Author Topic: Wii Mini exclusive to Canada, Lacks Internet, GameCube Functionality (Read 17468 times)

lolmonade · « **Reply #25 on:** November 27, 2012, 12:46:10 PM »

Quote from: TJ Spyke on November 27, 2012, 12:35:54 PM

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).

This isn't a "improve user experience" move, it's a "increase profit on sales" movie by Nintendo. The Wii is on the last breath, what purpose would it serve them to do anything but leave it out there to pick off any low hanging fruit that may have been waiting for a $100 price point?

Adrock · « **Reply #26 on:** November 27, 2012, 12:47:23 PM »

It's not a stupid move. It's exclusive to Canada where everyone is an idiot and no one is loved. No one. They're the only people ever stupid enough to buy this thing. Which reminds me, I have a bridge to sell.

On an actual serious note, the Mini seems to lack the WiiConnect24 LED light. That might point to the console not being able to connect online at all. Seems like this might be targeted as the kids' room Wii.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #27 on:** November 27, 2012, 12:51:11 PM »

Um, its already confirmed not to have any online functionality, so how could it connect online when it has no ability to connect online? And without online, you don't need the WiiConnect24 light.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #28 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:02:54 PM »

It's okay, they haven't got Internet yet in Canada anyhow.

Adrock · « **Reply #29 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:04:38 PM »

Quote from: TJ Spyke on November 27, 2012, 12:51:11 PM

Um, its already confirmed not to have any online functionality, so how could it connect online when it has no ability to connect online? And without online, you don't need the WiiConnect24 light.

Judging by the rest of the thread, we weren't absolutely sure it was confirmed.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #30 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:10:30 PM »

Quote from: Adrock on November 27, 2012, 01:04:38 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on November 27, 2012, 12:51:11 PM
Um, its already confirmed not to have any online functionality, so how could it connect online when it has no ability to connect online? And without online, you don't need the WiiConnect24 light.
Judging by the rest of the thread, we weren't absolutely sure it was confirmed.

Blame that on people being lazy. The news story says "The Wii Mini will not have any online functionality", and Nintendo's page for the console (which is linked to in the news story) says "The Wii mini console does not connect to the Internet and does not support online features in games." and " Internet connectivity features are not available.". So the news was 100% confirmed before anyone posted.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #31 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:11:57 PM »

Time for a road trip to Canada, UncleBob?

UncleBob · « **Reply #32 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:18:53 PM »

hm.

The system is beautiful. I love the design.

It's not worth $100 though.

Stogi · « **Reply #33 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:19:33 PM »

I think alot of people use netflix, so the lack of Internet really doesn't make any sense. I like the shape of the box but not the colors. I think an all gold one would have been sick.

I just don't understand who this is being marketed towards.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #34 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:20:52 PM »

Quote from: UncleBob on November 27, 2012, 01:18:53 PM

hm.

The system is beautiful. I love the design.

It's not worth $100 though.

In a dozen years it will be $200 on eBay. Get one now!

Ian Sane · « **Reply #35 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:21:33 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on November 27, 2012, 01:02:54 PM

It's okay, they haven't got Internet yet in Canada anyhow.

Yeah, I'm posting here using the magic power of Timbits and ketchup chips.

Adrock · « **Reply #36 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:23:52 PM »

Quiet you! No one loves you, Ian. Deal with it.

Stogi · « **Reply #37 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:25:17 PM »

Did iansane just make a funny?

I'm asking seriously because I don't get it.

Adrock · « **Reply #38 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:30:07 PM »

I had to google "Timbits." For people in real America, they're donut holes similar to Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins. They're called that because they're from Tim Hortons (Tim-bits, get it?). They also can't access the Internet, in case anyone was wondering.

sticker · « **Reply #39 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:39:41 PM »

I don't get why there's so much problem with the lack of online, they never told us that the normal wii wasn't going to be anymore, so who cares. This is just a go and play console a la NES, SNES, N64... And I think it's pretty cool, the design is nice and small and a lot of people that doesn't play that much may get it since it's cheaper and colorful, it's like you get what kind of games you will be playing on it. Though I'm scared that it doesn't have any game bundled with it... galaxy, nsbm wii or mario kart wii would be the perfect deal to sell this little thing. Only time will tell if it does well or not, but I don't see the lack of online as a problem, most of people that only have their consoles for play games locally, don't even bother on connecting it online, don't have any idea what the wii shop channel is. They just put a game and play. People that do play online knows that this console lacks of online, knows that this isn't the console they are looking for and may get just the normal wii or a wii u, since there's not a huge online experience for the wii. I used online mostly for wiiware.

