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MORE than 30,000 Australians have pre-ordered Nintendo's next-generation games console, which goes on sale at midnight on Wednesday.
The Japanese games giant -- the dark horse of the $40 billion global gaming wars -- unveiled its secret weapon, Wii, to US audiences last month. The console was snapped up by more than 600,000 gamers and sold out. Wii will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and market leader, Sony's PlayStation 3, which launches in Australia in March next year.
Wii's advantage is revolutionary motion-sensitive technology that allows gamers to control in-game characters by moving their bodies rather than pressing buttons.
"Wii gets gamers off the couch," Nintendo Australia spokesman Vispi Bhopti says. "Gaming is no longer about just sitting and watching. Expect to work up a sweat."
The experience has proved to be so immersive that Nintendo was last week forced to issue a safety warning after reports of gamers damaging television screens, walls and furniture after becoming overly enthusiastic.
Nintendo expects "thousands" of people to queue for the $400 machines at midnight Wednesday openings nationwide.
"We expect demand will outweigh supply and that there will be a few more 'sickies' than usual on Thursday," Mr Bhopti said.
Microsoft was first to market in November 2005 with its next-generation console, the Xbox 360. Six million 360s have been sold globally.
Xbox 360 was Australia's fastest selling console, with about 30,000 bought by gamers in the first four days.
MORE than 30,000 Australians have pre-ordered Nintendo's next-generation games console, which goes on sale at midnight on Wednesday.
The Japanese games giant -- the dark horse of the $40 billion global gaming wars -- unveiled its secret weapon, Wii, to US audiences last month. The console was snapped up by more than 600,000 gamers and sold out. Wii will compete against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and market leader, Sony's PlayStation 3, which launches in Australia in March next year.
Wii's advantage is revolutionary motion-sensitive technology that allows gamers to control in-game characters by moving their bodies rather than pressing buttons.
"Wii gets gamers off the couch," Nintendo Australia spokesman Vispi Bhopti says. "Gaming is no longer about just sitting and watching. Expect to work up a sweat."
The experience has proved to be so immersive that Nintendo was last week forced to issue a safety warning after reports of gamers damaging television screens, walls and furniture after becoming overly enthusiastic.
Nintendo expects "thousands" of people to queue for the $400 machines at midnight Wednesday openings nationwide.
"We expect demand will outweigh supply and that there will be a few more 'sickies' than usual on Thursday," Mr Bhopti said.
Microsoft was first to market in November 2005 with its next-generation console, the Xbox 360. Six million 360s have been sold globally.
Xbox 360 was Australia's fastest selling console, with about 30,000 bought by gamers in the first four days.
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