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Digital Foundry: Wii Mini review and teardown.
- Thread starter axisofweevils
- Start date
Crimsonclaw111
Member
I wonder why they would bring it exclusively to Canada of all places though. It would make more sense for countries where systems are expensive.
Infernal Monkey
Member
Does anyone know if it supports S-Video at the least? If not that'd make this yet more absurd, at least S-Video would make the video output look OK.
I actually wonder if this is why it's Canada exclusive: they were trying to make it cheaper, but in the end had to cut too much so they'd just havea trial run to see if it caught on there. That, or with the Wii U seemingly better at defending itself from hacking and giving a way to play Wii games online and get Wii Shop stuff without the original Wii they're taking a scorched Earth approach to dealing with homebrew and piracy on the Wii. But then why component cables too?
I actually wonder if this is why it's Canada exclusive: they were trying to make it cheaper, but in the end had to cut too much so they'd just havea trial run to see if it caught on there. That, or with the Wii U seemingly better at defending itself from hacking and giving a way to play Wii games online and get Wii Shop stuff without the original Wii they're taking a scorched Earth approach to dealing with homebrew and piracy on the Wii. But then why component cables too?
XANDER CAGE
Member
I was totally going to buy one of these but no component is sort of a dealbreaker. I guess I'll wait until I have a better CRT/retro setup?
DXB-KNIGHT
Member
It's a neutered Wii !!!!
Mr. Enigma
Member
lol Nintendo
I remember getting one of the Platinum Gamecubes when they came out, took it home to find they had removed the 480p component output. Can't believe they are still pulling that bullshit in almost-2013.
I remember getting one of the Platinum Gamecubes when they came out, took it home to find they had removed the 480p component output. Can't believe they are still pulling that bullshit in almost-2013.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I'd love to know exactly how many cents per unit removing component would save. 
Some of the platinum cubes did have the 480p output. It was just later Cubes in general that lost it.
Some of the platinum cubes did have the 480p output. It was just later Cubes in general that lost it.
superpickleman
Member
Wow and lol @ the lack of component support. That's just ridiculous.
Isn't s-video similar to component but with the two colour signals merged (and 480i only)? If so then I guess that wouldn't be supported either. Looks like composite out only
I think they pulled that from all units before too long. Of course in that case it was using a proprietary output and proprietary cables, back when most people didn't have EDTVs, HDTVs, and probably not even TVs with component output until they were replacing them part way through the generation, and if you have an SDTV with component you're about as well served with S-Video anyway. Here, it's like the bullshit with the SNES losing S-Video output in the US, except here the difference is WAY FUCKING BIGGER, making it ludicrous.
Guess that depends on what pins are being used, but it does seem probable it'd only support composite, period. And that's not as acceptable as on the SNES (only REALLY became a big deal with HDTVs, and that probably wouldn't have mattered either if they had better upscaling).
Nintendo's secret ninja castration technique
why not just buy a normal version?
the mini sounds more like it is targeted towards niche markets in developing countries. But I wouldn't consider canada as one of them
edit: always funny when things like this get released to see everyone complaining about something thats obviously not targeted towards them.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Well history repeats itself.
No composite on the NES redesign.
No S-video on the AV Famicom (which wasn't too surprising but it did use the same SNES/N64/Cube port which normally supported it).
No S-video on the SNES redesign.
No component on the Cube redesign.
Obviously there is some sort of recurring idea within Nintendo that this is a good idea... but I just can't even imagine that the cost savings is significant at all.
No composite on the NES redesign.
No S-video on the AV Famicom (which wasn't too surprising but it did use the same SNES/N64/Cube port which normally supported it).
No S-video on the SNES redesign.
No component on the Cube redesign.
Obviously there is some sort of recurring idea within Nintendo that this is a good idea... but I just can't even imagine that the cost savings is significant at all.
It's probably not drugs though, just the cheapest, most frugal bastards they had on hand to evaluate what to cut. I'm surprised they left a USB port in to be honest.
Thunder Monkey
Banned
Buwhahahaha!
This honestly makes sense for Nintendo. They've never shied away from the idea that videogames are toys.
If this would have launched at $80 it'd be a novel little Christmas toy for your four year old. No worrying about people on the net, just the little one playing vidyagaems.
