Black Wii packaging looks as good as its contents
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 14th 2009 4:31PM
posted Jul 14th 2009 4:31PM
We've already gotten quite a few glimpses of Nintendo's forthcoming black Wii but, with that August 1st launch date in Japan now fast approaching, things are now starting to get even more real. Real like packaging. Of course, while the box is nothing more than a black version of the existing Wii packaging, we have to agree with our pals at Joystiq and say that it only makes the system all that more intriguing. Unfortunately, there's still no word on a release 'round here, but we assume / hope that's only a matter of time considering the reception this thing has received.
That's sexy...
White is sexier
What, no spec bump?
it really is I'd so trade mine
I disagree. Something that's meant as a toy (no offense) looks awkward in classy black. But I'll admit it looks better than beige.
Disagree. Black looks better. Gives it a certain degree of class that it simply doesn't have...at all.
just spraypaint that piece of sht.
wow when someone mentioned apple didnt design their packaging or what not the apple fan boys jump up to contradict that statement like as if following apple is a religon.....
Now with HD graphics and digital surround sound!
*wakes up from happy daydream to harsh reality*
:(
So making it black or sexier or whatever can make it suck less? WTF
A Wii for Mr. President.
;)
Never knew boxes were gadgets.
+1 for Civil Rights.
Packaging designed by apple, CA.
Wow, the slight mention of Apple makes iFanNoobs question any and every possible partnership between Apple and another company.
You are pathetic.
wrong
You DO know that the packaging for most Apple products from the time the iPod boomed to a few years latter was actually done by a group of Microsoft employees that branced off as their own design team. They also helped design the look of the 360 and it's accessories.
@Anticrawl:
Source?
@Anticrawl: I'd like to see that source as well since I think the packaging for Apple products only changed marginally since their beginnings. The products just got sexier, so the minimalist packaging they always used did too. I could be wrong.
once you go black...
You need to pay your bill?
You realize that you we've been punked by Nintendo?
I guess Kanye was right, "Racism is still alive, they just be concealing it"
There's no more racism. See, we elected a black president ;^\...
Is the black Wii bigger than the white Wii??
I'm not racist, I hate all people equally.
No one knows racism better than Kanye.
you'll never go back
...for more.
Indeed. It's so bad.
..TO BEING RESPECTED.
ugh. shiny black... why not matte black? oh well. good for those who like it.
I feel like it's probably the same finish as the white Wii.
BARF!
I like how they never show the sensor bar.
The 360 never shows wired controllers or memory cards and the ps3 never shows a cable charging the controller, what's your point?
@Jordan
It would have been a better analogy to ask if the 360 ever shows it's power brick.
Jordan,
My point was just that. The packaging is misleading.
The sensor bar is necessary for the Wii to function.
Whereas, (since you brought it up) the memory unit and charging cable isn't.
@SDotCiRe
The 360, it is a power brick? Wait. It is power brick? It's a brick? Well, the red ones are.
Oh, I see, you mean its power brick is not shown. Grammar's a bitch sometimes.
They also don't show the plug... I hope people don't think that it doesn't need electricity.
It's not like people are going to open it up and say "dammit, I didn't realize it came with a sensor bar! Back to the store you go..."
I like how Microsoft never shows the RROD. ;)
Is this Wii bigger than the standard one?
Aw man. You beat me too it.
no.. Its the something, diff color...
it runs faster too
whoosh!
but it cant catch a cab
It's in double-HD, and will upscale PS3 games to 2160p.
It's not powered by electricity but fried chicken.
That's what she said.
@ Greyseal
Technically, 2160p would be Quadruple-HD
once you go black...
Is it the same hardware?
yep, just a new case color.. like the macaroni and cheese matte orange gamecube.
and just like that, we probably won't get one here any time soon.
That's what she said.
Yup. So meh. Engadget excited about a freaking new color. Oh wait, actually they're just kissing Nintendo's ass.
It might steal your wallet to buy some crack.
Kidding!
not funny.
Thank you captain obvious. Got any other words of wisdom?
I think its hilarious. Hey! Drop the TV!
Having had and sold a Nintendo Wii. I must say that the black looks very very good, almost good enough to tempt me back into the system. If they just made it HD then I would be all over it. Guess I'll just have to wait a few years until the next generation (by which time Nintendo will ignore a different, important (in my eyes) piece of tech).
