Rumor: Wal-Mart Wii/PS3 launch playbook revealed -- midnight launches [update 1]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 4th 2006 at 4:30PM }

A Wal-Mart employee sent Joystiq what they say is the Wal-Mart playbook for the Wii and PS3 launch. Saying they received the info from the "Wal-Mart Wire" and even printed out the information to send us proof. Sadly, the tipsters email address didn't work when we went to double check the info; however, after NeoGaf's Wal-Mart ad find, which was taken from WiiNation, we'll run with what we've got, but emphasize that it is still a rumor.

Wii:

Software and accessories are not street dated, stores can put those out upon receipt

Price is $249.24 (75 cents cheaper and matches NeoGaf poster price)

11/16, Wii product will arrive direct to Wal-Mart stores. Same day, the accessories for Wii will be set out

11/18, at 10PM, tickets will be passed out for midnight sales

Start selling Wii on 11/19 at 12:01AM

Our tipster said he had 50 Wii tickets, but the actual amount of units arriving is unknown.

PS3:

Software and accessories are not street dated, stores can put those out upon receipt

11/9, PS3 peripherals will start shipping to stores

11/11, PS3 interactives (kiosks) will be in final install stages at stores

11/14, PS3 software will start to ship

11/16, PS3 arrives in stores

At 10PM or earlier on 11/18 [sic] (we are guessing he meant to write 11/16) employees will pass out tickets for midnight sales. There are 50 tickets for PS3, but actual units arriving is unknown.

[Thanks Wal-Mart employee]

[Update 1: Looks like NeoGaf got it from WiiNation, proper attribution given. Also, we're in touch with tipster and receiving documentation.]

Tags: launch, midnight, ps3, wal-mart, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Erich @ Nov 4th 2006 4:37PM

Why do they sell controllers before the launch? They should sell them AFTER the launch.

Joe @ Nov 4th 2006 4:38PM

Great, have to get there by 10 I guess...

Leper Messiah @ Nov 4th 2006 4:41PM

I have an informant who works at Super Wal Mart, so I already knew this.

He plans on getting a PS3 at launch (there'll be 20 available at my local SWM) and I plan on getting a Wii (which there will be 50-60 of).

Polyticks22 @ Nov 4th 2006 4:50PM

On that same paper it says stores will get at leat 20 units.

Kevin @ Nov 4th 2006 4:45PM

50 tickets for the PS3 will be passed out, but probably only 5 will probably get someone a PS3, heh.

Polyticks22 @ Nov 4th 2006 4:50PM

Thats at least 20 Wii's for each store the paper says I don't know about PS3s.

otakucode @ Nov 4th 2006 5:00PM

So, Walmart gets the Wii on the 16th... and thinks they can sit on it for 3 days. Those back rooms aren't quite Fort Knox...

Wil @ Nov 4th 2006 5:36PM

Atleast SOME Wal-Mart employees are knowledgeable. I just called my SMW just around the courner, asked when they will be releasing the Nintendo Wii, and his exact answer was: "Uh... Nintendo... that's the Playstation 3. We'll release it November 17th". I said thanks and hung up, not daring to ask more questions.

mjp @ Nov 4th 2006 5:37PM

I like that accessories are already on sale- especially since I have a preorder. I want to show up a couple days early and pick up accessories and games.

Anonymouse Rep @ Nov 4th 2006 5:37PM

This is probably what they have on the wire. However, in my stores they weren't really planning on doing the ticket thing - it was whoever gets there first (and waits the longest) gets the systems. They're planning on setting up a bench or two for those people that plan on camping out from the day before - because there are no confirmed numbers for the PS3.

Wii also does not have confirmed numbers, but there's not nearly as much concern about that. The stores expect to have a decent amount of them in stock - probably not enough for demand, but much, much more than PS3.

