Wii get, part deux: Because launch day was about more than consumerism

When Alisha asked for "Wii get" stories from the Joystiq network staff, I wanted to tell mine. Most of my friends don't love video games with the same intensity that all of us do, so I never bothered to share the experience with them. Sure, they would listen if I did, and might even find certain parts amusing. There would really be no point to it all, though, because they just wouldn't get it.

While reading over all your stories yesterday and taking part in your memories, I felt the joy of the Wii's launch day bubbling inside me again, a whole year later. I decided to tell my story as well, only it turned into an epic tale of not only launch day, but my thoughts and fears before and immediately after I got my Wii. So, with that said, I humbly present to you my Wii get story. I hope that you enjoy it, but even more than that, I hope it's something you can relate to.

As the Wii's hype grew and grew in the months before its release, I knew that I had to have one on launch day. Gone were the days where I could sit back, relax, and wait for my birthday or Christmas to come while my parents dealt with the hysteria of finding a console to spoil me with. This time, it would be all up to me.

Upon realizing this, I immediately panicked. Being away at college, I didn't have the means to get around town. I had to rely on public transportation, and the only place I could get to was Best Buy. Going to one of the only retailers in a large city, though, seemed too risky. There would be too many people, and I knew that I'd have to get there absurdly early to secure my Wii. My solution? Cut three days of class and go home early for Thanksgiving break. (Note: If any of my professors happen to be reading this, I was very, very ill when I missed your class.)

At home, I had the one resource that would make console hunting so much easier: a car. I had planned to go to my local Target six hours before it opened in order to get my Wii. The night before launch, however, I decided to check out the store at 9:30 P.M. and was utterly shocked to see a huge line of people already waiting. All the message boards I had frequented while doing research before the launch said that everyone was going to their store of choice just a few hours before opening. Why did all these people decide to come so early?

Not my Target, but well, you get the idea.

I immediately returned home and put on every bit of warm clothing I could find. I then grabbed a chair, a blanket, and my DS before heading out. With Final Fantasy III (among other games) in my possession, I knew that I was armed with the proper tools to fight the boredom of waiting in line for ten hours. I was a little nervous about going on my own, a 21-year-old girl, and waiting in line with a bunch of "crazy" Nintendo fans (my mom was near hysterics), but I had to brave it all. It was for the Wii.

When I got there, though, the strangest thing happened. I actually liked these people. They weren't crazy, they were just like me! Okay, so they were crazy then. But more importantly, we were all united by one thing - our passion for Nintendo. We had no idea how many Wiis Target would have, and we all got nervous that we wouldn't get one. But, I wasn't just nervous for myself. It was just as important to me that the kid in front of me got his, and the couple behind me, and the dude behind them. We all bonded that night. In fact, we talked so much that I barely even needed my copy of FFIII. That night just seemed to bring out the best in everybody.

Finally, after braving ten hours in the bitter cold, it was time to get our tickets. Those without tickets would not get Wiis. We had heard rumors that there were only fifty Wiis available. Earlier that night we had definitely been under the fifty mark, but some people seemed to sneak in there, and, oh wait, is that another person coming out of that tent?

A Target employee came to me and gave me ticket number fifty. Instead of being elated, though, I was in a complete panic, thinking that some of the friends I made wouldn't get one. I was about to valiantly offer my ticket to the adorable newlyweds behind me (at least, I'd like to think I was), when the employee offered them ticket number fifty-one. As it turned out, that Target sold 120 Wii consoles that day.

Many people were turned away, but what were they thinking, arriving so late? In any case, I had gotten a Wii and I could barely contain my excitement. I preceded to drive to every retailer in my area, looking for component cables to make Twilight Princess look pretty on my parents' new HD-TV. After realizing that they were nowhere to be found, I went home to finally try Nintendo's newest system.

Once I set up my Wii and played around for a little bit, I made my mom and her boyfriend make Miis of their own and play Wii Sports. It didn't take long for me (or them) to fall in love with the little white console, but after being up all night (those of you who can sleep on a lawn chair in the freezing cold, I give you props), I was completely drained. I had to go to bed.

Imagine my surprise when I woke up to see my parents and their friends playing the Wii! After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I tentatively asked, "What's going on?"

People of all ages seem to love it.

My mom replied, "The guys came over to help us set up our new furniture, and we decided to show them your Wii."

I was so floored that I didn't even think to correct my mom this time when she pronounced it "why" instead of "wee." A bunch of people my parents' age were having fun playing video games. They had been playing Wii Sports for hours. One of my mom's friends even commented that he was going to get his own Wii as soon as possible. Who would have thought something like this could happen?

And that's when I knew that Nintendo had something really special on their hands.