Topic: Wii Mini Officially Confirmed for European Release

[Daan]

Also, new titles in the Nintendo Selects line-up.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33441

Nintendo of Europe has announced that the Wii Mini will be available all across Europe next month. 

Most countries such as the United Kingdom and the Benelux area will get the system on March 22, while Germany will kick it all off on March 15. As pricing details are up to retailers, the cost of the unit is still up for debate.

This version of the Wii is a different beast from the model that is currently in shops. The changes in design are obvious to the eye, however the console also lacks quite a few features. The Wii Mini doesn't have Wi-Fi functionalities nor can you hook up a LAN adapter to make online games possibly. There is no SD Card slot, which means that there is no way to store or transfer saves. The console only features one USB input and only supports the basic standard audio and video cables.

Next to the release of the new system, NoE are also introducing some new entries in the Nintendo Selects series. Mario Party 8, Wii Sports Resort, Mario Power Tennis and Super Paper Mario will be available for the European retail price of €19.99. The availability of these cheap games depends country to country, so it is best to check your local Nintendo site for the details.

The Wii Mini launched in Canada on December 7 and has yet to come to the rest of the Americas since its initial release.

[AnGer]

Really? Is it really necessary to bring out a new version of a console when its successor which offers backwards compatibility is selling sub-par?

[Adrock]

It could have been if it also re-offered GameCube support. I would buy one of those in a second. Otherwise, saving like $20 (or whatever that is in Euros) for an even further stripped down Wii isn't really worth it.

[LABcrab]

The lack of GameCube backwards compatibility is moot at this point, because the Family Edition (aka. the horizontal Wii, the blue Wii or the New Super Mario Bros. Wii bundle) debuted over 1½ years ago (August 2011) and also omits GameCube support.  That's why New Play Control! exists.  By that time, no more new games or accessories were made for GameCube.  It would have been great to keep that support instead of using Classic Controllers, but that is how Nintendo does business.

It's great to see other countries get the Wii Mini.  35K sales in Canada is pretty good.  Let's see Wii supported like original DS!

[TJ Spyke]

The lack of GameCube backwards compatibility is moot at this point, because the Family Edition (aka. the horizontal Wii, the blue Wii or the New Super Mario Bros. Wii bundle) debuted over 1½ years ago (August 2011) and also omits GameCube support.  That's why New Play Control! exists.  By that time, no more new games or accessories were made for GameCube.  It would have been great to keep that support instead of using Classic Controllers, but that is how Nintendo does business.

I should clarify that only the black New Super Mario Bros. Wii bundle is the Family Edition, the red NSMBW Wii bundle is the one I got and it does have GameCube support.

[Mop it up]

Interesting how they are increasing the Selects lineup in Europe. I'd like for them to expand the line here too.