New Wii Hardware Revision to Drop GameCube Support

[Ivysaur]

Gamescom: New Wii Model Introduced in Europe - Wii News at IGN

This Christmas, Nintendo will begin offering a redesigned Wii in Europe. According to Eurogamer, the current Wii model will be discontinued.

The redesigned console is meant to sit horizontally instead of vertically. Strangely, it will no longer play GameCube games and does not support GameCube controllers. It will be sold in a bundle including Wii Party, Wii Sports, a Wii Remote Plus, and a nunchuk.

No word, yet, on whether or not the redesigned Wii will be brought to the U.S.

Thoughts? While the pricetag hasn't been revealed yet, it's almost certain it'll be cheaper than the current model. Even though it's losing features, if the production cost is significantly lower, then Nintendo will be able to sell the new model for quite a low pricetag. It's obviously being marketed toward those still without a Wii, too, who would most likely not make any use out of GCN support.

 

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

But the Wii U has been announced, so it's too late for them to sell new Wii model as it'll sell less.

 

[Gligar13]

I feel bad for the people who buy this new model...now they have to put up with great games like Action Girlz Racing and not be able to play good cube games....

I predict the older Wiis will be treated as worth more in the future just like how older BC PS3s go for inflated prices on eBay...


But then again, Sony just announced a cheap PSP without wifi.

 

[Ferbgor]

I wonder who still doesn't have a Wii? I thought everyone and their grandma had one. This model will be perfect for people who don't play serious games.

 

[Gligar13]

I wonder who still doesn't have a Wii? I thought everyone and their grandma had one. This model will be perfect for people who don't play serious games.

Probably someone in Europe.

Apparently this is staying in Europe only, same with the PSP E1000.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

But the Wii U has been announced, so it's too late for them to sell new Wii model as it'll sell less.

That's the point. It's going to sell less either way, but if they market it at a much lower price, it'll nab the people still interested in the Wii, but maybe not interested in the likely higher price tag of the Wii U. Sony redesigned both the PS1 and PS2 for similar effect (and the PS2 was quite a big seller for quite a while, even after the PS3's release, partially because of the much lower price tag).

 

[Ranger Jack Walker]

Reminds me of the Gameboy (Advance?) Micro. The GBA SP was selling big and the DS had been announced I believe. Unsurprisingly, it didn't sell well.

 

[Ivysaur]

It's also possible Nintendo's trying to phase its customers into the Wii U (which also doesn't support Gamecube games and controllers). It's a bit odd they're doing a revision this late in the console's lifespan (who doesn't have a Wii?), though.

 

[Gligar13]

It's also possible Nintendo's trying to phase its customers into the Wii U (which also doesn't support Gamecube games and controllers). It's a bit odd they're doing a revision this late in the console's lifespan (who doesn't have a Wii?), though.

Sony is also doing the PSP E1000 (which will sell alongside the 3k) before the vita comes out, though, and Sony also did a PS1 slim with an optional LCD, and a PS2 slim with a built in PSU when the successors were already out.

Reminds me of the Gameboy (Advance?) Micro. The GBA SP was selling big and the DS had been announced I believe. Unsurprisingly, it didn't sell well.

The Micro is more like the PSPGo, with some of the concepts being integrated into the other lines (SP AGS-101, DS Lite)

 

[The Knights of Wario Land]

This redesign is not smart in my opinion, but I guess "families" don't play Smash Bros.

 

[The Outrage]

Considering I never owned a GameCube, this cheaper model would have been better for me ):

This redesign is not smart in my opinion, but I guess "families" don't play Smash Bros.

Last I checked, Brawl used all possible Wii controls. People who've never had a GameCube aren't going to go out and look for those controllers.

 

[Mitchman]

Would like to also note this reconfiguring is gonna replace all Wii models in Europe. I can hardly care less for GCN compatibility, but I LOVE my OG Wii and seeing as its never gonna die, I can hardly care about this. Even if the lack of the stand is great, I hate it standing next the PS2 and the DVD player all smug.

 

[Phoenicks]

What kind of a 'family model' comes with one controller?

Nintendo is reducing the demands on themselves. This model is replacing the original (quality) model in Europe. Soon, it'll probably be the only model Nintendo makes. And why not. It's easier (read: lazier).

The issue with the Wii was never the price. It was always the value. This just reduces that. It will have no long-term effect on sales.

 

[The Outrage]

What kind of a 'family model' comes with one controller?

Nintendo is reducing the demands on themselves. This model is replacing the original (quality) model in Europe. Soon, it'll probably be the only model Nintendo makes. And why not. It's easier (read: lazier).

The issue with the Wii was never the price. It was always the value. This just reduces that. It will have no long-term effect on sales.

The WiiU will have long-term effects on the sales. These are, presumably cheaper to produce, so the hit the Wii will take on the sales won't be as big since they're even cheaper to produce.

And nothing is stopping them from buying more Wiimotes and accessories to it. It doesn't say that it can only use one controller.

 

[Phoenicks]

@Psystrike:

The 'family model' angle is pure marketing. Families bought the original model. The new model does not improve the service offered to families.

