OT: Wii for Christmas ... what else do I need?

[NHDisneyMom]

I am really Wii illiterate! My DK's are 5 and 7 and we are thinking about getting a Wii for Christmas. I have no idea what I need outside of the actual consol itself. What are the common, must have, accessories for a family of 4? For those of you with kiddos around 5 to 8, what kind of games do your kids like the most? I do want ones that have us up and moving around - the reason I'm choosing a Wii over other game consoles is the interactive nature of the games. I have looked online and I'm overwhelmed with choices and would like to know which ones are enjoyed the most before I go out and spend money on accessories we will never use.

As the weather turns cold up here in the northeast, I want to have stuff to keep us active indoors. We often have family night when we play games, so I'm just adding to that and hoping to get us all moving around even when it's too cold to play outside.

Any information you could impart would be greatly appreciated!

 

[leagirl12]

I highly recommend a remote and nunchuck for each member of the family.

As far as games.....our family loves Carnival Games!!!!

Although I have to say, the Wii sports game that comes with the console is probably played more than any other game that we have.

 

[Eeyoresfriend]

I agree with the above poster, make sure everyone has a wii-mote and nunchuck. You may also consider getting the rechargeable battery packs.

I like the Mario games...call me silly but there's nothing more fun than shaking up your virtual soda can to see who's sprays higher...LOL

If you have a flat panel TV or a projection TV I do suggest the Nerf accessories, like the tennis racket, baseball bat etc.

I work for a major electronics retailer and I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, "I have to replace my TV b/c my kid threw the wii-mote through the screen". At least with the Nerf things they bounce off. Wear the wrist straps.

Other than that, I really don't have any other suggestions. As a Wii owner, my accessories are limited, I have the basics that I talked about above. (if you can get your hands on a wii-fit, that's a lot of fun too)

 

[ajh88]

I agree with PP - you need to buy at least one additional controller/nunchuk because I believe the system only comes with one (check the box to make sure - it's been a year since we got ours & I don't remember!).

We also bought a charging station for the controllers - so we aren't replacing the batteries all the time. We just leave them on the stand when we aren't playing. It's not something you would need right away, but I'm glad we have it!

Our DKs are 7 & 16, so we have a variety of games. The favorites are still Mario games (Mario Galaxy was big last year & we still like it). The Wii comes with Wii Sports, which has like 6 or 7 different games on it. We also have Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - which is fun, but kind of hard (I think). And DD really likes Wii Fit too - although we play it more than she does. The Super Smash Brothers Brawl is just OK - Pokemon games are still popular in our house too.

We are considering MarioKart (with the racing wheel) and Guitar Hero for this Christmas. There's also a new game (I don't know if its out yet) called Outdoor Adventures (something like that) that I thought looked really cool, but I haven't heard much about it yet.

 

[shoppgirl]

If you buy the Wii Play package, it includes an extra remote plus some really fun games. Just buy another nunchuck to complete that set. We are a family of 4 and we are getting by with 2 remotes sets, one for each girl. DH and I watch the girls play or vice versa. If you plan on being active players WITH the kids, then a set for each player is a must. I believe the console comes with one CD of Wii Sports games which includes bowling, golf, boxing, tennis and baseball.

My girls love the Wii FIT balance board. It took me forever to get that, but it has amazing games for getting everyone active. The second favourite game is Mario Kart. This game comes with the steering wheel that you attach the remote to.

My other personal favourite is Dance Dance Revolution mat and game...great aerobic exercise for me when the girls are at school!

 

[Fantasmic23]

I agree with PP - you need to buy at least one additional controller/nunchuk because I believe the system only comes with one (check the box to make sure - it's been a year since we got ours & I don't remember!).

We also bought a charging station for the controllers - so we aren't replacing the batteries all the time. We just leave them on the stand when we aren't playing. It's not something you would need right away, but I'm glad we have it!

Our DKs are 7 & 16, so we have a variety of games. The favorites are still Mario games (Mario Galaxy was big last year & we still like it). The Wii comes with Wii Sports, which has like 6 or 7 different games on it. We also have Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - which is fun, but kind of hard (I think). And DD really likes Wii Fit too - although we play it more than she does. The Super Smash Brothers Brawl is just OK - Pokemon games are still popular in our house too.

We are considering MarioKart (with the racing wheel) and Guitar Hero for this Christmas. There's also a new game (I don't know if its out yet) called Outdoor Adventures (something like that) that I thought looked really cool, but I haven't heard much about it yet.

MarioKart (with the racing wheel) is AWESOME! My son bought the game with some of his birthday money. He loves it, DD loves it ... and I am now addicted. DH hasn't played the game yet, but I'm sure he'll love it, too.

 

[chloe770]

I definitely agree with 4 controllers and charge station. The games my DS5 and the kids in the neighborhood (5-8) play the most are Mario Kart, Mario Party 8, Mario Super Sluggers ( see a pattern here) and Raving Raymond Rabbids 2. Carnival Games and Olympic games are fun too.

 

[EthansMom]

Here's what I bought last year and we were able to get up and running just fine last year:

Wii (comes with one remote and one nunchuck)
Wii Play (comes with extra remote)
Wii nunchuck
Wii Carnival Games (my young kids love this)

This would give you the Wii, two remotes, two nunchucks, and three games (one that comes with the Wii, one that comes in Wii Play, and Carnival Games).

Do you have WiFi connection at home? If not, then I think there's a cable you may need to hook up to your internet connection.

