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Wii Kiosks - Kid unfriendly

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Well GameStop is getting them in the US.. and apparently you need a credit card to play one.. just to make sure you don't break it.

 

If you do presumably your data will be yoinked and you'll be charged an extortionate amount for some replacement Wiimotes and Nunchucks.

 

I suppose stores could personally monitor kids playing Wii and allow them to have a quick demo.. but on company money? for kids who probably won't actually buy a console there and then? Hmm.. I know when I was a kid I used to play demos for 30 minutes before deciding whether to actually buy the game.

I certainly wouldn't want some store representative going "Come on, you've had 10 minutes okay? You gonna buy it or what?"

 

Anyway here's what Kotaku has to say:

 

We got an interesting insider email (via the notoriously reliable third-party source of an anonymous friend of an also anonymous manager) of what went down at the recent Gamestop manager's conference. The details spilled, while all firmly in the rumor file, are pretty interesting as an inside glimpse into how the nation's biggest game store is reacting to next gen. Namely: the Wii kiosk will require a credit card to use in store, Zune won't be doing gaming in the near future and Gamestop hates Sony.

 

First of all, according to our insider, the managers were told that only GameStop would be receiving the Wii demo units. He said the reason for that was because GameStop is going to require customers to give over a credit card as collateral in order to play one of the Wii units. Nintendo apparently tried using various security methods for the Wiimote, but couldn't really find one that didn't hamper the experience." I'm not sure why they're not using the wired Wiimotes we all saw at E3 and GC06, but okay.

 

Another tipster emailed us to tell us that Gamestop was getting the only Wii kiosks as a thank you for selling the most Nintendo consoles, for what it's worth.

 

Microsoft also said at the conference there were no plans to do anything for Zune in regards to gaming, but that it might lie in wait in the future. This apparently explains why Gamestop will sell the Zune: "GameStop is just trying to get cozy with Microsoft, and selling the Zune is an easy way to do that."

 

Finally, which consoles are Gamestop's managers most excited about? According to our tipster, Nintendo and Microsoft both garnered standing ovations. However, everyone sat still and tight-lipped when Sony took the stage. To be fair to Sony, though, this largely seems to be an issue of them failing to buy off the managers: "They pretty much half-assed the conference, not really having anything playable and only giving the attendees a couple aging Greatest Hits games (Shadow of the Collosus? Really?). Microsoft, on the other hand, brought Gears of War for people to play and also told the managers that they'd be sending them the Gears Collector's Edition and Viva Pinata when they came out. Nintendo came with playable Wii units and told the attendees they'd be sending them 3 good upcoming DS games, the Wii Classic Controller, and 7500 Wii points. This obviously isn't anything big, but seems to be another example of Sony seemingly not really caring about anything other than Blu-Ray and silly rhetoric."

 

Yeah, more bribery, Sony! Anyway, we've asked Nintendo for a response, but they are still "looking into it."

 

I guess the kids will have to watch.

 

As for Europe.. who knows? seems like a lot to ask, for a shop to take credit cards and verify they are legit.. check against ID or whatever.

Then what if this person runs off with the Remote?

 

Well whatever. Pinch of salt.

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Rumor: Gamestop PS3 Pre-Orders Based on 'Loyalty'

 

Every time I mention the PS3 preorder situation, I hypothesize that getting a console at launch (even if you preorder) will require cracking open another man's sternum with your bare hands, leaning back as a hiss of bloody steam spurts through the air, and then conquering his luckily purchased console as if it were a Hyperbornean woman. I was only half-kidding. But from an anonymous tipster comes this disquieting news, from a Gamestop manager:

Each gamestop store will receive an average of 6 systems (more for higher volume stores, less for dead stores). 1-2 systems can be given to employees at the store manager's discretion. The rest are given out to the store's "regulars". If a manager feels he has a customer who is very loyal (shops there often, reserves many things), they call them and ask them if they want to guarantee one of the remaining 4 consoles...and aparently all 4 of the remining consoles are handed out in this fashion.

 

Nepotism for the win! Looks like journalists won't be the only ones waiting 20 weeks for a PS3. Florian Eckhardt

 

Hmmm... rumours.

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This can't be true.

 

Why not? Car showrooms often check your credit rating before letting you test drive a sport's car?

 

That's a reasonable analogy irrespective of the huge difference in cost.

 

You go in, ask to play.. the representative takes your card and or ID, verifies it is legitimate and hands over a Wiimote + Nunchuck.

 

You're allowed to play 'as intended' if you chip off with the remote you'll get charged and perhaps prosecuted. When you return the controller/s in the condition they were left with your card and ID is returned.

 

It means that no damage comes to the system like the DS kiosks, people can play as intended and staff don't have to personally escort people.

 

I think it's quite uninviting making it a load system.. but having wires does kinda detract from the spectacle that Wii is.

 

If you've got people playing Wii Tennis in store, everyone will crowd around and go "Wow, how cool" and probably buy one.

 

Also when the cardholder returns the sales person can say "would you like to buy one?" and cold sell it.

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This should keep those damn nigras and gipsys from touching the precious.

 

EDIT: This comment should not be taken seriously, I have no problems with most niggers... Fuck gypsies.

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kids are mental. every ds kisok i've ever seeen has been scrateched to shit with keys or something. why?

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I once saw a smallish child literally chewing the rubber off of Playstation 2 sticks. When he was done, he proceeded to chew the rubber of the Gamecube sticks while playing it. I'm not kidding.

