (which are right across the street from each other) -- it seemed like a good place to tell two different stories. And they certainly were two different experiences. There was no corporate directive on how to handle this day.
The Prudential Mall doesn't close so Brad, pictured at right, was #1 in line. He arrived last night at 8:30 p.m. and spent the night staving off the security guards who said he could stay as long as he didn't sit down or take out pillows. He had the company of Lance and Nate, two brothers who arrived shortly after Brad last night, along with Kerry, who was originally #1 and was the first person to put a chair in front of the store last night. Mall security said he couldn't do that because the "executives" in the building might walk by. The boys kept each other company through the night and were delirious by morning as Nate released some nice gas which Kerry called "thinning out the line."Around 9:15AM, the store manager came out and told everyone after #32 in line to leave. So who was the lucky #32? That would be Thanh DeSa, who didn't even want a Wii and was buying it for a friend. He turned around and said, "I'm an idiot." And we're sure the forty people sent away by the manager who actually wanted the system for themselves would agree.
By 10:00AM the doors opened and many people tagged onto the back of the line again. Lucky for Cory -- #33 -- he stayed, because he was the last person allowed to pre-order. The rest of the line, which had swelled back to 70-something, were told to go away.
Store manager Ken, who refused to comment because he didnt have corporate permission, was happy when he reviewed the sales numbers letting out a "woo-hoo," telling his employee (while pointing at the screen), "Not bad for less than an hour at work." The underling pushed game pre-orders with the Wii pre-order hard! Corporate should give him a gold star.

The EB Games at Copley Mall was more structured in their approach. Copley closes from 2 - 5:00AM and #1 in line was Brian, who casually strolled in at 6:30AM and sat down. Did he have to wee while waiting in the Wii line?
"I have not had my Starbucks ... so that's a negative."
The manager, Dorian, handed out 32 pieces of paper to those in line and that was their ticket for the pre-order. No paper, no Wii pre-order. Although #33, who didn't receive a sheet of paper, was informed that he should wait in line.
Sadly #34 (at right), a mother who was told by her son Sean that she should have been there earlier this morning, thought the line wouldn't be so bad. Sean kept calling her every 5 - 10 minutes, a quick synopsis of her best quotes starting from when she first got in line till the doors open:"Sean, I will get you one"
Later: "They handed out 32 slips of paper, I'm number 34, I don't know what to tell you."
A little later: "I know what you told me and I'm still waiting in line."
Less than a minute later: "I'm really tired of talking about this Sean!"
Yeah, she didn't get one -- sorry Sean.
The story from Boston is that both locations downtown had 33 units for pre-order. Everyone who was asked if they had also done a PS3 pre-order said they hadn't because the system is too expensive. When asked about having to do pre-ordering, the sentiment wasn't positive. Kerry, from the Prudential line, said it best with, "We never had to pre-order till they d*cked people over with the 360 launch."











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
White Rose Duelist @ Oct 13th 2006 3:57PM
I got my preorder at one of two Gamestops in Braintree, which is not far from Boston. The location I was had 14 and at had to turn people away before the doors opened. From the chatter in the store, it sounded like the other Braintree location sold out their 30-odd preorders just after 10 AM.
Looks like there are going to be a lot of Wiis in American households this Christmas. Things are looking good for Nintendo today.
Mitch @ Oct 13th 2006 3:11PM
I cruised over to the Prudential Mall around 9:40 this morning, figuring that if the line was only about a dozen or so long I'd wait. I counted just over 30 outside Gamestop -- which makes sense after reading this. The line outside the Copley EB seemed a lot longer. Either way, I just went back to work. Oh well.
32_Footsteps @ Oct 13th 2006 3:13PM
Man, I've been in the Pru GameStop more times than I care to remember... but even with the recent reorganization of the floor space, I wouldn't want to see 32 gamers try to get in that cubbyhole of a store at once.
Also, not my favorite place to shop because half the time, the clerks there don't even know if they have a product in stock, or even sell a product in their computer system.
'Salright, though. Should I decide to get a Wii close to launch, I know of a few stores in the area that'll have supplies.
john @ Oct 13th 2006 6:11PM
Does all this confirm that the Wii is becoming succesful a month before launch?
Vlad @ Oct 13th 2006 3:17PM
i can just hear that mother saying, "I'm really tired of talking about this Sean". I feel bad for her.
sounds like there were a lot more people at the Wii preorders than PS3. is this because more people knew about the Wii preorder times, or because more people want a Wii? hmm.
