Last night, hundreds of gamers flocked Gamestation stores up and down the country, all clamouring for a chance to get their hands on the Nintendo Wii games console, which launches today. Gamestation’s Birmingham and Edinburgh stores held action-packed events, inviting gamers to a midnight countdown featuring competitions, live DJs and food served by models. The atmosphere was electric as gamers queued all night in eager anticipation of the moment they could take home their Nintendo Wii and enter the next generation in gaming. In total, over 200 Gamestation stores nationwide opened their doors at around midnight allowing gamers to get their hands on the must-have games machine of 2006.

In Birmingham, two lucky listeners from local radio station, Kerrang, won an evening sitting in Gamestation’s window on launch night, giving them an exclusive preview of the Wii before it went on sale. The pair engaged in a heated contest, playing the hottest new console for a chance to take it home complete with a goody bag. While they played, models served them food and Kerrang DJ The Monk compered the contest, ramping up the excitement for people in the queue. The final winner was Peter Hall who went home with the must-have gift for gamers this Christmas.
The Birmingham Gamestation was also the only store in the UK to have Mario on the big screen, which was a real bonus for fans. Edinburgh also hosted a play-off in the window, giving away a Wii console and goody bag.

Martyn Gibbs, spokesperson for Gamestation, comments “Last night was the biggest launch event Gamestation’s ever hosted and gamers rushed to the stores at midnight to get their hands on the Nintendo Wii. Anticipation was at fever pitch and we offered gamers entertainment and food to keep them going in the final moments before the doors opened. We were also the only store in the UK to have Mario on the big screen, which was a major bonus for fans and brought out a cheer from gamers. The Wii is a truly innovative machine and offers great value to gamers at just £179.99. The midnight openings were a huge success and hundreds of gamers left Gamestation stores in eager anticipation of entering the next generation of gaming.”