I love new technology! I mean, I really love it. It gave us video games to play! The only problem is that with all new technology there come new words to learn the meaning of - things like 'hard drive', 'software', and 'Virtual Console'. There is absolutely no intuitive or intellectual way of knowing what these things mean without reference to a dictionary - and it has to be a technical dictionary, too. So if you are still a bit mystified about what, exactly, a 'Virtual Console' is then don't worry - everyone has the same problem to begin with. I'll give you a brief outline here to get you started and by the end of this article you'll be a wiser Wii-gamer before you even realise you've learned something!
The first thing to understand is that the Virtual Console, otherwise known as the 'VC', is actually a part of the Wii Shop Channel. So before I go on to the VC I shall first tell you a bit about how the Shop Channel works. The Wii Shopping Channel lets you buy and download games and software for your console - but first you need to buy Wii Points. You can Buy Wii Points from games retailers in your local high street or else you can buy them directly from the Shop Channel itself. Points cost different amounts in different countries. 1000 Wii Points is roughly £5 in the UK, and roughly $10 in the US - but check this because prices do change. Once you have bought your Points you can exchange them for anything on offer in the Wii Shop Channel.
The Wii Virtal Console is where you buy games from old or no-longer-existing game platforms such as ALL the old Ninetndo platforms, from the NES to the GameCube. But not just these, although there are tons of them, Nintendo also has deals with platforms such as SEGA, Hudson, and MSX, which means a massive extra supply of golden oldies to buy and play. Think about it - imagine playing the entire Legend of Zelda range of games, or playing Mario from his first appearance, or Metroid, or Donkey Kong - Metal Gear, Dragon Quest, Sonic the Hedgehog... the list seems endless and you could spend a lifetime trying to play them all, with new games being added all the time.
So, basically, you buy your Wii Points from a shop or from the Wii Shop Channel and then you buy your games, or software, from the Virtual Console and download them. Once you have bought a game you can delete it, lose it or anything else and just go back to the Wii Shop and download it again. Each purchase is registered to the console which buys it so once you have paid you will never pay again - although that also means you cannot transfer it to your friend's console, she'll have to buy her own! Once the games are on your console they will appear in your Disc Channel in the Wii Menu and you can play them whenver you like. Of the 512mb of Flash Memory on the system, about 400mb is set aside for your downloads - the great thing is these games will appear just like the originals, in fact, they ARE the originals! You can play them with your Wii Remote but if you really want to taste some history it's worth spending a few bucks on a Classic Controller.
October 12th, 2007
If you have just bought your new Nintendo wii and are wondering what to do with it next then the first thing I want to say to you is 'congratulations, and welcome to our world!' You won't regret your decision, but what is there to regret anyway? Assuming you enjoy gaming and you are into console - which is fair to assume, since you just bought one - then you cannot be disappointed with this, the cheapest of the 'big three' consoles right now, but certainly the most innovative and possibly the best. With my congratulations over with I'll move on to the important stuff, which is what you do next to ensure your console is up and running in the quickest time.
When you open that box for the first time it can be a little daunting. Your stomach is churning with excitement and all you really want to do is start swinging that nunchuk. Believe it or not, you are not far off, just calm down and follow these instructions.
Your very first decision is how to position the console? I'm going to make that decision easy for you; in fact, I'm going to make that decision for you: by far the coolest way to have your wii is vertical - like it appears in all the adverts. The stand is simple and the console slips easily into it so within seconds there you have it, standing up for the whole room to see.
Next you want to get some essentials plugged in, which is made even easier since the wii is wireless. All you need to think about are the AC adaptor and AV plugs. For the un-electrical among you, the AC adaptor is the power plug and the AV plug is the one that goes into the back of your television. Both are simple and straightforward, since one plugs into the wall and one goes into the television and that's it.
