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Wii

Wii Mini Has No SD Card Slot

by Tyler Ohlew - December 2, 2012, 8:29 am EST
Total comments: 45

Without an SD card slot, transferring saves is impossible on the Wii Mini.

The Wii Mini will not support SD cards, Nintendo of Canada has confirmed to us.

Without an SD card slot, the Wii Mini is incapable of importing or exporting saves. It was known that the Wii Mini would not be able to take part in the Wii U transfer process due to its lack of internet functionality, but now we know you cannot transfer saves by swapping SD cards with its successor. On a standard Wii, players could copy and move save files and downloaded software between system memory and the inserted SD card.

Nintendo of Canada's Matt Ryan also detailed the difference between the Wii Mini and Wii U markets this holiday season, "... they are two very different products for a different type of player. It really depends on the experience that players want and their preferred investment in their gaming console. If a player just wants to play Wii games, Wii mini is a great choice at a great price. If the player wants more from their system, Wii U is the latest innovation of fun from Nintendo."

The Wii Mini is Nintendo's recent redesign of the Wii console that has no internet functionality or GameCube compatibility. It will be available on Canadian store shelves December 7, and will retail for $99.99.

Talkback

SorenDecember 02, 2012

This continues to baffle me. Who exactly is going to want this thing? With so many feature taken out it feels overpriced at $99.

leahsdadDecember 02, 2012

Quote from: Soren

This continues to baffle me. Who exactly is going to want this thing? With so many feature taken out it feels overpriced at $99.

Most definitely participating in the PSP GO school of design here.

BlackNMild2k1December 02, 2012

More like the PSP NO school of design.

No Netflix, no Wii Shop & no game save transfers.

What is even the point? who's idea was this?




A proper redesign would have used a top load disc drive, pre-installed Netflix, Hulu & Youtube channels.
Maybe remove the web browser, but keep the eShop. Remove all traces of GC BC but definitely keep the wifi and SD card slot. Also bump the internal usable memory to 4GB to encourage eshop usage.

RodrigueDecember 02, 2012

Yeah, without Internet functionality it was already iffy, but with no way to transfer data there's no way a hundred bucks is a good price for this, as attractive as the premise is.

You guys are really missing the point. Nintendo designed this to increase their profit margin for legacy Wii sales, not just now but for years to come. The people who will consider buying a Wii at this point don't care about the features being removed. Omitting components gives Nintendo flexibility to eventually lower the price even further to continue squeezing out sales from a very old platform. This tradition goes back to the mid-90s with the redesigns of NES, SNES, and even Genesis.


The fact that Wii Mini looks so much different is actually a nice bonus for hardcore collectors.

ShyGuyDecember 02, 2012

They should eliminate internal memory too. This market doesn't care about saving their games!

But seriously, they better tweak the start screen. It will look awkward with a bunch of empty squares on the menu.

I would think the best way to go would be something akin to the GameCube startup, where it goes straight into the game unless you hold down a button to bring up a simple menu for settings.

BlackNMild2k1December 02, 2012

Wii was very popular for Netflix usage.@ $99 this would've made a perfect game playing netflix player for the spare TV and kids rooms.

Wifi should have stayed in just for that alone.

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorDecember 02, 2012

If they didn't remove GameCube support, this would be the cheapest way by far to play GameCube games in progressive scan. Thankfully my old Wii is still holding on for that though I worry it will break.

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Wii was very popular for Netflix usage.@ $99 this would've made a perfect game playing netflix player for the spare TV and kids rooms.

Wifi should have stayed in just for that alone.

Not if they're going to sell it in 3rd world countries or places where the internet may as well be that of a 3rd world country. Like CANADA.

BlackNMild2k1December 02, 2012

for use in markets outside of EUR, USA & JPN, I guess what their doing makes sense.

Competing with the knock offs at affordable prices should go over will in places like Korea I guess.
Should be cheaper for what they are removing though. ($59.99)

NeoThunderDecember 02, 2012

Theyshould have it come with a game boy advance micro, so you have 2 worthless stripped down consoles

NeoThunderDecember 02, 2012

If this had GC support but still no Internet, this would have been a buy for me

tylerohlewTyler Ohlew, Staff AlumnusDecember 02, 2012

Quote from: NeoThunder

Theyshould have it come with a game boy advance micro, so you have 2 worthless stripped down consoles

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's not say things we can't take back! GBA Micro was awesome, despite being unable to play GB/GBC games. Plus, it had a headphone input jack, so it had that over the GBA SP.

