Wii Description

History

• The Nintendo Wii is the fifth home video game console made by Nintendo, a series of consoles that started with the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983. The Wii succeeds the Nintendo GameCube and is capable of playing Nintendo GameCube games. The Wii was first unveiled at the E3 Electronics Expo in 2005. Sales of the Wii began in most major markets, including the United States, by December of 2006.

Significance

• The Wii has outsold both of its major competitors, the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Nintendo attributes this fact to the broad demographic of Wii users. Much of the success of the Nintendo Wii has to do with access to the legendary Nintendo properties, as well as the technological features incorporated into this gaming system.

Features

• The Nintendo Wii's most distinguishing characteristic is its wireless remote, known as the Wii Remote or Wiimote. The wireless remote includes a ballast system, which allows the Nintendo Wii to detect movement of the remote in three dimensions. The Wii Remote also functions as a wireless pointing device, allowing users to direct the cursor on the screen by pointing in the desired direction. Also of note is the Nintendo WiiConnect24 component, which allows the Wii to receive updates even when the console is turned off.

Criticism

• One of the most common criticisms of the Nintendo Wii is the saturation of casual games, as reported by My Wii News. According to critics, the vast majority of titles available for the Nintendo Wii are aimed at children and younger gamers. Striking the balance between casual and so-called hardcore game titles is a challenge for Nintendo.

Available Games

• Flagship Nintendo franchises, such as "Pokemon," "Metroid," "The Legend of Zelda" and "Super Mario Bros." appear regularly on new Wii game titles. Many third-party developers have supported this game system, including Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Sega, Ubisoft, Square Enix and Capcom.