Nintendo’s new Wii games console has gone on sale in the United States, competing against two of its main rival: Sony and Microsoft.
Thousands of gamers, some of who had camped for several days, queued outside shops in New York City and Hollywood.
The Japanese firm has so far dominated the handheld gaming market, selling more than 200 million DS and Game Boys globally.
But its last home console, the GameCube, faltered as titles for the machine from third-party developers dried up.
The first buyer, Isaiah “Triforce” Johnson, had been queuing outside the New York retail outlet for more than a week.
“I had to get it first,” said the 29-year-old, who shook hands with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime after buying the console.
Nintendo hopes the Wii, designed to be more accessible than rival machines, will boost its fortunes.
The new console has been re-designed to create a new gaming experience. Opted for a motion sensitive controller that allows the user to a potentially simpler but at the same time more immersive experience.
The games for the machine have also been designed to be more accessible, with a focus on casual and family gaming.
The next launch for the Nintendo Wii will be Japan on December 2nd followed by the European launch six days later.
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Nintendo Wii says:
well i love my wii, all i can say it kicks xbox ass
Nov 20, 2006, 6:33 am