The Wii Mini - Why?

[Dos_Box]

I see Nintendo have released the Wii Mini. Whilst it will only be available in Canada initially it is pegged for other areas in the future, and boy is it small. At $99 (£62 approx) it is a bargain, but comes with no internet connectivity or backwards compatibility with Game Cube games. The only question I have is why? The Wii U has just been launched as well as the 3DS XL a few months back. Surely anyone who wanted a Wii already has one, and if your like me would rather pick one up from eBay for a fraction of the cost of a new Wii mini anyway. I'm just a bit baffled, that's all.

 

Wii Official Site at Nintendo

BBC News - Nintendo launches Wii mini console in Canada

 

[X-13]

The only question I have is why?

 

Purely so people can make the joke "and I shall call him... Mini-Wii."

 

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[Dos_Box]

If you are to buy a new games console, surely you are not going to invest in 6 year old technology?

Saying that, the XBox 360 will be 8 in May 2013!

[X-13]

If you are to buy a new games console, surely you are not going to invest in 6 year old technology?

Saying that, the XBox 360 will be 8 in May 2013!

 

The Wii U launch stuff isn't all that.

 

Plus, it's cheaper than a new Wii [i think] and comes with the warranty a second-hand one lacks.

 

 

Also, it's Canada only.

[sonofsanta]

The PS1 & PS2 redesigns sold well for many years still even after they were superseded, and they were the dominant consoles of their generation as well. Designing & producing the Wii Mini will cost Nintendo hardly anything - as you say, 6 year tech - and they've got it below that magic $100 amount. With a massive backlog of games to tempt people in still as well, it's almost free money for them.

 

Less a case of "why?" and more "why not?"

[mavhc]

I hate the wii for having no vga/hdmi so it won't connect to our projectors

[hardtailstar]

If you want to just play games its a good price, I do a lot with youth groups by having console nights When they come on sale here i may pick one up so its an extra one and they will have more of a choice for the nights then.

[Dos_Box]

I hate the wii for having no vga/hdmi so it won't connect to our projectors

 

Here y'go: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wii-HDMI-Converter-WII2HDMI-CONVERTER/dp/B007PY3ZPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354184543&sr=8-1

[CHR1S]

Its the rush for the £99/$99 market segment!

[plexer]

No internet is the main killer not worried about gamecube compatability.

 

Ben

[witch]

It's the size issue. We have a wii and just use it for the specialised wii games, zumba etc. We already have an xbox360 at least until the eldest leaves home and as we dont play games we wouldnt care about internet or backwards compatibility

But size - now that is a different matter! Behind the TV we have a printer and all the connections and wires for various bits of kit, and a smaller, cheaper wii would have been ideal for us.

[sonofsanta]

It's also likely that it's not designed as a living room system but a bedroom system - the new Wii U lives in the front room for kids to share, the original Wii moves to one sproglet's bedroom so you get a Wii Mini for the other to have in theirs. Hence small size, no internet, no pack in game as you already have the games.

[Gibbo]

I hate the wii for having no vga/hdmi so it won't connect to our projectors

 

No composite video on the projector?

[bushby]

but my wii u only just arrived damb have to buy a wii-nie now.

[CAM]

Two different markets, gamers more interested in online multiplayer will be far more scarce on a Wii then other platforms.

 

That said, the CoD series is still sold on the Wii and that would cause some problems for online play...

[mavhc]

No composite video on the projector?

 

Yeah, but as it's the year 2012 we didn't expect anyone to still want to use it, so wasn't put in the trunking