A hip Nick Jr. show for toddlers that's both entertaining and educational, Yo Gabba Gabba features human host DJ Lance Rock and five colorfully costumed characters who dance, sing, and play together while learning about things like friendship, differences, and problem solving. "Friends" finds the Dancey Dance Bunch playing together and discovering the importance of respecting one another and "Dance" features lots of dancing fun and a lesson about taking turns. "Eat" trumpets the benefits of healthy eating and trying new foods and "Happy" celebrates the joy of play. Each episode includes segments with real kids doing things they love, animated sketches, celebrities like Mya and Elijah Wood teaching dance steps, drawing lessons with Mark Mothersbaugh, and lots of musical numbers in varying styles including pop, rock, and rap. (Ages 6 months to 4 years) --Tami Horiuchi

The Dancey Dance Bunch is the DVD launch of YO GABBA GABBA!. The DVD includes four episodes: "Friends," "Eat," "Dance," and "Happy" plus special features. Hosted by DJ Lance Rock, YO GABBA GABBA! infuses retro-style and modern-day music to teach simple life lessons through a vibrant world of puppet characters who play and dance when they hear the magic words... "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

Fire Sale - Kootie Pie steals Mama Fireplant the sourceof the Cave People s fire so Mario Luigi Princess Toadstool and Yoshigo to Ice Land where Yoshi must overe his fear of water to rescuehis friends and save Mama Fireplant from being extinguished forever. Mama Luigi - In a flashback Luigi tells Yoshi how Luigirescued Yoshi as an egg how Baby Yoshi thought Luigi was his motherand how Baby Yoshi helped Luigi and Mario rescue Princess Toadstool fromKing Koppa and became their permanent ally. Born to Ride - After being scolded by Mario and LuigiYoshi runs away and joins a motorcycle-riding Evil Dinosaur Gang whouses him to kidnap the Mario Brothers for King Koopa. When Yoshi findsout he was being played for a sucker he enlists the help of PrincessToadstool and they ride to the rescue. The Yoshi Shuffle - When Luigi is turned into an egg andYoshi mistakes him for a football. Yoshi leads Mario on a madcap chasethrough Dinosaur World. When the Koopas join in it bees the biggestwildest football game of Mario s life.A Little Learning - Princess Toadstool starts a schoolwith Yoshi and Oogtar with Hip & Hop as her first students. The kidsbee sworn enemies and their desire for revenge culminates in adisastrous science fair that threatens to blow up the entire Dinosaurworld!The Night Before Cave Christmas - Mario decides to bringChristmas to the Cave People. Luigi and Princess Toadstool make toys andwrap gifts Mario dresses up as Santa Claus and Yoshi pulls the cavesleigh . But when King Koopa Grinch -like steals the toybag withOogtar inside Mario must save Cave Christmas.   Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN Rating: NR Age: 843501001356 UPC: 843501001356 Manufacturer No: 100135

After a delightful opening, in which jungle boy Mowgli (voiced by Haley Joel Osment) recaps much of the original Jungle Book in a sprightly shadow puppet show, The Jungle Book 2 swiftly turns into a carbon copy of the splendidly swinging previous movie. After his old pal Baloo the bear (voiced by John Goodman) draws Mowgli away from the man-village, with all its work and rules, and back into the glorious indolence of the jungle, the movie repeats--in a less energetic form--an encounter with Kaa the snake, the cockney vultures, a musical number at the monkey's palace, the menace of Shere Khan the tiger, and even the song "The Bare Necessities." The only difference is that there's a girl named Shanti along for the ride; sadly, her character is so bland that it doesn't do much to justify the movie's existence. --Bret Fetzer

Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/17/2008 Run time: 72 minutes Rating: G

