Anybody have a WII?

[bunkkinsmom]

Hey.

Thinking of getting a Wii for a "family Christmas present". I am seeing that they run about $200. BUT......

How much more to make it work for us? I mean, are we gonna need extra controllers, Wii Fit, more games.....

I can handle $200, but not $400.

Whatdya think?

 

[Squirlz]

We spent about $500 to start. You can see what you get with the game, so do you need more controllers? More money. Want different games? More money.

It's all up to what you want. But yeah, the $199 should be considered a down payment.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

You definitely want the 'new super mario' game!

 

[abdmom]

Good games run about $40-$60 each. There's controllers, batteries, or battery stands, nunchuks etc etc. $400 would probably get you started.

 

[Scurvy]

I think they are giving a $50 gift card with the purchase of each Wii at Walmart this weekend - that might help with the added expenses. It could cover one game, or an extra remote and nunchuck.

If multiple people want to play, I'd suggest getting at least one additional remote and nunchuck. The new Super Mario is great, and up to 4 people can play that if they each have their own controllers. There are lots of other things that are nice to have, but you wouldn't have to get them right away.

 

[DMRick]

Glad to see this thread. I find them so confusing. I"m looking at the fit bundle. Right now they are cheaper at Walmart than Sam's club. Where did you see the $50 gift card deal?
Thanks.

 

[Golf4food]

If you want to play most family games you'll need at minimum an extra Wiimote and Nunchuck, and some games will require one for each person so if you have four people you'll need four of each (the base Wii system comes with one of each).

You do NOT need a Wii Fit to start, or any of those stupid sports attachments. You need the box and one extra Wiimote and Nunchuck (about $50 extra bucks). Any games are up to you and what you all want to play, but it will come with Wii Sports.

As mentioned, Walmart is offering a $50 gift card with every Wii purchase right now, so you buy the Wii for $199 (like everywhere else - Nintendo products are price protected and rarely are on sale much) and then use the $50 gift card for the extra controllers and you can make up your mind about any other games later.

 

[ogreenlee]

Check Costco or Sam's for bundles.

We have three controllers, three nunchuks, 2 extra sensitive controls for the new Wii Sports game, Wii Fit, 2 light sabers, a steering wheel, and several games. What a racket!!!

My husband is all about the gadgets. The controllers work just fine without all that stuff!

$200 is definitely a downpayment. Be prepared to start sinking lots of money into this thing. BUT IT'S FUN!!!

It's not fun when I step onto Wii Fit and it tells me my BMI.

 

[Disneylover79]

You definitely want the 'new super mario' game!

I agree!!!!

 

[Scurvy]

Check Costco or Sam's for bundles.

But be careful, because the bundles are really only good deals if you would already be buying all the things that are included. They can be great deals if you actually want all the stuff, but they can be kind of a waste if you don't.

I think I saw the $50 thing mentioned on the budget board. There's a really good Wii FAQ on that board which has lots of useful info and game reviews. Plus there are several people on there who can answer pretty much any Wii question you can come up with. . . or can tell you the best place to find out, if they don't know.

 

[Ephany]

Starting SATURDAY Walmart will be giving out the giftcard
http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/walmart-wii-won-t-make-wallets-wince/1378665

You really don't need more than the Wii system to get started. However extra wii motes do make it easier for extra players. The system comes with one wii mote, but if you buy Wii Play, that game also comes with a wii mote. We've never paid more than $35 for a game and frequently less. In fact we picked up two games for $10 each last weekend new. There are often B2G1 sales around this time of year, that's usually how I'll buy the $50+ games. It is addicting, but for our family it's gotten waaaay more use than any other gaming system so it's totally worth it.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Our Wii is sitting under our Christmas tree right now. I got it for my kids as a family present. I bought an extra controller and nunchuck and a battery charger. I'm finding out that I've spent more on the acutal games then anything else. Toy Story Mania was $49. Wii Sports Resort was $45. Super Mario Brothers was $49. Cooking Mama was $20.