The long-term effect of a price drop is always temporary. Consoles sell because of their value -- the games that glorified box can play. The best way to boost sales is to release good games. Nintendo, instead, is dropping the Wii like a rock as soon as they decree the console cycle to be in session. Their decisions are not based around consumers. It is based around their wants. The market will punish them for their arrogance.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

The long-term effect of a price drop is always temporary. Consoles sell because of their value -- the games that glorified box can play. The best way to boost sales is to release good games. Nintendo, instead, is dropping the Wii like a rock as soon as they decree the console cycle to be in session. Their decisions are not based around consumers. It is based around their wants. The market will punish them for their arrogance.

Except that what they're doing here is nothing new, to them or any other gaming company. With the Wii at the end of its life, it's to be expected that the number of good games is decreasing (although, yeah, with the Wii it's been less a decrease and more a plummet...assuming it ever reached a height it could actually plummet from). This decision is no different from when Sony did it with the PS2 or PS1 or the PSP. Or when Nintendo did it with every handheld they've ever had. Or the SNES (or does no one remember the drastically redesigned SNES?). If there's going to be any backlash...the damage has already been done. This? This is an attempt at saving their asses.

Though I have a feeling the end result is the same.

 

[Gligar13]

Except that what they're doing here is nothing new, to them or any other gaming company. With the Wii at the end of its life, it's to be expected that the number of good games is decreasing (although, yeah, with the Wii it's been less a decrease and more a plummet...assuming it ever reached a height it could actually plummet from). This decision is no different from when Sony did it with the PS2 or PS1 or the PSP. Or when Nintendo did it with every handheld they've ever had. Or the SNES (or does no one remember the drastically redesigned SNES?). If there's going to be any backlash...the damage has already been done. This? This is an attempt at saving their asses.

Though I have a feeling the end result is the same.

The difference here is Sony supported their systems far longer then Nintendo did with the Wii. There's only like Skyward Sword and Kirby coming out, while Sony ported PSP games over to the PS2 until about 2009.

Looking at a upcoming release list on IGN's site, the only nintendo games are Skyward Sword and Kirby, while the PS3 has a ton of first party games and the 360 has GoW3, Kinect, and Halo CEA.

 

[Phoenicks]

Except that what they're doing here is nothing new, to them or any other gaming company. With the Wii at the end of its life, it's to be expected that the number of good games is decreasing (although, yeah, with the Wii it's been less a decrease and more a plummet...assuming it ever reached a height it could actually plummet from). This decision is no different from when Sony did it with the PS2 or PS1 or the PSP. Or when Nintendo did it with every handheld they've ever had. Or the SNES (or does no one remember the drastically redesigned SNES?). If there's going to be any backlash...the damage has already been done. This? This is an attempt at saving their asses.

Though I have a feeling the end result is the same.

Sony was just as wrong in the switch to PS3 as Nintendo is to Wii U, if not less so. PS2 sales remained strong. The DS (before the price cut) regularly outsold the 3DS. Customers do not follow the console cycle; they hate buying hardware. Nintendo dropped support for the Wii to shift to 3DS and Wii U. Customers consistently reject the 3D vision these products represent. (Wii U, though not directly 3D, is a step toward 3D by allowing Nintendo to set the precedent of providing their own screens; future ones can be 3D.) Customers reject 3D Mario in favor of 2D Mario. 2D gaming is the most popular form of gaming there is. A few oddities aside, Nintendo refuses to produce them.

Nintendo has a different customer base from the PS360. Nintendo's base is picky about the games they will buy. After the hundreds needed to hire a Wii, customers are understandably pissed when Nintendo drops support. There have been no better motion control games than Wii Play. Niche Gamecube+ titles like Mario Galaxy, Skyward Sword, Metroid: Other M, etc., have been Nintendo's focus.

The Wii is not at the end of it's life. It's not 5 years old. Executives do not decree console cycles. Customers do. Customers want the Wii experience. They're increasingly being given the Gamecube-3DS-Wii U experience. The market will reject it, again. The only bright spot for Nintendo is the resilience of their DS, despite their best efforts with the 3DS.

 

[The Outrage]

@Psystrike:

The 'family model' angle is pure marketing. Families bought the original model. The new model does not improve the service offered to families.

The long-term effect of a price drop is always temporary. Consoles sell because of their value -- the games that glorified box can play. The best way to boost sales is to release good games. Nintendo, instead, is dropping the Wii like a rock as soon as they decree the console cycle to be in session. Their decisions are not based around consumers. It is based around their wants. The market will punish them for their arrogance.

I really don't think they're trying to boost sales so much as making the Wii cheaper for production for the people who would buy a Wii rather than a WiiU because a new console obviously means the old consoles become cheaper. Really, what I think they're doing is more or less 'harm-reduction' by not removing an unnecessary feature since, I guess they believe their more hard-core fans that were likely to own a Game Cube already has a Wii.

 

[Mr. Moustache]

I'm sure the average gamer won't care if there's no support for GameCube games. So, I don't think it's a big deal.