The only tricky bit is the sensor bar. This is separate from the rest of the stuff in the box and looks like a long black bar with a long cable coming out. What this does is act as a receiver for your remote control so when you are waving around playing tennis or battling demons all your moves are picked up. So the best place for it is directly in front of wherever you are playing - which usually means on top of the television or directly underneath it. And that's basically it for the hardware, simple, isn't it? - You're now ready to switch on and get going!
October 12th, 2007
You've probably heard a lot about the Wii. The first thing most people hear about is its unique remote controller, or 'Wii-Mote', and the Nunchuk attachment. The console itself never tried to compete with the graphics or horsepower of its contemporaries - the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 - but don't let that fool you. The Wii console packs more horsepower than its predecessor, the GameCube, and also is more powerful than the previous Xbox. Anyone who has played on either of those knows that means the Wii is no lightweight. The Wii was never designed as a graphics heavyweight but as a new and innovative gaming system which would change the way people played their games, and what gaming consoles meant to their users.
These concepts, which people recognise in the Wii-Mote, are also reflected in the Wii Menu environment. When you switch on your Wii you will see a screen which looks like a grid of rectangles. This is the Wii Menu. If you count the rectangles you will see there are exactly 12, each rectangle represents what is called a 'Wii Channel'. The Wii Menu holds the Wii Channels. It a bit like the desktop on your computer, with icons for the different programs - the Wii Menu is the desktop and the Wii Channels are the programs.
With your Wii Remote you can select any of these Wii Channels to use them. In fact, you can also move them around and change them; you can download more, replace them, delete them or restore them. Just like on your home computer. The only Channel you cannot move is the Disc Channel - this is the rectangle on the top left of the grid. The Disc Channel is a direct link to your games; by selecting it you will go immediately to whatever disc is in the Wii disc drive and any games stored on your Virtual Console, otherwise known as the 'VC'. Basically if you need to know where your games are, this is the place to remember! Once selected it will be quite simple, you will be given to option to open either the game on your disc drive or open any of the games stored on your Virtual Console.
Any of the other rectangles on the page with pictures in them also have Wii Channels stored in them and can be selected and used or played with. Nintendo promises to continue updating old ones and creating new ones which you will be able to download. So one of the main Channels to remember is the Wii Shopping Channel - this is where you can buy games for your Virtual Console, or buy and download new Channels. Other Channels include the Internet Channel, the Weather Channel, the News Channel, the Photo Channel, the Mii Channel and unique services such as Message Board. Together these amount to something similar to your home computer, but far more integrated with your games and entirely accessible through Remote control. The Wii really is more than a games console.
October 12th, 2007
There's nothing quite as exciting as buying a new games console. It's not something you buy casually; even at the low price of the Wii, it's still not loose change. So firstly there is the feeling of handing over all that cash - but then there's the sensation of actually owning that box and walking out of the shop. Funny thing is, I always expected the box to be a bit bigger than it is. All the promotional photos show it looking like some massive piece of hardware towering high above us. I know I read the Nintendo guys say it is about the size of 3 or 4 cd cases stacked on top of each other but those promotional pictures always made me imagine it bigger.
The thing is, when you get that small box home and open the packaging - you realise the actual console is even smaller. It really is the size of about 3 or 4 cd cases! But it's not just a console you get in the box. There are 8 main elements, including the console; you also get a Wii Stand, which means you can set the Wii console up vertically like it is in the pictures. Next there is the Wii Remote, known as the 'Wii-Mote', which is the main remote controller for the console. You also get the Nunchuk, which some people think is an alternative to the Wii-mote but it is actually an attachment for it. The Nunchuk has a lead coming out of it which is 4 feet long and the end plugs into the base of the Wii-Mote. Then there is the Sensor Bar, which is a long thin strip of plastic and is the 'receiver' which gets put near the television to pick up signals from the Wii-Mote - there is also a stand for this. Finally there are two sets of leads, one is the AC Adaptor, or power lead, and the other is the Composite Audio-Visual Cable, which plugs into the television.
