New Wii Bundle Removes Gamecube Support

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New Wii Bundle Removes Gamecube Support

Black Wii resembles European model revealed earlier this year.

Nintendo is releasing a new black Wii model with a Remote Plus controller and nunchuk this holiday season. This model will sit horizontally instead of vertically and will not have backwards compatibility with GameCube games, nor will it feature the GameCube controller ports or memory card slots. Earlier, Nintendo announced a model similar to this for European consumers at Gamescom.

The bundle will also include a copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and a soundtrack disc for Super Mario Galaxy. This soundtrack disc appears to be the same one offered to Club Nintendo's Japanese audience in 2008. The bundle will retail for $149.99.

#Nintendo #Wii #New super mario bros. wii

Comments

Anonymous

10/11/2011 at 03:19 PM

Sounds like a cool deal and like someone might get this for just being cool. Thanks

Anonymous

10/11/2011 at 03:50 PM

They are just modeling this to look more like what they want to do with the Wii-U. If you look at pictures of that console vs this one and you'll see there isn't much of a difference.

Jason Ross Senior Editor

10/11/2011 at 03:50 PM

So, a free CD for people who probably wouldn't care for it and New Super Mario Bros. Wii with just one controller, no price drop, and it lacks GameCube support.

Wouldn't you think NSMBWii would make a great game to pack-in an extra controller? I think Nintendo of America is looking to make sure the Wii market is about as dead as it can get. Have they started advertising Kirby yet? Why am I even asking that?

Esteban Cuevas Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 04:14 PM

I'm surprised there isn't a Zelda bundle coming.

Esteban Cuevas Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 04:16 PM

In my dreams, this bundle would have been a Black Wii with Gamecube support, two Motion Plus controllers, two nunchuks, Mario Kart Wii and New Super Mario Bros Wii for $200. I'd buy that.

Kyle Charizanis Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 06:31 PM

They seem to have some ulterior motives. Not only would removing all the Gamecube stuff make modding and piracy harder (especially for emulating Gamecube games), it would also force people to buy a classic controller to play virtual console games (as the only remaining alternative to a sideways Wiimote).

Kyle Charizanis Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 06:32 PM

(But the main reason is still probably to be able to drop the price that much)

Kyle Charizanis Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 06:34 PM

...On second thought, that's not much of a price drop, is it. Huh. ...I'm going to stop commenting now.

Kathrine Theidy Staff Alumnus

10/11/2011 at 08:45 PM

The problem here is that this new model drops functionality without reducing the price. I believe this happened with the GameCube when it removed the component output, and it was lame then, too. If I remember rightly, the NES and SNES revisions launched at a lower price than the previous model, which was the way to go.

I also find the inclusion of the Super Mario Galaxy CD to be incredibly odd. The game isn't even included in the bundle so the only people it would appeal to are those who have already played Super Mario Galaxy. Which means people who already have a Wii. Makes no sense.

As for forcing the Classic Controller for Virtual Console: Anyone who has GameCube controllers already bought a Wii, so it doesn't really matter. Classic Controllers are also cheap nowadays and definitely easier to acquire than GameCube controllers. Besides, the old Wii model will still be available for purchase for anyone who truly cares.

PixlBit