| If you thought your television is something to | | | | invest in a couple of these. Children love music and |
| passively gaze at when you are too tired to do | | | | dancing so let them come to your parties. Dance |
| anything else, Nintendo's Wii altered that thinking by | | | | Dance Revolution Hottest Party game featuring the |
| linking interactivity to your TV. Since Wii is a gaming | | | | greatest hits of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's includes |
| console, there are 208 (at last count) WiiWare | | | | one dance pad. For a healthier workout, add the |
| games for every age group, interest, exercise level | | | | Balance Board for more intense dancing. This game is |
| for both adults and children. If your preferred game | | | | as much for couch potatoes as for skilled dancers. It |
| type is adventure and action-Wii's most prolific--Wii | | | | also includes a way to measure the calories you |
| has games for you. Ditto for puzzles, sports, fitness, | | | | burned. Dancing is great fun and a lot less boring than |
| and racing. The health and exercise games designed | | | | the treadmill, so put on your dancing shoes and get |
| for every fitness level can be done in the comfort of | | | | moving. If you aren't into dancing, a wireless guitar |
| your home. Even though the Wii ships with an AV | | | | that attaches to the remote through the Nunchuk |
| cable, AC adapter, and console stand, there are | | | | just might get you into the music. |
| other accessories that you might want and need. | | | | If racing and driving gaming is your thrill, you need |
| The console and the games are just the beginning of | | | | the Wii Wheel to make the games more |
| the Wii experience. Accessories are plentiful and | | | | adventurous. The Wheel is intuitive, accurate, and |
| enticing for Wii aficionados to add their Wii | | | | realistic. It snaps into the remote controller (which is |
| enjoyment. Many are sold by Wii, made by | | | | needed for the Wheel to function) and has its own |
| manufacturers approved by Wii, or made by other | | | | set of games that works with it such as Mario Kart |
| manufacturers and are available at stores such as | | | | Wii, F1 2009, and Need for Speed: Nitro. Take the |
| Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, and from online | | | | wheel and feel the rush of speed and control as |
| sources. | | | | never before-from the comfort of your family room. |
| Controllers take on a life of their own when it comes | | | | For games involving shooting, the Nyko Perfect Shot |
| to accessories. The Wii Remote Controller (including a | | | | looks like a pistol with a sight for accuracy, trigger, |
| "jacket") eliminates the lack of portability of the | | | | and the ability to slide into the remote. As with other |
| joystick and gives you free motion. It is | | | | accessories, a Nunchuk is required to use the Perfect |
| motion-sensing for a perfect tennis or baseball swing, | | | | Shot. |
| is effective up to 10 feet away, and can | | | | If you haven't gotten the idea that one Wii |
| accommodate up to four players at once. It comes | | | | accessory requires yet another one, there is the Wii |
| with a speaker and has ports for additional Wii | | | | Zapper that links the remote controller and the |
| accessories. About the same size as a TV remote | | | | Nunchuk. (As a review, remember that these two |
| but with fewer buttons, it is easy to use right out of | | | | are purchased separately.) Assembly is required-just |
| the box. There is even an accessory to the controller | | | | attach the Nunchuk and the remote controller to the |
| accessory--the Wii MotionPlus-that gives the player | | | | Zapper. Since is comes with crossbow training |
| more precision with specific games such as basketball. | | | | software and since the name says it all, it is |
| Wii Sensor Bar also works with controllers for | | | | particularly handy for games involving shooting and |
| motions made by the arm. Another have-to-have is | | | | moving. The Zapper is recommended for games such |
| the Nunchuk that hooks up to the controller, is also | | | | as Dead Space Extraction, Resident Evil: The Darkside |
| sensitive to motion, and provides flexibility in moving | | | | Chronicles, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex |
| characters around during games. Ever expanding the | | | | Edition. |
| collection of controllers, Wii offers the Classic | | | | Wii Speak gives people in different locations the |
| Controller allowing you wireless connectivity to the | | | | ability to chat provided they have Friend Codes with |
| console. It may be required for some games and it | | | | each other. Sitting on your TV, the Speak is a |
| may or may not be compatible with all games, so a | | | | microphone for the Wii console and enables you to |
