The big Wii let down...

[wraggster]

As the Leipzig Game Convention opens its doors to the public today, show-goers eager to try out Nintendo's motion-sensing wonder box for the first time will be mighty disappointed to find that it's nowhere to be found on the show floor and is only available for members of the press to play behind closed doors.

The Nintendo stand is dominated entirely by DS Lite, so with Wii nowhere to be seen we asked several third-party publishers attending the event why they weren't showing their Wii titles to the general public and were told that Nintendo had specified that it didn't want any Wii in the hands of the gaming masses.

When we enquired as to why, no one was forthcoming with a response.

Is Nintendo conscious of sharing space on the show floor with other, more graphically impressive games? Does it feel that its machine simply isn't ready to make its playable public debut just yet?

Whatever the reason, it's a shame that Wii hasn't been rolled out for all to see at Leipzig - European gamers attending would surely have been hoping that they would be able to at last try out the console first-hand and decide for themselves whether Wii really has the potential to prove its promise.

[sko, TheLogicalGamer]

I would be so bummed out if I went to the Leipzig Game Convention

[CampaKaze]

Ouch, now thats just STUPID, blargh at Nintendo

[ACID]

Weard.

[Hevyduty]

Does it feel that its machine simply isn't ready to make its playable public debut just yet?

Playable public debut? Um, did this guy sleep through E3 or something? WTF?

Basically, Nintendo's just doing what all three companies are going to do for the new downsized E3 next year. And that is emphasize private demos for the press, with less emphasis on Joe Shmoe gamer.

Like it or not, having a booth swamped by 7000 fans lining up so that 15 people at a time can try out the Wii is not exactly efficient. In fact, it's a zoo.

Besides, it's funny how the write-up refers to Nintendo denying access to the "gaming masses," which in this case happens to be gamers within driving distance of Leipzig. Sorry to break it to you, but Nintendo thinks it can get more bang for its buck by spending more time showcasing the Wii to representatives of Gamespot, IGN, G4TV, etc., who can then get that coverage to the real gaming masses (i.e., millions of fans around the world), and not just to Gunter from Dusseldorf and his five friends.

All three companies will take this same approach next year at E3. Nintendo's just the first to implement it.

[Video_freak]

Hmmmm. That is disappointing...

[Dee-Lite]

Playable public debut? Um, did this guy sleep through E3 or something? WTF?

Basically, Nintendo's just doing what all three companies are going to do for the new downsized E3 next year. And that is emphasize private demos for the press, with less emphasis on Joe Shmoe gamer.

Like it or not, having a booth swamped by 7000 fans lining up so that 15 people at a time can try out the Wii is not exactly efficient. In fact, it's a zoo.

Besides, it's funny how the write-up refers to Nintendo denying access to the "gaming masses," which in this case happens to be gamers within driving distance of Leipzig. Sorry to break it to you, but Nintendo thinks it can get more bang for its buck by spending more time showcasing the Wii to representatives of Gamespot, IGN, G4TV, etc., who can then get that coverage to the real gaming masses (i.e., millions of fans around the world), and not just to Gunter from Dusseldorf and his five friends.

All three companies will take this same approach next year at E3. Nintendo's just the first to implement it.

LMAO tru, very tru. Gamespot always giv it "hands on on Red Steel" then its like where the f**k is the video footage!!?? Luckily IGN record their hands on activity!