GameStop unveils $700 Wii-mega bundle

Beginning Thursday evening (and lasting maybe a few minutes), hopeful gamers will be able to go on EB Games / GameStop's online page and pre-order Nintendo Wii. Akin to the Xbox 360 pre-orders last year, GameStop will not let you order the Wii outside of a bundle package that totals $694.88, or approximately 280% the price of the Wii console alone. The bundle, which we're dubbing Wii-mega, includes:

• The Wii console ... $249.99
• 1GB Wii-emblazoned SD card ... $59.99
• Additional Wiimote ... $39.99
• Six Wii titles: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center, Red Steel, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, and Madden NFL 2007 ... 6 x $49.99 = $299.94
• 12-month Product Replacement Plan
• Game Informer Gift Subscription

Assuming "gift" means complimentary (i.e. free), the 12-month product replacement plan values $44.97. Savvy shoppers can find 1GB SD cards for a little over $30, and those savings could be used to buy a nunchuk for the second Wiimote. And while the games listed do span a wide demographic of gamers, we can't assume all consumers are going to want to invest in every game.

The fine print is also amusing, with the safety words "contents subject to change" and "ordering this bundle does not guarantee shipment at launch." After $700, you are not guaranteed the listed contents nor a launch window assurance. We're sure these bundles will sell out, even if the store shelves don't. Our advice: if you simply have to spend $700 on Nintendo, buy the pieces a la carte on launch day, and then give the rest to Child's Play.

[Thanks Sam and everyone else who sent this in!]