It is not unlike the video games of old. I mean the lure to play, but over time we all lost interest with those. But this one has a lot of interest built in, with the interactivity that you have to do. I have heard from others that Nintendo in the past had a mat that you could use for running and jumping, have not seen it but it sure sounds like fun. But with the hand units, it has some way of measuring how hard you move it, and it is no joke, you have to move it to make your characters move. So baseball, you bend your knees, hold your hands up behind your head, and swing when the ball comes. Pitches are determined by hard you throw, tennis returns determined by how hard you can hit, angles etc. golf the same, and so on and so on. If you are not careful, you will find yourself winded from all the activity. We have now discovered why people need such gargantuan family rooms. You will really use a lot of room up with your moving around, and swinging. It is truly an engaging game system. Just got to find the units. The accessories seem to be everywhere. Will look forward to your Wii report after you get the system. You may end up with one at Uncle Donnie's house so Parker will have it there when she comes over. You know, sometimes you gotta take one for the team. 
Ok, after reading this earlier I realized I'd not called the local stores since before Christmas. Best Buy and three of the Wal Mart Stupor Centers within 10 or 12 miles did not. The fourth Wal Mart (also within the same radius) had 8 come in today.
Boogied across town and scored two. Also one extra set of controllers as the box said each kit comes with but one. Hooked one up here and have already played, stroked, worked up a sweat and fell over the coffee table. So it will be one here and the birthday present in six weeks all taken care of.
I think (but not sure) that the "mat" thing you spoke of is something called the Wii Fit. It's a fitness addition to the system. But apparently not out here in the states yet.
All the accessories that a half hour's surfing here have shown are daunting to immediately recognize needs for. Fortunately that means little else will be bought. And once the kid gets the one that she and her dad will get (they share a birthday) my sister can be responsible for things like Wii Hanna Montana and Wii High School Musical and Wii Did It in the Hot Tub (that last one may not be a game title

).