The Nintendo Wii is, along with Microsoft's XBOX 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, one of the three major "seventh generation" home video game consoles. Making its debut in November of 2006, the Wii was an instant hit and has been lauded by many as revolutionary. Its defining feature is physical interactivity between the player and the game, as most Wii games require players to perform physical movements that are read by a sensor and translated into action on the screen and in the game. If your kids are going to play video games, the Nintendo Wii makes a great choice -- it forces them to be active during play instead of being in stationary positions for hours on end.
The Nintendo Wii introduced a revolutionary game menu, which was designed in a grid and navigated using the game's wireless remote user control. Intentionally designed to look like a TV channel guide, the Wii menu offers six standard channels (Disc, Mii, Photo, Forecast, News and Wii Shop), with additional channels available for purchase as add-ons.
Users are also able to create avatars that represent themselves in the game world. You can alter your avatar's height, weight, skin tone, facial features, hair color, hair length and clothing to make it look as much or as little like you as you wish. You use your avatar during game play, and the system automatically saves whatever data, statistics and performance metrics you want at the end of a session or game.
The reception of the Nintendo Wii has been overwhelmingly positive. It has sold over 75 million units since its introduction, making it the top seller among the three main seventh-generation home video game consoles. Health-conscious organizations also praised the innovation of the Wii interface, as it promotes fitness and health as well as entertainment and fun.