Q: What is the Nintendo Wii?
A: "Wii", pronounced we, is the name for Nintendo's next-generation console. Nintendo followed the name with a mission statement, explaining how the name reflects the company's desire to bring about change in the video gaming industry. With Wii, Nintendo is looking to put forth an emphasis on gameplay and innovation, rather than focusing on expensive technology. Nintendo representatives have said the company's goal is to expand the market by reaching out to hardcore gamers, casual gamers, and even those whom do not consider themselves gamers.
Q: What does the console look like?
A: The Wii is "the smallest console Nintendo has ever produced," according to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. The glossy white system measures about 8.5 inches long, 6 inches wide and less than 2 inches thick (roughly the size of 3 DVD cases stacked on top of each other).
Q: Can Wii play DVD movies?
A: Although the ability was originally planned, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication Perrin Kaplan confirmed in September 2006 that Wii will not allow for DVD playback. Supposedly, the reason for the functionality's removal was to lower costs. Some following reports indicated that Japan would recieve a version of the Wii sometime in 2007 capable of playing DVD movies, but Nintendo has not announced any plans for this new version of the console.
Q: How does Wii's controller work?
A: The Wii controller - called the Wii Remote by Nintendo and dubbed the 'Wiimote' by fans - has the ability to sense its position in three-dimensional space in relation to the television set. Players will generally hold the controller either vertically (the Wii Remote pointed at the screen like a standard television remote) or horizontally. The sensor bar - which is placed above or below one's television - is only needed when the Wii Remote's pointer ability is employed. The sensor bar is required for the first menu appearing when the console is turned on.
The Wii Remote can connect to several peripherals through a port at the end of the controller. The Nunchuk attachment, used in many Wii games, contains an analog stick, two buttons and an accelerometer - the last feature allowing players to freely move their other hand left and right as another source of control. Other peripherals listed below also utilize the Wii Remote's port.
The Wii Remote also contains a small speaker at the center of the device, allowing players to hear sounds programmed directly into the controller. In the Wii version of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, for example, players hear the strings of Link's bow being pulled from the controller and, when released, sounds the attack across the room and through the television's speakers. Gamers can lower of the volume of, or completely turn off, the Wii Remote's speaker through the controller settings accessible by pressing the "Home" button.