Disney's 1959 animated effort was the studio's most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Things almost but not quite turn out that way, thanks to the assistance of some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here. And Malificent's castle, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke On the Blu-raySleeping Beauty was the last and most lavish of Walt Disney's animated fairy tales. He told the artists not to hurry and to give him "a moving illustration": The film required almost four and one-half years and one million finished drawings. Instead of the 19th century storybook illustrations that had influenced the look of Snow White and Pinocchio, the artists adapted the flattened perspective and jewel-like colors of 15th century French illuminated manuscripts. The results remain unmatched for sheer visual opulence. However, Sleeping Beauty suffers from a weak story: the vision of an ageless princess slumbering in a vine-shrouded tower was replaced with elements of Snow White and a boy-meets-girl musical. The evil Maleficent and the three Good Fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather) dominate the film, rather than Princess Aurora and Prince Philip. Sleeping Beauty was originally released in 70mm, and the Blu-ray edition restores the film to its original splendor. (Many earlier releases trimmed the wide-screen images and/or muted the glowing palatte.) The Bonus DVD looks good on a flat screen monitor, but it pales in comparison to the richness of the Blu-ray. In addition to the commentaries and a making-of documentary, the set includes myriad extras that vary widely in quality. Nostalgia buffs will enjoy the recreation of the old Sleeping Beauty's Castle attraction in Disneyland, and the TV program "Four Artists Paint One Tree" provides a welcome showcase for key talents from the film. But the CG animation of the dragon and the voice imitations of the Good Fairies fail to capture the magic of the originals in the "Dragon Encounter"; the "Maleficent's Challenge Game"--a hi-tech Twenty Questions--sounds only vaguely like the redoubtable sorceress. The BD-Live features require an awful lot of bother: after wading through (or ignoring) 130 screens of legalese, participants must enter their Social Security number or other personal information in the drawn-out sign-on process. Once that's finally done, viewers can send special messages to pop up during the film, chat online with others who are watching, and view it in synch with others. The question is whether or not you want to. (Rated G: violence) --Charles Solomon Stills from Sleeping Beauty (Click for larger image)

Awaken your senses to the majesty of SLEEPING BEAUTY Walt Disney's ultimate fairy tale. See more than you've ever seen before through the magic of state of the art technology and experience this groundbreaking film restored beyond its original brilliance in the way Walt envisioned it pristine beautiful utterly breathtaking. From the grand celebration of Princess Aurora's birth to the fateful day when she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel and falls under Malificent's evil curse to Prince Philip's courageous battle against a fire-breathing dragon the stunning artistry and spine-tingling sounds will transform your home into a fantastic world. The adventures continue as you are immersed into a wonderful world of bonus features.BONUS FEATURESIn the original story, Princess Aurora sleeps for 100 years before being awakened by a prince's kiss. In the Disney version, Prince Philip comes to her rescue much sooner. George Brun's orchestral score, which was nominated for an Academy Award, expertly blended famous themes from Tchaikovsky's ballet. With a budget that exceeded $6 million in 1959, this was Walt Disney's most lavish and expensive animated feature to date. Determined to make the characters as realistic as possible, Disney had a live action film shot with actors posing as Sleeping Beauty, the Prince, and Maleficent, for the animators to use. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther called the fight between Prince Philip and Maleficent the noisiest and scariest go-round he (Disney) has ever put into one of his films.Live Menus Featuring A Real Time Castle Environment All-New Making Of SLEEPING BEAUTY Featurette Deleted Songs And More!DISNEY BD LIVE innovative features premiering on Sleeping Beauty include Chat and Create Custom Video Messages With yoru Friends As You Watch The Film, Shop For Add-Ons and Downloads, Maleficent's Challenge Game, Living Menus Real Time Castle Environment Changes Based on Your Location System Requirements:Running Time: 75 minutes Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 786936746228 Manufacturer No: 05560800

John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story. Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus living forever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. --Doug Thomas

Features include: •MPAA Rating: G•Format: Blu-Ray•Runtime: 95 minutes

Features include: •MPAA Rating: G•Format: Blu-Ray•Runtime: 98 minutes

Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race. Wall-E is preceded in theaters by the comical short Presto in which a magician's rabbit, unfed one too many times takes his revenge against the egotistical magician. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi> Stills from Wall-E (Click for larger image)

One of the most acclaimed and treasured animated films of all time is about to sweep you off your feet. Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all -- that true beauty comes from within. An all-new digital restoration and exciting new bonus features make this Special Edition more magical than ever. Be our guest and let the music you'll never forget and the characters who will fill your heart cast a shimmering spell like never before.Product Measures: 0.61" x 5.34" x 7.5"

