Wii HAVE LIFT-OFF: THE NINTENDO Wii MIDNIGHT LAUNCH (gamezone)

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Nintendo started its revolution at the stroke of midnight in the Universal Studios CityWalk in Hollywood, California and even in the wake of the release of Sony’s PlayStation 3 two days earlier, it was clear that Nintendo wanted to kick things off with a huge celebration. The Universal CityWalk is home to many unique stores including an EB Games store that has hosted a few events in the past including the midnight launch of the Nintendo DS.

Excited gamers waited in line early, some of them having waited until noon.

The event began five hours before the midnight opening of the stores but already there were gamers camping outside the store. According to the EB Games President on hand at the event, there were more than enough Wii consoles to accommodate everyone who wished to purchase one. Nintendo staff was even around to pass out various freebies like hats, Super Monkey Ball and Super Mario stuffed dolls. There were also several kiosks with Nintendo Wii games like Red Steel, Wii Sports, Excite Truck as well as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

DJ Rap playing a long set before a huge group of people ready to get down and boogie.

DJ Rap was spinning some tunes outside the main court outside the Hard Rock Cafe nearby as people young and old danced to the techno beats. Every hour the music would stop for presentations by a group of acrobats that call themselves Zero Gravity as well as interviews with the North American Senior Vice President of Marketing for Nintendo, George Harrison. Up on the Jumbo Screen commercials for the Wii would play, giving gamers a sneak peek of all the console’s features.

Zero Gravity acrobats at work.

As the countdown reached midnight, fireworks filled the sky and the store opened with several EB Games staff members ushering in gamers ready to purchase their Wii. Without any of the incidents we’ve seen during the PS3 launch, the event was well organized and every gamer who waited in line did walk away with their new Wii.