I finally got my hands on a Wii a few days ago, after almost a month of tireless searching. Now that my exploration is complete, here is what I’ve learned about finding a Wii. May it help you in your quest for naturalistic, free-form gaming.

1. Consolewatch.com. Set the website to send you emails whenever it is in stock (or use the RSS feed). Have accounts opened on all the websites with your card info enabled, so if it does pop up, you can do a 1-Click purchase. Be sure to get some type of notification enabled when emails arrive. You can also forward those emails to your mobile, if you’re so inclined.

(or for you Yankees: WiiTracker.com or NowInStock.net/Wii)

2. Google Blog Search. This is where you can get the feel for stock arrival times and places. I generally searched with the terms “nintendo wii stock”, sometimes adding a specific stores for better results. Be sure to choose a proper time frame via the sidebar; you don’t want to be getting last weeks info.

3. The outdoor wait. If you do end up waiting, I highly recommend you don’t take the chance of arriving a few hours before store opening. If you are going to wait a few hours, and end up screwed a few times, then it’s actually easier in the long run to arrive early and stay late. Don’t be afraid to try and wiggle some info out of the store’s employees through the phones. I recommend trying both the front customer service and gaming-direct lines. Also, keep tabs on how many consoles will be in stock and how many people are in line. I recommend around 8:30-10 PM for a guaranteed spot, depending on how many consoles are available. Like I said before, don’t risk it, going at 2-4 AM.

4. eBay and craigslist. These should always be a last resort. If you are doing eBay, try and find a console near your area for cheaper shipping. Also, keep your fraud alert on red: Check the seller’s feedback and other items, and read carefully over the item’s description, shipping details, and returns policy. Be sure to track those bids down to the last second. Craigslist usually seems more expensive initially, but it is generally around the same price as eBay when you take shipping into consideration. The prices usually have a 100 dollar variance between sellers, so be sure to refresh the page every once in a while in case of an awesome deal.

Happy Wii Hunting! May your holiday gaming wishes come true :)