Nintendo's Wii stealing show at video game expo (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (7974.OS) newWii video game console, considered the underdog in the consolewars because it lacks the high-definition graphics andmultimedia features of its rivals, is stealing the show at thisweek's Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show.

The wait to try out the Wii at E3 pushed past four hours onThursday afternoon, while the wait for hands-on time with SonyCorp.'s (6758.T) PlayStation 3 was barely 30 minutes. Bothconsoles will hit the market later this year, though the Wii isexpected to cost much less than rival consoles.

The Wii (pronounced "we") uses a motion-sensor enabledcontroller that looks like a TV remote and allows users todirect action on the screen by wielding it like a sword orswinging it like a baseball bat, tennis racket or golf club.

"It's basically a whole different thing from anything I'veseen before," said Josef Faulkner, who had been waiting in linefor three hours to get his hands on Wii. He still had an hourto go. "This is definitely the biggest thing here."

Faulkner and other attendees agreed that the uniquecontroller is what is drawing people to the Wii.

Unlike other next-generation consoles, Wii doesn't sporthigh-definition graphics or make any promises of being amultimedia entertainment hub, but it promises a unique, funexperience new to video games.

And while the company insists that Wii is not a directcompetitor to powerful new game consoles like the upcomingPlaystation 3 and Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq: - ) 360, there isno doubt that it has stolen much of other consoles' thunder.

"You have to play (Wii) in order to understand what it is,"said Don James, Nintendo's executive vice president ofoperations. James said the company knew that lots of peoplewould be drawn to Wii, but he was surprised by the sheernumbers. He said that after 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time (22:00 GMT)they had to stop allowing people into the line because therewas no way they would be able to see the console before theconvention center closed three hours later.

"I didn't think the line was going to go around the wholeconvention center," said James.

The enduring image of the show might end up being theenormous line, which snakes completely around Nintendo's floorspace. A security guard estimated that 1,500 to 2,000 peoplehave been in the line at any given time.

Matt Rogers and Steve Bollinger said they waited almostthree hours to get their hands on Wii, even though they linedup as soon as the convention center doors opened. After exitingthe booth, they said the wait was definitely worth it.

"Nintendo really nailed it," said Rogers.

"They really worked hard to put fun games in this booth,"said Bollinger. "Now I know the next thing I'm getting."

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