If you haven't guessed by now, the Wii Mini isn't really a product for you and I. It lacks GameCube controller ports, online functionality, and today we have confirmation on the SD card slot. Actually, I should say the lack thereof. No SD card slot on the Wii Mini means no save transfers at all.
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And no awesome Music during Excite Truck. What a failure
Does the mini have USB ports? If so, you can use a sd card reader that plugs into USB. :p
Considering there's no Internet access or Virtual Console, this makes sense.
So, the point on buying a Wii Mini again is...
For kids and stragglers who just want Wii games.
All two of them.
Considering that you can buy a used Wii with extras for $100 or less, this is pointless.
I'm buying one of these when they're on firesale for the collection. Sure the only thing it can do is play Wii games, but it looks nice and it's a revision so whatever.
Guys, this Wii isn't made by you. If you wanted a Wii, you would have gotten one years ago.
This is for those that haven't gotten a Wii and most likely won't be using internet features, save transfers, and gamecube stuff.
There's absolutely no point in an SD slot if you can't download and save any games. It also seems obvious that Channels like the Photo Channel will be missing too.
Wii Mini is just a bog standard games console but with a motion controller. Nothing more and nothing less.
This thing must be pure profit
Too bad because it LOOKS so hot!
Edit: Actually I wouldn't even miss most of the features - haven't been online in years, and I bought like 2 VC games. If it wasn't for the Gamecube compatibility I'd want one (and even that is something I hardly ever needed).
I'm buying it for the GF. If it comes to the US that is. Does everything needed, and looks nice. She'll want to play several fitness games, Wii Sports Resort, the NHL-lite game, NSMBWii, arcade classic collection, Boom Blox BP, and... yah that's it.
@ddddd Yep.
Makes sense - 300K+ Wii's were sold in the time of the Wii U's launch in the US, so, like Sony keeping the PS2 on for years, why not take advantage [and use such to make up for the initial losses of each Wii U unit sold]?
Most people who brought a Wii weren't gonna use any of those features anyway.
Also, this will allow Nintendo to kill off that first Wii redesign [and any lingering originals], and eventually close the Wii Shop [which will be reborn on the Wii U eShop's VC section next year].
I don't care if you think "it's not made for you", Nintendo is making a bad product.
It's removing itself from the Roku-like market, it's removing itself from a market of big Nintendo fans as even a collectable, and at this point, may be such a flop that it's removing itself from the PAL, Japanese, and other markets.
You do realize that the reason it is so cheap is because of all the components being cut out? Same with the portability of the system.
This is the perfect gift for kids on Christmas. They don't need online, they don't need gamecube support, and they obviously don't need SD card support. They're most likely going to get one or two "casual" titles with the system. People that are more serious about the Wii will opt for the actual model instead of the Mini.
Again, Mini =/= Wii Slim. Mini is a totally separate SKU and it will not be replacing the Wii. It is a slimmed down version and is made just to play games. For the incredibly cheap price, it could be a steal for many.
I would only start yelling at Nintendo if the Mini replaced the current SKU. It isn't. Think of it as the Wii Basic vs Wii Deluxe. The Basic is just.. for basic needs with the Deluxe being the full package.
This thing sounds so awful that I'm tempted to buy it and never open it.
Even though Nintendo axed a lot of wii features to make the wii mini, it's nice to see atleast one console get the mini treatment this generation.
I want an excite truck for 3ds so bad :I
TBH since my Wii no longer reads Brawl this could be useful since this appears to have a regular disk tray.
Problem being I can't transfer my file and I'm eventually getting a Wii U anyways.
This
I will be buying one as well since this Wii mini will become a collectible for sure. However I too will wait until wii mini hits the bargain bin price range or whenever nintendo announces the production of the Wii is finished.
How do you know this? As far as I know, Nintendo has never introduced a smaller, cheaper home console redesign and kept the old one around (The miniaturized NES and SNES units replaced the original models, and Nintendo hasn't made a mini model since then). From their perspective, why would it even make sense to keep the original Wii around? If they're this ruthlessly concerned with maximizing profitability, why would they have the older model stick around when it costs more to make, comes with two games, and only sells for $30 more? They probably don't give a fig about cutting off access to things like the Virtual Console, since they just want to push those features on Wii U now. As for the Wii U's Basic and Deluxe SKU's, they only did that because they were worried the early install base could be hurt if they didn't have an option available for under $300.
I'd be willing to bet this will replace the current SKU, as both historical precedent and common sense say that's most likely, and that's why I don't like it.
I think the lack of an SD card slot is also to prevent piracy, since the SD card slot is needed to install piratey stuff (and homebrew).
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