The Wii as Nintendo would have us pronounce their newest game console, is tiny. About the same size as 3 DVD cases stood beside each other, or 2" x 2" x 9" approx. It has a front-loading disc assembly able to take not only regular size CD's and Wii discs but the smaller Gamecube sized ones also.
Driven by a PowerPC processor made by IBM, the Wii is not really that much more powerful than the Gamecube it's replacing. It has a newly developed onboard graphics engine made by ATI along with 512mb flash memory for storage of games. Plus you can connect an external memory card for more storage.
The Wii has built-in bluetooth enabling up to 4 cordless wii controllers to be used at once, along with 4 Gamecube controller jacks along the top of the unit for corded play. It has 2 USB ports for additional peripherals, along with two Gamecube memory card ports so you can load and possibly save gamecube games to and from the Wii.
For internet access, there is a USB - Ethernet adapter available that will give the Wii network capability if you want to access online features.
The output is composite, component, or S-Video with 480p and 16:9 widescreen compatibility for big screen and hi-definition TV play
Although the Wii can take a standard CD - it will NOT playback DVD, unless Nintendo is going to change things at the last moment. This seems to be a failure as all of the other consoles can do DVD playback. This may be a marketing ploy for Nintendo as they are not making the Wii a home entertainment center, but a home gaming center. I'd like DVD playback for the Wii - it makes sense - but I'm not building the toy.
Two things really stand out for the Wii securing a big future quite quickly.
Backwards-Compatablity The Wii is built to be able to load both it's own games, and any Gamecube game. It's slot-disc loader can take both sizes, which is a first for game consoles and may be a mixed bag if the slot-loading mechanism can get easily fouled.
The Wii can play all of the Gamecube games, work with the Gamecube memory cards, and also allow you to use Gamecube controllers.
For affordability, this means people who have spent a bunch on their GC hardware can use some of it with the wii - and not have to go out and buy the new console, plus controllers, plus memory, etc. For the family group the Wii is targeting, this is a smart move.
The Wii Remote This is the really cool part of the entire new console. A completely cordless, motion-controlled remote that knows how you are moving it and can translate that movement on-screen to the game so you can use it as a baton for concerts, a sword or staff for battle, a gun for shooting, a laser-pointer for targeting, whatever you can think of as a controller, the Wii remote can be it.
The Wii remote runs off standard AA batteries and according to the specifications, a pair of batteries can run the controller for 30 hours under full use, or 60 hours on standby. Not too bad for cordless with force-feedback capability and long-term memory storage on the controller.
Each remote can store a Mii avatar, which is designed on the Wii and can be transported to different Wii consoles for gameplay among friends. Some games will use the Mii avatar as the player's onscreen character.
The remote also has a built-in speaker that will be integrated into some games to provide more realistic sound for gameplay, such as stringing and shooting an arrow from a bow.
The games coming for the Wii look to be quite good - especially having access to the classic Nintendo games through the downloadable Virtual Console channel on the console. At release, Nintendo expects to have Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Mario Bro's, Super Mario World, and Mario 64 available for immediate download at a small fee.
Other games under development and expected at the release date include, but are not limited to:
Elebits - a game where you manipulate small bits if electricity similar to Pikmin
Far Cry: Vengeance - which will take full use of the Wii Remote for combat and movement
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - which is a completely new Zelda adventure that will also be released for the Gamecube
Need for Speed: Carbon - the latest in the NFS line with all-new cars and a new dynamic storyline
Red Steel - a FPS game which involves swordfighting
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam - skateboarding in the style of SSX
Wii Sports - a compilation sports game featuring Tennis, Baseball, Golf, Boxing, and bowling which will be bundled with the Wii in some areas and which will use the Mii avatar.
Overall, the Wii looks very good and we await it with expectations. Having children makes the Wii a much more valuable game system due to Nintendo's commitment to children being able to play games targeted for them. The Wii looks to be the Revolution that it has become.
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