Nintendo Wii Mini - Oh dear

[Scaff]

Well the first review of the currently Canadian only Wii Mini is out, and unlike the moves taken by MS and Sony, in which the same hardware is included in a smaller, more efficient package, it looks like Nintendo have managed one of those two.

The Wii Mini is a more efficient product (in terms of power use), but that appears to be about all the good news.

Traditionally, slim and light consoles receive a genuinely warm welcome from gamers across the spectrum: new hardware is typically cheaper, sexier, and sometimes even more refined than their more expensive predecessors, and only very rarely is functionality actually removed. There's usually something for everyone from these major console revisions.

Unfortunately, the sad reality is that the Wii Mini disappoints on almost every level. It's not a good-looking piece of kit at all, functionality has been stripped down to the absolute bare-bones, and perhaps worst of all for a product actively being marketed on its dinky form-factor is the fact that it's not actually that much smaller than the original model. What we have left is a console designed for young children, marketed at a price low enough to qualify it as a toy.

That's fair enough in that respect - there is clearly value here - but what truly rankles is Nintendo's bizarre decision to actively sabotage its own product, effectively alienating it from consideration for more discerning gamers. Removing WiFi is one thing, but killing off support for Nintendo's own Ethernet USB adaptor is quite another. Over and above that, purposefully removing 480p and component video functionality comes across as deliberately spiteful.

We never quite bought into Nintendo's announcement that the Wii Mini would be Canadian exclusive - these console revisions aren't cheap and we assume that the platform holder will roll out the new hardware in other territories in due course. But having spent some time with the Mini, it's safe to say that we'd be quite happy if Nintendo never releases it elsewhere. Original Wii hardware is generally quite reliable and we'd recommend a used example of the older model (look for the newer RVL-101 revision) over this cut-down, fuglier revision.

Source - http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-nintendo-wii-mini-review

The removal of all forms of net connectivity and lack of any form of component out is bizarre, that its not that much smaller at all only adds to the confusion.

So is it a good move or will this (if it hits other markets) just cause confusion among potential Wii customers (Wii/Wii Mini/Wii U)?

 

[Blitz24]

Well the first review of the currently Canadian only Wii Mini is out, and unlike the moves taken by MS and Sony, in which the same hardware is included in a smaller, more efficient package, it looks like Nintendo have managed one of those two.

The Wii Mini is a more efficient product (in terms of power use), but that appears to be about all the good news.


Source - http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-nintendo-wii-mini-review

The removal of all forms of net connectivity and lack of any form of component out is bizarre, that its not that much smaller at all only adds to the confusion.

So is it a good move or will this (if it hits other markets) just cause confusion among potential Wii customers (Wii/Wii Mini/Wii U)?

Sounds like a return to the pre-2000 era for consoles. Not many people will be interested in that.

 

[Tornado]

Seems like nothing more than a move to make the most cut-rate console possible to try to boost what little sales are left. Reminds me a lot of that absolutely awful PSP Sony released last year. Of course it will confuse customers, but it will only be on sale for a year or so anyway.

 

[oqvist]

Nintendo have a young audience. This is for every kid that want a wii and for every parent that don´t want to give their kids such expensive toys they will break anyway? No internet no porn and parents get full control? Kids probably don´t need 480p or component either makes sense perhaps. I don´t see why they would sell a beefed up wii when they have a wii U launch? Heck I think I bought the last wii balance board in existance. Managed to find a used one in a store for the latest tiger woods

 

[Tornado]

The regular Wii is hardly a hugely expensive and frail device as it is (and if anything, this new Wii might be more unreliable). They are chopping out almost all of the functionality and including no extras or pack in games (compared to all of the stuff the regular system comes with now), but only lowering the price by $30.

 

[sumbrownkid]

This suspiciously looks like a move on Nintendo's part to boost Wii U sales. Are they discontinuing the original model?

 

[oqvist]

I think they want to boost sales overall. I don´t know why people would get upset about the wii mini. We already have the fraud Wii console that sold 92 million. Wii U specs are not at all impressive compared to what it cost also. Maybe Wii mini is a smoke screen.

 

[David]

This thing just doesn't make any sense today. If they wanted a more kid-proof/kid-friendly option they should have launched something like this when the Wii first came out. It makes no sense now and that price shouldn't be a talking point when so many basic features are missing. It's just going to cause unecessary confusion for parents who aren't in the know about this kind of stuff, especially with the Wii U out.

 

[Scaff]

Nintendo have a young audience. This is for every kid that want a wii and for every parent that don´t want to give their kids such expensive toys they will break anyway?

The standard Wii is hardly that much more expensive and would appear to be far better built.

No internet no porn and parents get full control?

Because WAP keys and parental locks have proven to be so ineffective over the years (I have two kids and its not exactly difficult on a Wii). Its a move to maximise the profit of the Wii Mini, what makes less sense it not allowing it to work with the USB LAN interface.

Kids probably don´t need 480p or component either makes sense perhaps.

It makes sense only from a cost cutting exercise.

I don´t see why they would sell a beefed up wii when they have a wii U launch? Heck I think I bought the last wii balance board in existance. Managed to find a used one in a store for the latest tiger woods

Beefed up Wii?

No one suggested such a thing, however a totally stripped to the bone Wii, with core features removed simply looks like a move to try and maximize profit at the expense of those who buy it.

Take for example the PS3 Slim, if Sony had removed all internet connectivity from it and removed the HDMI out on it, then it would have raised serious questions about what they were doing.

This suspiciously looks like a move on Nintendo's part to boost Wii U sales. Are they discontinuing the original model?

The have not said anything about killing off the standard Wii, however I think that if they do (serious speculation on my part ahead) move to a two tier approach with just the Wii Mini and the Wii U in the product line-up it will be the stupidest move ever.