The Nintendo Wii - Is This a Life Changing Device?
Friday, October 24th, 2008The Nintendo Wii was officially launched in 2006. It is distinctly different from other gaming systems. Most people think the wireless controller is the major features difference, but there is much more. The Nintendo Wii is alot more flexible then simply just playing games. You can also insert the SD card from your camera and view and edit photos with ease. Internet surfing is another option as well.
The 2 main external components of the Nintendo Wii are the Wiimote and Nunchuck. These devices are used to interact with the games using motion, gestures, and angles. This concept is not totally new as other manufactures have attempted the same thing using cameras, but never succeed. With the initial 512mb internal memory you are sure to have enough space to save you games. But just in case that is not enough, you can always purchase an SD memory card to expand as much as you like.
The Nintendo Wii just like any other system has a wide variety of games that reach all kinds of different gamers, maybe even more variety than the other two consoles. But this variety isn’t just limited to two distinct markets (there’s more than just hardcore & casual). Players might find themselves doing a double-take on the description screen. This motion control enhancement allows anyone to jump in and play while reflecting the actual movements for a more tactical, physical experience. Player 1 will light up on the far left, Player 2 the next over, and so on. The second purpose is to illustrate battery life. Players now have greater control of their whole team instead of just individual players, with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck providing an experience more in-depth than on any other format.
Xbox 360 is definitely feeling the heat from the Nintendo Wii. Just the first week results yielded Nintendo Wii at 310,000 sales. Xbox landed at 110,000, while PS3 was in last at 50,000.
When you setup your Nintendo Wii, you create a Mii character. Each new user will create a Mii character as well. You can then play against other Mii’s for a more personalized experience. The more you play your Mii, the more your skill level will increase, showing you how much you have improved. With a simple connection to the internet you can play web based games such as Solitaire from the Wii console.
Physical therapists find the Nintendo Wii to be very useful in rehabilitating patients. From surgery recovery to strokes, broken bones, and other injuries, the Wii games use movements similar to that of physical therapy. The major benefit to this is it gets the players mentally involved which takes away the pain and rigor of the physical aspect. Nintendo Wii has also proved to be a good weight loss and exercise regimen. With games like Dance Dance Revolution and the Wiimote, user get a very physical hands on experience no other game has. But with all these benefits, the Wiimote does lack in the ability to play more serious games.
Other video games do have some health benefits. The main one being the eye-hand coordination, but that is about it.
Couch potatoes and doctors will both agree that the new design of the Nintendo Wii will be pleasing to anyone who tries it.