Budget shoppers looking for a quality gaming console (with a vastly underrated software library) for their families this holiday season need look no further than the Wii Mini, which offers gamers big fun at a mini price.
Nintendo has discontinued the Wii in Japan and Europe, but here in the U.S. the console that started the motion control revolution back in 2006 is getting a fresh release. The Wii Mini, a smaller, cheaper Wii with online functionality stripped away, is scheduled to begin appearing on U.S. retail shelves by mid November for a wallet-friendly price of $99.99. The matte black with red trim console will come in a bundle featuring companion red Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, and a copy of Mario Kart Wii.
To accompany the budget-conscious Wii Mini, Nintendo has cut prices on three Wii classics. Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Wii Sports Resort are now only $29.99. The Nintendo Selects collection also includes games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Paper Mario, Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Punch-Out!! for only $19.99.
The Wii Mini looks great, but it seems like this could lead to more Wii branding confusion. I think regular non-gamer shoppers already have had a tough time figuring out the difference between Wii and Wii U. Now Nintendo throws in the Wii Mini with a new look and cheap price point. It just makes me wonder if the Mini will steal away sales from the Wii U. I guess it doesn’t matter since all the cash is going to Nintendo anyway.