Field Trip: Nintendo World Store

I heard yesterday that the Nintendo World Store at Rockefeller Center was taking preorders for the Wii. However, I was kind of busy and I didn't feel like waiting on line. But today I figured I'd head on over on my lunch hour and check it out, since I've never been to the Nintendo World Store before. Thus began an exciting journey:

I had to walk, like, almost 10 blocks. When are they going to implement those people moving tubes like in Futurama?

Someone set up this giant mirror at Rockefeller Center. They claim it's art. It spoke to me of the morality of all living things and thus the fleeting nature of console preorders.

I hear that sometimes a rare tree node pops here but it's on a long timer and I wasn't prepared for a camp so I moved on.

Ultimate victory! I have reached the Nintendo World Store. The website says it's at 10 Rockefeller Plaza (and it is) but more helpful directions are 48th Street between Fifth and Sixth.

The Nintendo World Store can be a relaxing place to play Gamecube games in an odd chair.

They had a lot of clothing for sale. Some of it was OMG super exclusive t-shirts that Miyamoto glanced at once while playing the banjo or something.

Pretty much half the store is dedicated to Pokemon. I sat down at a table in the Pokemon Center and looked around menacingly but no one dared to challenge me to a Pokemon battle.

There's kind of a mini-museum set up on the second floor. They had a bunch of old games systems there and R.O.B. the Robot behind plexiglass. They also had these breathtaking cards. The sign said they were called Hanafuda cards and that Nintendo started off as a company which produced handmade Hanafuda cards.

In another display case was this Gameboy that was damaged in the Gulf War but still worked.

There was a ton of other stuff I didn't take pictures of like the DS circle and the GBA bar but you can see those on the website. I also didn't take any pictures of the Mario/Peach display because every time I see Peach now I think of this creepy webcomic. Thanks, internet!

I eventually asked one of the employees if they were taking Wii preorders.

"We were but we stopped yesterday."
"Wow, it would have been cool if I were here yesterday."
"Yeah. They were going a lot faster than we expected so we put a stop to it until we get official numbers from Nintendo on how many systems we're getting."
"Do you think you'll do more preorders?"
"Definitely. We're going to get way more systems than any other store in the country. We just don't know exactly how many yet."
"How many did you sell yesterday?"
"A few hundred."
"Thanks. Hack the planet!"
"Have a nice day."

In conclusion:

Wii Preorders Successfully Placed by Me: Zero

Nintendo World Store: It's a nice store with every Nintendo item or accessory you can think of. The employees are pleasant and really into Nintendo. However, I imagine the store gets insanely crowded and unpleasant around the holiday season due to its close vicinity to Rockefeller Center.

Things to Remember: Pikachu hates you. With every fiber of his little yellow being. You know he does. Just look at him...