Oh, and we have a GameCube right now. I understand it will retro the GC games. Will it also take the same memory cards?

I have a Wii--it rocks.

1. You won't need any special adapters--if you can operate a Gamecube, you can operate a Wii.

2. The Wii comes packaged with one controller and the nunchuk attachment (for boxing, Resident Evil 4, etc.) Buy a second controller, and a second nunchuk.

3. I'll look at the deal shortly, and post a response afterward.

4. The Wii can remain horizontal.

5. Things to know--it has wireless capability, and likes to call home base for firmware upgrades (though connectivity isn't necessary to use it). Also--Wario Ware Smooth Moves is a must-own, and Resident Evil 4: Wii edition has spoiled me for all other shooters.

6. The Wii takes Gamecube cards, and Gamecube controllers plug into jacks in the side that are concealed behind a door.

Now. Having looked at the deal:

Nintendo Wii Console + 1 Wii Remote Controller + 1 Wii Nunchuck Controller + System Accessories + 5 Game Wii Sports Bundle + 9 Game Wii Play Bundle.

--it's $50 above what the MSRP would be if you bought all that stuff separately. Everything but Wii Play comes standard with the Wii ($250), and Wii Play costs $50 by itself. Is the convenience of a relatively easy purchase worth the $50 markup to you?

Finally, the sensor bar sits on top of your TV--it puts out an infrared signal that your controller uses to determine its position in space.

Lovely. Thanks Prospero, MUCH appreciated. The deal may be worth it even given the $50 mark-up, as we haven't been able to catch them in stock at our local Best Buy/Circuit City/what have you shops.

Some tips for buying a Wii at brick and mortar stores--

--My local Best Buy doesn't put them on shelves, even when they're in stock: they keep them behind the counter at customer service. If you don't see it, ask.

--Check the newspaper circulars. If a store advertises the Wii as in stock, then they have to have a minimum number of units for sale on the morning of the day the sale begins. Stores will hoard shipments in the back room for weeks beforehand to make sure they can meet the minimum.

--Do you have any friends who are retail managers? See if they'll intercept the supply chain for you.

--All that said, I've only seen them "in the wild" once since the launch date, and that was on a Monday morning at Target. (I got mine through a retail manager friend, as above.)

-The sensor bar comes with every Wii. The nunchuck and Wii-mote are wireless, and they communicate their position to the Wii through the sensor bar.

- I don't know what the deal is with that "LowestDeal.com" price - it seems particularly shady to me. GameStop lists the release date as Sept. 7th. And, with the Gamestop bundle, you get a memory card and an extra nunchuck for the same price. (WiiPlay comes with a remote). The price on the GameStop bundle makes a lot more sense.

it has wireless capability, and likes to call home base for firmware upgrades

As I recall, it also has an ethernet jack, for houses without wireless capabilities

From what I recall, even the older XBox and PS2 came with just one controller.
Which pissed me off. Like they don't get enough of my dough with the $40 games.

Oh, and get guitar hero. Serously.

We have a Wii. It is life-changingly awesome.

1) No, you can play out of the box. But if you want to use component output to get a slightly but noticeably better picture, you'll need to buy one of those. They're $20 at Tarzhay.

2, 3) That is a terrible deal. The standard Wii box has all of the following for $250:

*Wii
*Stand
*Sensor bar
*AC adapter
*AV cable
*1 controller
*1 nunchuk
*Wii Sports

Wii Play retails for $50, which includes a second controller (but not nunchuk).

So they're charging you $50 extra, and stealing a controller from you. That's so shitty that Jesus, Buddha, and Martin Luther King would all gang up on these assholes and give them a firm cockpunching.

3) Wii Sports and Wii Play are both good. They're both intended in part to be introductions to the Wii controllers, but they're fun. Bowling on Wii Sports and billiards on Wii Play are my faves.

3) The sensor bar tells the Wii where on the screen you're pointing the controller. It doesn't actually sense anything; it's two infrared LEDs that the remote looks for.

4) You can put it either way.

5) Zelda. Rayman Raving Rabbids. Resident Evil 4.

I understand it will retro the GC games. Will it also take the same memory cards?

It will take GC memory cards and GC controllers.

The wii has something like 512MB of internal storage for save games and virtual console downloads, it only uses the GC cards for GC games.

If you manage to fill the internal memory, you can also use SD cards, though I've had a wii since day one and I'm nowhere near filling the internal storage.

I'd say buy the normal boxed wii, and then tack on Wii Play and a second nunchuck. That gives you a decent number of minigames to play and the ability to do at least two player in each.

After that, you can add more games. Excite Truck has gotten a TON of play in my house, but it seems to be overlooked by most people out there. And of course I'll nth Zelda, Rayman, Wario, etc.

One more thing--as of the time of this post, Wii Tracker claims that circuitcity.com and walmart.com both have Wiis in stock. Either of those deals should be better than the one at lowestdeal.com.

Sweet - the site is blocked at work, but I'll check it from home. Thanks Prosperi, jjb, ROU, kelly, muddgirl, everyone!

That's so shitty that Jesus, Buddha, and Martin Luther King would all gang up on these assholes and give them a firm cockpunching.

Thanks. I needed that laugh.

Love the Wii, and I am not a gamer. Kept calling Circuit City, Best Buy and game shops until I found one at list. It took a couple months, but I was not very diligent.

If there is a Brandsmart U.S.A. anywhere near you, I'd suggest that behind their cashier counter the best place to start looking. All the other box stores (Walmart, Best Buy, etc.) in my area were sold out for weeks, and I walk into Brandsmart and there's 6 or so Wiis just sitting there.

omg omg you must get Rabbids. Warthog racing! Cow throwing! Bunnies breakdancing to Cyndi Lauper!