It's almost embarrassing how inadequate Wii and the motion sensitive Wii Remote Controller (Wii-mote) came to be just a few scant months after Nintendo's little white console debuted.

Following a handful of innovative titles that let users interface with a game by pointing, twisting and swinging the Wii-mote (as opposed to merely flicking thumbsticks and pressing buttons) came a glut of unassuming games good for a giggle at best and a cough-choke gag at worst.

As it turns out, the Wii-mote wasn't particularly accurate in its motion-sensitive sensibilities while the Wii's low rent processors did nothing to intimate "new generation" horsepower.

Thus, Wii became the console of choice for "ungamers" looking to go bowling or do yoga in the comfort of home; a system known mostly for waggle cartoons and but a few genuine titles that allowed traditional gamers to engage in far-out interactive tales of daring-do or nefarious-don't.

That said, Nintendo has sold 50 million units to date, and Wii sits pretty today as this generation's leading system, so good for Nintendo for creating and then cornering a wide and diverse consumer base.

While Wii Sports Resort remains resolutely formulaic as a fun-for-all festival, it also offers much more playable content than the original Wii Sports, the freebie game included with a purchase of the Wii itself. Resort also demands of the user a greater modicum skill with the required MotionPlus accessory, bundled with the game. This dongle snaps into the bottom of the Wii-mote and thereafter translates hand, wrist and arm movements of the user to more faithfully-emulated interactions on screen.

Though a huge step up, MotionPlus is still not a perfect technology; it's a "one to one" motion controller only if you move slowly. Otherwise, you can expect it to lose track of positioning if flailed, whipped or swung with any sort of vigor, or rested on your lap when someone else is taking a turn. Recalibrating the thing is easy enough - paused or in real-time in some cases - but it can make for serious frustration when you find yourself holding the thing upright, for example, only to have your onscreen self akimbo, or whatever. Oh well.

It's also cumbersome, adding some length and weight to the Wii-mote (but not enough length for an adult two-handed grip, as is often suggested), plus a goofy little dust cover for the Nunchuk passthru port, plus a new rubber jacket that won't fit with any of your old battery charging solutions and is just a hassle when trying to attach the wrist strap or change batteries. The whole kit and caboodle has Rube Goldberg (look it up) written all over it.

Still, as an accessory available separately for $20, Wii MotionPlus brings a new and seriously competitive level of interface sophistication to Wii. Bundled with Wii Sports Resort, a showcase for the new depths of control opportunities for any number of new games set to support it, this $50 package will likely sell to each and every Wii owner in the world, making it destined to become the best selling video game of all time. You might as well join the party.

The Games of Wii Sports Resort

Divvied into a dozen activity-based themes, each with a variety of play modes, all using the Mii characters cavorting about Wuhu Island, the games of Wii Sports Resort are a hit and miss bundle of fun. But even with only a handful to love and enjoy for hours or lifetimes (and a bunch to ignore everafter), it's a heck of a deal.

Swordplay: Likely the best of the bunch, this game of stick whacking never stops being funny as you gesture slices, smacks and stabs at appropriately padded Miis, American Gladiator style, so no one really gets hurt. Look for one-on-one pedestal toppling, a Simon Says slice fest, and the chance to plow through waves and waves of oncoming Miis. Also the mode that will have you recalibrating the MotionPlus all too often.

Wakeboarding: A thoroughly engaging powerboat water sport showcasing MotionPlus accuracy with smooth, fluid motion controls emulating your grip on a towbar and catching air off a wake.

Frisbee: Forget what you know about tossing a Frisbee in real life, this target toss game (with cute puppy retriever) is fun, but only after you learn how to fake toss a disc shaped like a block that you can't let go of when you let go. Yes, it's that counterintuitive: Wrist snap, bad; release trigger, good. Whatever, Nintendo.

Archery: Terrific, low pressure target shooting where you hold the Wii-mote vertically (like a bow) to aim, adjusting for wind and drop, draw with the squeeze of a Nunchuck trigger, let fly when you let go. Note: you don't need to pull the Nunchuck back to draw, and doing so will make you look like a nerd.

Basketball: An unexpectedly faithful ball tossing hoop shooter.

Table Tennis: Brilliantly accurate ping pong that lets those who know their backhand backspin from their forehand topspin from their side-slip English excel - and where a wicked smash can really hurt the person standing beside you.

Golf: Might make you a better golfer in real life due to it's faithful recreation of a good draw or bad fade (or steady stance and follow through, if "good" golfing posture is your thing), though you can't really get a proper two-handed grip on the elongated but still foreshortened Wii-mote. That and you'll be controlling the club face directly, not the club handle.

Bowling: A more sophisticated bowling simulation than the original Wii Sports offering (which wasn't too shabby to begin with) allowing for realistic curveballs or gentle b-lines as needed. Also has a 100 pin mode with a triple wide lanes and no gutters, which is as raucous and as cathartic as it sounds.

Power Cruising: Connect the Nunchuck and burn those forearm muscles as you pretend to hold up a disconnected set of handlebars and Jet Ski around the shallows. Would have been better with just the Wii-mote held sideways.

Canoeing: Canoeing? Seriously, Canoeing?

Cycling: What seems to be a stupid waggle-paddle game is actually quite endearing as you learn to steer and pedal a bike with your hands (huh?), then learn when not to pedal, maybe draft a bit and otherwise strategically conserve your strength as long-haul bike races demand.

Air Sports: Fun once, maybe once again when nursing a hangover, Air Sports have you skydiving (flailing is always an option), sightseeing in the slowest plane on earth, or shooting a buddy's balloons in an inaptly named "dogfight."