Actually, that's not all. Nintendo also supply two AA Batteries to put in the Wii-Mote and you will probably also get a game. So that, potentially, makes 10 rather than 8 elements altogether. You also get manuals to help with putting it all together. Funny thing is that I actually felt a little disappointed the first time I unwrapped mine. I'd saved up this money to buy it and I guess I was half expecting it to be really big and full of complicated components and attachments - but that vague disappointment quickly went, I call it 'post-traumatic- shop' following all the excitement. The great thing is that it all goes together very quickly and in a matter of minutes you are in Wii Heaven.
October 12th, 2007
The oldest company in the video game console market- Nintendo hit the market with its new generation gaming console in 2005. ‘Revolution' as it was the internal code of the gaming console, was named as "Wii" when it was launched in the market. But judging by the appreciation it has achieved since its initiation in the market, it seems like "revolution"- is a better-suiting name for the product.
The new video gaming console has brought about a new generation in the video gaming zone- Nintendo, has almost re-invented the video gaming style. The newer style contains more excitement, scope for more intuition, more social features and amazing physical involvement. It is been said that, while playing with the new Nintendo Wii one might feel like entering the virtual world and thriving in it.
But the entrance to the market was not smooth for Wii; since almost at the same moment there were other similar products entering the market. Sony's Playstation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 came to the market almost at the same time. But Nintendo somehow manage to come up with some extra-ordinary features which indeed provided Wii the competitive edge to rule the market.
So what are the specialties of Nintendo Wii those set it apart from its competitors? The most significant feature of the new Nintendo video game console is its Wii remote. This remote is far different from the ancient bulky, button-studded joysticks. The remote rather have a wand like shape and rather resembles the TV remotes. This very remote is the device's control pad and it is connected to the console wirelessly. Most importantly, the remote is equipped with a motion sensor, which detects rotation and motions in three dimensions.
What does this motion sensor has to do with video gaming? Just put it like this- if you are playing a sword-fighting game than you have to swing your remote in the desired sword-like motion or if you are playing a baseball game than you have to move your remote like it is the baseball bat! This feature adds a real-life-like sensation while you are playing the game, making video game playing enjoyable for all age groups of male and female. It also gives you the liberty to roam around your room while you are playing instead of sticking to the monitor.
With the ability to interact physically with the virtual world of the game, Wii is nothing like those traditional games- the player here rather gets involved in the game physically. Despite the breath-taking gaming environment and the unique features, the Wii is less priced than the competing Sony PS3 and MS XBOX 360. The Wii is available at $250, which is much less than the other products and yet it offers more blood-rushing sensation. Besides, installing and operating Wii doesn't require extravagant technical support which is the pre-requisite for PS3 and Xbox. So, more and more people are rushing towards it, nobody wants to miss the chance of getting inside the virtual world with the help of Wii.
October 9th, 2007
Nintendo Wii, which is most commonly called as Wii is the new video game console from the famous Japanese video game manufacturer Nintendo. Similar to Sony Playstation3 and Microsoft’s Xbox360 the Wii is a seventh generation video gaming system.
The name Wii was given to the product after it was released to the market. Before that the internal code for the product had been “Revolution”- which according to many game critics should have been a better name for the game console. But the company had a different view. According to them Wii which is pronounced like “we” sounds handy, initiates a feeling of togetherness, and reveals Nintendo’s motto- to bring as many people possible in the gaming world. The authority from the founding company says:
“Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii”
The two ‘i’s written in smaller case in the name represents two people, which denotes togetherness for gaming. It also denotes the console’s controllers.
The 157mm tall and 44 mm wide Wii is said to be the smallest product in the Nintendo product line. It is also the lightest of the three seventh generation consoles. The front of the console has an illuminated slot-loading optical media drive. There are also USB ports and SD slots in the console. SD cards can be used to upload photos or save a back up of the saved game.
