Pop Buzz UK

I wrote last week about the lack of available Wii consoles in the UK this Christmas. Unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360, which are both in ready supply everywhere around the country, you’d be hard pushed to find a Wii in any store.

It seems that now, retailers are making the most of the lack of supply, and great deal of demand. When they do get stocks of the Wii in, instead of just offering it on a first come, first serve basis, they are bundling the basic console with games and accessories, which consumers have to buy, and pay a high rate for, if they want to get their hands on a Wii.

MCV carried out research that shows some retailers charging £400 ($850) for a Wii, and extras, which is over double the recommended retail price of the stand alone system.

The trade paper found GameStation, Zavvi, HMV, Toys R Us and Woolworths refused to sell just the consol on its own, selling them only as part of bundle, charging from £250 with two games at HMV to a £400 bundle with five games at GameStation.

Ths has obviously caused controversy and anger amongst gamers, and also parents of children who want nothing more than a Wii for Christmas, and won’t settle for the alternatives such as PS3 and Xbox 360.

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The Nintendo Wii has been an incredible success so far, selling in huge quantities, and surprising gamers, pundits and games developers alike.

The problem (not a bad one for Nintendo) is that demand continues to outstrip supply, meaning there are millions of disappointed kids and adults alike around the world who are unable to get hold of a console.

In the UK, the situation has been terrible, with Wiis in short or no supply ever since they were released last year. There was a short period during the summer when you could maybe have got one by bribing a shop to put you at the front of the waiting list, but otherwise, no chance.

This problem looks set to continue to in the run up to Christmas and beyond, with shops already displaying ‘Sold Out’ signs.

Nothing has demonstrated the demand better than the news that HMV’s flagship store in Oxford Street, London, sold out of their latest delivery in just 34 minutes.

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I’m so stoked right now as I’ve just found out that Samba De Amigo is coming to the Wii. WooHoo!

You may have missed out on this gem of a party game when it was originally released on the Dreamcast in 1999 but it’s now coming to the Nintendo Wii and I for one can’t wait.

We all know by now what the fate of the unfortunate Dreamcast was, as Sega’s last foray in to the games hardware market ended in failure and huge losses for the company. One of the unfortunate consequences of this was that so many people missed out on some classic games, one of which was Samba De Amigo.

Now, with Sega cuddling up to Nintendo in a match seemingly made in heaven, the maraca shaking party game will finally reach a bigger audience as it gets a brand new release on the Wii next year.

The game was originally developed by Sonic team, those purveyors of every piece of gaming goodness this side of Sonic The Hedgehog, but will now be ported over by Gearbox, the guys behind many a first person shooter.

Let’s hope they don’t screw this conversion up as it stands a chance of being a must buy, and yet another reason for people to buy a Wii.

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This week has been terrible for me personally as I’ve had a stinking cold, or as I like to call it ‘Man Flu’. Yes I know it’s the same thing but it makes me sound more ill than I am, and elicits more sympathy from my girlfriend.

The rest of the country has been dominated by talk of a possible general election, which now isn’t going to happen. And I really don’t care either way, as whoever gets in always turns out to be as bad as the last shower of shit who were in before. Power corrupts.

Picture Of The Week: Gordon Brown sticks his finger up at the voters

Debating: Whether Paparazzi photographers should be licensed or not

Gossiping: Pete Doherty’s alleged suicide attempt over Kate Moss

Reading: ‘Making Money’ by Discworld author Terry Pratchett

Playing: Surprise surprise it’s Halo 3 on the Xbox 360

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Ooh look at that, we even have a picture now! 451 has changed their rules for posting and so the weekly review has been changed a bit. I hope you like the new changes, please let me know by commenting!

Picture Of The Week: Is This Madeleine McCann Or Not?

