Earlier in 2011 there was news about a new cheaper version of the Wii without support for Gamecube games that would be out for the holiday. I've not seen anything about it since. Has it been cancelled or what?

It already came out and is already being sold.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Console-Super-Mario-Brothers-nintendo/dp/B005QWYKOE/

Perhaps the Wii U has something to do with that?

It's been on sale for months now, in Australia at least.

It's out and on sale.

I see that now. Only seems to be avaliable in bundles though at least over here. Is there any difference from the old version other than design and lack of Gamecube support? Is it smaller? More effecient? etc.

With everyone saying the Wii is dead I've been waiting for some time now to pick one up for dirt cheap, but even these cheaper to manufacture consoles don't seem to be any cheaper. Or maybe this generation won't get as cheap as the last one did. I remember seeing a bunch of Gamecube's for €50 at the end.

@dagas: It's just a different shape and doesn't support Gamecube. Just get a used Wii off eBay for like a third of the retail price.

It's out already. They didn't make a big deal about it, because it's the exact same thing.

Wow, it looks so similar that I completely forget they were doing this.

What do you mean, its been on shelves for quite a while now.

Not playing Game Cube games sucks for this system because I have honestly played just about as many Game Cube games as Wii games. I understand as systems hang around for longer that the need to be backward compatible diminishes but the Wii doesn't have enough core games without backward compatibility.

@sopranosfan said:

Not playing Game Cube games sucks for this system because I have honestly played just about as many Game Cube games as Wii games. I understand as systems hang around for longer that the need to be backward compatible diminishes but the Wii doesn't have enough core games without backward compatibility.

My Wii is used solely as a GCN. Sad, but true.

came out in the uk ages ago although i cant see why people would want a wii without game cube compatibility

@lord_canti said:

came out in the uk ages ago although i cant see why people would want a wii without game cube compatibility

A lot of Wii owners out there don't have Gamecube games.

@Hailinel said:

@lord_canti said:

came out in the uk ages ago although i cant see why people would want a wii without game cube compatibility

A lot of Wii owners out there don't have Gamecube games.

i didn't have GC games when I brought my Wii. I borrowed a couple though because I never played a GC game.

@dagas: The only difference besides the lack of Gamecube support is that all of the lettering on it assumes you put the system on its side, instead of standing up. Apparently Nintendo is SO over standing the console up vertically. It may not even come with the little plastic stand.

Anyway, with no Gamecube support, that means no Gamecube memory card slots, and no Gamecube controller ports. The biggest drawback to that is if you buy Super Smash Bros. Brawl it'll be sorta weird, because playing that game with Gamecube controllers is kinda the ideal way. I'm sure you can get used to playing the game with Wii remote + nunchuk, but if you played Super Smash Bros. Melee then you're already quite used to the Gamecube controller.

Why would you want a wii that can't play gamecube games?

WHY?!

You know I wondered that too. I haven't seen a Wii U yet.

@NekuSakuraba said:

Why would you want a wii that can't play gamecube games? WHY?!

Exactly. There might just be more great Gamecube games than there are great Wii games. And Wind Waker. That alone should be the reason to get the real Wii.