Matt @ Nov 4th 2006 5:44PM

Here's an idea: THEY'RE WAL-MART. THEY ARE OPEN TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY. OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE MIDNIGHT LAUNCHES ON EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

Common sense, Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ. =P

lando @ Nov 4th 2006 5:49PM

I'm a Walmart employee myself. The stuff from the wire isn't always applicable to every store. The tickets for each system will correspond to the exact number of systems we get on launch day, just like the xbox 360. The 50 is probably the most tickets any one store recieves, but in my store anyways we only get 1 ticket per system. The numbers in mine (seabrook, nh) for the ps3 are confirmed at 8 systems. Wii numbers are unconfirmed. Our store is not planning tickets for Wii, just PS3.

And not every walmart is 24 hours Matt.

airpolgas @ Nov 4th 2006 5:54PM

Where the hell is Best Buy in all of this hoopla? Gamestop and Toys r Us pre-orders have come and gone. Now we have this Walmart info. Any details on Best Buy or Target? (not Wii Endcaps, but Wii sales)?

Scott @ Nov 4th 2006 6:02PM

i sure wish joystiq would post less wii bulletins, i know that its coming soon but seriosuly, with all the news, videos, and reviews for it, this site is easily confused with nintendowiifanboy.com

anorange @ Nov 4th 2006 6:03PM

Yep, this is all true. Just went up to Wal-mart and that is exactly what they told me.

TwilightKnight @ Nov 4th 2006 8:46PM

I'm going to camp at Meijers saturday morning and see how that goes. In the chance that Meijers doesn't work I will go to Best Buy, Curcuit City, Gamestop, EB, Walmart, and then FYE. All of which are in walking distance of each other.

joe smith @ Nov 4th 2006 6:13PM

I was in a GameStop today to check out the Wii kiosk. The setup is nice, but you have to check out the controller from the counter. Not sure how that's going to work out during the Christmas crush. Funny thing was they had the 360 kiosk turned off -- I asked and the guy said they didn't want people directly comparing the two systems.

That may get better when they have something otehr than the really lame looking truck game to show off.

Art Guy @ Nov 4th 2006 6:31PM

I really like that you can buy games and stuff before they system. We are supposed to get our Wiis BEFORE the launch date and I want something other and Wii Sports to play. Zelda!!!!

Gabriel @ Nov 5th 2006 11:37AM

i live in canada and part of the time in the US personally in canada i expect that there will be people waiting for wal-mart/ any store to open (if not open 24/7) banging on the doors like they did for the realese of the Xbox 360

Will @ Nov 4th 2006 6:48PM

I'm going so crazy waiting I don't care what Joystiq posts about Ninty, I'll salivate all over it. The funny thing to me is that just about 3 years ago I would read anything and everthing sony game division put on the news wire and now I don't give a damn. Thank you PSP for being an absolutely worthless/disasterous/expensive/frustrating/dissapointing experience. sony spincycle also deserves a good deal of credit for disinfranchising me with one lie after another.

David @ Nov 4th 2006 6:55PM

Canada?

Gh0sTly @ Nov 5th 2006 3:58AM

Here in Columbus, Oh, at my SWM(yes, I too am an employee,) We have 10 PS3 comming in, unknown for Wii yet, but as soon as I get the info, ill let yall know! And ya, the WM Wire isnt always right.

Joseph @ Nov 4th 2006 9:26PM

I MUST GO!!!

David B @ Nov 4th 2006 9:58PM

does this apply to walmarts that close at 10PM too or is this just for super-walmarts? hopefully someone reads this reply and can answer

A Wal-Mart guy/employee... @ Nov 4th 2006 10:40PM

Sorry, let me fix that info...

***At 10PM or earlier on 11/18 [sic] (we are guessing he meant to write 11/16) employees will pass out tickets for midnight sales. There are 50 tickets for PS3, but actual units arriving is unknown.***

IT is 11/16, sorry for the f*** up...

Also, the email is messed up, should be fixed now, it is the email I put to post this comment, sorry for that f*** up...

And yes, I am that Wal-Mart employee...

Joystiq, Email me, ok?

Michelle @ Nov 5th 2006 12:44AM

Pretty sure only super walmarts will be doing a midnight launch.

