2008 Woodie Awards
Groovy Gadget: Nintendo Wii: What a holiday treat
Will Bowlin
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: Features
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That's the day Nintendo will release its new video game console, the Wii, for North America. Nintendo has a history of innovation, and the Wii is no exception.
The company's unconventional controller design could revolutionize the way games are played, a feat that wouldn't be a first for Nintendo.
That, combined with a $250 price tag, the cheapest of the next-gen systems, is sure to have the Wii at the top of a lot of holiday wish lists.
What makes the Wii special is its controller.
The single-handed wireless Bluetooth controller looks more like a TV remote than anything else and contains sensors that let it detect movement on three axes and tilt.
It also has an optical sensor that lets it tell where it's pointing.
What all that means is that games will be played by moving the controller instead of just pushing buttons.
The controller also has a built in speaker for increased depth of sound and rumble feature.
That lets developers create games with new levels of interactivity and innovation.
In a sword fight, you have to actually swing your blade to block and strike, or in a tennis game you have to "hit" the ball using the remote.
It runs smoothly, letting players feel more directly involved in the game, according to Nintendo.
Nintendo also will release several attachments for the remote to allow the Wii an even higher level of flexibility in game design.
The Wii will feature free online access and a Virtual Console store that will allow players to purchase Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 games online. All can be played on the Wii.
It also is backward-compatible with old Gamecube games.
The system will release with several strong launch titles to play, with a few classics and a newcomer or two.
Some titles include the long anticipated "Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Red Steel," a game that puts players in the shoes of a sword-wielding Japanese crime lord.
Some criticisms of the Wii are its lack of a DVD playback feature and the fact that out of the three next-gen systems, the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and the Wii, it has the weakest graphics.
The Wii definitely is a hot holiday item, however, so keep your eyes peeled for one and try it out.
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