Must-have Nintendo Wii accessories
The Nintendo Wii goes on sale on Sunday, November 19. Thanks to the inclusion of the simple--but infectiously fun--Wii Sports game, the Wii is the first console in recent memory that lets you have fun straight out of the box. Still, there are a few key Wii accessories you'll want to pick up to maximize your Wii experience--especially if you're buying it as a gift.
Extra controllers: Like all recent consoles, the Wii ships with just a single controller (well, one two-part controller: one Wiimote, plus one nunchuk). But the real fun of the system is playing the head-to-head Wii Sports games such as tennis and boxing. To do so, you'll need at least one extra set of controllers--and again, that's one Wiimote ($40) plus one nunchuk ($20). The Wii supports as many as four, but just the one extra controller set should suffice--at least for Christmas morning.
Rechargeable batteries: The Wiimote takes two standard AA batteries. They're included--with the Wii, and with the sold-separately version of the controller mentioned above--but avid players may find the juice draining pretty quickly, especially if they keep the nunchuk attached (it draws its power from the Wiimote). Instead of buying an endless stream of costly AAs, consider investing in a set of rechargeables. You can score a charger and four rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries for less than $25.
GameCube controllers: The Wii is fully backwards compatible with the Nintendo GameCube, but there's a catch: to play the GameCube games, you'll need a GameCube controller ($25). You can even go wireless with the Nintendo WaveBird ($35). If you already have a GameCube, your existing controllers will work just fine--just plug them in to one of the four ports underneath the flip-up panel on the Wii's topside. GameCube controllers should also work with the Wii's "Virtual Console" games--which saves you the trouble of having to buy a Classic Controller.
GameCube memory cards: One other annoyance when playing GameCube games: your progress can only be saved to GameCube memory cards, not to the Wii's internal memory or to an SD card (we're hoping Nintendo fixes this with a future firmware update). Like the controllers, your old GC cards will work just fine--there are two slots right next to the GameCube controller ports. If you don't have any onhand (and you want to save your games on GC titles), you'll need to spring for a $25 memory card.
Wii Points: One of the big attactions of the Wii is its Virtual Console, which lets you purchase classic games that originally came from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the Super NES, the Nintendo 64, the Sega Genesis, and the TurboGrafx16. By the end of 2006, at least 30 titles should be available, including Donkey Kong (NES), Super Mario 64 (N64), and Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis). To purchase the downloadable titles, you'll need to use a Nintendo currency known as Wii Points (similar to the Microsoft Points on Xbox Live), which currently have an exchange rate of 100 points per U.S. dollar. You can buy Wii Points directly through the console's online store, or use prepaid cards available in various denominations.
SD card: If you're close to filling the Wii's built-in 512MB of storage with your Virtual Console games, you can always expand your available space with an SD card. Nintendo sells its own, but any run-of-the-mill card will do. Fairly spacious 1GB cards are available for less than $30--even less with mail-in rebates--and they'll work in plenty of other gadgets as well.
Wireless access point: In addition to the downloadable Virtual Console games, the Wii offers online "channels," including news, weather, and even an Opera Web browser (head-to-head online gaming is said to be coming sometime in 2007). You can get online for free via the Wii's built-in Wi-Fi. To do so, of course, you'll need a nearby wireless access point or router. Alternately, you can plug the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector into any nearby PC on a wired network, and the Wii--plus your Nintendo DS--will be able to use it to get online instead.
Component video adapter: The Wii doesn't have the graphical horsepower to handle high-def graphics, but it can do DVD-level 480p video, which will look considerably better on large HDTVs. To see the Wii's games in 480p, you'll need Nintendo's proprietary component video adapter, which should run about $20.
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John P. Falcone covers home theater and network entertainment products. He's been writing for CNET since 2002. 
Equally surprising (to me anyway) is the decision to stick with low def graphics. From what I have seen the graphics are no better than what the GameCube or PS2 was capable of and less impressive than the original Xbox. If you have an HD TV, 480p (progressive scan) is supported but you have to buy additional cables to take advantage of this. They should have included an all-in-one cable with standard and progressive options included.
