Some details taken from AVForums and Wiki:
What do I get for my cash?
The console, one Wii remote, one Nunchuck attachment, vertical stand, sensor bar, composite cable, and WiiSports.
What’s this Wiimote then? Eh?
The Wiimote is the wireless controller for the Wii
The sensor bar
sits on top of, or underneath on a small, included stand, your TV and has a cluster of LED’s at either end. Using an infra-red sensor in the end of the Wiimote and accelerometers it senses motion, distance etc and connects via Bluetooth. It has a speaker built in for effects e.g. clicking on menu’s, shooting arrows, swooshing swords. It can be used as a steering wheel, tennis racquet, hand, pen, sword, conducting baton, gun, fishing rod… you name it! Lot’s of in-depth info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_Remote
It uses 2x AA batteries or there are 3rd party rechargeable packs available.
Does the Wii support external storage for back-up?
Yes. There is 512MB built-in for Wii save-games and also for downloaded content, including Virtual Console games. Also, there’s an SD slot that supports up to and including 2GB cards. You can use a larger size card, but don’t expect the Wii to recognise the full size. You can also use this for storing/playback of pics/music/video on the Wii-
JPG up to 848x480
Quicktime MOV files
MP3’s
Music/Picture/Movie playback, eh?
Indeed. There is a photo slideshow built-in to the console. With pics and music you can play a slideshow to mp3’s. Also there’s a picture editing doohickey which you can use with the Wiimote to draw, alter and muck about with your pictures. There is a puzzle mode where it will break your picture into multiple parts and you have to rearrange them. Sounds daft? I know, but you wouldn’t believe how good it is for occupying the little ‘uns!
Do I have to buy the ZOMG NINTY-WHiiTE Official Memory Card for this multimedia splendour?
No, you do not. It’s just a standard SD card that’s white and has a logo on it and costs about £10 more than a standard one. If you buy an “Official” one, you’re just a big consumer whore.
Can the Wii console play DVDs?
With hacks, yes. The Wii is capable of DVD playback as it is, it’s expected to be a purchasable software download in the future. No word on when or how much though. If you haven’t got a DVD player already though…
Is the Wii online?
Yes- the browser costs 500 Wii points and for free is the online shop, “Everybody Votes” channel, Weather Channel and the News Channel.
What the hell are Wii points?
You can buy Wii points either through the online store with a credit/debit card (no surcharge) or by buying a Wii card at a shop (similar to an iTunes card).
2000 points currently costs £14.99p on a card. Through the online store they are available in three denominations:
1000 = £7
3000 = £21
5000 = £35
So what can I buy with them?
The web browser (500 points) and Virtual Console games.
Virtual Console
As of today there are 144 titles available from the European VC channel. These are all from the NES (500 points), SNES (800 points), N64 (1000 points), MegaDrive/Genesis (800 points), NEC's TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine (600 points). Support for TurboGrafx-CD and MSX is forthcoming, apparently. An up to date list can be had here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virtual_Console_games_(Europe)
And reviews are available here:
http://www.vc-reviews.com/
Controls
NES/Turbo Grafix games are playable with the remote by simply turning it sideways like an old NES controller. SNES games are playable using either a Gamecube controller (not ideal due to button layout) or the official Wii Classic controller.
N64 games can be played equally well using either the classic controller or a GC controller (including Wavebirds).
How do I get online then, eh?
Wii comes with built-in 802.11b/g. Also, for a wired connection, LAN adaptors can be picked up fairly cheaply either 3rd party & official. These adaptors plus into one of the two rear USB sockets. I have the DATEL one and it works flawlessly.
Can I play online?
Yes, although there aren’t that many games yet. A full list can be had here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_Wi-Fi_Connection_games
Unimpressed?
Mario Kart Wii is rumoured to have an online battle mode for 16 players!!!
USB ports?
There are a few 3rd party gadgets for these- LAN adaptors, fan-cooled stands and Wiimote chargers. Nothing official from the big N yet though…
What do I get for my cash?
