Wii Still Want to Play

AP:

Nintendo Plans to Boost Wii Production

Friday April 27, 6:22 am ET
By Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer

Nintendo President Promises to Boost Wii Production, Increase Deliveries to Meet Shortage

TOKYO (AP) -- Nintendo's president acknowledged Friday that the shortage of the hit Wii game machine was "abnormal," and promised production was being boosted to increase deliveries by next month.

"We must do our best to fix this abnormal lack of stock," Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told reporters. "We have not been able to properly foresee demand."

The comments came a day after the Japanese manufacturer of the Wii -- which comes with a wand that can be used as a sword, tennis racket or fishing rod depending on the game -- reported that sales nearly doubled for the fiscal year, lifted by robust sales of the Wii and the DS portable, a handheld video game.

...The Wii has pummeled its rivals in a head-to-head battle in next-generation video game consoles involving Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3, which has been plagued with production problems, and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.

Iwata refused to disclose the monthly production capacity for the Wii, and said it was too early to say by how much the production was being raised.

But he said efforts were under way to increase production, and more machines will get delivered to stores around the world.

"We will do our best to offer the machine for those who are waiting," he said at a Tokyo hall.

Well it's about bloody time!!!

This Wii wait has been ridiculous. Nobody should have to stand in line at a Toys R Us parking lot at 4 a.m. with a bunch of guys who sustain themselves by selling Wiis on eBay simply for the privilege of getting to play Wii Sports. I should be able to walk into my local Target, hand over $250, and go home happy.

I'm giving Nintendo until the U.S. Open to get enough Wiis to the market to ensure that I'm playing Tiger Woods golf when the pros are playing at Oakmont.