Topic: Wii Mini exclusive to Canada, Lacks Internet, GameCube Functionality

[tylerohlew]

Canada: home of poutine, three NWR staffers, and now the Wii Mini.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32620

The Wii Mini will be exclusive to Canadians this holiday season, and will retail for $99.99.

The redesign, which we rumoured originally, will arrive on store shelves December 7. The system itself is matte black with a red border. and ships with a red Wii Remote Plus, and red Nunchuk.

The Wii Mini will not have any online functionality, and like current model regular Wii hardware, does not support GameCube backwards compatibility.

Registering the system through Club Nintendo will earn 100 Coins.

Nintendo of Canada is unable to comment on when the Wii Mini will be sold in the US.

[Adrock]

This is, without a doubt, the worst redesign ever. Rest assured, I was on the Internet within minutes registering my disgust throughout the world.

[Plugabugz]

I think it's very striking. But naturally Nintendo have almost nothing to remove to reduce costs. So they're scraping the barrel HARD.

First the gamecube ports (and memory card slot) goes. Now the WiFi and slot loading drive?

I wouldn't be surprised if a later redesign drops the internal memory to 32mb and removes of the USB ports or SD card slot.

[lolmonade]

Wait...they took out Internet functionality from the Wii Mini?

Anyone else think this is a bad sign for the future of Wii Virtual Console?  I was planning on having my Wii (now set up with my bedroom tv) be a glorified virtual console machine, but if they're taking Internet out of it, then I feel wary of purchasing anything from it if it won't be there a year from now.

I like the way the redesign looks, but think the lack of Internet functionality is horrible.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Perhaps one of the most bizarre things I've ever heard/seen.

[Adrock]

With the loss of Internet functionality, this thing doesn't need firmware updates ever. I wonder if this also means that the Wii and by extension, Wii Mode on the Wii U will eventually no longer be able to access Virtual Console/Wii Ware. They'll probably be integrated into the Wii U eshop and the fallout of this may mean that Wii will be left out in the cold. I guess that makes sense even though I wish there was a way to handle that better.

[Ceric]

Ironically though in my mind this is what they should have released instead for the version that lost GC BC.  Not to mention it looks cooler.

[Plugabugz]

With the loss of Internet functionality, this thing doesn't need firmware updates ever. I wonder if this also means that the Wii and by extension, Wii Mode on the Wii U will eventually no longer be able to access Virtual Console/Wii Ware. They'll probably be integrated into the Wii U eshop and the fallout of this may mean that Wii will be left out in the cold. I guess that makes sense even though I wish there was a way to handle that better.

Internet access should still be possible via the USB port and ethernet adapter.

[Adrock]

The article says the Mini lacks online functionality. I took that to mean that it just can't access the Internet entirely.

[lolmonade]

The article says the Mini lacks online functionality. I took that to mean that it just can't access the Internet entirely.

I'm wondering now if they changed the OS to only provide the option to load the game or go into settings.  There's no point in having the channel menu if there's no Internet functionality.

[nickmitch]

So, is this designed for people who use their Wiis just for Wii Sports bowling and Just Dance? Are there anymore of those people left who don't have a Wii?

[lolmonade]

So, is this designed for people who use their Wiis just for Wii Sports bowling and Just Dance? Are there anymore of those people left who don't have a Wii?

At first I was skeptical, but I do think there are probably plenty to Wii sporters left who couldn't stomach a price over $100 (although it seems like they'll have to buy Wii sports separately, now).  I recall seeing an article a while back about how play station 2 is still selling like gangbusters in 3rd world countries and emerging markets now that its at a more reasonable price.  Maybe Nintendo's aiming towards that piece of pie?

They're sending a pretty clear message with this, though:  Wii is now for the casual gamer or gamer on a budget, Wii U is for the core gamer.  They're targeting different markets with their consoles, and while I think it's a sound business move, I think it'll prevent me from double-dipping in the Wii pot.

[ejamer]

...
Internet access should still be possible via the USB port and ethernet adapter.

The article says the Mini lacks online functionality. I took that to mean that it just can't access the Internet entirely.

If it can still use a USB ethernet adapter, then maybe this redesign isn't terrible. But if they actually stripped out all online functionality then the price would have to drop quite a bit more (priced at $70 or less?) for this option to seem like a reasonable deal.

