The Wii (pronounced as the pronoun we, IPA: /wiː/) is the fifth home video game console released by Nintendo. The console is the direct successor to the Nintendo GameCube. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3,^[3] but it competes with both as part of the seventh generation of gaming systems.

A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect acceleration in three dimensions. Another is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.^[4]

Nintendo first spoke of the console at the 2004 E3 press conference and later unveiled the system at the 2005 E3. Satoru Iwata revealed a prototype of the controller at the September 2005 Tokyo Game Show.^[5] At E3 2006, the console won the first of several awards.^[6] By December 8, 2006, it completed its launch in four key markets. During the week of September 12, 2007, the Financial Times declared that the Wii is the current sales leader of its generation.^[7]

History

History

The console was conceived in 2001, as the Nintendo GameCube was first seeing release. According to an interview with Nintendo's game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the concept involved focusing on a new form of player interaction. "The consensus was that power isn't everything for a console. Too many powerful consoles can't coexist. It's like having only ferocious dinosaurs. They might fight and hasten their own extinction."^[8]

Two years later, engineers and designers were brought together to further develop the concept. By 2005, the controller interface had taken form, but a public showing at that year's E3 was withdrawn. Miyamoto stated that, "We had some troubleshooting to do. So, we decided not to reveal the controller and instead we displayed just the console."^[8] Nintendo president Satoru Iwata later unveiled and demonstrated the Wii Remote at the September Tokyo Game Show.^[5]

The Nintendo DS is stated to have influenced the Wii design. Designer Ken'ichiro Ashida noted, "We had the DS on our minds as we worked on the Wii. We thought about copying the DS's touch-panel interface and even came up with a prototype." The idea was eventually rejected, with the notion that the two gaming systems would be identical. Miyamoto also expressed that, "If the DS had flopped, we might have taken the Wii back to the drawing board."^[8]

Name

The console was known by the code name of "Revolution" until April 27, 2006, immediately prior to E3.^[9] According to the Nintendo Style Guide, the name "is simply Wii, not Nintendo Wii." This means it is the first home console Nintendo has marketed outside of Japan without the company name featured in its trademark. While "Wiis" is a commonly used pluralization of the console, Nintendo has stated that the official plural form is "Wii systems" or "Wii consoles."^[10] Nintendo spells "Wii" with two lower-case "i" characters meant to resemble two people standing side by side, representing players gathering together, as well as to represent the console's controllers.^[11] The company has given many reasons for this choice of name since the announcement; however, the most well known is:

Despite Nintendo's justification for the name, some game developers and members of the press initially reacted negatively towards the change. They preferred "Revolution" over "Wii"^[12] and expressed fear "that the name would convey a continued sense of 'kidiness'^[sic] to the console."^[13] The BBC reported the day after the name was announced that "a long list of puerile jokes, based on the name," had appeared on the Internet.^[14] Nintendo of America's president Reggie Fils-Aime acknowledged the initial reaction and further explained the change:

Nintendo defended its choice of "Wii" over "Revolution" and responded to critics of the name by stating: "live with it, sleep with it, eat with it, move along with it."^[16]

Launch

On September 14, 2006, Nintendo announced release information for Japan, North and South America, Australasia (Oceania), Asia and Europe, including dates, prices and projected unit distribution numbers. At an earlier policy briefing, Nintendo revealed plans to release 6 million console units and 17 million software units during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.^[17] This included the 4 million or more console units they expected to ship by the end of the 2006 calendar year.^[18] It was announced that the majority of the 2006 shipments would be allotted to the Americas,^[19] and that 33 titles would be available in the 2006 launch window.^[20] As reported, the United Kingdom suffered a large shortage of console units as many high-street and online stores were unable to fulfill all preorders when it was released on December 8, 2006.^[21] As of March 2007, some UK stores still had a shortage of consoles,^[22] and as of June 2007, demand still outpaced supply in the United States.^[23]

Nintendo announced that they would release their console in South Korea by the end of 2007.^[24]

System sales

Since its launch, the monthly sales numbers of the console have been higher than its competitors across the globe. According to the NPD Group, the Wii has sold more units in North America than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 combined in the first half of 2007.^[26] This lead is even larger in the Japanese market, where it currently leads not only in total sales, but usually outsells both consoles by 3:1 to 6:1 every week.^[27] In Australia, the Wii exceeded the Xbox 360 to become the fastest selling games console in Australian history.^[28] On September 12, 2007, it was reported by the Financial Times that the Wii had surpassed the Xbox 360, which was released one year previously, and had become the market leader in worldwide home console sales for the current generation. This is the first time a Nintendo console has led its generation in sales since the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.^[7]