Debating: Jose Mourinho’s Sudden Departure From Chelsea

Gossiping: David And Victoria Beckham Arriving Back In London

Reading: ‘Wintersmith’ by Terry Pratchett: Part Of The Discworld Series

Playing: ‘John Woo Presents Stranglehold’ On The Xbox 360 & Ps3

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Debating: The continuing saga of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance

Gossiping: Britney Spears’ continuing slide towards career oblivion

Reading: ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan ahead of seeing the film

Playing: Super Paper Mario on the Nintendo Wii

Viewing: The MOBO Awards in London on Wednesday

Watching: Still ‘Run, Fatboy, Run’ directed by David Schwimmer

Listening: The new James Blunt album ‘All The Lost Souls’

Buying: ‘Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix’ DVD

Searching: ‘International Talk Like A Pirate Day’ Information

Learning: Zsa Zsa Gabor is related to Paris Hilton

Madeleine McCann, Britney Spears, Atonement, Ian McEwan, Super Paper Mario, Nintendo Wii, MOBO Awards, Amy Winehouse, Run Fatboy Run, David Schwimmer, James Blunt, All The Lost Souls, Harry Potter, Order Of The Phoenix, Talk Like A Pirate Day, Pirate, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Paris Hilton

Debating: The Twin Towers 9/11 Attacks 6 Years Ago

Gossiping: OJ Simpson being arrested and charged over armed robbery

Reading: ‘Jamie At Home’ by Jamie Oliver

Playing: Tiger Woods PGA Tour ‘08 on all formats

Viewing: The New Cadburys Advert - Phil Collins = Gorilla

Watching: Run, Fatboy, Run starring Simon Pegg

Listening: Leona Lewis’ New Single ‘Bleeding Love’

Buying: Tickets To The Led Zeppelin One Off Charity Concert

Searching: Footage Of Britney Spears Atrocious VMAs Performance

Learning: Older siblings stunt growth

9/11, Twin Towers, Terrorism, OJ Simpson, Jamie Oliver, Tiger Woods, Phil Collins, Cadburys, Simon Pegg, Run Fatboy Run, Leona Lewis, Led Zeppelin, Britney Spears

Debating: The decision to make Madeleine McCann’s parents suspects

Gossiping: Paul McCartney dating Renee Zellweger

Reading: ‘The Last Testament’ by Sam Bourne

Playing: Medal Of Honor: Airborne on the Ps3 & Xbox 360

Viewing: Klaxons winning the Mercury Music Prize 2007

Watching: ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ starring Matt Damon

Listening: Kate Nash’ brilliant new song ‘Mouthwash’

Buying: Rome: The Complete 2nd Series

Searching: Performances of Luciano Pavarotti after his death

Learning: Rock stars are twice as likely to die prematurely than us

Madeleine McCann, Paul McCartney, Renee Zellweger, Sam Bourne, Medal Of Honor Airborne, Ps3, Xbox 360, Klaxons, Mercury Music Prize, Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon, Kate Nash, Rome, HBO, Pavarotti, UK, British

Debating: The British army withdrawing from Iraq

Reading: ‘Mercy’ by Jodi Picoult

Playing: Bioshock on the PC & Xbox 360

Viewing: Brian Belo winning the Final Of Big Brother 8

Watching: The adult comedy ‘Knocked Up’

Listening: Still the abysmal Sean Kingston… Why?!?

Buying: FHM Magazine Just For Hayden Panettiere Pictures

Searching: News On Actor Owen Wilson after suicide bid

Anticipating: ‘Superbad’ opening in UK Cinemas

Learning: Prison officers are on average assaulted eight times a day

British Army, Iraq, Basra, Jodi Picoult, Bioshock, PC, Xbox 360, Brian Belo, Big Brother, Knocked Up, Sean Kingston, Hayden Panettiere, Owen Wilson, Superbad

Debating: Gun Crime in the UK after Rhys Jones Death

Reading: ‘The Afghan’ by Frederick Forsyth

Playing: ‘Wii Play’ for the Nintendo Wii (Now widely available)

Viewing: The new series of The X Factor, now in its 2nd week

Watching: The brilliant Bourne Ultimatum with Matt Damon

Listening: Sean Kingston even though he’s shit

Buying: Newton Faulkner’s début ‘Hand Built By Robots’

Searching: Controversial British Film ‘9 Songs’

