Official Wal-Mart launch details
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Nov 8th 2006 at 7:00AM }
Joystiq has been in contact with Wal-Mart corporate to get Wii and PS3 launch details. We've got something old, something new, something rumored and a bunch of stuff true.
The old: We can confirm almost everything from our previous post on Wal-Mart Wii and PS3 launch details from the "Wal-Mart Wire." The dates, the times and the ticket information is on point. The Wal-Mart stores should only give out the number of tickets for units they have. No word yet on official numbers per store, but Wii numbers should be no less than 20.
The new: Wal-Mart corporate says, "We currently have plans for a Thursday, Nov. 16 midnight event to launch PS3. In addition, Wal-Mart store #890 in Orlando, FL will host the Playstation Patrol truck Friday-Sunday." As for the Wii, Wal-Mart corporate says they are currently not accepting online pre-orders due to the popular demand, but are evaluating options for additional pre-orders before the official launch on Nov. 19. The Wii pre-order is online only, not in stores. They will let Joystiq know when a decision is made regarding the pre-order. Although the "Wal-Mart Wire" speaks directly to a midnight launch for the Wii, as does the poster above, details and confirmation can not be given at this time.
The rumor, not confirmed by corporate: If there isn't one already, all Wal-Mart stores should have a cardboard display case with free books called a "Wii Buyer's Guide" within the next couple of days. These will be replaced with the "Playstation 3 Buyer's Guide" by the 17th or when all the "Wii Buyer's Guide" are taken. The picture above is from the December issue of the Wal-Mart monthly flyer (tab) and pertains to electronic items from Nomember 12-19 (not to be confused with the weekly sale ones). A Wal-Mart employee tells us, "My store has already cleared shelf space for the PS3 and Wii accessories. Something interesting to note is that they have also restarted carrying Gamecube accessories, right next to the space cleared for the Wii. It's the first time I've seen Wavebirds on sale in over a year."
All the information regarding Wal-Marts launch details are not ironed out, but we'll update as we receive and gather more info.
[Thank you Mr. Ninja for the updated scan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DakidOG @ Nov 8th 2006 7:15AM
Another pre-order attempt will be great, hopefully walmart can pull it off.
kerem @ Nov 8th 2006 7:23AM
Gamecube stuff being re-stocked is interesting.
I'm hanging onto my rarer Gamecube games, if the Wii takes off people will be desperate to get thier hands on Chibi Robo and Paper Mario....
Negativecool @ Nov 8th 2006 7:22AM
"Experience the new REVOLUTIONARY Nintendo Wii"
...ironic...should have been
"Experience the new REVOLUTION in gaming"..
*sigh* agh well.. Wii for me!
Tillman @ Nov 8th 2006 8:03AM
UCF WALMART #890 REPRESENT!
Foetoid @ Nov 8th 2006 8:11AM
That is totally odd. We usually pay AUS$99.99 for our games which is a premuim since a straight conversion from US dollars is like AUS$75-80. We are used to it, and have been paying that price for years. The bit that confuses me, is our Red Steel and another game (can't remember) are retailing for AUS$109.95. I can clearly see from the pic above that in the US, the price is the same between games, but one or two of our games cost $10 more????? Maybe i should complain to someone.
Mike Pastore @ Nov 8th 2006 8:18AM
So is this definitely 100% for EVERY walmart? No matter how rural it is? If so the future for me getting a Wii on launch day is looking bright. :)
G99 @ Nov 8th 2006 8:28AM
What the heck is the "Playstation Patrol truck"? I assume it will just have demo stations and entertainment for people. I live near that Wal-Mart....Might just stop by and take a few pics.
Rushli0n @ Nov 8th 2006 8:48AM
I visited my local Wal-Mart yesterday, in Rindge NH...it doesn't get much more rural than that. I spoke with the electronics associate:
Me: So are you guys having a PS3 and Wii midnight launch
Guy: We are having both
Me: Awesome, I heard online rumors that you will need tickets which are sold at 10pm, true?
Guy: I was not told about any tickets but I am not sure.
Me: Are you guys getting a Wii kiosk soon?
Guy: Not yet, but the PS3 kiosk will be put in tomorrow (or today...)
That was the info I received from a very "rural" Wal-Mart, so here's to hoping. I plan on stopping by next week for more details.
Jonathan @ Nov 8th 2006 8:54AM
Does anyone know if these midnight launches will also happen in Canada?
Jermaine Pulliam @ Nov 8th 2006 8:59AM
WOOO HOOO! That Wal-Mart is right up the street from me! Even though I don't know what the truck is!
ToXic @ Nov 8th 2006 9:04AM
Hey Tillman is that the one on Colonial near Alafaya?...Go Knights! lol
G99 @ Nov 8th 2006 9:12AM
Aye the Wal-Mart is the Super Wal-Mart off of colonial.
Tillman @ Nov 8th 2006 9:24AM
Aye Aye, ToXic, G99 beat me to the confirmation (Maybe we'll have a better football team next year?)
