Are Wii the Children of the Revolution?

IDC 4U1: Journal Entry Question #9

There has been quite a bit of hype surrounding the new Nintendo Wii gaming system. Some say that the Wii's ability to "democratize" gaming for people of all ages and abilities is revolutionary. Do you think this is a true technological revolution or just hype? Please defend your opinion.

The Wii - originally codenamed the Nintendo Revolution - was released for sale in North America on November 19th, 2006. Selling close to 600,000 consoles in its first week alone, this gaming system has most definitely begun to revolutionize the home console market. Nintendo’s revolution, however, really began in 2004, when the company released its two-screen hand-held, the Nintendo DS. The massive popularity inspired an expansion of Nintendo’s philosophy; instead of targeting one key demographic, the company made it their mission to entice consumers of all different age groups and skill levels. They came up with new technological innovations, moved towards sleeker interfaces (a strategy Apple has used for its iPod), and created numerous games that appealed to a much wider variety of people. This brand new approach to developing and marketing game consoles essentially paved the way for the considerable success of the Wii.

Nintendo used all the same strategies they’d used when the DS had been released to build the bona fide hype that is currently surrounding the Wii. They created a console that is aesthetically pleasing, utilizes innovative technology, and offers its consumers an assortment of games. The system features a motion-sensitive controller that can recognize itself in 3D space and is also much less costly than the competing seventh generation consoles, due to the fact that it is not capable of producing HD graphics. Additionally, they changed the original name from the “Revolution” to the less intimidating and easy-to-remember “Wii” – an all-inclusive name (“Wii” sounds like “we”) that everyone can pronounce. Finally, it was packaged with a game called Wii Sports – a game that is easy enough for anyone to pick up and play.

Not only is it a major advancement in the world of videogame technology, it is also revolutionary in that it attracts a wide variety of buyers. From parents to children, from seasoned gaming veterans to new beginners, everyone wants to own a Wii! I’m no techno-savvy gamer but, whenever I’ve had the chance to give this super console a spin, I’ve leapt at it! It may not necessarily spark a revolution (though, personally, I believe that all next generation consoles from Nintendo’s competitors will include some version of a Wiimote), but it’s definitely more than just hype. It has surpassed the expectations of many and proven itself as a more than worthwhile investment. I know I plan to buy a Wii… if I can ever get my hands on one, that is.