Biggest queues ever as Wii launches at GAME

By 1am last night, the shutters were down at HMV's Oxford Street store and the official UK launch of the Wii was over - but at GAME just down the road, people were still joining the queue.

"I have to say, I've just walked around the corner, and I think that's the biggest queue I've ever seen for any of the launches I've attended - and I've done every single one," CEO Lisa Morgan told GamesIndustry.biz

"It's fantastic. It's more than we could have expected."

Although HMV was Nintendo's official partner for the launch, word amongst those queuing was that there were more Wii units in stock at GAME - and according to Morgan, "We're the number one specialist, so you wouldn't expect anything different. I feel we are very much the partner for our customers."

But with the queue extending far around the block and still growing after midnight, could GAME be sure of meeting the demand? "We will ensure that customers in the queue go home with a machine, and when we get to the point where we haven't got machines we'll make sure customers are not kept out in the cold," Morgan pledged.

"We're hoping to get more deliveries next week. We haven't had anything confirmed as of yet so we don't want to over promise and under deliver, but as soon as we get stock it will be turned around and in the stores the following day."

In the meantime, there's still plenty of choice for consumers unable to get their hands on a Wii, according to Morgan. " The Nintendo DS, for example, is selling so well - the pink DS Lite is just flying out the doors the minute it hits the shelves. The PlayStation 2, which has an awesome installed base, is still selling phenomenal numbers every day.

"What's so great about this Christmas is there's such a wide choice of things for them to choose from," Morgan concluded.