he system's name reflects this simpleidea. It's easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and thedistinctive spelling suggests two players side by side. The two Wiifeatures Nintendo thinks will create new levels of gaming community arebuilt-in Wi-Fi access, supported by a new online gaming service, andWii's intuitive, wireless, motion-sensitive game controller.

As with every new console release, much of the buzz surrounds the specs.The system boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports,and a slot for SD memory expansion. Wii's technological heart -- aprocessing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and agraphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" -- are said to deliverstunning performance. Instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loadingmedia bay that will play both 12-centimeter optical discs used for thenew system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

The real revolution in this system, though, is its controller, calledthe Wii Remote. Shaped like a TV remote, it's been designed to be easilyused by beginners and pros alike. Sensors determine the Wii Remote'sposition is in 3-D space, which means that racing-game steering and atennis swing, for example, are done through movements of your handrather than by just your thumbs. What's more, a tiny speaker built intothe Wii Remote promises some interactive surround sound experiences. Thecontroller also has a force feedback "Rumble" feature and an expansionport for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds ananalog thumbstick and trigger buttons. An adapter that fits over theWii's wee remote will be available for those who prefer the feel of atraditional controller. The Wii Remote communicates via the Bluetoothwireless standard. Up to four remotes can connect to Wii.

Wii offers superb backward compatibility -- the cornerstone ofNintendo's all-access approach. This new console will play fan-favouritegames from Nintendo's 20-year-old library. The drive is compatible withGameCube discs, and select Nintendo titles from the original NES of the1980s all the way through the Nintendo 64 will be available through fordownload through the Virtual Console. As if that weren't enough, theVirtual Console will also make available a few titles from SNES consolecontemporaries, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16.

Several new titles have been confirmed for Wii, including Super MarioGalaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Metroid Prime 3Corruption, as well as Square Enix's Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.

A number of Wi-Fi-enabled titles are in development that will employNintendo's newly-announced wireless gaming service, WiiConnect24. Thisworldwide network promises Nintendo players a comfortable, invitingenvironment in which they can gather and compete. The always-on networkwill deliver game updates and surprises, even when the Wii is powereddown. And as you would expect, Wii will be able to communicate with theNintendo DS mobile gaming system wirelessly.

The Wii console will revolutionise how people play games. But moreimportantly, it will entice new players into the world of video games byoffering a variety of entertainment, information and communicationChannels that add value to the console and make it a device that theentire family can enjoy. The Wii Channel Menu will be the first screenshown on the television, as it easily integrates itself as part ofpeople's everyday lives.

Disc Channel: This channel allows users to play either Wii game discs or the entire library of Nintendo GameCube discs.

Mii Channel: Fun caricatured portraits created in this channel can beused as characters across a variety of Wii software. Portraits can bestored in a user's Wii Remote and taken to a friend’s house to play onanother Wii console. Each member of the family can have his or her WiiRemote personalized with a caricature.

Photo Channel: This channel allows users to take digital pictures storedon an SD memory card and display them on their television screens.Users also can manipulate the photos in a variety of fun and creativeways, such as zooming or creating mosaics, puzzles or slide shows. Theycan draw, add stamps, and copy and paste. They also can change the"mood" of photos by brightening them, converting them to monochrome,inverting the colour or changing them to stark black and white. Userscan even add an MP3 tune to their slide shows. It provides a fun andeasy outlet for people to edit their digital pictures. Users also cansend their pictures to other Wii consoles by attaching a photo to theWii Message Board.

Forecast Channel: Users who have connected their Wii console to theInternet can access free local weather forecasts just a few secondsafter turning on the Wii console. The WiiConnect24 service automaticallyupdates local weather information. Users can view forecasts for citiesaround the world on a 3-D globe.

News Channel: Users can access breaking news with the touch of a button.When connected to the Internet, the WiiConnect24 service automaticallyupdates this free channel and organizes it in a variety of topicalcategories. Users can see where news is happening by viewing thelocation of news stories on a 3-D globe.

Wii Shop Channel: This is where users go to buy Wii Points or redeemthem to download classic video games to the Virtual Console. Users alsocan use points to download the Opera browser used in the InternetChannel.

Internet Channel: This channel dramatically changes the relation