New Features Make the Wii Console a Must-Have

The Wii console is everywhere now, many people have purchased the Nintendo Wii for their families or to play with their friends.  The Wii Fit helped bring the console to many more users than if it were only a gaming console.  So what's next for the Nintendo Wii game system?

Nintendo has just released some new features, accessories and game titles.  For example, the biggest release in May 2009 has been the Wii Motion Plus. This is an accessory that is added onto the motion-sensitive controller, but increases the sensitivity of motion that can be achieved with the controller.  By fine tuning the motion, players can excel at new sports and challenges.  A new version of Wii Sports is being released as well, that uses the new MotionPlus accessory, called Wii Sports Resort.

There is also a new sports bundle available using the new Sports Resort game and including the MotionPlus.  Many of the new games are bundled with a console, since new users may not have purchased the console yet, but are motivated to do so with the new game releases.

Another feature that Nintendo has in development is called the "vitality sensor", a small fingertip sensor that clips on and uses a light sensor to read bio rhythms.  This neat little item has the potential to measure brain waves, and give users a biofeedback experience.  (Can you imagine a "meditation" game that teaches users to meditate?)  This can help with teaching users how to focus, improve attention and other benefits.  This is a feature which may be released in 2010.

Nintendo keeps working to bring more non-gamers into the fold, by creating games and features that appeal to non-gamers.  The Wii Fit is a classic example of that, allowing anyone who wants to start and maintain a fitness routine to use the balance board to exercise, track fitness, and set up workout routines.

More sports games are being released as well, and finding Wii Sports bundles includes the games and accessories needed to work with the Wii console right out of the box. Virtua Tennis from Sega and Grand Slam Tennis from EA Sports are both new, and Grand Slam Tennis uses the new MotionPlus.

Also just look at the new release, EA Sports Active, which gives users a sensor pad to help track body movements while running in place or doing other exercises.  These are the kinds of new games and accessories that are going to keep the Wii console in the top of all game systems.

Are you thinking about buying a Wii console?
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The Nintendo Wii Features More Than Just Wireless Controls

The Wii has taken the video game world by storm since its introduction in late 2006. Offering interactive game play that is unlike anything available on other game systems, the Wii uses its wireless remote control to let users control the game through physical movements instead of pushing buttons and moving joysticks. At first glance, the Wii may appear to be a standard video game console with the added twist of a new controller system, but nothing could be further from reality. The Nintendo Wii features capabilities that make the Wii more than just a game; it is an entirely new interface with entertainment based technology.

The Nintendo Wii features an opening menu that acts as a gateway to more than just games. The Wii menu is the first of the Nintendo Wii features that you encounter when turning on the game, and it does more than let you decide if you are playing with one or two players - like so many other game consoles. Instead, the user is shown a menu that not only takes you to the game, but -when connected to the Internet- allows the user to check the news, weather, surf the Internet, visit Wii message boards, shop online at the Wii Shop Channel, and that is not all.

The Nintendo Wii features a photo channel that - when used with a memory card - allows you to send and receive digital photographs and display them on your television. You can even download music in MP3 format and create a soundtrack for you photo slideshow. If you want to see what is on the mind of your fellow Wii owners, the Nintendo Wii features the Everybody Votes Channel where people weigh in on both lighthearted questions and important world events. You can even test your instincts on the issues by predicting the outcome of the polls and then check in to see how close you were! If a blast from the past is what you need, the Nintendo Wii features the Virtual Console Channels that allow you to download classic games from the Wii Shop Channel and play them on your Wii.

Despite all of those options, the most popular of the Nintendo Wii features is the Disk Channel where you not only load the disks of your favorite Wii games, but where you can play your favorites from the Nintendo Game Cube as well. And speaking of Wii games, the Nintendo Wii features the Mii Channel where you can create caricatured portraits of players who can be used in many of the Wii games. Each person in your family can have their own, personalized character that they will take with them on all their Wii adventure.

Surely the revolutionary controllers of the Nintendo Wii are what is driving customers to the stores, but it is the Nintendo Wii features that will help them enjoy their purchase at a level not possible on other game consoles.

For easy to understand, in depth information about Nintendo Wii features visit our ezGuide 2 Nintendo.

Wii Vs PS3 - 6 Features to Compare Before Choosing Your Console

One of the questions people ask me the most, is which video games console they should buy - a Wii vs PS3. It's a really difficult question to answer in one sentence because these two consoles are so different from each other.

The features of both games consoles go beyond simple gaming, and the best console is the one that matches your lifestyle. To help you make the right decision, here are the 6 most important features to think about when comparing the Wii vs PS3:

Casual gamer or hardcore gamer
Type of games
Graphics
Online features
Entertainment system
Price

Casual gamer or hardcore gamer

The Nintendo Wii is designed for people who have never played video games before. The Wii mote controller makes you feel like you're inside the game, and creates a gaming experience that's a real thrill.

