Wii U pre-orders selling out online

Wii U pre-orders opened following its price and date announcement last week, and many retailers have already sold out of the console.

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It may not have the insane demand of the iPhone 5, but Wii U is apparently doing quite well for itself. Ever since its coming out party last week, retailers were quick to offer pre-orders for Nintendo's next-gen system. If you sat on your hands, you'll have to wait for another round of pre-order stock. Already, many online retailers have sold out of their initial estimated stock.

As MTV Multiplayer pointed out, various retailers no longer offer Wii U pre-orders. Best Buy, K-Mart, Sears, Target, and Toys R Us are sold out entirely. GameStop has sold out of the Deluxe version, but the Basic model is still available. Wal-Mart still has stock for sale, though that may not last. Amazon hasn't listed the console for sale yet at all.

Chances are retailers will have more pre-order stock available some time before the console's November 18th launch. But if you don't want to take your chances on eBay come launch day, you may want to pre-order the system at your local retailer.

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  • reply
    September 17, 2012 4:00 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Wii U pre-orders selling out online.

    Wii U pre-orders opened following its price and date announcement last week, and many retailers have already sold out of the console.

    • reply
      September 17, 2012 4:22 PM

      Yep. Clearly doomed. LOL

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        September 17, 2012 8:05 PM

        I'm still wondering what the Gamecubes "gimmick" was.

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          September 18, 2012 3:33 AM

          Yeah, I asked that too. The Gamecube was a completely conventional console in every way.

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          September 18, 2012 4:41 AM

          I think the gimmick was more about the hardware. Weird controller, little box console and proprietary disc kinda like the Dreamcast.

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            September 18, 2012 4:42 AM

            Oh and the included network adapter and link cable? Didn't it have some multi-player cable to link consoles together?

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              September 18, 2012 5:20 AM

              It had a port on the bottom for broadband connection but the actual device you plugged in was barely sold in the US. It also had the gameboy adapter thingy so you could play game boy games on your tv as well as the gba link cable to play the original crystal chronicles and the absolutely superb zelda: four swords.

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            September 18, 2012 5:07 AM

            I liked the GC controller. It was N's first disc console, I remember that. I don't remember a link cable though, strange.

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              September 18, 2012 5:21 AM

              Well, the first disc console sold stateside.

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              September 18, 2012 7:39 AM

              I wish they stuck with the GC controller design with the Wii Classic controller. It was really comfortable and easy to use.

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                September 18, 2012 7:43 AM

                Perhaps, but it was ugly and the face button arrangement was terribad for SNES games on the VC.

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                  September 18, 2012 8:25 AM

                  True I couldn't play Mega Man Collection with that controller and traded it for the Xbox version.

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                September 18, 2012 1:17 PM

                [deleted]

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            September 18, 2012 7:52 AM

            Also for its time, it wasn't a crippled piece of shit like the Wii was when it came out the gate. It was at least more powerful than the PS2, but a bit less-so than the Xbox.

            Interestingly, the Wii-U seems kind of like another Gamecube

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            September 18, 2012 8:17 AM

            They did kind of make a big deal about the controller when the console was announced. Also the cuteness of the cube-style design. That seemed to be 'the thing' about that console.

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              September 18, 2012 8:27 AM

              I liked how you could drag it around the block tied to the back of the car and it would still work when you got home. That's a gimmick I can get behind.

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          September 18, 2012 5:18 AM

          The gimmick was that it was absolutely kick ass.

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            September 18, 2012 8:10 AM

            I agree, and actually regret giving it to my nephew! I really liked the controller too.

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              September 18, 2012 12:52 PM

              Well you're in luck, you can find Gamecubes on craigslist for about 10 bucks. I got one with a GBA player for $7.

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        September 18, 2012 4:28 AM

        console preorders always sell out.

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      September 17, 2012 4:41 PM

      RuskiSnajper

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      September 17, 2012 7:56 PM

      Cool, I hope lots of moms and grandmas buy this thing so we can get some sick HD mario and zelda games.

      I would say metroid but after Other M I think it would be better if they just let it die.

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        September 18, 2012 12:33 AM

        I thought Other M was bad bad bad bad bad bad bad. I may give it another chance though out of morbid curiosity.

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          September 18, 2012 5:37 PM

          Other M wasn't bad, it just happens to be the worst Metroid game in the series.

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      September 17, 2012 8:11 PM

      50% are probably resellers

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      September 17, 2012 8:12 PM

      [deleted]

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      September 18, 2012 1:40 AM

      I doubt it's the case here in the UK since prices start at £274.99 ($446) to £309.99 ($503) for the premium version.

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        September 18, 2012 3:14 AM

        It's £249 and £299 on amazon.co.uk, fwiw. I have the premium on pre-order!

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          September 18, 2012 5:51 AM

          Maybe when Pikmin 3 comes out I'll buy it but until then I'm hoping that people get it from Zavvi or thehut since they have the lowest prices and that'll force Game and others to lower theirs too.

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      September 18, 2012 3:34 AM

      Here's hoping the naysayers are wrong and this thing is a success. That would be good for everybody.

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      September 18, 2012 3:52 AM

      iPhone 5 syndrome.

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      September 18, 2012 4:01 AM

      How? Who in there right mind is buying this?!?! Apart from the kids, THINK OF THE KIDS But still fuck...

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      September 18, 2012 5:05 AM

      [deleted]

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      September 18, 2012 5:29 AM

      I was hoping to preorder it on Amazon, but they don't seem to have a page for it. I mean, it is on there, but I think they are user created pages, because they list the price way too high.

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      September 18, 2012 6:06 AM

      I love how Nintendo and Apple have the same instant fail calls when they announce a new console/phone but both do extremely well despite that. It is almost like maybe people are out of touch with real consumers.

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        September 18, 2012 7:49 AM

        complainers are the loudest people despite being so few in number.

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      September 18, 2012 8:19 AM

      I think the idea of the first run of systems selling out is not such a big deal. Those are the die hard Nintendo fans who have been around for a while. The real test will be to see how it keeps up after that. Most consoles are in pretty high demand when they are first released.

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      September 18, 2012 8:27 AM

      The tech nerd in me really wants the Wii U but it's not offering enough over my PS3 to really take seriously right now.

      I could trade in my 360 that collects dust and knock down the price but who knows if it will last or get blown out of the water next E3 with the next xbox/playstation

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        September 18, 2012 5:38 PM

        Zelda, Mario and Metroid are enough for me, I am a sucker for those games. :(

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