I've tried to warn though. Nintendo as a multimedia company has never made sense. They are a completely psychotic videogame manufacturer. Software and hardware. Stuck on the pretense (grounded methinks) that videogames are toys first and foremost.
This makes sense for a toy manufacturer seeing significant retraction of their core markets. That model of Wii probably has a much larger profit margin than the main systems.
Still crazy. But I can see why they gimp.
This honestly makes sense for Nintendo. They've never shied away from the idea that videogames are toys.
If this would have launched at $80 it'd be a novel little Christmas toy for your four year old. No worrying about people on the net, just the little one playing vidyagaems.
I've tried to warn though. Nintendo as a multimedia company has never made sense. They are a completely psychotic videogame manufacturer. Software and hardware. Stuck on the pretense (grounded methinks) that videogames are toys first and foremost.
This makes sense for a toy manufacturer seeing significant retraction of their core markets. That model of Wii probably has a much larger profit margin than the main systems.
Still crazy. But I can see why they gimp.
Mutanthands
Member
Jeez, it's almost like they made it to compete with the Atari Flashback 4, rather than current current generation hardware. They figure kids will grab whatever Wii software Grandma has moldering in the closet and give it a spin.
phosphor112
Banned
Nintendo hates technology, confirmed.
What a joke...
What a joke...
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I believe it was actually different for PAL, though (beyond how the NTSC Cubes lost their digital AV ports). I think their releases actually didn't have the progressive scan 480p support on the discs!
It's a big "fuck you" from Iwata in retaliation for bagged milk.
TheFLYINGManga_Ka
Member
No component cables in 2013?
2018: Wii U mini, no HDMI!
2018: Wii U mini, no HDMI!
pieatorium
Member
Blame Canada eh?
NinjaBoiX
Member
Nintendo, ludicrously pinching penny's again.
No wifi - meh, kind of sucks but whatevs.
No GC support - yeah, that really sucks.
No component support - yeah, fuck off ninty, you are actually taking the piss now.
They are at the stupid levels of cost cutting, where all rhyme or reason has gone out the window. It's madness. The wii u is the same, they are so focused on "cost per unit" numbers, that they have lost sight of the fact that they should be serving up a tempting console, not a sorely compromised aging piece of tech.
Sorry ninty, I might get a 3DS at some point, but I don't think you'll ever get me to buy another home console.
No wifi - meh, kind of sucks but whatevs.
No GC support - yeah, that really sucks.
No component support - yeah, fuck off ninty, you are actually taking the piss now.
They are at the stupid levels of cost cutting, where all rhyme or reason has gone out the window. It's madness. The wii u is the same, they are so focused on "cost per unit" numbers, that they have lost sight of the fact that they should be serving up a tempting console, not a sorely compromised aging piece of tech.
Sorry ninty, I might get a 3DS at some point, but I don't think you'll ever get me to buy another home console.
disappeared
Banned
I still kind of want one. It's basically a Galaxy 2 adapter at this point.
Alcibiades
Member
This is basically for three audiences:
1) Wii families that want to be able to have an extra system in the kids room or to take on trips.
2) Extremely budget-oriented parents looking for a way to get kids a "bare-minimum" game system.
3) Consumers looking for a system for that "one game" like Wii Sports or Just Dance.
Nintendo doesn't care about fans looking to "upgrade" (that is what Wii U is for) or hardcore gamers (who probably own a Wii already). Everyone who wants to play the Nintendo franchises and Wii exclusives probably already has one.
1) Wii families that want to be able to have an extra system in the kids room or to take on trips.
2) Extremely budget-oriented parents looking for a way to get kids a "bare-minimum" game system.
3) Consumers looking for a system for that "one game" like Wii Sports or Just Dance.
Nintendo doesn't care about fans looking to "upgrade" (that is what Wii U is for) or hardcore gamers (who probably own a Wii already). Everyone who wants to play the Nintendo franchises and Wii exclusives probably already has one.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
In this case you are right.
But I think Nintendo views games as toys because their operation is significantly smaller than the likes of Microsoft/Sony. It's what they can handle. It's what has made them money for a century and more.
