Near $500 with a good story. My crap job made me work on day after a MAJOR blizzard (I nearly died the day before on the way to work). No one was coming into the store so the boss let me out early. I went across the street to Toys R Us, to look at Videogames, board games, Legos and action figures(a am extremely immature for my age). I see a shelf FULL of Wiimotes and Nunchucks. This was at a time when they couldn't keep those in stock. So even though I didnt have a Wii I'd figure Id buy(3+2 nunchucks cause I alredy had one) them while I could. I go across the street to target just for the hell of it and as I approach the VG area I see a Wii, so I immediatly go to the clerk where there was a couple were asking for one, so I butt in and ask for one as well. While the clerk is taking those 2 out somone comes behind us and aske for the last one. I went back to TRU to get Warioware cause they didnt have it at Target.

I've only seen Wii's in stores 2 more times and always feel a little lucky when I see one.

@CDiablo, you don't mention any extra games? so for $500 how many extra wiimotes/nunchuks did you buy? Did you sell the others or something?

Wii free (present)
Extra WiiMote free (present)
Zelda € 59,-
RE 4 € 39,-
Super Paper Mario € 49,-
Galaxy € 46,-
WiiPoints € 60,-
Classic Controller € 19,-

= € 272,- (or $ 390,-)

Wii + Wiimote + Nunchuk + Zelda + tax ~ $375

The price-based "Barrier of Entry" is one of the Wii's strongest points. You can spend less ($250) for the minimum Wii product, then gradually spend $150 to get everything else.

So, I bought a Wii at launch with Excite Truck ($300.) That was it. My upstairs neighbor and I would simply borrow each other's controller if we had guests over.

A few weeks later I bought a controller + nunchuck $60. Then I bought a controller + classic controller $60. I'm at $420, around the 360's Premium Price (without any games.)

Then Wii Play was released and duh ($40.) A few weeks I bought a second classic controller ($20.) Now that I've spent this money on Wii games, I have less of a need to get other systems because the next game I buy is $50, instead of at least $400 (console + game.)

And that's how Nintendo's going to do it this gen.

Edit: Forgot about Excite Truck at launch, whoops! 

My Wii was free. But I spent an extra $150 on another controller, Godfather, and some Wii points right away. Since then I've sunk several hundred more into getting 4 controllers, and all the GC and Wii titles in my profile.

I ordered my Wii yesterday. I bought:

- Wii + Wii Sports Bundle
- Metroid Prime 3
- Extra Nunchuk
- Component cables

All in all (including shipping, I bought online at amazon.de) I spent 368€ (still cheaper than a PS3 ).

I was going to buy Wii Play and SMG too but those were sold out. That's why I will have a Nunchuk without a matching Wiimote in the beginning.

I don't have a TV yet in my new place, so the Wii will be resting for a few more weeks at least. As I said in other threads, I just bought because I was afraid it might soon start selling out in Europe too (it's already sold out in UK).

I spent £210 on a wii, 2nd controller (play wasn't released then), 2nd nunchuck, legend of Zelda and an adult magazine (that was for the wife)

I spent about $550 Canadian on mine - system, four controllers, and Zelda at launch.

The truth is, there would be a "Wii effect" even if nobody bought extra controllers, because a lot of people simply don't buy multiple systems. I'm one of them, and probably 80-90% of casual gamers fall into that category as well.