The nintendo Wii game console has to be the first games console to get you up off your chair and onto your feet. Wii Sports, the game that comes bundled with the hardware, will have you waiving your arms around, punching your fists and, if you're not careful, bumping into the furniture and falling over your gamer friends.

Nintendos seventh generation gaming console was originally named Revolution. It sought to becoming futuristic and including all conveniences like a wireless controller and Wii remote which has three dimensional functions.

The controller also receives messages from the web, because of the built in "wii connect 24"

Slated for release in the US in mid Nov 2006, the Ninetendo Wii game console won the Game Critics Award for Best of Show and Best Hardware at the E3 2006.

The hardware of the gaming console is state-of-art with the unit being the smallest measuring just 157 mm in height :

• The nintendo Wii game console will have one SD card slot and two USB ports.

• In the front is The loading slot and that accepts 12cm optical discs and 8 cms discs from Nintendo's older console.

• Broadway is the name of the wii cpu processor with a 90nm SOI CMOS process. The Memory of the Wii is 1T-SRAM.

• The Wii remote has infrared detection and accelerometers that enables positioning in 3D space. That means gamers can use buttons as well as participate in the game using hand gestures.

Bluetooth technology is used to connect to the wii console through the controler. There are umpteen functions like connectivity to other devices, 4KB non volatile memory and an accelerometer, trigger buttons and analog stick.

• The Nintendo Wii game console has 512 MB built-in flash memory that can be expanded using an SD card.

• The Wii has four remote controller slots; two USB ports; one sensor bar port;one SD memory slot; four Nintendo game cube controller ports; two Nintendo game cube memory card ports; WiFi 802.11.b/g wireless built in ports.

• The world wide web is reached through the usb and wifi to ethernet adapter.

• In Japan the console will have DVD -Video capabilities. A Sonic Solutions Cine Player CE DVD Navigator software engine will be used in consoles to be released in 2007 with DVD-Video functions.

• The nintendo Wii game console has a sensor bar that can be positioned such that the Wii remote can be used as an accurate pointing device from a distance of 5 meters. However the sensor bar¨ is sensitive to halogen lights and sunlight affecting its functions.

With 20 games slated for launch all with motion sensor elements the concept isn't a half hearted affair and in our play with Truma Center, Zelda, Under the Knife, Wii Sports and Excite Truck it's clear that the addition of the controller will certainly make for some good gaming fun - especially when it comes to swashbuckling.

The Wii Wi-Fi service will feature a standard interface like Xbox Live. In much the same way as the Nintendo DS hand held does, the Wii utilises a Friend Code system. In this case there is one code for each console.

In this system's current implementation on the DS, each Wi-Fi enabled game carries with it a unique ID called a Friend Code. To play with your friends, you must each register the other's Friend Code in the game. This system has been met with some criticism in comparison to Xbox Live since it does not employ a single unifying Friend Code, and codes must be entered on a game-by-game basis. However the Wii game console has one code for all games.

The console will always be online, even when powered off (standby). This quiet time is used to update games, such as adding new features, characters, and even gifts for you!

Nintendo Wii: It's cheap. It's fun to play and extremely original. It's great to play with in large groups and there are plenty of titles available that don't involve spilling the blood of your peers. A great option for the here-and-now gamer. Ideal for 30-minute lighthearted gaming sessions every now and then. If you don't care about future-proofing and you just want to have some fun, this is for you.

What can I say. So many people I know have bought one, and I never stop hearing how great they are.

Final verdict: Don't go for a PS3. Instead, buy a Nintendo Wii game console AND an Xbox 360. That way, you spend only a little more than what the PS3 would cost you, but you'll get the full gaming experience. There you have it, that was easy wasn't it?

Enter To wii starter bundle