One of the best things about the Wii is that it’s designed with features to make playing easy, whether offline or online. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is one such feature. Everyone knows that the Wii has an 8-2.11b/g wireless adapter that allows the user to get online with any compatible wireless internet service. Users can also connect to a wired LAN with a USB Ethernet adapter.However, the Wi-Fi Connection doesn’t refer to just the process of getting online, but an actual service to make online multiplayer gaming easy and safe. Up to 32 players can connect on compatible games, as well as using the Wi-Fi Connection for matchmaking, checking scoreboards, participating in tournaments, and accessing downloadable content. Players can also exchange Friend Codes with trusted users to open up other features. There are two other main features: Pay & Play, where users can spend Nintendo Points to access new content and services for special games, and WiiConnect24, which keeps the system connected even in standby and can send and receive data for certain games even when they are not being played. Animal Crossing: City Folk, released in 2008, is one of the best examples of a WiiConnect 24 game. Special content is periodically sent out to online players for special holidays or new game releases.Most sports titles being released now are sure to have online compatibility. A list of all the compatible Wi-Fi Connection games is too long to list here, but some of our non-sports favorites are

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Geometry Wars: Galaxies
• Monster Hunter Tri
• Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
• Tetris Party

However, with new titles being released all the time, this list is sure to change at any moment. This isn’t even taking into account all of the titles available over the WiiWare network that offer some form of online play, including Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, Gradius Rebirth, Mega Man 10, Uno, and Water Warfare. When purchasing a new game, check to see if it’s compatible with the Wi-Fi Connection. That little symbol is a sign that your gameplay experience is about to explode on to the next level.