| little homework is needed before purchasing. The | | | | talk or send a voice message to friends who also |
| wrist strap for the controller keeps it securely in your | | | | have a Speak. While not Wii accessories, it requires a |
| hand so the excitement of the game doesn't cause it | | | | router and high-speed Internet. Sometimes it comes |
| to flip out of your hand. | | | | with the Animal Crossing software where you |
| Remember the statement about passively staring at | | | | customize your town and use the Speak microphone |
| the TV. Wii loves interaction and participation and | | | | to talk to other players online. Not everyone will be |
| proves it by an array of fitness accessories. The | | | | fascinated by this accessory, but it gives the feeling |
| Balance Board makes it impossible not to participate. | | | | of connection to the players. |
| It will get you out of your recliner and into exercise. | | | | Then there are adapters and cables. The AC Adapter |
| It comes with Wii Fit Plus software and senses your | | | | powers the console and fits any 110-volt outlet while |
| weight, balance, and feet movement as you do your | | | | the LAN Adapter connects the console to the |
| exercise routines. It will give you a reality check | | | | Internet in the absence of a router. Cables include |
| (whether you want it or not) on your balance, your | | | | the Wii Component Video Cable for connecting the |
| Body Mass Index based on your height and weight | | | | console to an HDTV for enhanced viewing and the |
| to determine your fitness or lack thereof, your Wii | | | | Wii AV Cables for connecting the console to inputs |
| Fit "age" based on your balance assessment and your | | | | on a TV, DVD player, or VCR. |
| chronological age, tracks the amount of activity you | | | | Always having remotes ready for use requires a |
| do, and customizes routines for you to reach your | | | | charge system with either flat cradles or a stand-up |
| fitness goals. When you don't have time, don't want | | | | model to hold the remotes via magnets with green |
| to join a gym, or don't want to be embarrassed, | | | | and red LED lights indicating the status of the charge. |
| exercising in the privacy of your own home is the | | | | Included with the charging system are an AC power |
| answer with a Wii. It just might be fun as well as | | | | cord, covers, and two rechargeable battery packs. |
| healthy and motivating. You can check the number of | | | | Up to two remotes can be charged at the same |
| calories burned, chart your progress daily, and choose | | | | time giving you fully charged remotes to assure that |
| yoga and strength-building exercises. And you can | | | | the competitive spirit of the moment will not be |
| purchase a silicone sleeve to keep the board looking | | | | interrupted when a battery fails. |
| new. An addition is the aerobics step platform that | | | | A gaming memory card by SanDisk provides extra |
| goes under the balance board to raise it four inches | | | | memory in case your Wii internal memory is almost |
| for intensive step aerobics. Two-pound dumbbells | | | | full. To stop a game that you want to continue at a |
| (remote and Nunchuck required) adds more punch to | | | | later time, the card provides 2GB of memory to save |
| your aerobics with strength and cardio exercises. | | | | games, and download photos and games from the |
| Gold's Gym Cardio Workout guides you through | | | | Internet. Even though you wanted to continue the |
| cardio exercises including boxing, push-ups, and | | | | game but your son's baseball game was priority, you |
| jogging and uses the board for extra intensity. Boxing | | | | have the peace of mind of knowing that you can |
| gloves enhance the play of the sports and cardio | | | | pick up the game at the exact place where you |
| boxing games offered by Wii. Just when you thought | | | | were when you stopped playing. |
| there wasn't any other piece of gear to get you | | | | The start-up Wii is about $200 and some gadgets |
| moving, someone suggests padded socks to wear | | | | cost upward to $100 with many, however, around |
| when using the balance board. They are flexible, | | | | $10. Even though some Wii accessories have small |
| breathable, and secure. Remember activity is | | | | prices, accumulating the ones you want might end up |
| in-passivity is out! | | | | costing you a bundle. You can even buy the Wii Lens |
| Dance pads or mats with a rubber base to prevent | | | | Cleaning Kit to keep your console operating |
| slippage are a great way to get people up and | | | | effectively. Welcome to the wonderful wide world of |
| dancing by just following the arrows. Two or more | | | | Wii accessories. |
| dancers will make the party even more interesting so | | | | |