Gamestop selling some Wii games early
by Kyle Orland 
{ Nov 16th 2006 at 11:30AM }
For those of you who just can't wait until Sunday to get your hands on something Wii-branded, some North American Gamestop stores are already selling select Wii games that were shipped to stores on Tuesday. Our local store was selling Super Moneky Ball: Banana Blitz, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Call of Duty 3, and GT Pro Series (other titles were in stock but explicitly embargoed until launch day). Of course, supplies and availability may vary at your local store, so call ahead first if you're planning on jumping the gun.While you obviously won't be able to actually play the games until you have your hands on the system this weekend, you can stand them up next to your Wii accessories from Target and stare at them lovingly as you count down the seconds.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SP @ Nov 16th 2006 11:36AM
I picked up that Red Steel yesterday. It's been amazing so far. I've read the instruction manual 10 times. I'm practicing my Wii-mote moves. It's so much fun, I might not even by the system. Looking at that beautiful black disc is blowing my mind.
Paul P. @ Nov 16th 2006 11:38AM
Yep, I picked up Red Steel, Monkey Ball, Ultimate Alliance, Madden, and Trauma Center yesterday. Out of them, I'd say Trauma Center has the best manual, full color, lots of personality.
crono141 @ Nov 16th 2006 11:38AM
I also picked up Red Steel. Controls look confusing, but I'm sure the in game tutorial will make it all make sense. The illustrations in the manual were horrible.
Only 3rd party wii games are going on sale, because they are not street dated. 1st part nintendo games are street dated same day as wii, so they're not selling them yet.
Ryan @ Nov 16th 2006 11:39AM
I went yesterday and got Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids. It kinda sucks that the instruction manuals are in black and white, but thats my only complaint. The box art and design is awesome, and the white cases are very sexy. Sunday morning can't come any sooner.
Mike @ Nov 16th 2006 11:44AM
I went to Wal-mart yesterday and had Zelda in my hands. When the cashier scanned the barcode it sounded like the register was going to explode and it told her that she can't sell it until 11/19. Totally bummed. Why put them out on the floor?
Mister Disco @ Nov 16th 2006 11:50AM
Yesterday I got Red Steel and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, though the guy at the counter had to call first to be sure he could release them to me.
Mike Cohen @ Nov 16th 2006 11:51AM
I snagged Zelda from a circuit city yesterday...70 hours of my life, be prepared to disappear
FSK405K @ Nov 16th 2006 11:56AM
Not in northern Virginia, they're not. Not even preorders.
digitalFrequency @ Nov 16th 2006 5:02PM
if anything, you avoid the rushing crowd come sunday and just have to promptly pick up your wii and leave.
i wished zelda was on a pre-launch sale =/
Re-online @ Nov 16th 2006 12:05PM
Looks like Nintendo won´t be releasing a special edition of Zelda, like they did with Ocarina of time and Majora´s mask, it´s a shame because those boxes were really cool, and majora´s mask came with the expansion pack for the N64.(/tears).
"I picked up that Red Steel yesterday. It's been amazing so far. I've read the instruction manual 10 times. I'm practicing my Wii-mote moves. It's so much fun, I might not even by the system. Looking at that beautiful black disc is blowing my mind."
That´s nice, he is having a lot of fun with his disc, just don´t throw it like a frisbee ok.(sad story about a kung lao impersonation).
By the way, if Nintendo distributed these booklets at schools, kids would learn how to read a lot faster.
Hatedlegion @ Nov 17th 2006 9:40AM
I just picked up Red Steel from Walmart this morning. I was kind of hoping they'd have accessories (extra wiimotes/nunchuks), but they said they couldn't sell them yet. Red Steel indeed looks confusing, but I guess it just takes getting used to.
Tommy @ Nov 16th 2006 7:21PM
@9. Of course they won't rerelease the old ones with TP. They can sell those over the virtual console.
Squeek @ Nov 16th 2006 12:18PM
FSK, they are here.
