Why Wii Mini? Why?

[Gatucaman]

Why nintendo had to remove the SD card and the option to connect to the internet and use virtual console, i can understand them not wanting people to download the home-brew channel and soft mod the console, but did they really had to go the extra mile to disable internet connection?, i really wanted a Wii so i can download some nice VC titles before Nintendo in their "infinite wisdom" decides to remove the Wii Classic VC and just have support for the Wii U.

I read everywhere that you cant do emulation on the machine either, since almost everything that is related to it needs the use of SD cards.

I am sad since this was a gift from my sister.:puppydogeyes:

Pd: I am not sure if this is the right place in the forums to discuss about this, well at the very least i can enjoy retail titles now.

[PreZZ]

Just trade it in for a regular wii with gamecube controller ports. gamecube+wii+homebrew channel= nintendo heaven. Also wii mini lacks 480p support, only composite cables work with it (why nintendo why?!?)

[CastlevaniaDude]

(why nintendo why?!?)

Um, because it's cheaper to produce and the idea of re-releasing a console towards end of life is to make it a budget console?

[T2KFreeker]

Um, because it's cheaper to produce and the idea of re-releasing a console towards end of life is to make it a budget console?

Exactly. It's like when Sony started removing things from the Playstation towards the end of it's cycle as well. Same with the Gamecube also. Smaller and more compact with less features making it just a console that plays only it's games isn't a horrid thing per say. If you want a Wii with all the bells and whistles, it's not like they are that hard to find or overly expensive either.

[bigbacon]

my only real complaint with the wii mini is the loss of 480p... why the hell was that an approved change.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

my only real complaint with the wii mini is the loss of 480p... why the hell was that an approved change.

for the same reason as:
-Why Nintendo removed Composite video output from the NES-101 "toploader" even though its Japanese counterpart had it leaving it RF only.
-Why Nintendo removed S-Video and RGB from the SNES Jr.
-Why Nintendo removed even the possibly of RGB through modding in N64's with colored shells.
-Why Nintendo removed Component from the GameCube in later revisions.

Nintendo has a long history of removing higher quality video functions from their consoles through revisions. The Wii mini is just the latest example. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually when the WiiU hits budget price Nintendo will do something like remove HDMI.

[Leo_A]

If Nintendo drops anything, it would be the old multiout port. HDMI is the modern standard just as composite used to be. S-Video and component never were.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

the moral of the story is to always buy early versions of any console. The final ones are always cut reduced and inferior in some way, without exception.

[wiggyx]

for the same reason as:
-Why Nintendo removed Composite video output from the NES-101 "toploader" even though its Japanese counterpart had it leaving it RF only.
-Why Nintendo removed S-Video and RGB from the SNES Jr.
-Why Nintendo removed even the possibly of RGB through modding in N64's with colored shells.
-Why Nintendo removed Component from the GameCube in later revisions.

Nintendo has a long history of removing higher quality video functions from their consoles through revisions. The Wii mini is just the latest example. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually when the WiiU hits budget price Nintendo will do something like remove HDMI.

Not to mention virtually every other console manufacturer. I'm looking a you, disgusting Foreman Grill looking PS3 "super slim". Ick.




the moral of the story is to always buy early versions of any console. The final ones are always cut reduced and inferior in some way, without exception.

Was anything cut from the later model 360 systems? If not, DEFINITELY go with a newer model (as if that's news to anyone). I know they actually ADDED features such as out of the box wifi.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Was anything cut from the later model 360 systems? If not, DEFINITELY go with a newer model (as if that's news to anyone). I know they actually ADDED features such as out of the box wifi.

the 360 might be the only exception outside of perhaps the slim PS2 which was a general improvement in every way.

The later 360's remove the memory card slots, support for the original harddrives, and are much tougher to mod. On the other hand, they are much less likely to red ring, and yes, they have wifi.

[Rickstilwell1]

Actually I wouldn't say getting a very early revision is good either. You pretty much have to time it right and hit the sweet spot. When the system is a year or two old, usually the revision is close enough to the original to retain all the features, but it is a later manufactured piece with some of the very early bugs worked out. Xbox 360 3 years later? Still fat, more reliable chipset. PS3 1 year later? Same 60GB model on shelf $100 less.

[BlastProcessing402]

Was anything cut from the later model 360 systems?

The 360 E (the newest version that just came out recently) removed the multi A/V out port, replacing it with a totally different one that only supports composite, so you can't use component or VGA cables on these.

But unlike the Wii mini you can still use something other than composite since there's still HDMI (which wasn't even supported on 360 until the Elite came out).

