Basic Wii questions

maxwolfie · 27th August 2010, 5:29 PM

Total console noob here..

I'm looking at buying a Wii with the pressure matt thing, and games etc for my g/f as a surprise present. Particularly interested in that game where you run like a tool, jump shit, avoid stuff, balance on the pad etc. A black one would be tops (though not a *requirement*), with one or two games to start with.

1. Where's a good place to buy from in Sydney, preferably, or is buying overseas worth the risk?
2. Do they have a USB slot to take an external drive loaded with moves (divx, rips etc), and does the Wii have a good range of codecs preinstalled for said divx/rips etc?
3. What else are they useful for? Torrent box?

4. Can they be set up on a wireless LAN and stream content from a home PC onto our big screen?

Any other info at all would be helpful. At this stage I am particularly interested in Question 1.

0M39A_1337 · 27th August 2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxwolfie

Total console noob here..

I'm looking at buying a Wii with the pressure matt thing, and games etc for my g/f as a surprise present. Particularly interested in that game where you run like a tool, jump shit, avoid stuff, balance on the pad etc. A black one would be tops (though not a *requirement*), with one or two games to start with.

1. Where's a good place to buy from in Sydney, preferably, or is buying overseas worth the risk?

no idea sorry

Quote:

2. Do they have a USB slot to take an external drive loaded with moves (divx, rips etc), and does the Wii have a good range of codecs preinstalled for said divx/rips etc?

the wii does have 2 usb ports, but has zero codecs installed by default. That said though its very simple to softmod the wii and turn it into a media center, but going into any detail is against forum rules unfortunately

Quote:

3. What else are they useful for? Torrent box?

also possible, but refer the the above point. can also install snes/nes/sega emulators, scummvm and a plethora of other homebrew software.

Quote:

4. Can they be set up on a wireless LAN and stream content from a home PC onto our big screen?

yes, very simple to do, but again, against the rules to discuss how. one thing you may want to keep in mind however is that the wii can not output HD quality video, and can not even decode 720p video. if you have a big tv standard definition video looks pretty poor. i used to use my wii as a media center streaming from my main pc, but when i upgraded my tv (from an old crt to a 46" 1080p plasma) it looked pretty crummy. bought a wdtv and now get everything in 720p/1080p and stream with that.

Any other info at all would be helpful. At this stage I am particularly interested in Question 1.[/QUOTE]

maxwolfie · 28th August 2010, 8:01 AM

Bummer.. I have a 42" TV.... kinda puts a spanner in the works then.

0M39A_1337 · 28th August 2010, 9:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxwolfie

Bummer.. I have a 42" TV.... kinda puts a spanner in the works then.

Dont get me wrong, wiimc is a brilliant piece of software, it just doesnt get around the fact that the wii is too gutless to decode hd content. divx/xvid it can play without a problem at all. its also a fully fledged music player, does online streaming media and picture viewing. will also let you play dvd's if your wii isnt of the new d3-2 drive type.

Reaper · 28th August 2010, 9:13 AM

It's a game console. As the above poster mentioned, just buy a netgearTV or wdtv from dicksmiths for media streaming.

The wii is still great for games on the large screen, just buy a component cable (5 plugs), when you buy the console. You'll gain greater resolution then. Just make sure to configure the console properly when it's set up. Looks fine enough on my 47" screen.

gregpolk · 28th August 2010, 12:38 PM

It's pretty good at playing games too. Looking forward to Metroid Other M

0M39A_1337 · 29th August 2010, 8:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregpolk

It's pretty good at playing games too. Looking forward to Metroid Other M

its good, shame i dont have the time to play it properly though.

maxwolfie · 29th August 2010, 4:14 PM

OK, so where's a good spot to get one (with the stand on pad thing, and a couple of games etc.)

In Sydney

maxwolfie · 30th August 2010, 5:36 PM

This forum is as dead as a door nail

Does that mean that the Wii sucks?

bYrd · 31st August 2010, 3:03 PM

No, it means you should go to your local shops and bloody well shop around for a good price?

