Techlines Today

E3 Take a Look at Wii

By Adam Myers ⋅ May 9, 2006 ⋅ Tags: Gaming

The Nintendo Wii was fully introduced today at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, and frankly, it looks awesome.

Some key Nintendo Wii features:

• The controller – Something only Nintendo would dare try (does anyone remember the VirtualBoy?). But look what it offers:

• Motion-detection: You move it like a wand in front of the tv and the game will sense where the controller is. Use it like a sword, a golf club, or a steering wheel. Uses tilt sensors and accelerometer.
• Rumble: No longer unique but done originally with the RumblePack on the N64
• Speaker: There’s a frikkin speaker in the frikkin thing. When you shoot an arrow from your bow-and-arrow controller, the arrow makes a “whoosh” sound that seemingly travels from the controller to the tv
• Add-ons: You can connect the nunchuk for a handy little joystick, and many things coming up, depending on what game you’re playing
• Turn it sideways and play old school Nintendo games – there is also a more traditional Wii-branded joystick (think mutated SNES)

• Wireless: Connected 24/7, even when the power is off. It will download new content to your games for free through Nintendo’s WiFi Connection
• Accepts and plays Gamecube discs as well; Accepts Gamecube controllers and memory cards
• Virtual Console: Download and play 20 years worth of old Nintendo, Sega and Turbografx 16 games. Also, home for indie developed games.
• Expandable memory through USB drives and SD cards

• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
• Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Super Mario Galaxy
• WarioWare

At this point, I’d rather buy a Wii than a PSTwii.