The Nintendo Wii console comes with an inbuilt and user-friendly WiFi feature. The Wii WiFi feature is a wireless connection that allows you to get your Nintendo Wii online and play the latest Wii online games. The Wii online service is very similar to the other major game console’s online services (such as Microsoft’s Xbox Live service), in that you can surf the Internet, purchase Wii games, and of course play against your friends over the internet.

What do I need to get my Wii Online?

With the inbuilt Nintendo Wii WiFi feature, you can get online with very little effort, providing of course you already have a wireless modem or router set-up at your home. You simply need to change your Wii’s console settings to use the WiFi feature. If you don’t have wireless at home then you can buy a Wii LAN adapter that will allow you to connect to your broadband connection using an Ethernet cable.

INTEC DUS0204-I Nintendo Wii LAN Adapter creates a high speed lan connection via usb no wireless network required, use existing lan wired connection supports nintendo wii connection at full speed includes 5 ft patch cable

When you start up your Wii, you will notice a variety of Wii Channels that allow you to do a number of things. Most of them are Nintendo Wii online based options that can be customized to suit your individual needs. Let’s talk about the Wii Channels a little further…

The Mii Channel

You can use the Mii Channel to customize your own "Mii character", which is a computer generated caricatures of yourself. You friends will see this character when you "meet" them online.

Wii Weather Channel

The Wii weather channel allows you to select the area you live in so that you can receive real-time weather updates and forecasts via your Wii Internet connection.

Wii Message Board Channel

Another Nintendo Wii online option you can access through your gaming console is the Wii Message Channel, which allows you to send messages to friends who also own a Wii. Each console has a unique "friend code" which can be found in the Wii’s configuration menu. The "friend codes" provide a safe way for youngsters and teenagers to communicate with their friends online without parents worrying about predators.

Wii Shop Channel

On the Wii Shopping channel you can use Wii Points to purchase Wii accessories and download your favorite classic Nintendo games from Nintendo’s extensive games library. In order to get Wii Points you need to purchase a Wii Points Card, which for a 2,000 point card works out at around $20 in the USA , €20 in Europe, £14.99 in the UK, or $35 in Australia. You can play your Nintendo Wii download games via the Wii’s "Virtual Console".

Wii News Channel

When you turn on your Wii you can always check the latest news on your TV, both your local news and abroad.

Wii Internet Channel

The Wii Internet Channel turns your Wii console in to an Internet browser by using the full internet browser from Opera Software, which also supports Adobe Flash. Unfortunately, this will set you back 500 Wii Points to install it.

Some Great Wii Online Tips and Features

As long as your Wii is connected to the internet it can download critical system updates, which keeps your console up to date and provides you with new features as they become available.

Unlike the Wii’s competitors online service’s that allow open play with anybody, the Wii limits you to playing with friends online who have your "friend code". There is no blocking or accepting of a player invitation which bumps up the safety factor of the Nintendo Wii Online service. This means parents have total access and control as to who their children may be playing with on the internet.

Anonymity is the name of the game when it comes to the Nintendo Wii WiFi as no one would no who you are beyond a nickname and friend code. In addition, there is no voice chat option which serves as a great protective measure for kids against cyber bullies. The WiFi feature is free for Wii users and requires no additional accessories as it is already built into the system.

As time goes by, there will be even more features and channels available for the Nintendo Wii Online. Will additional free and paid downloads the options of this great gaming console make it a great buy for families with children because it offers safe internet browsing and safe game play with known friends online.

Being a video-game thoroughbred, Nintendo was always going to come out tops over its most formidable competitors Microsoft (Xbox) and Sony (PS). It admittedly took a while but with a stroke of genius in the Wii, it was finally mission accomplished. So just what exactly is the gem that is found in Wii?

Needless to say, the video game industry is highly lucrative and everybody wants a bite of the pie. To occupy pole position, the Nintendo Wii had to be top-notch as a lifestyle item. It is multimedia, personal computer, internet browser, communication device and most of all, the mother of all video game consoles, all-in-one.

Everything about Wii revolves around the remote controller and Nintendo Wii Games are no exception. Its motion sensing technology makes the gaming experience feels like the real thing be it tennis, bowling, baseball, boxing and so forth. So much for the ‘couch potato’ image of video gaming as the intrinsic specialty of Nintendo Wii Games is the players’ movement.

Nintendo Wii Games are inherently played without clutter or restraint through its wireless remote. It is the tennis racquet, steering wheel, gun or bowling ball depending on what game is on. Coupled with the Nunchuck secondary controller, it truly brings Nintendo Wii Games into a gaming dimension previously unknown. There is even an adaptor that fits over the remote for those who are more accustomed to the old-version controller.

Game consoles are generally tended to kids but Nintendo Wii Games can be family affairs, they have the range. There’s even a menu channel for setting up personal profiles called Mii so involvement and participation can be even and well-matched regardless of age, gender and other conditions. A wide variety of games are available spanning sports, action, fighting, puzzles, casino and others.

Classic and retro games are also widely available. For one thing, the Nintendo Wii is backward compatible to the games of GameCube and even Entertainment System series. 4 GameCube controller ports are actually provided although some of the old games can be played with the Wii remote. The media bay will also accept the old GameCube discs along with the newer Wii version.

Nintendo Wii Games are sold mainly through the games store. They can also be purchased and downloaded from Wii Virtual Console. Of late, heavy-duty Wii gamers are increasingly turning to third-party online download services especially for the new mainstream games. These download service providers appear to be quite a savvy alternative, at least in terms of cost.