Nintendo has not yet commented on the availability of Wii U outside of Canada, though I’d suspect it’s likely.

You mean Wii mini, and

Wii Mini launches in Canada on December 7, just one week after Wii U arrives there on November 30.

Canada has had Wii U since the US had. Unless somehow everyone broke a release date.

I'd like to buy one. I'd love to play Mario Galaxy 1 & 2, No More Heroes 1 & 2 and Zak & Wiki. Too bad it's not out in Europe. :-(

Considering all the shovelware made for the Wii, and with no internet connection or backwards compatibility on older systems, this just seems like a bad idea to give anyone. Also you can probably find cheaper used/normal Wii consoles at places like gamestop for the same price.

Am I the only one who thinks that a red and white color scheme was a missed opportunity? They almost got it right, too...

Keep raising the bar for quality coverage, Scoops.

@Bistromath: Thanks?

Does it at least have a ethernet port? Like the $99 price point is great since I really only want one to play Monster Hunter (My parents use our current one as a Netflix box), but if I can't play online what's the point.

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

This is stupid.

Okay this looks different, it must be the new Nintendo. Phew, I almost bought that tablet accesory by mistake.

Gotta love that it has the virtual boy color theme.

Quit fucking around, Nintendo.

As a Canadian I'm confused as hell...

I'm assuming Nintendo is using us here in Canada as a test market. It means they don't need to make nearly the same quantity of systems as they would need for the US. With the Wii U out and a recent price-cut on the Wii it might not sell. It could of course also really confuse consumers.

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.

@allgamelover said:

Nintendo has not yet commented on the availability of Wii U outside of Canada, though I’d suspect it’s likely.

You mean Wii mini, and

Wii Mini launches in Canada on December 7, just one week after Wii U arrives there on November 30.

Canada has had Wii U since the US had. Unless somehow everyone broke a release date.

Although technically in Canada it's called the Wii Eh, so maybe he got confused.

So how do you patch games? Seems strange, at least include an ethernet port. Maybe Nintendo thinks Canadians are a bunch of backwater, nomads that do not have internet? haha

The Wii U is already out in Canada.

I actually kind of love the design. 70s future look. Right at home in Space 1999 or UFO.

Canada is a common test market. It's population is roughly 10% of Americas and we usually pay more for products. We also have similar taste in products. If a product can be successful in Canada then it can find a market in the states. That's why OLED screens were only available in Canada at first.

Um the wiiu is out here.

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

@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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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...

@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?

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...

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.

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

I just want the red wiimote

Your Wii is so small and cute!

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

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.

They are trolling Canada!

It makes no sense!

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

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.

@Jechtshot78 said:

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

Ugly? What are you on? It looks great.

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.

Canada is a very small country.

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

@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.

@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.

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.