It’s now just hours until the Wii launches in the UK and demand already seems to have outstripped supply, and most outlets with pre-order schemes have closed them ages ago etc. So what’s a Wii-hungry gamer to do if he/she hasn’t pre-ordered but just has to have a slice of the action from day one?

Well, you could go along to any of the midnight openings this evening. We’re informed that any retailers running such events should have a quantity of consoles set apart from those designated for pre-order customers. But that’s kind of chancing it, isn’t it? So how about making sure you’re at the head of the queue by turning up nice and early? Better still how about turning up a full 50 hours before launch day officially commences like, say, this insane (but perhaps eminently sensible) punter...

His name is Marwan Elgamal (17) and he’s been camped outside HMV on London’s Oxford Street since Tuesday morning because he wants a Wii “that bad”. His sanity has been questioned for your amusement and can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hwv8U8Vla0.

To say Marwan is a bit of a fanboy is a serious understatement. Quite apart from risking life, limb and public derision he’s brought along his homemade ocarina (also pictured) to keep passers-by entertained with his sorrowful rendition of Zelda’s Lullaby. Thanks Marwan, but we suspect he’s the one who’ll be having the last laugh. In the meantime Marwan has found company – the queue outside HMV has already expanded to 150 eager beavers. Heck knows what it’ll be like by the time midnight arrives.

It looks like all the first consignment of Wiis is going to be snapped up pretty quickly by pre-orderers and happy campers, doesn’t it? Quite possibly so, but don’t forget that other outlets, apart from the flashy London ones, will be stocking it and they won’t be opening their doors until the start of the business day tomorrow. So turn up nice and early and you never know. Also Nintendo inform us that there will be a regular supply of stock between now, Xmas and into January. In theory, then, there should be no need to pay over the odds on Ebay. Unless you’re really, really desperate, that is...