Nintendo gets into the router game, plans to destroy competition by not really trying
By Paul Miller 
posted September 8th 2008 11:19AM
posted September 8th 2008 11:19AM
[Thanks, Sanimir]
posted September 8th 2008 11:19AM
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"Nintendo WiFI Network Adapter"?
Not going for the obvious WiiFi then?
Aww....
$54 is NOT CHEAP for a wifi Router.
An average G router costs $40 here in NYC Best Buy/Circuit City.
The average N router costs $50 and up.
NiWiiFi?
Sorry to hi-jack, but it wouldn't be that hard to add some storage space to this device as the wii is so desperate at the moment. It would be a nifty feature that would boost the sale, features and furthermore wouldn't clutter our homes with more gadgets.
Game Storage (wiiware, demos, video, music, pictures, channels and retro games)
Game-Sharing (download play for nds, maybe even a local/internet tournament channel for nds, easy access even if wii is off)
Internet simplicity connection (wpa/wep as nds can only use wep)
Just in-case they read this stuff ^_^
@ Flashpoint; you’re right 54 US dollars is not cheap for a wifi router but 5,800 Yen is actually 58 US d dollars and it’s not even a N gear router. @ klew; the Nintendo Wii will not be able to use N gear wifi because the wireless chip inside the Nintendo Wii is a Mitsumi DMW-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module which only uses b/g wifi spectrum. Honestly I would rather get a Linksys router.
What a rip off. I'll stick with my Linux powered WRT54GL i got for less than that and it has a ton more features and a 4 port switched on it.
More Junk!
who doesn't already have a wireless routed signal?
Target demographic for Wii.
Wait... a router with no built in switch? That is one-hundred percent DEADED.
It does have a built-in switch...a power switch.
Seriously, for $54 you can buy a 4 port Cable/DSL WiFi router that can do all kinds of stuff, and you can buy some that you can put DD-WRT on it.
And most Cable/DSL providers give away free WiFi routers when you sign up now too.
Because we know we ALL need a one-port router to use the internet and play games...this promotes family sharing...together you can browse the interwebs
but mom, it's made by nintendo and white so it will match my setup great (until the colored wii-motes and such come out)
i laughed at the title that was a good one. but seriously, they should've just copied the AirPort Extreme.
Yes, because we all know that apple invented the colour white.
Actually, the first Airport Extreme did only have 1 WAN port and 1 LAN port.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP58
Better pic:
http://www.ipelagos.com/prod_images_large/0f18225b9da0b96c51b01110.L.jpg
WiiFiii Router... I see where this is going. They must of taken a page from Asus and Apple's handbooks. Oh well I cant hate them because I am all for the fusion of good form and function and competition in that sector. Nothing like aesthetically pleasing hardware. White can get stained so easily tho....
Yeah, I'm constantly rubbing things on my router.
I'm sure it's just a Buffalo router, re-branded... just like the Wi-Fi USB Connector.
For $35, though, I bought a Belkin router. It's not the best one I've ever used, but it works well enough that I have a consistent signal.
This one reminds me an awful lot of Apple's original AirPort Base Station, but without the 56k modem.
Anyone else feel... cheated? Like for the same price, we could be getting, i dunno, A FUCKING HARD DRIVE!!!!!
i would say "At least it's an obscure product in forigen land" but I just know it will show up here.
Bastards.
Is it a router or just an access point? (I can't access the site from work)
It looks like an AP with a passthrough.
Nintendo are a videogames company. Videogames.
Yeah, like Sony
No. Not like Sony. Sony was initially and is still a consumer electronics company. Nintendo is dedicated to Videogames. (or something...)
Your comment was stupid. Thbbbbbt.
Pretty sure Sony didn't make the PS1 until 1994, a good 48 years until after the company was founded.
Your avatar is fucking creepy.
@John: Well, Nintendo is over 100 years old, but that doesn't mean they aren't primarily a game company. But the fact that Sony has a huge number of divisions means that they aren't a game company only.
Video games in 1889 ? mid 1970s before nintendo got into video stuff.
...Nintendo used to own brothels...
Interestingly...In their history Nintendo operated "Love Hotels." I don't think the Wii should be wearing white after reading that.
Like I said.
It's a pretty disturbing thought
"...Nintendo used to own brothels..."
They still do, but now they are whoring their Wiis instead :P
i thought love hotels were more capable to a motel, ie where people go to do it but the management doesn't officially endorse it.
@wootman
That's kinda it. Although these Love Hotels are a bit more "equipped". They also try and keep things discrete, with many of them even being automated (ie you select a room via a computer, rather than having to talk to someone).
"destroy competition by not really trying"
LOL. Excellent. Nintendo, build crap that isn't as good as the competition and sell like hotcakes.
The sad thing is that has been working out pretty well for Nintendo with the Wii.
OMG... I must sell my LinksysN series right now before this comes out... otherwise I be stuck with a brick value item.
Makes me wonder what all the money made on the Wii has done to Nintendo top-guns?
I can buy a wi-fi router with 4 Ethernet ports off of Ebay for 12 dollars.
How is this a deal?
how is this a deal...
1) postage isn't $100
2) you get a real warranty
3) not made by Chan-ten-do.
4) not sold by e-shoppe-deluxe-trust-trade 99.9% feedback
:p
But is it endorsed by Mario? I didn't think so.
or $21 from newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156038
on a positive note, there doesn't seem to be a hint of chrome accents or silver-painted plastic, which gets my vote. Mum, plz buy this for my Wii, thank you.
You can get a Linksys WRT54G2 for $50 at newegg. We use the first generation (WRT54G) in both of our locations at work and I recommend it to everyone I know looking for a wireless router. So Nintendo's is NOT cheap...nor is it cute (it's a white rectangle, whoopdeedoo).
And they will make it insanely popular by only producing like 10 of these a week there by guaranteeing a perpetual shortage.
Fred, why the heck would you need all of those extra ports? Who needs to get online with anything other than a Wii or DS? I mean, that's just excessive!
It's got all the style that Wiispeak add-on has and more!
You people seem to think this was made with the US in mind or something. In Japan it's rare to have an wifi router, only a few families might have them for sharing a connection, but most of the time it'd be a single person or a couple living in a small-ass apartment, so having wifi would be pointless. I guess this is for those who might have their TV in *gasp* another room, so now they can use their Wii online, but don't need another computer on their network.
Every true gamer's got a soft spot for Nintendo. If I had to pick between Linksys and Nintendo... (without any technical/cost reasons) it'd be decided as soon as I saw the label.
You sir, are an idiot.