Todd @ Nov 8th 2006 9:50AM
Love the Wavebird.
george @ Nov 8th 2006 10:03AM
Wii is going to fail with mainstream america. Why, because the system launches next week and I have yet to see one ad or commerical on tv. They are trying to sell this to non gamers also and to get them to know about the system you need ads on tv since not everyone goes to the mall and game stores. The ps3 didnt do much better because the commercials they have dont even show gameplay.
J vs W @ Nov 8th 2006 8:14PM
I had assumed the "Playstation Patrol Truck" was for gunning down Wii supporters.
Tillman @ Nov 8th 2006 10:06AM
@ #15, Ill agree I havent seen much mainstream marketing by Nintendo themselves. But media outlets have been hyping it, and you cant deny that getting listed as a top 10 holiday season item by Toys R Us is big
cfdisk @ Nov 8th 2006 10:07AM
Go Knights. Tried calling store 890 and it seems I am not the only one calling. Busy Busy Busy.
Germ @ Nov 8th 2006 10:11AM
Ummmmm, how come some of those Wii games come out before the Wii? Does this normally happen?
---Germ
cfdisk @ Nov 8th 2006 10:17AM
Video Games are released by the developer. So, naturally there release dates will vary and could possible release before the system.
Tillman @ Nov 8th 2006 10:18AM
Germ, if Im not mistaken, it's not unusual for some games to be released a few days before the launches of the console
WizarDru @ Nov 8th 2006 10:28AM
george said: "15. Wii is going to fail with mainstream america. Why, because the system launches next week and I have yet to see one ad or commerical on tv. They are trying to sell this to non gamers also and to get them to know about the system you need ads on tv since not everyone goes to the mall and game stores."
See, as a gamer, you've MISSED THE MARKETING. Did you see the coverage on ABC Nightly News? The Wall Street Journal Front Page? The Toys 'r' Us Big Toy Book? Parents Magazine? The CNET top 5? The Ambassador parties? The PC WORLD top 10? The Write-up in MOMBLOG? The articles in TIME, NEWSWEEK, MEN'S HEALTH, EDGE, WIRED and Home Theater magazines? The segments on HGTV's shows? The Toy Wishes 'Hot 10'?
You're looking for TV commercials...Nintendo is instead opting for a more viral approach. I've asked around my office, for example...you'd be surprised how many non-gamers are aware of the Wii and plan on buying it for the holidays. Nintendo knows that you really need to sell the concept of the Wii as more than just a console...and they're doing that. Just because you're not looking in the non-gaming space doesn't mean Nintendo isn't there.
If you want Wii TV commercials, wait until we get closer to X-mas and wait for the software commercials like Red Steel, Rayman and others. Already, we're seeing Wii boxes show up on TV commercials. But I don't know if we'll really see Wii commercials any more than we saw DS commercials. As Nolan Bushnell says..."People buy Software, not Hardware."
ToXic @ Nov 8th 2006 10:37AM
I hate that 890 Wal-Mart...that crap is busy at 3 a.m it doesn't matter what time of day it is, the parking lot is full.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 8th 2006 10:41AM
lets not forget this:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2006/product_67.html
Popular Science gave Wii the top "Best of What's New" award in home entertainment.
DG @ Nov 8th 2006 10:47AM
While I haven't seen a single Wii ad (but I have seen plenty of Elite Beat Agent ads for DS -- go figure), I'm still not sure what the hell those PS3 ads are trying to sell me.
That baby ad makes me change the channel. I don't want a product that turns my kids into little devils, as the commercials implies it will.
At this point, even those ultra-cheesy people-in-front-of-the-TV ads we saw from Japan might give the Wii a win in the hearts and minds of the general public by default. At least those ads, silly as they are, show what's possible with the game system. PS3 ads look like a Marilyn Manson video...or something. But at least they're not Mexican stereotypes.
knot_U @ Nov 8th 2006 12:44PM
LOL happy feet and red steel come out before the wii.
Tillman @ Nov 8th 2006 10:50AM
ToXic, actually I agree with you, I don't like going to WalMart in general, and that one in particular is, like you said, always congested. Still though, kinda neat that the walmart by UCF is the only one (only mentioned in this post at least) getting some special treatment.
DakidOG @ Nov 8th 2006 11:21AM
@24 The baby ad has nothing to do with demons, it's a kid he looks at the ps3 see's some gameplay video's(look in his eyes)and cry's at either how good it is or joy. I figure they are trying to have a myssterious portentous feel to there ads.
fugaze.com @ Nov 8th 2006 6:21PM
I just called a Walmart up here in Canada - they will NOT be doing a midnight release here (I don't think there are any 24 hr walmarts up here). What they did tell me though was that once they find out how many units they have they will post a memo on the front doors and pass out a limited # of tickets to those waiting in line.
DG @ Nov 8th 2006 11:41AM
To DakidOG:
Seems like that ad failed then, no? I like video games and have a college degree, but didn't understand that ad at all.
I can just imagine Suzy Suburb trying to understand why her child wants that machine, seeing some kind of devilish baby, and saying, "No way." Contrast that with the Japanese Wii ads (still surprised there's no American equivalent on the air -- unless I've missed it), and it seems like showing people laughing and swinging Wiimotes around is a better ad campaign.
