Opera web browser shows Wii is more than games console

Stan Beer
Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:34

Opinion and Analysis

For all those gamer purists that insist that the Wii is a pure gaming device, Nintendo is sorry to disappoint but its new wonder box has the potential of being so much more.

As an admitted contrarian sceptic, I was forced to eat humble pie when Nintendo scored a spectacular hit with the modestly powered and realistically priced Wii, in stark contrast to super powered over priced Sony PS3, which so far has gone down like a lead balloon.

However, even the confirmed uni-directional gaming company Nintendo recognizes that the Wii could well break new marketing boundaries for the company.

Family armchair Internet is one area of entertainment that has yet to capture the imagination of the consumer public. Armed with the new Opera web browser and its own Internet surfing channel, complete with parental controls, the Wii could well take family entertainment into new areas.

Web surfing has until now been a very personal and solitary experience. The Wii has the power to change that. Instead of watching TV, families and friends may well surf the web together, watching clips on sites like YouTube or getting involved in group experiences within virtual worlds like Second Life.

Web sites may even be developed especially for Wii users, so that each armed with their own "Wiimote" can participate simultaneously.

The beauty of all this extra entertainment functionality is that it does not have to cost users a cent more than they've already paid.