Kids want a Wii system for Christmas

[Lee]

I was looking at these online tonight and they aren't cheap.  I know about as much about Wii as a pig knows about a helicopter. 
Are they worth it, or will the kids be bored and ignore it in a few months?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

you'll be pushing kids away so you can play

[MicroBalrog]

The sky is falling, I agree with c&sd.

A modern gaming console is worth days and months of entertainment, for both children and adults. You're not buying a toy for your children, you're buying good-time for everybody in the family.

Multiple APS members own Wiis, apparently they're great fun.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

there some things i look forward to. i got the lil heaten the microphone and the game "city crossing"  she can play with her friends online. we leave in the boonies  the girl 5 houses away is more than a 1/2mile  she can hangout without needing a chauffeur

[Manedwolf]

I was looking at these online tonight and they aren't cheap.  I know about as much about Wii as a pig knows about a helicopter. 
Are they worth it, or will the kids be bored and ignore it in a few months?

Should be $250. Target gets more in every few days. Do not pay more than that, otherwise it's just scalpers, and you might not get it anyway from that sort.

[Nitrogen]

you'll be pushing kids away so you can play

My wife got one for herself.  I play wii tennis on it a lot, I really like it.

There are a LOT of cruddy games for it, and very few good ones.

The wii fit is good if you need some basic fitness training (which I do)

My wife is playing "We Cheer" as I type this.  It's silly as all get out, but it's fun, too.

[Lee]

I went to two Target stores today and they just laughed at me.  I went online and it looks like most of the major retailers are either sold out, or charging $350 + shipping for the basic set up.  One place had a 'bundle' for $399, and included two controllers, one nanchuck?, and nine games (on two disks).  I started to buy it, but they wanted $70!!!! for shipping UPS ground.  
BTW I didn't find out this was what they wanted until yesterday...or I would of bought it in October. Uhhhg.


Edited to add- my wife wants the fit.  Evidently they are $90 at the places that don't have them and $150 at the places that do.

[Manedwolf]

I went to two Target stores today and they just laughed at me.  I went online and it looks like most of the major retailers are either sold out, or charging $350 + shipping for the basic set up.  One place had a 'bundle' for $399, and included two controllers, one nanchuck?, and nine games (on two disks).  I started to buy it, but they wanted $70!!!! for shipping UPS ground.  
BTW I didn't find out this was what they wanted until yesterday...or I would of bought it in October. Uhhhg.

They are ripping you off. Do not pay more than $250 for the system, that is the fixed price set by Nintendo, and the "nine games" on that kind of bundle are invariably just horrific shovelware.

Just ask at your local big box, in the electronics area, what day they usually get more in. Be there at that time.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i got mine off ebay with some extras for 330  had a coupon so it was 297 with shipping

[Lee]

Oh G*d.....I might have to go to our....urban Walmart tomorrow....my nightmare of nightmares.  I used to love Walmart when I lived in a small town.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

there are folks unloading em on craigslist for 250 and up

[Manedwolf]

Oh G*d.....I might have to go to our....urban Walmart tomorrow....my nightmare of nightmares.  I used to love Walmart when I lived in a small town.

Well. The clerks there seem to be a bit clueless, when I was asking when something might come in. Target, they seemed actually informed, and were able to tell me what day and time FedEx showed up with more systems.

[Nitrogen]

My wife got hers off of Frys.com for about $300 total, that included shipping and an extra remote.

[mtnbkr]

The Wii is the only game system I've tempted to buy (and ended up buying) in the past decade.  I just got back from a Xmas party where most of the folks there were in the 40-70 age bracket.  We had a room full of people playing Bowling on the Wii with my 5yo daughter.  When one person would leave, another would take their place.

Chris

[RaspberrySurprise]

The clerks there seem to be a bit clueless, when I was asking when something might come in.

That's because they really don't know. Theres no way of finding out when they will show up. They can give you an estimate based on when they ordered some more but for things like game consoles which don't come through the usual supply chain is mostly a guess. I work at Wal-Mart and despise how the merchandise system works with a passion, and I don't even work on the sales floor.

[Lee]

My wife got hers off of Frys.com for about $300 total, that included shipping and an extra remote

They were available and $409 5 minutes ago.  They show sold out now.

[KD5NRH]

I'm just waititng for them to have some more creative games:
 Wii Wee; the multiplayer virtual peeing for distance challenge
 Wii Mowing; get the kids in practice for spring
 Wii Wank; sort of defeats the purpose of virtual porn, but what the heck
 Wii Housecleaning; not actually a game, just convince the kids the vacuum is a special controller
 Wii Pull Up Your Pants; maybe it'll build a useful habit

[Jamisjockey]

We've got one.  Kids are addicted to Mario Kart.  ES#2 is 3 years old and can manipulate the controls to play.
Our favorite is the bowling.  And the wife has the fit which she enjoys, but doesn't use much.  I like her to do the hula hoop on the fit......
 

[K Frame]

I got to play MtnAbby on her Wii a few days ago.

First time I've ever played the Wii. Takes a few moments to get the coordination down, but it is a LOT of fun.

Abby smoked me on bowling, including picking up one spare while essentially standing on her head  , but I held my own in tennis. She was NOT amused at that. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

She was NOT amused at that

will you have a scar from that?

[K Frame]

No, oddly enough.

Actually, she hasn't been beating me lately. I think it has something to do with the fact that she's in a public school, and we know the touchy feely "no violence is ever right in any situation" crap that they teach there. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

my kids bought into that too. but shes a chip off the old block  she said if shes gonna get in trouble its gotta be worth it

[Ben]

Just got an email notification from Amazon. They have limited Wiis today for $250:

http://www.amazon.com/Wii-nintendo/dp/B0009VXBAQ/ref=pe_23970_10919940_fe_img_1/

[taurusowner]

I thought we were in a depression?  How could people possibly still be thinking about buying video game systems?

[K Frame]

Simple.

Escapism.

During the Great Depression radio was INCREDIBLY popular, especially comedy shows. Radio sales were very brisk all through the 1930s.

Movies were also incredibly popular. Movie houses in most town and cities were routinely packed. Per capita, the Great Depression was one of the highest, if not he highest, periods of movie viewing. The World War II years were also prime movie going times.