The local Target had several games out for purchase, but when I asked the employee there, he said they were specifically holding back the big-sellers until launch day. I only saw Excite Truck and some crappy Disney-movie title in the store along with all their accessories for controller grips and game cases.
That's only fair after all. Some people could scoop up all the games then not have a console, and those who got the console wouldn't have any good games to play. So to solve that, they're just holding off on shelving them until Sunday.
Count Zero @ Nov 16th 2006 12:27PM
Non nintendo titles aren't street dated. Same with PS3 games.
Naruhodou @ Nov 16th 2006 12:29PM
I found Zelda, too. Later I'll go looking for Trauma Center and Metal Slug (even though I don't have a Wii preordered..)
number40one @ Nov 16th 2006 12:38PM
I picked up Downhill Jam yesterday from Gamestop.
dokool @ Nov 16th 2006 12:39PM
I picked up my copies of Red Steel, Zelda, and Rayman at the GameStop last night (along with my preorder of FFIII and Elite Beat Agents).
Jose @ Nov 16th 2006 10:31PM
Anyone else think that Monkey Ball looks like complete crap? Just wondering. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to definitely think about renting it... no I'm not, I can't like, complete shit, really. I saw some videos of it on the GameInformer website, and I was not impressed. I'll have my Red Steel, Trauma Center, Metal Slug, and Zelda thank you very much.
andrew @ Nov 16th 2006 2:24PM
i picked up zelda at best buy last night. most best buy stores will not sell you one, but if you find a guy who isnt much of a gamer and show him that their page says 11/15/06 they will go in the warehouse and pull one for you. well, thats how it worked for me. now i can hold it while i sleep.
pirahna1 @ Nov 16th 2006 1:14PM
I stocked the copies we recieved of DBZ and Avatar (lol fuck those games) for the Wii at Best Buy 2 days ago. So far those have been the only Wii games we received. However by that time we had Tony Hawk, NBA, NHL, and Marvel for theh PS3 out and stocked, thanks to me. I don' think anyone bought any tho, >
pirahna1 @ Nov 16th 2006 1:16PM
Addendum,
Our manager wasn't there when I stocked our games at Best Buy, but someone told me that he said we werent to set out ANY accessories or games for the new systems. I know for a fact that none of them are street dated. The only reason I can say is that they want the total units per transaction sold to be higher on launch day, so it makes the stores look good, rather than helping the consumer. Typical retail for ya, don't trust any of the bastards.
mike @ Nov 16th 2006 1:20PM
I also picked up Red Steel yesterday...
Jesse @ Nov 16th 2006 1:23PM
That sucks I walked by the Gamestop near my job in nyc and they were selling most of the crappy wii titles but when i asked for zelda they said that was the only one that had a street date of 11/19 bummer...
KiySeph @ Nov 16th 2006 1:29PM
I went to my Gamestop to pick up the reserved Rayman, Red Steel, and Trauma Center (I even got that automated call) and they wouldn't let me buy it until Sunday. WTF... wasted my time.
mattharvest @ Nov 16th 2006 1:54PM
I picked up my pre-ordered DBZ and Red Steel, after getting a call from EB. Without naming the store (I don't want to get the manager in trouble) I was told they actually had the systems in the back (Wiis and PS3s) and that all the employees had been begging him to take theirs home early.
Of course, none of the employees there are getting PS3s because despite being first on the pre-order list, Sony is insisting that EBgames/Gamestop employees give up their pre-orders for non-employee customers.
zerodb @ Nov 16th 2006 2:14PM
I picked up Red Steel and Trauma Center. It's actually kind of nice that they're selling some of this early. While I'm not flipping out for anything with Wii on it, occasionally my bank card has been declined when making large purchases that are abnormal, and I'd hate for that to happen at midnight on Saturday when I pick up my Wii. By buying the games early, I'm minimizing the hit to my card.
