Which is a real shame, the top down view of the system is nothing but amazing... but then the rest follows :/
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Wii Mini: Exclusive to Canada | Dec 7th @ $99.99 (No internet, no GC support)
- Thread starter jokkir
- Start date
Which is a real shame, the top down view of the system is nothing but amazing... but then the rest follows :/
Aquamarine
Member
MONEY. They've done this twice before with their home consoles. They've done this lots of times with their handheld consoles.
It's that expensive Wii U costing them money. This is one way to recoup the costs.
I can't deny the sexiness of it.. Nintendo just decided to go with the more conservative home theatre/computer part look for the Wii U. Disappointing.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
Purchases being tied to the system and not an account made me totally ignore the online store for the Wii's life.
WiiredShawn
Member
And the fact that the two systems are generally kept in different sections of the electronics department or in GameStop should also deter confusion. One would hope.
In the OP? Nintendo released a PR.
On some level I like the retro look, but it's completely wrong for the target audience of this thing.
And no internet connectivity? Mind. Boggles. Given the price as well.
EDIT: Also, buy ten of these things when they hit clearance and watch them skyrocket. Better than Apple stock.
And no internet connectivity? Mind. Boggles. Given the price as well.
EDIT: Also, buy ten of these things when they hit clearance and watch them skyrocket. Better than Apple stock.
+1
Slayer-33
Liverpool-2
People are already confused and they put out a box that has a Wii with a big red U on it?
Nintendo deceiving people since 2012
I'm kidding chill
HAHAHA
I doubt most people are confused in the first place. Apple sells Ipad 4, Ipad 2, Ipad mini, various iPod Touches, and various iPod nanos, and customers seem to be perfect capable of selecting the one they want. Same with Samsung and its legion of Galaxy phones and tablets.
As you said
$299-350 = Brand new console with the fancy tablet controller
$99-150 = Old Wii that half of their friends have in their dens or family rooms.
Not exactly difficult.
I mean like a unveiling on stage or something. A PR release is pretty flat going for a major console refresh.
Aquamarine
Member
uh...in the OP.
WiiredShawn
Member
Wait, what would be the "right" look for the target audience of parents looking to buy a games console for their children without spending a lot of money? They want it to be bright and compact so as to attract the attention of impulse Christmas shoppers.
I don't think a lot of you have ever baby-sat suburban kids and made psychological notes on their parents. There is really nothing mind-boggling about this system given the intended demographic.
Do you have children or already own a Wii? If the former is "no" and the latter is "yes," then this system isn't intended for you. And you're missing the point around "no online" - this is for parents who A) don't want their children to play online because they are either scared of online bullying or the child is too young; and B) don't plan to pick up T- or M-rated games like the ones you listed. They might pick up NSMBWii or Mario Kart, but they'll play them offline with their kids.
Davey Cakes
Member
I understand that but...I don't really understand cutting out features.
The original 2006 Wii was already really kid-friendly. The newer models without GC support are even more so (because of no confusion over GC functionality).
It just seems sort of pointless. Wiis are still selling really well considering the state of the console. Why put out another model that strips even more features? There is literally no market for this other than 5-year-olds who don't know how to use basic hardware.
For those who want it, great. It's certainly an interesting design. The tech is scaled down but I still don't see how the $100 is justified. Shouldn't this be, like, $75?
It's a supreme cheapo Wii revision that is currently exclusive to Canada. Don't think it warrants a big show, lol.
AlphaTwo00
Member
Cost cutting? Re-injecting the item into the news? Position the system for potentially other emerging markets (India, China) that has increased demands but are plagued with piracy issues?
Onion_Relish
Member
Selling a console that has had about 6 notable releases in the last 2 1/2 year's specifically for its games? Not interested. If this however was an e-shop only machine I would be in there so fast it would make your head spin. Storing all those beautiful snes titles and nés titles on this sexy beast would be a God send.
Neon_Icarus
Member
The Wii has been out there for six years now. I don't think people who are
picking it up now would care about online (and especially BC).
Hint: If you care about online, they want you to buy a Wii U.
picking it up now would care about online (and especially BC).
Hint: If you care about online, they want you to buy a Wii U.
Surely those people already have a Wii, and the audience is "people who don't game enough to have even bought the current Wii"?
Which probably means suburban housewives who don't want anything that stands out more than a cable box, but might have this for the odd party and Netflix.
I can sort of see that you're getting at some very kid friendly console and lack of internet connectivity there is a feature, not a bug, but I really question if that market exists.
Zombie James
Banned
Stripping GC, WiiWare, Virtual Console, and Netflix support from a console that's already lacking in features is a pretty hard sell.
