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Wii Mini: Exclusive to Canada | Dec 7th @ $99.99 (No internet, no GC support)

KissVibes

Banned
I legitimately like the design.

I think it's stupid that this is Exclusive to Canada, $99.99 (should be less), and has no online.
 

BearPawB

Banned
It's literally designed as a Holiday gift for kids. It's a cute little box that plays Mario. It comes in a neat package and makes a good present. That's all it is.

But if they are trying to save $30 bucks by buying a lesser product, why wouldn't they save another $30 bucks and just buy used? If you are truly money conscious I think the kids will be fine if they are surprised with a Wii already hooked up to the family TV when they come down for xmas.

I realize this is fairly devils advocate-y. And I do see your point, don't think im so dense.
The point is that I don't think who this product is designed for is as clear as you do

A game console that only plays games? This is madness!

A game console that only plays games, but not your gamecube games, or online features for your games, or the shop where you can buy games
 

Zzoram

Member
I like the look but why not at least include the iconic Wii Sports? If they really want it to be a cheap gift for kids, it should come with a game so it is instantly usable.

Actually I am ok with the no WiFi now and GC support isn't necessary either. But no game and $99.99? That's just too expensive compared to the full Wii bundles with a game.
 
Q

qizah

Unconfirmed Member
I'm still confused about who this would appeal to. I figure most kids who wanted a Wii already got one and are probably asking for a Wii U this holiday or a 3DS.

$99 would've been a great deal if they kept GC support and Internet support though.
 
the fact they would strip out something as basic as wifi means Nintendo really are trying to maximize the profit, the materials look so cheap on the outside even
 

Huff

Banned
People in here are acting like kids are dumb shits with tech and won't figure out they got screwed.

But I've never been to Canada so maybe it's different there
 

tapedeck

Do I win a prize for talking about my penis on the Internet???
How much would it actually cost them to just put a damn Ethernet port on the back? A dollar?
 
This is the first major console redesign Nintendo's done since the Super Nintendo. I like the look of it. It looks so... retro. lol. I wonder if it'll work with the Ethernet adapter.

I also wonder if it'll work with homebrew. They might make the firmware/IOS read-only if they don't expect anyone to do system upgrades.

I wouldn't buy it if it comes to US, though. Too expensive for missing so many features.
 
But if they are trying to save $30 bucks by buying a lesser product, why wouldn't they save another $30 bucks and just buy used? If you are truly money conscious I think the kids will be fine if they are surprised with a Wii already hooked up to the family TV when they come down for xmas.

I realize this is fairly devils advocate-y. And I do see your point, don't think im so dense.
The point is that I don't think who this product is designed for is as clear as you do

A lot of people don't buy tech second hand.
I know I'd prefer a deal like this anyway.

You can always get something cheaper second hand.
 

Pociask

Member
It's literally designed as a Holiday gift for kids. It's a cute little box that plays Mario. It comes in a neat package and makes a good present. That's all it is.

It just doesn't play Mario Kart. Or the used version of Skyward Sword they picked up - oops, can't patch. Or stream Netflix. Or play Virtual Console games. Or play WiiWare games.

Why defend Nintendo on this? It's a dumb decision. It's going to lead to a lot of disappointed people. When you release a "value" version of your console, you should include the features that price conscious shoppers expect. You don't release a value version whose main selling point is "Mini," and then discretely rip out huge parts of what made the original version so successful.
 

NewFresh

Member
Everyone that wants Wii and Netflix can buy a Wii or a Wii U?
This isn't for them.

Like. This was thought out. People paying for Netflix each month. This not for.


I think that is a bit of a simplification. The attractive price point could draw in a lot of people who would want the benefits of a Wii but in a smaller package. (Personal Anecdote incoming!) From what I have heard when I worked at Best Buy, the netflix functionality was, at many times, the push over the edge to make the purchase. It also shows in the fact that a large percentage of people watch Netflix with the Wii. Yes, you could say this is a purely game playing console, but it doesn't make the removal of internet any less of a blemish on what I think is a really nice looking and price competitive console.


Be cool if Nintendo did a Wiiware collection disc.

I think only the Bit.Trip guys did this. But I would love this as well.
 

Bgamer90

Banned
Wii
Wii Mini
Wii U

I can see that being confusing for at least some potential customers. We've already heard reports of some people thinking the Wii U is just a Wii with a tablet or a new controller...

Yep.

Think it would have been smarter to just focus on the Wii U for now.

That, or they should have just called the Wii Mini, "(the) Wii". Previous Nintendo systems had remodels but they didn't have new names, thus things were less confusing; people knew the remodels were the old systems.
 

HardRojo

Member
This is definitely aimed at the kids as a holiday gift.
I wonder if Nintendo understands the notion of making sure your audience is not confused by your products, I can see some people thinking Wii, Wii Mini and Wii U are just different versions of the same console. (Wii and Wii Mini are)
 

Kandrick

GAF's Ed McMahon
the fact they would strip out something as basic as wifi means Nintendo really are trying to maximize the profit, the materials look so cheap on the outside even

Well that's the point when you release something like this. Sony did the same by taking out the WIFI on the PSP Street.
 

