Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo has partnered with video game retailer GameStop (NYSE: GME), to offer holiday shoppers unable to find a Wii console in stock -- but willing to pay in full up front -- a rain check redeemable for a Wii in January. GameStop is the only partner for the program, and will be provided with "many tens of thousands" of rain check certificates, according to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

"A certificate needs to be matched to a specific Wii which needs to be matched to a specific store. Only this retailer has the ability to pull off such a program," Fils-Aime said during a conference call with reporters.

Nintendo sold a record 981,000 Will consoles in the U.S. last month, according to NPD sales data.

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071214/nintendo_wii.html?.v=2

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/12/nintendo-announ.html

http://www.gamestop.com