What do I need to start up a Wii?

[MidgeD79]

I'd like to buy a Wii system for my kids. What is the minimum I need to buy and then (by priority) what "extras" do I need to get?

 

[irene_dsc]

We just got one, so I guess I can sort of answer this one! The basic box comes with one remote and a num-chuck (iirc). If you want to play two person games, you need to get an extra remote - and for certain games, an extra num-chuck. Wii Sports comes with the basic set. Iirc, the boxing game on Wii Sports is the only one that uses the num-chuck.

We ended up getting the Wii Play set, which has the extra remote, and another group of games (a memory game, target practice, pool, air hockey, fishing, a racing game, and one or 2 more I can't remember). I'm not sure if I would consider it a must-have, but since it basically got us a bunch of games for another $10, we figured it post-poned needing to get more for a little bit. We also got another num-chuck.

Wii Sports has bowling, baseball, tennis, golf and boxing. Dd likes bowling the best so far. I like tennis best - probably because it is the sport I am the best at IRL, lol. (I suck at baseball, and haven't tried boxing yet.)

The kids also like making new avatars (Mii's) and messing around with them, lol.

Things we'd like to get - Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution (ok, that's the one I want). Ds really wants Mario Kart from playing it at a friend's house, but that is still very hard to find. Dh wants a better golf game, maybe the Tiger Woods one.

Oh, and supposedly soon they will be coming out with a personal trainer type game for the Wii Fit that does more than the basic one. Tho that's more for the grownups than the kids.

 

[all4fun]

Right, we bought the basic Wii bundle that comes with one game (Wii Sports) and one remote/nunchuk, and we bought the Wii Play w/Wii Remote so we had an extra remote. These games are fun, and help you get used to how to use the remotes.

Eventually, we did buy a 3rd remote because some of our games allow multiple players and it's nice not to have to take the wrist strap off when changing players as well.

 

[BeckyScott]

Yeah, you'll need another wii-mote for sure. The 2nd nunchuck isn't a bad idea, and it's one of the cheaper accessories. The Wii Sports game that comes with the console, if the kids try to play boxing, they'll need the nunchuck too. And eventually they will find the boxing game.

When you start to buy more games, some of them will need accessories, but you can buy as you need.

Stock up on AA's or buy a recharger.

If the kids are older, you might want the internet hook-up. We don't have it but that's what mine want next.

If you happened to own a GameCube before, some of the games can use the GameCube controller (the "classic" controller, they call it, just to make you feel old). And you can play GameCube games on the Wii, they don't do anything more cool, but they're cheaper to buy.

The only other thing to do is to just take your checkbook and hand it directly over to your children... completely money-sucking game system. But loads of fun!

 

[annacali]

The double wii-mote charger/lithium batteries has been a lifesaver for us---we can play quite a while (days) and then charge the wii-motes overnight when we need to do so.

Warning to parents though...the wii is an ego crusher...getting beat by a six year old repeatedly at tennis/bowling/golf and even boxing is humbling to say the least

 

[nopdwife]

I would have to say spending the $30 on the charging station was worth it! We stick the remotes on the charger nightly and never have to worry about the batteries. I did find a Wii Fit before Christmas last year and told my hubby that it was all I wanted. Well, needless to say, it sits underneath my sofa collecting dust. I have 3 kids who would rather play Guitar Hero than pull out the Wii Fit board! Now, what I didn't see in any other response was the fact that if you DON'T buy the package that has the remote included, it will cost you $40 bucks for the remote and $20 for the numchuck. You have to look at prices when you decide to purchase the extras. Go with what will save you a few bucks in the long run. I'm happy that alot of the family type games are going for the $20 range now. We don't have a lot of games for our Wii but i'm happier with the Wii Sports that came with the system over any of the games i've bought.

 

[zoemurr]

Warning to parents though...the wii is an ego crusher...getting beat by a six year old repeatedly at tennis/bowling/golf and even boxing is humbling to say the least

Oh yes.. I have yet to beat my 7 year old at Mario Kart. It drives me crazy!

Also check your local library. Ours has tons of games to borrow.

 

[lucas43068]

i cant stress this enough.... BUY A WARRANTY!
if you buy it from wal mart - its 20 bucks, and youre coverd for 3 years, 2 years after the manufacturers warranty is up...

if you have to get it cleaned, youll have to send it out, that costs 50 bucks in itself, but its free if its under warranty.. (you can not buy anything to clean the wii)
id also buy the charger, and extra remote (wii-play) and an extra nunchuck.


and if you can find a copy - mario kart. ive had it since the first day, im still not tired of it! and if you have lego fans in the family he lego games are wonderful!