Small number of units delivered plus high demand means consumers are at a loss.

The UK Wii launch has come and gone, but the problem of actually purchasing a Wii seems to be as evident as ever according to reports.

High Street stores such as GAME and HMV have reported that they have received a small supply of units, but these units sell out as soon as they hit the shelves.

"Wiis are like gold dust", said one store manager, who admitted that many customers queue outside every morning in the hope that new stock arrives. In fact, of the 20 retailers we contacted all across country, only one - Toys R Us in Bristol - had Wii consoles left in stock. All other shops had completely sold out and most had no idea when more consoles would be available, with a handful of retailers still trying to fulfill launch pre-orders three months on.

Commenting on the shortage, a spokesperson for Nintendo UK said, "The sheer level of demand for Wii over the launch period was something that no one could have anticipated. While we were certainly very well prepared for a good launch the level of demand we saw, and continue to see in the New Year, remains very high". However, Nintendo believes the shortage is only a short-term problem and claims it's addressing stock issues: "We are continuing to make multiple and regular shipments across the UK to ensure that we keep up with demand".

Meanwhile, Fiona Haldane from GAME remained positive about the demand for Wii: "We are still seeing a huge customer demand for the Nintendo Wii and as soon as stores receive stock they are flying off the shelves within minutes. The console appeals to so many customers and has expanded the gaming market to a new consumer. As soon as we receive stock in we want to sell it and are working closely with Nintendo to ensure we satisfy the customer demand."

No doubt Nintendo were not anticipating that demand would be this high, or is this a case of supply not being up to scratch? We'll leave that for you to decide. However, if you have not yet had any luck purchasing a Wii, N-Europe wishes you well in your endeavour.