Topic: Wii Mini Coming to United States, Bundled with Mario Kart Wii

[NWR_Neal]

For $99.99, you can get Mario Kart Wii, a Wii Remote Plus, a Nunchuk, and a mini Wii.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/35886

Wii Mini, the barebones version of the Wii, is coming to the United States in the middle of November. Retailing at $99.99, the system will come bundled with a Wii Remote Plus, Nunchuk, and Mario Kart Wii.

The Wii Mini, which is matte black with a red border, launched in Canada last year and is a stripped-down version of the Wii. It does not have WiFi support, SD card support, or GameCube support. That means the Wii Mini can only play disc-based Wii games locally.

This follows up recent reports that Nintendo is stopping production of the Wii, meaning that Wii Mini will be the only version of Nintendo's past system that will remain in production.

[TheBigK]

The article should say the Wii Mini is coming to the US. It's been out for quite some time here in Canada, and last time I checked, Canada is indeed a part of North America.

[IssunZX]

I kind of don't understand this move. Shouldn't they want to push the Wii U more and not its predecessor? Maybe emphasize the fact that it's backwards compatible with Wii games (including the ones being repackaged in the "Nintendo Selects" line) and Wii hardware, and that it's an overall more "complete" system? I can see it's more affordable and everything, but I imagine there's enough brand confusion already.

[IssunZX]

I kind of don't understand this move. Shouldn't they want to push the Wii U more and not its predecessor? Maybe emphasize the fact that the Wii U backwards compatible with Wii games (including the ones being repackaged in the "Nintendo Selects" line) and Wii hardware, and that it's an overall more "complete" system? I can see the Wii Mini is more affordable and everything, but I imagine there's enough brand confusion already.

Darn, I can't edit directly.

[NeoThunder]

how do they arrive at this "1,300" games number? That seems like a lot. I don't remember that many retail games for the Wii. I know they can't be including any VC or WiiWare cause this console doesn't go online

[KITT 10K]

I agree with you IssunZX about pushing the Wii U and not it's predecessor the Wii. To me making the mini Wii is kind of a waste of money and time when the Wii U came out, let alone now especially if the mini Wii isn't backwards compatible with GameCube games and able to go online like i read about it a while back. (If I'm wrong and it does now then ok, I'm wrong.)

[pololmejor]

For some reason we already have it here in Mexico........ I really have no idea what happened there.

[Ceric]

Honestly thought they were just pulling the plug on the Wii.  You want a Wii.  You get a Wii U.

[ShyGuy]

Wii U Mini with a 4 inch screen, no backwards compatibility and a top loading disc drive?

[chilenozo]

facepalm!

Didn't Nintendo Co Jpn decided to stop the Wii production?...and wasn't it cause it was selling roughly similar number than the WiiU? (in other words, it was competing with the wiiU)?

This decision is very bad...I can only understand it if they overproduced Wii Minis month ago and they just want to get rid of them!

[Mop it up]

The system also does not support component video cables and therefore cannot output 480p. I was hoping to get a cheap Wii system on clearance as a backup at the end of its run, but I ain't buying this thing.

how do they arrive at this "1,300" games number? That seems like a lot.

Yeah, I'm not sure either. Wikipedia's list shows 1,222 at this time, though they could be missing around 80. Probably lotsa shovelware you weren't aware of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_games

[UncleBob]

Yeah, that number is probably pretty close.

I still want one of these.

[broodwars]

Why? Just...WHY? Was anyone actually actually asking for this abomination ("of the week!") to be allowed to escape from Canada? And like many other people have pointed out, the Wii U can play Wii games, is the device Nintendo actually needs to sell, and doesn't need even more competition right now.

[lolmonade]

I'm going to go against the grain in this comment section and say it's a smart business move by Nintendo.
[/size]This redesigned Wii turns them a profit with every console sold, and the Wii U doesn't (unless this has changed, but the sales numbers would indicate to me they've had to continue selling at a loss, since they've not only reduced the price but haven't been selling consoles at a pace where they could get a lower price point for components).
[/size]By offering the Wii Mini, they're able to appeal to those who want the latest/greatest (Wii U), as well as those who might not want to drop $300 on a game system alone. Bear in mind, to many, the Wii was just simply a Wii Sports Machine.
[/size]
[/size]I think it's an especially good value considering it comes bundled with a game. 

[lolmonade]

Something happened to my post format, and I'm not able to edit it.  Re-posted for easier reading:
I'm going to go against the grain in this comment section and say it's a smart business move by Nintendo.

This redesigned Wii turns them a profit with every console sold, and the Wii U doesn't (unless this has changed, but the sales numbers would indicate to me they've had to continue selling at a loss, since they've not only reduced the price but haven't been selling consoles at a pace where they could get a lower price point for components).

By offering the Wii Mini, they're able to appeal to those who want the latest/greatest (Wii U), as well as those who might not want to drop $300 on a game system alone. Bear in mind, to many, the Wii was just simply a Wii Sports Machine.

I think it's an especially good value considering it comes bundled with a game. 

[NeoThunder]

some of those are japan only games, so I think it should be even less

[Shaymin]

I still subscribe to the theory that this is Nintendo trying to tank Wii sales by creating a product so unattractive, NOBODY in their right mind would buy it. If they still want a Nintendo system that, I dunno, hooks up to a TV made in this century, they can pick up a WiiU.

[Mop it up]

I'm going to go against the grain in this comment section and say it's a smart business move by Nintendo.

