Wii Games Plug Into Redondo

Nintendo's Wii Games got underway this morning inside a giant tent next to the Seaside Lagoon and will run until Sunday evening.

The three-day event is both a competition and sneak preview for players of all abilities. Anyone can play the games—so long as they wait their turn in line.

New games include Disney's "Epic Mickey," "Donkey Kong Country Returns" and "Mario World." Of course, there are also the Wii classics, including "Bowling," "Hula Hoop," "Basketball," "Mario Kart" and "Super Mario Bros."

More than 200 finalists from around the country are competing in the national championship. They qualified at a series of regional events, mostly at Six Flags amusements parks and malls as well as at a big event in Liberty State Park, NJ, and will be competing in six categories—Teen, Parent-Teen, Parent-Child, Family, Adult, and Super Adult, which is the category for senior citizens. 

The Wii tent will be open until 6 p.m. today. It reopens at 10 a.m. tomorrow and runs until 7 p.m. that day. Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The national championship will take place on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., with the award ceremonies from 5 to 6 p.m. (For more details, see the schedules accompanying this article.) 

Admission is free, although parking is not.