Wii pre-orders in Australia: as good as Xbox 360?

Sickie day. According to my Australian friends online, a “sickie” is taking time off from school or work when you’re not actually sick. Nintendo spokesperson Vispi Bhopti says the Wii launch will cause sickies all over: “demand will outweigh supply” and “there will be a few more ‘sickies’ than usual on Thursday.” That’s because the number of pre-orders for the Wii in Australia have climbed to over 30,000, according to a recent quick update from GamesIndustry.biz.

Like the Pet Shop Boys, the Wii goes west. The Wii will complete its circumnavigation of the world by December 9. It started in the Americas at November 19, then it launched across the Pacific in Japan at December 2. December 7 the Wii hits Australia and New Zealand – as well as Italy and Switzerland. Most of Europe will get the Wii on December 8 (Spain will launch on December 9).

Football, barbecue, beer… Is Wii the biggest thing to hit Oz since football, barbecue, and beer? (By football I mean Australian rules “footy” of course – I’m the only QJ staffer who actually watches it.) The Xbox 360 sold 30,000 units in the region the first four days of launch. GamesIndustry.biz says this made the Xbox 360 console the “fastest-selling ever” for the region.

As for the Wii, we’ll have to see how after-launch sales go. With already 30,000 pre-ordered and with its affordable prices, the Wii may continue to do well.

And with its family- and buddy-oriented take on gameplay, it is a perfect addition to an afternoon of football, barbecue, and beer. (And I’d like to see how Brisbane does next year without all those season-ending injuries, too.)

Sickie day. According to my Australian friends online, a “sickie” is taking time off from school or work when you’re not actually sick. Nintendo spokesperson Vispi Bhopti says the Wii launch will cause sickies all over: “demand will outweigh supply” and “there will be a few more ‘sickies’ than usual on Thursday.” That’s because the number of pre-orders for the Wii in Australia have climbed to over 30,000, according to a recent quick update from GamesIndustry.biz.

Like the Pet Shop Boys, the Wii goes west. The Wii will complete its circumnavigation of the world by December 9. It started in the Americas at November 19, then it launched across the Pacific in Japan at December 2. December 7 the Wii hits Australia and New Zealand – as well as Italy and Switzerland. Most of Europe will get the Wii on December 8 (Spain will launch on December 9).

Football, barbecue, beer… Is Wii the biggest thing to hit Oz since football, barbecue, and beer? (By football I mean Australian rules “footy” of course – I’m the only QJ staffer who actually watches it.) The Xbox 360 sold 30,000 units in the region the first four days of launch. GamesIndustry.biz says this made the Xbox 360 console the “fastest-selling ever” for the region.

As for the Wii, we’ll have to see how after-launch sales go. With already 30,000 pre-ordered and with its affordable prices, the Wii may continue to do well.

And with its family- and buddy-oriented take on gameplay, it is a perfect addition to an afternoon of football, barbecue, and beer. (And I’d like to see how Brisbane does next year without all those season-ending injuries, too.)