As a retro-gaming aficionado (self-proclaimed but I’ll defend it ’til the day I die), I am easily overwhelmed when trying to pile more game systems / consoles into my memory bank. I’ve already memorized the myriad code names and numerical identifiers for various consoles from numerous generations of gaming! But there’s one caveat… It all stops with the 6th console generation: i.e. GameCube, Xbox, PS2. That’s where I draw the line. So the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 (all of which I own) are a little mysterious to me. I mean, I’m not the biggest nerd ever, not even close, but I feel that I can hold my weight among the retro-enthusiasts when it comes to “name dropping” some of the ’90s gaming gear. PROOF BELOW

• Don’t feel like sharing the jungle gym? I may ask you to tell me who some of the hardware developers were for the CD-i to get my turn swinging from those sweet metal handles.
• Got a heated tie in four-square? How about whichever of you can tell me which of these two systems is a top-loader wins: 3DO FZ-1 or FZ-10.
• Who would win in a fight, Sonic vs Mario? Whomever can tell me what the JVC X’Eye and Aiwa CSD-G1M are is the person that clearly knows more about games, and therefore is correct in determining who would win. Yes, my knowledge does spread partially around the globe.

*WRITERS NOTE: Feel free to skip through the ramblings and anecdotal, yet brilliant, hilarity and musings. Go down a bit and you’ll get the hardware comparisons you came here for.

Truth be told, I’m actually not that confrontational. The above bullet-list is mostly for laughs and to showcase my retrogaming prowess. I generally gauge a conversation to determine whether I should or should not talk about certain things because I don’t want to come off as a one-upper. #truth. But if you ever want to chat old-school, I’m all game! All of this to say… I had no f*cking clue there was a difference in Wii hardware until like…………………………………………………….. 5 minutes ago.

So apparently Nintendo developed a few different Wii consoles, and not just with cosmetic differences like I assumed. These hardware variations have some major functional differences as well. In mid-2016 I acquired my first-ever Wii system. I traded labor services for it: I helped paint someone’s living room, hallway, and bedroom, and in exchange I got some loaded Papa Johns pizzas, a bunch of beer, and a grocery bag with a Wii, Wii-mote, Nunchuk, and one shitty game. Sometime earlier this year I found it stashed in a box with my painting supplies. It was like Christmas in March! I’ve been playing it intermittently all summer / this fall, and then I remembered: HOOK…. YOUR…. WAVEBIRD…. TO…. THIS…. SUMBITCH. Did it at a friend’s house 10 years ago. So… I Busted out the Wavebird. Busted out Melee. Busted out Super Monkey Ball 2. Busted out Vietiful Joe. Busted out a nudie mag. Busted out a jar of mayonnaise… Wait, that was for something different. Anyway. And then as fast as a man can scoop out a handful of mayonnaise, my hopes and dreams were crushed. My particular model of Wii does not have the GameCube controller ports. WHO THE F*CK KNEW THIS WAS EVEN A THING?

So that’s why I’m here. And that’s why you’re here. Let’s go through the different models and what they offer up.

According to Nintendo.com where I sourced this information, only THREE models of the Wii were released to the North American market: the RVL-001, the RVL-101, and the RVL-201. Numerous color variations and special editions were released, but all as a part of a particular build model.

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MODEL RVL-001

This model is the original release model and the one you would have if you purchased your system between November 2006 and October 2011. Easily the most recognizable of the three models, this particular one was popular for its ability to “stand up” vertically or be laid flat horizontally, although the latter was less popular until the next model release. I want to say the PS2 popularized the “user’s choice” of orientation, but the Wii kept that train rolling in serious fashion by having a detachable base!

Here are a few facts about the RVL-001 as given to us by Nintendo:

• Released in November of 2006.
• Serial Number prefix is “LU” or “LB.”

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MODEL RVL-101

Here is the RVL-101. Being released almost exactly 5 years after the original system release, it makes sense. As sales start to decline (not necessarily in a negative way, but naturally interests wane), that is when prices get cut and top-tier games start to get bundled in, such as New Super Mario Bros. I’m no expert in Nintendo’s business model, but it seems logical that a price-cut may also mean something else has to get cut in production in order to maintain the same profit margin on hardware sales. The RVL-101 model sees the Wii packaged WITHOUT the vertical (or “tower”) stand and no GameCube controller or memory card ports. This is the model that I own and I am VERY upset about it. I may even lose a couple minutes of sleep over it.

