Nintendo gets into the router game, plans to destroy competition by not really trying

Nintendo just announced a 5,800 Yen (about $54 US) WiFi router, built to take that pesky wired Ethernet internet and blast it across your home in a palatable WiFi fashion for use by your Wii or DS. Just like every other router ever. Only this one is cheap, cute and built by Nintendo, so watch out Linksys / Netgear / everybody. The "Nintendo WiFi Network Adapter," meant to supplement 2005's WiFi USB Connector, looks to be Japan-only at the moment, and is due for a September 18th release.

[Thanks, Sanimir]

[404 @ Sep 8th 2008 11:28AM]

"Nintendo WiFI Network Adapter"?

Not going for the obvious WiiFi then?

Aww....

[Flashpoint @ Sep 8th 2008 1:15PM]

$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.

[klew @ Sep 8th 2008 2:19PM]

NiWiiFi?

[dhytspam @ Sep 8th 2008 4:42PM]

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 ^_^

[Techie @ Sep 8th 2008 7:32PM]

@ 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.

[phinn @ Sep 9th 2008 12:35AM]

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.

[c. thomas @ Sep 8th 2008 11:29AM]

More Junk!

[Darkroom @ Sep 8th 2008 2:27PM]

word... i mean, who doesn't already have a wireless routed signal? i use my iMac's built-in Airport Card to bridge a wireless signal from my wired modem to the rest of my apartment.

[Andrew @ Sep 8th 2008 4:37PM]

who doesn't already have a wireless routed signal?

Target demographic for Wii.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 8th 2008 11:30AM]

Wait... a router with no built in switch? That is one-hundred percent DEADED.

[Jeff @ Sep 8th 2008 11:35AM]

It does have a built-in switch...a power switch.

[nxtiak @ Sep 8th 2008 11:31AM]

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.

[Jeff @ Sep 8th 2008 11:34AM]

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

[Prhime @ Sep 8th 2008 11:35AM]

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)

[tbone @ Sep 8th 2008 11:36AM]

i laughed at the title that was a good one. but seriously, they should've just copied the AirPort Extreme.

[Dr Zoidberg @ Sep 8th 2008 1:03PM]

Yes, because we all know that apple invented the colour white.

[Ryan @ Sep 8th 2008 2:20PM]

Actually, the first Airport Extreme did only have 1 WAN port and 1 LAN port.

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP58

[Ryan @ Sep 8th 2008 2:24PM]

Better pic:
http://www.ipelagos.com/prod_images_large/0f18225b9da0b96c51b01110.L.jpg

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 8th 2008 11:37AM]

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....

[johnzilla @ Sep 8th 2008 1:54PM]

Yeah, I'm constantly rubbing things on my router.

[Eric @ Sep 8th 2008 11:40AM]

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.

[Dagreenman18 @ Sep 8th 2008 11:44AM]

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.

[Chad @ Sep 8th 2008 11:52AM]

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.

[theCardinal @ Sep 8th 2008 11:55AM]

Nintendo are a videogames company. Videogames.

[luisengard @ Sep 8th 2008 12:26PM]

Yeah, like Sony

[Lucretius @ Sep 8th 2008 1:16PM]

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.

[John @ Sep 8th 2008 1:26PM]

Pretty sure Sony didn't make the PS1 until 1994, a good 48 years until after the company was founded.

[iofthestorm @ Sep 8th 2008 1:28PM]

Your avatar is fucking creepy.

[iofthestorm @ Sep 8th 2008 1:28PM]

@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.

[charliex @ Sep 8th 2008 1:42PM]

Video games in 1889 ? mid 1970s before nintendo got into video stuff.

[Phoenix @ Sep 8th 2008 2:15PM]

...Nintendo used to own brothels...

[ehisforadam @ Sep 8th 2008 2:20PM]

Interestingly...In their history Nintendo operated "Love Hotels." I don't think the Wii should be wearing white after reading that.

[Phoenix @ Sep 8th 2008 2:39PM]

Like I said.

It's a pretty disturbing thought

[generally @ Sep 8th 2008 3:10PM]

"...Nintendo used to own brothels..."

They still do, but now they are whoring their Wiis instead :P

[wootman @ Sep 8th 2008 4:37PM]

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.

[Plothole @ Sep 8th 2008 4:53PM]

@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).

[Jagster @ Sep 8th 2008 11:55AM]

"destroy competition by not really trying"

LOL. Excellent. Nintendo, build crap that isn't as good as the competition and sell like hotcakes.

[Murray @ Sep 8th 2008 11:59AM]

The sad thing is that has been working out pretty well for Nintendo with the Wii.

[FllyZR4 @ Sep 8th 2008 11:57AM]

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?

[fred @ Sep 8th 2008 11:57AM]

I can buy a wi-fi router with 4 Ethernet ports off of Ebay for 12 dollars.

How is this a deal?

[tekdroid @ Sep 8th 2008 12:05PM]

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

[Skemo @ Sep 8th 2008 12:13PM]

But is it endorsed by Mario? I didn't think so.

[Grant @ Sep 8th 2008 12:58PM]

or $21 from newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156038

[tekdroid @ Sep 8th 2008 12:00PM]

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.

[ClayMeow @ Sep 8th 2008 12:01PM]

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).

[kal326 @ Sep 8th 2008 12:06PM]

And they will make it insanely popular by only producing like 10 of these a week there by guaranteeing a perpetual shortage.

[Ethan @ Sep 8th 2008 12:30PM]

It's got all the style that Wiispeak add-on has and more!

[Kralos @ Sep 8th 2008 12:37PM]

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.

[Luke @ Sep 8th 2008 12:39PM]

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!

[micrypt @ Sep 8th 2008 12:47PM]

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.