PeakPointMatrix
Member
It's nicely designed, but it looks like a newer console than the WiiU. If you showed me a picture of the WiiU and the Mini side by side with no other info, I would assume the mini was the next gen Wii. Good luck consumers.
plagiarize
Banned
No? That'd only be $15 more than the cost of a Wii remote plus + nunchuck. That'd be mad.
What $30 savings?
Wii + NSMBWii = $150*
Wii Mini + NSMBWii = $160
*I couldn't find a regular Wii available in Canadian websites -- Walmart, Best Buy, Toys R Us, don't know others. TRU actually has the NSMBWii bundle for 130.
Wow... So this is really a waste of money it seems.
Acrylic7
Member
People are already confused and they put out a box that has a Wii with a big red U on it?
Now that you mention it, this will confuse quite a few people.
It happens a lot. I remember when customers were trying to purchase 3ds games for their kids who owned DS's. Sad, sad Christmas's everywhere.
Coldnoodle
Member
This should of been the design of the U.
Just stick a Nintendo logo on the top and the color around the system acts as the ''U''.
So gorgeous, but alas no Nintendo U for anybody ;_;
Just stick a Nintendo logo on the top and the color around the system acts as the ''U''.
So gorgeous, but alas no Nintendo U for anybody ;_;
phosphor112
Banned
Damn, some Sony level shit.
PS. That's one ugly device. Having it not ugly colors would be better.
Also no internet?!? There goes youtube/netflix... then again, does Canada even have netflix?
EDIT: 100 bucks for that seems kinda steep too. No internet, or GC support and huge costs cut on materials.
Oh well, it's a business.
EmCeeGramr
Member
Weird choices all around for this one. If it was $20 less and had internet support (what a strange decision) then I could see it.
Shoppers Drug Mart here in Montreal (Pharmaprix) has that same deal for $130.
Bah Nintendo probably knows what it's doing, I'm not going to attempt to comment on this until we have an idea on how much of these will be shipped. I like the design though, but then again, I'm a sucker for anything red.
POWERSPHERE
Banned
Weird but cool
AranhaHunter
Banned
You could get a real Wii for $89 during BF, I don't see how this is a deal in any way, shape, or form.
phosphor112
Banned
Homebrew channel with no internet? Eww.
Are you sure it even has an SD-card slot? Or even more importantly, do you know you can homebrew it?
CrashPrime
Member
The red motion plus controller/nunchuck combos in new/like-new condition regularly sell for what this console sells for.
Don't underestimate the fact that they choose red for the color scheme.
Alcibiades
Member
It seems that this is being marketed at 2 audiences:
1) Hardcore and casual gamers/families that already own a Wii and want one for maybe the kids room, to use on the road, or maybe lend out or take to parties.
2) Extremely budget-conscious consumers that wouldn't generally care to jump in but do so due to the availability of such a low cost option - such as families still rocking out their PSOne or something (ex. my cousin who is now in 7th grade and has only had a GCN for a home console ever).
Given their target it makes sense to shave off every last penny from production which probably led to not having online. Generally, at $129 (w/ multiple bundles) anyone that wants a Wii probably already has one. This is for tail-end consumers that wouldn't already have one.
1) Hardcore and casual gamers/families that already own a Wii and want one for maybe the kids room, to use on the road, or maybe lend out or take to parties.
2) Extremely budget-conscious consumers that wouldn't generally care to jump in but do so due to the availability of such a low cost option - such as families still rocking out their PSOne or something (ex. my cousin who is now in 7th grade and has only had a GCN for a home console ever).
Given their target it makes sense to shave off every last penny from production which probably led to not having online. Generally, at $129 (w/ multiple bundles) anyone that wants a Wii probably already has one. This is for tail-end consumers that wouldn't already have one.
Wow. This is definitely a kid-exclusive console. No internet is to protect said kiddies from teh dangers.
Can't fathom how they think it's a good idea to get rid of internet connectivity when the Wii is "the Netflix box" in a lot of households, though. Hope they emphasize, emphasize, emphasize that this is only a second Wii for the kids to play games on while others watch Netflix on the main Wii.
Can't fathom how they think it's a good idea to get rid of internet connectivity when the Wii is "the Netflix box" in a lot of households, though. Hope they emphasize, emphasize, emphasize that this is only a second Wii for the kids to play games on while others watch Netflix on the main Wii.
I don't know about Samsung, but I got to hear some 'average consumers' at Walmart the other day and they haven't got a clue what the new iPad is anymore. One guy wanted the HD iPad. Another wanted the iPad 2 with the Retina screen. When the Walmart worker told him there wasn't one, he seemed to be ok with it, but when that worker left he indignantly told his wife there 'sure as hell was, I saw it on TV'
There's really no 'selecting the one you want' in any case. Apple ruthlessly cuts down old lines when the new ones release. There's the current one, sometimes the last model, and that's it.