BooksMediaElectronics Home & GardenPetsToys, Kids & BabyWatchesHealthSports & OutdoorsLive Green
Wii
Home

Movies & Video Gaming

Video Gaming

Nintendo Wii

Wii

 
 
Wii
View larger imageEmail a friend

Alternate Views:

 
 
 
 

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 with Wii Remote

Wii with Wii Remote. View larger.
A Little Box With Plenty of Power
As with every console, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The Wii boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The system's technological heart -- a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" -- deliver stunning performance. And instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

Revolutionary Control
No bigger than a small traditional remote control, the wireless Wii Remote is a truly multi functional device. The magic of the Wii Remote's design lies within; acellerometers inside the controller measure movement in all directions and at all speeds. In a tennis game, it serves as your racket as you swing away. In driving games it serves as a steering wheel, allowing you to swerve to avoid obstacles or pickup power-ups. In first-person shooters, it acts as a firearm that you can point directly at an on-screen enemy. The controller also has a force feedback "Rumble" feature and an expansion port for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds an analog thumbstick and trigger buttons. The system allows for up to four controllers to be linked at a time and utilizes standard Bluetooth wireless technology. For those who prefer the feel of a traditional controller an adapter is available that fits over the Wii's remote.

Wii with cradle

Wii with cradle. View larger.

A Channel for Everyone
More than just a game machine, Wii also provides information and entertainment suitable for every member of the family. Some of the channels available include:

  • Mii Channel - Miis are cute little caricatures you create to use as characters in a variety of Wii software. Store Miis on your Wii or load them onto your Wii Remote and take them over to a friend's house to use on their Wii.
  • Everybody Votes Channel * - The Everybody Votes Channel is packed with national and worldwide polls. Answer interesting questions and have your say. Up to six members of your family can vote. Just choose an answer and check in later to see the results.
  • News Channel * - Wii might be great for games, but you can also use it to get updates on the latest news from across the Internet organized into easy-to-browse categories.
  • Forecast Channel * - Your Wii can automatically update you on the weather from around the globe.
  • Wii Shop Channel * - Download the Opera web browser and access games from classic consoles from the past. All you need is a Wii Points account.
  • Virtual Console - Every Virtual Console game you download from the Wii Shop Channel appears in the Wii Menu as a separate Channel ready to select and play any time you like.
  • Wii Message Board - Leave or receive messages for other family members on the calendar-based message board or use WiiConnect24 to send messages to people outside your home.
  • Internet Channel * - Just download the Opera browser for 500 Wii Points and within minutes, you'll be a professional sofa surfer, pointing-and-clicking your way around the web with your Wii Remote.
  • Photo Channel - Show off all your digital photos on your TV. Just insert an SD memory card into your Wii and away you go.
  • Disc Channel - The Disc Channel is backwards compatible with Nintendo GameCube, so you can play all your new Wii discs, along with all your classic Nintendo GameCube discs too!
GameCube controller and memory port

GameCube controller and memory ports.
The Depth of the Nintendo Game Catalog
Each Wii comes with a game compilation called "Wii Sports," including tennis, golf, baseball and bowling games, that show off the console's intuitive new controller, but Wii also plays games developed specifically for it as well as fan-favorite games from Nintendo's 20-year-old library. Its drive is compatible with GameCube discs, and select Nintendo titles from the original NES of the 1980s all the way through the Nintendo 64 are available for download through the "Virtual Console" for $5 and $10 respectively. To support this backwards compatibility the Wii includes four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers and two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. As if that weren't enough, the Virtual Console will also make available a few titles from SNES console contemporaries, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16.

Also, Wii utilizes Nintendo's newly-announced wireless feature, WiiConnect24. This worldwide feature allows players to receive content such as Wii Message Board messages sent from other Wii consoles, Miis, e-mails, updated channel and game content, and notification of software updates even while the console is on standby, keeping the fun going even when you are not online.

* Access to some channels may require your Wii needs to be set up with WiiConnect24.