A total Wii package contains the console, a stand to allow the console to be placed vertically, a circular clear stabilizer for the main stand, one Wii Remote, one Nunchuk attachment, one Sensor Bar, a removable stand for the bar, one external main power adapter, two AA batteries, one composite AV cable with RCA connectors (component video and other types of cables are available separately), operation documentation and (in all regions excluding Japan) a copy of Wii Sports.
The most unique feature of the Wii game console is the Wii remote, which has re-invented the video gaming environment. This remote is far different from the traditional bulky joysticks. This slim, wand-like remote looks a lot like TV remotes and is the main controlling device of the console. The remote is connected to the console wirelessly, thus giving the players the freedom to be placed at their ease. The remote has motion sensor which detects movements in the three dimensional area, giving the player a surprising sense of physical involvement with the game. With the remote the player feels himself being a part of the game, of the virtual world. This amazing sensation of physical involvement has given the Wii the competitive edge over the other two seventh generation consoles.
Within the first year of launching Wii has achieved numerous awards, and has recorded gargantuan sales record across the world. With Wii the Nintendo doesn’t dream of overtaking Sony or Microsoft seventh generation consoles. Rather they are focusing on covering wider demography of consumers. With slogans like Wii would like to play" and "Experience a new way to play" Nintendo tastes a truimphant journey- conquering the gaming world.
October 9th, 2007
Nintendo Wii, probably is the greatest console launch and the most significant in recent times. What makes it different from other products of its genre is the fact that Nintendo’s ethos is diverse. When Microsoft and Sony were content to hit it out only for the rapid performance crown, Nintendo on the other hand popped off right in the reverse direction and attempted something different.
To a large extent, Nintendo also tried this tactic with their Game Cube, which they sold not as a multimedia machine but as gaming box. But the results were not very encouraging as it was supposed as a children’s toy only and didn’t do well in the market.
However, this time the story will be different in the case of the Wii series. The foremost reason is a confident and resurgent Nintendo, whose perseverance with the way it thinks resulted in the enormous accomplishment of the DS, when it was tipped as a failure beside the technically advanced Sony PSP. Another reason is that Nintendo this time has been bolder and it surely has made a great invention that delivers great fun.
The specs within the package are fairly self-effacing as well as well known, without doubt eclipsed by Microsoft and Sony’s newest console juggernauts. But it is the way the customers interface along with the machine which has won the hearts and the headlines till date, very rightfully.
The major Wii control is very similar to remote controls, although it consists of motion sensors and built in speaker. It is a flexible wireless device. While playing the game “Wario Ware Smooth Moves”, one at times require to twist it parallel and grasp it in the way of holding handlebars, while in the tennis of Wii Sports, one swings and turns side on similar to tennis racquets.
The game of tanks within the Wii Play as well as boxing segments requires one to add one extra controller with the remote and final outcome is amazingly intuitive. Visualize a ten pin mine bowling competition where one factually does a real bowling action. Or else some air hockey sort of game where one waves the controller around in many directions, and the movements virtually imitated on-screen by one’s paddle. It's pleasantly straightforward, yet adds an authentically new perspective to something that otherwise would only be fairly unglamorous software.
The box of Nintendo Wii itself is pretty lightweight, small and simply expandable. It also supports older games of Game Cube as well as controllers and will moreover take the Virtual Console, something that no one got to play with, and it will also enable one to download and buy previous Nintendo classics.
All in all, this is the ultimate gaming bargain for this season. Moreover, Nintendo deserves everyone’s support, custom and gratitude for continuing to innovate and take risks in a market that or else looks stale. It definitely is not the greatest games console on earth by any evaluation. But till now it surely is the most interesting of the lot.
October 9th, 2007
The gaming industry or perhaps the gaming market has seen many products in the last few years. Big names like Sony, Microsoft putting a lot of money and effort in taking the top spot as far as the ratings are concerned. It indeed has become a very competetive market and requires daring as well as innovative steps to be taken for every company. And this is the place where Nintendo is well ahead of all its other competetors. When it comes to innovation and creativity as well as taking risks, Nitendo stands tall and more or else eevrytime produces a one of its kind game box. Nintendo Wii is no different.
