Wii Mini is Real, and a Canadian Exclusive (For Now)

Sony removes UMD player and hinges everything on online. It makes sense, but but blows up for a multitude of reasons. One of them being bad timing. Nintendo, like Haddaway, goes back to the 90s.

if this was $50, i'd pick one up just for the exclusives. probably will just go used later on down the line.

That's one sexy re-design. I wouldn't get it though just to have it as a $99 paperweight/dust magnet, my current one does that just fine.

@FuzzYLemoN said:

They could have called it the Wee Wii...

If only

When (if) it launches in Argentina, I'd buy one for my 5 years-old daughter... She loves games and keeps bugging me when I'm playing with the Xbox or PS3.

They could have called it the Wee Wii...

entitled

@Syndrom said:

@Peanut: @Peanut said:

@sonicrift said:

This console isn't for anyone in the Giant Bomb community. There are families out there that have trouble putting food on the table, and if this grants them the opportunity to have a video game system, I'm all for it. I really don't think this will create any more market confusion than already exists.

Agreed 100%. Why the fuck is everyone getting so up in arms over this shit, which is clearly not aimed at us.

I actually mentioned this to a guy I know this afternoon, because the motherfucker has a bunch of kids and is barely scrapping by. He's excited as SHIT that he can grab something like this for $99 and put it away for his kids (who are amazingly well behaved, smart, respectful kids who have absolutely NOTHING) for Christmas. I told him I'd drop him my now useless wiimotes and I'd grab some greatest hits at the Best Buy and his kids will have an amazing Christmas morning.

Again, everyone in the games community is a jaded piece of shit. Some of the stuff from journos I've seen on Twitter in regards to this is pretty god damn pathetic.

I applaud you, good sir! No seriously, story made my day. You're one cool duder.

Yup, that is a very interesting perspective. Thanks for that!

@Peanut: @Peanut said:

@sonicrift said:

This console isn't for anyone in the Giant Bomb community. There are families out there that have trouble putting food on the table, and if this grants them the opportunity to have a video game system, I'm all for it. I really don't think this will create any more market confusion than already exists.

Agreed 100%. Why the fuck is everyone getting so up in arms over this shit, which is clearly not aimed at us.

I actually mentioned this to a guy I know this afternoon, because the motherfucker has a bunch of kids and is barely scrapping by. He's excited as SHIT that he can grab something like this for $99 and put it away for his kids (who are amazingly well behaved, smart, respectful kids who have absolutely NOTHING) for Christmas. I told him I'd drop him my now useless wiimotes and I'd grab some greatest hits at the Best Buy and his kids will have an amazing Christmas morning.

Again, everyone in the games community is a jaded piece of shit. Some of the stuff from journos I've seen on Twitter in regards to this is pretty god damn pathetic.

I applaud you, good sir! No seriously, story made my day. You're one cool duder.

"Canadian" and "Exclusive" are two words I never thought I would see together. You mean we actually get exclusive shit now? We're moving up in the world...of course it's just a stripped down version of the OG Wii...but still, it's a start!

@sonicrift said:

This console isn't for anyone in the Giant Bomb community. There are families out there that have trouble putting food on the table, and if this grants them the opportunity to have a video game system, I'm all for it. I really don't think this will create any more market confusion than already exists.

Agreed 100%. Why the fuck is everyone getting so up in arms over this shit, which is clearly not aimed at us?

I actually mentioned this to a guy I know this afternoon, because the motherfucker has a bunch of kids and is barely scrapping by. He's excited as SHIT that he can grab something like this for $99 and put it away for his kids (who are amazingly well behaved, smart, respectful kids who have absolutely NOTHING) for Christmas. I told him I'd drop him my now useless wiimotes and I'd grab some greatest hits at the Best Buy and his kids will have an amazing Christmas morning.

Again, everyone in the games community is a jaded piece of shit. Some of the stuff from journos I've seen on Twitter in regards to this is pretty god damn pathetic.

@HatKing said:

@jozzy: But I feel like you'd be missing out on a lot that the system has to offer via its online component. Maybe it's just me, but whenever I mess around with my friend's Wii, it's the online store full of Nintendo classics that has me the most jealous. Plus, for $99 you could probably buy a used one with GameCube support and the online bits. I just don't see it being worth it for a handful of 'must-play' games. Especially if you consider that you could just play those on Wii U when/if you purchase it.

