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Wii

The Wii (/wiː/, wee; also known as the Nintendo Wii) is a video game home console made by Nintendo.[16] It first came out on November 19, 2006, in North America. It plays video games made just for the Wii. The original model also plays games for the Nintendo GameCube.[16] It was succeeded by the Wii U on November 18, 2012 which can play and use all Wii games and controllers. With over 101 million units sold, the Wii is Nintendo's second-highest-selling home console, after the Nintendo Switch.[17] The original Wii and Wii Family Edition were discontinued on October 21, 2013, although the Wii Mini was still in production until November 13, 2017. The Wii received positive reviews.

Wii
Wii logo
Wii-console.jpg
Wii-Mini-Console-Set-H.jpg
Top image: Wii (RVL-001) with Wii Remote
Bottom image: Wii Mini (RVL-201)
Also known asNintendo Revolution (code name)
DeveloperNintendo
ManufacturerFoxconn
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSeventh generation
Release date
November 19, 2006
Retail availability2006–2013 (RVL-001)
2011-2013 (RVL-101)
2012-2017 (RVL-201)
Introductory price
(details)
DiscontinuedWii/Wii Family Edition:
WW October 21, 2013[4][5][5]Wii Mini:
WW November 13, 2017
Units soldWorldwide: 101.63 million (as of September 30,  2019 (2019 -09-30)) (details)
Media
Physical and digital
Operating systemWii system software
CPU729 MHz IBM PowerPC "Broadway"
32 kB L1 cache and 3 x 128 byte L2 caches[6]
Memory88 MB (total), 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM, 324 MHz, 2.7 GB/s bandwidth
Storage512 MB Internal flash memory
Removable storageSD/SDHC card
GameCube Memory Card (original model only)
Display
Video output formats
Graphics243 MHz ATI "Hollywood"
Controller inputWii Remote (Plus)
Wii Balance Board
GameCube controller (original model only)
Nintendo DS
ConnectivityWi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
2 × USB 2.0[7]
LAN Adapter (via USB 2.0)[8]
Online servicesNintendo Wi-Fi Connection (closed May 20, 2014)[9][10]
WiiConnect24 (closed June 27, 2013)[11][12]
Wii Shop Channel (closed January 31, 2019)[13]
Best-selling gameWii Sports (pack-in, except in Japan and South Korea) 82.90 million (as of March 31,  2020 (2020 -03-31))[14]
Mario Kart Wii, 37.32 million (as of March 31,  2020 (2020 -03-31))[15]
Backward
compatibility		Nintendo GameCube
(original model only)
PredecessorNintendo GameCube
SuccessorWii U

Hardware

  • CPU: IBM "Broadway" processor at 729 MHz[18]
  • GPU: ATI "Hollywood" at 243 MHz
  • Memory: 88 MB RAM
  • Storage: 512 MB of flash memory

Wii Channels

There are many things called Channels on the Wii. They are called channels because, just like on TV, you can look through channels by pressing − and +. Each Wii Channel does something different. Some of them need to connect to the Internet to work, using either Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or WiiConnect24, but some information that has been saved can be viewed without a connection to the Internet. WiiConnect24 could not be used anymore on June 27, 2013.

Disc Channel

Games can be played on this channel after a Wii game disc or Nintendo GameCube disc is put in the disc slot.

Wii Shop Channel

The Wii Shop Channel was used to buy and download Virtual Console (old) games, WiiWare games, and other Wii channels. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel. The Wii Shop Channel closed on January 31, 2019.

Mii Channel

The Mii Channel is where a player can make an avatar called a Mii to represent them, either in the Mii Channel's online feature Mii Parade, or in games that allow using Miis and most other Wii channels mentioned here.

News Channel

The News Channel was used to look up news on different topics, ranging from national news to sports and entertainment. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel.

Forecast Channel

The Forecast Channel was used to check the weather forecast for most cities around the world. There was a feature that let you select your local area to receive weather updates. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel.

Everybody Votes Channel

The Everybody Votes Channel was a channel containing regularly updated polls. There were three national polls (updated on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) along with one worldwide poll. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel.

Internet Channel

The Internet Channel allowed users to access the web. It is based on the Opera Browser. You would need an Internet connection to use this channel. On September 1, 2009, the Internet Channel became free to download after an update was released to support Adobe Flash. Refunds consisting of a free Virtual Console NES title worth 500 Wii Points were offered by Nintendo to Wii owners who had downloaded it before for the same price.

Check Mii Out Channel

The Check Mii Out Channel (known as the Mii Contest Channel in Europe) was used to send and pick up other Miis, and was also used in voting contests to see which Mii was the best. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel.

