What's so special about the Wii?
What's Wii Fit Plus?
PopularWii games
Complete list of Wii Fit Balance Board Compatible Games (US)
Customizing your Wii gaming system
Wii Remotes (AKA "Wiimotes") & Wii Motion Plus
What is a Wii Nunchuk?
Another Wii Controller -- the "Wii Classic Controller"
What is Wii Speak?
Wii Zapper & other recommended Gun Peripherals
Accessorize your Accessories - with Wii Skin Covers & Decals
What's so special about the Wii?
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Nintendo really outdid themselves when they came up the the unique Wii gaming system. Instead of sitting on your butt passively playing video games you get involed in the action!
What I think makes the Wii so cutting edge is that its controllers (e.g. the Wii Remote, Wii Nunchuk , Wii Fit Balance Board) help to simulate real human body movements which make the experience more fun & realistic! You don't have to be an experienced gamer to enjoy the Wii.
It is fun for young & old alike. In fact, even though this was not Nintendo's original intent, many rehab facilities are even using the Wii to help their patients regain motor control and balance. In fact they have a new term for it -- "Wiihabilitation." It truly is an AMAZING system!
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The Wii is basically a home video game console that you can hook up to a TV screen or video display.
The Wii console is required to play any of the Wii games including the innovative Wii Fit Plus. So when making your first Wii purchase - the very first thing to get is the Wii console...
When setting up the Wii console for the first time you need to put the sensor bar that comes with the Wii console above or below your TV so that it can detect what you are doing with your Wii Remote & accessories. And you can also hook up your Wii console to the internet and play some games through the internet with friends or make new friends from around the world (online multiplayer video games through Nintendo Wi-Fi connection).
The Wii console can also be used to display movies or TV shows through Netflix (with an Netflix membership).
The Wii console comes equiped with a Wii Remote, a wired Wii Nunchuk and the Wii Sports game package (which simulates boxing, bowling, golf, tennis & baseball). But that is where the fun just begins...
Popular Wii Games
Wii The Beatles: Rock Band (Rated T for Teens) is one of the most popular Wii games this year & makes an awesome birthday gift for Beatles fans! For people who already own Wii Rock Band or Wii Rock Band 2 it is available as Wii The Beatles: Rock Band (software only) since it can be played with all Wii Rock Band and most Wii Guitar Hero controllers and microphones, as well as 'SingStar' and 'Lips' microphones.
It features an initial song list of more than 40 Beatles hits. You & your friends & family can enjoy singing 3 part vocal harmony -- just like the Beatles! (Wii The Beatles Rock Band supports up to 3 microphones - not included). The Beatles graphics are teriffic with gameplay locations such as Cavern Club, Abbey Road and Shea Stadium! Wii The Beatles supports 2-6 player online multiplayer support as well as engrossing single player modes.
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Another popular game that kids absolutely love is Mario Kart Wii! It comes with one Wii Wheel which holds a Wii Remote (usually sold separately). It is a really cute racing game - you can race as your favorite character or even use your own Mii character. The Wii Wheel made the motion of driving the race car more realistic.
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Wii Fit Plus is the latest edition of the very popular Wii Fit fitness game. It is designed to be used with the Wii Balance Board. You can purchase Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (as a bundle) or you can purchase just the Wii Fit Plus video game (if you already own the Balance Board).
The Wii Fit Balance Board can detect even subtle shifts in your balance & when using it with a Wii Fit Balance Board compatible game it gets your whole body involved in the activity & really adds to the experience.
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Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is popular & includes the dance pad. You can purchase up to three more dance pads so that the kids can do head to head competitions.
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The latest edition is Dance Dance Revolution 3: Hottest Party. If you purchase the bundle it includes DDR3 video game & DanceDanceRevolution dance pad floor controller for Wii. It has additional controller compatibility including: Wii Remote/nunchuck & Wii Balance Board (sold separately).
Dance Dance Revolution 3 is more "kid friendly" & includes the new Workout Mode, fun new Story Mode, Kids Modes with much simpler controls and Lesson Mode (DDR School). Game include 2-4 local multiplayer support in versus mode & has 60 song tracks on disc, including major original Latin tracks.
