Apparently, the Wii system, the Wii Fit, some games and some accessories are so hard to come by, the vultures errrrr the sellers on eBay (who charge double) are laughing all the way to their banks or Paypal accounts.
Recently, I strolled into my local Wal-Mart and hit a virtual lottery. They not only had one Wii system and one Wii Fit, they had all the accessories I wanted. So I walked out with a payload that made me think that I should've actually played the state lottery that day. You should have seen the looks on my wife and daughter's faces... think Christmas, but with even more shock and elation.
My wife wanted the Wii system so we could work out AND play video games together. The fact that our kids love the Wii is just a mere bonus. For those of you who have been living in some remote country or don't know about the Wii... it combines video gaming with actual human interaction and movement. The paddle, the golf club, the fishing pole are moved by the user's motion. This motion sends signals from the Wii-mote to the screen so your character moves as you do. Brilliant!
Even more brilliant is that the Wii-Fit was created by a man who enjoyed weighing himself everyday. When they tried to weigh a Sumo wrestler, they needed two scales. He saw this and realised that not only can you weight the heavy warrior, he could learn balance. That evolved into the balance board and the player became a "human joystick." Ultra brilliant!
What Comes in the Well-Designed Wii Box:
(1) Controller or Wii-mote
(1) Nunchuk controller
(1) Wii console
(1) Wii console base
(1) A/C adapter
(1) Connection cable
(1) Wii Sports games on one disc
Manual and Guide books (in English, French and Spanish)
The white monolithic console (itself) measures 6-1/8" tall x 1-3/4" wide x 8-1/2" deep. So it really doesn't take up much space. The controllers, games and peripherals can get a bit cumbersome though. Depending on how many you have and how you store them.
The included game is Wii Sports and includes Boxing, Tennis, Bowling, Golf and Baseball. I should mention, the games on this disc have a very kid-friendly look and feel to them. If you want true detailed graphics, most of these games has an adult version available at retail stores or eBay. For instance, if you like Golf, the Tiger Woods Golf game is really life-like. When you play Bowling, you virtually throw the ball down the lane. When you play Tennis, you actually serve and swing forehand and backhand strokes. When you play Boxing, WOW do you get a workout!
As you set up your system, you can create your "Mii" character. This is an animated little version of your likeness and those of your family. Once created, many of the Wii games will actually use your Mii characters in the actual game. These characters are stored on the system's Wii-mote. Once created, you can bring your Wii-motes to your friend's house and transfer your character(s) to another Wii system.
What We Like:
The Wii is a home-based gaming platform that mixes gaming with human interaction and movement. The boxing game is an amazing workout. It seems to take on a whole new feeling when spouses play though (sheepish grin). If the husband wins, he's made fun of for beating a girl, yet he's made fun of for losing to a girl. But what a great workout this game is!
There are two USB connection ports in the back of the console. This allows for a USB keyboard to be used for leaving messages for other family members. I left my wife happy birthday and anniversary messages long in advance so I can score points with her (not like I really need to because I'm already such a great husband).
What We're On the Fence About:
(A minor issue) The Wii and its controllers are white which doesn't really mesh with most interiors and shows dirt quite easily. There are many people on eBay selling "skins" to dress up the Wii in a myriad of colors and patterns. Of course, there are also rubberized covers in many colors made for the controllers as well.
What We Don't Like:
Nothing... other than the fact that the Playstation 2 and ALL the games (that I spent countless dollars on) is now yesterday's news stuck in the abyss of the entertainment center.
Graphics:
The graphics range from okay on some games all the way up to stunning. I guess it depends on the particular game. I find that after purchasing the (optional) HD cables, the quality is better. The look and clarity of the images are better across the board.
Sound:
I find the sound and music to be great quality when connected directly to a TV. If you opt for the HD cables and connect them to a surround sound system, the games really envelope you even more through better picture and sound - especially a system with a subwoofer.
Accessories (So Far):
Extra Controller(s) (a must)
Extra Nunchuk(s) (a must)
Zapper Light Gun (for more realistic shooting games)
Pistol Light Gun (for more realistic shooting games)
Steering Wheel (for driving games)
Fan-Cooled Charging Base with four rechargeable batteries
Since the game only comes with one controller and nunchuk, you will need to buy at least one more of each. More than two for game involving up to four players.
I would strongly suggest getting the rechargeable battery sets and charger. The controllers will go through many batteries and that's not so great for the environment.
I like the light guns for shooting games that support it. Just makes it easier and more realistic.
Games We Purchased (So Far):
Game Party (darts, skiball, air hockey, shuffleboard, trivia, etc)
Resident Evil - The Umbrella Chronicles (horror shooter)
We Ski
Wii Fit (workout)
Pinball Hall of Fame
Need For Speed - Pro Street (car racing)
Blazing Angels (WW2 flight simulator)
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 (WW2 shooter)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Kung Fu Panda
CSI: Hard Evidence
Sonic and the Secret Rings
NOTE: While Nintendo Game Cube games will work on the Wii system, some require the purchase of an additional retro controller that plugs into the Wii-mote.
While most parents are concerned with their children getting fat while sitting around eating and playing video games, this game system actually makes players move. What a great concept! You can even get dance mats (for dance games) and make your kids hop and jump to music. The ski game and the Fit are great ways to move your body in various motion as well.
Internet Interaction
You can connect your Wii console to the internet in one of three ways:
You can link your console to your computer via your wireless router. This is done by finding your special code for your router by opening up an Explorer page (or any similar search engine) and entering your router's IP address into the search window. For example, http://192.xxx.x.x - once entered a screen will pop open and give you the code numbers you'll need to connect your Wii and PC.
OR
You can purchase a USB plug-in Wi-Fi adapter which will send a signal to your Wii console.
OR
You can simply purchase a LAN adapter, plug that into your PC and run a cable from that to the back of your Wii console.
Another great feature is the ability to play your friends and family across the internet. Both parties need a Wii console and must register each other's Wii numbers. This is a series of numbers registered to each Wii system - like a serial number.
There are also channels to download for free like weather, news, worldwide polls, the Nintendo channel and more. There are some channels and games that cost money to download. Download cards are available in stores or you can buy directly from your Wii system. You can download some old school Nintendo games for a small fee as well. If you wish to give a great gift to a kid or a hard-core gamer, there are cards available at retailers that enable the purchase of these games. Games cost in the range of 500 to 2000 points. Last time I checked, a 2000 point card was in the neighborhood of $20.
While there are some online gaming options, it is NOT nearly as intensive as the X-Box.
Get a Wii system...if you can find one (about $249.00) and a Wii-Fit (around $80) - these prices are current as of the date of this review. DO NOT pay the absurdly high prices that some on-line retailers are asking. Keep looking because the $249 is the retail price for the console and the $79 - 85 for the Wii-Fit. I see the Wii Fit on Ebay and other sources for as much as $200. That's just extortion.
A word of caution: The Wii is VERY addicting. On the upside, you might spend less time driving around doing things and more time playing at your house with your family. On the downside, you might spend WAY too much on games, accessories and peripherals after the intial investment. But how much is bonding with friends and family really worth?
Just go get one and become a Wii addict or Wii-kend Warrior!
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