I don't think it's generally a bad thing that one of the players in the market approaches gaming like a toy. It produces very original results.
But yeah, in this case, it's just dumb. You are correct.
Wow. I mean it was looking pretty damn bad and overpriced by about $40 from the onset, but now I'm going to have to revise that and say it's looking about $60 too expensive.
Removing Internet functionality entirely, WTF.
They may as well remove storage for saving games.
Removing Internet functionality entirely, WTF.
They may as well remove storage for saving games.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Not with no component...... I wouldn't play Galaxy 2 on this thing. The graphics are good enough that 480p is a must.
IMO, it's basically a future Nintendo collectible at this point.
DigitalRicket
Member
Doesn't it seem that Nintendo is just trying to get rid of components that they bought earlier for the original Wii and just looking to make a quick buck off them from "non-gamers" and kids?
So all this missing tech doesn't really matter to them since they're looking to make their bottom line look better after their original investment in a ton of original Wii's, and not to appease Wii-holdouts who've waited this long to get one or for those who already have one and just want a "collectors" version.
So all this missing tech doesn't really matter to them since they're looking to make their bottom line look better after their original investment in a ton of original Wii's, and not to appease Wii-holdouts who've waited this long to get one or for those who already have one and just want a "collectors" version.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
You may be right about that... if the excess components are things like the CPU, etc.
Because the casing, disc drive etc are obviously different.
Alexios
Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
So, why all the disappointment when that's exactly what they wanted to do/offer? It's not like they're killing production for regular ol Wii. That's still there for anyone interested (heck, that's all there is for most countries). This is an option for a specific audience.
I mean, if it was going to have every Wii feature that matters it wouldn't exactly have a reason to cost less to begin with.
If you still don't have a Wii but want one search for some retailer based discount offer, buy used, or wait for a price drop.
Because people here think it's an alternative that they'd be interested when it was developed to be quite the opposite.
GhostWriter24
Member
So basically it's a Vii.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Well then they are fools. From day one with Wii mini, we knew it was for the super-casual masses (or maybe the occasional nerdy collector.)
Alcibiades
Member
So basically you think Nintendo should sell $40 Wiimotes and $20 Nunchucks alongside a $40 Wiimote + Nunchuck + Wii package? LOL
Not sure what all the hoopla is all about in this thread. If someone wants a Wii, they've got $130 packages that have all the bells and whistles (minus GCN support). And for $80 or so you can probably find one in excellent used condition.
Azure Dream
Member
Ah, I've figured it out!
See, this is a version of the console intended for young children, right? But imagine what might happen if little Billy or Jenny's parents bought a Mario game to go along with it, which happened to be not New Super Mario Bros, but Super Mario Galaxy 1 or 2? Their parents plug it in with component cables to their HDTV, put the game in, and suddenly our miniature gamers are whisked away on an unbelievable journey through beautiful fantasy landscapes full of rich, vivid color, the likes of which their eyes have never seen before.
But oh, the crushing reality as they return. Will their other Wii titles look as good? Even most of the games on other consoles at their friend's houses? Of course not. And at all too young an age they become bitter and jaded with the world. They become... PC gamers.
But by barring component cables, you stop the Galaxies from looking too good. Billy and Jenny's expectations will be tempered, and the rest of the Wii's library may not seem quite so disappointing in comparison.
Nintendo did it to save the children.
See, this is a version of the console intended for young children, right? But imagine what might happen if little Billy or Jenny's parents bought a Mario game to go along with it, which happened to be not New Super Mario Bros, but Super Mario Galaxy 1 or 2? Their parents plug it in with component cables to their HDTV, put the game in, and suddenly our miniature gamers are whisked away on an unbelievable journey through beautiful fantasy landscapes full of rich, vivid color, the likes of which their eyes have never seen before.
But oh, the crushing reality as they return. Will their other Wii titles look as good? Even most of the games on other consoles at their friend's houses? Of course not. And at all too young an age they become bitter and jaded with the world. They become... PC gamers.
But by barring component cables, you stop the Galaxies from looking too good. Billy and Jenny's expectations will be tempered, and the rest of the Wii's library may not seem quite so disappointing in comparison.
Nintendo did it to save the children.