Nintendo to Shift Four Million Wiis in Six Weeks

Nintendo has just sent over word regarding its elaborate plans for mobilising, “the largest worldwide video game console launch in at least a decade”, as it prepares itself to make an impressive four million Wii’s available globally between the US launch on November 19 and the end of the year.

From the Nintendo press release that just dropped into SPOnG’s inbox, “Nintendo is maximizing all its resources for a rapid replenishment program designed to consistently pump Wii consoles into the supply pipeline and keep retailers' shelves as filled as possible. In addition, Nintendo factories are working around the clock manufacturing the extraordinary new system. Nintendo is employing fleets of planes, cargo ships, trains and ground vehicles in each global market to maintain the best supply flow possible, starting in the Americas.”

Outspoken Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime, adds, "Wii is for both experienced and uninitiated gamers, and it will be available for the masses… Because of demand, we're urging shoppers not to get complacent. The level of demand we're seeing goes beyond the ordinary. Retailers are telling us a significant fraction of customers pre-ordering Wii are non-traditional gamers - people looking for a better way to play. And that's exactly what Wii is designed to provide."

Well, in the words of a notorious 1960s’ spy-shagger, “He would say that, wouldn’t he!” And why not?

Nintendo goes on to cite a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) that estimates a 27-percent spending increase this Greedmass holiday season on electronic goods. It also claims that ‘major pop culture authorities’ already have singled out Wii as the most anticipated item for the holidays.

Although it turns out, on closer inspection, that these ‘major pop culture authorities’ are mainly toy retailers, with Wii being the first videogame system listed on Toys "R" Us’ ‘Fabulous 15’ - the crème de la crème of the retailer's ‘Hot Toy’ list, plus it is also listed in Toy Wishes (Stop! Stop with the double-entendres! Seaside Postcard Ed.) magazine in its ‘Hot Dozen’ (Bwhahahahaha!) list of must-have holiday toys.

Clearly Wii is going to be ‘hot’ this Christmas, though it’s only after a few months of hammering the new system that gamers are finally going to decide if it works for them as a preferable or (more likely) a complementary new-gen system to the next-gen Xbox 360 and/or PlayStation 3.

We will all be messing about playing Wii Sports with the family on Christmas day, no doubt, but surely the ten million dollar question for gamers is, "Will we still be playing proper games such as The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess and Red Steel come March 07?"

For the full official launch line up see SPOnG's news from earlier today.