I guess I could have taken cash out of an ATM though... that would have worked too :)
Bryan @ Nov 16th 2006 2:32PM
For those of you who are curious what's inside Trauma Center, I uploaded a video a few days ago of myself opening one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxag4UqoAbg
MrD @ Nov 16th 2006 3:03PM
I just picked up Rayman. I saw alot of empty spots on the display rack, and very few games that they were selling were still in stock (except for the liscensed crap).
I'm suprised I got it.
hollerback @ Nov 16th 2006 3:14PM
#4 Ryan:
You're such a goober.
benjamin @ Nov 16th 2006 3:25PM
It may be worth noting that if you're at all interested in getting Trauma Center, you'd do well to pick it up as early as you can. If Atlus' other games (Trauma Center for the DS, even) are any indication, it'll be gone quickly.
MrD @ Nov 16th 2006 3:41PM
I just heard, also, from the Game Stop guy that their store opens at 11AM Sunday morning....
That totally sucks.
QS @ Nov 16th 2006 3:31PM
yeah i was able to pick up both red steel and madden. i also invested in sleeve for my wiimote it feels very nice. has anybody noticed the lack of pages in some of the manuals. the madden manual is like 6 pages, and red steel feels alittle thin too
GolfDude @ Nov 16th 2006 4:52PM
the only games street dated for sunday are zelda and excite truck.. all other wii games are avialalbe to be purchased..
the main wii accessories and poitn cards are also street dated for sunday.. so u cant buy those early..
but any 3rd party accessory is available now..
Halaster @ Nov 20th 2006 6:36PM
I just went down and picked up Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and Rayman Raving Rabbids from my local Gamestop.
No one else had bought any Wii titles yet since they had to check to see if they could sell them yet for me. The manager toldme that they could sell anything they had other than the 1st party titles.
Pleather_and_Cologne @ Nov 16th 2006 6:15PM
Well...I picked up Zelda YESTERDAY (11/15) at Best Buy...so its certainly out already...or Best Buy is doing something illegal.
Chris M. @ Nov 16th 2006 7:05PM
The official word at Gamestop (where I'm friends with the management) is that whatever they have they are selling except Zelda and ExciteTruck. I picked up my Red Steel and GT Pro Series (with the wheel thing) last night. I read the manuals, and did a bit of pretending with the steering wheel (I was also able to use it at Gamestop with their demo unit running Excite Truck), and it wasn't bad. But if you're not careful when putting it together (or if you try to take it apart), you might break it, as the plastic is cheaply glued together in places. But it's a great free pack-in accessory.
My only gripe is that while the white cases are sexy as hell, something about them just felt kind of flimsy. I'm thinking the plastic might be just a bit thinner than I'm used to, but without a micrometer (or something), I guess I'll never know.
::reason to go out and buy a micrometer::
MrD @ Nov 16th 2006 7:46PM
#34
It's probably because there isn't tons of crap included with the instruction manual. I noticed that the Rayman case felt very light, and that's because it's just the game and the very, very small game manual. No promotional crap or other manuals in there with it.
I was actually worried for a moment that it wasn't the real deal.
IMURZRO @ Nov 16th 2006 8:49PM
GameCrazy is selling third party titles too. I picked up Red Steel and Trauma Center today. Also got to play a little Excite Truck, it was a lot easier to control than I thought it would be.
MrD @ Nov 16th 2006 8:49PM
Sorry, I meant #32
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Nov 17th 2006 11:25PM
Just bought Monkey Ball at my local EBGames.
KidFallout @ Nov 17th 2006 11:11AM
I picked up Ultimate Alliance, Rayman and Monkey Ball, all pre-ordered. The Gamestop where I pre-ordered Ultimate Alliance didn't give me any flack, but the EB where I pre-ordered Rayman and Monkey ball the clerks just stared at me and the manager came out and told me they couldn't sell any Wii stuff till Sunday. I informed her that on the site it shipped this week and the street date was that day. She agreed with me and sold me the games. I wonder what is with all the different rules for selling these games among the same chain of stores?