-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Wii Mini: Exclusive to Canada | Dec 7th @ $99.99 (No internet, no GC support)
- Thread starter jokkir
- Start date
Little Green Yoda
Member
Outside of collectors, those people with a Wii or Wii U aren't the target demographic.
Is there some reason Nintendo has for releasing this in Canada? I guess they have some data that shows Canada doesn't use Wii online? So no Netflix, eshop, ect. I wonder if the gui is different considering you won't need any channels except the disc channel. it will be a very sparse gui if they didn't change it. I bet it has almost no internal storage or sd slot either, just a little for gamesaves.
entremet
Member
They still make regular Wiis however. This is a targeted SKU for a specific market.
bluethunder
Banned
I have to question the release of a Wii console that has zero use outside of playing Wii games. No opportunity to buy great WiiWare games, no GameCube b/c and releasing at a time when Nintendo should be promoting the Wii U and the 3DS. For $100, you can get a Wii that isn't stripped down at a sale. Very little reason for this product to exist except for collectors. I'm sure Krae_man will buy this. Surprised he hasn't chimed in yet.
They still need a Mii channel, although they could just dump that into the home button menu.
Nintendo didn't design the app
Hardcore gamers think that they are the center of the universe and literally cannot comprehend that someone other than themselves play video games on occasion. They can't stand it when something is not catered directly toward them.
SlowRevolution
Member
Cool design, but no internet is ridiculous.
digita1alchemy
Member
Since I live in 'Merica, what's the best site to order one of these from?
boiled goose
good with gravy
I think the system looks cool enough to merit a bit better treatment.
Remove SD slot, but maybe add in usb harddrive support?
Remove USB ethernet, but keep wifi, or just keep usb ethernet, whichever is cheaper.
I think a $99 Wii + VC/Wiiware box would entice a few more people in addition to the budget buyers.
Remove SD slot, but maybe add in usb harddrive support?
Remove USB ethernet, but keep wifi, or just keep usb ethernet, whichever is cheaper.
I think a $99 Wii + VC/Wiiware box would entice a few more people in addition to the budget buyers.
ConsumerSquare
Member
What will the menu look like? Just a bunch of empty spots for channels that can never be downloaded?
WiiredShawn
Member
You mean via Netflix? Apparently a lot of people. In my mind, that's really the main issue with the lack of online, at least for families. Although as someone else already pointed out, families looking for a cheap console may not pay for Netflix.
The people who are interested in buying virtual console games already have Wiis.
Because it is the sexiest console to come along since the slim-line PS2?
It is also a breath of fresh air in a world stacked with techy full-featured consoles. Brass tacks, put a disc in and play.
And has some nice red controllers as a bonus.
The Mana Legend
Banned
What? Seriously? The size might indicate to the kid it's a box with a new pair of shoes. Or anything in the universe. Or a brand new sweater.
Don't you know? The only things that come in boxes are Wii Minis and iPads.
no no no. I'll give you two for the controller and design though.
WiiRevolution1
Member
I...I oddly want one just to have it. I really hope it comes out in US. Do yall think it will? Do yall think that they will atleast keep selling these past the Holidays in Canada? Maybe I can get someone from there to ship it for me...don't know how much extra that would cost but I really want it just because its so unique XD
When I first saw this mentioned online, I figured that I'd pick it up solely for Virtual Console and WiiWare. Seeing what it is, though, I have no interest in this. I'd prefer a Wii without disc support if it supported Virtual Console and WiiWare.
I do like how it looks, though.
I do like how it looks, though.
thiscoldblack
Unconfirmed Member
There goes my purchase. I wanted to get this for my little niece for Christmas, but no WiFi and Canada-only? Oh well. I'll buy the regular Wii model instead.
joeygreco1985
Member
Why does it look like one of those Otterbox cases? Fucking ugly beyond belief
JoshuaJSlone
Member
It's not that the cost to manufacture them is forcing Wii Mini to be $99--it's that they'd be stupid to sell it for so cheap that people could essentially buy it for the controllers, like they do with FlingSmash. They make a killing on the controller prices, and they also want to make a killing on the controller + system prices.Pociask said:
That seems as safe to assume as that anyone interested in playing Wii disc games already has a Wii.Tim-E said:
WiiredShawn
Member
Not necessarily. Parents can't see Virtual Console or WiiWare games on shelves. They can see retail games, and maybe they've been wanting to buy a Wii for their kid(s) but didn't want to spend more than $100. This is their opportunity to buy some of those retail games like Mario Kart (and maybe some crap games like Deal or No Deal) for their kids to enjoy over Christmas. If they knew or cared about VC games (and they would have to do a little research on the console to know), they would probably have picked up the original Wii.