Pale, you can get a GameCube for much less than $99, and it fully supports progressive scan. Not all games use it, but Wii can only run those same select titles in 480p.

Retro DeckadesDecember 02, 2012

Quote from: tylerohlew

Quote from: NeoThunder

Theyshould have it come with a game boy advance micro, so you have 2 worthless stripped down consoles

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's not say things we can't take back! GBA Micro was awesome, despite being unable to play GB/GBC games. Plus, it had a headphone input jack, so it had that over the GBA SP.

I'll champion this sentiment as well! Prior to picking up a Micro, I thought that it was pretty useless. Afterall, no backwards compatibility AND a smaller screen? However, the reality is that it is damn sleek. A great design and hella portable.


Unfortunately, I can't really say the same for the Wii Mini. Someone like me has absolutely no use for this thing. The lack of Wifi limits many games and applications (no Netflix OR Wii Shop), and the removal of the SD card slot defeated my interest in this as a homebrew running Wii.


Funnily enough, it's an example of Nintendo's "This only plays games" mandate. It'll be interesting to see who still has an interest in that. That being said, this will likely be a collector's item because it may not sell all that well.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorDecember 02, 2012

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Pale, you can get a GameCube for much less than $99, and it fully supports progressive scan. Not all games use it, but Wii can only run those same select titles in 480p.

True - but the cables will run you $50+ alone last time I checked.

funguy11December 02, 2012

Releasing a new version of an old system with less function and features just to make it slimmer? Who are they, Apple? Who is going to want a new Wii of any kind with the Wii U now out?

OblivionDecember 02, 2012

Apple doesn't rerelease products with less features to make them slimmer. Thats Sony.

TJ SpykeDecember 02, 2012

Quote from: Oblivion

Apple doesn't rerelease products with less features to make them slimmer. Thats Sony.

Um, the iPod shuffle says Hi.

NeoThunderDecember 02, 2012

iPod nano doesn't wanna be left out too

ThePermDecember 02, 2012

No way to access the internet? No SD card support. I thought it Had no disc drive?

Does this thing play games?

Edit: Oh its got a clamshell drive....

Retro DeckadesDecember 02, 2012

Does it have a USB slot?

funguy11December 02, 2012

Quote from: TJ

Quote from: Oblivion

Apple doesn't rerelease products with less features to make them slimmer. Thats Sony.

Um, the iPod shuffle says Hi.

What about the newest Macbook Pro and iMac models that remove the optical drive?

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusDecember 02, 2012

Regarding the Macs, to be fair Apple has been gradually moving away from optical media and going digital only. Hell, a lot of PC manufactures are going digital only and are treating optical drives as a USB peripheral.

TJ SpykeDecember 02, 2012

Apple is just about the only manufacture I have seen be stupid enought to remove the optical drive (other than in net books). There is no benefit to the consumers (and don't say cost, because Apple already overcharges for products, and they just keep the savings for themselves).

Quote from: TJ

Apple is just about the only manufacture I have seen be stupid enought to remove the optical drive (other than in net books). There is no benefit to the consumers (and don't say cost, because Apple already overcharges for products, and they just keep the savings for themselves).

I don't know, I can see an argument being made for why something like the Macbook Air may be better suited than a Pro for some people if they preferred something lighter and more portable than the Pro. 

And I'm not sure if "stupid" is an appropriate word to describe Apple.  You may be able to make that argument for some of their rabid fan base though :D .

I can't remember the last time I used the optical drive on my MacBook Pro. Been thinking about taking it out and putting a second hard drive or SSD in the slot instead. I'd have no problem buying a new one that didn't have one.

BranDonk KongDecember 03, 2012

I never use my disc drive either.

And UncleBob will probably get like 4 of these things.

yoshi1001December 03, 2012

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

You guys are really missing the point. Nintendo designed this to increase their profit margin for legacy Wii sales, not just now but for years to come. The people who will consider buying a Wii at this point don't care about the features being removed. Omitting components gives Nintendo flexibility to eventually lower the price even further to continue squeezing out sales from a very old platform. This tradition goes back to the mid-90s with the redesigns of NES, SNES, and even Genesis.

Perhaps, but I don't think either the NES or SNES redesigns took as much away functionally as this redesign. Is there a market for it? Probably, but at the moment it doesn't seem like that much of a plus.


By the way, does anyone know how much smaller it is? I've seen the pictures, but nothing side-by-side (might have to wait until it releases). The Wii's pretty small to begin with, so I'm not sure how "Mini" this will be.