The Wii itself is the 5th video game console that has been released by the leaders in gaming,Nintendo. This console is successor to GameCube. They suggests that this console has targetted a wider demographic than Microsoft’s Xbox 360 or for that matter Sony's PlayStation 3 too. It has been competing with both as the seventh generation for gaming systems.
A significant feature of this Nintendo Wii is its wiireless controller. The Wii Remote, something that can also be used as handy pointing device, is able to detect acceleration within 3 dimensions. Another one is WiiConnect24, which helps it to get updates and messages through the Internet even when its in the standby mode.
Nintendo primarily spoke of this at the E3 press conference in 2004 and later inaugarated the system in the E3 of 2005. Satoru Iwata, the owner of Nintendo revealed one prototype of its controller in the Tokyo Games Show of 2005. At E3 2006, Wii won several awards, including its first one. By December 8, 2006, Nintendo launched its product in the four major markets of the world. And the week of September 12, 2007 was great for them as Financial Times declared Wii as the sales leader of its genre.
History
The console first was conceived in the year 2001 when the GameCube of Nintendo was being released. According to one interview with their designer for games Shigeru Miyamoto, this concept of Wii focused on a fresh form of interaction of players.
After 2 years, designers and engineers came together to develop this concept further. At the end of 2005, its controller interface had almost taken form, although a show towards the public at the E3 of that year was cancelled. Miyamoto at that time told that they had some troubleshooting in hand to do, as a result they decided to display the console instead of disclosing the controller. The president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata ,at the Tokyo Game Show, demonstrated and unveiled the Wii Remote.
It is said that the Nintendo DS have much influenced the design of Wii. Their designer Ken'ichiro told that while making the Wii they had their DS on mind. They also thought of copying the DS’s interface but later this idea was rejected. They came to the conclusion that the two of their own products cannot be identical. Thus, Wii got its new look and is ruling the market.
October 9th, 2007
The most daunting part of getting a new Nintendo wii is when you open the box and everything needs assembling. The first thought in many people's minds is 'what goes where?' Usually, all you are thinking about is the pile of games you have ready to play on it and all this setting up is really just getting in the way of the fun. Actually, the wii manual is very good and can guide you through the process so don't worry yet. And once you have your wii hardware in position, with it plugged into the electricity, the television and with the sensor strip in place, all you need to do is get the remote working and you can move on to the software side of things - which is only one step away from playing.
The only way to know where to place the sensor strip is to think about where you are likely to be standing or sitting when you are waving your remote control about. Basically, the sensor strip received the remote control signals so, ideally, it needs to be as close to where you are pointing it as possible and that usually means directly on top or directly under the television screen itself. Or as close as possible. After you've positioned the remote strip you need to synchronise the remote control with the console - but first the remote control will need batteries!
To prove that Nintendo thought of absolutely everything when they designed this console, you'll find a set of batteries in the box - Hurrah! No running back down the shops this time! So before doing anything else put the batteries in the handheld remote control. Once the batteries are in your controller, get the wrist strap and make sure it is firmly attached. All those stories you heard about 'flying nunchuks', broken antique vases and bruised great aunts are due to people leaving the wrist strap off or not attaching it properly. Attach it properly!
Finally, switch on your wii console so you can synchronise the console with the remote control. Fortunately, the remote control and the console come 'pre-bonded' which means the synchronisation is done almost automatically - think of them as 'soulmates'. When you are ready, take a look at the back of your remote control, next to the battery compartment is a small red button. There is another small red button on the console next to the memory card slot. First, press the red button on the remote and you will see an LED flash on the console. Next press the red button on the console until the LED disappears - now the remote is synchronised - the 'soulmates' are reunited!
October 4th, 2007
£216.88
