Wii Manufacturer Nintendo Type Video game console Generation Seventh generation era First available November 19, 2006 (details) CPU IBM PowerPC-based[1] "Broadway" GPU ATI "Hollywood" Media 12 cm Wii Optical Disc 8 cm Nintendo GameCube Game Disc System storage 512 MB Internal flash memory Secure Digital card Nintendo GameCube Memory Card Controller input Wii Remote, Wii Balance Board, Nintendo GameCube controller Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth 2 ? USB 2.0[2] LAN Adapter (via USB) Online service Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection WiiConnect24 Virtual Console Wii Menu Units shipped Worldwide: 24.45 million (as of March 31, 2008)[3] (details) Best-selling game Wii Sports (pack-in, except in Japan), 21.56 million (as of March 31, 2008)[4] Wii Play, 11.51 million (as of March 31, 2008)[4] Backward compatibility Nintendo GameCube Predecessor Nintendo GameCube The Wii (pronounced as the English pronoun we, IPA: /wi?/) is the fifth home video game console released by Nintendo. The console is the direct successor to the Nintendo GameCube. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.[5] It competes with both as part of the seventh generation of video game systems. A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detect movement in three dimensions. Another is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.[6] Nintendo first spoke of the console at the 2004 E3 press conference and later unveiled the system at the 2005 E3. Satoru Iwata revealed a prototype of the controller at the September 2005 Tokyo Game Show.[7] At E3 2006, the console won the first of several awards.[8] By December 8, 2006, it had completed its launch in four key markets. The Financial Times reported that as of September 12, 2007, the Wii is the sales leader of its generation, based on sales figures from Enterbrain, NPD Group, and GfK.[9]