Wantusawa

By Darren Lintern

The Wii which is the newest console to be released by Nintendo which was released on November 19th; just two days after Sony officially launched its PlayStation 3 on the 17th. The release of the Wii has had gamers the world over excited about gaming.

Nintendo is back for another round of the console wars with its Wii (pronounced "we"). As the GameCube failed to meet expectations, Nintendo has changed its focus and it intending to take console gaming into a brand new direction. With the Wii, Nintendo are attempting to attract not only the hardcore gamers, but also the non-gamers to its new console. It may sound crazy, but if the recent popularity of its handheld system the DS Lite is any indication, Nintendo may surely be on to something.

What is Nintendo trying to do to make the Wii so special? It isn't simply relying on its graphic capabilities. In truth, its graphics are only just superior to that of the original Xbox console. What truly has the gamer captivated is the way the games are played. Nintendo is attempting to change the way in which people look at the games console, by introducing a brand new way of playing games.

With the Nintendo Wii the days of button bashing on a joystick or gaming pad are gone. The controller is now simply intended to be moved like a wand. Your actions are than represented in real time on your TV screen. The hand controller does still have some buttons on it, but there are still far less of them compared to the likes or the PlayStation3 and Xbox360 controllers.

Although only the more basic games can be played with the wand type remote, the more complex games will need to use a special remote attachment. This attachment is referred to as the "nun-chuk" which will need to be plugged into the base of the regular remote. It will add the benefit of an analogue stick, in addition to two trigger buttons. The nun-chuk is needed during game play for actions such as moving your character, shooting guns, and interacting with various objects.

There is another benefit that is available on the Nintendo Wii that is differentiating itself from the other consoles. It is equipped with something that is called the "Virtual Console". To define this briefly, the Virtual Console enables you to download games from older gaming systems. Although at the stage, not every game is readily available for purchase, however, Nintendo has plans to release new titles to its Virtual Console every week.

At the present time, games from the following consoles are available: the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografx -16. These games can than be purchased via a points system. These points are available either thru the Wii console itself, or at nationwide retailers. Prices start out at $5 for the NES Games and increasing up to $10 for the N64 games. A separate control is likely to be needed to play the games of the Virtual Console. However, most games can be played using a GameCube controller.

The current retail price for the Nintendo Wii stands at $249.99. However, due to the continued shortage of the Wii, it is difficult for many to get their hands on this console system. It can easily be found on many of the major auction websites, although at a much steeper price.

When unpacking the box you will discover: the Nintendo Wii games console, all the required cables and adapters, Wii Sports (a game featuring 5 different sports), and the controller, which is split into two variants; the regular remote, as well as the nun-chuk remote attachment. If required additional remotes are available for $39.99 and the nun-chuk attachment sold separately for $19.99. Also, to take advantage of the Virtual Console, the "Classic" controller will retail for $19.99 each.

If early sales and buzz during the launch together with the continuing demand are anything to go by, the Nintendo Wii is, and will continue to be, a smashing hit. Nintendo is not only intending to please its hardcore gaming fans, but also to cater to the casual and non-gamers as well. This is the complete opposite of Sony with its PlayStation 3 and Microsoft with its Xbox 360, who are mostly going after the many hardcore gamers.

For more Nintendo Wii information try visiting www.andallconsoles, a popular games console website that provides console news, tips, and game reviews for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

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