Nintendo Spends Millions Marketing Wii

Nintendo’s multimillion-dollar marketing campaign for its upcoming Wii console goes to unprecedented lengths to let gamers and non-gamers alike see, feel and experience the new system, the company says.

The idea behind the campaign is to get gaming to the masses – and usher in a new generation of video gamers in the process, Nintendo claims. The company has conducted sampling events in “average people’s homes”, hands-on exhibitions in shopping centres, and has creating an online social-networking community to get gamers hooked.

“Our plan to market Wii broadly with hands-on experiences continues to pay off,” says Nintendo America’s George Harrison, citing a 24 hour period earlier this month when Wii managed to feature on a South Park episode, the first page of the Wall Street Journal and a number of other major media outlets.

Word of mouth has also had a lot do with pre-Wii buzz, Nintendo says, with its MySpace page (www.MySpace.com/howwiiplay) attracting nearly 1 million page views from more than 200,000 unique visitors.

Aussie gamers can sample the Wii as well – as Nintendo is currently running a major national road show for the console, due to launch on Australian shores for purchase on December 7. 

For a full list of stores and locations see: wiievents.nintendo.com.au/locations