Anticipating: The Blackpool Illuminations being switched on

Learning: Chickens can be diagnosed with depression

UK, British, Britain, Guns, Gun Crime, Rhys Jones, Frederick Forsyth, Wii Play, Nintendo Wii, X Factor, Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon, Sean Kingston, Newton Faulkner, 9 Songs, Blackpool

Debating: The Protests about a 5th Runway at Heathrow Airport

Reading: ‘Next’ by Michael Crichton

Playing: Still the abysmal Transformers Game

Viewing: The start of the new X Factor series with Simon Cowell

Watching: Rush Hour 3 with Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker

Listening: The Cribs new single ‘Moving Pictures’

Buying: Mr Bean’s Holiday on DVD even though it sucks

Searching: For the latest news on Amy Winehouse

Anticipating: Going to see The Bourne Ultimatum at the cinema

Learning: The Rubik’s Cube can be done in 26 moves

Heathrow Airport, Runway, Protests, Climate Change, Michael Crichton, Transformers, X Factor, Simon Cowell, Leona Lewis, Rush Hour 3, Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, The Cribs, Amy Winehouse, Bourne Ultimatum, Rubiks Cube

Debating: Amy Winehouse’ overdose and career implosion

Reading: ‘Marley And Me’ by John Grogan

Playing: Mario Party 8 on the Nintendo Wii

Viewing: The Start of the Premiership Soccer Season on Sky Sports

Watching: ‘Evan Almighty’. NOT as good as Bruce though

Listening: Robyn’s atrocious dance monologue ‘With Every Heartbeat’

Buying: Kate Nash’s debut album ‘Made Of Bricks’

Searching: Lily Allen after her trouble at Los Angeles Airport

Anticipating: Chelsea winning the Premiership again… well hoping!

Learning: There are dogs with two noses

Amy Winehouse, John Grogan, Mario Party, Nintendo, Wii, Premiership, Sky Sports, Evan Almighty, Robyn, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Los Angeles, Chelsea

Debating: Foot & Mouth Returning To The UK

Reading: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

Playing: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl On The Nintendo DS

Viewing: Star Stories Series 2 Tom Cruise Special

Watching: The Simpsons Movie - Good, but just a long episode

Listening: Manic Street Preachers ‘Autumnsong’

Buying: Pre-ordering ‘Spider-Man 3′ on DVD

Searching: News on XBox 360 Price Drop

Anticipating: Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight

Learning: Coffee could protect your skin.

Foot and mouth, f&m, UK, British, Britain, Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows, Pokemon, Pokemon Diamond, Pokemon Pearl, Nintendo DS, Tom Cruise, The Simpsons, Manic Street Preachers, Spider-Man 3, XBox 360, Cowes Week, Isle Of Wight, Coffee

Manhunt 2, the controversial Rockstar game, was banned from being released in the UK last month by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification). The game was due out on both the Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii, but the BBFC’s decision meant it couldn’t be sold anywhere in the UK. Well, now Rockstar are appealing the decision, by going to the Video Appeals Committee in the UK.

This game is the first to be banned from sale in the UK for 10 years, the last being the gory but light hearted Carmageddon in 1997. I can see why the decision was made, as it is reportedly a sick, violent game where people are killed in a variety of ways just for the sake of it. Graphics have moved on so considerably that while in Carmageddon you would run someone over and basically be killing a group of undefinable pixels, Manhunt features lifelike humans being slaughtered.

The thing is, they are still just graphical representations rather than real living people, so is there that much of a difference?

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Debating: The Heavy Rain & Flooding hitting the UK

Reading: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

Playing: More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima

Viewing: Fonejacker on E4

Watching: Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

Listening: The new Prince album given away free in a newspaper

Buying: The Enemy - We’ll Live & Die in these towns

Searching: For a new book series to replace Harry Potter

Anticipating: Lethal Bizzle’s new album out today

Learning: Seven-year-olds have proms.

Harry Potter, Rain, Flooding, The Deathly Hallows, More Brain Training, Dr Kawashima, Fonejacker, The Order of the Phoenix, Prince, The Enemy, Lethal Bizzle