I would definitely look for a 360 S (aka slim) over an E if I was in the market for one. Really anything from the last model pre-slim (jasper mobo) over an E.

[Greg2600]

The Mini is not meant for hardcore gamers, neither is the 360 E. They're like the Majesco Genesis Model 3. Given the overwhelming number of regular Wii's, 360 Slim's, etc available (used) just go with one of those. I see nothing wrong with companies selling these stripped down versions, because it makes no sense for them to loose money on systems they are putting out to pasture. The 360 E is still full functioned and has HDMI so most people are set.

[wiggyx]

Man, I'm so out of the loop that I didn't even know that there was a 3rd 360 model LOL!

[PreZZ]

Who the hell uses composite cables in 2013 on their hdtv set? component is just the strict minimum now for a game console, even a cheaper revision, I would be surprised if it would even cost a dollar to nintendo implementing it. and they make money on the cable anyway since it's not packed in!

[JSoup]

the moral of the story is to always buy early versions of any console. The final ones are always cut reduced and inferior in some way, without exception.

In the case of the Wii, I don't see that as an issue. I normally see used Wii's going for around $50 at flea markets, I can't imagine this new mini system is going to top that. People only buy them for piracy and emulation anyway.

[PreZZ]

the value of the bundle is not bad, for 99$ you get a nunchuk and a wiimote with the console and mariokart. I can live without the usb and no wifi, but the composite only is bullshit. Buying a new wiimote plus nunchuk (nintendo brand) is 70$, so for 30$ more you get a wii and mariokart! Nintendo needs to lower the price of wiimotes and nunchuks, it's crazy. if you buy 4 to play nintendoland with your new wii u, add 280$ !!! nunchuks should be bundled with wiimotes too.

[Leo_A]

The later 360's remove the memory card slots, support for the original harddrives, and are much tougher to mod. On the other hand, they are much less likely to red ring, and yes, they have wifi.

The hard drives are still compatible, you just have to remove them from their shell.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

In the case of the Wii, I don't see that as an issue. I normally see used Wii's going for around $50 at flea markets, I can't imagine this new mini system is going to top that. People only buy them for piracy and emulation anyway.

That's confusing the used market with the retail. The Canadian exclusive red Wii Mini sells for $99, which while is double the price of what you claim you see used Wiis sell for at flea markets, that isn't where your average ultra casual mother would buy a Wii for little jimmy.

I had thought for a split second of buying a Wii Mini because I believe there could be a chance it will become a rare item and shoot up in price in years to come similar to how prices are much higher for the NES-101, but I think I remember hearing that the Wii mini came to the US recently, which kills its rarity.

[JSoup]

That's confusing the used market with the retail.

It's confusing people who have access to the internet and understand how to get things cheap with people who don't.

[Leo_A]

A $50 used Wii from a flea market, of unknown condition without a warranty and possibly with 3rd party controllers is hardly a valid gift substitute (Which surely represents the vast majority of the Wii market these days) for most people out there when for $100 you can get a brand new Wii in the original box, bundled with a brand new popular game for it, and with the knowledge everything you need is included and in brand new condition.

They stripped these things out for a reason. It's all about how cheap the hardware can be made now and I think they also realize that the mother buying a new Wii for little Johnny to hook up in his bedroom doesn't care about WiFi, doesn't care about video quality (Or even know what something like a component cable is), doesn't care that the SD slot is gone, and doesn't care that it's not backwards compatible with a console they probably don't remember ever even hearing the name of.

In fact, they probably won't even know any of these things are gone. But they appreciate the price made possible partly by those eliminations of what would've been superfluous features for most new customers. All they want is a brand new Wii to hook up to their tv that plays disc games.

And Wii Mini does that for a value price while making Nintendo money. So its existence should hardly puzzle anyone.


I had thought for a split second of buying a Wii Mini because I believe there could be a chance it will become a rare item and shoot up in price in years to come similar to how prices are much higher for the NES-101, but I think I remember hearing that the Wii mini came to the US recently, which kills its rarity.

The top loading NES holds the value it does primarily because of the cartridge slot which is a practical advantage over the original model. So it doesn't just have rarity on its side driving the prices up.

Wii Mini holds no such advantage so I doubt it ever becomes particularly valuable especially if Nintendo keeps it on store shelves for a couple of more years. Collectors will only be wanting it for completionist sake, not for something to actually play games on.

[JSoup]

A $50 used Wii from a flea market, of unknown condition without a warranty and possibly with 3rd party controllers is hardly a valid gift substitute (Which surely represents the vast majority of the Wii market these days) for most people out there when for $100 you can get a brand new Wii in the original box, bundled with a brand new popular game for it, and with the knowledge everything you need is included and in brand new condition.