I imagine you sold your first one because you didn't like something about it: The play style, game selection, etc.
I don't imagine it being white was on the "why you're selling it" list, so why would the black entice you back? I don't understand why anyone would get all hyped up about the color changing when absolutely none of the hardware is being updated. As you mentioned, no HD!
Well since I've sold it a number of new games have been released, as has the Wii Motion Plus which I have been interested in trying out. The black is just another small thing that I prefer over the original system. However, without HD it's always going to be a no from me.
Keep in mind the fact that the motionplus controller probably won't come in black. Microsoft have been good with controllers and batteries for the elite, but things like the chatpad are still all in white.
Does this thing come with it's own three year shortage with lines outside Toys R Us when they announce they have five of them in stock?
simple yet glossy should be a better fit than the white one on my entertainment system. But i would just get the case... for 40
I SOOOOOOOOOO Want that....then I will put the White one in the kids room.........that white thing is sticking out like an Eyesore in my living room with the BLACK PS3, BLACK Home Theater System, BLACK, Cable Box, Black TV, BLACK Elite Xbox 360....they cant release these in the US fast enough!!!
Nice name.
Nice name.
I agree Chris I will not buy a 360 until I can afford the elite. I never understood why they don't sell the Pro console in white or black. They can keep the Arcade in just white to entice buyers to step up to Pro or Elite.
You're telling me someone else on engadget already took every good derivation of "The Aggie CEO". Good lord.
I think it's hilarious that I've been seeing fake pictures of shiny black Wiis on scammer ads for years now, and when Nintendo finally releases one it. . .looks exactly like the images the scammers were using.
So the finally got around to releasing the Nintendo Revolution...about time.
Wii sales must've really slowed down for them to pull the typical Nintendo add-new-colors-after-everyone-who-wanted-one-bought-one scheme. Now someone just needs to inform them that white and black glossy plastic stopped being "in" about two or three years ago.
Somebody tell Apple that...
They're changing their notebooks to metal, remember. the iPhone can't be metal because of the signal, and I think that the iPod Touch is metal
Funny thing: Sony and MS already did that with the PS3 and 360 since a long time ago...
Both those companies have released different colors, special editions, bundles... this is the first time in almost three years that Nintendo is changing the Wii SKU, so I really don't understand why are you complaining.
Also, you should tell about the glossy thing to Sony too... Nintendo released the DSi with a matte finish, and Sony will release the PSP Go with a glossy finish.
Does it perform better?
Yes...along with black paint, they upped the specs, added HD support and an HDMI connection, and supplied native USB hard drive compatibility. Engadget just chose to write only about the color.
ASK YO MAMA.
Too bad there is still a Wii in the box.
This one will show all the dust from lack of use all the more.
That's cool but the Wii is still a glorified paper weight.
Be shakin' and rubbin' your Wii to get all the dust and fingerprints off it.
Sure not buying one of these. If it was HD then yee-haw. Wish they had this a year ago though.
who doesn't want a black wii? *wink wink
That is pure sex and win.
Its really not. After you open the packaging you then realise its a Wii and that it will provide no entertainment.
But hey, at least the photoshopped packaging looks sweet!
1) Grab you white wii. 2) But black spraypaint. 3) Sell on eBay. 4)????? 5) Profit.
Maybe Nintendo should focus on putting out some quality titles instead of worrying about aesthetics.
To be fair, Nintendo does put out some pretty awesome games...it's the third party games that tend to suck.
1) Grab you white wii. 2) Buy black spraypaint. 3) Sell on eBay.
4)????? 5) Profit.
4) stuff eBay package with cookies; sell Wii on craigslist
cover is cool. contents aren't
Yeah, black is wayy sexier, but everyone who ever wanted a wii, most likely got one by now, it's not going to sell well, maybe black controllers sold seperately will sell. But I'm not getting a new wii just for a new color.
Really, Wii won't sell well? Tell that to NPD.
I don't like the gray stand.
I heard that the black Wiis are bigger.
I herd u liek mudkipz.
(Or was that just the air-conditioning kicking in?)
Mine is already black, from sitting on the back of my bookshelf for so long.....:(
Looks like the Darth Vader Special Edition.