Not that the improved resolution matter all that much, Excite Truck is actually said to look worse with the added detail, apparently showcasing animation flaws and jagged edges all over the place. Trauma Center inexplicably doesn't support widescreen at all, even when in 480p.
Ultimately the decision to eschew high definition graphics will hurt the Wii as middle America catches up with the coasts and comprehends the benefits of HD as the sets fall more into their price range. In other words; the low def approach is very short sighted and will come around to bite Nintendo when their games all appear to be antiquated in comparison with the PS3 and X360.
While the decision to put graphics aside in favor of implementing a new control scheme is regrettable, they didn't perform that decision for the gamers, rather for those who don't play. Both Xbox 360 and PS3 are console powerhouses, but look at the pricetags, $400 and $600, respectively. If the Wii wanted to compete in the graphics arena, the price could easily be Xbox 360-worthy. Now, I don't think many non-gamers would be attracted to that pricepoint for either console, the opposite of Nintendo's intentions would result. Sorry, while the PS3 supports 1080p, but you have to also buy a separate cable to use it, at least the Wii's cable to use its maximum resolution is $70 less than that of the PS3.
All that is words. Have you personally seen the graphics of either game? How can you commment on something that hasn't even been released yet? There are more than two games for the Wii.
I don't see the logic in your last paragraph. As most of America already possess SD-TVs and no HD-TVS, the decision to retain SD is one fine by me, and is already explained by the way of manufacturing costs. If Nintendo wished to support high resolutions they would have, but at a price; higher costs resulting in fewer sales (Law of Demand speaking there). I explained to you the goal of Nintendo, and obviously that action would essentially be a step backward in Nintendo's view.
To sum things up, while Wii games may seem antiquated compared to the PS3's and Xbox 360's, you have the production demands similar to that of EA and SquareEnix, graphics over gameplay. Just think about that.
gaming when the MMOS are realeased
Hi-def games are nothing when the games suck.
"yah, i got this great new hi-def system with a terraflop of processor"
"what does it do?"
"It kicks a ball back and forth, a HI-DEF BALL"
see what i mean, when the company making the system gives it great specs,
but doesn' t put good games on it, the system sucks
no one wants to make games for the ps3, because it's so hard to program for,
and even harder in hd, with teh wii, producers can crank out as many games
as they want, even if theyre total garbage, the wii will have more games, and
therefore a higher chance of having an amazingly good one.
I don't look forward to online play whether it's xbox360, ps3 or wii. I'd like to see some very well designed single player games...and wii was designed for people who care more about game play rather than flash graphix and braggin rights to someone they've never met...
I'm an old timer and don't like interacting with overgrown 12 year olds and would like to keep things that way. Let's not pretend that online play is a make or break deal for everyone as I tend to think there are more people like me out there...especially the new gamers who've never owned predecessor machines which wii seems to be attracting...
As for graphix quality...who the hell cares about the specs..480p is plenty good enough for most gamers...I don't need to look for facial wrinkles of a character in the middle of drop kicking them...from 10 ft away, unless you plan to play with a humongous screen which most of Americans do not own (and i don't consider 42inch pdp's large), you will not notice the jaggies and 1080p and 480p will look pretty much the same..
1080p HD TV's just started selling this year...buiding an overpriced machine to take advantage of non-existing market or paying premium for features one cannot take advantage of is both idiotic to me.
Unless you are one of very small number of people who own 1080p hdtv(yes small..i don't care if 1million people buy 1080p tv this year..that's 299million without one), all you get to do with paying 2-400 extra is bragging rights that your machine could do better only if you could afford the right hardward to support it..stupid stupid stupid...
What this translates to is that those who buy PS3 or xbox 360 need to make additional purchases that'd set them back couple of thousands more to take advantage of overblown specs of those 2..it's either you spent 200-400 extra for nothing or need to spend thousands to get that 1080p games..yikes..
yes most americans are stupid enough to shell out that kind of money for just in case they own an 1080p monitor..somebody in education department needs to remember to include economic 101 for teem america..or their parents for that matter...
savvy consumers like me will stay away until I actually have a need for 1080p hdtv before considering purchase of xbox360 or ps3..
another angle with wii is that I'm looking for a machine to play with my 5 year old son. i don't care if it costs only $1...most xbox and ps3 games are just too grusome and are not designed for kids..
wii is the machine for me for some time to come. i'm not even sure if I'd want my son to own xbox or ps3 even when he's in his teen years..or even college years for that matter...
xbox360 and ps3 was designed for single males with no life..I have family and am busy for work..no time for hours of online play or patience for gorry graphix...those 2 over equipped machines just don't have a place in my home..
