Everyone is crazed over being among the first to get hold of the NES Classic Edition the moment they were sold either online or via physical stores, they get out of stock right away. And just in time for the holidays, the demand is naturally high for the wonderful 8-bit nostalgic device, and the cheaper price compared to today's gamer must haves like the PS4 Pro or Xbox One S just make its more desirable to buy.
A bunch of online articles also have started to doubt Nintendo's capability to supply to their consumers by calling them underhanded or incompetent. It would be inevitable for people to write stuff in an angry tone especially that the NES Classic Edition has sparked a tremendous amount of hype plus the kid gamers back in the 80s, like me, are still alive, well, and in good numbers.
In other words, the release today was heart-breaking knowing that there would be lots of gamers waiting for it and Nintendo just failed to correspond to the number of willing consumers. I am not well informed right now of the exact numbers so personally, I'll just think of it as a supply hiccup for now as the Nintendo has promised a steady supply in the weeks to come. As stated by the company:
"The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system is a hot item, and we are working hard to keep up with consumer demand. There will be a steady flow of additional systems through the holiday shopping season and into the new year. Please contact your local retailers to check product availability. A selection of participating retailers can be found at www.Nintendo.com/nes-classic."
But if you're so eager to get your hands on a NES Classic Edition, there are actually other ways and alternatives to that. Let me list some for you.
There are still means online
If you're a fast clicker and a bargainer, there are always people who take advantage of a high demand item. Go to an online store and outbid everyone, simple as that, if you have the money. I've read somewhere that the value for NES Classic Edition on eBay reaches to a grand. Good luck with that.
You can also import from Japan, as a counterpart is also launched in a form of Famicom Classic Mini. Just like the good old days, the Japanese have their red-ish version of the NES. The Verge has a review on it, so you might as well check it out instead of hoping that the NES Classic Edition would restock today.
Alternative versions
A listing offers NES games in portable form. Although not licensed by Nintendo, these gadgets still offer you nostalgia. They even have way more games that the 30 bundled with the NES Classic Edition. You might want to check that out too.
For those who want to tinker around and feel that they are Tony Stark, you can check out Raspberry Pi and its capabilities. Life Hacker has some instructions on how to build it yourself. As they say, if you can't buy one, then make one.
The ultimate solution
Not for everyone, but personally I like this solution best, just wean it off. People will get tired of the NES Classic Edition sooner or later and the demand will go down. Especially after the holidays, I bet I can buy a couple or more for less, anyway if I feel the urge to play those classic games, there's PC for that. So there, if you are really in a hurry to secure the hyped retro console for the holidays then you can just pay a lot for it, demand these weeks will be high.