Evan @ Nov 5th 2006 12:29AM

@20. "Canada?"

Yes, Canada has a Walmart. It takes 3 days for the dogsled to deliver merchandise to the Walmart, so if the Wii is sent on the 16th, we should still get it in time for the 19th. Whooo!

Dumbass.

kvnphm1 @ Nov 5th 2006 12:38AM

I would still visit the walmart before nov 17 and ask someone for the exactly detail. Last year some store did a raffle and some did first come first serve for the xbox360.

-Neo @ Nov 5th 2006 12:53AM

LOL nice that "Wal-Mart employee" went to my blog and stole my picture!

LINK: http://wiination.blogspot.com/2006/11/walmart-wii-midnight-launch.html

Kit @ Nov 5th 2006 3:19AM

-First, that flyer goes public in another week so its no big deal.
-If you read the fine print of these adverts they state that the minimum for each system is 10 for the PS3 and 20 for the Wii. Basing projections off of numbers from the 360 launch last year (about 500K units for day one in North America) you can probably expect an average of 10-16 PS3s and 40-60 Wiis at most Super Walmarts.
-As for selling games and accessories before launch, its because the number of accessory sells affects how many units of a game system a store will get both initally and in replenishments. A store that sells more accessories will get more systems to sell.
-All walmarts that are open 24 hours will sell the PS3 and Wii at midnight, not just supercenters.
-tickets, raffles, free-for-alls and honor system for lines will differ from walmart to walmart. The tickets are a sugestion, but its upto that stores managment to decide how they're going to do it. Those 50 tickets are just pre-done printouts, stores will only use as many tickets as they actually have systems.
-Finally, a walmarts backroom may not be fort knox, but the systems and street-dated games (those that can only come out on a certain day and not before) are usually locked from sales in the computer system, unless of course you plan to steal one, which isnt something I'd recommend.

Gh0sTly @ Nov 5th 2006 5:12AM

ok, just got off work, we are getting aprox 50 Wii's in.

Just wanted to give any Columbus, Oh readers a heads up!

Sarawanan Ravindran @ Nov 5th 2006 10:33AM

Any word on if this is the case for the stores in Canada aswell?

empfeix @ Nov 5th 2006 11:20AM

I doubt this is the case in Canada, but then again I dont know of any 24hr stores here. They never did a midnight launch for 360 I dont see why they would bother for these systems.

A Wal-Mart guy/employee... @ Nov 5th 2006 11:30AM

To #28

I did not send a picture to Joystiq, they put that picture to go with the info, so, I did not steal picture...

The info I got is from the Wal-Mart Wire, the online info source for Wal-Mart Employees...

So, I should get pics soon...

The Wal-Mart Employee

Augie De Blieck Jr. @ Nov 5th 2006 11:37AM

#13 airpolgas: Best Buy will be opening an hour early on Sunday morning the 19th for Wii sales. Some will be opening at midnight a couple nights earlier for PS3 sales.

GLewis (Target Employee) @ Nov 5th 2006 11:57AM

I'm an Employee at Target, I work at the electrics department fairly enough to know whats gonna happen in two weeks. We do not know yet how many of each console we're goning get but once we know target will begin selling pre-orders up to two days before each launch. Also target is allowing people to start waiting outside for the launch atleast two days ahead of time.

As for the games and accessories where not going to put them out until the day of the launch. They might not be street dated but the launch notebook informed us that we should not put anything out, that isin't already out like the stands and controller condoms, lol, and dog-tags. If you guys can get intouch with me at my email address, GLewis202@gmail.com and send me your I can try to scan the booklet for you guys and send u it.

PhoenixJ @ Nov 5th 2006 1:03PM

"Hey, are you going to be doing a midnight launch for the Nintendo Wii?"
"I have no idea. Call back on Tuesday when our manager gets back."
*hangup*

>_

Brian Sexton @ Nov 5th 2006 2:07PM

Why 12:01am rather than 12:07am or the very popular 12:04am? If you are going to pick some time other than the actual start of the day--that being 12:00am--you might as well pick something different than the usual moron minute.

