Wii

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Wii
Manufacturer: Nintendo

The Wii (pronounced "we") is Nintendo's fifth home console, the successor to the Nintendo GameCube and the first no specifically omit the name "Nintendo" in its title. A unique feature of the Wii is the wireless motion sensing controller, which can be used as a handheld pointing device as well as detect motion in three dimensions. Another unique feature is the stand-by feature entitled WiiConnect24, which allows for the Wii to receive messages and updates over the internet while in stand-by mode.

Until Nintendo announced the console's official name on April 27, 2006, the official codename of Wii was the Nintendo Revolution.

On release, it quickly became the top selling console of its generation.

History

The console was conceived in 2001, as the Nintendo GameCube was first seeing release. Nintendo sought to bring a new level of player interaction to gameplay. Two years later, engineers and designers were brought together to develop the concept further. By 2005, the controller interface had taken form, but a public showing at that year's E3 was withdrawn as there was still a bit of troubleshooting do with the controller. However, the console was displayed at that years E3. Later, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata later unveiled and demonstrated the Wii Remote at the September Tokyo Game Show.

The Nintendo DS is said to have influenced the Wii design. In fact, a prototype with a DS style touch panel was created but ultimately rejected.

Features

The console contains a number of internal features made available from its hardware and firmware components. The hardware allows for extendability through expansion ports while the firmware can receive periodic updates via the WiiConnect24 service.

Wii Menu

The Wii Menu operating system interface is designed around the concept of television channels. Separate channels are graphically displayed in a grid and are navigated using the pointer capability of the Wii Remote. It is possible to change the arrangement by holding down the A and B buttons to grab channels and move them around. There are six primary channels: the Disc Channel, Mii Channel, Photo Channel, Wii Shop Channel, Forecast Channel, and News Channel. The latter two were initially unavailable at launch, but activated through firmware updates. Additional channels are available for download from the Wii Shop Channel through WiiWare and also appear with each Virtual Console title. These include the Everybody Votes Channel, Internet Channel, Check Mii Out Channel, and the Nintendo Channel.

Backward compatibility

The Wii console is backward compatible with all official Nintendo GameCube software, as well as Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards and controllers. The console supports progressive-scan output in 480p-enabled GameCube titles. Peripherals can be connected via a set of four GameCube controller ports and two Memory Card slots concealed by removable flip-open panels. The console therefore retains connectivity with the Game Boy Advance and e-Reader through the Game Boy Advance Cable, which is used in the same manner as it was used with the GameCube.

A Wii console running a GameCube disc is restricted to GameCube functionality. As such, a GameCube controller is required to play GameCube titles, as neither the Wii Remote nor the Classic Controller functions in this capacity. A Nintendo GameCube Memory Card is also necessary to save game progress and content, as the Wii internal flash memory will not save GameCube games.

Backward compatibility is limited in some areas. Online and LAN-enabled features for Nintendo GameCube titles are unavailable on the Wii, as the console lacks serial ports for the Broadband Adapter and Modem Adapter. The console uses a proprietary port for video output and is therefore incompatible with all Nintendo GameCube audio/video cables (composite video, S-Video, component video and RGB SCART). The console also lacks the GameCube footprint and high-speed port needed for Game Boy Player support.

Nintendo DS connectivity

The Wii system supports wireless connectivity with the Nintendo DS without any additional accessories. This connectivity allows the player to use the Nintendo DS microphone and touchscreen as inputs for Wii games. The first example Nintendo has given of a game using Nintendo DS-Wii connectivity is that of Pokémon Battle Revolution. Players with either the Pokémon Diamond or Pearl Nintendo DS games are able to play battles using their Nintendo DS as a controller. Nintendo later released the Nintendo Channel, which allows Wii owners to download game demos or additional data to their Nintendo DS in a process similar to that of a DS Download Station. The console is also able to expand Nintendo DS games.

Virtual Console

The Virtual Console, a retro game download service, is one of the top draws of the console for old-school gamers. For a small fee players can download and play classic video games spanning many consoles.

Known specifications

  • Processors:
    • IBM PowerPC CPU "Broadway": ~729 MHz (1.5x faster than the GameCube's "Gekko")
    • ATI GPU "Hollywood":
      • Upgraded version of the GameCube's GPU
  • Memory:
    • 88 MiB 1T-SRAM by MoSys
    • 512 MiB built-in flash memory
      • Stores Wii game save data, downloaded channels, and firmware updates.
  • Ports:
    • Two USB 2.0 ports.
    • Proprietary Sensor Bar port (provides power to the Sensor Bar)
    • Wii Multi-AV Out (not compatible with earlier Nintendo AV cables)
    • Nintendo GameCube memory card slots for GameCube compatibility
  • Controllers:
    • Up to 4 Nintendo Wii Remotes
      • Extension controllers for Wii Remotes:
        • Nunchuk
        • Classic Controller
        • MotionPlus (revealed E3 2008)
    • Nintendo GameCube controller ports, used for GameCube games and some Wii games
  • Media:
    • Slot loading optical disc drive compatible with both 12 cm and 8 cm proprietary optical discs (again, for GameCube compatibility) as well as standard DVD discs.
    • 2× front loading SD memory card slots.
  • Networking:
    • Broadcom 802.11g wireless module
    • Optional USB Ethernet adapter (Asix AX88772 chipset)

See also

External links