The Nintendo Wii has become an unexpected competitor in the console market. Far surpassing the sales of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the Wii has surprised many with its success. Though it lacks the raw rendering and processing power of the 360 and PS3, the Wii combines inexpensive, intuitive gameplay with an extremely unique Wiimote-shaped controller to gain an advantage over its more powerful counterparts.
An innovative development in the way console controllers work, the Wiimote features motion sensing technology and an optical drive, as well as force feedback. This allows users to interact and manipulate items on the screen by moving the Wiimote. Some games, such as Wii Sports, have the user swing the Wiimote like a baseball bat or golf club to hit a ball on the screen, while others involve using it as an aiming device. These features add additional depth to the game as users feel more involved in what is happening on the screen. Many games leave the option to use the Wiimote in a more conventional way if the user wishes, allowing them to better tailor the game to their wishes.
In addition to the Wiimote, a variety of games use the Nunchuk accessory. The Nunchuk provides the user with two more buttons, an analog stick and another level of motion sensing control to allow for more intense interaction with games. Using the Nunchuk and Wiimote together, the user can, for example, throw punches in a boxing game, or use the analog stick to move while the Wiimote is used to aim. This allows users to break away from the traditional dual joystick method of controlling most console games and have more freedom in the way they interact with the software.
In addition, the Nunchuk/Wiimote combo can be used together with other peripherals to meet the needs of different games. Only a few options currently exist, but more are in development for future use. One item currently available is the Wii Zapper, which allows the user to slide the Wiimote into the barrel and hook the Nunchuk to the rear of the weapon. This setup makes playing certain shooter games much easier, allowing the user to get more involved in the interaction with the game without worrying about controller limitations.
While the next-gen console market is still fairly young, the Wii has made its mark with an unconventional approach to the way consoles are made. With a solid lineup of games ahead of it, the Wii promises to be a solid choice for anyone looking for reasonably priced entertainment.