ThinkGaming.org - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and More!

Getting Started:

After easily hooking up the Wii and turning it on, it asks for some generic information (e.g. time, date). The main screen now appears. Here you have multiple channels to choose from. The primary channels are the Disc, Mii, Photo, Wii Shop, Forecast, News Channel, and Internet Channel.

In the Mii Channel you have the option to create your own unique character, called a Mii. This can be a replica of you, famous person, or friend. Or you can just have fun and create a character to your appeal. You have the option to change many features of your Mii character such as facial properties and body type. You could spend countless hours messing around with your Mii. You can create as many Miis as you want. You can take your Miis with you by uploading up to 6KB, or 10 Miis, to your Wiimote.

The Photo Channel allows you display and edit your photos. You can upload these pictures with the SD Card port located on the front of the Wii.

The Photo channel is geared more toward an audience that would rather have fun than be serious about photo editing.

The Wii Shop Channel allows you to download old games and play them for the Virtual Console. In order to play them you must purchase them using Wii Points. Wii Points and be redeemed by either purchasing a card at a local retailer or purchase them using a credit card. Points are purchased in thousands. 1000 points will cost you $10, 2000 points will cost you $20, and 5000 points will cost you $50. Most games on the Virtual Console cost less than 1000 points. You can purchase games from NES, SNES, N64, Mega Drive/Genesis, TurboGrafx-16, MSX, and Neo Geo consoles.

The Forecast Channel allows you to view the weather from various cities across the world, even Antarctica. You are able to spin the world around and zoom in and out to find your city or other cities around the world. The forecast channels features a current forecast, the UV index, today’s overall forecast, tomorrows forecast, and the 5-day forecast.

The News Channel gives you the ability to easily view news that’s happening around the world. This channel features, just like the Forecast channel, the ability to zoom in and out. This channel offers quite a number of lengthy articles received from the Associated Press. You are also able to get a larger view of any image in an article by clicking on it.

The Internet Channel operates on the Opera web browser and allows you to browse the web freely right on your Wii. The Wii version of Opera supports all of the same web features that are available on the desktop version. Users are able to type using the onscreen keyboard. This channel will be free to download until June 30, 2007. After that the channel will cost 500 Wii Points.

Games

The Wii is different from many other consoles in that it actually has a game that is supplied with the console. The Wii comes with Wii Sports which includes Tennis, Baseball, Bowling, Golf, and Boxing. It also has the option of both Training and Fitness modes.

Popular Titles
- Wii Sports
- Wii Play
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Trauma Center: Second Opinion
- Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
- Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
- Call of Duty 3
- Excite Truck
- Super Paper Mario
- Downloadable NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, TurboGrafix16

The Inside

Even though the Wii offers an advanced style of gameplay with the Wiimote it still lacks in its output. The games run smoothly and the graphics look nice on the Wii, but it doesn’t even compare to the way the graphics the PS3 and Xbox 360 push out. We can see this in the vast price difference between the Wii and other consoles. The Wii is only $250 while the Xbox 360 pushes $400 and the PS3 pushes $600. The Wii does operate very well in its’ own applications, but it doesn’t really supply the power or graphics of the competitors to handle games that rely a lot of these features.

Conclusion

The Wii offers many powerful options for gamers of all types. Users are now able to get up and get involved with the game and using physical effort rather than sitting in a chair gaining the weight. For only $250 you can get yourself one of these innovating consoles, that is, if you can find one. Nintendo has surely created a magnificent console that will be used for years to come. I give the Nintendo Wii a 9 out of 10 score.

Pros

- Fun!
- Inexpensive
- Gets you off your seat
- Online connectivity with WiiConnect24

Cons

- No DVD playback
- Not the greatest for hardcore gamers

Shopping

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