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HomeTopics...Wii
Wii: Advancement of Gaming TechnologyWii (pronounced "We") is a Nintendo-produced video game system. The company released Wii as the successor to the Nintendo Game Cube, the smallest, cheapest version of sixth generation gaming systems. As a video game console of the seventh generation of gaming systems, the Wii directly competes with both the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony.
To gain an edge on their competitors, Nintendo claims that the Wii is accessible and desirable to a wider demographic. While Nintendo first introduced the concept of the Wii as the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), a tradeshow for introducing the latest programs and consoles in computer and video games, a prototype of it wasn’t available until the Tokyo Game Show, the largest gaming tradeshow, in September 2005. Over a year later in December 2006, Nintendo made the Wii available in four key test markets.
Currently, Wii sales are below sales of the Xbox but beat out sales of the PlayStation 3. The Features of the WiiThe Wii, the smallest gaming system Nintendo has ever produced, is the physical equivalent of about three DVDs standing up back to back. Because it weighs less than three pounds, the Wii is also the lightest weight system Nintendo has ever made. Another unique feature of this gaming console is that users can place it either vertically or horizontally, depending on their individual needs.
Game discs for the system fit into the illuminated slit that serves as the media drive. Wii systems accept both the Wii Optical Discs that are 12 cm in diameter and the Nintendo GameCube Discs that are 8 cm in diameter. The light on the media drive only illuminates when the system is receiving and deciphering new WiiConnect24 information from the manufacturer. During gaming or the use of other Wii features, the light remains off. While the USB ports are located at the back of the Wii console, the Secure Digital (SD) card, a type of flash memory card for portable devices, sits at the front of the unit. This SD card is crucial to backing up game data so users can resume particular games where they left off with them. However, the game saving feature can only be used as long as the player downloads the proper software from the Nintendo website.
Wii Hardware PackagesWhile some gamers may opt to purchase the various accessories for their Wii system individually, other prefer to get the "Wii Launch," a comprehensive package that costs between $199 to $250. The hardware and accessories that come with the Wii launch includes:
Colors for the remote (the newest remote not the nunchuk version) include:
This remote is unique from other video game controllers on the market in that is uses infrared technology, as well as a device known as an accelerometer, to identify the physical location and subsequent movements of the Wii remote. Consequently, gamers using a Wii remote can push buttons on the remote and move the remote itself around in order to advance through a game. Another advantage of the Wii remote is that it is equipped with Bluetooth, allowing it to connect with other digital electronic devices you own throughout your home. To prevent dropping the remote during gaming or other activities, the Wii remove also has an attachable strap that easily fits over the wrist.
Strengths of the WiiSome of the biggest advantages of Wii gaming system include:
Limitations of the WiiAlthough the Wii is a progressive, technologically advanced gaming system, it does have some limitations. The biggest complaint associated with the Wii is that only people in specific locations are able to download the manufacturer updates and repair strategies available through the WiiConnect24. As a result, many people have to send their Wiis into the Nintendo factory for repair and updates.
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