About The Wii Game Console

At the simplest level, the Wii game console is the game unit itself. Some people talk as if the console is the entire system, rather than its heart, so the distinction is necessary. But, semantics aside, that description barely scratches the surface of the unit that makes up a major component of the whole system.

The unit itself is small and lightweight, which is great for those gamers who want to be able to take their console with them. At 1.75 inches high by 6.25 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep and weighing in at less than three pounds, it is portable and sturdy enough to travel.

After reading your PC specs (say, 4GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive, and a 3.0GHz CPU), you might not come away impressed with the Wii game console. But remember, this unit has only one role in life: to support gaming. That makes even its modest-sounding 88MB internal memory, 512MB flash storage, and 729MHz PowerPC CPU sound a little more impressive.

The connectivity options are robust, too. You can connect up to four Wii Remote controllers wirelessly using the built-in Bluetooth support. For those who already own a Nintendo GameCube (the Wii's predecessor), the four physical ports will be appreciated, as well. The SD card slot makes displaying images and video a snap and, thanks to the ever increasing storage capacity of the cards, very handy for storing games and more.

Throw in 2 USB ports and Dolby Pro stereo and you have got a game console that can offer outstanding sound. Sadly, the graphics features do not quite match the Xbox or PS3, but the 3D motion-sensor wireless remote control makes up for a lot. Still, with progressive scan 480p, the graphics are still quite good, the equal of a clean-looking DVD on a high-end set from only a few years back.

The operating system software makes all that keen hardware a breeze to use. Arranged around channels, the user visually selects from large rectangles using the hand-held Wiimote's pointing capability.

The six primary channels (Disc, Mii, Photo, Shop, Forecast, and News) provide plenty to explore right out of the box. But the channels are just the gateway to thousands more fun things! Those are supplemented by an ever-expanding array of games available via optical discs or online, with many classic Nintendo games available via the Virtual Console and hundreds more from Wii Shop online.

You can play GameCube games on the Wii and insert Gamecube discs, memory cards, and controllers. Since the console allows you to plug in additional controllers like the Nunchuk and the Classic Controller, and third party controllers like the Nyko Wireless, this unit is extremely flexible.

Thanks to the console's ability to wirelessly accept Nintendo DS right out of the box, users can take advantage of the touchscreen feature and microphone support without effort.

Price wise the Nintendo Wii just can not be beat. But you don't sacrifice features to get that savings. Millions of adults have now become avid gamers because of the ease-of-use of this system, and the excellently designed console is a major part of that well deserved success.



The Wii Virtual Console

Don't you sometimes wish you had a time machine to the golden past? The Wii Virtual Console provides something like that.

The Wii Virtual Console opens up hundreds of old timers games via a section of the Wii Shop channel. It is a simple matter to connect to this Nintendo Internet web site (Wii Shop is right on the menu), then navigate to VC. Once you do, you will find a huge library of games from the past. Many of them have been updated to play even better on the Wii.

The options stretch all the way back to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). They travel to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the Nintendo 64, and up to many GameCube offerings. The company has even made licensing arrangements with favorites from Sega, Genesis, and TurboGrafx to provide the largest possible assortment.

Some of them are fun for the sake of nostalgia, like the early Mario games. Others will challenge even the most skilled gamer who is used to the complex, high action games of today. There are games in between suitable for gamers of all skill levels.

Most of them can be played using an inexpensive Wii accessory called the Classic Controller. It offers the traditional-style control via a D-pad, thumb sticks, and several buttons. But the GameCube controller, which can easily be plugged into the Wii game console, can also be used and offers a wide range of classic-style play options.

Many legacy games offer a new experience when they are played using the now standard Wii controllers: the Wiimote and the Nunchuk. With their 3D motion-controlled and point-click features they provide a whole new way to enjoy the classic games from past Nintendo gaming consoles.

Any game downloaded from the Virtual Console site is stored in the Wii's built-in 512MB internal flash storage system, where they are immediately available for play. But any games not in use can be transferred easily to an SD card. The console unit houses an SD slot for 2GB cards.

There are some limitations

Games can not be directly played from the SD card, but have to be loaded back into internal storage before use. They also can not be transferred to another user's Wii system which would violate the copyright. Each VC game is locked onto a particular console. If your Wii game console becomes inoperable, though, Nintendo customer service has a means of allowing you to use your purchased VC games on a repaired or new Wii game console. All you need are the serial numbers.

Downloading games from the Virtual Console is an easy-to-use, low-cost way to open up your library of options to include hundreds of games from the distant and recent past. Millions of Wii game console users have done so and, if the gaming forum comments are a good indication, they are really happy they did.

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