Wil @ Nov 5th 2006 2:16PM

When I went to Wal-Mart for a PSP at midnight 1 and a half years ago, they explained that the system doesn't register it as the next day until 12:01am, so they had to wait until then to allow the first sell to go through.

Anon @ Nov 5th 2006 4:54PM

How early are people planning to show up? Would I be safe if I showed up at 1pm on the 16th?

Brainiac @ Nov 5th 2006 2:53PM

Why 12:01 AM? The Moron is not the store. Each day starts at 12:01 AM and ends at 12:00 Midnight.

vindictive walrus @ Nov 5th 2006 2:54PM

Number 38, that is officially the dumbest question I've ever seen anyone post on any site, in response to any news article. Seriously.

Markham Carroll @ Nov 5th 2006 3:06PM

Uh, when you go on a 24-hour clock, 12:00 IS the start of the day, and reads as 0:00. The day ENDS at 11:59:59.9~, or 23:59:59.9~

Get your time math right, folks.

Brian Sexton @ Nov 5th 2006 5:41PM

The anonymous coward posting as "Brainiac" wrote:
"Why 12:01 AM? The Moron is not the store. Each day starts at 12:01 AM and ends at 12:00 Midnight."

And I suppose the full minute between 12:00am and 12:01am does not exist then? No, there is no gap; new days begin at 12:00am (or 0:00 on 24-hour clocks).

The anonymous coward posting as "vindictive walrus" wrote:
"Number 38, that is officially the dumbest question I've ever seen anyone post on any site, in response to any news article. Seriously."

Then you must not read much. For example, if you read Joystiq very much, you would know that its comment numbers correspond to active comments rather than all comments that have been made, so those numbers are subject to change (e.g., when an earlier comment is confirmed after a later one) and not reliable for references.

For the record, my question was rhetorical; it was part criticism and part joke.

anonymous coward @ Nov 5th 2006 6:14PM

Who thinks Brian Sexton needs to make like his last name and get laid?

Sorry, dude, had to say it. If you had some boobies in your life, you wouldn't really care about which...minute...wal-mart...is...launching...a...video....game...system. (I spaced it out so you could read it all slow-like and realize how ridiculous what you're bickering in cyberspace over truly is.)

Now go get some boobies. Hey-o!

Truth @ Nov 6th 2006 10:47PM

Went to Target a couple of days ago, and they already had a display up for the Wii (not a console display) and they were already selling Wii accessories. Even those sweet, yet useless Blue Glowing gift cards.

Kit @ Nov 6th 2006 4:28AM

Yo walmart employee (aka #33)
Who said you stole any pictures? Got a guilty consience or something?
Kinda figured you got the information from the Wire, as thats where I got mine. Though I do also have a few copies of the Holiday Buyers Guide where Joystiq's pictures are from. Oh and I already know a few of the Black Friday items, but all I'll say is that at least one of them is from Nintendo.

J @ Nov 6th 2006 6:57AM

At 10PM or earlier on 11/18 [sic] (we are guessing he meant to write 11/16) employees will pass out tickets for midnight sales. There are 50 tickets for PS3, but actual units arriving is unknown.

Actually the part of them talking about handing out tickets on the 11/18th date instead of 11/16 might be true. I called my local walmart and asked if they would do a mid-night launch of the ps3 and he said "yes" I said ok thanks and was about to hang up but then he said "yea but it will be on the 19th" and I asked just to make sure he said the 19th, but yea...thought that would be interesting

Phoenix @ Nov 6th 2006 1:05PM

Well, I dont think that there is any need to get up there any earlier than Noon or so on the 16th. I mean, they say there will be 50 tickets and from what I've heard from my Wal-Mart friends they are getting around 15 to 20 a piece. We have so many Wal-Marts around that there shouldn't be a line until noon or later. I was at Gamestop thou and over heard that they have 6 reserves per store and people are cancelling them so they have very few, but a few per store to whoever gets there first. This site let you see how many Wii's will be releasing at each Target. http://wii.clambert.org/