The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A classic tale of self-discovery, romance, and adventure, Rio is the story of Blu, a flightless macaw who was taken from the forests of Rio de Janeiro as a young bird and raised by a kind girl in a small Minnesota town. When an ornithologist comes to town and informs Blu's now-grown owner Linda that Blu is the last male of his species, Blu and Linda return to Rio so that Blu can mate with a feisty female named Jewel. Thus begins an adventure in which Blu encounters everything from the complexities of courtship and love, to thugs involved in an exotic animal theft ring, strange new friendships--including one with an overly friendly slobbering bulldog--and a crazy ride through a Carnaval parade. Blu and Linda both mature as a result of their journey in Rio, and love ensures that life will never be quite the same for either ever again. The animation in Rio is quite impressive, the characters are endearing, the Brazilian music is very appealing, and the star-studded voice cast includes Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Will i Am, Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, George Lopez, and Jamie Foxx. While the story doesn't really offer anything new--instead playing much like a rehashing of some of the major plot points from movies like Madagascar, Finding Nemo, and Babe--that doesn't mean the film isn't perfectly entertaining for both kids and adults. (Ages 6 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

When blu a domesticated macaw from small-town minnesota meets the fiercely independent jewel he takes off on an adventure to rio de janeiro with this bird of his dreams. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 08/02/2011 Starring: Jesse Eisenberg Anne Hathaway Run time: 96 minutes Rating: G Director: Carlos Saldanha

ALADDIN: SPECIAL EDITION

Disney's 1992 animated feature is a triumph of wit and skill. The high-tech artwork and graphics look great, the characters are strong, the familiar story is nicely augmented with an interesting villain (Jafar, voiced by Jonathan Freeman), and there's an incredible hook atop the whole thing: Robin Williams's frantically hilarious vocal performance as Aladdin's genie. Even if one isn't particularly moved by the love story between the title character (Scott Weinger) and his girlfriend Jasmine (Linda Larkin), you can easily get lost in Williams's improvisational energy and the equally entertaining performances of Freeman and Gilbert Gottfried (as Jafar's parrot). --Tom Keogh

Striiv is a personal trainer in your pocket. Its a little car key sized device that you slip onto your key chain, belt, purse, or pocket. Striiv's walkathon, games, and challenges are designed to get you moving. Finding time to go to the gym is tough and spending $100 an hour for a personal trainer is way too expensive. The great food we eat during the holidays makes keeping off the weight seem impossible. There is a simple solution: walking. In addition to the benefits of weight loss, leading studies show that walking 30 minutes a day dramatically reduces risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Striiv Gets You to Walk...A Lot! The average Striiv user is walking 3 miles a day for 60 minutes - that's almost double the national average! Striiv was designed by expert game developers who created some of the most popular games on the iPhone and Facebook today. It has been featured in the O list (Oprah magazine), ABC News, Time, USA Today, Self, and Prevention Magazine. Striiv's secret to motivation is simple: we build highly addictive applications that require walking to make progress. The walkathon takes your steps and applies them to helping others. At no cost to you, Striiv and corporate partners donate on your behalf. Just walk, earn, and plug into your PC or Mac to donate. Striiv also gives you "awards" while you walk that are based on real world achievements (such as burning off a large fries or climbing the Eiffel Tower). Striiv's personalized charts will show you how you are doing against your personal best as well as the national average. Striiv was designed to be simple and easy to use. The large 2 inch high-resolution touch screen clearly displays steps, stairs, calories and distance. It comes with everything you need: Striiv, keychain attachment, USB cable, adaptor, and a quickstart guide. Get Striiv and give the gift of health and fitness to yourself or someone you love today!

