Wii

Nintendo’s Wii video game system (pronounced “we”) brings people of all ages and video game experience together to play. This simple yet ground breaking idea is expressed not only though the system’s evocative name, which is easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and suggests two players side by side, but also through its innovative list of features and extensive list of playable titles.

Wii Product Features
* Plays two disc formats in a single, self-loading media bay
* Features a processing chip from IBM and a graphics chip from ATI
* Backwards compatible with all Nintendo GameCube games and most peripherals
* Built-in Wi-Fi access for easy connection to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection gaming service
* Wii Sports game included

What’s in the Wii Box:
* Nintendo Wii Game Console
* one (1) Wii Remote controller with Wii Remote Jacket
* one (1) Nunchuk controller
* Wii Sports
* sensor bar
* power cord
* standard composite cable
* stand

Wii  Reviews

I have owned almost all of the game systems that have come out except for a few of the Nintendo. I just was not a big fan. These days I’m a huge XBOX 360 fan. When I saw the controllers for this new system I though if Nintendo pulls this off it will be huge for them. I decided to give the system ma try and waited in line for 13 hours at Wal-Mart with my 9 year old daughter. She loved the wait and interacting with all the other people waiting for the release. By the time we got it home that night we were both to tried to hook it up that night so it stay in the box till the next morning. The hook up was easy. I spent the money on 3 extra controllers and nunchucks and Trauma center (which I haven’t had a chance to play yet) and Zelda. The game that comes with the unit was one of the smartest decisions by a company I have ever seen. This reminds me of pong back in the 70’s when everyone at least tried playing the first video games ,because the games are so easy to play that everyone can and will be talked into playing them. I can’t wait to get my 76 year old mother year to play some golf and bowling. We had friends over on Sunday to watch the Bears-Jets game. They are not video game fans to say the least and made fun of me for sitting in line for 13 hours. I talked them into trying the system and then had to talk them into getting off the system because the game was starting and they were having too much fun playing a video game. They apologized to me for making fun of me waiting inline for that long.
I knew going into the purchase the unit was small, but it still shocked me how compact it is. It’s a nice sleek design that is simple. The main interface on the unit is manageable and ready for many upgrades. It seemed all of the online features were not available yet except for the Nintendo shop. 10 dollars for a Nintendo 64 game is a little steep. They need to take a look at that. The Mii interface was neat and I had to stop my daughter from creating miis for each child in our neighborhood. The only con I had witht he system was the remotes ran on AA batteries. It would have been nice for them to be on a rechargable system. I’ll just have to go get a battery recharger.

The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles. It provides motion sensing controllers and 480p graphics. We tested the Wii before its launch day (I’m a game reviewer), and we had our own unit in our home the morning of launch day. Here are our findings.

The Wii is designed around a menu of “channels”. There is of course the game-playing channel, where the Wii will play any Wii or GameCube game. Simply load the disc in and go. There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing. The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV. Other channels for news, weather, and online shopping require an interent connection; the news and weather were not actually working at launch time.

The system does NOT have a regular network cable port, which both the PS3 and XBox 360 have. Instead, it works with built in wireless or with a USB network adapter. I am a firm proponent of wireless – less clutter! So I am thrilled that they offer wireless automatically. With the PS3, you have to pay extra for the 60 gig unit to get this built in. The XBox 360 requires extra hardware as well.

It’s hard to generalize gameplay on any console – it really depends on what games you buy. That being said, the comes-with-it software of Sports is really quite fun and is about as basic as you can get. You swing at baseballs, lob tennis balls, bowl, box and play golf. A “fitness” mode puts you through a variety of tasks and then calculates your fitness age, sort of like how Brain Age keeps track of your mental age. If you did both every day, you could aim to be as fit mentally and physically as possible!

In a world where video games = couch potato, it really is quite amazing to have a game where it natively expects you to move and be active. You don’t lounge back and gain pounds here while playing games. Boxing can be quite strenuous, jabbing, blocking and weaving in real life. Tennis involves quick reflexes and strong arm movements. Bowling might be the most relaxed of the sports, but even there you are standing, moving, swinging. You get your heart going at least a little, and get some exercise. My boyfriend had a sore arm after playing for a number of hours, in a good way, as he would from exercising.

The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like the other two systems. It’s something you accept when you’re paying such a low price for the console. But really, it’s not that big a deal. I still play the old Zeldas and love them for their gameplay, even though you can’t see the pores in Link’s face. If they are going for the cartooney characters and environments, 480p is DVD quality and is quite good. If you really, really crave high definition super realism in your games, then the Wii might not be the best choice for you. However, if you’re fine with playing games with a more impressionist / cartooney look to them, the 480p can show that quite nicely. For example, there aren’t fans in the stands for baseball – there are colored blocks.

Nintendo has always been known as a “Kid’s Console” – but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a “Family Console”. It’s not just kids who will enjoy this. Seniors can have fun bowling without knowing anything “Tricky” about how to use a video game unit. It’s very intuitive. Moms can easily play with their kids, each with their own Wii profile. Adults having parties can have fun passing the controllers around. Family groups can share slideshows on the big screen while hanging out and drinking wine. Every person who has come over – from 8 to adult – has instantly understood and enjoyed the Wii, without much explanation at all.

With the price tag being so low, a gaming household that “needs” a higher end system can easily save up their money to get that XBox 360 or PS3 – and still be able to justify to get a Wii for the fun, casual gaming stuff to share with their non-gaming friends.

Well recommended! Since I own all three systems, and am playing all three wirelessly, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

BUY  Wii