So I just got a Wii...

bylromarha

hubert_cumberdale wrote: »

i cant imagine using rechargable batteries would reduce the life of the controller

what do you think are in the rechargable packs lol sounds like some pikeey GAME selling techinque

i would have walked out at that point and gone to gamestation

No, she was adament, told me to google it as I was understandably doubting the point.

Though no clear answers online, lots of discussion - which I suppose this thread will add to :rotfl:

BOBS

swvillafan wrote: »

Hi there,


> wifi is built in to the wii so no adapter needed. you download the iplayer bit from the wii store, it then appears on the main screen

hope this helps!

fantastic - didnt realise this - I now have 6 happy kids flicking through this - not being greedy but would be good if had itv too

freyal

I reckon it is worth just keeping topped up on batteries - after the initial flurry of using the Wii, I found that I only use in on occasion (for parties and things) and for that purpose you have to have the foresight to charge everything up - whereas with batteries you can just pop them in and youre good to go!

hubert_cumberdale

If you are using rechargeable batteries, the only type of rechargeable battery recommended are Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. When it comes to using rechargeable batteries, you must follow manufacturer guidelines for safety and proper usage. Failure to do so could cause damage to the Wii Remote and void the warranty.

this is from nintendo

i went on my wii the other day and it said i havent played it for 387 days - there is a reason for this I cant stand it.

Woby_Tide

BOBS wrote: »

We went for the docking station - will save you a small fortune on batteries .....

I originally had a docking station but the contacts were really sensitive and people just walking past was enough to stop the charging(after the hassle of removing the Motion Plus and rubber sleeves). I recently bought some induction chargers instead and so far they have been great. They fit on to the console power cable and are literally just a flat plate that you rest the controllers on and they have LEDs to tell you when charging. Advantage I have found is that with a 6 year old aswell, it's much easier for them to lay them on this pack than get them into a docking station after taking off the protective covers etc. because it's induction you can charge them inside the protective covers aswell. When they are charged they automatically shut off.

Places like 7dayshop sell them, I ended up getting some from Ebay for £13 for a mat with 2 sets of induction batteries. If you search for Wii induction on Ebay/7dayshop you should find similar items

BOBS

Woby_Tide wrote: »

I originally had a docking station but the contacts were really sensitive and people just walking past was enough to stop the charging(after the hassle of removing the Motion Plus and rubber sleeves). I recently bought some induction chargers instead and so far they have been great. They fit on to the console power cable and are literally just a flat plate that you rest the controllers on and they have LEDs to tell you when charging. Advantage I have found is that with a 6 year old aswell, it's much easier for them to lay them on this pack than get them into a docking station after taking off the protective covers etc. because it's induction you can charge them inside the protective covers aswell. When they are charged they automatically shut off.

Places like 7dayshop sell them, I ended up getting some from Ebay for £13 for a mat with 2 sets of induction batteries. If you search for Wii induction on Ebay/7dayshop you should find similar items

that sounds like a great idea as I childmind and somedays (like today with the snow) mine can be on a fair bit. The kids end up using them without the sleeves .....

What is the motion plus - are they worthwhile ??

Woby_Tide

BOBS wrote: »

that sounds like a great idea as I childmind and somedays (like today with the snow) mine can be on a fair bit. The kids end up using them without the sleeves .....

What is the motion plus - are they worthwhile ??

The motion plus is just teh extended bit of the wiimote they brought out with the newer Wiis (originally it came with the Wii Sports Resort game). The price has come down now so it probably is worth getting as you have a few games that require the Motion Plus adapter. As I said previously, as they attach to the bottom of the controller older docking stations needed you to remove them to start charging, newer docks seem to take into account the extra length.

(I'll be honest, I don't know what motion they detect that wasn't in the original remote, just that some games are built requiring them now)

jennikitten

bylromarha wrote: »

Extra remotes: I should be going for remote plus, yes? Those include motion plus built in?

Yep.

bylromarha wrote: »

What extras are good to have? Steering wheel? Sports Pack? Proper gaming controller? Wii fit balance board was part of the bundle - any accessories recommended for that?

Don't buy any of the plastic stuff - it's a waste of money.

Wii Classic controller can be bought if you like, or if you can pick old Gamecube controllers up cheap they will do the same job.

I would get a silicone cover for your balance board - they get dirty extremely easily. Can get one for about £5 online.

I would also get a plug-in rechargeable battery pack for your balance board because it takes 4 batteries. With the rechargeable pack you don't even have to think about it.

bylromarha wrote: »

Is it worth paying extra for the Nintendo branded products? Is buying the "compatible with" products a false economy?

I would only ever buy official Nintendo products, having made some mistakes in the past. 3rd party is definitely a false economy; cheaply made and won't last.

bylromarha wrote: »

The last console we bought for this sort of play was Playstation in 1999 - so if you can explain why I'll need Wii points that would be good - also someone said I can watch iplayer on it - we have wireless broadband in the house, so can the wii connect to that or do we need an adapter?

With wii points you can access the marketplace and buy games to download on your wii. I'd recommend getting 1000 points to see what you think. There are a few games cheaper on there than on disc, but be warned that they will be saved to your wii's hard drive and you have a finite amount of space.

bylromarha wrote: »

Is there anything else that you think I should know about the Wii and haven't asked about?

Here are some tips for you:

- Always buy games online, 99% of the time they are cheaper new online than they are second hand in the shops.

- Always read reviews before buying; there's a lot of rubbish out there.

- The price of a game will tell you roughly how much playability it has (with the exception of games which have dance mats/guitars/balance boards/other accessories). If a game is £40 on average at online retailers, then it tends to be a great game with good reviews & longevity. If it's priced about the £20-25 mark, it will probably be pretty average or a shorter 'family' game. If it's priced below £10, proceed with caution unless it's old.

- Don't leave discs in the wii when it's off/on standby

bylromarha wrote: »

Lady in Game said that using normal rechargeable batteries reduces the life of the controllers. Is that true?

Not true at all, I've had my controllers since 2006 and they're still going strong. Nintendo products are extremely well made. Just make sure you use decent batteries.

bylromarha wrote: »

Should I buy rechargeable battery packs for the controllers and balance board? Or should I stock up on 10 AAs from Ikea for £1.99?

I personally think changing batteries is too much hassle - particularly if you use silicone jackets. Be careful when picking out a charging stand though as some have terrible reviews on Amazon saying they stopped the remotes charging altogether. I have a Quad 4 gamers stand which is great. It holds all four remotes, the wii and two nunchucks very tidily, and has a button for turning it on and off charge (you'd be amazed how many don't come with this).