While Microsoft and Sony had experienced losses producing their consoles in the hopes of making a long-term profit on software sales, Nintendo claims to have optimized production costs to obtain a significant profit margin with each Wii unit sold.^[29] According to the Financial Times, this direct profit per Wii sold may vary from $13 in Japan to $49 in the United States and $79 in Europe.^[30]

Demographic

Nintendo hopes to target a wider demographic with its console than that of others in the seventh generation.^[3] At a press conference for the upcoming Nintendo DS game Dragon Quest IX, Satoru Iwata iterated "We're not thinking about fighting Sony, but about how many people we can get to play games. The thing we're thinking about most is not portable systems, consoles, and so-forth, but that we want to get new people playing games."^[31]

This is reflected in Nintendo's series of television advertisements in North America, directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan, as well as Internet ads. The ad slogans are "Wii would like to play" and "Experience a new way to play." These ads ran starting November 15, 2006 and had a total budget of over US$200 million throughout the year.^[32] The productions are Nintendo's first broad-based advertising strategy and include a two-minute video clip showing a varied assortment of people enjoying the Wii system, such as urban apartment-dwellers, country ranchers, grandparents and parents with their children. The music in the ads is from the song "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)" by the Yoshida Brothers.^[33] The marketing campaign has proved to be successful: pensioners as old as 103 have been reported to be playing the Wii in the United Kingdom.^[34]

Hardware

The Wii (top) compared in size to the GCN, N64, North American SNES and NES

The Wii console is Nintendo's smallest home unit to date; it measures 44 mm (1.73 in) wide, 157 mm (6.18 in) tall and 215.4 mm (8.48 in) deep in its vertical orientation, the near-equivalent of three DVD cases stacked together. The included stand measures 55.4 mm (2.18 in) wide, 44 mm (1.73 in) tall and 225.6 mm (8.88 in) deep, The system weighs 1.2 kg (2.7 lb),^[35] which makes it the lightest of the three major seventh generation consoles. The console can be placed either horizontally or vertically. The prefix for the numbering scheme of the system and its parts and accessories is "RVL-" after its project code name of "Revolution".^[36] The console also features a recurring theme or design: both the console itself, as well as the power supply and all the sockets have one of their corners chipped off in a triangular fashion.

The front of the console features an illuminated slot-loading optical media drive that accepts both 12 cm Wii Optical Discs and Nintendo GameCube Game Discs. The blue light in the disc slot illuminates briefly when the console is turned on and pulsates when new data is received through WiiConnect24. After firmware update 3.0, the disc slot light activates whenever a Wii disc is inserted or ejected. When there is no WiiConnect24 information, the light is off. The disc slot light remains off during game play or when using other features. Two USB ports are located at its rear. An SD card slot hides behind the cover on the front of the console. The SD card can be used for uploading photos as well as backing up saved game data and downloaded Virtual Console games. To use the SD slot for transferring game saves, an update must be installed. An installation can be initiated from the Wii options menu through an Internet connection, or by inserting a game disc containing the updated firmware. As a presently uncircumvented system of digital rights management, Virtual Console data cannot be restored to any system except the unit of origin.^[37] The SD card can also be used to create customized in-game music from stored MP3 files, as shown in Excite Truck, as well as music for the slideshow feature of the Photo Channel.

Nintendo has shown the console and the Wii Remote in white, black, silver, lime green and red,^[38][39] but it is currently available only in white. Shigeru Miyamoto stated that other colors would be available after the easing of supply limitations.^[40]

The Wii launch package includes the console, a stand to allow the console to be placed vertically, a circular clear stabilizer for the main stand, one Wii Remote, one Nunchuk attachment, one Sensor Bar, a removable stand for the bar, one external main power adapter, two AA batteries, one composite AV cable with RCA connectors (component video and other types of cables are available separately), operation documentation and (in all regions excluding Japan) a copy of Wii Sports.

