Allocation

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  • Bullseye: find out your local Target's Wii allocation [update 2]

    by 
    Jason Wishnov
    Jason Wishnov
    11.06.2006

    We salute you, unnamed Target employee who leaks internal documents and places his own livelihood at risk in the process. Courtesy said nameless hero, the specific number of Wii units headed to each outlet has been (supposedly) revealed.Instructions: head to this forum page and find your local store. Note its specific store number, then head to the previous page and cross-check your store number in the list. The second-to-last number in the line will be the number of units received by that store. The internet loves you, you know. In lieu of searching confusing forum page posts, just head here, type in your area code, and view the convenient results that spew forth from yon servers. It'll return several stores in the area, weighted by both proximity and number of Wii units available.Some math reveals that the average number of Wii units per store is close to 46, a decent stock indeed. We know it'll be difficult come launch day, but with perseverance and and the ability to resist biting cold, you'll get your console yet.[Thanks, Antibot and Elliott!][Update 1: Added better "Wii Finder" app]

  • Observational standpoint: PS3 preordering

    by 
    Jason Wishnov
    Jason Wishnov
    10.10.2006

    All right, I admit it. I may be a Wii fanboy, but that doesn't mean I can't preorder a Playstation 3 and attempt to resell it for twice its value on eBay enjoy other consoles too. As such, I took a little trip down to my local mall (which has both a Gamestop and an EB Games) to see if I couldn't pick up a preorder for that bullet train of a console, the PS3, for pickup on November 17th. I arrived ninety minutes early, got to the front of EB Games ... ouch. Fifteen or more in line. I quickly bolted (provoking the ire of a security guard) to the Gamestop, where only eight or nine waited in line. I decided to throw my chips in with them.The Gamestop employee arrived about thirty minutes before opening. He actually admitted the first two people in line several minutes later, and presold them PS3s. He then came out to the line and said that his store had only been allocated two measly units. While I later found out that the EB Games had twelve units allocated, it was far too late for me. And to think, I could have slept in.Where does this leave us Wii-goers? Well, we know that Nintendo will have a hell of a lot more units at launch than the PS3, but this by no means guarantees you a unit. EB/GS preorders open this week, and if you want to ensure your spot in line, you'd best get there early. Use your best judgement, but the earlier, the better ... besides, chances are that a few people in line will be rocking the DS. Multiplayer action FTW.May the Force be with you!