Exploding-Planet.com

I had pre-ordered a Nintendo Wii at Spiderman.no in Oslo several months before the December 8th release date, however there were rumors that Norway (and probably Europe) wasn't going to get as many consoles as they expected.

So lastthursday I called spiderman and as expected they didn't have enough to fill my pre-order. They had only gotten 9 consoles which is an extremely small amount and I expect a great deal under the number of pre-orders.

With the help of a friend at work I discovered the location of the midnight launch in Oslo and eventually decided to head on down. I eventually found the store after much walking and was surprised that there was no queue outside. I then noticed the store was still open (it was 9pm) and as I went inside I noticed a fairly large group of people sat on the floor of the shop.

The people queueing had come up with a numbering system to keep things in order and I went over and took a number. I was number 36, not too high and since I still thought I had a chance I first wandered around the shop and then sat down and started playing Final Fantasy III. I had a long wait ahead.

Sverre eventually turned up about half an hour later and he got number 48. We were still hopeful that we would get one but also had plans to hit some different stores early next morning if we didn't get one here.

At around 10pm the store had to close so we all had to go outside and wait. We got ourselves into a big queue in order of the numbers we had been given and got ready for a long two hour wait. It did rain a bit during that time but it soon passed and gladly it wasn't too cold considering it was currently winter in Norway.

From outside I could see the employees bring out the Wii products and setting them up ready for the eager customers. Seeing it helped somewhat to pass the time and give renewed hope that waiting in the queue would be worth while.

Around an hour later someone from in the store finally came out and announced how many systems they had. Of course it was in Norwegian but I managed to pick out the important part. Seksti Fem. 65 to those who can't figure that out. So being number 36 in line I realised that I would actually be getting a Wii.

This of course gave me much needed energy to continue waiting in line but sadly made the next hour the most agonizingly slow hour ever. Interestingly the person waiting in front of me was in fact the flatmate of Rune, a fellow Opera employee, who had appeared alongside the queue to deliver a chair and warm clothes to the guy in front of me.

We talked for a while and occasionally took a turn sat on the chair, this made the next hour somewhat more bearable but still depressingly slow. Eventually the hour passed and the first customer was let in.

Some journalists had arrived and we had to wait for them to go and film or take pictures of the first Wii bought in Norway. Then we were slowly let inside a few at a time to make our purchases. After what had seemed like a life time, I finally got inside and then came out with my Wii, Zelda and Rayman. Sadly they had completely sold out of Wii Play and any other extra controllers. It was a shame but at least I had scored the console and Zelda.

Not sure what time I had gotten back, but I got changed out of fairly wet clothes and then proceeded to set my new purchase up next to the TV.

And so began the Wiikend of fun and games!