Netflix and other streaming services are clearly the number one feature of Wii consoles at this point... even if SD images aren't ideal for most people. Access to an extensive Virtual Console library is also appealing for many people, despite the flaws in Nintendo's online marketplace. Cutting those features out would make the system worth a lot less in my eyes. If there really is no online option, then buying the GameCube-less Wii bundled with New Super Mario Bros Wii and a soundtrack for $130 (a pretty common price) seems like much better value.

Interested to find out more.

So, is this designed for people who use their Wiis just for Wii Sports bowling and Just Dance? Are there anymore of those people left who don't have a Wii?

Willing to bet there are plenty of kids and families who don't have one, and probably even some gamers/collectors who think it's a good time to buy a system and cherry pick some of the best exclusive titles at a discount now that Wii U is out.

It's clear that Nintendo is trying to target a market that won't/can't spend much money on the console. I just don't feel like this revision drops the price far enough when new Wii consoles (with more functionality) have been flirting with the $100 mark for a while during sales and used consoles are easy to find for $70 or less.

[StrikerObi]

I really like the hardware design. Very stripped down and sleek. Reminiscent of an AppleTV. I really like the corner-cut buttons on the top.

[Miyamoto]

That looks so damn cool. I hope it comes to Europe.

[Lithium]

I may buy it because of it's Canadian exclusivity, it has the markings of a future collectible.

[tendoboy1984]

No Internet connectivity makes WiiWare and VC games useless. And Canada exclusive? What's the point of that? Did Iwata tell his colleagues to design a mini Wii specifically for Canadians? Nintendo is a Japanese company, so you'd think Japan would get it first...

[tendoboy1984]

Now I'm fearing the outcome if Sony or Microsoft release a new PS3 or Xbox 360 without Internet connectivity.

"But I just bought a $50 PS+ / Xbox Live subscription card! What do you mean it doesn't connect to the Internet?!"

[Tlon]

I really like the hardware design. Very stripped down and sleek. Reminiscent of an AppleTV. I really like the corner-cut buttons on the top.

I like the design too; it has an 80's Nintendo feel

[NeoThunder]

no internet functionality? I'm sorry but if I was buying a Wii, I'd gladly pay 30 more for a regular one
 
Will this Wii mini meet the same fate as the GameBoy Adv. Micro?

[Ian Sane]

Ha, as a Canadian I got an email from Nintendo of Canada about this thing.  An offline Wii is pretty stupid but if this remains a Canadian exclusive I can't fight this feeling that I should buy one for collecting purposes.  In a few years this could be worth a lot.  But I won't jump on it since they could just announce it for the US in a few months and then it's just that crappy Wii revision.

[NeoThunder]

what if you plug an Ethernet adapter into a USB port?

[lolmonade]

No Internet connectivity makes WiiWare and VC games useless. And Canada exclusive? What's the point of that? Did Iwata tell his colleagues to design a mini Wii specifically for Canadians? Nintendo is a Japanese company, so you'd think Japan would get it first...

My guesses:
 
1) This system is meant for the buyer who was never going to connect it online, anyway (my sister-in-law who has one for her kids doesn't have any wireless internet, and their Wii hasn't seen a day of online to it, but it works just fine for the handful of games they have).  Most people on this site think it's asinine (including me) given how it's been gutted, but it isn't meant for us, it's meant for the same people who were/are buying playstation 2s for $100 or less with the newest copy of Madden on it.
 
For Nintendo, it's a way to (I assume) get even more profit margin out of each Wii sold while still being able to market their product to less affluent families and any holdouts that may be waiting for the last iteration of a product before buying it at the lowest price and scooping up the greatest hits on the cheap (I did this with the original Xbox, and am currently waiting to see when it'll happen for the 360).
 
2) Why are they choosing just Canada?  My guess is so they can test it out in one market, see how it does, and determine if it's something that'll be successful in other markets.

[lolmonade]

what if you plug an Ethernet adapter into a USB port?

CNET stated in their report that it had "no online functionality".  My wager would be that means it doesn't even have the menu option to access the stores. 
 
Makes me wonder if they'll even have USB ports for the thing, honestly.

[TJ Spyke]

Stupid, stupid move. No online means no Virtual Console or WiiWare games, and you can't play games online. It looks like a piece of cheap, knock-off electronics, and it's not much cheaper than the regular Wii. I have no doubt this will come to the US too, but it will sell terribly and be a niche product that is mentioned in the notes sections of Wii history (like how the Game Boy Micro was niche and pretty much ignored when talking about the Game Boy Advance since it had no benefit over the GBA SP).