Just like hiring a personal trainer, Striiv motivates you to achieve results by encouraging you to get moving and rewarding you for doing so. Unlike a personal trainer, it doesn't cost $100 a session and you won't be sweating through a painful workout. But you will see results, because walking is one of the most beneficial workouts you can do and can be transformative to your health and fitness. Using Striiv is addictive--and was designed to be that way. Because each experience is powered by your activity, it's fun to achieve your fitness goals. The More You Move, the More You Give Striiv believes helping others is core to improving yourself. That's why the company created a walkathon in every Striiv device that counts your steps and gives to a preferred charity based on your movement. At no cost to you, Striiv and corporate partners donate on your behalf. Just walk, earn, and plug into your PC to donate. It's that simple. You have the choice of three charities; providing clean water to families in South America, polio vaccines, or helping to save the rainforest. The more you walk, the more you give. It couldn't be easier. Motivating You to Get Fit Striiv is a personal trainer in your pocket. A lightweight, little car-key-sized device that you slip onto your key chain, belt, purse, or pocket, Striiv is designed to get you moving and to enhance your health and fitness. Through a built-in charitable (at no cost to you) walkathon program, games, and challenges, Striiv pushes you to move more throughout each day. Walking Can Change Your Life Finding time to go to the gym is tough and spending $100 an hour for a personal trainer is way too expensive. Not to mention, the great food we eat during the holidays (and year round) makes keeping the weight off seem impossible. But there's a simple solution: walking. In addition to the benefits of weight loss, leading studies show that walking 30 minutes a day dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Striiv Gets You To Walk... A Lot The average Striiv user walks 3 miles a day for 60 minutes--that's almost double the national average. The secret to Striiv's ability to motivate is simple: utilize highly addictive applications built around your movement and you will move more. Striiv was designed by a team of expert game developers who created some of the most popular games on the phone and PC today. Because people are motivated in different ways, Striiv motivates you to move with four unique motivators. Give to Charity Striiv counts your steps and applies them to helping others. At no cost to you, Striiv and corporate partners donate on your behalf. Just walk, earn, and plug into your PC to donate. Its that simple. You have the choice of 3 charities - donating water to a cities in South America, polio vaccines, and savings trees in a rainforest. The more you walk, the more you give. Play GamesMyland is a game designed for non-gamers. The concept is simple--make an addictively fun game powered by walking and you will walk more. You start with an uninhabited island. Your goal is to bring back the animals that inhabit the island by planting trees and building huts. The only catch is that growth and new levels are based on your activity. Its simple, fun, and motivating. Take Challenges Select a challenge, wager your energy (earned from taking steps), and push yourself farther than you thought possible. Striiv's time-based challenges are designed to keep you motivated, so you can bet on yourself and win. Chart Your Progress Striiv sets customized goals based on your level of activity. Charts and graphs allow you to improve against your personal best over weeks and months. Features: Fitness Results: Average Striiv user walks 3 miles or 60 minutes a day Motivation via walkathon, games, challenges High-resolution 2-inch touch screen Works out-of-the-box Works anywhere on your body; carry in your pocket, on your keychain, or in your bag What's in the Box? Striiv Keychain Quick Release Micro-USB 2.0 Cable USB Adapter First Steps Guide Simple To Use Works out of the box No PC/Mac Setup required Large easy to read fonts All charts, games and apps are built in Compatibility Mac OS X 10.5 or later Windows XP or later Specifications: Dimensions: 2.75 by 1.7 by 0.5 inches (L x W x D) Weight: 1.4 ounces

Little girls can show off their love for Hello Kitty with the Hello Kitty Charm Necklace. Necklace features pink hearts, light pink stars, iridescent clear beads and a white Hello Kitty charm. Necklace measures 16.5-inch long.

Note: This is an umbrella designed for children, it has a smaller footprint then an adult umbrella. If you are looking for an umbrella for a teenager this will be too small.

Wii sports resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original wii sports to the next level introducing a whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities. With the deep control enhancements of wii motionplus veteran wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter duel with swords throw a frisbee and much more.