I'd argue that it largely depends on what you're buying a Wii for. In my case (assuming I'd need another one), it's an emulation machine. $50 for something that accurately emulates a crapload of things will a little soft modding seems like a fair deal to me.

[Tanooki]

Um, because it's cheaper to produce and the idea of re-releasing a console towards end of life is to make it a budget console?

Make it even more simple. It is no surprise. Nintendo did this before, more than once. NES Toploader and the SNES Mini. Late system life items brought out as the replacements appeared. Streamlined boards, corners cut, price is cheap, and it gets the job done. That's what Wii Mini is, more of the same. It makes sense to remove the SD card and internet anyways, the Wii like DSi can not access the eShop and their pre-Nintendo network setup is dead meat so this just removes any issues on the back end. Imagine someone buying retail points cards and finding the eshop cards can't be used later?

[o.pwuaioc]

I'd argue that it largely depends on what you're buying a Wii for. In my case (assuming I'd need another one), it's an emulation machine. $50 for something that accurately emulates a crapload of things will a little soft modding seems like a fair deal to me.

GameStop I noticed is selling Wiis for $70 or $80. Then again, I got mine used, so I don't see the big deal.

[Greg2600]

Man, I'm so out of the loop that I didn't even know that there was a 3rd 360 model LOL!

LOL, it's the one that looks like a mini-Xbox One.

[Bazoo]

Not to mention virtually every other console manufacturer. I'm looking a you, disgusting Foreman Grill looking PS3 "super slim". Ick.


Am I the only one who really digs the super slims? Granted, part of this is that they come in nifty special edition colors. But I enjoy sliding the disc slot open. Something about a disc being "sucked" in makes me not trust the system at all. the super slim is a little noisy but at least I know where my disc went

[PreZZ]

Am I the only one who really digs the super slims? Granted, part of this is that they come in nifty special edition colors. But I enjoy sliding the disc slot open. Something about a disc being "sucked" in makes me not trust the system at all. the super slim is a little noisy but at least I know where my disc went

Well i guess I like my ps3's like I like my women... enough said!

[Leo_A]

What's the retail situation like with the earlier Wii revision these days? I haven't been paying attention to stores but NOA made it sound like it was going to remain available in North America a few months back despite never having been released in Japan and having been discontinued in Europe in favor of exclusively selling the Wii Mini.

Are they pretty much gone now that Christmas has came and went with just the Wii Mini remainng on store shelves (Which is what I suspected would happen), or is NOA actively restocking this older revision along with the current Wii Mini?


I'd argue that it largely depends on what you're buying a Wii for. In my case (assuming I'd need another one), it's an emulation machine. $50 for something that accurately emulates a crapload of things will a little soft modding seems like a fair deal to me.

I can assure you that hardly any Wii's are being sold today, new or used, with emulation in mind. The inability of the Wii Mini to function in that area is a non-issue commercially.

[JSoup]

I can assure you that hardly any Wii's are being sold today, new or used, with emulation in mind.

Correct, they are being sold with piracy in mind as well.
This is a 'your mileage my vary' type of thing. Plenty of people hit up my local flea markets for Wii for both purposes and you still see forums across the internet suggesting them as emulation boxes that have the benefit of free Wii/WiiWare games. I'm not suggesting that the majority of Wii's sold today are for these purposes, but it's far from zero.

[Jorpho]

I hear some people actually prefer the composite output of the Wii, as some of the jagged edges of the graphics are more visible in 480p.

Anyway, I guess there still aren't any reports of the Wii Mini being successfully modded? I imagine you'd have to find some way to write to the internal memory of the console – but how hard could that be?


the moral of the story is to always buy early versions of any console. The final ones are always cut reduced and inferior in some way, without exception.They might be missing some features, but in theory newer versions of a console will otherwise be better put-together than older versions, no?


I'm looking a you, disgusting Foreman Grill looking PS3 "super slim". Ick.Oh, like the original PS3 didn't look like a Foreman Grill.

[Leo_A]

They might be missing some features, but in theory newer versions of a console will otherwise be better put-together than older versions, no?

They do make improvements. The Xbox 360 is prime evidence of that. But cost cutting is the driving force behind hardware revisions. I think there would be little question, for example, that the UMD slot is much better built and robust on a PSP 1000 than it is on a slim.

So it can be a double edged sword.

[Tanooki]

Yeah it's not all or nothing on system revisions. SNES got that 1CHIP board that has the best audio/video output for the hardware in that style of shell.

