We're getting close to that time of the year where gifts are bought for children, spouses, family members, and friends. Now let me start by saying I've been playing video games since Pong came out. Had an Atari 2600, Intellivision, Commodore 64, Sega, N64, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and a few other in-between and that isn't even factoring in PC gaming.
Now I know video games from time to time can get a bad rap. As a kid I was never allowed just to sit in front of a TV and play them 24/7. It was about moderation. I should also stress that many of the popular games, and I am nothing close to a prude, can be a little violent for me. But then I don't generally speaking enjoy blowing shit up or shooting somebody in the head. I prefer sports, puzzle, and fantasy games (and there are plenty of them around).
I say this cause as a "gamer" I always used to look down on the Wii. I mean it wasn't really a "gaming" system. Well I've had one in my house for a few weeks and it is about the "coolest" thing I've ever seen, and if you have a spouse or a child asking for a gaming system, it would make for a wonderful gift.
The Nintendo Wii is unique among the three popular gaming systems (Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 being the other two). With the PlayStation and Xbox you use a controller with buttons and analog sticks. The Wii remote is somewhat similar, but it takes things to a totally new level never seen in gaming:
A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detect movement in three dimensions.
As you might have seen in commercials when you are playing tennis you actually swing the remote like a tennis racket. When you throw a pitch in baseball you make a pitching motion with the remote like you are throwing a baseball. I never thought it would work well, but my gosh it is super cool.
But they've taken the ability/functionality of the remote to another level past just the obvious uses (like the above two examples). The game I am hooked on is Mario Cart. It is a racing game based on the Mario Brother franchise that comes with a steering wheel. The Wii motion remote is placed in the back of the steering wheel and you use it to guide the various vehicles.
They've even taken it to another entirely new level with the Wii Balance Board. You can connect it to the machine and follow along and do Yoga, set-up, skateboard games, you name it.
It is kind of like the first time I got on a Segway. A totally new form of technology that I had read about. You think you can imagine how it would work/feel. Then you get to play with it for a few hour and you are totally stunned by how neat it is. Blows away your expectations.
I say all this cause the Wii is the least expensive of the three major gaming systems. Plus it comes with a pretty neat game that is three games in one, so you can just get the system and have hundreds of hours of fun without buying anything else. Plus, generally speaking the Wii games are not as expensive as the Xbox and PlayStation games, and there is no telling where they'll end up taking the system.
And maybe most important of all, most games are released for all three platforms. But in some instances Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo own the rights to certain games/titles. If your children want to play games, but you don't want them just blowing stuff up 24/7, Nintendo owns the rights to Mario and Zelda which are some of their best games and not overtly violent.
I will end with saying no I don't work for Nintendo :)!. But I give the system a 9.5 out of 10. So if you are not a gamer and you have a family member asking for something, I swear you can't go wrong with the Wii.