The Wii is at its best when you're playing with a group of friends.

It always amazes me how much fun we have with our friends every time we play on the Wii. Everyone gets really into it even if they have never played video games before. Playing the Wii definitely has a WOW factor about it.

In contrast, the Playstation 3 is designed with gamers in mind. Everything from the sleek black lines of the console, to the High Definition graphics and massive hard drive space heightens the senses of more experienced gamers. The PS3 is a great machine for getting some mates together, and spending hours playing the latest shooter or your favorite sports game.

Type of games

The simplest reason why the Wii has become such hot property around the world is because the Wii games are easy for everyone to pick up and play. The Wii mote controller is easy to master and most of the games have fairly basic stories.

Instead of complex characters and cutscenes, Wii games are designed to be highly interactive and a little quirky. The characters are often outrageous and the emphasis of the Wii games is usually more on fun than on winning.

PS3 games are often part video game and part movie production compared to the Wii games. Action games for the PS3 have complex characters and stories, and the games bring the characters to life through the highly detailed action and cinematic cutscenes that tie in the past, present and future of the main characters.

Most of the sports games, music games and action games for the PS3 are also available on the Wii, although these are often cut down versions of the PS3 game. The stronger graphics and processing ability of the PS3 make the Playstation's games more complex, more intense, and more satisfying if you're an experienced gamer.

Graphics

Although the graphics on the Wii are very, very good, the Wii doesn't have High Definition (HD) capability. The PS3 has full HD capability and the PS3 games have stunning, life-like graphics.

Most Wii games are designed with bright, crisp graphics. This creates a more playful and relaxed gaming experience that appeals to both younger and less experienced gamers. The graphics in many PS3 games, however, make full use of the HD picture quality, and can be beautiful to look at.

Online features

The Wii has some great online features but not all games can be played against other people online. The Wii Shop is the place to buy downloadable games and software for your Wii. The Wii Shop has lots of great games and Wii Channels to download, and new content is released every week. The Wii's online service is more focused on social networking through the Miis, friends message boards and sharing photos, than on playing games against other people.

Sony is busy building a social network for PS3 users called "Home" but this has had some major problems and is still under construction!

The PS3 Store has a good line up of game demos and downloadable content for games, and is a match for the Wii Shop in this area. At this stage the PS3's online features are more focused on playing games against other people online, and this is where the real action is when you go online with your PS3.

Entertainment system

The PS3 is more of a complete entertainment system than the Wii.

The Wii is made to play video games and occasionally surf the internet through the Wii web browser. The Wii can't play DVDs or CDs, so you'll use it mostly to play games and communicate with your friends over the internet. This isn't an issue though if you already have a DVD player and a CD player.

The PS3 sells itself as an entertainment system rather than a pure games console. One of the PS3's key features is the built-in Blu Ray DVD player for watching High Definition DVDs. The PS3 can also play regular DVDs, CDs and MP3 music files. You can even store your music on the PS3's hard drive like you do on your computer.

Price

Nintendo has built the Wii to be a no frills games console that's designed to give you a great gaming experience. It plays great games and it plays them brilliantly!

Because Nintendo has cut out the expensive entertainment and graphics hardware, the Wii console is relatively cheap at $250 in the US and £179 in the UK. It's affordable to a lot of people, and because the games are not as complicated to make as the PS3 games, the Wii games are cheaper to buy than PS3 games too.

The PS3 has gorgeous graphics, a High Definition Blu Ray DVD player, a huge hard drive, wireless internet and great looks. But all of this comes at a price...

The PS3 costs $399 in the US and £279 in the UK.

The Wii vs PS3 Wrap Up

These are the 6 most important features to look at when comparing the Wii vs PS3!

The Wii is a great video games console guaranteed to give you, your family and friends hours and hours of fun and laughter. Although not complicated, the games are fun and quirky and the console is relatively cheap. If you enjoy playing more casual games and you're looking for a video games console that brings friends together for a great time every time, then the Wii is the perfect console for you.

If you're more of a hardcore gamer and you're looking for a gaming experience that stimulates your senses with stunning graphics, complex stories and a complete High Definition entertainment system to boot, then I recommend spending your hard earned money on a Sony PS3.

Steve Braude runs the website Nintendo Wii Explained.com. Like the Nintendo Wii, this website is fun and vibrant with articles that explain all the features of the Wii console, its games and accessories in plain, simple English.

Learn about all the great features of the Wii console in a way that's easy to understand at http://www.nintendo-wii-explained.com/