Wii : The newfangled gaming gizmo

Nitendo's Wii is the newest member of the gaming console family. Gaming consoles are one of the most sought gadgets these days and a wide variety of gaming consoles are already flooding the markets. Adding up to the gaming console list is Nitendo's Wii. However Wii has impinging new features that gives it a cut above the rest. Cutting edge technology, prodigiously creative graphics, multitudinous games, customizable gamer profile and above all, a sleek slender look has made Wii, the apple of gamer's eyes all over the world. Being a hardcore gamer, I always look out for games that please one's senses, provide a gratifying experience and yet at the same time have rich audio video effects. For me the Wii experience has been an incredible and out of the world one. Wii essentially has all the ingredients for a perfect gaming experience. So, in this blog I will spotlight the features of Wii and the factors that make it stand apart.

What's in a name?
The console was initially known by the code name of "Revolution". According to the Nintendo Style Guide, the name "is simply Wii, not Nintendo Wii." This means it is the first home console Nintendo has marketed outside of Japan without the company name featured in its trademark. While "Wiis" is a commonly used pluralization of the console, Nintendo has stated that the official plural form is "Wii systems" or "Wii consoles." Nintendo's spelling of "Wii" with two lower-case "i" characters is meant to resemble two people standing side by side, representing players gathering together, as well as to represent the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The company has given many reasons for this choice of name since the announcement; however, the best known is:
" Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."

Firstly let me begin by telling you, what Wii actually is. The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo. It is a seventh-generation console, and is intended to compete with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that Wii targets a broader demographic than that of Xbox or Playstation. With its rich appeal and nouveau technology, Wii has already started selling like hot cakes and is creating a milestone in the history of gaming consoles. Wii has umpteen features, that have made it a huge success. So let me now list down the most striking features of Wii.


Wireless remotes

A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Blue tooth based Wii Remote(Wiimote), which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detect movement in three dimensions. Another distinctive feature of the console is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.


Availability of a Multitude of games

There are a wide variety of games that have been designed for the Wii console. In addition to these custom made games, most of the existing games have been modified and customized so as to work on Wii. All this means is that if you want to play a game on Wii, then you can do it for sure. There are all sorts of games for all sorts of people. Wii games range from Racing games, Strategy games, Sports games to the Interactive ones and of course the well known Super Mario series of games, and much more. Adding to this is the acailability of an entire colelction of walkthroughs for the various Wii games so as to make the gaming much easier.


Mii:Customizable user profiles

A Mii (pronounced me) is a digital avatar created by Nintendo for the Wii's Mii Channel. After creating them, they can be used as participating characters in certain Mii-oriented games, as first shown in Wii Sports, Wii Fit, and Wii Play. Miis are customizable and allow the user to capture a likeness or caricature, or capture the personality of themselves and others. Up to 100 Miis may be created on any Wii console. The Wii Remote itself can hold up to 10 Miis on its internal memory, which can later be transferred to another Wii console. In addition, Miis can also be exchanged via the WiiConnect24 service, whereby allowing a player's Miis to "Mingle" will enable such Miis to appear on other people's Wii consoles (appearing in a "Mii Parade", where up to 10,000 may feature). Users can also transfer Miis to supported Nintendo DS games. Miis can only be edited on the console on which they were created. One can also customize their Miis online.

Fusion of all nouveau technologies

Wii fuses a large number of technologies together. Firstly, the Wii controller hides beneath its glossy exterior a number of cutting-edge technologies. The peripheral uses an accelerometer and a gyrometer to measure motion and tilt, and likewise utilizes both infrared and Bluetooth technology to interact with a sensor bar (placed near a television) and ultimately to send information to the Wii console. In addition, the Wii Remote uses an accelerometer and a gyrometer to measure motion and tilt, and likewise utilizes both infrared and Bluetooth technology to interact with a sensor bar (placed near a television) and ultimately to send information to the Wii console. Plus, it's got rumble functionality. All of these technologies combine to deliver users a level of precision and interactivity not possible before. Although you'd never know it, there are all sorts of technologies converging and interacting whenever you pick up the Wii-mote and swing a backhand in a game of Wii Sports Tennis. The best tech is the kind that works without making its presence known. The Wii console can also be configured to connect to a WiFi so that one can easily play online and compete with a large number of real world players.


