According to VoucherCodesPro, a Poll was carried out to see if Gamers were interested in Nintendo's latest rehash of it's Wii Console, the Wii Mini. Yes, the Wii Mini is simple a Wii with downgraded features such as no online connectivity or Gamecube support. The Graphics are the same, but with the release of the Wii U, most gamers don't see the need for a rehash of a 7-year-old system. This is probably why it won't be released in the USA.
When VCP asked if consumers were excited for the UK Release of the Wii Mini, 76% of Gamers answered No. A whopping 74% of Gamers found the console release to be pointless. 42% already owned an original Wii and don't need the re-release. Only 22% of UK Gamers were excited for the Wii Mini Release while 17% weren't sure.
VCP, after rolling out the Poll to their community, stated the following: “It’s an exciting time for gamers who’ve been waiting several years for the next big console release. But the Wii Mini doesn’t carry the same gravitas. With no anticipation of improved graphics and no real advance on the original console, is it the case of flogging a dead horse?”
It's interested that Nintendo has a way of making new things out of old technology. For example, Nintendo's 3DS console features technology that is only slightly more powerful than the Wii, yet it's one of the fastest selling handhelds of all time. Also, With Nintendo's 8th Generation Wii U System, the technology is only slightly more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3.
One of Nintendo's rules are "Lateral Thinking with Withered Technology." In a way, they are a company that takes older tech that is easily understood and creates new products with it. This way of thinking has been successful for them, but with the Release of the Wii Mini, it really does seem pointless in a sense. Nintendo already did this with the original Wii. The Wii was basically a Gamecube on steroids. It wasn't very powerful and it focused on gameplay. The Wii was a success for it's first 4 years until Gamers ditched it for iOS and Android games.
The Wii was Nintendo's way of capturing casual gamers. They were extremely successful at doing so, but it cost them a wide base of loyal customers. Most people who bought the NES, SNES, N64 and Gamecube didn't buy a Wii. Why? It was obviously catered towards small children, older individuals and casual gamers. This group is now on Facebook playing Farmville or on iPhones playing Angry Birds. The Wii was a success and will have a long legacy, but it's time to put the Wii in the past.
Wii Mini is basically an affordable Wii. Not everybody can afford their new Wii U platform, so the Wii Mini + Used Games is Nintendo's most affordable option. Of course, most people simply want power and a normal controller with a normal button layout. The Wii U is the answer to that. The Gamepad is the first controller to feature the "A/B/X/Y" in a diamond format since the SNES. The Gamecube had an "A/B/X/Y" format, but it was different. The Wii U is a breath of fresh air for Nintendo fans of the N64 and Gamecube days. The Wii Mini, of course, isn't expected to be popular, but the Wii has it's fan base and I'm sure many people will purchase a Wii Mini.
Nintendo should've released a very affordable Wii U console, which they could do in the future. To boost Wii U sales, they could remove the internal storage, make the Gamepad smaller and remove 2 USB ports. After doing this, they could sell the console for under $250 and sales would increase. This isn't realistic, but it's very possible they could do this within 5-7 years. Anyways, Wii Mini is nothing special, just a Wii with limitations. If you want the best bang for your buck, go out and get a Wii U. It has Online Connectivity, a Controller with a Touchscreen, Miiverse, and backwards compatibility with ALL Wii Games.
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