Nintendo Channel

The Nintendo Channel was used to watch videos, collect and send feedback on certain Wii titles, and download Nintendo DS game demos to a Nintendo DS using the DS Download Service. An Internet connection was needed to use this channel.

Today and Tomorrow Channel

The Today and Tomorrow Channel is a channel that was only released in Europe on September 9, 2009, used to view daily horoscopes. Up to six Mii characters can be registered. It offers advice on five topics: love, work, study, communication, and money. It also offers hints on food, fun, and care. Another feature is a Mii compatibility check.

Homebrew Channel

The Homebrew Channel is an unofficial (it does not come with the Wii) channel used for loading unofficial software, or homebrew. With Homebrew, you can do many things that the Wii cannot normally do on its own (play DVDs, stream media from a computer, run emulators, etc.).

Wii Speak Channel

The Wii Speak Channel is downloadable once you buy the Wii Speak, used in certain games like Animal Crossing: City Folk. An Internet connection is required to use the Wii Speak Channel.

Wii Remote

 
The Wii Remote in a person's hand

The Wii Remote is a controller that is like a regular television remote. The Wii Remote uses accelerometers and infrared light sensors (from LEDs inside a 'sensor bar') to know where it is in 3D space.[19] This lets people control the game using physical movement and by pressing buttons. The controller connects to the console using Bluetooth. It has a rumble feature (the controller shakes when the game being played tells it to do so) and a speaker inside the remote.

An attachment to the Wii Remote that comes with the Wii console and can also be bought by itself in stores is the Nunchuk controller. It also has an accelerometer and an analog stick with two buttons, and it connects to the bottom of the Wii Remote with a wire. A wrist strap can also be used to stop the player from dropping or throwing the Wii Remote. Because of problems with the straps, Nintendo has given all players a free stronger replacement for all straps.[20] It also comes with a cover called the Wii Remote Jacket, which protects the Wii Remote and the thing that it hits from being damaged or broken.[21] It also gives a stronger grip, which makes it harder for the Wii Remote to slide out of players' hands.

Attachments for the Wii Remote

Nintendo and many other companies have made attachments for the Wii Remote. They are usually connected by a wire or by a small plug at the bottom of the Wii Remote.

Nunchuk

 
The Nunchuk, looked at from the side

The Nunchuk is the most common attachment for the Wii Remote. It is made to fit perfectly into someone's hand. It comes packaged with the Wii. The Nunchuk has an analog stick on the front and two buttons on the back. A Nunchuk is needed for many Wii games, as it is required to move characters around the game. The name "Nunchuk" is a play on the word "Nunchuck" or "nunchaku".

Wii Motion Plus

The Wii Motion Plus connects to the bottom of the Wii remote to help the sensors find the remote more accurately. It improves the playing of some games.

Classic Controller

 

Nintendo has released a "classic" controller for the Wii. The design is similar to the SNES's controller, but it has two analog sticks and four shoulder buttons instead of two. It was mainly made for playing older games that can be bought from the Wii Shop Channel.

Zapper

There is also a case that looks like a gun for the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. It is named the Zapper after a NES gun controller. When the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk are placed inside it, the shape of the controller in the player's hands changes. The Zapper does not actually plug into the Wii Remote. It just holds it in place. The Zapper also included a free, short game to help the player get used to it.

Instruments

There are many pretend instruments made by Nintendo and other companies for playing music video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So far, they have made guitars and drums. They plug into the bottom of the Wii Remote. There are also microphones that plug into the USB port on the back of the Wii console.

Wheel

There is also a plastic wheel. These came with Mario Kart Wii and other racing or car driving games. The Wii remote goes into the middle of the wheel. There are some built-in buttons on the wheel to make it easier to reach the buttons on the remote.

Models

Wii Family Edition

A revision of the Wii (also called the RVL-101) that was released near the end of its lifecycle was announced on August 17, 2011. This model is designed to only sit horizontally (with the buttons changed accordingly) and is incompatible with the Nintendo GameCube's software and its accessories. This model was released in North America on October 23, 2011, in Europe on November 4, 2011, and in Australia on November 11, 2011. It was not released in any Asian countries. The Wii Family Edition includes a black console, the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and the Super Mario Galaxy: Original Soundtrack.