[MarioMania]

Can you hack it & get the Homebrew Channel though the USB Port?

[Gatucaman]

Can you hack it & get the Homebrew Channel though the USB Port?

Nope, the USB is supposedly used only for 3rd party attachments like microphones and such, you know, for shovel-ware games, and ALL of the Modding done on the Wii was always done via the SD card anyways.

You know what, someone should make a kickstarter for an external USB modem for the wii mini that has a boot disc.

[JSoup]

and ALL of the Modding done on the Wii was always done via the SD card anyways.

There is a method that uses a USB only, it's just not easy or effective. And a USB drive is required to pirate Wii games unless you burn the disc yourself.

[Greg2600]

I think using an external USB HDD is not that difficult once the Wii is softmodded.

[JSoup]

I think using an external USB HDD is not that difficult once the Wii is softmodded.

It's easy and actually preferable if you're running ISOs, but softmodding requires an SD card in all but one buggy method.

[Jorpho]

It's easy and actually preferable if you're running ISOs, but softmodding requires an SD card in all but one buggy method.Which method is that?

It does occur to me that a disc swap method (akin to that used with PS2s) ought to be much more feasible with the Wii Mini.

[Gatucaman]

There is a method that uses a USB only, it's just not easy or effective. And a USB drive is required to pirate Wii games unless you burn the disc yourself.

Well, What's that Method?. everything related still involves the damn HBC.

[JSoup]

Which method is that?


Well, What's that Method?. everything related still involves the damn HBC.

The modding sites I normally use don't have it listed any more, so I'm assuming it was officially abandoned. In a nut shell, it involved using the USB drive to run a slightly modified version of the file used to kick start the softmodding options that require an SD card. Then running the ISO directly from the USB to the loader. It had a pretty high failure rate, but was kept around as another method if for some reason the SD card slot was not usable or the user in question didn't have an SD card on hand.

As for putting Homebrew Channel and what not on the Wii Mini, not sure. I've not been keeping up with Wii modding. I'd imagine most of the modding community has moved on to WiiU hacking attempts. I recall reading a few weeks ago that someone figured out how to change the stream location for the WiiU gamepad, connecting it directly to a PC.

[Gatucaman]

The modding sites I normally use don't have it listed any more, so I'm assuming it was officially abandoned. In a nut shell, it involved using the USB drive to run a slightly modified version of the file used to kick start the softmodding options that require an SD card. Then running the ISO directly from the USB to the loader. It had a pretty high failure rate, but was kept around as another method if for some reason the SD card slot was not usable or the user in question didn't have an SD card on hand.

As for putting Homebrew Channel and what not on the Wii Mini, not sure. I've not been keeping up with Wii modding. I'd imagine most of the modding community has moved on to WiiU hacking attempts. I recall reading a few weeks ago that someone figured out how to change the stream location for the WiiU gamepad, connecting it directly to a PC.

Wow, but when they mention the failure rate, did they refer to the chances of "bricking" the console?

Has anyone ever tried to do that exploit to install the HBC and USB loader?, that could gave me the chance to make it up for no VC and wiiWare.

[JSoup]

Wow, but when they mention the failure rate, did they refer to the chances of "bricking" the console?

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any specific instances of bricking resulting from that method, but it's not impossible.


Has anyone ever tried to do that exploit to install the HBC and USB loader?, that could gave me the chance to make it up for no VC and wiiWare.

Well, I know there was one guy who was attempting to code a precursor to the HBC as a fake ISO, so the system could boot the whole thing from the USB. It was shortly after I first read about it when the first version of HBC became available, so I imagine it was dropped in light of the more practical SD card methods. To answer your question directly, I'm not sure if there are currently any methods to boot HBC via USB or not. Might be worth looking into getting a normal Wii at a flea market. :D

[Gatucaman]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any specific instances of bricking resulting from that method, but it's not impossible.



Well, I know there was one guy who was attempting to code a precursor to the HBC as a fake ISO, so the system could boot the whole thing from the USB. It was shortly after I first read about it when the first version of HBC became available, so I imagine it was dropped in light of the more practical SD card methods. To answer your question directly, I'm not sure if there are currently any methods to boot HBC via USB or not. Might be worth looking into getting a normal Wii at a flea market. :D

That's a form of shittiest foresight, i mean cmon, THEY SHOULD have at the very least open that door possibility just in case, even if another one opens and it's more practical, having a back-up plan is wat i mean.

And no, I CANT get a new wii used, since mine was a gift from my sister, it means something special to me.