  • 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

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Our Price: $330.42

Note: Item may be sold and shipped by another company. Learn more.
Product Details:
Product Length: 15.0 inches
Product Width: 10.0 inches
Product Height: 4.5 inches
Product Weight: 7.5 pounds
Package Length: 15.0 inches
Package Width: 9.9 inches
Package Height: 4.4 inches
Package Weight: 7.7 pounds
Release Date: November 19, 2006
Average Customer Rating: based on 1089 reviews
Game Information:
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Media: Video Game
Item Quantity: 1
 
 

Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:4.5
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

5Fun for all ages  Jul 07, 2008
Up to now I have never done gaming consoles. I didn't get into any of the playstations or the Xbox, or anything else. However the Wii has captured me with its different way of playing. You can play games like you would for any other gaming console but you also have the interactive motion from the Wii remote. Playing sports by actually acting them out for me makes video games a lot more fun. I would recommend everyone to give this a try, even people who have never loved video games can find fun in this. We have had friends over with children of all ages and everyone has had great fun playing against each other. I love it and say go and play because wii all want to play!!

5A completely flawless console; well, almost completely flawless  Jul 07, 2008
I spent the better part of a year, more or less, trying to get my hands on Nintendo's new system, and not even two months ago I finally got one, by sheer luck and coincidence.

I'd seen my cousin playing numerous games and sat in total admiration of the gameplay, not to mention the stellar graphics that add to the enjoyment, unlike the 360 or PS3 where it's pretty much just "hey, look at these pretty graphics, now play this drudgingly boring and stale game." Ok, Bioshock is a fantastic game, probably one of my all time favorites, but every other game I played for the 360 was a joke.

What it boils down to is if the X-Box weren't fueled by Microsoft we wouldn't even be hearing about it anymore, as it would have gone completely under by now. Same goes for Playstation, which needs a giant like Sony to produce it. Nintendo is simply Nintendo, no mega corporations behind the product, in the sense that I was speaking of with the other two systems, there's just Nintendo.

The naysayers are complaining about how this isn't a real gaming console; what is a game? Something that kills time, amuses you and allows you to have fun with friends while you all play. I'm pretty sure the Wii is able to meet all these needs without the need of depending on the crutch of online play. X-Box just rehashes the same idea over and over; First Person Shooters; there are some other standout titles, Fable being one that immediately comes to mind, but chances are if there's a new hyped up game coming out for the 360 it's a FPS; great.

With the Wii you get a variety of games; FPS, of course, RPGs, shoot 'em ups, party games and just generally interesting concepts like Endless Ocean and Cookin' Mama Cook Off. Notice how I haven't said a thing about the PS3; yeah, that's how much of an impact it's had thus far.

The system is fantastic, the Wiimote is a stellar creation on the part of the geniuses at Nintendo. Never any problems with overheating, unlike the other two, memory or anything at all. Sure, the Wiimote can drain batteries, but that's not a big deal with the charger considered.

Now, the one flaw I have to hold against Nintendo. When you download a game from the Shop, the colors are altered from the original versions. Mario 3 is completely different, and it just irks me. It's a personal preference, I know, but still, come on, it's $[...] for a game and I'd like the original all the way, colors, controls and everything.

That said, for a perfect system get the Wii; if you're half brain dead and amused by the same thing over and over with varying graphics, go for something else.

5Bonnie  Jul 07, 2008
Very popular game system hard to buy after October due to short supply arrived on time in great condation

5Fun for Everybody!  Jul 06, 2008
Sure, the graphics aren't as good as something like the PS3, and the number of titles available isn't as many, but the stuff that is available is VERY high quality and the majority of the games I have seem manage to be both challenging and accessible for everybody who wants to play. That means your girlfriend, your wife, your mother, your father...anybody.

This is a great system to bring the family together and have a good evening of fun.

Nobody to play with? No problem. Many of the top games hook up to the Internet (a free service) and you're able to play people around the world. Mario Kart is great for this. It adds an entirely new dimension to the game and makes it a lot more fun, in my opinion.

Love the Wii. One of my better investments this year!!

0 of 8 found the following review helpful:

1Poor Options eqauls large DOA problem  Jul 05, 2008
We payed through the nose to get a bundle on line for our kid for her birthday. After the big build up, Got it set up, it wouldn't load the discs. I'm not saying it wouldn't recognize the discs, it wouldn't pull them in. We can get a repair in 15 business days or pay a fee and get a refurb unit in 3 business days. These lousy 2 choices indicate to me that they must have a fairly large dead on arrival problem. Beware.

 
 
You may also like ...
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device
Our Price: $359.00
Add to Cart
Wii
Wii
Our Price: $330.42
Add to Cart
Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Garmin nĂ¼vi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
List Price: $329.99
Our Price: $199.99
You Save: $130.00 (39%)
Add to Cart
 
 
 
 
 
 
Web business powered by Amazon WebStore