Nintendo seems to have found a solution for video game addicts who are facing a dilemma of how to balance hours of nonstop gaming with the occasional need to know what is going on in the real world. Nintendo’s Wii game console includes ways for people with a high-speed Internet connection to surf the Web, share photos, check the weather and browse the news headlines.
Nintendo also has plans for an online store, which is accessible through the Wii console itself. At the Online Store, gamers will be able to download games or buy other items.
The Nintendo Wii game console launched in North America on November 19 and costs $249.99. Nintendo has announced that it has plans to launch services such as the weather and news offerings, which will debut in a few months following the launch.
Nintendo will be partnering with WeatherNews for local weather news, with The Associated Press for news content and with Opera Software ASA for a Web browser.
But Nintendo is not the only company hoping to offer more from its video game console via online connections. Microsoft’s Xbox Live Online game play system has become famous since the launch of the Xbox. The service has been offering more perks to Internet-connected users.
In the case of the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo is trying its best to attract people who may have been turned off in the past due to the complexity of video games. The Nintendo Wii features a unique wand that can be swung around like a tennis racket, fishing pole, orchestra baton, drumstick or just about any motion you can think of to control games.