All things Wii

Wii Latest Best Deals

The cheapest option available on consoles is to buy the console alone, this comes boxed with 1 x wii controller, 1 x wii nunchuck, 1 x tv top sensor bar, 1 x wii remote protective skin, 1 x cable kit, and wii sports game (original) http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/wiisports/review.html

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/49354...includes-wii-s

However the more cost effective way to get more for your money is to go for a package deal where a few games are thrown in, usually with additional controllers, add-ons or adapters.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51558...smash-bros-bra

Wii Controller + Wii Nunchuck

This is used with all game play. the wii remote has several buttons and also can be swung in certain directions to add control to the game being played. The protective skin/jacket slides over the controller to protect it from damage when dropped or slung through gameplay. The Wii Nunchuck clicks into the bottom of the controller to add a 2 handed control to the gameplay.

For most games 1 or 2 players are able to play, however some games allow up to 4 players on the screen at once. Games like mariokart, very family orientated nintendo only game, allows all four players to compete against each other. For each player to jin in 1 controller will be needed for each. As the original console is only equipped with 1 single controller, it is advisible to add extra controllers for the amount of players likely to be playing, i.e. 2 children = 2 controllers.

Historically it was cheaper to purchase addtional controllers by buying the Wii Play game, which is boxed with an additional controller and silicone skin/jacket. However you would then find to get the best from the controller, at some point an additional Wii Nunchuck would also be required (although this is not absolutely essential for all games). However a controller purchased along with the wii play game usually costs around the £27 mark, whereas the controller by itself would cost around £30. With the nunchuck costing around £15 this made the cheapest option available with a new game around the £43 mark for a Wii controller + Wii nunchuck combo. Now though many retailers have seen that they can package the 2 parts of the control together for cheaper and the Wii Controller + Wii Nunchuck are being packaged for around £35-£40 mark.

Wii Controller with Wii Play game £26.79 http://www.simplygames.com/info/14972
Wii Controller with Wii Nunchuck £35 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/50815...ndle-30-00-tes
Wii Controller £25.09 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Wii.../dp/B000IMWK2G
Wii Nunchuck £12.21 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Wii...6656925&sr=8-1

Wii Sensor Bar

Boxed with the console, the sensor bar sits either on top or on the botton of your tv screen, and this collects data from the wii remote as its swung about as to its whereabouts in relation to the fixed screen. The sensor bar that comes packaged with the console works fine.

Some users do not like wires trailing from the back of their tvs, so they look at purchasing a wireless sensor bar. I had one of these bars temporarily, but they use loads of batteries and tend to only last a few hours of gameplay at a time, the 'wired' sensor bar that comes packaged with the console sufficed.

Wireless sensor bar £4.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Competition-.../dp/B0019KAN1Q

Wii Motion Plus + Wii Sports Resort

Most of the bundle deals available now come packaged with the recently released Wii Sports Resort game
http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/wi...ort/index.html
The Wii Motion Plus controller allows more accurate and additional controls to the existing Wii Controller. The Wii Motion Plus is an add-on control that clicks into the base of the existing controller. The Wii Motion Plus control usually is packaged with a new silicone protective skin that allows both the motion plus control and the Wii Controller to be housed together. The problem with adding Wii Motion Plus to your gaming pleasure is that additional Wii Motion Plus controls will be needed for each additional Wii Controller (remote) you have purchased, therefore 2 players will require 2 Wii motion plus controls. The Wii Sports resort game (and other wii motion games available) tend to come packaged with one Wii Motion Plus control.

Wii Sports Resort with Wii Motion £29.85 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51530...-motionplus-29
Wii Motion Plus (with Protective Skin) £14.99 http://www.play.com/Games/Wii/4-/607...s/Product.html

Mariokart + Wii Wheel

Mariokart is an excellent game, and very good all round family entertainment. If you are unable to get a package deal to include this game it is well worth the additional outlay. Mariokart can be played with just the Wii controller, yet better gameplay is to be had by slotting the Wii Controller into a plastic Wii Wheel. Wii Wheels come in official and unnofficial types, the official ones cost more and add no additional benefit other than a 'nintendo' badge at the back of it. Mario Kart game itself comes boxed with one Wii Wheel (official), but again its advisible to add extra wheels for each controller you have purchased

Independant review http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/driving/mariokart/index.html

Mariokart (includes wii wheel) £26.79 http://www.simplygames.com/info/15455
Official Wii Wheel £6.79 http://www.thehut.com/games/platform...l/9973886.html
Unofficial Wii Wheel £2.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5667077.htm

Additional info to follow

All things Wii Fit

The wii fit balance board is an additional control to the gameplay. The balance board (looks like a reebok plastic step used in step classes) adds additional control to include use of the feet into gameplay. Used alongside the Wii Controller it can add extra dimension to Wii gameplay in games like Shaun White Snowboarding. Wii Fit is the game packaged with the balance board, this game allows you to compete in various sporting activities and monitors your weight and fitness levels as you progress. As with all fitness programs its requires daily dedication to get the most out of it. Wii fit is an expensive additional control if it is not going used, whilst the football heading game and the hula hoop game is fun, most games are more adult orientated.