Console-based video gaming is one of the most popular of modern digital technologies, cutting across age, demographic and gender divides. Today's players have three dominant platforms to choose from: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 by Microsoft. Each is an impressive multifunctional device, with designs meant to encourage integration into existing home entertainment systems and networks, but each goes about this in different ways. Taking a few minutes to examine the main features, and getting more familiar with available options, accessories and possible limitations of each console is the optimal way to determine which is the best choice for the players in a household. Console Choices Wii View larger PlayStation 3 View larger Xbox 360 View larger Models and Pricing (prices may vary) Wii with Mario Kart Wii - $149 160 GB memory - $250 320 GB memory - $300 4 GB memory - $200 250 GB memory - $300 What's in the Box Wii console Wii Mario Kart game One Wii Remote Plus controller One Nunchuk controller Wii Sensor bar Standard composite cable and power cord PS3 console One wireless controller A/V cable for connection to TV USB cable for charging controller Free PlayStation Network (PSN) membership Xbox 360 console One Xbox 360 wireless controller Composite A/V cable (standard definition) A month free Xbox LIVE Gold membership Motion Gaming? Already included PlayStation Move (sold separately) Kinect for Xbox 360 (sold separately) Colors (limited edition colors may be available) White and black Black Black Drive Type CD (just games) CD/DVD/Blu-ray (games, music, movies) CD/DVD (games, music, movies) Online Play WiiWare PlayStation Network (PSN) Xbox LIVE Additional Accessories Additional controllers - $10-45 Additional controllers - $40-50 Additional controllers - $40-50 Price Range of Games New releases: ~$30 - $50 Downloadable: ~$5 - $10 New releases: ~$60 Motion: ~$40 Downloadable: ~$5 - $15 New releases: ~$60 Motion: ~$50 Downloadable: ~$5 - $15 Backwards Compatibility Plays all GameCube game titles Offers compatibility with PS1 games Over 300 titles developed for the original Xbox console are currently available Graphic Quality 480p 1080p 1080p Great For Designed for Junior to Grandma with titles generally focused on family fun, party games High-powered and highly customizable system for the technical-minded consumers Offers a wide selection of games and accessible entertainment, with user-friendly social tools Arcade, Casual and Party games are a Wii Specialty. View larger. Consider Games Before Choosing a Console There is not just one kind of console video game, and so the machines that are are used to play them are different as well. Considering the types of games to be played, their availability for the consoles being considered and the ability of those consoles' to present the best gaming experience possible for the game's genre and content is important. The games developed for Wii tend to be more easily accessible, family-friendly productions heavily influenced by Nintendo's classic gaming history. Filled with cartoon-like and childlike characters as well as Arcade-style gameplay situations, Wii games are often referred to as "Casual Games," or "Party Games" typified by brief, simple "mini-games." These small games-within-games are tailor-made for players new to the puzzle-solving aspects of gaming and how that is translated through game controllers to the screen by the player. PS3 and Xbox 360 provide the processing power that Action-Adventure, Shooter, Racing and RPG games need. View larger. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles are the current version of earlier console releases whose user bases were rooted in game genres such as Action-Adventure, Shooters, Racing, Sports, Role-playing games (RPG) and so on. Gameplay developed in these genres tends to require more focus on the part of the player, and more graphics processing power from the console in order to maintain a quality experience. That is what continues to be the main focus of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Capable of full 1080p HD quality graphics presentation when used with the proper cables and displays, in this area Xbox 360 and PS3 are far beyond what Wii is capable of. Iconic game franchises like Halo, God of War, Fable, Metal Gear Solid, Gears of War, Killzone, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls and many others have grown up on these platforms, feeding off of their power. And with the rise of online multiplayer gaming through Xbox LIVE and PSN the high energy, fine graphical specialties of these platforms only continues to grow. Motion Gaming Although motion gaming has been front and center since the launch of the Wii in 2006, the other two consoles have their own motion gaming offerings that provide unique play opportunities on their respective platforms that have also found a wide audience. See a breakdown of the motion gaming capacity of each of the systems below. Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk The Wii Remote Plus controller is the standard wireless controller that ships with each Wii. It combines the intuitive motion controls of the original Wii Remote with the precision technology of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, all built-in to a single unit. The device is handled in a wand-like fashion, and uses internal gyroscope and accelerometer technology to pinpoint the players movements and physical positioning which it then relates into a game via a sensor bar connected to the console. The Wii Remote Plus has only a few buttons making it easy to use. It also contains a speaker, a rumble feature, and an external connector for other input devices like the Nunchuk controller and the Classic Controller. PlayStation Move PlayStation Move offers a new and innovative gaming experience for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system by fusing realistic, high-definition gaming along with accurate, intuitive control. Consisting of a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Move Navigation controller (optional in most games) and a PlayStation Eye camera (all sold separately), PlayStation Move enables sophisticated, ultra accurate motion control and immersive gameplay only possible on the PS3 system. In addition, the PlayStation Eye features the ability to process up to 120 frames/second and a built-in 4 microphone array for pristine video quality and video chat capabilities. Kinect for Xbox 360 Easy to use and fun for everyone, Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 utilizes revolutionary full-body tracking to put players in the center of the fun that is 100% controller-free. After configuring itself by registering a range of points across your body, this amazing technology allows Kinect to recognize and mirror your movements in the game, in effect making your body the controller. The sensor is compatible with every Xbox 360, features a color VGA motion camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second), a depth camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second) and an array of 4 microphones supporting single speaker voice recognition. Wii Remote Plus & Nunchuk. View larger PlayStation Eye & Motion controller. View larger Controller-free Kinect sensor play. View larger Online Play and Functionality Online functionality is a major focus in console gaming. Each of the three consoles can be used offline, but by integrating them into your home broadband connection you can greatly expand their potential. Each posses a significant online component, but differ in the ways users can interact with it. WiiWare is a service that allows Wii players to download games and applications directly to their Wii console in exchange for purchased Wii Points on the Wii Shop Channel. Online gameplay requires a code to play. It's free to play and there are no names, so kids are protected against unwanted contact. Through Wii's online component players can also gain access to hundreds of classic arcade games available for download through Wii's Virtual Console functionality. The Nintendo Channel allows players to watch gameplay videos, trailers, developer interviews, and even download Nintendo DS game demos wirelessly. Additional Wii online functionality includes a web browser and connectivity with Netflix,* which allows users to stream video efficiently and quietly by means of the console's low energy consumption internal processing. PlayStation Network is an all access pass not only to a world of gaming, but also one of entertainment at-large. The service is 100% free, only requiring a PS3 (or PlayStation handheld) and a broadband connection to the Internet. Once you are in visit the PlayStation Store where users can download games, previews, DLC add-ons for games, game demos, game extras, music and streaming video. Purchases can be made using a credit card or a PlayStation Network Card purchased offline. Content can be stored on your console or external media. Online multiplayer gameplay through PSN is simple, yet robust. Simply slip a compatible multiplayer disc into the console, select the multiplayer option and set up your own game or wait to join one in progress. The service also contains Netflix access,* a range of original gaming-oriented video programming, as well as access to PlayStation Home, a 3D world where gamers can interact in a virtual environment. Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment hub for Xbox 360. The service was launched with the original Xbox console in 2002, and has evolved and grown with Xbox 360. The service is two-tiered, with every user receiving a free "Silver membership," which allows for access to content such as free game demos, downloaded video rentals, Xbox LIVE avatar functionality and chat. A paid "Gold Membership" provides access to these and expanded features, including online gaming, HD movies and TV shows through services such as Netflix,* HBO Go,** ESPN, and Hulu Plus, downloadable games, facebook, downloadable content (DLC) for games and more. Players use Xbox LIVE points, which as easily purchased online and offline to access much of the online content. Both Xbox LIVE membership levels allow players to increase their Gamer Score, a running tally of the achievements they have unlocked in games. This is commonly shared information among gamers around the world and a source of pride in the community. * Existing Netflix unlimited membership account required. ** Requires a valid subscription to HBO content through a cable or satellite provider.