BearPawB

Banned
A lot of people don't buy tech second hand.
I know I'd prefer a deal like this anyway.

You can always get something cheaper second hand.

I would too. I actually wouldn't mind owning the thing (I wont, but i like the looks) But we aren't talking about us. We are talking about this "family with not a lot of money looking to buy their kids something for christmas". We are talking about someone who would buy a Wii at this point in its lifespan. That is someone who might be willing to buy used tech
 

Alebrije

Member
I'm still confused about who this would appeal to. I figure most kids who wanted a Wii already got one and are probably asking for a Wii U this holiday or a 3DS.

$99 would've been a great deal if they kept GC support and Internet support though.

Why Canadá? And not México or other market where most of the people do not have internet. The mini Wii would got better on third world markets
 

thefro

Member
Yeah, if they release a version of this in the US they need to put the Wifi back in. No GC backwards compatibility I can understand at this point.

Granted the people who still don't have a Wii at this point probably aren't going to use the Internet on it, but there's probably enough who will buy stuff off VC/Wiiware to make it worth Nintendo's while to pay for the chip.
 

mackattk

Member
i like the design of the console, but why can't the power brick/cables be black or red? White cables would look awful coming from behind that thing.
 

maverick40

Junior Member
1pbWU.gif
 

Entropia

No One Remembers
Cool that it's a Canadian exclusive, but it cuts out 2 of the biggest features... :\ Gamecube backwards compatibility and internet are the reasons I would buy one. Particularly to get some VC action on. Oh well. I wouldn't have purchased this either way :lol
 

Lo-Volt

Member
It shouldn't surprise people that this new box doesn't support GameCube software, but cutting customers off of all online functions, even the functions that could make Nintendo a little more money down the road, doesn't make sense to me. Are wi-fi antennae that expensive to Nintendo all of a sudden? And maybe the Wii and Wii U aren't universally loved examples of hardware design, but this new Wii is astonishingly... bare to look at, even for a Wii Jr.

The SNES Jr. of way back when was clearly a Super NES by its appearance, and yet, this looks unlike anything else Nintendo makes right now. But if its hardware design is meant to differentiate it from the Wii U, why not release this everywhere to get the point across and offer everyone a deal on a Wii this holiday season? Why go through the trouble of designing and producing a major revision only to sell it to one country?
 

surly

Banned
With no Wi-Fi, how will people get a taste of all those great online experiences that the Wii offered? People won't be able to watch Netflix in SD either. This thing sucks!
 
Shame about the internet, or else I'd prob. pick one up (when released in America) to stick in my bedroom - would love to finally have played some Mario.
 

lowrider007

Licorice-flavoured booze?
Well that's the point when you release something like this. Sony did the same by taking out the WIFI on the PSP Street.

But as I've said before that didn't stop people from being able to download content onto the system, they just had to do it via usb.

This system should at least have an ethernet port.

Ideally imo Nintendo should of made this new mini system a replacement for the current wii with the same features, maybe just drop the GC support.
 
I think that is a bit of a simplification. The attractive price point could draw in a lot of people who would want the benefits of a Wii but in a smaller package. (Personal Anecdote incoming!) From what I have heard when I worked at Best Buy, the netflix functionality was, at many times, the push over the edge to make the purchase. It also shows in the fact that a large percentage of people watch Netflix with the Wii. Yes, you could say this is a purely game playing console, but it doesn't make the removal of internet any less of a blemish on what I think is a really nice looking and price competitive console.

I suppose thats true enough. Wee system for your Netflix.

In terms of Nintendo's product range though I think they'd prefer to be pushing those types to the Wii U to get TVii. An even wider range and very competitive environment for TV and Film.

I understand the idea of it having those features. I originally thought that it was going to be like the rumoured Xbox media/arcade box. But likewise I can understand the market and profit being chased here.

So I think Nintendo has chosen the Wii U as the next product for them.

Just received an email about this.

Wii Mini is 100 coins on Club Nintendo.

Wow. Canada only still?
 

Berg

Member
If it supports 4 wiimotes, I could see the no-internet being a non-issue for families or groups of friends. I've had my best wii moments without the internet. Tho, I'm thinking $99 is too much, $75-80 max (with tax is still under $100)
 

HardRojo

Member
Why Canadá? And not México or other market where most of the people do not have internet. The mini Wii would got better on third world markets

I live in Peru and believe me, most people who don't have internet probably won't bother or can't afford a video games console. (And I can't see them jumping over this since Latam is most likely PlayStation territory, not to mention the Wii U is out so someone who can afford a console and is interested in videogames will probably prefer that over this new Wii Mini)
 
I suppose thats true enough. Wee system for your Netflix.

In terms of Nintendo's product range though I think they'd prefer to be pushing those types to the Wii U to get TVii. An even wider range and very competitive environment for TV and Film.

I understand the idea of it having those features. I originally thought that it was going to be like the rumoured Xbox media/arcade box. But likewise I can understand the market and profit being chased here.

So I think Nintendo has chosen the Wii U as the next product for them.



Wow. Canada only still?

Bah. I should correct that. It gets you 100 coins.
 
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