More than 1,000 people were reported outside some Tokyo stores as eager customers waited for shops to open. About 400,000 consoles were available, but some customers were said to have left empty-handed as demand outstripped supply. Nintendo says it had sold more than 600,000 Wii consoles in the US since the launch on 19 November.

At electronics store Bic Camera in Tokyo, more than 3,000 people stood in line, shop spokeswoman Naoko Ito said. Staff began turning customers away at 0540 local time (2040 GMT) as stocks ran out... In Japan the Wii console is priced at 25,000 yen. The 60 Gig PlayStation 3 costs 60,000 yen. The Wii console goes on sale Europe on 8 December. Nintendo said it hoped to have sold about four million consoles by the end of 2006.

via Xbox365