A Nintendo spokesperson has announced that the company plans to release a version of the console with DVD-Video playback capabilities in 2007.^[41] Even though software will be used to enable DVD-Video functionality, it "requires more than a firmware upgrade" and cannot therefore be implemented through the WiiConnect24 network.^[41]

Wii Remote

From left to right: Nintendo DS Lite, Nunchuk, Wii Remote and strap

The Wii Remote is a controller that uses a combination of accelerometers and infrared detection (from an array of LEDs inside the Sensor Bar) to sense its position in 3D space. This design allows users to control the game using physical gestures as well as traditional button presses. The controller connects to the console using Bluetooth and features rumble as well as an internal speaker. The Wii Remote can connect to other devices through a proprietary port at the base of the controller. The device bundled with the Wii retail package is the Nunchuk unit, which features an accelerometer and a traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons. In addition, an attachable wrist strap can be used to prevent the player from unintentionally dropping or throwing the Wii Remote. In response to incidences of strap failures, Nintendo is offering a free, stronger replacement for all straps.^[42]

Technical specifications

Nintendo has released few technical details regarding the Wii system, but some key facts have leaked from the press. Though none of these reports has been officially confirmed, they generally point to the console as being an extension or advancement of the Nintendo GameCube architecture. More specifically, the reported analyses state that the Wii is roughly 1.5 to 2 times as powerful as its predecessor.^[1][43]

†None of the clock rates have been confirmed by Nintendo, IBM or ATI.

Technical issues

The first firmware update via WiiConnect24 caused a very small portion of units to become completely unusable. This forced users to either send their units to Nintendo for repairs (if they wished to retain their saved data) or exchange it for a free replacement.^[53]

Legal issues

Interlink Electronics filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Nintendo over the pointing functionalities of the Wii Remote, claiming, "loss of reasonable royalties, reduced sales and/or lost profits as a result of the infringing activities" of Nintendo.^[54] Anascape Ltd, a Texas-based firm, also filed a lawsuit against Nintendo for patent infringements.^[55] Green Welling LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo for their "defective wrist straps".^[56] A Texas-based company called Lonestar Inventions has also sued Nintendo, claiming that the company copied one of Lonestar's patented capacitor designs and used it in the Wii console.^[57]

Features

The console contains a number of internal features made available from its hardware and firmware components. The hardware allows for extendibility 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 of the channels by holding down the A and B buttons. 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 and also appear with each Virtual Console title. These include the Everybody Votes Channel and Internet Channel.

In June 2007 Nintendo announced a new service called WiiWare. The service will allow small and large developers to create their own games that can be bought through the Wii Shop Channel with Wii Points.^[58]

Backward compatibility

Nintendo GameCube ports on the top of the Wii unit

The Wii console is backward compatible with all official Nintendo GameCube software, as well as Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards and controllers. Compatibility with software is achieved with the slot-loading drive's ability to accept Nintendo GameCube Game Discs. The console supports progressive-scan output in 480p-enabled Nintendo 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.^[1] The console is therefore compatible with the Game Boy Advance and e-Reader through the Game Boy Advance Cable. 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, 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 Nintendo GameCube composite video, S-Video and component video cables. The console also lacks Game Boy Player support. The Wii was initially compatible with the GameCube Action Replay, which would work with GameCube titles. The firmware update to 3.0 has caused restrictions to this device along with various unlicensed freeloaders, however.^[59]

Nintendo DS connectivity

The Wii system supports wireless connectivity with the Nintendo DS without any additional accessories.^[17] The 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 Pokémon Diamond or Pearl are able to play battles using their Nintendo DS as a controller.^[60] It has also been announced that the Nintendo DS will be able to play game demos downloaded from the console, which they would receive from Nintendo, similar to a DS Download Station.^[61] The console is also able to expand Nintendo DS games.^[60]

Online connectivity

The Wii unit is able to connect to the Internet through its built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi or through a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, with both methods allowing players to access the established Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.^[1] Wireless encryption by WEP, WPA (TKIP/RC4) and WPA2 (CCMP/AES) are supported.^[62] AOSS support was discreetly added in firmware update 3.0.^[63] Just as for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo does not charge fees for playing via the service^[3][64] and the 12 digit Friend Code system controls how players connect to one another. Each Wii also has its own unique 16 digit Wii Code for use with Wii's non-game features.^[65][64] This system also implements console-based software including the Wii Message Board.