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My nephew got Guitar Hero World Tour for his birthday & he totally loves it! Guitar Hero World Tour uses the cutting-edge "Music Studio" to compose, record, edit & share music. Up to 8 players can get their groove on in "Battle of the Bands" mode.
The music from Guitar Hero World Tour includes tracks from some of the biggest Rock & Roll acts of all time, including Van Halen, Linkin Park, the Eagles, Sublime & more. Guitar Hero World Tour also offers more downloadable music than ever before!
If you or your kids enjoy Guitar Hero, but want to sing & play more pop tunes then you might want to check out the popular Band Hero featuring Taylor Swift.
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Customizing your Wii gaming system
The Wii is even more fun to play with your friends, kids, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins -- you name it!
So you're gonna have to think about getting some more accessories for your Wii console... (& there are many great choices for birthday gifts or Christmas, Hanukkah or holiday gifts!)
Wii Remotes (AKA "Wiimotes") & Wii Motion Plus
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The first thing you'll probably think about is getting some more Wii Remotes (also known as "Wiimotes"). The system will work with up to 4 Wii Remotes (the Wii console already comes with 1 Wii Remote).
The Wii Remote comes with two AA batteries & the battery life is supposed to be excellent. But if you are like me and you want to be "green" & be kind to the environment and use rechargable batteries (while saving on the cost of batteries) they also sell another very useful Wii Accessory -- a Wii Charge Station (Nyko & Intec as well as other manufacturers make Wii Charge Stations that can charge 2 or 4 Wiimotes).
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What is a Wii Nunchuk?
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A Wii Nunchuk is the controller that you use with your left hand (if you are right-handed). It is paired with a Wii Remote that you use with your right hand. With a wired Wii Nunchuk it attaches to the Wii Remote with a wire and the pair then resembles a "nunchuk" (an instrument is used in martial arts). If you are not familiar with the martial arts don't sweat it -- it is just how they named the device.
If you will be playing games that require the use of both hands (e.g. Boxing, Skiing, etc.) then you would need to use a Wii Nunchuk.
If you want to play multiplayer games you will need to buy additional Wii Remotes (& Wii Nunchuks to pair with each Wii Remote).
You may want to consider getting a wireless Wii Nunchuk or a Wii Wireless Nunchuk Kit. The Wireless Nunchuk Kit fits onto a wired Wii Nunchuk and converts it to be wireless.
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Another Wii Controller -- the "Wii Classic Controller"
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Nintendo makes yet another hand controller called the Wii Classic Controller. The Wii Classic Controller is made to be used with Nintendo's Virtual Console download service. With Nintendo's Virtual Console service, players can download from the internet some of their favorite NES, SNES, N64, NEOGEO, Sega Genesis & TurboGrafx 16 video game titles & enjoy happy memories playing clasic video games from Nintendo's video game archive using their Wii.
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What is Wii Speak?
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The Wii Speak hands-free microphone accessory lets friends in up to four locations around the world chat with one another at no extra cost. You can chat with anyone else who has a Wii conosole with a Wii Speak microphone accessory (using their broadband internet connections) through the Wii Speak Channel (you need their Friends Code just like with the Wi-Fi Connection games).
You can also leave audio messages or send photos (with voice messages or captions) to anyone who has been registered to your Wii Message Board (to their Wii address or an email address for a PC or cell phone).
When you use Wii Speak in a real time conversation, your Mii character appears on your TV screen & mimics your chat.
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Animal Crossing: City Folk uses the Wii Speak microphone (The Wii Speak microphone is usually sold separately, but it can be purchased in a bundle.) The Conduit (Wii) video game (when played in multiplayer mode) also uses the Wii Speak microphone.
Technical note: A compatible internet connection is required to use the Wii Speak Channel & the WiiConnect24 feature must be turned on. To download the Wii Speak Channel, visit the Wii Shop Channel & enter your Wii Download Ticket Number (this is included with your Wii Speak microphone accessory when you purchase it).
The Wii Speak microphone is required to use the Wii Speak Channel (Wii Speak Channel does not currently support any other microphones). And the Wii Speak Channel is a separate program that cannot operate at the same time as another program, such as a game. But games such as Animal Crossing: City Folk uses the Wii Speak microphone in a similar way to the Wii Speak Channel.
