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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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...

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?!"

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

Time for a road trip to Canada, UncleBob?

hm.

The system is beautiful.  I love the design.

It's not worth $100 though.

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.

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

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

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

Did iansane just make a funny?

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

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.

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.

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.

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. :D  I think we could split the cost on this one. :D

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Already have one from my sweet Red Wii. :D

You need to post a picture of all your wiimote colors lined up.

Only have white, black and red.

I think it looks cool (even if it's shaped like a Big Mac box) but it's weird to me that it keeps NONE of the aesthetic of the original Wii. The NES redesign was as big a departure as Wii Mini is but it at least kept the original color scheme. Maybe it's done to further differentiate itself from the Wii U. But yeah, lack of online is a deal breaker for me.

No blue, no gold? and you call yourself the King Nintendo Collector!

Well, looks like it may be a top-loader... but the lack of Internet means no-go for me. It also looks like it doesn't have USB ports, so even the USB adapter can't be used for it.

KYTim89's bottom line: No go with the Wii mini.

The Venn diagram of "people who care about backwards compatibility, Virtual Console/WiiWare, and online play" and "people who will buy the Wii Mini" is basically Mickey Mouse's ears. If you care about these things... you probably bought a Wii sometime between November 2006 and last August when they announced the first Wii redesign.

This is the 2nd Wii for a kid's bedroom that will basically have the "Automatically run Disc Channel" set to yes in the firmware. And in a place where you've got a better than average chance to have a cap on Internet and Netflix is just shy of useless (even their CEO admits that), nobody's going to care about that functionality.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/shyguy70/Austin-3-16.jpg

I AM A GREAT WIZARD

WTH?? Why no Internet access??? This would have been perfect for Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu+ box! LAME!

/sarcastic comment about post timing

after seeing this pic
http://i.imgur.com/zTH3w.jpg

the Thrii Wii-mini had some potential (design wise) haha
too bad we never saw colours like this

ahhh... I get it now

That box holds a Big Mac!

I do hope no one calls me that.

But yeah, I forgot - I do have a Gold/Zelda Remote.  I don't have the blue/pink ones though.

Hmm. I might just import this b/c it can play imports natively. And unless they completely change the power supply unit, I can still use the one that came with my old Wii.

It would be interesting if this is a holiday test run to see if anyone would be interested in a handicapped Wii Minus (ha, see what I did... nevermind). Not likely. However, releasing the thing in Canada does make it perfectly usable in the US so if Nintendo cans it after a possible (likely) tepid reception, collectors in a much larger region will swarm it like my near helpless survivor in ZombiU. Then, Nintendo can say, "Just kidding!" and release a wi-fi version of the Mini with SD Card slot and USB intact.

bottom two looks like famicoms to me, but i dont eat at mcdonalds so i guess i never made that connection

I really like this redesign (the first actual Wii redesign) but I think they can't charge $99 for a system that can't go online and costs the same as a Wii that can or at least close to that price (I have seen Wii's go for $99)

Did anyone buy the redesigned Nes or Snes models?

I got the SNES-mini back in the day.  Picked up a Top Loader NES a few years ago.

What a clever brag/insult! +1

The only time new Wii's have ever been $99 have been stuff like Black Friday sales.

I if it comes here will probably get it for myself and bring the main Wii out for the rest of the family for Netflix and YT channel and stuff like that. I think this Wii is for those that have multiple Wiis and like to share the wealth. How many of you guys passed down your systems to siblings and or friends? This is kinda like that.