I don't know. We have a 3DS that has quite a few Nintendo classics and they seem horribly overpriced, I would never buy them. I would rather buy a used NES or SNES for next to nothing to get that nostalgia back. And I am actually one of those suckers that have been gaming for 25+ years and I think games are way better now then they were when I was young. I have no real need to destroy happy memories by trying to play my old loves again, in my opinion they don't hold up.

Seeing how my own 360 is handling himself, I am a little anxious about buying a used recent generation console. And I actually think this new one has a pretty cool (ugly retro) look , seems really small and is nicely priced, which would make it a nice living room gaming rig as an alternative to my 360 in the basement. If it had internet and a game or two included it would have been a no-brainer. As of now, I am intrigued, there is a pretty good chance I'll pick it up.

Maybe I am an isolated case, but I think the Wii mini will do pretty well this holiday. As said before, it makes you think that the Wii sold 300k in the US this black friday. As a new generation comes out, people like a good deal on an established generation with lots of cheap games already available.

People only ever talk about the allure of the VC whenever they mention the value of getting your wii online, little do they know that some of the consoles finest software, nay some of the most unique and awesome games of this gen on any platform are on Wiiware. Grrrrrrrr, that poor poor platform

Looks like a toy in a way consoles haven't for quite while, so it's kind of charming. But no internet capability sounds like a crazy person decision.

@DrWhat said:

"UPDATE: This article originally noted the Canadian launch as November 30, which is the European launch. My bad! Carry on."

So Europe is actually getting this first? What? Words? Wii? Help?

News you can use... to confuse...

Your words, use them. "This article originally noted the Canadian [Wii U] launch as November 30th, which is the European launch." Also why put "FOR NOW" if you don't actually know. Seems a little odd. Anyways...Wiini. lol.

@sonicrift: That might be true, but your argument is weakened by the fact that a used Wii is floating for about 60-80 bucks, and it can play more games. For $100, a used Wii + some used games > value than a nerfed (and ugly!) wii mini.

@jozzy: But I feel like you'd be missing out on a lot that the system has to offer via its online component. Maybe it's just me, but whenever I mess around with my friend's Wii, it's the online store full of Nintendo classics that has me the most jealous. Plus, for $99 you could probably buy a used one with GameCube support and the online bits. I just don't see it being worth it for a handful of 'must-play' games. Especially if you consider that you could just play those on Wii U when/if you purchase it.

@ripelivejam said:

@Parsnip said:

Good job Nintendo for adding even more confusion to the market. The average consumer doesn't know the difference between wii and wiiu, this isn't going to help.

if that's the case then the average consumer is a moron.

Has much less to do with that and much more with how Nintendo's advertising and showing off of the console has been. Many, many people think it's just an add-on for the Wii.

This console isn't for anyone in the Giant Bomb community. There are families out there that have trouble putting food on the table, and if this grants them the opportunity to have a video game system, I'm all for it. I really don't think this will create any more market confusion than already exists.

@Parsnip said:

Good job Nintendo for adding even more confusion to the market. The average consumer doesn't know the difference between wii and wiiu, this isn't going to help.

if that's the case then the average consumer is a moron.

@PurpleSpandex said:

So here's the last vestiges of Nintendo, WiiU is the Dreamcast of Nintendo.

five bucks ninty's still going strong in the console business by 2017

"UPDATE: This article originally noted the Canadian launch as November 30, which is the European launch. My bad! Carry on."

So Europe is actually getting this first? What? Words? Wii? Help?

News you can use... to confuse...

Has anyone made a "Wee Wii" joke yet?

I'll just show myself out...

Good job Nintendo for adding even more confusion to the market. The average consumer doesn't know the difference between wii and wiiu, this isn't going to help.

@HatKing said:

This is clearly only for the moms and dads and grandparents of the world who just want to have something to distract little children with, but don't actually care about or understand video games.

Or it is not, since there are actually a couple of really good games on the system, and not everyone has one yet. I am interested in this thing, and trust me I care about videogames.

@GenghisJohn said:

So this is for the person who:

• Didnt already have a wii but wanted one
• Has no interest in virtual console games
• Isn't buying a wii u

What the hell is nintendo thinking?

There are millions of people in that position. $300 is a lot of money, $99 is not. Nintendo is making a good move by releasing this. Most people don't play virtual console games on their big plasma TV anyways, that's why SNES/NES/N64 emulation is so big. This is going to sell well, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Canada is a very small country.