The console, one Wii remote, one Nunchuck attachment, vertical stand, sensor bar, composite cable, and WiiSports.
What’s this Wiimote then? Eh?
The Wiimote is the wireless controller for the Wii
The sensor bar
sits on top of, or underneath on a small, included stand, your TV and has a cluster of LED’s at either end. Using an infra-red sensor in the end of the Wiimote and accelerometers it senses motion, distance etc and connects via Bluetooth. It has a speaker built in for effects e.g. clicking on menu’s, shooting arrows, swooshing swords. It can be used as a steering wheel, tennis racquet, hand, pen, sword, conducting baton, gun, fishing rod… you name it! Lot’s of in-depth info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_Remote
It uses 2x AA batteries or there are 3rd party rechargeable packs available.
Does the Wii support external storage for back-up?
Yes. There is 512MB built-in for Wii save-games and also for downloaded content, including Virtual Console games. Also, there’s an SD slot that supports up to and including 2GB cards. You can use a larger size card, but don’t expect the Wii to recognise the full size. You can also use this for storing/playback of pics/music/video on the Wii-
JPG up to 848x480
Quicktime MOV files
MP3’s
Music/Picture/Movie playback, eh?
Indeed. There is a photo slideshow built-in to the console. With pics and music you can play a slideshow to mp3’s. Also there’s a picture editing doohickey which you can use with the Wiimote to draw, alter and muck about with your pictures. There is a puzzle mode where it will break your picture into multiple parts and you have to rearrange them. Sounds daft? I know, but you wouldn’t believe how good it is for occupying the little ‘uns!
Do I have to buy the ZOMG NINTY-WHiiTE Official Memory Card for this multimedia splendour?
No, you do not. It’s just a standard SD card that’s white and has a logo on it and costs about £10 more than a standard one. If you buy an “Official” one, you’re just a big consumer whore.
Can the Wii console play DVDs?
With hacks, yes. The Wii is capable of DVD playback as it is, it’s expected to be a purchasable software download in the future. No word on when or how much though. If you haven’t got a DVD player already though…
Is the Wii online?
Yes- the browser costs 500 Wii points and for free is the online shop, “Everybody Votes” channel, Weather Channel and the News Channel.
What the hell are Wii points?
You can buy Wii points either through the online store with a credit/debit card (no surcharge) or by buying a Wii card at a shop (similar to an iTunes card).
2000 points currently costs £14.99p on a card. Through the online store they are available in three denominations:
1000 = £7
3000 = £21
5000 = £35
So what can I buy with them?
The web browser (500 points) and Virtual Console games.
Virtual Console
As of today there are 144 titles available from the European VC channel. These are all from the NES (500 points), SNES (800 points), N64 (1000 points), MegaDrive/Genesis (800 points), NEC's TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine (600 points). Support for TurboGrafx-CD and MSX is forthcoming, apparently. An up to date list can be had here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virtual_Console_games_(Europe)
And reviews are available here:
http://www.vc-reviews.com/
Controls
NES/Turbo Grafix games are playable with the remote by simply turning it sideways like an old NES controller. SNES games are playable using either a Gamecube controller (not ideal due to button layout) or the official Wii Classic controller.
N64 games can be played equally well using either the classic controller or a GC controller (including Wavebirds).
How do I get online then, eh?
Wii comes with built-in 802.11b/g. Also, for a wired connection, LAN adaptors can be picked up fairly cheaply either 3rd party & official. These adaptors plus into one of the two rear USB sockets. I have the DATEL one and it works flawlessly.
Can I play online?
Yes, although there aren’t that many games yet. A full list can be had here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_Wi-Fi_Connection_games
Unimpressed?
Mario Kart Wii is rumoured to have an online battle mode for 16 players!!!
USB ports?
There are a few 3rd party gadgets for these- LAN adaptors, fan-cooled stands and Wiimote chargers. Nothing official from the big N yet though…
Last edited:
