Overview
The Wii is Nintendo's latest effort in the console market. Battling its way against two other consoles, the Wii presents itself as one of the best machines to be released with its innovation in playing games. rather than using standard buttons and joystick, it also incorporates motion sensing where gestures and movements play a big role when playing the game.
Machine Features
-Backwards Compatibility with all Gamecube titles (Must have Gamecube controller and Memory card to play).
-Mii Channel for creating Avatars of your ownself.
-Photo channel for moments to slideshow the pictures you've taken. A good party feature.
-The News and Weather channel for news all around the world and weather updates in major capitals.
-Wii Shop Channel for either buying more channels for the Wii or games from the 80s and 90s and of various consoles too.
-The Nintendo Channel for videos on games, and even demos for the Nintendo DS (The DS is sold seperately).
-Send messages to one Wii and another by using the virtual keyboard or the USB keyboard (Sold Seperately).
-Watch Netflix videos from US. (Have not been tested for Malaysia consoles).
Technical Specs
Processor
CPU: PowerPC based "Broadway" processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, clocked at 729 MHz
GPU: ATI "Hollywood" GPU made with a 90 nm CMOS process,[33] clocked at 243 MHz
Ports and peripheral capabilities:
- Up to four Wii Remote controllers (connected wirelessly via Bluetooth).
- One SD memory card slot. (Supports up to 32GB)
- Two USB 2.0 ports.
- One Sensor Bar port.
- One accessory port on the bottom of the Wii Remote.
- Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports.
- Two Nintendo GameCube memory card ports.
- Mitsumi DMW-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module
- Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor.
Storage:
- 512 MB built-in flash memory.
- Expansion available via SD card memory, 2 GB maximum supported capacity.
- GameCube Memory Cards (for saving GCN games only).
- Slot-loading disc drive compatible with:
- 8 cm GameCube optical disc.
- 12 cm Wii Optical Disc.
- Mask ROM by Macronix.
Video:
- Up to 480p (PAL/NTSC) or 576i (PAL/SECAM), standard 4:3 and 16:9 anamorphic widescreen.
- Component (including Progressive scan), RGB SCART (PAL only), S-Video (NTSC only), composite output, or D-Terminal.
Audio:
Main: Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable.
Controller: Built-in speaker
Credits go to Zio and Signither.
Regions
Perhaps the only sad thing in the Wii is the part where region lock is a problem. Due to the region lock, there are 3 different machines released. US, PAL (Europe and Australia), and Japan.
While the machine is region locked, accessories are not. Remotes and Wii Fit board are known to be accessible by all consoles. Wii Fit boards however differ on the limit weight you can use it with.
Going Online with the Wii
In Malaysia, TMnet Streamyx works well with the Wii. Wireless broadbands such as P1 Wimax also work (Credits to Penman).
Official Wii in Malaysia
Malaysia's officially released Wii is the US region. Malaysia would also be home to a tremendous amount of US Wii titles.
The Malaysian US Wii is sold at RM950 at retail in shops and garage sales thread. It would normally come with a 3 months warranty by the official distributor of Nintendo products in Malaysia, MM Soft. The package would include:
-The Wii
-A Wii Remote and Nunchunck set
-AA Batteries for the Wii Remote
-A Sensor bar for the Wii Remote to communicate with
-A silicon cover for the Wii Remote
-AV Composite cables
-Malaysian adapter
-Wii Sports game
-Manuals and warranty card
-A stand for the Wii
-A disc for holding the Wii at the bottom.
-NEW! Wii Sports Resort
-NEW! A Motion Plus
It has just been recently launched and available that the official Wii in Malaysia is now in Black and White. These are also the new models that will include a unit of Motion Plus and Wii Sports Resort to provide more value to consumers.
Modifications
You are free to discuss about pimping out your Wii or presenting new technologies that can utilized with the Wii, like building a PS3 or 360 controller into a Wii controller or showing off your skins on the Wii. You can also talk about options that can be used to make the Wii region free (As with the case of not being able to certain titles from Japan).
However, piracy talks are not allowed in any way possible. Consider yourself warned. I will also not entertain any PM's on pirated talks. I stand firm on not discussing about piracy.
Here are some of the problems with illegally modified Wiis.
-Missing channels. With modifications, Shops can take away channels as they place. Some of the channels would already have been included, but when you realize its gone, it would mean they have stolen it away from you. Some would also would charge you just to put back the channels that already came with the Wii in the first place.
-Wii Shop Channel problems. If you're using another region's console (exp: Japan), buying a Virtual Console game from the US would be hazardous to the Wii. Even the servers would feel awkward trying to connect from a US server to a Japan server due to region locks.
-Game compatibility. Updates in the frimware of a modified console can render some games of the past to be ruined. You might not be able to boot up certain games of the past when it should be just essential in the first place.
-Ruining the Wii. Updating the firmware can also lead to the Wii getting itself bricked. Turned into a paper weight, you name it. A firmware from 1 region, updating another, would render the console useless.
For peace of mind, go for the Original.
18/10 update: Korean Modded Wiis (Or Tranvestite Wiis) now could not update to 4.2U firmware. Updating to that will give you an Error 003. You have been warned again. And I shall call modded Wii's Tranvestites from now on (No offence to them however). As as the latest date, 4.3U has been introduced. And again, its meant to curb piracy.(Credits to Dragonflyz for the info, and influence. )
Fake Peripherals
There have been reports that Wii Remotes and Nunchunks may appear to be fakes. Further details can be found below in this thread. Credits to Dragonflyz for the point out.
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=939583
Where to get them?
Shops that carry official Wiis are scarce, but still available. However, since the official locally distributed one is no longer available, I would have to direct you to the other sellers that will sell a US one. Whatever it is, insist on an original and unmodified one.
Any inquiries, this thread will you out with that.
Other FAQs on the Wii (as at January 2014):
1. What versions of the Wii is available at the moment?
If you're lucky, you can still find the original locally distributed by MM Soft Malaysia one that should be sold for RM 500 and above. Or else, you are stuck with:
US Wiis with Mario Kart Wii / Wii Sports & Wii Sports Resort combo.
The Wii Mini with Mario Kart Wii included.
2. Is it worth it to buy the Wii now?
Considering that the WiiU has launched for a while now, and there are some amazing games in the Wii anyways, it really boils down to what your budget is. I would recommend to future proof yourself by investing in a WiiU. But if you are low on budget, the Wii or Wii Mini will work just fine.
3. What is the difference between the Wii and the Wii Mini?
- No internet on the Wii Mini. So, no online games possible.
- No Gamecube Controller, Memory Cards and Support in the Wii Mini.
- It's in Red. Where else are you getting a Red Wii anyways? (The New Super Mario Bros Wii version is no longer in production though)
This post has been edited by Kyoyagami: Jan 27 2014, 11:36 AM
Nintendo Wii Discussion Thread V3, FAQS and queries go right here!