But I guess we'll never know, because Nintendo is choosing to not advertise the damn thing. Incredible, as I didn't realize it comes out NEXT WEEK.
Nick @ Nov 8th 2006 11:52AM
When buying guitar hero II yesterday, i asked about the wii launch and tickets and whatnot. they guy told me that he had no clue about the wii launch, but he said they would only get 10 ps3's. he also gave me a wii buyers guide out of the stock cart. this is in paragould, arkansas... a decent sized town.
James @ Nov 8th 2006 10:02PM
Someone tell me if this will happen in Canada
heavylightweight@yahoo.com
Glad that there will be some hope to get the Wii, couldn't land a pre-order!
G99 @ Nov 8th 2006 12:45PM
Talked to Gamestop and he said both the PS3 and the Wii games are not street dated so they can start to sell them as they get them in. for example he said he just got a bunch of PS3 games in today adn have already started to sell them.
JayCubCO @ Nov 8th 2006 1:21PM
I was in Wal-Mart here in Denver, CO yesterday and actually found the same flyer lying on the shelf with the surround sound systems. All the details seemed to be accurate. Thanks again for great research Joystiq!
peptidefarmer @ Nov 8th 2006 4:16PM
That's funny - the Wal-mart stores near me (92503) never stopped carrying Gamecube accessories. They often have the knockoff controllers on the clearance rack, but memory cards, controllers, etc. are always there.
DJ @ Nov 8th 2006 5:26PM
I was in a local Target in West Allis, WI a few hours ago and the Electronics employees were all talking about the beefed up security and how absolutely no one was going to be admitted without a ticket for the midnight launch of the PS3 and Wii. Thank God I got confirmation from another retailer yesterday that allocations have been set and I will definitely being getting my son's Wii on the 19th
PoorYorick @ Nov 8th 2006 6:53PM
Just as a response to the assertion above that the Wii will fail with mainstream gamers -
I am a PC Gamer - I have a great system and buy lots of games. I have never owned a console, ever, but I am buying a Wii.
The reason? It is targeted at people who want to play console games, and priced accordingly. I don't want an expensive not-quite-a-computer PS3 or 360, I play those kinds of games on my computer.
There is a lot of buzz in the computer gaming boards that I frequent about the Wii for this reason. Just my 2cents.
Christian @ Nov 8th 2006 7:35PM
So, the Wii buyers guide is free, that means the PS3 buyers guide costs about $300 then right?
A Wal-Mart guy/employee... @ Nov 8th 2006 8:57PM
Hope you like the info gave to you, heh...
inferno10 @ Nov 8th 2006 10:34PM
Do these details apply to Walmarts that aren't open 24 hours? (yes, they exist, and unfortunately where I live)
Nessman @ Nov 9th 2006 12:32PM
incorrect, according to a wii-tracker website each wal-mart will have 53 Wii units in stock in the Minneapolis St.Paul area in Minnesota.
Jesus @ Nov 9th 2006 5:24PM
comment #41 what is that wii-tracker website, you're talking about?? put the url, what do you guys think would be the best time to show up at a Walmart (for Wii)? i was thinking 8pm, is that too late?
OriginalMan @ Dec 3rd 2006 1:43AM
I work at Wally World, and they havent told us ish...its funny that I found out how things are going to pan out @ work on this website.
All i gotta say is, thank god I get off at 9 pm on the 18th...WOOT!
Al @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:21PM
Yeah, the PS3 ads are strange, and really... not selling the system, but them being mysterious isnt anything different, sony still hasnt said ANYTHING at all about the online content of the PS3, i would assume there will be soemthing simular to XBOX live, otherwise they will be crushed.
Heath @ Nov 16th 2006 9:06AM
I am a Walmart Electronics Associate, and I can tell all of you as of 8:00 today (right now) we are only being confirmed for 2 PS3's in store for launch. Rainchecks will be given out for the remaining 8, but they will likely not be available until next year. Better get in line for the Wii too, we may only get 8 or so of them. Or you could just go ahead and pick up 360s, we have plenty of them in stock :)
VooDooAddict @ Nov 16th 2006 5:44PM
For those complaining that there's no Wii TV spots...
Nintendo has stated that they are letting word of mouth sell the first batch as they expect it to sell out in most places.
They won't be running many TV spots in prime time till there's a better supply so that the average non-gamer can just walk into a store and buy the Wii without any frustration. They want to avoid as much of the initial supply frustrations that people had with the 360 and that people expect with the PS3. After Thanksgiving when the supply line is running smoothly then Nintendo will be trying to get non-gaming enthusiast to the store with more mainstream ads and TV spots.
I hope they push the grandpa playing games with an 8 year old aspect of the Wii more. Thanks to the simplicity of the Wii-mote they might actually be able to get more family members into the living room for a regular "Mario Party" night like some families have a "Monopoly" or "Uno" night. I think it also helps that the Wii is small and you won't have a mess of wires in front of the TV.
I see one major problem with the Wii though ... average families have a hard enough time loosing and managing multiple remotes as it is ;) ... Now they also have to worry about loosing a bunch of $40 Wii-motes.