Wii on Toys 'R' Us' Big Toy Book cover

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 30th 2007 at 10:10AM }

The Wii may have been Toys "R" Us' first video game console to appear on their "hot toy" list last year, but this year it goes straight to the cover of their annual Big Toy Book. Not only did the Wii get the cover, but Nintendo products received a two-page spread inside. Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's video game products had to share a spread with each other.

What does it mean? Well, the cynical part of us wants to say that Toys "R" Us is just pulling a giant bait and switch. Just because the Wii is on the cover -- brilliant marketing given the demographic they're targeting -- doesn't mean the stores will have any in stock. Who knows, parents may walk in for a Wii and walk out with an Xbox 360, or maybe even a PS3? At least Toys "R" Us got them in the door.

[Via GoNintendo]

Tags: bigtoybook, cover, toysrus, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

gonk @ Oct 30th 2007 10:14AM

omg a toy store advertising a toy, wtf

Blu-Sam @ Oct 30th 2007 10:58AM

You never seen like that one before? Why... I have seen SNES on Toys 'R' US ads long time ago.

ThornedVenom @ Oct 30th 2007 1:35PM

-1 for blu-sam for failing to detect sarcasm.

pixelator @ Oct 30th 2007 10:17AM

Given the strength of the 360 market in the USA and the fact that the bloom is fading somewhat from the quirky Wii 'rose', I'd say this has far more to do with Nintendo marketing dollars than TRU 'brilliance'.

F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 10:20AM

Well... at least it's better this idea that pay for a rap song.

F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 10:21AM

*than pay for a rap song.

The PC @ Oct 30th 2007 10:34AM

Something tells me more parents are interested in having their 8 year old play mario galaxy than halo 3... but it must be nintendo dollars... ha

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 30th 2007 10:34AM

It's fading? Is that why it still sells out in under an hour every time a store gets a shipment in?

SoulBlade @ Oct 30th 2007 10:39AM

So it's ok for MS to drop millions on a Halo 3 marketing blitz but not for Nintendo to do the same with the Wii? I doubt there's any fade yet... the thing still sells half a million units a month, even during the month of the Haloz.

pixelator @ Oct 30th 2007 10:40AM

LOL - enter the Nintendo fanboy apologist/defenders.

"He made a bad comment about the Wii! GET HIM!"

FidliousWong @ Oct 30th 2007 10:53AM

How quickly Fernando forgets about the horrid Nintendo Fusion tour. Annual event, that. Also, Nintendo has done raps in the past as well. Hell, one of their games started with one. It's alright though, you can do the Mario all alone.

Anyway, in response to this, have you BEEN in an RZone lately? Might as well BE Nintendo exclusive. Granted, Nintendo capitalizes on all those cartoony license games to an extreme which makes it very easy for Toys R Us to turn around and sell the books, figures, cards, toys, electronic rotating lollipops. Facing facts, Nintendo fits Toys R Us's corporate agenda a hell of a lot better than 360 or PS3.

Psaakyrn @ Oct 30th 2007 11:34AM

Except that, Nintendo doesn't NEED to buy off Toys'R'Us, assuming they can do so to start off with.

a) Wii fits target audience better.
b) Wii needs to actively chase audience because of their spending habits. XBox260/PS3 owners are more likely to already know about that's coming out than the Wii target demographic.
c) Wii looks better than the PS3/XBox360 in terms of simple asthetics (one could call it toy-like).
d) Wii looks like something new, as opposed to a mere upgrade from the previuos gen consoles. (the Sixaxis looking identical to the previous gen controller doesn't help either)
e) Wii IS the top selling console eitherway. The front page is usually reserved for top toys..

SoulBlade @ Oct 30th 2007 11:51AM

we only defend against stupid comments that are based primarily on fanboyism instead of logic.

pixelator @ Oct 30th 2007 12:13PM

People are free to go on believing that it's purely MiyaMojo that puts the Wii on the cover of the TRU book and not ad dollars, but that won't make it so. Nintendo pays for their end-caps, display space and catalog pages just like Sony, Microsoft and others.

