The Nintendo Wii: a Fun and Affordable Console

The Nintendo Wii released in November 2006, and I have just now picked one up. Believe it or not, I had to go to several different stores spanning over a couple days time to find one (just in the past week). What appears to be a very popular console is now in my possession, and I will give some of my opinions on the console.

First, you get many things in the box. It contains the Wii itself, a "wiimote," nunchuck, sensor bar, stand for the Wii, and Wii Sports. I will review Wii Sports in another article.

Now, what makes the Wii so unique is the motion sensing technology. In some games, like Wii Sports for example, actions you perform are performed on the screen. Like swinging a baseball bat, or striking a tennis ball with your racket. It is a very creative way of gaming and something different.

The Nintendo Wii retails at $250. An extra wiimote costs $40, and another nunchuck costs $20. The console itself has a great price tag, but having to buy a wiimote and a nunchuck can have some people a little annoyed, considering that totals $60.

The console itself is small, fitting into places other consoles would not. Before I bought the Wii, my parents were concerned about where it would go. I told them not to worry because it was small, and doesn't require much space. One thing I don't like about the Wii is that it does not play CDs or DVDs. This would have been a nice feature, but for some reason was left out.

Loading times on the console are very short. Games load fast, so there is not a lot of waiting. Some other consoles have games with long loading times, which really takes away from the gaming. The Wii is quite the opposite, and will have you playing in no time.

When you turn on the console, you will get to the menu, which has many channels. The menu itself has a nice look and feel to it. If you have an internet connection, you can check weather, news and more in some of the channels. There is also the "Mii" channel. This is where you create a "Mii," or a character that looks like you, and play it in games like Wii Sports and Wii Play. Making myself was really cool, and there are dozens of ways to customize your Mii.

Overall, visuals on the system are not "next-generation." But, graphics are not everything. It's all about fun, and the Wii really delivers when it comes to that.

One last thing I want to mention is the fact that anyone can easily get into a game and start playing. It is not confusing and takes very little time to get used to. Watching my Mom and Dad play is something I will remember for some time, and my mom has trouble turning on a computer.

Overall, if you're looking for a fun console that anyone can play, the Nintendo Wii is best for you. It really is something amazing, and at only $250, almost anyone can afford it. That is, if you can find one!