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About

Wii is a home video game console created by Nintendo and first released on November 19th, 2006. The console is known for its unique gameplay and interaction design. The success of the Wii lead to two successors, the Wii Mini and the Wii U.

History

Wii

The original Wii console was conceived around the same time as the release of the Nintendo GameCube, in 2001. After five years of development, it was released worldwide in late 2006. In 2007, the Wii was the top selling console, outselling its main competitors, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.^[2] In 2010, the Wii became the best selling home console by Nintendo.^[3] In November 2013, Nintendo ended production of the original Wii.^[4]

Wii U

The Wii U was announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2011, and was released internationally in Fall 2012. Its' sales have been far below the sales of the original Wii, although new games like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon have caused them to rise as users become interested in obtaining the new console. ^[3]

Wii Mini

The Wii Mini, which is red and black instead of uniformly white, was introduced in December of 2012. It lacks many of the features of the original Wii, including internet connectivity. It is considered to be mostly a console for those who enjoy the basic concepts of original Wii games.^[5]

Reception

Wii

Original reviews for the Wii were mixed. Many criticized its lack of advanced graphics and decided that the console was best for use by children. PC Mag said "While it's relatively inexpensive and perhaps even more innovative than competing consoles, the Nintendo Wii is best for families with small children, or those who like to game in groups. For everyone else, be an adult and get an adult console."^[6] However, many positive reviews emphasized the fun console and creative gaming experience. As of 2015, more than 1000 games have been created for the console and as Wii became the most popular console in the world, over 100 different Wii games sold more than 100 million copies.^[1][7]

Wii Fit

The Wii Fit is a game released by Nintendo in 2007, shortly after the original Wii console. Using a peripheral device called a Wii Balance Board, players are able to perform exercises at home, which introduced the console into the health care and exercise markets, including the sub-markets of physiotherapy and elder care.^[8] Wii Fit is thought to be the most successful video game in Nintendo's history, as well as one of the most successful video games of all time.^[9]

Wii U Reception

The Wii U, the successor to the original Wii, was released in November of 2012 to lukewarm reviews. Reviewers noted that many promised features weren't yet available and that the controller's battery only lasted for 3.5 hours.^[15] However, two years after its release, CNET noted that the console had "shaken off some of its initial growing pains to become a superior kid and family console."^[16] The release of several exciting games, including Splatoon, helped the console begin to sell more units. As of May 2015, Yahoo tech noted that while still terrible, the console's sales were beginning to pick up.^[17]

Fandom

Several user communities have sprung up surrounding the Wii and its users. Console users have several Wii-based reddit communities, including /r/wii, /r/wiihacks and /r/wiiu. The largest of these, /r/wiiu, has over 75,000 readers as of June 2015. The GameFAQs section for Wii has over 1000 questions, almost half of which are answered, while the section for Wii U has more than 250.^[10][11] Wii U has been mentioned 326,000 times on Twiter as of June 14, 2015, and maintains an average of between 5,000 and 25,000 mentions per day.^[12]

MiiVerse

For specific games & communities, see Miiverse related entries.

Miiverse is a social network operated by Nintendo. It is split into communities for specific franchises, and can be further grouped into specific games. The Miiverse was launched on November 18, 2012 for the Wii U, but it can be used on a PC and Nintendo 3DS.

Wii Hacking

Wii Hacking, otherwise known as Wii Homebrew, is the practice of modifying a Wii so that it can run software not sanctioned by Nintendo. The Wii was first hacked in December of 2007, and since then running homebrew has been a popular use for the Wii.^[13] The most popular user forum for Wii hacking is Wiihacks.com, which has almost 98,000 threads as of June 2015.^[14]

Related Memes

Wii Fit Girl

Wii Fit Girl is the nickname of Lauren Bernat, an advertising account executive who appeared in a video performing hula hoop motions on a Nintendo Wii Fit while wearing a t-shirt and underwear. The video’s viral success was covered by many news outlets and inspired a number of reenactments and parody videos on YouTube.

Wii Fit Trainer

Wii Fit Trainer is the computer animated personal trainer from the fitness video game Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii console. The fitness instructor gained notoriety online after she was revealed as a playable character in the fighting game Super Smash Bros. unveiled at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

Search Interest

External References