ShyGuyDecember 03, 2012

Quote from: Pale

If they didn't remove GameCube support, this would be the cheapest way by far to play GameCube games in progressive scan. Thankfully my old Wii is still holding on for that though I worry it will break.

Re-purchase your Gamecube games off the future Wii U virtual console and you could get them upscaled to 1080p!

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorDecember 03, 2012

Quote from: Brandogg

And UncleBob will probably get like 4 of these things.

Just one... maybe. :D

It *is* pretty awesome looking.

Quote from: UncleBob

Quote from: Brandogg

And UncleBob will probably get like 4 of these things.

Just one... maybe. :D

It *is* pretty awesome looking.

You say that until they come in blue.
and all black
and Mario Edition

KlingonColaDecember 03, 2012

What about through USB port? Can you connect external (SD) device?

eggwolioDecember 03, 2012

No one has mentioned the biggest problem with having no SD slot.


How can ExciteTruck be properly appreciated without the custom soundtrack feature?

Mop it upDecember 03, 2012

Quote from: KlingonCola

What about through USB port? Can you connect external (SD) device?

It probably doesn't have USB ports either.

EasyCureDecember 03, 2012

Quote from: eggwolio

No one has mentioned the biggest problem with having no SD slot.


How can ExciteTruck be properly appreciated without the custom soundtrack feature?

I actually thought of that but wasn't one of the first firmware updates for Wii one that prevented the custom soundtrack feature anyway? I haven't played the game in awhile so I can't confirm it myself.

The update took it out of the Photo Channel, but Excite Truck still reads .mp3 files.

EasyCureDecember 03, 2012

Quote from: Shaymin

The update took it out of the Photo Channel, but Excite Truck still reads .mp3 files.

Oh thank goodness. I should load that up one soon. Too bad they didn't implement the feature in Excitebots..

Mop it upDecember 03, 2012

The MP3 playback is coded into the games themselves, it isn't a system feature, so it still works in Excite Truck and Endless Ocean. Which, sadly, I believe are the only two games to support it. I liked the feature and hoped it would return on the Wii U, but it would appear that Nintendo don't want to pay the licencing fees anymore.

ejamerDecember 03, 2012

While talking about SD card functionality, you also lose the ability to take photos in Animal Crossing. Not a big deal, but something I actually used on several different occasions.


Custom soundtracks were awesome on Endless Ocean. I liked listening to Pink Floyd's Echoes while diving.

ejamerDecember 04, 2012

Single USB port confirmed on the back of the Wii Mini.
Source:  http://www.gamefocus.ca/news/18651.html


Unclear what USB devices will/won't work.  I'm guessing that a USB network connection won't work (supporting hardware likely removed) and that USB SD card adapters won't be of any use either.


Looks interesting, but I just can't justify the asking price. If I could grab a system for about $70 then I'd nab one.

AdrockDecember 04, 2012

Maybe USB is how Nintendo will allow you to transfer save data from the Wii Minus to the Wii U in the future. Since there's no Virtual Console or Wii Ware DRM and whatnot to worry about, transferring data can perhaps be handled this way.

ejamerDecember 04, 2012

Quote from: Adrock

Maybe USB is how Nintendo will allow you to transfer save data from the Wii Minus to the Wii U in the future. Since there's no Virtual Console or Wii Ware DRM and whatnot to worry about, transferring data can perhaps be handled this way.

Maybe. But I suspect that Nintendo will just forgo data transfer of legacy game save files from this console entirely. How many people are going to notice? How many people are going to care? In both instances I'm willing to bet the number won't be significant.


There will be no digital purchases to worry about, no licenses to transfer to a new machine. If the Wii Mini console is targeted at people who are just buying a console now, then finding a way to copy save files to a brand new (expensive) console is an extremely low priority that probably won't be profitable.

Ian SaneDecember 04, 2012

I can't help but feel that this is a lousy product for suckers.  With the Wii U being backwards compatible with the Wii, one really doesn't save money in the long run in buying a Wii stripped of features.  Yeah Nintendo released later versions of the NES and SNES but they were fully functional, the next gen did not play those same games and Nintendo continued to release a few new games for those systems after the next gen started while they didn't even make Wii games for the entire life of the Wii.  There are no new Wii games to play and you do not require an actual Wii to play Wii games.  I fear that part of the design here is to grab some impulse buys from late adopters who do not know that the Wii Mini is missing core functionality.  It isn't much of a deal if you know what's been stripped out.

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