'How DARE anyone suggest anything else! *splutter* It's... Brilliant! BRILLIANT! You're a FANBOY if you don't think Wii is glorious and all-powerful!!'

I think stating that the bloom has faded SOMEWHAT from the Wii rose is fair. Japan sales are down and 67% aren't playing theirs according to Famitsu. 360 has staged a coup in US. Sure, Wii is still selling strong here - Didn't say it wasn't. Halo 3 and Bioshock have boosted the 360 while SBB and SMG will probably bring a strong boost to sales and buzz. But there's a sense of less of that, lately.

SoulBlade @ Oct 30th 2007 12:27PM

yea i guess some of us (including myself) come off as an ass at times. But I really think it's TRU that did it simply because there's still pretty high demand for the console in the US. I think Nintendo even said they were reducing shipments to Japan so more could be available here, which might explain the sales dropoff. Unfortunately, I don't have a link but I'm sure a google search could alleviate it.

I don't really think Nintendo needs to put marketing money to get on covers - they need to put more in the TV space. A lot of their marketing is viral and spreads via word of mouth. TRU probably put it on the cover since there's probably a wider population in the US who would buy a Wii vs. those that would buy a 360 - their job is to just get people in the store. Like the article suggests, could just be a bait and switch.

Yes, and as every Wii supporter will say, Mario Galaxy aims to fix the playtime issues in Japan.

AlexP @ Oct 30th 2007 3:20PM

I know it's fading in Canada, for sure.

You can pretty much walk into any electronics store now and see a minimum of two waiting to be purchased.

Could be because everyone knows we're paying too much for a number of things, too (namely the Wii).

This is coming from a guy that was out for 16 hours in the cold to get one (and I'm not talking about "cold", I'm talking about "it fucking snowed" cold.

Zoidberg Jesus (a.k.a. Jebo) @ Oct 30th 2007 10:20AM

What happened to Jeffrey?

Also, let all enter a phase of Pax Wiilica!

megaStryke @ Oct 30th 2007 10:27AM

Geoffrey was let go because his insatiable heroine addiction affected his work ethic. They replaced him with Jeffrey the "I'm the same mascot you all know and love, just like Shamu" Giraffe.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 30th 2007 11:52AM

This new one doesn't have a belly button.
...just don't call him on it or he'll turn around and make a deafening scream toward you.

Srayer @ Oct 30th 2007 2:00PM

Which heroine was he addicted to? Wonder Woman? Supergirl? I know, was it Dark Angel? No wonder he got fired.

Thief @ Oct 30th 2007 10:36AM

I work at a TRU in Canada... we're holding all Wii's for this flyer. Think we got roughly 100 sitting in the back room for about a week right now.

Gonna be a shitty day to work =(

gonk @ Oct 30th 2007 10:40AM

you couldn't sell them over the last week so you could sell them today? wtf

that's pretty dumb

ELUNO @ Oct 30th 2007 11:14AM

LOL, what a troll gonk.
Everyone knows that the PS3 is the one that sits unsold.

Thief @ Oct 30th 2007 5:12PM

Actually the PS3 has been completely sold out since the price-drop.

But we have to hold the Wii's for the calendar book comes out, so when people expect the Wii's, they will then be there... as opposed to being sold out before the flyer says they're available.

jimy @ Oct 30th 2007 10:40AM

Visions of Wii's dance in their heads.

Samuel @ Oct 30th 2007 10:46AM

All the toys r us in my area had them in stock last weekend. I counted maybe 20 in both stores I visited on both sunday and monday.

vidGuy @ Oct 30th 2007 10:55AM

Damn, you should start buying them up and reselling them. I haven't seen one in a 100 mile radius of my area since I stood in line 6 hours on launch day to get one.

