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Consumer electronics industry

Nintendo's Wii Revolutionizes Family Entertainment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Wii, a groundbreaking entertainment console from Nintendo, is a multimedia center that turns a room into a magical experience through wireless Bluetooth technology and motion-sensing controllers. The console is backwards compatible with GameCube discs and can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, allowing owners to access classic games and check the weather and news. With its unique features and ability to challenge today's youth to get up and move, the Wii is a requirement for every family entertainment center.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wii console is shaped like a multidisc DVD package and uses wireless Bluetooth technology to interact with games.
  • The console comes with one set of controllers, and parents may want to purchase additional remote ($39.99) and nunchuk ($19.99) to allow for multiple players.
  • The Wii is backward-compatible with GameCube discs and uses SD memory cards, in addition to 512k internal flash memory.
  • The Wii can connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi hot spot in the home and allow owners to access the Virtual Console, where they can download classic games.
  • The Wii is designed to challenge today's youth to get up and move, with games that encourage physical activity such as tennis, boxing, and golf.
  • Classic titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance are available for the Wii.
  • The Wii's success will depend on third-party developers taking advantage of its unique features.

Statistics:

  • The Wii console costs $249.99.
  • The remote controller costs $39.99, and the nunchuk costs $19.99.
  • The Wii uses SD memory cards, in addition to 512k internal flash memory.
  • The Wii can connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi hot spot in the home.
  • The Virtual Console offers classic NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and TurboGraphx 16 games for purchase with Wii Points ($20 per 2,000 points).
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is rated Teen and costs $49.99.
  • Rayman Raving Rabbids is rated Everyone and costs $49.99.
  • Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is rated Teen and costs $49.99.
  • Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is rated Everyone and costs $49.99.

Sources:

  • The Washington Times - The name Wii ($249.99) does little to accurately describe Nintendo's groundbreaking entertainment console...
  • Nintendo - The Wii console is a multimedia center that turns a room into a magical experience...
  • Ubisoft - Rayman Raving Rabbids (rated Everyone, $49.99) is a crazy minigame challenge that takes the most intense advantage of the Wii controllers.
  • Activision - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (rated Teen, $49.99) is a fantastic third-person adventure that allows up to four players to control comic-book stars.
  • Sega - Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (rated Everyone, $49.99) is a collection of mazes and 50 party games that will captivate the entire family.

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