Wii Mini

 
A red Wii Mini

Another late-cycle revision of the Wii (also called the RVL-201) was announced on November 27, 2012.[22] As its name suggests, the Wii Mini is the smallest model of the Wii. Like the Family Edition, it is not compatible with GameCube games or its accessories. In addition, it also does not have online features and several built-in channels, such as the Photo Channel and the Weather Channel, similar to the Wii Mode on the Wii U. It also can only sit horizontally. The main feature is its notable redesign. Unlike the original Wii and Family Edition, which are mostly white, the Wii Mini is black with a red frame. All the buttons are located on the top of the console, and it lacks online support for Wii games. Additionally, the Wii Mini has a manually operated top-loading disc drive (similar to that of the GameCube) instead of the slots that former models have. The console launched in Canada on December 7, 2012 for $99.99. It was then released in Europe on March 15, 2013 at a cost of at least $79.99. It was then launched in the UK on March 22, 2013 for $99.99. It was finally launched in North America on November 17, 2013, bundled with a red Wii Remote Plus and a red Nunchuk for $99.99. Like its predecessor, the Wii Mini was not released in any Asian countries and it was not released in Australia either. The Wii Mini is the third home Nintendo console since the SNES and NES to receive a redesign right after their respective successors launched though the NES 101 model launched two years after the SNES launched. The N64 received no redesigns of any kind, and the GameCube had a small revision that lacked the unused Serial Port 2 (though the cover still remains) and the unpopular Digital AV Out port.

Reception

The Guardian titled the Wii one of the 10 most influential video game consoles.[23]

IGN ranked the Wii 10th among the best video game consoles.[24]

WiiWii Mini Media

  • Satoru Iwata as Nintendo's president directed the company to design the Wii out-of-the-box to appeal to a broader range of players.

  • The Wii and several of its peripherals on display at E3 2006

  • Busy inside of a shop during the Wii launch in Hamburg

  • The Wii U, with its GamePad in front

  • The Wii (top) compared in size to the GameCube, Nintendo 64, North American Super NES, and NES

  • A Nunchuk, Wii Remote and strap shown in hand

  • The Wii Remote being used to play Metroid Prime 3 at E3 2006. The Sensor Bar can be seen at the base of the television screen.

  • The Original Classic Controller, hooked up to the Wii Remote

  • RVL-101 layout with its labels aligned horizontally, just as the console was designed to be placed, unlike the original version

  • Demonstration of the Wii Remote used as the sensor for a light pen-type computer input device

Related pages

Sources

  1. ↑ Sanders, Kathleen; Casamassina, Matt (September 13, 2006). "US Wii Price, Launch Date Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "New black Wii bundle includes Mario CD". Nintendo. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Nintendo introduces Wii Mini that's all about games". Nintendo of Canada. November 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  4. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (October 22, 2013). "Wii discontinuation in Japan won't affect availability in United States". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Time also called on Wii in Europe | Games industry news | MCV". October 26, 2013. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  6. ↑ Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition (2008 ed.). Craig Glenday. 2008. p. 31. ISBN 9781904994206.
  7. ↑ McDonough, Amy. "Wii Get It Now: Technical Specs from 1UP.com". 1up.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ (in en-GB) Factfile: The Wii. November 17, 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6155664.stm. Retrieved September 3, 2018. 
  9. ↑ "- Nintendo - Current Network Status". Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Nintendo". Nintendo.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Nintendo Life (12 April 2013). "Nintendo to Pull the Plug on Several Online Wii Channels". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Discontinuation of WiiConnect24 Services | Wii & Wii mini | Nintendo Support". en-americas-support.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Wii Shop Channel closing down in 2019". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/29/16386918/wii-shop-channel-closing-nintendo. Retrieved July 29, 2018. 
  14. ↑ "IR Information : Sales Data - Top Selling Software Sales Units - Wii Software". Nintendo Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  15. ↑ "Top Selling Software Sales Units". Nintendo Co., Ltd. March 31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Wii Launch Guide". IGN. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  17. ↑ Life, Nintendo (2022-05-10). "Nintendo Switch Has Now Sold Over 107 Million Units". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  18. ↑ "Wii Technical Specification - Hyrule.net". web.archive.org. 2011-08-10. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2024-09-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ Wisniowski, Howard. "Analog Devices And Nintendo Collaboration Drives Video Game Innovation With iMEMS Motion Signal Processing Technology". Analog Devices, Inc. Archived from the original on June 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  20. ↑ "Nintendo Issue Replacement Wii Wrist Straps". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  21. ↑ "Nintendo Announces New Wii Remote Jacket Accessory". Nintendo. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  22. ↑ "Nintendo reveals Wii Mini game machine". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16.
  23. ↑ Stuart, Keith (2017-02-24). "10 most influential games consoles – in pictures" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gallery/2017/feb/24/10-most-influential-games-consoles-in-pictures. Retrieved 2022-08-26. 
  24. ↑ Top 25 Video Game Consoles - IGN.com, retrieved 2022-08-26

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