Console-based video gaming is one of the most popular of modern digital technologies, cutting across age, demographic and gender divides. Today's players have three dominant platforms to choose from: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 by Microsoft. Each is an impressive multifunctional device, with designs meant to encourage integration into existing home entertainment systems and networks, but each goes about this in different ways. Taking a few minutes to examine the main features, and getting more familiar with available options, accessories and possible limitations of each console is the optimal way to determine which is the best choice for the players in a household. Console Choices Wii View larger PlayStation 3 View larger Xbox 360 View larger Models and Pricing (prices may vary) Wii with Mario Kart Wii - $149 160 GB memory - $250 320 GB memory - $300 4 GB memory - $200 250 GB memory - $300 What's in the Box Wii console Wii Mario Kart game One Wii Remote Plus controller One Nunchuk controller Wii Sensor bar Standard composite cable and power cord PS3 console One wireless controller A/V cable for connection to TV USB cable for charging controller Free PlayStation Network (PSN) membership Xbox 360 console One Xbox 360 wireless controller Composite A/V cable (standard definition) A month free Xbox LIVE Gold membership Motion Gaming? Already included PlayStation Move (sold separately) Kinect for Xbox 360 (sold separately) Colors (limited edition colors may be available) White and black Black Black Drive Type CD (just games) CD/DVD/Blu-ray (games, music, movies) CD/DVD (games, music, movies) Online Play WiiWare PlayStation Network (PSN) Xbox LIVE Additional Accessories Additional controllers - $10-45 Additional controllers - $40-50 Additional controllers - $40-50 Price Range of Games New releases: ~$30 - $50 Downloadable: ~$5 - $10 New releases: ~$60 Motion: ~$40 Downloadable: ~$5 - $15 New releases: ~$60 Motion: ~$50 Downloadable: ~$5 - $15 Backwards Compatibility Plays all GameCube game titles Offers compatibility with PS1 games Over 300 titles developed for the original Xbox console are currently available Graphic Quality 480p 1080p 1080p Great For Designed for Junior to Grandma with titles generally focused on family fun, party games High-powered and highly customizable system for the technical-minded consumers Offers a wide selection of games and accessible entertainment, with user-friendly social tools Arcade, Casual and Party games are a Wii Specialty. View larger. Consider Games Before Choosing a Console There is not just one kind of console video game, and so the machines that are are used to play them are different as well. Considering the types of games to be played, their availability for the consoles being considered and the ability of those consoles' to present the best gaming experience possible for the game's genre and content is important. The games developed for Wii tend to be more easily accessible, family-friendly productions heavily influenced by Nintendo's classic gaming history. Filled with cartoon-like and childlike characters as well as Arcade-style gameplay situations, Wii games are often referred to as "Casual Games," or "Party Games" typified by brief, simple "mini-games." These small games-within-games are tailor-made for players new to the puzzle-solving aspects of gaming and how that is translated through game controllers to the screen by the player. PS3 and Xbox 360 provide the processing power that Action-Adventure, Shooter, Racing and RPG games need. View larger. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles are the current version of earlier console releases whose user bases were rooted in game genres such as Action-Adventure, Shooters, Racing, Sports, Role-playing games (RPG) and so on. Gameplay developed in these genres tends to require more focus on the part of the player, and more graphics processing power from the console in order to maintain a quality experience. That is what continues to be the main focus of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Capable of full 1080p HD quality graphics presentation when used with the proper cables and displays, in this area Xbox 360 and PS3 are far beyond what Wii is capable of. Iconic game franchises like Halo, God of War, Fable, Metal Gear Solid, Gears of War, Killzone, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls and many others have grown up on these platforms, feeding off of their power. And with the rise of online multiplayer gaming through Xbox LIVE and PSN the high energy, fine graphical specialties of these platforms only continues to grow. Motion Gaming Although motion gaming has been front and center since the launch of the Wii in 2006, the other two consoles have their own motion gaming offerings that provide unique play opportunities on their respective platforms that have also found a wide audience. See a breakdown of the motion gaming capacity of each of the systems below. Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk The Wii Remote Plus controller is the standard wireless controller that ships with each Wii. It combines the intuitive motion controls of the original Wii Remote with the precision technology of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, all built-in to a single unit. The device is handled in a wand-like fashion, and uses internal gyroscope and accelerometer technology to pinpoint the players movements and physical positioning which it then relates into a game via a sensor bar connected to the console. The Wii Remote Plus has only a few buttons making it easy to use. It also contains a speaker, a rumble feature, and an external connector for other input devices like the Nunchuk controller and the Classic Controller. PlayStation Move PlayStation Move offers a new and innovative gaming experience for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system by fusing