The previous Canadian exclusive, Wii Mini, will find its way Stateside. The near featureless console (removing GameCube compatibility and all online functionality) will retail for $99 and include a copy of Mario Kart Wii.
The top loading unit should be available November 17th.
Recent news noted Nintendo was ceasing production of the Wii, a decision which revealed itself to be exclusive to Japan. Nintendo believes the Wii still has life, and much like the PlayStation 2, could conceivably churn in the market for a few more years.
Unfortunately, this introduces another bloodline in the Wii family which will continue to bolster consumer confusion. The Wii, Wii Mini, and Wii U – all systems which use the same controllers and play the same Wii games – will sit on market shelves in tandem. Nintendo’s insistence in mingling these hardware choices is begging for mixed messaging.