Maybe people don't realize it, but there are a lot of retail Wii games. Many of them are likely garbage, but at the right price point, they might appeal to some families looking for cheap and accessible gaming fun over the holidays.
Exactly. And I'm still thinking about just buying it for the controllers.
RPGCrazied
Member
No WiFi? Eh, no GC support either is the final nail in the coffin. I'll stick with my current Wii, its not that big anyway.
Why would you need SD here? Or are you just trolling.
This is a budget console for people that can't always afford our expensive hobby. I think this is a great idea.
Only on GAF would people actually be offended by this.
It's going to be very expensive to ship these to the U.S. Shipping anything heavy to the U.S. from Canada is stupid expensive.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
Ugly as hell, but it has its visual appeal because of its bizarre looks.. sort of. I kinda want it because its such an oddball system. Anyways, with all the features it is lacking I really feel its way overpriced. This thing should really be significantly cheaper than that.
Smiles and Cries
Member
Canada cannot say they never got something special now
Absolutely, and if that's the argument people are making, that's a valid point. It should be clear what the argument, is, though - the Wii Mini will be sold with a huge profit margin to pad Nintendo's bottom line (of course, this is fine, this is why companies sell things) and to protect their big margins on controllers.
The argument it seemed to me people were making was, the Wii Mini is a good deal because it includes $60 worth of controllers, so really the console only costs $39! Well, no, the controllers are sold for that much, they don't cost Nintendo that much. I would guess Nintendo could still make a comfortable profit if they reduced the controller prices and reduced the Wii Mini price, but none of us are in the Nintendo boardrooms, or catching hell from Nintendo shareholders for last quarter's losses, so I'll keep my armchair speculation to the wisdom of removing what I think are very important features.
I am all about budget versions of consoles, and budget versions of games. I've argued on this board repeatedly that there should be value options. But a good value doesn't mean it's missing essential parts. For example, the Wii redesign that removed GC BC - I think it sucks, but I get that, and people aren't buying Wii's to play Gamecube games. The Gamecube redesign that removed the optical port or whatever - fine, sure. But we're talking about the ability to play games online, stream Netflix, have a "fridge" for save game files, and buy and play Virtual Console and WiiWare games. That's not a value version, that's a different system, IMHO.
Nintendo didn't strip out these features to appeal to budget conscious shoppers. They could have just as easily released a fully-featured Wii Mini at the same price point or lower to do that. Instead, they are releasing a crippled, overpriced piece of hardware, and you've got folks here celebrating its purity and Nintendo's compassion for the common man. Give me a break.
I know it seems like no internet is a really poor choice but I feel like this console is for the same casual consumer that was amazed when we all bought one on release day and brought it over. My father, and my grandparents loved the Wii. They generally dont care much about new technology. They don't have internet access because learning to use computers is a really formidable thing. If I purchased this for either of them with a copy of Wii Sports, it's absolutely perfect for Xmas. It's basically a novelty purchase for them.
So I do not know if we have already comparison mock-ups based on the wiimote in the picture, but now that I am at home looking at the picture and looking at the same time at the Wii on my desk and how it compares to a real wiimote, I don't know, the mini does not seem to be so small; maybe a bit shorter. But I am terrible at spacial stuff so I am probably wrong, I would need to see the real thing side by side with a Wii.
Green Yoshi
Member
Does the USB Lan adapter work with this console or do you have to renounce completely at VC and WiiWare games?
ConsumerSquare
Member
Yeah, I'd like to see some "live" photos for a sense of scale. I can't help but imagine this being bulkier than the original Wii.
The Mana Legend
Banned
There's a picture of a Wiimote right there next to it. Do you have a Wiimote?
Similar threads
- Poll