Nintendo Wii

[laklak]

from wikipedia
Wii is Nintendo's smallest home game console yet, being approximately the size of three standard DVD cases stacked together. The console has been confirmed to have the ability to stand either horizontally or vertically. The front of the console features a self-loading media drive illuminated by a blue light and accepts both 12 cm DVDs and 8 cm optical discs from Nintendo's prior console, the Nintendo GameCube.[1] Nintendo has stated that a small attachment can be purchased separately to play DVD-Video discs.[21] The ability to load different sized discs is uncommon in slot-loading media drives, which typically only accept discs of a single size.
Nintendo has shown the Wii and Wii Remote in various colors including silver, lime green, white, black, blue and red.[22][23] IGN sources have suggested that Wii will be available in both black and white colors.[9] The final colors of the console are still to be announced.

The systems shown at E3 2006 and in various trailers appear to have several small changes from the original design. Not only had the Nintendo branding on the case been replaced with a 'Wii' logo, but the disc loading slot had been enlarged slightly, the reset button had been moved from next to the eject button to the power button, and the power indicator light had been moved from next to the power button to inside the button.

A second flap cover is located on the front of the machine, which opens to disclose an SD card slot in the middle[24] and a "SYNCHRO" button, used to link the controllers to the console. [25][26]


Controller


The "Wii-Mote"

The primary controller for the Wii uses a one-handed, remote control-based design. The controller communicates wirelessly with the console via Bluetooth.[1] It features an integrated accelerometer, which allows it to sense linear motion along three axes, as well as tilt. The controller also contains a tracking image sensor, which, in tandem with a sensor bar, gives the controller light gun-like pointer capabilities within 5 meters (approx. 16.5 ft.) of the screen.[1] [28] Up to four controllers can be connected at once and operated as far as ten meters from the console.[1] The remote has force-feedback capabilities and can be utilized like an NES gamepad when rotated. An internal audio speaker can be used to play sound effects and provides an enhanced depth of sound field. The Wii-mote features 6KB of non-volatile memory. It can run up to 60 hours using only the accelerometer function with two alkaline AA batteries and up to 30 hours when using the precision aim.[28] The buttons on the controller are digital and include a D-pad, A, B, 1, 2, -, +, Home and Power buttons as well as a SYNCHRO button located underneath the battery cover.

The Wii Remote can be augmented by various add-ons. Announced expansions include: the included Nunchuk controller (which also has accelerometer capabilities, but no pointer ability) featuring an analog stick and two additional digital buttons (C and Z), a Classic Controller for playing Virtual Console and GameCube games, and may have a "Zapper Style" shell, displayed as a concept at E3 2006, for first-person shooter gameplay which also includes a control stick on the top.[1]

In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that Nintendo hopes to allow Wii controllers to be personalized for each gamer. Applications would include different game settings determined by the preferences of the controller that turned on the console.[29] Mr. Miyamoto has also discussed the possibility of further changes to the controller before launch, stating that the design team is, "still debating the number of buttons to use." [30]

This is what got me all excited

The Virtual Console is an online service, similar to Xbox Live Arcade, that allows users to download games not only for the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, but also Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive and NEC's TurboGrafx-16 systems. It will not include every released title. Nintendo has also stated that this service "...will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets."

My gaming history: i got my first NES in 1989, i was around 7 at the time, then i got my family computer in 1990 since my NES at that time wasnt working properly since it uses different cartridge than the ones available locally. (i had to use an adaptor). Around 1992 i got the Sega Genesis and around 1995 the 32X addon for the genesis. I could distinctly remeber the price of game cartridges at that time was around 500 bucks. In 1997 i got my PSone then finally, i got my xbox around 2004.

I really like the virtual console idea, since id be able to download my favorite 8 bit and 16 bit games, specially the Castlevania series. I was actually torn between xbox 360 and the wii but since im not really fond of role playing games and all those 3D enivironment games, i thought it would be a waste to buy xbox360 if i would only be playing nba live and fifa on it. I just want simple games which could provide me some stress relief. Plus, rumor has it that this console could be priced at around 250 USD, or maybe lower.