The Nintendo Wii looks to change traditional video game entertainment because it involves the players in the action. And I think it has, now that I've been able to play with it for a day.
My wife and I grew up playing the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, & Nintendo 64. In fact, one of our first interesting discussions (and when I realized she was the girl for me) in high school concerned Goldeneye 64 and her trouble on one of the later levels.
So it is no surprise we both wanted the Wii. I even planned to go stand in line for it.
But on Saturday night we went to see the spectacular James Bond in Casino Royale and I didn't get to line up at the local Fred Meyer to get one of the few Wiis available.
So a mad dash to Joystiq.com revealed that a local Target in Beaverton would have 132 Wiis in stock. And they opened at 8 AM on Sunday. I made plans to wake up early and procure a Wii.
I rolled out of bed at around 6:00, showered, and jumped in the car to speed to the West-side. I passed a Krispy Kreme and almost stopped, but decided better of it: if there was no line, I'd come back; if there was a line, I'll grab breakfast after.
There was a line; a freaking huge line. It wrapped around the building and I ended up standing in front of the loading dock. The kind folks directly in front shared their head count of about 140-150 people. I cringed.
It started raining about 7:15 and didn't let up for 30 minutes. Also nice. But I figured if I didn't get one, this isn't the most horrible waste of 90 minutes.
A strange thing happens when you're in line waiting for a consumer electronics with like-minded people; you bond much in the way military people do on the battlefield (and I should know as a liberal white guy who never served). Or something.
Around 7:30 AM two red-shirts started coming down the line. When they reached me they gave me a ticket that said #129. They got three behind me, to #132, and then announced they're out. No more. Go home. I stared straight forward and feared for my life in case of riot. Thankfully, the rabble-rouser's disbanded.
We finally walked into the Target a little after eight; nice to be in out of the rain. But our line stayed in formation down to the home electronics section, where TWO people were checking us out one at a time.
Moods lifted inside as everyone know they were to get a Wii. And finally, at 9:35, I got a Wii.
So I got home, got it setup, got it configured, and played around. This is, honestly, so much fun. More fun than the Xbox or 360 was on launch day. Even the girls got into it.
Moods lifted inside as everyone know they were to get a Wii. And finally, at 9:35, I got a Wii.
So I got home, got it setup, got it configured, and played around. This is, honestly, so much fun. More fun than the Xbox or 360 was on launch day. Even the girls got into it.
