If you’re like me, and you just might be, you may have noticed the poll results on the front page these past couple days.  With BonaFide Reviews dipping its feet in the gamer pool, so to speak, its important to keep track of where the demand is in the gaming market, and if you haven’t been living under a rock for the past six months, its pretty easy to see that the Wii continues to be the most sought after next generation console.

Now high console demand isn’t anything new to the gaming market.  The spiffy new releases for consoles generally come in waves, with large amounts of concentration on late spring/early summer (or the end of school), and early fall (or the beginning of school).  Consoles themselves however are generally released sometime around November, to hitch a ride on the back of the holiday rush.  This generation was largely, not an exception to that rule.  Though the Xbox 360 had been out for some time come the 2006 gift giving season, the Wii and the PS3 made a gigantic splash in the gaming market during prime time that year.

Now it’s pretty normal for consoles to be hard to find after they are first released.  Any parent with a gamer kid could tell you this.  Companies try their hardest to meet the demand, but some people just end up empty handed.  The general strategy afterward is “Oh well, I’ll wait a while and pick it up when they are more readily available in stores” and with this creed, gamers everywhere for years have been picking up their new console Christmas presents in January and February.  But not this year…

The Wii has created a true anomaly in the gaming community.  It is now May, and gamers are STILL camping outside of stores at seven in the morning just to have a chance of seeing a glimpse of the white console.  People are going through long lengths just for slim chances to pick up Nintendo’s next big thing, and yet many are still disappointed.  There has never been such a situation where the supply for so long simply did not fit the demand for a game console.  This is leaving many gamers frustrated and jaded, but still aching with desire for a chance to own Nintendo’s much hyped next generation console.

I have spent time, observing the Wii hunting of many local gamers, and the supply patterns of many local stores.  Wii hunting is difficult, but by far it isn’t impossible.  The trick is knowing when, where, and how to look.  As a service to the gaming community, here is a checklist of things to do when looking for your very own Wii.

1. Visually Confirm – Use your eyes, not your ears.  Many gaming store employees have gotten used to the rote repetition of “No we don’t have a Wii, no we don’t know when they are coming in.”  Remember to point at things.  If you see a Wii box ask if it is just for display.  Sometimes, people forget that they have Wii’s in stock and that they are in fact sitting right in front of them.
2. Specialize – Searching every store in your area for a Wii will mostly just limit your chances for success.  The more people search, the less thorough they generally are in their search.  If one store is out, trust me, most likely the other stores nearby are also out.  Instead, choose one store, and make this store your target.  Know the store intimately, when they open, when they close, when they get their shipments in, so you don’t have to bother the employees with the same questions over and over again.  Familiarize yourself with the store’s operating schedule so that you can search at the right times during the right days, rather than wasting your time at a point where you have next to no chance of success.
3. Personalize – On the topic of employees, remember, they are people too.  They aren’t just game dispensers for your enjoyment.  If you want to improve your chances of getting a Wii, get to know the person who is going to give it to you.  If you disrespect a game store or department store employee, they aren’t going to help you.  Instead, get to know them by name.  Make small talk, and be pleasant.  Then every time you call or check in the same store, speak to the same person.  If you are doing your job, they will remember you, and be more eager to help.  In addition, knowing an employee on a more personal level increases your chances for “working outside of the box.”  Many of my colleagues managed to get their hands on a Wii by befriending an employee and then simply asking “Hey could you put one aside for me when your next shipment comes in?”
4. Take the Hands On Approach – Phones, Do, Not, Work, Period!  Any time you ever call a store asking if they have Wii’s in stock, you are guaranteed to get a “no” answer.  Hundreds of people call looking for Wii’s every day.  Saying no is a knee jerk response that minimizes the amount of work any employee would have to do.  Go to the store in person and say “Can you check?”  It backs the employee against the wall, but increases your chances of Wii hunting drastically.
5. Shop at Large Mega Marts, Not Gaming Stores – Everyone and their mother is going to look for a Wii at Electronics Boutique or Software Etc.  At most, stores like this will get in 5-10 a week and they will all sell out within the hour the shipment arrives.  Instead, find a Target, or a Circuit City, or any store that dosen’t exclusively specialize in videogames.  These stores get larger shipments, however they get them FAR less often.  This works in your favor.  It discourages people from repeatedly asking (due to the long times between shipments) and thus creates a smaller crowd using the store for this purpose.  This smaller crowd creates less isolated demand.  In laymen’s terms this means that the Wii’s stay in the store longer, before being sold.
6. Go to the Source – Nintendo outlets are WONDERFUL.  If you live in the Northwest there is one in New York.   Any store called “The Nintendo Store” or otherwise owned by Nintendo will probably get 20 in per day!  Do not ignore this availability, and drive the extra 10 minutes if you have to!
7. Shop During Off Time – Everyone will be looking for Wii’s on nights and weekends.  Use your lunch break to look during the day and increase your chances.  If you are really desperate, have a friend with a flexible schedule search for you, and give him the money to purchase it in your stead (make sure he is trustworthy).  Most Wii’s are bought during business hours, because everyone else is working.
8. Look for Bargains – Some stores offer custom package deals when buying a Wii.  They generally come with extra controller setups and a game or two.  You’ll most often find these on the internet, or at wholesale retailers.  Let’s face it, you want those extra controllers and most likely you’re going to buy games anyway.  These package deals generally are less expensive than purchasing everything separately, but still run 500-600 dollars.  The question is, do you want to spend more now, to spend less later?
9. Preshop – This is more a tip for those who want the Wii Expierence, and have a Wii, but still don’t have a usable setup.  Keep in mind there has also been a Nunchuck shortage, as well as a shortage of Wiimotes, and some games.  If you KNOW you are going to be getting a Wii sometime soon, then feel free to buy your peripherals and games before you have the actual system.  It’s much better than finally finding a Wii only to find you are limited to one player Wii sports.
10. When All Else Fails, Use the Internet – You will always be able to find a Wii on the internet.  It might be sold in a package deal.  It might be auctioned on ebay for 20-50 dollars more than its asking price.  Regardless, you WILL find a Wii on the internet.  If you’re a gamer and you want a Wii now, and money is no object, log on and buy up. Here are a couple great links to get you started: http://www.itrackr.com  and http://www.xpbargains.com/wii_locator.php

Follow these ten tips and overall, be a conscientious game shoper, and you’ll be waving your Wiimote in no time.  Until then, remember, friends with a Wii are the same as a Wii you own, with a person you like attached.

Happy shopping gamers!