Wii: Difference between revisions

The '''{{wp|Wii}}''' is a home video game console created by [[Nintendo]] as the successor to the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America for $249.99. It was then released in Japan on December 2, 2006; Oceania on December 7, 2006; and Europe on December 8, 2006. This is one of three Nintendo game consoles sold in {{wp|North America}} before {{wp|Japan}}, the others being the original [[Nintendo DS]] and the [[Wii U]]. Before the Wii's final name was announced on April 27, 2006, the console was codenamed "Revolution."

Unlike with the Nintendo GameCube, Wii game discs use the standard DVD size, which allows them to hold more memory than the GameCube discs: up to 4.37 GB for single-layered discs, and up to 7.92 GB for dual-layered discs. However, the Wii is backwards compatible with most Nintendo GameCube games, and it is the first Nintendo home console to be backwards compatible with its predecessor. It has four GameCube controller ports, meaning GameCube games can be inserted into the disc slot and be played on the Wii.

The system had integrated [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] functionality, enabling players to interact with other players around the world while playing certain games, such as ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''.

Although the Nintendo GameCube was the first Nintendo home console since the [[Family Computer]] to not have a [[Super Mario (series)|''Super Mario'' series]] game at launch, the Wii is the first home console to not have a game from the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] as a launch title (except in Japan). The Wii's first ''Super Mario'' game is ''[[WarioWare: Smooth Moves]]'', which came out on December 2, 2006, in Japan as a launch title; January 12, 2007, in Europe; January 15, 2007, in North America; and January 25, 2007, in Oceania. The first ''Super Mario'' game for the Wii starring [[Mario]] is ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', except in PAL regions, where ''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'' was the game instead.

In 2012, the Wii was succeeded by the [[Wii U]], which can still play Wii games and utilizes controllers with backwards compatibility.

Since May 20, 2014, online play for many Wii games has been discontinued because the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service has discontinued.<ref>http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-killing-online-support-for-mario-kart-wii-super-smash-bros-brawl-in-may/1100-6417983/</ref>

In addition to being backwards-compatible with [[Nintendo GameCube]] games, the Wii Shop Channel has a section called [[Virtual Console]], which allows the players to download emulated versions of games from the [[Nintendo 64]] era and before to play on the Wii. Many of them were ''Super Mario'' games. Each downloaded game costs between 500 and 1000 [[Virtual Console#Wii Points|Wii Points]]. The games are priced based on the system they were released on, with imported games generally costing an additional 100 points, or 200 points for Nintendo 64 games.  

==Wii Channels related to ''Super Mario''==

The [[Nintendo 3DS]], [[Wii U]], and [[Nintendo Switch]] have a similar online shop called the [[Nintendo eShop]]. The [[Nintendo DSi]] also had an online shop (simply called the Nintendo DSi Shop), but that shop was also discontinued.

The Forecast Channel was added on December 19, 2006, about one month after the console itself was released. The channel preview displayed the local weather of where the user is located. Some games, including ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'', have an option that allowed the game to draw information from the Forecast Channel and use that weather as the weather conditions in the game.

==WiiWare channels==

WiiWare was a feature that was launched for the Wii Shop Channel in 2008, which consisted of smaller-sized games that could be downloaded onto the Wii or SD card memory using [[Virtual Console#Wii Points|Wii Point]]s, which would then appear on the Wii Menu as individual channels. Some ''Super Mario'' WiiWare titles included ''[[Dr. Mario Online Rx]]'' and ''[[WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase]]''. Some WiiWare titles used Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, allowing the player to play with other Wii players over the internet. Others included Mii compatibility, allowing players to play the game as their own Mii created in the Mii Channel. Also, some games allowed the player to transfer and use the data from a [[Nintendo DS]] game, such as ''WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase''.

The '''Wii Remote''' (also known as the "Wiimote") is the standard game controller for the Wii. It has a rectangular shape, resembling a television remote, making it unique from other consoles' controllers. It consists of several buttons (one behind ({{button|wii|B}})) and a directional pad ({{button|wii|Pad}}) as well. The Wii Remote also has a power button ({{button|wii|power}}), which can be used as a remote to either turn the Wii console on or off, rather than pressing the power button on the machine itself. The Wii Remote can be used for NES [[Virtual Console]] games but not for SNES and N64 Virtual Console games because the Wii Remote cannot be mapped to emulate a SNES or N64 controller properly.

The '''Wii Balance Board''' is a controller for the Wii that is used for various games, most prominently in ''{{wp|Wii Fit}}''. The Balance Board, unlike the Nunchuk or Classic Controller, acts as a separate controller and does not need to be connected to the Wii Remote. The Board is capable of measuring the weight, balance, and movement of the player that is using it. The only ''Super Mario'' game that ever used the Wii Balance Board was ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]''.

==''Super Mario'' appearances==

*Because [[Virtual Console]] service and [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] backwards compatibility, seven ''[[Mario Party (series)|Mario Party]]'' titles are playable on the Wii, more than any other console to date.