Check, but I think the remotes come with one set of batteries.

 

[blackforest]

When I was buying things yesterdaty there was a nunchuck with a wire $20, then a "wireless" one for $40. Which do I need/want? I thought all the Wii stuff is wireless? TIA!

 

[Miniefan]

We got our dd 8 a Wii for Christmas last year but it has remained in the family room so I guess it's really for the family. I don't know if you said you had boys or girls but dd has HSM sing it, it comes with the game and mic and you get to sing along. I also recommend Mario Kart it is really fun but none of us use the Wii wheel it came with, we use our old gamecube controllers and it is much easier to use. We have also gone onto the Wii channel and downloaded points which we used to purchase some of the older games, which is a lot of fun for me, like the original Mario's. We just recently got our Wii online so we have the ability to play others on MarioKart, but just keep in mind that online interactions are not rated, and I have seen some really nasty names people have used while playing online. The Wii is a lot of fun!!

Kim

 

[mickeymaker2003]

When I was buying things yesterdaty there was a nunchuck with a wire $20, then a "wireless" one for $40. Which do I need/want? I thought all the Wii stuff is wireless? TIA!

There is no wire between the console and your wiiimote. There is a wire that connects the wiimote to the nunchuck. You hold the wiimote in one hand and the nunchuck in the other (so you basically end up with a wire running between your hands).

 

[Ephany]

We bought our Wii and then bought Wii Play for the extra wiimote. We quickly figured out that for our family we needed 3 wiimotes and 3 nunchucks, so we purchased the additional wiimote and nunchucks. We also ended up buying an extra wheel for Mario Kart (the game itself comes with one wheel) so we could race each other.

As far as games go, we love Mario Kart, Carnival games, Mario Party 8 and Rayman Ravin' Rabbids for our family games. My 5 year old DD loves the Disney Princess game and the Diego game game, (not sure if your DK's are girls/boys) but those might be a little simple for an 8 year old. My neighbor's 5 year old DS loves the two Disney Cars games, so those are options too. There's also a game called Elebits that's supposed to be good for kids to develop their wiimote skills.

 

[ChristusG]

We have the following:

4 remotes
4 nunchucks
2 steering wheels
Wii balance board (with Wii Fit)
Guitar

We have the following games:
Mario Kart
Wii Fit
Wii Sports
Carnival Games
Guitar Hero Aerosmith
Wii Play

We just sold Guitar Hero 3, Wario Smooth Moves, and Mario/Sonic Olympics.

 

[Cherlynn25]

Mario kart is a big favorite here. My boys are 8 and 10. Wii sports and wii play are good too. I dont think you can really go wrong, we love our wii! thumbsup2

 

[StephMK]

Here's what I bought last year and we were able to get up and running just fine last year:

Wii (comes with one remote and one nunchuck)
Wii Play (comes with extra remote)
Wii nunchuck
Wii Carnival Games (my young kids love this)

This would give you the Wii, two remotes, two nunchucks, and three games (one that comes with the Wii, one that comes in Wii Play, and Carnival Games).

Do you have WiFi connection at home? If not, then I think there's a cable you may need to hook up to your internet connection.

Check, but I think the remotes come with one set of batteries.

I totally agree w/this and would add the charging station. We're a family of 5 & have done just fine w/2 sets of remotes. We take turns playing each other. I'm dying to get Carnival games and think you'd be set w/those 3 discs.

We have Olympics & the kids didn't like it at first but do now. It's is harder for younger ones I think. DS6 kept working at it & finally has figured out the games. Plus it was cool when the actual Olympics were on to see some of the real sports. DS6 loves the Star Wars & Indy Jones Lego games but they aren't the get up & move kind.

Another tip is that you can rent games from Blockbuster. We haven't had the greatest luck getting them to work (scratched or damaged) but they have been good about exchanging them when needed. It's at least a good way to try out a game before shelling out for it.

 

[sl_underwood]

I agree with other posters who recommended additional controllers/nunchucks & charging station for battery packs.
As far as games, my kids love Wii Sports, it came with the system and is by far the most played game in the house. Wii Play also came with our system but no one ever plays it- though the extra controller came in handy. They also like Mario Kart with the Wii wheel and my older girls love dance dance revolution (my teen does it as a workout everyday)

 

[princessfionasmom]

I just got my kids the Wii for this xmas so this is very helpfull. I'm planning on having their grandparents get them accessories, hope they agree!

 

[teachermom]

If there is a $5 below store in your area they sell the sports attachments to put on the controller/nunchucks. They are much cheaper than the nerf set.

 

[pjzkent]

My DS6 loves Lego Star Wars

My DD4 loves Super Monkeyball

My DD4 loves Mario Supersmash Bros

We all like to do Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (much more fun than the first Rayman)

 

[NHDisneyMom]

Thanks to everyone!!! This has helped soooooo much!!!

Now I have more of a clue on what to start with. Also the suggestion about renting before buying - I had no idea I could do that so THANKS! I would rather know my kids are going to play and that it's appropriate for their age before I shell out $50.

I do have wireless so setting them up with that is no problem. I do think I would like to keep it local until we all have the hang of things. I have a DD and a DS and there seems to be a bunch that both may enjoy - I'm happy about that!

A friend of mine also suggested Outdoor Adventures and Wii Fit as their kids like to play both of those. Any other reviews on the Adventure one? I may get Fit for myself and DH. Maybe it will get more use than the treadmill / clothes hanger

Thanks!