 

[DMRick]

I did a google, and it appears just the basic model comes with the $50 gift card..not the bundle. I want the fit bundle..hoepfully that will be covered.

If you want to play most family games you'll need at minimum an extra Wiimote and Nunchuck, and some games will require one for each person so if you have four people you'll need four of each (the base Wii system comes with one of each).

You do NOT need a Wii Fit to start, or any of those stupid sports attachments. You need the box and one extra Wiimote and Nunchuck (about $50 extra bucks). Any games are up to you and what you all want to play, but it will come with Wii Sports.

As mentioned, Walmart is offering a $50 gift card with every Wii purchase right now, so you buy the Wii for $199 (like everywhere else - Nintendo products are price protected and rarely are on sale much) and then use the $50 gift card for the extra controllers and you can make up your mind about any other games later.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Great info ya'll!

I have 3 kids (7,5,and 3) so an extra remote would be great! Someone said there is a game that comes with an extra remote? Which game is that?

I personally am VERY interested in the Wii Fit and would want to get that as soon as possible. (little afraid that it tells you your BMI )

So if you could pick one game for our family of 5, what would it be?

 

[SAHDad]

Good games run about $40-$60 each.

Correction - new games will cost $40 - $60. There are plenty of older games than are both good, and under $20. Just off the top of my head, Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Star Wars are both under $20, and are nice. (I have played them, but don't have them, so they are on my list.)

 

[golfgal]

I would say have one remote for EACH kid. For your 3 year old just don't actually turn it on and she will think she is playing--we used that for our kids at video arcades for a LONG time until Dh actually put money in the machine .

Seriously though, you are going to want more than 2 remotes for your kids and friends. Many games allow 4 players so I would get 4 remotes.

Any Mario game would be best-great fun for all ages.

I do have to say that now that our kids are teenagers the Wii is their least favorite game console--they just don't have a lot of games for older kids.

 

[Ephany]

Great info ya'll!

I have 3 kids (7,5,and 3) so an extra remote would be great! Someone said there is a game that comes with an extra remote? Which game is that?

So if you could pick one game for our family of 5, what would it be?

Wii Play comes with the extra wii mote. If I had to pick one family game, it'd be Carnival Games or Mario Party.

 

[tzolkin]

I did a google, and it appears just the basic model comes with the $50 gift card..not the bundle. I want the fit bundle..hoepfully that will be covered.

I don't see where the bundle with the wii and wii fit is a deal.

The wii is $199 and the wii fit is $99.
The bundle is $298.

It would be cheaper to buy the wii with a sale and buy the wii fit separately

 

[tzolkin]

OP:

I think you could probably get started for about $300.

All the extras are nice to have, but I don't think they're necessary to enjoy the Wii when you first get it. My MIL bought us a Wii two years ago for Christmas. We just got the console (comes with remote and Wii Sports game), an extra remote (with Wii Play) and nunchuck.

We had a great time just playing with that. Maybe get one other game that the whole family would like. (We went out a few days after Christmas and let the kids pick out a game with us.)

I don't know the ages of your kids and if they already play a lot of video games. Mine are younger (now almost 11, 5, and 3) and don't have any other game systems, so they were content with one or two games (Wii sports has many different options). You can buy each kid a game for their birthday, so you can spread out the cost of accumulating games over time.

We now have over 20 games including Wii Fit. We never had a need for more than two remotes until we got Guitar Hero (you can play with two, but need three to do the guitar, drums, and microphone at once)

 

[LisaNJ25]

We were going to buy the wii as a family gift also and than my dad called and said he was buying it for all of us

I had already starting buying games.

I refuse to pay $50 for a brand new game.

I am trying to get a game for each of us. My kids are 17, 10, 5 and 4.


Keep looking for deals. So far I got.

Disney Princess 9.99
Madagascar 14.99
Lumberjack 9.99
Star Wars Lego 12.98 (got that one today at amazon.com)
Price is right 2010 edition $19.99

I also want to get the wii fit. But will probably have to wait until after Christmas.