realistic, high-definition gaming along with accurate, intuitive control. Consisting of a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Move Navigation controller (optional in most games) and a PlayStation Eye camera (all sold separately), PlayStation Move enables sophisticated, ultra accurate motion control and immersive gameplay only possible on the PS3 system. In addition, the PlayStation Eye features the ability to process up to 120 frames/second and a built-in 4 microphone array for pristine video quality and video chat capabilities. Kinect for Xbox 360 Easy to use and fun for everyone, Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 utilizes revolutionary full-body tracking to put players in the center of the fun that is 100% controller-free. After configuring itself by registering a range of points across your body, this amazing technology allows Kinect to recognize and mirror your movements in the game, in effect making your body the controller. The sensor is compatible with every Xbox 360, features a color VGA motion camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second), a depth camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second) and an array of 4 microphones supporting single speaker voice recognition. Wii Remote Plus & Nunchuk. View larger PlayStation Eye & Motion controller. View larger Controller-free Kinect sensor play. View larger Online Play and Functionality Online functionality is a major focus in console gaming. Each of the three consoles can be used offline, but by integrating them into your home broadband connection you can greatly expand their potential. Each posses a significant online component, but differ in the ways users can interact with it. WiiWare is a service that allows Wii players to download games and applications directly to their Wii console in exchange for purchased Wii Points on the Wii Shop Channel. Online gameplay requires a code to play. It's free to play and there are no names, so kids are protected against unwanted contact. Through Wii's online component players can also gain access to hundreds of classic arcade games available for download through Wii's Virtual Console functionality. The Nintendo Channel allows players to watch gameplay videos, trailers, developer interviews, and even download Nintendo DS game demos wirelessly. Additional Wii online functionality includes a web browser and connectivity with Netflix,* which allows users to stream video efficiently and quietly by means of the console's low energy consumption internal processing. PlayStation Network is an all access pass not only to a world of gaming, but also one of entertainment at-large. The service is 100% free, only requiring a PS3 (or PlayStation handheld) and a broadband connection to the Internet. Once you are in visit the PlayStation Store where users can download games, previews, DLC add-ons for games, game demos, game extras, music and streaming video. Purchases can be made using a credit card or a PlayStation Network Card purchased offline. Content can be stored on your console or external media. Online multiplayer gameplay through PSN is simple, yet robust. Simply slip a compatible multiplayer disc into the console, select the multiplayer option and set up your own game or wait to join one in progress. The service also contains Netflix access,* a range of original gaming-oriented video programming, as well as access to PlayStation Home, a 3D world where gamers can interact in a virtual environment. Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment hub for Xbox 360. The service was launched with the original Xbox console in 2002, and has evolved and grown with Xbox 360. The service is two-tiered, with every user receiving a free "Silver membership," which allows for access to content such as free game demos, downloaded video rentals, Xbox LIVE avatar functionality and chat. A paid "Gold Membership" provides access to these and expanded features, including online gaming, HD movies and TV shows through services such as Netflix,* HBO Go,** ESPN, and Hulu Plus, downloadable games, facebook, downloadable content (DLC) for games and more. Players use Xbox LIVE points, which as easily purchased online and offline to access much of the online content. Both Xbox LIVE membership levels allow players to increase their Gamer Score, a running tally of the achievements they have unlocked in games. This is commonly shared information among gamers around the world and a source of pride in the community. * Existing Netflix unlimited membership account required. ** Requires a valid subscription to HBO content through a cable or satellite provider.

Wii sports resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original wii sports to the next level introducing a whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities. With the deep control enhancements of wii motionplus veteran wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter duel with swords throw a frisbee and much more.

Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales is inspiRed by Disney/Pixar's wildly popular animated shorts of the same name. Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales is part of the Mania! video game franchise featuring fast-paced multiplayer family fun. The game is a frenzied pick-up-and-play experience to be enjoyed by everyone in the room. The game will bring Mater together with Lightning McQueen and the "Cars" gang for a new set of adventures capturing the endearing sense of humor of everyone's favorite tow truck. Players will join Mater and his pals as they relive the wild stories he conjures up about hilariously unpRedictable events that may or may not have taken place. Four player simultaneous gameplay. Play cooperatively or competitively with family and friends. Customize the look of cars with collectibles earned in gameplay. Experience all of the Mater's Tall Tales cartoon shorts in 30+ games.