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Wii
- For the Series of games starting with the word "Wii", see Wii (series)
The Wii (ウィー, Uī) is a Nintendo console that was released on November 19, 2006 in the United States for $249.99. It was then released in Japan on December 2, 2006, Australia on December 7, 2006, and the United Kingdom on December 8, 2006. Nintendo's console serves as the company's competition against Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. In every country except Japan, Wii Sports is included with the Wii. For Wii Sports, in a conference, Shigeru Miyamoto explained how when they were creating the baseball game, they originally had Mario characters rather than the Mii characters, but soon decided to change it. The Wii came with 30 titles at its launch. Before the official name was announced on April 27, it was codenamed Revolution. The Wii has backwards compatibility with the Nintendo GameCube, meaning GameCube games can be inserted into the disc slot and be played on the Wii.
Unlike the Nintendo GameCube, Wii game discs are standard CD-sized. As more games are being released on the Wii, more games that utilize Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection have been made. This allows players to interact with other players around the world in games. The first game in the North American region to do so was Pokémon Battle Revolution on June 25, 2007.
Contents
Features
Wii Remote
Wii's controller is a strange and revolutionary one, instead of taking the dual-control-stick layout of the previous generation like its competitors, it is in a remote control form, with attachments available to work with compatible games, such as a control stick on a nunchuck attachment, or the classic controller, which takes on a layout similar to the other consoles' main controller. The Wii Remote is wireless, and features many innovations such as motion and tilt sensing, a first for game controllers.
Wii Menu
The console features a custom GUI made up of different-- and expandable-- channels, all of which, save the Disc Channel, can be moved around to any of the 47 spaces available on the main menu. New channels can be downloaded via the Wii Shop Channel, including a browser and games from older systems playable via Virtual Console.
Wii also has the ability to send messages to and from other devices, so long as the Wii sends out the first message, an address book confirmation message, to the email address or cell phone number in question. When the recipient replies to the Wii's message, communication between the two devices will be active, and via WiiConnect24, others can leave messages for players of the console on its message board from anywhere in the world.
Backward compatibility
Wii is also backwards-compatible with all GameCube games, as well as with most of GameCube's accessories, such as the controllers, memory cards, GameCube to GBA cables, and microphone. This backwards compatibility also means it is the first home console released by Nintendo to do so.
System Specs
- Processor: IBM designed, codenamed Broadway.
- Graphics: ATI designed, codenamed Hollywood.
- Drive: Slot-loading drive uses a 12cm proprietary format, which is rumored to hold the same data as a dual-layered DVD. Also plays GameCube disks.
- Internet: Wireless through 802.11b and 802.11g or by purchasing a cable adapter. "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection" is the service, which only requires a wireless connection to the internet. Game downloading will also be functional, for downloading old Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX, Turbografx, C64, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, MegaDrive/Genesis or Nintendo 64 games.
- Backwards Compatibility: In addition to being able to play GCN games, the Wii also has a bay with 4 GCN controller ports and 2 GCN memory card slots.
- Storage: In addition to the GCN memory card slots, the Wii also sports 2 flash memory slots.
- Controllers: Supports up to 4 of Nintendo's new wireless "remote" style controllers. (See below)
- I/O: 1 Component digital out, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 power input.
- Design: Thickness is about 3 DVD cases. Has been previewed in multiple colors, as has the controllers.
Reception
The Wii has gained generally good reception. In Japan, artists created a fanmade mascot named Wii-tan.
References
See Also
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