The service has several features for the console including the Virtual Console, WiiConnect24, Internet Channel, Forecast Channel, Everybody Votes Channel and the News Channel. The console can also communicate and connect with other Wii systems through a self-generated wireless LAN, enabling local wireless multiplayer on different television sets. Battalion Wars 2 first demonstrated this feature for non-split screen multiplayer between two or more televisions.^[66]

Parental controls

The console features parental controls, which can be used to prohibit younger users from playing games with content considered unsuitable for their age level. When a Wii or Virtual Console game is attempted to be played, it reads the content rating encoded in the game data; if this rating is greater than the system's set age level the game will not load without a correct override password. The parental controls can also restrict Internet access, which blocks the Internet Channel and system update features. Since the console is restricted to GameCube functionality when playing Nintendo GameCube Game Discs, GameCube software is unaffected by Wii parental control settings.

European units mainly use the PEGI rating system,^[67] whereas North American units use the ESRB rating system.^[68] The Wii unit supports the native rating systems of many countries, including CERO in Japan, the USK in Germany, both the PEGI and BBFC in the United Kingdom and the OFLC in Australia and New Zealand.

Software library

Wii Optical Disc in keep case

Retail copies of games are supplied on DVD-like Wii Optical Discs packaged in a keep case along with instruction information. On European releases, these retail boxes have a triangle printed at the bottom corner of the paper insert sleeve side. The hue of the triangle can be used to identify which region the particular title is intended for and which manual languages are included. The console supports regional lockout.^[69]

New games representing Nintendo's flagship franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokémon, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart and Fire Emblem, have been announced for the Wii. Likewise, there are original titles for it as well as expected third party games.^[70] Ubisoft announced eight titles for release over the launch period and have stated that they have a further six currently in development while Midway Games has announced six titles.^[71] EA has declared their '100%' support for the system^[72] and has since gone on to purchase long-time partner Headgate Studios, which now develops exclusively for Nintendo's console.^[73] Namco Bandai also announced that they are developing 37 games for the Wii for their fiscal year ending March 2008.^[74] On April 27, 2007, Satoru Iwata stated that 45 out of Nintendo's 124 first-party games are being developed for the console. The other 79 titles are being developed for the Nintendo DS.^[75] As of July 25, 2007 the Wii has more exclusive games in development than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.^[76]

The Virtual Console service allows Wii owners to play games originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64, as well as Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, NEC's TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine,^[77] and the SNK Neo Geo console.^[78] Virtual Console games are distributed over broadband Internet via the Wii Shop Channel, and are saved to the Wii internal flash memory or to a removable SD card.

Reception

The system was well-received after its exhibition at E3 2006. At the event, Nintendo's console won the Game Critics Awards for Best of Show and Best Hardware.^[6] In the December 2006 issue of Popular Science the console was awarded with the Grand Award Winner in Home Entertainment.^[79] Spike TV's Video Games Award also granted the console the award in breakthrough technology.^[80] GameSpot chose the console as the Best Hardware on their Best and Worst 2006 awards show.^[81] The system was also chosen as one of PC World magazine's 20 Most Innovative Products of the Year.^[82] The worldwide success of the Wii has caught third party developers by surprise, leading to some apologizing for the quality of their early games. In an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel, Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot and Alain Corre admitted that they have made a mistake to rush their launch titles, promising to take future projects more seriously.^[83] Take-Two Interactive, who released few games for the Nintendo GameCube, has changed its stance on Nintendo, putting a higher priority in developing for the Wii with Manhunt 2 being their first release on the system.^[84]

At the same time, criticism of the Wii Remote and the Wii hardware specifications has surfaced. Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot has stated that the controller's speaker produces low-quality sound,^[85] while Factor 5 President Julian Eggebrecht criticized the hardware audio as being substandard for a console of its generation.^[86] U.K.-based developer Free Radical Design has stated that the Wii hardware lacks the power necessary to run the software they have scheduled for release on other seventh generation consoles.^[87] An executive for Frontline Studios also expressed that major publishers are wary of releasing exclusive titles for the console due to the perception that third-party companies are not strongly supported by consumers.^[88] The online connectivity of the Wii was subject to criticism, as Matt Casamassina of IGN compared it to the "entirely unintuitive" service provided for the Nintendo DS.^[89]

Occupational therapists at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota began using the Wii in August 2007 to help stroke victims. Professor Erica Stern stated "Doing your physical therapy is pretty boring. If you can make it into an enjoyable activity where you're moving physically and going through motions that are helping you recover, and as a part of that you're playing games that are fun, it's just a great, creative use of the technology." She envisioned future "games that are tailored to help people recover from their injuries" She also cited the price of the Wii as being within the budgets of most patients, thereby allowing them to continue with their recovery program at home.^[90
 

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