Hachi_Roku @ Oct 13th 2006 3:27PM
The same place I preordered my PS3 had more people coming in for the Wii which is nice to see. im pretty sure none of them was there to sell it on ebay, because you would only make double. So its safe to say every one was there to keept the system unlike the PS3 pre-order line a few days back.
minus_273 @ Oct 13th 2006 3:39PM
funny thing, if you go a few stops West on the T you end up at the new gamestop at coolidge corner next to trader joes, a few stops east and you are at the EB in the galleria. I wonder what the lines there were like.
Russell @ Oct 13th 2006 4:54PM
Sean sounds like a snot-nose brat. The mom was just trying to please her little punk of a kid. You know that when she got home the kid had a tantrum and yelled at her. Man, people need to raise their kids better.
White Rose Duelist @ Oct 13th 2006 3:58PM
I think we're overdue for two polls (one PS3, one Wii) - for those who preordered a system, what do you plan to do with it? Keep/eBay/gift/didn't make it in time
RanWitScissorz @ Oct 13th 2006 8:55PM
I went to my local EBGames in Norfolk, VA in the Greenbriar Mall. Arrived about 8 am (mall opens at 10 am), was #3 in line, they said they would be giving out 12. Number 12 strolled in 10 minutes after the store opened.
Tom @ Oct 13th 2006 3:41PM
I was #31, post #32's picture and interview for the copley store.
Neil @ Oct 13th 2006 3:58PM
I live on the North Shore and thought about running over this morning since demand probably wouldn't have been as great here, but EB/Gamestop is the bane of my existance; BB all the way!
Cabrill @ Oct 13th 2006 4:03PM
Hmm....maybe the Xbox 360 camping experience was too fresh in my mind but I got in line at 11:30pm...yesterday. #1 spot in line, same as for the PS3. I'll only be keeping one of the two, guess which?
32_Footsteps @ Oct 13th 2006 4:05PM
Well, I don't know about other cities, but I know that Boston, especially of late, has been a heavily Nintendo-leaning town. After that, curiously, the Xbox seems to be what I see the most attention for outside of my social circle (in which nearly everyone has a PS2 and GC). I'd imagine the PS3 preorders are pretty slim.
Though I wonder if that's partly because Boston is one of the US cities with the highest cost-of-living? Maybe the $500-$600 hit is felt harder here.
Snogrog @ Oct 13th 2006 4:13PM
the galleria line wasn't too bad...i think. I was #18 and saw the line going places but didn't dare get out to check it out for reals. got there at 8:30 by the way.
babababbaba @ Oct 13th 2006 4:17PM
All 3 Gamestops in Springfield were sold out of Wii Preorders by 10:30am, 30 min after opening the door.
Paperclip1 @ Oct 13th 2006 4:48PM
Someone should let me play with their Wii.
Scuba Owl @ Oct 13th 2006 4:51PM
I AM CHARLIE BUCKET (an absolutely true story):
I was at the Cambridgeside Galleria this morning for the WiiPreOrder. It went like this: I arrive at 10am after my friend Vince was late to meet me to head over (I intended to be there earlier.) Upon arriving I saw a long line and attached myself to the end of it. The guy in front of me said, "Wii?" I responded, "Yes." He informed me that an EB employee had come out several times already to inform everyone that they were accepting 32 preorders. He handed out numbers to the 1st 32 in line and dismissed the rest. I informed #32 that I intended to stay (with loyal Vince/Samwise at my side) just in case someone had an emergency, or bad credit, and thus I could become the new '32'. Soon what I figured to be the line guardian/giver of numbers emerged from the store. He looked in our direction, bicycle seat in hand (I have no idea why. From a distance, I thought it was a number dispenser of some sort, which would have made sense. But a bike seat? Maybe he thought we'd get rowdy.) He came over and asked me to step out of line and not block other storefronts. He also assured me that my efforts were in vain and my hopes would most certainly be dashed as no one would step out of the Wii line. But I was determined. I asked Samwise... I mean, Vince if he wanted to leave and assured him that I would understand (after all, we were supposed to be working.) "I don't mind. I'll stay," he replied. We pressed on. The line started getting shorter and finally we got into the store.
"Well, you're welcome to look around if you'd like, but no one is getting out of line," informed the EB line guardian. I stood my ground. "Who will it be?" I wondered, staring at numbers 26-32. "Who has bad credit... or appendicitis?"
"Remember in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" I asked Vince, "When Charlie thought the last ticket had already been found? He didn't give up. That last ticket turned out to be a fraud. CHARLIE got the REAL last ticket."
Finally, numbers 31 and 32 were at the counter, preordering their Wiis. But then, suddenly, the Bike Seat Guardian pointed at me, and waved me over.
"Yes, o keeper of the line/comic book guy/maniacal Tom Cruise look-alike?" Yes, he did look like the Hugo to Tom Cruise's Bart.