I think it's fine to continue selling the Wii if the system and games still sell. I just think the Wii Mini is an inferior product, and doesn't really help anything by existing. I find it difficult to believe that it would cost much less to produce the Wii Mini over the Wii; they already removed the GameCube components from the Wii, and even since launch it was inexpensive tech to produce. It's even possible to get a Wii for the same price as the Mini, and it's a better value to do so. Plus, Mario Kart Wii - one of the system's best online titles - seems like an odd inclusion for a system that can't go online. I know a lot of people bought it for local, but still, it'd be weird to see online choices people can't use.

[Spak-Spang]

Maybe Nintendo is just trying to sell these to get rid of the stock.  It probably didn't sell in Canada and whatever markets it was in...because seriously, why would you buy an incredibly inferior model for the little savings you get for it?


Notice what they have to put into this package to even make it worth the $99.99.  I mean they are basically giving you the product for free if you consider the costs of a Nunchuk, a Wii motion Plus controller, and Mario Kart Wii.  Since they are pulling the Virtual Console and the Wii Ware.  I think they should of dropped the region lock. 


Then I would have bought one instantly. 


Anyway, I find this interesting...lets see what it does this holiday season.

[Pixelated Pixies]

On a somewhat related note, has anyone had to deal with Nintendo in regards to transferring their Virtual Console and Wiiware games?
 
My Wii is on it's last legs, but because of some 'unauthorised software' I installed on the device (I installed homebrew so that I could play games from other regions) Nintendo quoted an exorbitant price for having it repaired. So I'm looking for a way to transfer my games onto another system, but don't intend on buying a Wii U for the foreseeable future.
 
Can Wii to Wii transfer only be done through Nintendo?

[Adrock]

Nintendo discontinued Regular Wii production right before announcing Wii Mini is launching in the US. I wodn't be surprised if they just made too many Wii Mini units and are trying to clear out everything.

Ultimately, Wii Mini is pointless as designed. I don't know who this is for. Wii is so pervasive and the regular model is still available everywhere. Wii Mini should have been thinner and lighter to the point where it couldn't fit a fan and didn't need one because it never ran that hot. The fewer moving parts, the better (removing the slot drive for a top loading one was a step in the right direction). I remember reading that most of the insides are exactly the same as the regular model so instead of redesigning things, Nintendo stripped it down and put it in a slightly smaller box. I get it to a certain degree, but it still seems unnecessary. Wii Mini is a really lazy redesign for a company normally lauded for their redesigns.

It should have had WiFi because... just because. The pros outweigh the cons. Besides no Wii Shop or Virtual Console access, system transfers as currently handled aren't possible. Maybe Nintendo isn't targeting people who would want that. I just think Nintendo should if they hope to have those people transition to Wii U at some point and Nintendo absolutely should want that. Also, reintroducing GameCube support even through a separate dongle for the controller ports and memory card slots would have made this instantly more attractive to a lot of people.

[ejamer]

I'm still massively disappointed in Wii Mini due to the video out options. Every other cut I can understand, but limiting video output to composite cables is just too restrictive now that TVs rarely support that format.

[lolmonade]

I'm going to go against the grain in this comment section and say it's a smart business move by Nintendo.

I think it's fine to continue selling the Wii if the system and games still sell. I just think the Wii Mini is an inferior product, and doesn't really help anything by existing. I find it difficult to believe that it would cost much less to produce the Wii Mini over the Wii; they already removed the GameCube components from the Wii, and even since launch it was inexpensive tech to produce. It's even possible to get a Wii for the same price as the Mini, and it's a better value to do so. Plus, Mario Kart Wii - one of the system's best online titles - seems like an odd inclusion for a system that can't go online. I know a lot of people bought it for local, but still, it'd be weird to see online choices people can't use.

So....I want to start by clarifying that I agree overall, it's inferior to the prior Wii designs, with the only exception being the size/portability of it.  I'll also mention that my comments were more reflective of how good a business move I belive it is from Nintendo's standpoint.  I work in supply management, and every dime we can save on the cost of manufacturing is considered a big win, and I only work in hundreds of units a year for the products I work with.  I'm sure Nintendo is expecting sales in the thousands of this during the holiday season.  Every bit of cost reduction in manufacturing is important with the volumes Nintendo is probably targeting to sell. 
 
I'll add that while yes, Mariokart is the Wii's premiere success in online gaming, it's still plenty of fun for offline multiplayer, and I'm sure from Nintendo's standpoint, they're not losing sales by bundling it in with this package at this point.
 
I'll also agree with a comment above that this is most likely a confirmation that Nintendo has stopped producing the Gamecube-less original design.
 
 

[Mop it up]

My Wii is on its last legs, but because of some 'unauthorised software' I installed on the device (I installed homebrew so that I could play games from other regions) Nintendo quoted an exorbitant price for having it repaired. So I'm looking for a way to transfer my games onto another system, but don't intend on buying a Wii U for the foreseeable future.
 
Can Wii to Wii transfer only be done through Nintendo?

I'm surprised that they agreed to repair it at all, NoA won't repair any system if they find any evidence of homebrew. I don't know if the Nintendo of other countries will do the same, but I had my download games transferred to another Wii system simply by calling Nintendo. All I had to do was gave the guy the serial number for both systems, and then poof, the account was transferred.

If you want to also transfer the un-copyable save files for games, there's a homebrew app that'll let you transfer saves and Miis.