If I really wanted that kind of game, I already have a $6000 pc with nvidia 8800 sli card hooked up to 30 inch dell monitor with 2560x1600 native resoluution..let's not pretend that you have the best of the world with puny 1080p..
my graphix workstation will kick ass of any play machines discussed here..lol..
wii should have enough spec for any casual or serious gamers for years to come...
as far as game machines go, wii have my vote..
as for xbox360 and ps3..i really don't know what that's about...99% of those who purchase those machines are just IQ deficient...
Final sentence: "as for xbox360 and ps3..i really don't know what that's about...99% of those who purchase those machines are just IQ deficient..."
Your coherence says everything about your own IQ.
Good luck playing Gears of War and Halo 3 on your super-workstation.
As far as the Wii goes, 100% of those who purchase it are just ignorant childish little kids...
I am looking forward to a system that we can all play together @ home. The Online play part of the equation is null as I am actually looking forward to getting the kids OFF the computer and into the living room. I am sure that the online part will come, but honestyly I will probably disable it.
Only thing I would like to get a straight answer on is the dvd ability. Does it in fact play DvD's? Whether its 1080i or 480p or 720p w/e, really makes no difference. Does it play DvD's or not? That's all I want to know as I am already sold on the rest of the system. Amen to the designers of a system that gets the children off their behinds!
Now, back to the revelance all that has had with your comment and my reply on the wii system, is bottom line. Primarily from all that I've read wii is the least expensive system on the market today, which also is a plus for yes those of us whom aren't living on celebrity brains & bank accounts. We take time to see and experiance what takes the time and attention of our kids and their minds. I too have never quite been crazy about our 9 year old daughter playing on earlier systems that instantly connected her to the whole entire world, while playing a 'game' She's 9 !! I don't need her connecting with complete strangers.
Last and least, I also enjoyed reading your posts, because it ensured me that I wasn't alone in my feelings, thoughts and fears.
Ciao'
Now comes to the Heart Breaker. It can't play DVD!! What is up with that!! Really its about time that you at lease make a DVD playing game system. I mean come on allready.
Nemo
My favorite part of your rant was where you knock online gaming basically because of the complexity of getting into a game and also the skill of your opponents. I'm not what I'd consider to be a heavy gamer. I'll get in maybe 7 or 8 hours a week between work, grad school, and hockey. I can see where you have some issues at first with some online matchmaking and lobby systems (especially on the PC), but honestly, after very little research I understood how everything worked. Once you get one game's matchmaking system figured out, you pretty much understand most of them from that point. With Xbox Live all aspects of online gaming are easy to the point that you can't mess it up.
As for the skill of the opponents online, of course you're going to get smoked at first. That has been true with just about every game I've played. It doesn't take very long to get up to speed though to the point where you're at least having fun. My 57 year-old father decided to get a 360 and plays Madden 2007 and Call of Duty 3 online. It took him a little while to get it but he's a smart guy and got it all squared away.
Unfortunately, I don't think your problem is with online gaming, I think its being able to learn and adapt to something new. The Wii is a fine idea, and the control scheme does have its advantages in all types of game, but it is designed so that a fairly young child can pick it up and use it. It's easy and friendly. Nothing wrong with that, I can tell its perfect for you. Me, I'll take 55" of 1080i online any time.
(pwned)
- by Hamletpri October 1, 2009 4:31 AM PDT
- Ryo hazuki
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- by Jazzi9y October 27, 2009 1:57 PM PDT
- amen.
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(27 Comments)"As far as the Wii goes, 100% of those who purchase it are just ignorant childish little kids..."
you guys are all adults and you give that much of a ****? I'm sorry if I'm one of those twelve year olds you hate but am I the first to say that you should grow up and get a life? (am not saying this to parents as they have a point with little kids etc) sheesh sorry gaming nerds but games were originally designed for kids