Some things surprise you. A year ago, who would have thought that the best video game of the year would be an electronic version of bowling? Then again, who could have predicted that a gaming console sporting past-generation graphics and a goofy name would capture the imagination of the mass market? Looking back at the past year, the Nintendo Wii stands out as the most exciting development by far, and a simple game of bowling packaged with the system has turned into the most compelling and interesting piece of interactive entertainment released in the past 12 months.