The Nintendo Wii is an amazing and magical device that, for the last week, has left my heart full of joy and my sad geeky arm sore and full of pain. But perhaps the most charming thing about this wee electronic device is the Help Cat.
As Cabel's video beautifully demonstrates, a small animation which makes an everyday function become a frustrating and mystifying experience can somehow entertain an entire roomful of adults. This, truly, is magic. I don't want to go on at too much length about my enjoyment of the Wii; It strains my relationships with my friends and coworkers who don't yet have one. Instead, I'd advocate checking in on Hello, Nintendo or checking out all the Wii action on Vox.
How'd you score a Wii? Right place at the right time? Camp out? Ebay? Bribe?
My wife and I are very fortunate to have good friends who waited in line at the Nintendo store in Manhattan (see here) to buy a Wii for themselves, and an extra for us. Then our Wii was fedexed to us, just in time for my dad to kick ass on the Wii at Thanksgiving.
I would love to get one for my brother-in-law. Though we said you would probably need a big TV in a big room with lots of space for 4 Wii-controller-wielding Madden-playing people!