http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=OBR&Date=20060926&ID=6052311NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toy retailer Toys "R" Us has unveiled its "hot toy" list for the upcoming holiday season, and this year it includes a video game console for the first time -- Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s Wii.
Wii's inclusion in the list comes as electronics play an increasingly prominent role in children's toys.
Other hot toys chosen by Toys "R" Us include Fisher-Price's digital camera for children ages 3-years-old and up, and Hasbro's Inc.'s Designer's World, a plug-and-play TV game from its Tiger Games division that lets girls design their own fashion line.
Nintendo's Wii will make its U.S. debut on November 19 in what is expected to be a hot holiday season for video game consoles, with Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 slated to hit U.S. stores November 17.
But Nintendo, with its "Donkey Kong," "Mario Brothers" and "Pokemon" game franchises, has found success with a younger audience.
"The PlayStation 3 is really geared to a savvy gaming enthusiast," said Kathleen Waugh, a spokeswoman for Toys "R" Us, of the decision to add the Wii to the list. "The Wii system appeals to young kids as well as adults."
The Wii, priced at $250, features a motion-sensing controller that operates like a television remote control and lets players simulate swinging a bat, sword or tennis racquet.
Waugh said one of Toys "R" Us' criteria of adding an item to its hot list is knowing it will have sufficient stock of the item for the holiday season, and she said that Toys "R" Us was able to ensure that by "taking a leadership position on the launch of Wii."
Good news for Nintendo, I guess.