No Wii under the tree? At least there's a raincheck

Worried how your family will react when they don't get that coveted Wii under the tree? Nintendo of America super-chief Regis Fils-Aime announced recently that Nintendo feels your pain. Nintendo will offer rainchecks to those who pay for the popular game on December 20 and 21but don't actually score a system, according to our sister site, WiiFanboy. This raincheck apply to GameStop stores only.

They promise you'll have a unit in your waiting hands by January. The end of January.

Well, what are you gonna do? Nintendo's answer to Microsoft's XBox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, the Wii is a wireless home video game that has proven hugely popular, even among demographics not usually into video games. Perhaps this is why demand has outstripped supply in the U.S. and Britain since it was released in both markets in 2006.

It's a nice gesture, sure. But Wii fanboys have been skeptical in their commentary, citing experiences with retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart, who issued rainchecks for units bought in December that couldn't be redeemed until April or May.

Well, perhaps this will prove the old saying, all good things come to those who wait...