Wii for Dummies

This is a great book for folks just trying to learn the fundamentals of hooking up and using a WII. It's especially useful for the baby boom generation who no longer have young people living at home to show them how to do it. I recommend it highly.

Wii for Dummies might seem a bit redundant at first glance. The Wii has hit critical mass at this point, with grandparents, parents and siblings alike all waggling joyfully with Nintendo's latest masterpiece. With this new system seemingly designed with the technolgically impaired, casual non-gamer in mind, could it possibly warrant its own For Dummies entry? Short answer: Yes! While Nintendo has made the Wii relatively simple for pick up and play, Wii for Dummies is all about helping you to take the next step. How do make this thing connect to my home network? What accessories are available, and do I really NEED them? What's a Mii and why should I care? This book is all about helping you max out your experience. Even the seasoned gamer should be interested in this book. Orland includes an interesting (if brief) section about the history of Nintendo, the Wii, and how it all came to be that is very reminiscent of the excellent Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life by Chris Kohler. Additionally, the final section includes some game buying advice, including a selection of downloadable games, and suggestions on games with which to reel in friends and non-gamers alike.

At first, I thought this book was only for people who bought the Wii as their first video game console. This book is definitely aimed at them and includes great information for first time users. There are chapters on how to set up the system (with troubleshooting tips), how to use the controller, and how to choose games, all written in simple, easy to follow instructions. The chapters assume the reader doesn't have any video game knowledge and holds their hands through processes such as reading the ESRB ratings and reading reviews of new games. However, even with the writing for a new user, there are still nuggets and useful information for more experienced readers. For instance, the section on Channels in the Wii is extremely helpful, uncovering information I didn't know about the console. The list of websites specifically optimized for the Wii and setting up a specific Channel for Wii Fit was information I didn't know and found really fun. The book also includes suggestions for games on both the Virtual Console and Wii for all types of play: party, solo, and in between. I think the most useful parts of the book for both new and experienced players are the suggested resources that are included in each section. Links to websites that cover kid-friendly games, links to mainstream video game review sites, and tips to find out new information on the console are invaluable for the book and teaches the reader where to find information the book can't cover. It's definitely a good primer about how to become informed about video gaming in general. I found Wii for Dummies to be chuck full of useful information that both applies to the Wii and gaming in general. The writer does a great job of writing simple to follow instructions that are entertaining and witty. Sometimes I read a section I already knew just to see his funny take on it. I definitely would recommend the book for users who just got the Wii and don't know exactly what to do with it or as a gift for a relative or friend who is not a gamer. For more experienced players, I would still recommend it for all the great content on using all of unexplored features of the console.

In fairness the Wii is simple to use but the sheer fact Wiley have published a For Dummies book on Nintendo's latest console means there is certainly a need, whether it's parents and grandparents trying to get their heads round these this gaming m'larky or just someone who needs a little more help than the manual can provide. Kyle Orland's book is easy to read and also entertaining but it also goes beyond the boundaries of the manual by going into deeper depth on subjects like Wii Fit and importing. If you know a parent who doesn't understand how to play or you have kids who want a Wii for Christmas then this is the perfect book to read.

Mention the title "Wii for Dummies" to the general game playing populous and you might receive a chuckle. "Wii for Dummies? The Wii is already the most simple thing on the planet!" they might say. But Kyle Orland's book is not for this demographic. It is targeted toward the other group that Nintendo has been trying to woo: people who have haven't ever owned a video game system (or at least not in a while). For these people the Wii is not the intuitive piece of hardware Nintendo claims. It's a complex piece of technology that requires hardware and software setup, has deep system preferences menus, has features that don't explain what they do, and has an array of games that vary in quality. Wii for Dummies covers all these bases. The Nintendo Wii is easy to learn, but learning implies a teacher. Wii for Dummies is aimed directly at those people who want a Wii but have no one to teach them. It explains (with accompanying photos!) how to set up the hardware on a TV and how to navigate the system's software. It explains the intricacies of creating Miis, how to use the various Channels, how to buy games on the Virtual Console, tips on browsing the web, and even a nice history of the Nintendo company. Wii Sports and Wii Fit are also covered in great details in Wii for Dummies, two of the games that are the main draw for the non-game buying market. Kyle Orland also makes recommendations on games for different groups: the non-gamer, partis, and families. These mini reviews not only explain a bit about the game but make recommendations on who the game both is and isn't intended for (though some of the reason are tenuous). Between these recommendations and the Virtual Console recommendations, the new Wii owner is bound to find something to make their investment worthwhile. If you haven't played games in a long time (or ever) and need a teacher, Wii for Dummies is a well written and well organized guide that's sure to answer all your questions.