Samuel @ Oct 30th 2007 11:30AM

They have the whole 1 per person disclaimer. Plus, I already have from before so I'm not buying anymore. I was just there to buy Guitar Hero 3 for my 360. hehe. Mine has been basically collecting dust ever since Halo 3 came out. I'll go back to it once Mario Galaxy comes out.

vidGuy @ Oct 30th 2007 11:38AM

Bummer. Yeah, I've been playing a lot of Halo 3, Bioshock, and GH3 on the 360 (shock! I own both), but I've always got time for some Zack and Wiki, Tiger Woods, MP3:C, or Wii Sports on Wii. SMG is going to be a time-consumer though, for sure.

Larry F. @ Oct 30th 2007 10:52AM

It is about time the Wii is on a magazine that represents what it truly is. A little kid's toy! Maybe one day the AARP will have it on one of their covers....lol! Wii is not next gen nor for the hardcore.

vidGuy @ Oct 30th 2007 10:58AM

I wonder what magazines would represent the other consoles?

Maybe:
the 360 graces the holiday cover of Red Magazine and
the PS3 excites the readers of Industrial Heating Magazine

TwEE @ Oct 30th 2007 11:35AM

You're cool! Do you do the dew?

Psaakyrn @ Oct 30th 2007 11:36AM

@vidGuy

Are you sure you didn't get the 2 mixed up? Last I heard the XBox 360 had more heat related problems than the PS3..

vidGuy @ Oct 30th 2007 11:42AM

Okay, I guess the PS3 just got demoted to the cover of Industrial Fans Direct magazine.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 30th 2007 12:54PM

Oh yeah, cause you're defiantly hardcore (your not).

Just go back to playing Madden allright?

xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 30th 2007 11:01AM

A Wii right next to a Transformer and a Barbie. TRU is smart. They know how the kiddies lovez teh Wii =)

Sean @ Oct 30th 2007 11:04AM

Mmmm, Super Mario Galaxy.

shivr @ Oct 30th 2007 11:08AM

I'm getting deja vu from these comments from last year's TRU + wii marketing story @_@

teh kiddy indeed... isn't rachet and clank one of the few good ps3 game out now? *wears tiny halo helmet*

FidliousWong @ Oct 30th 2007 11:20AM

Let's flip that and turn it around. This time, it's a me, Mario!

shivr @ Oct 30th 2007 1:06PM

!oiram, em a'stI

ssuk @ Oct 30th 2007 3:48PM

Fuckin' owned.

I.P.Freely @ Oct 30th 2007 11:11AM

Wow, looks just like mine did... before it collected all of the dust.

TheWarden @ Oct 30th 2007 11:24AM

Geoffrey was fired for blogging about work.... wink.

ELUNO @ Oct 30th 2007 11:16AM

As mentioned in the article, both PS3 and Xbox360 also appear in this toys catalogue.
So that means that they both are also kids toys...

ELUNO @ Oct 30th 2007 11:18AM

Uhm, this was a reply to Larry F.

Brandon @ Oct 30th 2007 11:47AM

So you should see the Walmart one. The PSP gets only one page in the back of the book while the DS gets the same amount of coverage as the consoles. Including a two page lay-out of Chibbi chibbi robo

CaptainAmericaX @ Oct 30th 2007 12:22PM

Thanks for deleting my post...

Its nice to know that you're allowed to spread your obivous bias against the Wii anytime you feel like it but when we call you out on that bs you delete it without hesitation.

Joystiq is pathetic. This isn't even news in any sense of the world. Picking apart a freaking poster? Its called marketing. People don't want to see sony and a crying baby on the front page TRU mags.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 30th 2007 1:09PM

You...you really don't know what bias is, do you?

There is NOTHING in that article that could be read as biased against Nintendo is ANY way.

bender @ Oct 30th 2007 5:13PM

What the hell man. There is no bias in that article whatsoever. If you really knew joystiq, you would know that they are not biased at all, a lot of what they write is satire, and even when they come down on a console, it's the ps3 that's usually bashed.

You're a fanboy, and one of the worse ones on this site at that.