Here are the facts about the RVL-101 as given to us by Nintendo:

• Released in October of 2011.
• Serial number prefix is “KU” or “KB.”
• Has the same look, feel, and function as RVL-001, with the following exceptions:
  • Designed to sit horizontally rather than vertically.
  • The GameCube controller and memory card sockets have been removed.
  • The system is not compatible with GameCube games or hardware/accessories.
  • The system does not support Wii games that require GameCube controllers/accessories, therefore the following games are incompatible:
    • Active Life: Explorer
    • Active Life: Extreme Challenge
    • Active Life: Magical Carnival
    • Active Life: Outdoor Challenge
    • Ultimate Party Challenge
  • The following games will have limited functionality due to GameCube incompatibility:
    • Dance Dance Revolution
    • Dance Dance Revolution II
    • Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Grooves
    • Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party
    • Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2
    • Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 3
    • Walk It Out

And this is just what Nintendo tells us about the RVL-101. From my research, I see a few people mentioning that the RVL-101 model actually has improved visuals, although it doesn’t appear Nintendo has ever said that out loud. I can’t really get behind that notion because it would have been an incredible marketing pitch for Nintendo to slap “Now with improved graphics” on all of their new ads and console boxes. So for that reason, I do not think they improved the graphics.

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MODEL RVL-201

The Wii model RVL-201 is widely known as the Wii Mini and is easily distinguishable from its predecessors by its tiny body and red trimmings (borders). It’s a very very sleek product and the packaging is just as impressive. Overall, I think its presentation bests the other 2 systems, but its performance and offerings are clearly lacking. The biggest knock against the Wii Mini is its total lack of online functionality. For those of you who played the Wii at their friends houses, marveling at the little thumbnails of classic NES titles adorning the main system menu, you were surely disappointed when you first booted up your Wii Mini.

This isn’t to say that the Wii Mini doesn’t have its place. It’s just such a massive downgrade from the exciting fun you expected. But what the Wii Mini DOES do is… It offers up affordable gaming so more interested peoples can get down with ol’ Nintendo. And considering that this was released in November of 2013 (US), Wii Mini owners could also choose from 7 years of games with many of the older ones being $10 or less (shitty ones). Don’t get me started on the Wii shovelware.

In summary, this RVL-201 model is about as bare bones of a system as I have ever seen. It lacks GameCube hook-ups, only has 1 UBS port instead of the normal 2 found on the other Wiis, no SD card slot, and has no component or S-video hook-ups. It’s about as “plug-and-play” as it gets, just lacks a ton of built-in games like you’d find on the NeoGeo Gold or NES Classic.

From Nintendo:

• Serial Number prefix is, “HW.”
• Designed to sit horizontally rather than vertically.
• Does not support online functionality.
• Does not support the use of an SD card.
• Has a single USB port.
• Does not include Nintendo GameCube controller sockets and memory card slots.
• Is not compatible with Nintendo GameCube games and accessories.
• Does not support Wii titles or accessories that require the use of the Nintendo GameCube controller ports (see above list for support limitations.

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There you have it. None of the three Wii console varieties are better or worse than the others as each has its purpose and place. I actually don’t see anything wrong or bad with how Nintendo chose to release these as generally there’s a calculation to these decisions. My only gripe is that I can’t play GameCube games on MY particular Wii. And the Wii itself is so, outdated… By the time I choose to go out of my way and spend another dollar on another Wii system, I may as well just get the Switch! I do own like 4 different GameCube systems (I used to have a game collecting slash hoarding problem), so it’s not like I can’t play. But no matter what… I’m just happy I didn’t accidentally get a Wii Mini. That’s not for me.

SOURCES

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2650/~/what-is-the-difference-between-the-models-of-wii-consoles%3F

https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/ONIEEqvK1pbPyTbW2lWO6QnPUiqqvuuI