"Well, one of our employees was supposed to be here to confirm his preorder, but he hasn't shown up yet. So its only fair that you get that last Wii-order. YOU ARE the new 32." OK, he didn't say that last line. I did. I was the new 32. I am Charlie Bucket.
www.ScubaOwl.com
sdstone @ Oct 13th 2006 4:59PM
Me and a buddy were in line in Southern Mass (Attleboro). We arrived at 9:00 and there were 12 people there. By the time the store opened at 10:00, there were fully 32 people there (the number of consoles they had available for preorder). It seemed to be about 50% 20-something year-old guys buying the consoles for themselves and 50% moms or grandmas buying the console for their kids. Sounded like almost everyone also preordered at least Zelda, if not more games. Maybe with a cheaper console price, Nintendo will move more games, too?
Luap @ Oct 13th 2006 7:52PM
Braintree Mall had 15 this morning at EB Games. Not sure what GameStop looked like. PS3 pre-orders only had 11 people. There were still PS3s when I left Tuesday and still half the Wii allocation left today. EB Games said they would likely be open at 12:00am on 11/19! I got the Wii, extra Wiimote and Nunchuck, Classic Controller, Zelda, Elebits, Trauma Center, Monkey Ball, and Rayman.
wickedpissapodcast @ Oct 13th 2006 5:08PM
I was in Burlington, Ma. this morning and the local Gamestop has 18 pre-orders to go around. I showed up at 8:00am and then waited it out. I was 8th on the list (we actually created a sign in sheet), it was an OK experience. No one was out of control and for the most part everyone was just excited that within a month we'll all own a system (I hope). I would say that overall we probably had 30 people come and go up until 10:00.
Corey @ Oct 13th 2006 7:01PM
They actually spelt my name wrong...(up there ^ at the pru)
Im a lucky mofo for getting one and cant wait to play zelda!!!!
Andrew Sprouse @ Oct 13th 2006 6:46PM
I was actually number 35 at the gamestop in the pru. I ran over to EB at copley once I was informed that I couldn't preorder and luckily I was able to make there in time to become number 30 in the line there (they had 32). I preordered a wii and zelda.
PS
I didn't realize that you were writing this article for Joystiq. I thought it was for some school paper or something. I'm the dude who watched your bag in front of gamespot.
angelfly @ Oct 13th 2006 5:52PM
I got went to the EB in Coolidge Corner. I got there at 7:09 and there only 10 people there before me. By the time the store opened it was past the limit of the 30 systems they were getting.
eialba @ Oct 13th 2006 7:19PM
@ Scuba Owl
That was a charming tale. Have fun with your Wii, Charlie Bucket.
Kwipper @ Oct 13th 2006 9:02PM
Why in the hell are you guys preordering this when you can go to a wal-mart and pick this up. Why bother with the hassle.
Dave @ Oct 14th 2006 12:46AM
As #32 in the Copley line, I agree with Tom's comment! I want to read all about myself!
I felt really sorry for the mom. Sean sounded like... let's just say he sounded like a real handful.
Sean @ Oct 14th 2006 3:08AM
Sorry, Mom
I know you waited in line for my wii, but I was in a tough clan match. All I wanted was a glass of chocolate milk.
DCFC Fan @ Oct 14th 2006 9:34AM
Preordering a Wii seems assinine with a rumored 4 million units to be available at launch. Like you won't be able to just walk into a store and pick one up the first week it comes out.
Preordering is assinine and one of the lifebloods helping to keep Gamestop afloat. STOP PREORDERING ALREADY.
JChew @ Oct 14th 2006 2:06PM
My friend and I got to an EB in the suburbs around 8, we figured that be enough time before the store opened at 10 to get in line. Turns out we just made it. There were already people in line since about 7 I think. The store got 18 Wii's and we were numbers 15 and 16. The worst part is there was a woman in front of us either getting it for her kid or herself (couldn't figure it out) who had been there just a little earlier than us who kept saying "I hope this goes quickly inside I have to leave at 1030." We finally got inside and things moved slow, only one employee was there to open so we just waited and waited inside the store. Which at least it was warm and had the demo video games running. But the lady in front of us finally had to leave to go to her kid's school. We kept saying she should ask to go in front of people, because if you're in the first 18 you were gauranteed a Wii, but she didn't and went and told number 19 that he got himself a Wii. To which he replied "YES! I mean, sorry, I mean thank you." She left sad and we never heard from her again. Sucks to be her kid.
KapsLocked @ Oct 14th 2006 9:51PM
I agree with DCFC. I'm just going to f'n Target for my Wii.
David @ Oct 16th 2006 5:39AM
The mother should have listened to her son.
Scuba Owl @ Oct 24th 2006 11:31AM
Its only right that I be #33 again.
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