Nintendo Wii

gaming · motion control · 2006 · Nintendo

Released in 2006. The Wii came out on November 19, 2006 in North America and December 2006 everywhere else. It was Nintendo's fifth major home console, following the GameCube.

Revolutionary controls. Unlike other consoles, the Wii used motion controls where you could swing the remote like a tennis racket or baseball bat. Your body movements made things happen in the game.

Competed with giants. The Wii went head to head against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 during the seventh generation of gaming consoles.

Global phenomenon. The Wii became hugely popular around the world because it was fun, affordable, and made video games feel like real physical activities instead of just button mashing.