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Features of the Wii Console -
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If you want to see more of the games you can get for the Wii, I suggest checking out the Wii Games section. All of the games reviews in this section will tell you exactly who each game is suitable for, how many people can play, and any applicable age restrictions.
The Wii Remote Controllers
The Wii games are great, but the Wii console's remote controllers (or Wii mote controllers as they're called), are the star of the show! Hit the ball, drive your car, or swing your sword...it's all done by moving around with the remote controllers. If you're playing a tennis game you'll need to swing the controller like a tennis racquet to hit the ball. If you're playing baseball you'll need to swing the controller like a baseball bat.
This Wii mote control does a whole lot of cool things!
When you buy a Wii console, you also get a free Wii Sports game included in the box. Wii Sports has 5 games on it -- tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing -- which really show off the controllers brilliantly. The tennis and boxing are massively addictive. Up to 4 people can play tennis, golf and bowling together, while 2 people can play baseball and boxing.
If you want to find out a bit more about the Wii mote controller, this short article will show you how the wii mote works.
The Wonderful Mii Characters
The celebrities of the Wii console are definitely the playful little characters you can create on your machine, called Miis. You can make your Miis as cute, crazy or sexy as you want, and use them as characters in different Wii games.
A seriously cool feature is that you can send your little Mii characters out to other people's Wii consoles around the world. Your Wii console has a menu area called "Mii Plaza" - this is where all the Miis get together. Your Mii will go out over the internet and land in other people's Plazas. Then look out for other people's Miis visiting your Plaza. These Miis come in all shapes and sizes. They represent their owners and you can make friends with any of the owners you like. If you really like a Mii that someone has created, you can get it to stay in your plaza permanently and use it as a character in your games.
The Free Online World
The Wii console gives you free access to its online world, called Wii Channels. The Wii Channels let you play games against people all over the world, create your different Mii characters, post your personal pictures, talk to friends, and even get the latest news and weather reports directly to your console.
On the Xbox 360 video games console, Microsoft charges a fee to play games online against other people, so having this for free with the Wii is a real bonus. If you do already play video games online, just a note of warning that not all Wii games have online functionality.
As part of the Wii online world, you can download games and other features from the Wii Online Store but these need to be purchased separately.
The Exercise You Get When You Play the Games
Lots of people have done experiments where they play the Wii and track their body weight over a few weeks. Some people have lost a lot of weight doing this, but I wouldn't buy the console to use as an exercise machine. Hey, it will just gather dust in the corner like the cycle and the treadmill!
The Wii definitely gives you a workout when you swing the Wii mote controllers around (in some games more than others). In the free Wii Sports game, the boxing and tennis give you really good exercise. You'll probably even feel a few stiff muscles the next day. The first time I boxed on the Wii, I couldn't move my left arm for 2 days!
Nintendo has also just released an exercise game for the Wii called Wii Fit. Wii Fit gives you an exercise program to do on a special balance board that comes with the game. This game is totally sold out all over the world at the moment, but you can read more about it in my Wii Fit review.
The price!
Despite the Wii's amazing features, it is one of the cheapest video games consoles on the market!
The price of the Wii console has just been dropped by $50 in the US, and now costs around $199 (if you can get your hands on one) and £179 in the UK. The console usually comes with free delivery.
To see what comes packed in the box and any extras you might need to buy, you should read this article.
If you live in the US, it's easier to get a meeting with the President than to get your hands on a Wii console. Go to my Wii Shop see if I have any Nintendo Wii consoles in stock.
The Nintendo Wii is only one of a few video games consoles available. The other popular games consoles on the market are the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. These consoles have been designed mainly for experienced gamers and their graphics and computer power are much better than the Wii console. Although the Wii's games aren't as complex as the other two consoles, this isn't always a bad thing. The complexity of the games for the Xbox 360 and PS3 can sometimes be overwhelming for newcomers.
The picture quality and detail of the Xbox 360 and PS3 games make them lifelike, and the games themselves often have engaging story lines. Even though most of these games are available on the Wii console, they usually don't include the same level of graphics or the same complex game features because the Wii is just not powerful enough for them. This isn't always a bad thing though. The complexity of the games for the Xbox 360 and PS3 can sometimes be overwhelming for newcomers.
Another shortcoming of the Wii is that it can't play CDs or DVDs. The Xbox 360 and PS3 market themselves as home entertainment systems. Both consoles can play DVDs and the PS3 has a built in Blu Ray player that plays High Definition DVDs.
If you're looking for a games console for an experienced gamer or to use for watching DVDs, then the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 might be a better bet for you. If you're deciding between the Wii and the Playstation 3, you might want to read a short comparison of the Wii vs PS3.
All in all, the Wii console is a safe bet for families, younger children and anyone else interested in playing video games, where fun more than competition is the aim of the game. If you don't have a lot of experience with video games or you want to get your mates around for a load of fun and some really good laughs, then the Wii is definitely for you.
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Here's a list of articles (in plain English) explaining more about the specific features of the Wii console...
- What comes in the Nintendo Wii console box?
- What is the Wii mote and why is it too cool for school?
- How does the Wii vs PS3 (Playstation 3) compare?
- Does the Wii come in High Definition (Wii HD)?
- How does my Wii know when I'm moving the Wii remote control?
- Take your Wii gaming experience to the next level with the Wii MotionPlus adapter
- How do I connect my Wii to the internet?
- How does the Wii online service work?
- What is the Wii Shop Channel and what does it sell?
- What are Wii points?
- How do I buy Wii points and activate them in the Wii Shop?
- What are the advantages of buying a points card and the best places to buy them?
- How can I earn free Wii points?
- What are Wii Virtual Console games and how can I download them?
- What is Wii Ware and how can I download it to play on my Wii?
- How do I surf the net using the Wii internet channel?
- How does the Wii memory work?
- How do I use a SD card with my Wii?
- How to turn your Wii system into the Ultimate Wii experience
Nintendo Wii Explained Home
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Wii Special Offer
Get a Wii console with 3 of the most popular Wii games and a Wii MotionPlus adapter included free for just £179.99. The special offer includes all of the following...
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