Backward compatibility
Nintendo has stated that Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. The top of the console (or on the side if laid horizontally) is the GameCube docking station, featuring four GameCube controller ports and two memory card slots compatible with GameCube Memory Cards and the Nintendo GameCube Microphone. One notable component that seems incompatible is the Game Boy Player, which attaches to the bottom of the GameCube, and allows every type of Game Boy game except Game Boy Video cartriges to be played on the user's television. A way to play Game Boy games through the Wii console has yet to be mentioned by Nintendo.

Virtual Console
One of the most anticipated features of Wii is its game download service, dubbed the "Virtual Console." According to Nintendo, this service will provide users with the ability to download and play games from the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, as well as Mega Drive/Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 via the Virtual Console download service. While the entire catalogue of games for these machines will not be offered, a "best of" selection will be available at a price.

The Virtual Console service will not be used exclusively for retro games, however. Nintendo has stated that "it also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets."[2]

At E3 2006 Nintendo announced its Wii specific internet service entitled WiiConnect24, the service allows the user to remain connected to the internet even in standby mode. Additionally, Nintendo has partnered with Opera Software to provide the Opera web browser for the system.

Parental controls
Wii will feature parental controls, prohibiting young viewers from viewing inappropriate content. This allows parents to set the age level of the system, and when a disc is inserted, it will read the content rating encoded on the game discs; if this rating is greater than the system's age level setting, the game will not load unless the user correctly enters a password to override the setting. For instance, a game carrying an ESRB rating of M for Mature, which is intended for those age 17 and older, will not play on a system that is set to only allow games rated T for Teen (ages 13 and older) or below.

It is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system[8], North American units will use the ESRB rating system[9], units for the Japanese market will presumably use the CERO rating system, German units will use the USK system, and Australian units will use the OFLC system.
Enhanced-definition support

The Wii will fully support 480p, otherwise known as enhanced-definition (EDTV), the same resolution as a standard DVD. Despite the other seventh generation consoles, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, supporting high-definition (720p and up), Nintendo of America's Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Perrin Kaplan, announced there would be no HD support for their upcoming system. Kaplan stated beautiful graphics and innovative game play could be achieved without HD and that abstaining from the technology would help keep the cost of games down. [10] However, the support of 480p will still mean an improvement in graphics quality when properly viewed on an HDTV set (or any enhanced-definition-capable set), when compared to viewing on standard-definition (480i) television sets.

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