Looks like the Wii Minus console has made it to the U.S.

[CRTGAMER]

Gamestop has both in stock right now. Its the same price! No thanks.

http://www.gamertell.com/technologytell ... r-23-2011/

I knew it was going to happen. I just knew it. Nintendo’s taking GameCube compatibility away from not only Europeans, but from North Americans as well. A brand new Wii bundle has been prepared for the 2011 Holiday season. It doesn’t have any special name, but it does have a slightly smaller, black Wii with no backwards compatibility that can only sit horizontally beside your TV.

This new Wii bundle is pretty similar to the prior ones. You get the new version of the console, which only available in black this time around. You also get the necessary Wii Remote Plus and a nunchuk in black. It even includes a game, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and a CD soundtrack featuring music from Super Mario Galaxy. Once it hits stores on October 23, 2011, it’ll cost you $149.99.

$149.99 means Nintendo is going to be selling people a Wii console with fewer features for the same price. The current Wii bundle, which is available in white or black, backwards compatible and comes with a Wii Remote Plus, nunchuk, Wii Wheel and Mario Kart Wii, is $149.99.

[Purkeynator]

I don't think the old stock was shipped back to Nintendo, just sold through. I had seen deals for weeks on Wii systems. A $25 gift card here, a $134 price there. After I saw the Gamecube functionality was being cut from American systems I started hunting for a replacement for my 5 year old white Wii from launch. The stars aligned last month at Target where they were offering both a $25 gift card and a $134 price point for the black Mario Kart bundle. Finding one was a bit tricky since they were such a great deal, but my local store got a couple back in stock on the last day of the sale after being sold out for the whole week.

I called Nintendo on the phone and went through the very long and painful process of getting my 30 something Virtual console/Wii Ware games moved over to my new console. After selling off the Mario Kart I didn't need and selling off my older Wii console, I think I will only be out about $20 to upgrade to what will end up being one of the last backward compatible Wiis sold in the U.S.

I wonder if my new system has a different board revision than my launch system. Surely in 5 years they have made minor board revisions and improvements...

[BurningDoom]

does it have any data on the box to say what changed? new tagline, only buy a white wii and never a black one.

That's not even trustworthy. I have a black Wii and it plays Gamecube games.

[Zing]

After I saw the Gamecube functionality was being cut from American systems I started hunting for a replacement for my 5 year old white Wii from launch.

I'm curious as to why you felt the urge to replace?

[retrosportsgamer]

Only a matter of time before Gamecube games are nonexistent at Gamestop. I can't believe they took out the four controller ports on this Wii Minus. I guess they'll sell more Wii Classic Controllers now or something.

[vlame]

does it have any data on the box to say what changed? new tagline, only buy a white wii and never a black one.

That's not even trustworthy. I have a black Wii and it plays Gamecube games.

i say get a white one only bc they will more than likely be able to play burned games (W/GC). Red and Black Wiis don't play burned games.

[Purkeynator]

After I saw the Gamecube functionality was being cut from American systems I started hunting for a replacement for my 5 year old white Wii from launch.

I'm curious as to why you felt the urge to replace?

Thats a good question. I guess I like the black colored Wii better than the white since it matches my other electronics. The other thing is that modern game consoles have a finite life span and I felt that I was buying more time on a Wii by purchasing a new one. I also think that as years go by the console manufacturing process improves and makes for more reliable systems than when the consoles were new. An example would be that the slim Xbox 360s are cooler, quieter and more reliable than the launch systems from 2006. Wii's have been pretty reliable all along but I would still bet they made some minor improvements to the motherboard over 5 years.

I felt that a $20 upgrade was worth it if it potentially adds years to my ability to play my Wii games with the Gamecube controller plus I would bet Nintendo has no possible way to transfer virtual console games to the new WiiU just based on how much of a pain it was to transfer my games to a new Wii.

[Breetai]

Not having GCN support doesn't bother me, but keeping the same price point and not passing on any savings to consumers is absolute rubbish.

[elmagicochrisg]

After I saw the Gamecube functionality was being cut from American systems I started hunting for a replacement for my 5 year old white Wii from launch.

I'm curious as to why you felt the urge to replace?

As shitty as the Wii is, but some games are still worth owning...

[XxBroBuzzxX]

Haha, the Wii Minus. Who came up with that name?