[JSoup]

That's a form of shittiest foresight, i mean cmon, THEY SHOULD have at the very least open that door possibility just in case, even if another one opens and it's more practical, having a back-up plan is wat i mean.

Well, yes and no. Once the best method of hacking a system is found, it's generally a better idea to focus on that one method, improving it as best as can be. As has been mentioned early in the topic, new cash grab versions of last gen tech is nothing new and is normally always missing a non-crucial feature or two. Once the new hardware is out, efforts are switched to that.

All that said, I'm sure there are still a few people out there working on new and old methods of Wii modding. Hell, there are still people working on PS2 are older.

[wiggyx]

I hear some people actually prefer the composite output of the Wii, as some of the jagged edges of the graphics are more visible in 480p.

Anyway, I guess there still aren't any reports of the Wii Mini being successfully modded? I imagine you'd have to find some way to write to the internal memory of the console – but how hard could that be?

They might be missing some features, but in theory newer versions of a console will otherwise be better put-together than older versions, no?

Oh, like the original PS3 didn't look like a Foreman Grill.

Nah, more like a high-end waffle iron :P


Nope, the USB is supposedly used only for 3rd party attachments like microphones and such, you know, for shovel-ware games, and ALL of the Modding done on the Wii was always done via the SD card anyways.

You know what, someone should make a kickstarter for an external USB modem for the wii mini that has a boot disc.

Oh yeah, there's a market large enough for that sort of thing to warrant such an endeavor.

NOT.

[Gatucaman]

Something occur to me, is it possible to experiment with the wii mini with the same way we used to exploit classic xbox via FTP and ethernet cables?

[Jorpho]

Something occur to me, is it possible to experiment with the wii mini with the same way we used to exploit classic xbox via FTP and ethernet cables?As the Wii Mini has no network connectivity, the answer is no.

Maybe there's some way to get the Wii to start executing arbitrary code introduced via the USB port. (There was a truly spectactular video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPcV9uIY5i4) published recently in which a SNES is persuaded to run arbitrary code introduced via the controller port! Of course, that was not an easy thing to accomplish.)

[MetalFRO]

Am I the only one who really digs the super slims? Granted, part of this is that they come in nifty special edition colors. But I enjoy sliding the disc slot open. Something about a disc being "sucked" in makes me not trust the system at all. the super slim is a little noisy but at least I know where my disc went

No, you're not the only one, though not for that reason. That type of disk drive has been around for a long time, and while I'm with you and prefer something I can feel and interact with in a more tactile manner, the technology is proven and has been for some time. Although I don't think the super-slim is a particularly attractive console, it works well, and is solidly built, despite the relatively cheap look of it. I have mine oriented vertically on top of my HDTV, which sits on a stand, so the unit sits up some 5 feet or so off the ground. I've accidentally knocked it over a couple times, and though it had a small bed of power and A/V cables to help break its fall, it still came down pretty hard both times, and hasn't missed a beat, so that's a testament to how well the hardware stands up to damage. I like my super-slim well enough :)

[Neb6]

Who the hell uses composite cables in 2013 on their hdtv set? component is just the strict minimum now for a game console, even a cheaper revision, I would be surprised if it would even cost a dollar to nintendo implementing it. and they make money on the cable anyway since it's not packed in!

Heh. I do. :) And actually, the 360s over component looks exactly the same as the HDMI cable on a 1080p plasma screen. So either cable is fine IMHO (assuming your TV will accept 1080p over component). I've heard that the Blu Ray standard has component resolution restrictions, so I'm not sure about PS3 and PS4 in this regard.

[Leo_A]

I've heard that the Blu Ray standard has component resolution restrictions, so I'm not sure about PS3 and PS4 in this regard.

PS4 is HDMI only I believe with no support for any other connection method. PS3's have no issue pushing 1080p through component cables.

However, due to DVD Forum restrictions, no DVD upscaling has ever been allowed via component on the PS3. And PS3's manufactured in the past 2 or 3 years don't allow Blu-Ray videos to be output in HD resolutions due to Blu-Ray Disc Association rules (Earlier PS3's however could do that despite the rule as a concession to help the format grow at a time when HDMI wasn't nearly as commonplace as it is today and the PS3 was serving as many people's first Blu-Ray player).

[BlastProcessing402]

And actually, the 360s over component looks exactly the same as the HDMI cable on a 1080p plasma screen.

At 720p or 1080i (or lower), I don't notice any difference between HDMI and component, but 1080p, it's definitely there. It's not a huge difference, but the image is just a little cleaner for 1080p HDMI than 1080p component. This is true for 360, PS3, and Wii U, at least in my experience.