I also once saw someone tear the sticks off an Xbox controller and pocket them. But he was not a child, but he sure as hell acted like one.

In conclusion: I knew something like this was going to happen eventually.

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Shino, I think the correct term is traveller's these days.. and to be honest it's their choice of lifestyle. Who are we to say that everyone should live in a bricked in house with a white picket fence?

 

Have you ever even met one? And don't say I want to a fair once.

 

Probably nice people once you get to know them.. they have a damn sight more community spirit than neighbourhoods where I live.

 

Really is this the place for your right wing bullshit?

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This should get rid of the 'Kiddy Image' - Wii the only console you need a credit card to play on!!!

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love this idea at least i will get a chance to demo new games with a descent controll not having the game cut out a minute after it has loaded.

 

Shino, I think the correct term is traveller's these days.. and to be honest it's their choice of lifestyle. Who are we to say that everyone should live in a bricked in house with a white picket fence?

 

Have you ever even met one? And don't say I want to a fair once.

 

Probably nice people once you get to know them.. they have a damn sight more community spirit than neighbourhoods where I live.

 

Really is this the place for your right wing bullshit?

 

i have met a fair few gypo's in my time and let me tell you they have a different genetic code to the rest of humanity. they are the closesed living relatives to pigs.

 

they will scam anything. they go to restaurants and put hair in their food to try get it free. they vandalise & steal things. let me ask you how can they afford those big ass vans and BMW's without a job? the rest of us pay tax, council tax & national insurance and they just take the rest of us for a ride. makes me sick.

 

and call me what you will that is the truth as i have seen and experienced for myself.:mad:

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Now this is quite a weird idea of Nintendo but I can see why they do it. I mean there are people that steal everything that isn't secured.

My mum works at an employment center and the "customers" take biros with them. And in the center the employees also had some toys for the kids to play with while their parents were looking for a job. The toys were gone in a matter of days.

Now if these Kiosks weren't locked Ninty would run out of wiimotes eventually - ok that's an exaggeration but you get my point.

 

I still don't think it's a good solution though, a wire would be much better, but I see where they are coming from.

 

This could also have a positiv effect on sales though. Most kids have parents, and most kids know that parents have credit cards and some kids will also know that they need a credit card to test the Wii. So they'll get on their parents nerves until they give in and let the kid try out the Wii. Now if there are two Wiimotes and they can choose between playing with the kid or watching him play - what will they choose more likely? And once they find out the games are actually fun this could mean more profit for Nintendo.

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At least it will stop chavs breaking/thiefing the controllers. I won't use my card to play, I'm ganna save the expeirnce untill christmas day, then I'll lock myslef away, untill Zelda:TP is completed.

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Two things:

Firstly, gypos are total scum! Try living in an area they choose to 'camp', they're just very dirty and are like a travelling crime wave.

 

Secondly, I brought this up a couple of days ago and started a thread on whether Wii kiosks would be feasible due to the nature of the Wii mote - it seems they are not, or at least they will be very unusable to many. Luckily I have a credit card and will happily pop it in as insurance to prove I'm not a thieving gypo, but I can't see anyone under 18 testing a Wii if this is the case.

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Shino, I think the correct term is traveller's these days.. and to be honest it's their choice of lifestyle. Who are we to say that everyone should live in a bricked in house with a white picket fence?

 

Have you ever even met one? And don't say I want to a fair once.

 

Probably nice people once you get to know them.. they have a damn sight more community spirit than neighbourhoods where I live.

 

Really is this the place for your right wing bullshit?

 

 

That's the romantic view of it, they're no longer like that. Here, the governament gives them houses (even thou their the most corrupt people) and then they don't know how to use it, they use the bathtub for planting. Granted I never known any of them, I just crossed them once and got mugged. They steal and kill, and after that they even threaten the cops and their family.

 

I doubt they're even humans.

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Seems a touch strange they would specifically need a credit card rather than just a deposit.

 

Do you think nintendo will put the wii in pubs like the xbox was? I reckon Wii sports could be pretty popular after a few drinks. Plus pubs sometimes make you place a deposit for pool queues and balls, this wouldnt be too disimilar.

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That's the romantic view of it, they're no longer like that. Here, the governament gives them houses (even thou their the most corrupt people) and then they don't know how to use it, they use the bathtub for planting. Granted I never known any of them, I just crossed them once and got mugged. They steal and kill, and after that they even threaten the cops and their family.

 

I doubt they're even humans.

 

This is true.. very true. I have never come across a nice gypo/gipsy/pikey in my whole entire life... and i have met a fare few of them. If your stuff aint nailed down they will steal it... and that go's for the ones that have been moved into houses.

 

TBH even if they did all live in houses ... they would still have all your stuff away while your not about and they would still go arround harassing the public and the police untill the day they die.

 

Anyway.... back to the topic... i personaly cant see this happening in the UK, just think about it... a kid goes running into toys'r'us straight towards the Wii.. only to be told to whip out there credit card!

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this is a great idea, when i get my Wii and my cousins come visit and bring their little kids i'm asking for a deposit of like 200euro just in case the kids break something. haha

 

One thing that i was thinkin of is, i know the wiimote has a wrist strap to prevent it from flying across the room if it slipped out of your hand, but what about a small child? their hands and wrists and much smaller would this make the strap less effective?

 

I just got visions of one playing tennis on WiiSports and the wiimote smashing the tv screen :heh:

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