When the Nintendo Wii video game console hit the market in late 2006, it revolutionized gaming. It didn’t try to compete head-to-head with the other major video game consoles. Instead, the Wii focused on ease of use and the fun side of gaming. Apparently a lot of people like this new type of game as it has outsold Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

So what’s the draw?

Well, first of all, it comes at an affordable price compared to the other two best game consoles. New games are also reasonably priced.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, it doesn’t intimidate the casual gamer. It doesn’t matter if you are an experienced gamer or someone who has never played a video game. In a very short time anyone can be playing and having a great time with this system.

The Nintendo Wii uses a motion sensing controller to play Wii games. And since these moves mimic real-life movement, it’s easy to get involved. Whether it’s swinging a tennis racket in “Wii Sports,” driving trucks in “Excite Trucks,” or slashing with a sword in “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,” there’s something that appeals to just about everyone.

With the Wii, you can play the full line of your favorite Nintendo games from the past. It is backwards compatible with the GameCube and also features the Nintendo Virtual Console. With Virtual Console you can download games from previous generation systems at a reasonable price.

Perhaps the only negative aspect of the Nintendo Wii is the lack of high-definition graphics and rich surround sound found on other major systems.

The Nintendo Wii video game console [http://www.videogameconsoles.ca] it’s here to stay, judging by its growing popularity. Who could have predicted that such a radically different system would have such an impact?