Before the two new console launches in November 2006, it was popular belief that supplies of the Nintendo Wii would be ample and consumers would be able to secure one without much hassle or worry. Today, a full five months following launch, Wiis are still hard to find, and those who do find them can resell them for a greater profit than the retailer.

According to one analyst’s opinion noted by Home Media Magazine, the demand for the Wii could outstrip supply all the way to 2009. “I believe the Wii will continue strong growth although supply continues to be a problem,” said Billy Pidgeon, video game analyst, IDC. “I’d like to see Wii hardware shipping in larger quantities or mass market consumers may cool on it. Having said that, I don’t believe supply will meet demand for the Wii until 2009.”

“Xbox 360 and PS3 need system-selling games ASAP. Halo 3 will help, as will Lair and Heavenly Sword, but that leaves a hole in Q2 which will be filled by Wii, DS and PSP hardware and software. We’ll also see more PC and PS2 software picking up the slack,” added Pidgeon.

Apparently he isn’t the only analyst who feels that the mass market isn’t quickly taking to high-definition gaming. Michael Pachter at Wedbush Morgan Securities thinks that the PlayStation 2 will remain a strong seller thanks to movie license games such as Spider-Man 3 and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

“It still seems to be the year of the PS2,” said Pachter. “Notwithstanding all of the other choices, consumers keep buying PS2 games, with barely any drop off. Virtually all of the year-over-year growth is attributable to a slower than expected decline in PS2 software sales.”

These analyst comments came immediately following the release of March video game hardware and software sales figures from NPD, with a particularly strong showing for Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2.