Reaper · 31st August 2010, 10:44 PM

1. Find westfield.
2. Go inside.
3. Visit target, bigw, dicksmith, kmart, jbhifi. YMMV.
4. Note prices.
5. Purchase at cheapest store.

Really, do you seriously need a how to buy stuff guide?

MoMaN69 · 19th September 2010, 12:10 AM

eb games have preowned wii's for $175

MonoJoker · 27th September 2010, 1:21 PM

As Moman states 2nd hand prices are pretty good and there's lots available - Cash Converters, EB, etc are good places to try.

If you have to buy new I notice The Good Guys have them for $288 lately - if you get their usual ~8% off for Cash price that makes it $265 which isn't bad

Cheers
LT.

27th August 2010, 5:29 PM	#1
maxwolfie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Western Sydney Posts: 2,308	Basic Wii questions Total console noob here.. I'm looking at buying a Wii with the pressure matt thing, and games etc for my g/f as a surprise present. Particularly interested in that game where you run like a tool, jump shit, avoid stuff, balance on the pad etc. A black one would be tops (though not a requirement), with one or two games to start with. 1. Where's a good place to buy from in Sydney, preferably, or is buying overseas worth the risk? 2. Do they have a USB slot to take an external drive loaded with moves (divx, rips etc), and does the Wii have a good range of codecs preinstalled for said divx/rips etc? 3. What else are they useful for? Torrent box? 4. Can they be set up on a wireless LAN and stream content from a home PC onto our big screen? Any other info at all would be helpful. At this stage I am particularly interested in Question 1. __________________ Hack, Slash, Repeat - RPG Gaming Community - World of Warcraft, Neverwinter, Diablo, Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and more!

28th August 2010, 8:01 AM	#3
maxwolfie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Western Sydney Posts: 2,308	Bummer.. I have a 42" TV.... kinda puts a spanner in the works then. __________________ Hack, Slash, Repeat - RPG Gaming Community - World of Warcraft, Neverwinter, Diablo, Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and more!

28th August 2010, 9:13 AM	#5
Reaper Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane, Qld, Australia Posts: 9,105	It's a game console. As the above poster mentioned, just buy a netgearTV or wdtv from dicksmiths for media streaming. The wii is still great for games on the large screen, just buy a component cable (5 plugs), when you buy the console. You'll gain greater resolution then. Just make sure to configure the console properly when it's set up. Looks fine enough on my 47" screen. __________________ Code: ------ ------------------- / __ \ \|This space for rent\| _____\|__\|\|__\|_____ ---\|\|---------\|\|---

29th August 2010, 4:14 PM	#8
maxwolfie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Western Sydney Posts: 2,308	OK, so where's a good spot to get one (with the stand on pad thing, and a couple of games etc.) In Sydney __________________ Hack, Slash, Repeat - RPG Gaming Community - World of Warcraft, Neverwinter, Diablo, Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and more!

30th August 2010, 5:36 PM	#9
maxwolfie Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Western Sydney Posts: 2,308	This forum is as dead as a door nail Does that mean that the Wii sucks? __________________ Hack, Slash, Repeat - RPG Gaming Community - World of Warcraft, Neverwinter, Diablo, Torchlight 2, Path of Exile and more!

28th August 2010, 12:38 PM	#6
gregpolk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,349	It's pretty good at playing games too. Looking forward to Metroid Other M

31st August 2010, 3:03 PM	#10
bYrd Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NE Melbourne Posts: 1,482	No, it means you should go to your local shops and bloody well shop around for a good price? __________________ MacTalk Australia

31st August 2010, 10:44 PM	#11
Reaper Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane, Qld, Australia Posts: 9,105	1. Find westfield. 2. Go inside. 3. Visit target, bigw, dicksmith, kmart, jbhifi. YMMV. 4. Note prices. 5. Purchase at cheapest store. Really, do you seriously need a how to buy stuff guide? __________________ Code: ------ ------------------- / __ \ \|This space for rent\| _____\|__\|\|__\|_____ ---\|\|---------\|\|---

19th September 2010, 12:10 AM	#12
MoMaN69 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Corrimal East, 2518 Posts: 1,345	eb games have preowned wii's for $175 __________________ Xbox360 slim \| 1000+ TRADES \|