Wii Kiosks to be Wireless, Supervised

By Eric Wright / Wednesday, 18 October 2006

George Harrison, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications for Nintendo of America, discussed public Wii demonstration units in the latest edition of IGN's Nintendo Minute feature. Harrison confirmed that the demo units would feature wireless Wii Remotes, and would be supervised by retail staff members. "Retailers will either receive a pre-built, self-contained interactive [kiosk], including a TV, game console and controllers, while others will receive the game console and controllers and will set up an interactive Wii experience using their own TV," said Harrison. Echoing previous statements by Nintendo of Australia spokesman Vispi Bhopti, Harrison said that retail staff members would be at the demo units ostensibly to help consumers "have a successful first experience with Wii." Whether or not Wii's purportedly intuitive controls need explaining, staff members will likely serve as deterrents in attempted thefts of the Wii Remote. Harrison confirmed that Wii demo kiosks "will be playable at a variety of malls throughout the country, the nationwide Nintendo Fusion Tour and other consumer events" in addition to retail outlets. Harrison's full response to IGN can be read here. Stay with The Wiire for more on opportunities to play Wii before its release in the Americas on November 19.