Independant review http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/wiifit/index.html

Wii Fit Balance Board + Wii Fit £59.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000VJRU44
Wii Fit Plus £17.49 http://www.shopto.net/WII/VIDEO%20GA...s%20Solus.html
Wii Fit Balance Board + Wii Fit Plus £64.99 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51550...balance-board-

Independant review http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/wiifitplus/index.html

Please read the follwing post by Wendy56 on her new Wii Fit Plus game, many thanks hun x

Wii Jog

Wii Jog fits into the end of the Wii Controller and is meant to be attached to the belt/waistband area. Used with sporting games like Wii Fit it acts essentially as a pedometer to your sporting activity. However, its advertised as adding extra control in the movement of the body, I have had Wii Log since it was released, and any control it may add is unnoticeable, at £15 its an expensive pedometer.

Wii Jog £17.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Re-Creation-.../dp/B0020VDJHS

EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer (Wii)

This game can actually be played with or without the balance board. Although I must admit it is much better with the board . Retailing around £35 it comes boxed with a stress strap, where you can do pull up exercises with a huge elastic band, and also a leg strap to hold the wii remote during training. Unlike the wii fit, this program has more defined and allows you to tailor your fitness with more definition to how you wish to proceed. I also felt like I got a better and more interesting work out. Unfortunately it does put it out of the market for younger kids, but even my kids found some games they liked.

EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer (Wii) £33.88 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001QTVY18

Independant review http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/ea...ve/review.html

Your Shape Wii

To be released on December 18th 2009

With the use of a webcam on the top of tv, your shape analyses your body shape to tailor a workout for you. You can define if you would like to lose weight of of specific parts of your body. Then with use of the camera you are projected onto the screen to then be involved in the workouts so you are hitting the precise spot that you should be.

Check out the preview trailer video http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sim/yours...ficial-trailer

Your Shape: Wii £31.99 pre-release http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51457...amera-powerpla

Wii Family Trainer

An alternative to the more adult Wii Fit the family trainer is a dance mat style game, where up to 2 players can play together on the same mat. Extreme Sports edition includes games like cycling down a mountain, skateboarding the tubes, base jumping, rock climbing and street luge . Its one that the kids will definitely enjoy, however look out for the Outdoor challenga game getting cheaper as the extreme challenge game was just released in Septemeber 2009. I believe that they will be packaging Family Trainer Outdoor Challenge and Extreme Challenge together before xmas though, so may be worth waiting. The Best Deal for the game with mat I have seen is £23.99.

Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge £23.99 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51015...e-challenge-wi

Independant Review http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/sports/ac...nge/index.html

Charging Bases versus Rechargeable Batteries

Charging bases are strating to come down in price and millarcat 4 remote charging unit certainly proves that.

Wii 4 base charging unit £12.49 http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/51395...96#post6732396
Wii 2 base charging unit £9.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/4Gamers-Remo.../dp/B000OKXCQU

The charging units obviously require a rechargeable battery pack to charge in the first place so you must build these battery packs into the cost when pricing the unit, unless they are shipped with the charging unit itself as they are with the Argos packs. The benefits of the charging units is the Wii Controller will always be charged if put back on the base when finished with. However, using a practical mind, kids would probably always forget. Most of the charging bases on the market also require you to remove the silicone protective skin first (else they dont fit). With the power supply needing to be left on the Wii Console all the time (to supply the charging base with power) there have been reports of the Wii Console itself overheating.

High capacity rechargeable batteries separate the battery charge from the Wii Console and the Wii Controllers as well. Some great deals on rechargeable batteries can be found, usually with a charging wall unit supplied with them as well. I would recommend at least 2500 mAh batteries as these will last for longer sessions, if you have the funds it would be worth getting two sets of batteries so one can be on charge whilst you play with the other. Rechargeable batteries still will require the Wii Silicone Protective Skin removing to get the batteries in and out of the remote, however the issues of overheating or needing the power to the Wii Console on permanently are overcome. The follwing batteries are required:

2 x AA 2500 mAh batteries for each Wii Controller
4 x AA 2500 mAh batteries for Wii Balance Board
4 x AAA 1000 mAh batteries for Wii Wireless Sensor Bar

Duracell Rechargeable Supreme AA 2650mAh Batteries 4 Pack £4.48 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Sup.../dp/B000G1662O
Duracell Rechargeable Supreme AAA 1000 mAh Batteries 4 Pack £4.74 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Rec.../dp/B00062IL76
Duracell Rechargeable Supreme Battery Charger (with 4 AA 2300 mAh batteries) £19.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Rec.../dp/B000FV8OVQ

you forgot about modding the wii

Just a question I'll delete after doesn't it come with a sensor bar?

What a good idea. Ive aldready got a Wii but I would have found this very useful when buying.

Great idea it is all confusing

Getting to it

You are welcome to write about it for me, worth some rep

Yes it does (read the first line of my first post)

Sorry its just their selling it separately?

Ive just sold my modded Wii to a mate, havent used or updated the firmware for 2 years.....

Its got an original WiiKey in it, what happens now with new games, does it force you to update the firmware, and if so, will the console be bricked ?

Probably for those have have damaged theirs? I know you can also buy cordless ones.

Great thread

What about the wii remote on its own?

I've not been forced to update the software with sports resort