I Left My Heart Container in Nintendo's San Francisco Store

I'm in a group of adults slowly descending a staircase in a brightly lit white store, small gasps of joy escaping our mouths as walls of smiling squid toys come into view. Our tour guide is wrapping up his tour, and as he rattles off his last fact, he eyes the crowd. "Think you guys are ready to shop?" My reply echoes the words of former Nintendo Chief Operating Officer Reggie Fils-Aimé when he tested the Wii Board at E3 2007: My body is ready. Japanese gaming giant Nintendo opened its first-ever West Coast store in San Francisco on Thursday -- the second in the US after its New York City storefront. While it stocks lots of company merch featuring the company's most iconic characters like Mario, Peach, Link, Zelda and way too many Pokemon, its website alludes to future events like those held at its other stores. A few days earlier, CNET was treated to a first-hand look at all the new goodies and gadgets awaiting fans in San Francisco. Inside the store A giant Mario statue greets gu ... Read full article.