Adrock · « **Reply #40 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:46:11 PM »

Despite the Friend Codes and asinine nature of Wii Speak, online was a pretty important part of the Wii experience, namely for Virtual Console and Wii Ware. Stripping it from the console makes less sense than say, stripping GameCube backwards compatibility. With the Mini, Nintendo has to manufacture it alongside the regular Wii which seems counter productive. Nintendo could sell the original model for less than $100. They didn't need to offer a redesign that does less.

I can't speak for others. I don't have a problem with it existing per se. I am, however, baffled by its existence.

UncleBob · « **Reply #41 on:** November 27, 2012, 02:00:15 PM »

Something to think about. A new Wii Remote Plus, regular price, runs $40. Nunchuck runs $20. So, you're paying $40 for the system, extra sensor bar, etc., etc.

If you're in the market for another Wii Remote Plus/Nunchuck, then it's a pretty decent deal.

In fact, if you live in Canada and want another Wii Remote/Nunchuck, PM me.

I think we could split the cost on this one.

KeyBilly · « **Reply #42 on:** November 27, 2012, 02:17:45 PM »

I really like the retro design, but no internet means no Netflix or VC, which is what many people use it for more than anything else. I want one just to have one, but it is still too expensive to buy for that.

If anything, a more useful move would be to make a really tiny and inexpensive Wii that is online ONLY (no disc slot). They could market it as a set-top box, for VC, and release their first party games for it as downloads.

Adrock · « **Reply #43 on:** November 27, 2012, 02:22:18 PM »

An even more useful move would have been to just make it a smaller regular Wii, sell it for $80, and stop production of the other model.

ejamer · « **Reply #44 on:** November 27, 2012, 02:44:54 PM »

Quote from: UncleBob on November 27, 2012, 02:00:15 PM

Something to think about. A new Wii Remote Plus, regular price, runs $40. Nunchuck runs $20. So, you're paying $40 for the system, extra sensor bar, etc., etc.

If you're in the market for another Wii Remote Plus/Nunchuck, then it's a pretty decent deal.

In fact, if you live in Canada and want another Wii Remote/Nunchuck, PM me. I think we could split the cost on this one.

That does go a long way to explain pricing. Leaving room for some sales and/or markdown, Nintendo would be hard pressed to sell for anything less while keeping a straight face when asked if controllers are really worth the price they are asking.

ResettisCousin · « **Reply #45 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:03:41 PM »

Looks great and is a fair value. The problem is seemingly lack of HDMI (and USB?) and no WiFi. And, building off the later, what is the migration for my game saves to a new Wii U in a few years? If there was WiFi, at least we'd have some hope of a cloud-style save system in parallel with enhanced Wii-on-Wii U functionality. As it stands, this system is going to be an island for kids to play "light saber game" and "Mario baseball". While I suppose there is a market for that, it could have been more with WiFi and a promise of firmware enhancements down the line.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #46 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:08:18 PM »

Of course it doesn't have HDMI, the Wii can only go up to 480p. I wish they would at least put component cables in it (they don't). I don't think they intend for this to be used to transfer stuff from it to the Wii U, though maybe they might have the Wii U Transfer Channel already installed.

ResettisCousin · « **Reply #47 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:13:36 PM »

Quote from: TJ Spyke on November 27, 2012, 03:08:18 PM

Of course it doesn't have HDMI, the Wii can only go up to 480p. I wish they would at least put component cables in it (they don't). I don't think they intend for this to be used to transfer stuff from it to the Wii U, though maybe they might have the Wii U Transfer Channel already installed.

Umm..

480p works dandy over HDMI. And it only uses one connection instead of five. And many little TVs being sold today don't have component inputs.

And how would you use a Wii U Transfer Channel without a USB dongle (speculation) or Wifi (confirmed omission)? That was my very point.

UncleBob · « **Reply #48 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:16:44 PM »

Yeah - internet connection is a requirement for the Wii Transfer Channel. It verifies that everything that's being transferred is kosher.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #49 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:22:20 PM »

You don't want the sweet red wiimote+ and 'chuck too, UncleBob?

News:

Author Topic: Wii Mini exclusive to Canada, Lacks Internet, GameCube Functionality (Read 17468 times)