Can Wii break nongamer barrier with Opera browser?

As Opera Beta prepares to hit Wii free of charge tomorrow, News Factor examines the browser's ability in broadening the console's appeal to nongamers. A nice value-add, sure, but hardly a reason to own the console. But that doesn't keep Opera from wishing: "Scott Hedrick, executive vice president of devices at Opera, said the integration of Opera into the Wii might very well draw more nongamers to the platform. 'Wii's unique interface adds a new dimension to our browser, making it a useful tool that the whole family will enjoy operating,' he said in a published statement."

Wouldn't he hope so. Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox both dominate and overshadow Opera on desktops around the world. So what better opportunity, for Opera, than to make an early jump into living room browsing via Wii. You can almost hear Opera execs exhorting the concept to take flight.