Wii stock sells out in 34 minutes at HMV

HMV's flagship Oxford Street store has expressed frustration at not being able to satisfy its customers after explaining that it took a delivery of Wii consoles last week and sold them all in a record 34 minutes.

"Our store on Oxford Street had a delivery last week and it sold out in 34 minutes," said Tim Ellis, HMV's head of games. "That gives you an idea of how many we could actually sell.

"We're selling out so quickly at the moment it's frustrating for all parties concerned and it's the same everywhere. If we weren't getting any stock and everyone else was we'd be crying about it but we seem to be getting our fair share," he said, speaking to GamesIndustry.

Ellis also said that games sales on the Wii are doing well for the store, adding that third-party games are starting to catch up with Nintendo.

"Nintendo games are genuinely good, but I think third-parties are starting to catch up," said Ellis.

"Companies like Sega, with Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, Boogie from EA, Cooking Mama, some of the Ubisoft titles like My Word Coach – they aren't selling as well as Brain Training but it all adds up to a healthy market.

"The volumes on the hardware are such that it's now worthwhile for publishers to make the extra effort of working with the Wii."