Wii takes its place alongside 10th anniversary Tickle Me Elmo doll; Nintendo fanboys riot.
Toys "R" Us has added Wii to its list of hot toys for the 2006 holiday season. Wii will be the first video game console to make the annual list. Besides the obvious criterion of appealing to a younger audience, Wii will also meet the criterion of being available in sufficient quantities, something that newly launching consoles generally fail to do.
Nintendo, with its "Donkey Kong," "Mario Brothers" and "Pokemon" game franchises, has found success with a younger audience.
"The PlayStation 3 is really geared to a savvy gaming enthusiast," said Kathleen Waugh, a spokeswoman for Toys "R" Us, of the decision to add the Wii to the list. "The Wii system appeals to young kids as well as adults."
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Waugh said one of Toys "R" Us' criteria of adding an item to its hot list is knowing it will have sufficient stock of the item for the holiday season, and she said that Toys "R" Us was able to ensure that by "taking a leadership position on the launch of Wii."
Other items on the list include a 10th anniversary Tickle Me Elmo doll and a Fisher-Price digital camera.
Special thanks to retired staffer Max D. Lake for the tip!