The ongoing war between games console manufacturers is just as heated as any of the battles played out on their screens. In fact, Sony and Microsoft have, between them, spent billions developing their powerhouse next-generation offerings, and subsequently have a lot riding on their success.

Nintendo, ever the cheeky underdog of the console market, has taken a different approach. Instead of building a monstrous all-powerful games console, it has focussed its attentions on creating something small, simple and above all, fun.

The Wii (pronounced 'we') is the result. The philosophy behind the Wii is to make gaming more of a community pastime rather than relegating it to the dark bedrooms of loner kids. As such, the Wii has a unique controller, which actually looks more like a remote control. This wireless wand has sensitive motion detectors, so that, instead of gripping it and thumbing buttons for hours on end (although you can do that too), you can wave it around like a maniac, swinging swords, tennis rackets or even a special nunchacku option.

Whether this physical group gaming approach actually gains traction in the market, especially in the face of the Sony/Microsoft onslaught, is anyone's guess, but we're keen to find out.