We don't have room for things like full-sized Wiis.

This is clearly only for the moms and dads and grandparents of the world who just want to have something to distract little children with, but don't actually care about or understand video games.

@Jechtshot78 said:

So..Ugly..And that price? You can keep it Nintendo..

Ugly? What are you on? It looks great.

What's with the negative comments? The Wii didn't even take advantage of the internet connection that well. You all play online games on your PS3s, 360s, or PCs. This is a fucking bargain at $99. It would make a great present for a kid or a good way to play the Wii games you've missed all these years. I see NOTHING wrong with this. Stop being so entitled geez.

Ok so I can't dl virtual arcade games? Really? Totally would have been on bored for this if it weren't for that.

It makes no sense!

They are trolling Canada!

Dropping GC support makes perfect sense, but dropping internet support? I know it probably drove manufacturing costs down a lot to drop the wifi hardware, but jesus christ Nintendo, this is basic functionality. Oh well, not like I was going to buy one anyway.

Nintendo still seems to think (hope?) that the internet is just going to go away sometime soon.

Your Wii is so small and cute!

I just want the red wiimote

Nintendo finally got rid of that "Internet" thing we've been bitching about.

@steelerzfan101 said:

The idea is interesting but I don't think there is that much incentive to buying this. You lose internet and backwards compatibility. Those are two major things that I look for when I am buying a system. I don't see why they have to sacrifice internet for this new console...

Yes, true, but do you consider backwards compatibility now when Gamecube is long gone and there is in fact the Wii U? Also the internet requirement is only really useful for the eshop/vcon and online games. I would not get a Wii now in order to play Gamecube games, that would have been an issue at launch.

I totally understand making a smaller, cheaper version of your last console when you're getting into a new generation. That's a long-standing tradition.

But stripping out the wi-fi antenna in 2012? That's crazy. Every set-top box, handheld trinket, and toaster has wi-fi connectivity now. It is so cheap. Nintendo must be saving 75 cents per unit, at the cost of the new users never buying anything from their Wii shop.

I recall a study that found Wii was the most prevalent way people watched Netflix. If a Wii Mini had at least an ethernet port, they could push the Netflix feature and compete with Roku. I don't care about SD streaming, but apparently millions do. I think Nintendo is turning away a lot of potential customers for this box by cutting online features.

@steelerzfan101 said:

The idea is interesting but I don't think there is that much incentive to buying this. You lose internet and backwards compatibility. Those are two major things that I look for when I am buying a system. I don't see why they have to sacrifice internet for this new console...

.. Is that something you look for when you're buying a six year old console?

The idea is interesting but I don't think there is that much incentive to buying this. You lose internet and backwards compatibility. Those are two major things that I look for when I am buying a system. I don't see why they have to sacrifice internet for this new console...

so... does it ditch the 'channel' interface? Since it can literally get no other applications or games onto there?

That looks so fucking cool. Still don't wanna buy one.

@Patman99: Sorry dude, all I've got are some MacDonald's and Laurier's.

Don't see the lack of GC playback hindering anyone who doesn't already own a Wii. If you were that into Nintendo you'd probably already have a regular Wii. I personally don't own a single GC game and the only people I know who do are huge Nintendo fanboys.

The lack of Internet is a bit more baffling. Although really the only reason the Wii internet gets used in my household is Netflix.

So basically it has all of the functions that people want from the Wii. I'm down.

we are north american scum

we're from north america

and all the kids all the kids that want to make the scene

here in north america

when our young kids get to read it in your magazines

we don't have those

so where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love tonight?

but there's no love man there's no love and the kids are uptight

so throw a party till the cops come in and bust it up

let's go north americans

oh you were planning it i didn't mean to interrupt

sorry

i did it once and my parents got pretty upset

freaked out in north america

but then i said the more i do it the better it gets

let's rock north america

@Patman99 said:

Yeah, Canada finally gets our's!!!! If you non-Canadians want a Wii mini just contact me. But be ready to throw down some Kings, and even some Bordens. Yeah, that's right, I said Bordens.

Alright, it's finally time. The Canadian Giant Bomb users band together and create a pipeline of Wii Mini's into the U.S, with an alternate pipeline of cash flowing straight back to us. Note to future American customers.. Canadian dollars only, guys. Better get some money changed over now to be safe.