Wii

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Video game console
Generation	Seventh generation
Retail availability	November 19 2006
Units shipped	Worldwide: 50.39 million 1
Media	12 cm Wii Optical Disc 8 cm Nintendo GameCube Game Disc
CPU	IBM PowerPC-based 2 "Broadway"
Storage capacity	512& MB Internal flash memory SD card SDHC card Nintendo GameCube Memory Card
Graphics	ATI "Hollywood"
Controller input	Wii Remote Wii Balance Board Nintendo GameCube controller Nintendo DS 3
Connectivity	Wi-Fi Bluetooth 2 USB 2.0 4 LAN Adapter
Online services	Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection WiiConnect24 Wii Shop Channel
Best-selling game	Wii Sports 40.5 million 5 Wii Play 20.91 million 5
Backward compatibility	Nintendo GameCube
Predecessor	Nintendo GameCube

The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo. As a seventh-generation console the Wii primarily competes with Microsofts Xbox 360 and Sonys PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of both. ⁶ As of December 31 2008 the Wii leads the generation over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in worldwide sales. ¹

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. Another distinctive feature of the console is WiiConnect24 which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode. ⁷

The Wii is Nintendos fifth home console the direct successor to the Nintendo GameCube and able to play all official GameCube games. Nintendo first spoke of the console at the 2004 E3 press conference and later unveiled the system at the 2005 E3. Satoru Iwata revealed a prototype of the controller at the September 2005 Tokyo Game Show. ⁸ At E3 2006 the console won the first of several awards. ⁹ By December 8 2006 it had completed its launch in four key markets.