EnergeticNintendo's next console, the Wii (codename Revolution), comes out November 19, 2006. That is an unbelievable 9 days away! Only 9 days until the best console ever devised comes to life. Just visit wii.nintendo.com if you don't believe me.
The controller is similar to a remote control, but has much more power over boredom. It knows exactly where you move it, and how you twist it. If you play a game where you swing a racket and you don't know the controls, most likely swinging the controller will get the correct response. If you need to shoot something, just try pointing at the target and pressing the trigger. Throwing a football in Madden '07 is also done in a similar way. You can also get expansions for the controller, such as the nunchuck, which provides an analog stick for movement and two triggers. Left-handed? Just switch which hand holds which part of the controller, and your still set to play.
One thing that I like is the Wii's ability to play any Gamecube game that has ever been made and that will ever be made. You just plug in a Gamecube controller and memory card, and it's like you never changed consoles. Also, putting in a game just requires putting the disc in the slot. There's no tray to deal with. So if it is basically a Gamecube with extras, how big is it? Stack 3 DVD cases on top of each other, and that's about it. The smallest console out there, but with the coolest features.
You can use the internal flash memory, but if you run out, just stick in any SD card, and you've just added 1, 2, even 4 gigs of space for pictures, music, and saved games. Speaking of saved games, remember the whole XBox Live thing where you paid Microsoft for the privilege of updating the game you already bought? Well, the Wii will do it for you, wirelessly, without you telling to, free. Oh, and while you sleep.
The Wii will do many amazing things while you are sleeping, or more accurately, while it sleeps. When the console is turned off, WiiConnect24 kicks in, where it will download updates, messages from other people, and even weather and news. Yes, you can send text messages and pictures to cell phones with the Wii. Oh, did I mention all this online stuff is free? When you wake up and turn on the Wii, it already knows the answers to questions you haven't asked it yet. Is it raining outside? Yes. Did that bill in Congress pass? No. It knows in the weather and news "channels."
You can also create a character down to the detail of eye shape and size. This character can be stored in the controller and used on any console. The game that comes with the Wii (free) is Wii Sports, and you are the player, not some choose 1 of the following 10 characters. Play tennis, bowling, golf, and boxing, all with the movement of the controller, as yourself.
Oh yeah, and all this is just $250. While other games are $60 - $100 each, the Wii games are still starting at $50. You can even download games from the N64, SNES, NES, and the Genesis using "Wii points." Also, you can surf the Internet between commercials.
I don't know where to stop talking about this, but there is no excuse to get another console over the Wii. None. Period.
Okay, I'm done now.
-Paul Spangler
UPDATE: Well, maybe 10 days... my server's time is an hour behind my time.
Last Updated: 2006-11-09 23:52:45