Numerous enhancements

Wii comes in with a lot of enhancements and Add ons. One such option is the Classic-style controller (which Nintendo has priced at $20) for non-motion-sensing titles such as fast-paced fighting games. As time goes by, one expect independent vendors to offer a multitude of plastic shells to slide your Wii Remote into--all of them promising to improve your gaming experience. One product already on sale is UbiSoft's $20 Wii Steering Wheel. Web rumors suggest that Electronic Arts may be working on a way to let you strap the Wii Remote to your foot in order to play its FIFA soccer game. Another rumor has it that the Nintendo DS handheld's touch screen will be able to act as a controller for Wii games. There is also an add on called "Wii Fit" that helps one keep track of one's body and workout through the various games so as to shed calories and stay fit.

In short Wii is Nitendo's gift to the gaming lovers all over the world and Wii is just indispensable for all the game lovers.

Slumdog wins the globe.

Stories about a persons journey from rags to riches is nevertheless a commonplace plot in movies, but when such a story is filmed with a realistic touch, clubbed with mellifluous, heartwarming music and is pictured with heart and soul, the movie obviously turns out to be a million bucks, and that's exactly the secret combination that has made "Slumdog Millionaire" bring home the bacon (and yes, the Golden Globe awards :) ).

The movie narrates how a slummy orphan who toiled hard in the slums of Mumbai gets through the Indian version of the American Reality show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" amidst all the odds he faces in the course of the show. Realistic scenes shot in the slummies provide an insight into the plight of the orphans who arduously strive to make a living under torturous poverty. This movie has all the nitty-gritties of a blockbuster.

Connoisseur of music A.R.Rahman has created history by bagging the "Golden Globe Award" for his musical score in Slumdog Millionaire. A.R.Rahman is the first Indian to receive the prestigious award. The musical score of the movie is refreshing and at the same time extremely peppy. The film also won in Best Motion Picture-Drama category, Best Director award for British director Danny Boyle and Best Writer award for Simon Beaufoy.The movie has thereby swept off four awards at the "Golden Globe". Its worth mentioning that the movie has won in all the categories in which it had been nominated.

With A.R.Rahman creating a milestone in the history of Indian music industry with his dulcet scores for the movie, it is believed that "Slumdog Millionaire" will achieve much more recognition in no time. The movie crew and the Indian audience is eagerly awaiting the Oscars, with hopes of the movie sweeping off the Oscar awards too. So "Slumdog Millionaire" is all set to turn its creators into millionaires .

Truth About Satyam!

"Satyam", a word that means truth, has proved very wrong for Satyam Computers. Satyam computers, an Indian IT Multinational company has shocked the whole world with its revealations. The Satyam CEO, Mr.Ramalinga Raju, also known as Raju, who is also Satyam’s founder and chairman, revealed the truth about Satyam yesterday. The terrific revelations of Raju were a Sting in the tail to the Satyam share holders and employees. The truth about Satyam left the whole Stock market Shell-shocked.

Mr. Raju, admitted to fraud in black and white, through the letter that he wrote to the Board of Directors of Satyam. Following his admittance to fraud, Mr. Raju announced his Resignation from his post too. The Bombay Stock Exchange has released the entire text of the letter. In his letter Raju has admitted that he had inflated up the profit of Satyam and had manipulated the balance sheets, in order to record unexistant profits. This is India's most terrific corporate fraud till date. Raju had cooked up the balance sheets to record a hefty 7000 crore asset. This is no doubt, an outrageous perfidy. Through his treacherous acts, Raju has delibertely deceived his employees, clients, shareholders and of course the whole world and has proved to be a Snake in the grass. Raju's letter has come up as a bolt form the blue for most of the clients of Satyam.

The Satyam crisis was initially set off in public when Satyam had tried to take over the infrastructure major Mayatas. Interestingly, the word "Mayatas" is an anagram of "Satyam". This take over opereation fetched severe opposition from the Satyam employees who believed that taking over an Infrastructure company was not healthy for an IT firm. To make things worse for Satyam, the world bank had charged Satyam of installing spy ware in one of its Softwares. While the Mayatas episode of Satyam was attracting global attention, Raju's shocking confession of fraud has sent shock waves throughout the world.

The Satyam picture is not yet clear. Raju's confessions state that he had solely inflated up the profits of Satyam, in order to prevent any take over that may arise if the true state of Satyam was out in public. However all these facts are too hard to digest. Raju's confessions are plainly Smoke and mirrors. How come audit team nor the CFO notice the anomalies in the balance sheet? Was it a joint treachery then? Or is the picture totally different? Is it that the Satyam fraud has roots in a much bigger scam?

The other Indian IT industries are watching the episode with sealed lips. The Satyam saga has made things worse for the Indian IT companies amidst the atrocious recession. It is feared that the world may lose its trust in the Indian IT indusrties following the Satyam treachery. At the moment lets just keep the fingers crossed and hope for a better tomorrow for the Indian IT Industry.