Wii Zapper & other recommended Gun Peripherals
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A Wii Zapper is a reasonably priced gun peripheral that joins together your Wii Remote & Wii Nunchuk (sold separately) for better accuracy & more realistic game play. The Wii Zapper can be purchased individually or bundled with Link's Crossbow Training which is a fun & highly rated game that helps train you how to use the Wii Zapper.
Please note that the Wii Zapper is designed to be used with a wired Wii Nunchuk, but my husband modified ours to work with our wireless Wii Nunchuk - He removed 5 screws & took off the gray clip that was interfering with the wireless Nunchuk transmitter & he put a paper spacer underneath the Wii Remote. He then put velcro straps on the Wii Remote & Wii Nunchuk. It only took him about 5 minutes to do the modifications, but he is good with this kind of stuff...
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Other games that use the Wii Zapper include James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace, Call of Duty: World at War, Ghost Squad & Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.
Accessorize your Accessories - with Wii Skin Covers & Decals
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A Wii skin decal sticker is a scratch resistant protective shield made out of high-quality vinyl that simply peel off the skins with no sticky residue.
They are usually sold in pairs. This not only looks great, but it serves the purpose of knowing which Wii Remote is paired with a particular Wii Nunchuk which is especially important when using a wireless Wii Nunchuk.
We chose the skin decal stickers (made from vinyl) over the silicone skin cases not only because we really liked the designs, but we felt that the Wii remotes would fit better into our Wii Charge Station.
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What's Wii Fit Plus?
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I have been using Wii Fit for over a year and I love it! And I just bought the new & improved version called Wii Fit Plus. It is very popular in the US & abroad. Not only can you get in shape using the system, but you can play some of the other games using the Wii Balance Board that can come bundled with Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus.
The Wii Fit Balance Board is a device that you stand on (it is similar to an aerobic step board) & it can detect shifts in your balance if you lean forward, backward, left or right.
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There are lots of Wii games being created for use with the Wii balance board because it is such an awesome device! In fact, many people buy Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus just so that they can use the Wii balance board to enhance their fitness & gaming experiences.
Click here for the complete list of Wii Fit Balance Board compatible games available for order or pre-order in the US.
What is it like to use Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus? Well it takes gaming & exercise to a whole new level because your whole body can get into the activities because of the Wii Fit Balance Board! Wii Fit consists of a series of different kinds of exercise - Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics, and Balance Games. Initially the program allows you to try short and more simple exercises and as you spend more time and accomplish goals more exercises become available.
The Wii Fit / Wii Fit Plus Balance Games truly feel like mini-games (not exercise!). For example they have slalom skiing, ski jumps, heading a soccer ball, etc. I enjoy the games and feel very motivated to use my Wii Fit since there are incentives built in. It is fun trying to beat your high score (or the high score of another family member). And the Wii Fit allows you to use your Mii character that you can create through the Wii system.
When you first step on the Wii Fit Balance Board you can chose to weigh yourself, determine your BMI (Body Mass Index) & measure your Fit Age. That part is fun, but I have found that depending upon how I score on a particular test that my Wii Fit Age can vary quite a bit.
What I like the most about the Wii Fit is that I am developing a better sense of rhythm, balance & coordination. I feel stronger & notice that I am getting more fit & I have better posture. I love that it is an interactive exercise system. It is fun getting into shape by playing "games." And that the system automatically tracks your progress & that is so important for motivation!
Wii Fit Plus Enhancements
Wii Fit Plus shows you how many calories burned which is a very nice addition & helps keeps you motivated!
Wii Fit Plus has the same set of balance games as Wii Fit (soccer, ski slalom, ski jump, table tilt, tightrope walk, balance bubble, penguin slide, snowboard slalom, & lotus focus). Wii Fit Plus has the same set of aerobics games as Wii Fit. But Wii Fit Plus has additional enhanced games.
Wii Fit Plus' enhanced games are under the "Training Plus" category. The entire list of "Training Plus" games Perfect 10, Island Cycling, Rhythm Kung Fu, Driving Range, Segway Circuit, Bird's-Eye Bull's-Eye, Snowball Fight, Obstacle Course, Tilt City, Rhythm Parade, Big Top Juggling, Skateboard Arena, Table Tilt Plus, Balance Bubble Plus, & Basic Run Plus.
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