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Video Game System: Get to Know the Nintendo Wii Console

Now that it's here, you're probably wondering what you'll get from the Nintendo Wii console. You probably know by now that it's a better physical version of its predecessors, but if you really want to know what good bits are under the hood, here's a sneak peek:

The hardware
The hardware is housed in a unit that's considerably smaller than that of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. The specs are 44mm wide, 215.4mm deep and 157mm tall. The Wii weighs less than 3 lbs, making it the supermodel-light of the three. For storage, it's easy to stack right next to your TV, speaker or component system, since the console itself can be stored either vertically or horizontally.

The CPU is a PowerPc-based processor with a 90 SOI CMOS processor at 729MHz. The main memory is at 88MB with 24MB of internal 1T-SRAM and a 64MB external GDDR3 SDRAM.

The front-loading optical media drive accommodates both the 12cm Nintendo Wii discs and the 8cm GameCube discs. In terms of looks, it is also available in a variety of colors, including red, lime green, silver, white and black.

The Wiimote
Part of the buzz about the Nintendo Wii console is the game controller that comes with it. The Wiimote, as it is called, is a motion-sensitive device that uses infrared detection and a series of accelerometers that helps it calculate its position in a three-dimensional space. This means that with a flick of the user's wrist, the Wiimote can be manipulated to swing the racket or throw a right hook precisely as the user performs. Physical gesture equals virtual gaming.

Nintendo Wii's console can also accommodate up to four Wii remote controllers, connected through Bluetooth, with an additional port for one more GameCube controller. One of these controllers is the nunchuk, so named because of its uncanny resemblance to the martial arts tool.

The Wii doesn’t have the surround sound feature of its competitors, but the built-in speaker will do the job nicely.

Multimedia
Nintendo Wii is unlike its predecessors in that it is capable of web-surfing as well as photo-viewing. Wii's web browser is Opera and photos may be viewed using the SD memory card. The SD card is also used to save game data and Virtual Console games.

Titles
Nintendo Wii has 30 available titles, with 15 made available during its launch. Third party titles include Madden NFL 07, Red Steel, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Far Cry: Vengeance, Call of Duty 3 and Need for Speed: Carbon. Nintendo Wii also allows backward-adaptability for GameCube games and peripherals, so your older games will still get considerable play.

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