| Nintendo Wii - The Consoles |
The Wii (Say: ‘We’) is the game console of Nintendo, that earlier was known as Nintendo Revolution. It is the successor of the Gamecube. It competes with both Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 as part of the seventh generation of gaming consoles.
The most specific feature of the Nintendo Wii is the controller. The wireless Wii Remote can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions.
There’s also WiiConnect24, which is able to receive messages and updates from the Internet, when the Wii is in standby mode.
Sizes:
Height: 16 cm
Width: 2,5 cm
Depth: 22 cm
Weight: 1,5 kg
Wii-Channels:
When you have started the Wii, you’ll see a special menu with different squares, named Wii-Channels.
- Disk Channel: This is the channel which you need to start a game. This can be a Wii-game or either a Gamecube game.
- Mii Channel: This is the channel where you can create your own characters. You can use these in Wii Sports and Wii Play.
- Photo Channel: In the Photo Channel, you can add photo’s and movies by an SD-card. After this you can email them with the Wii, or you can edit them.
- Forecast Channel: With the Forecast Channel, you can see weather predictions from all over the world. You’ll need to have your Wii connected to the Internet to use this channel.
- Wii Shop Channel: In the Wii Shop, you can spend your Wii Points (you’ll have to buy these in your gaming shop) to buy games for the Virtual Console. This Channel can only be used if you have your Wii connected to the Internet.
- Internet Channel: This is the channel to go to the Internet. This is about just the same as on your PC.
- Message Board: Here you can send messages to other Wii owners, by using friend codes. You can also use it to write memo’s. It also keeps up the time you have gamed every day.
- Virtual Console Channel: From here you can start your bought Virtual Console games. For every game is a different channel.
- Enquête Channel: With this Channel, you can vote every day on different opinions. You need to have connection to the Internet for this Channel.
- Wiiware: This is a sort of Demo Channel. Here you can download demo’s of many games.
The Controller:
The controller of the Wii is very different from all the other controllers. This is because it is motion- and position-sensitive. It is called the Wii-Remote (right on picture). The sensor-bar is sensing the position and motion of your remote. This will make it possible to play a game without only using the buttons of the controller. So you can play a tennis game, by moving your remote like a tennis racket. Another specific feature of the Wii Remote is, that it has a speaker in it. Now it is easier to create 3D-sounds.
Then there is also the Nunchuk. (left on picture). You can plug this controller into the Wii-Remote, for extra features. It has two more trigger buttons, and a traditional analog stick.
For some games, you will need to use the Traditional Controller (picture beneath), this is another than the two described above. This one is just the same as the old traditional ones, which you will only need for a few games. For example, Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be such a game that will need the Traditional Controller.
Backward Compatibility:
The Nintendo Wii is backward compatible. This means, that you can play GameCube games on it. You only have to insert the GameCube disk, go to the disk channel, and you can play the game. You'll need a GameCube Controller to play these games, they won't work on the Wii Remote or Traditional Controller! You also need a GameCube Memory Card to save your progress.
WiiConnect24:
The Wii is able to connect to the Internet by its built-in Wi-Fi or by an adapter. Nintendo does not charge a fee for playing via this service. There is also a Friend Code system, so you can find and make friends. You also need to have your Wii connected to the Internet, if you like to use the Forecast Channel, Enquête Channel, Internet Channel and the News Channel.
Virtual Console:
It is possible on the Wii to play some games from the very early Nintendo consoles, the NES, SNES and Nintendo 64. You can download these in the Wii Shop. You'll have to buy Wii-Points, and with these you can buy any Virtual Console game you like. The prices:
-Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): 500 Wii-Points
-Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES): 800 Wii-Points
-Nintendo 64: 1000 Wii-Points
Launch Titles:
Here a list of the games that have been launches together with the Wii itself.
Wii Sports (Wii Sports is included with the Wii)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Wii Play
Call of Duty 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed Carbon
Happy Feet
Rampage: Total Destruction
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Gottlieb Pinball Classics
Super Fruit Fall
Cars
Barnyard
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Far Cry Vengeance
GT Pro Series
Monster 4X4 World Circuit
Open Season
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
PRICE:
Europe: €249
America: $250
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