New Wii UPC linked to Play N' Learn product [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 8th 2007 at 12:57PM }

Update: Feeding the UPC provided by Codename Revolution into the 'UPC Database' yields a listing for "Wii Play N' Learn." More edutainment?

[Original Headline: "Rumor: New Wii on the horizon, SKU creates questions"]

Codename Revolution reports that a distributor contact says a "second Wii console" called "New Pack" is on the way. The UPC linked to this item apparently belongs to Nintendo, but no further information is available. Considering both Microsoft and Sony have had big console news in the last few months, it would seem only fair for Nintendo to get in on the action. But really, Nintendo just needs to get Wii on shelves to sell them. Why incentivize a system that retailers can't keep in stock anyway? If the new SKU pans out, it'll be interesting to see what it actually is.

Tags: sku, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:03PM

Maybe they are including Super Mario Galaxy in the bundle at $290 dlls. A $10 in saving.

Hirsbrunner @ Oct 8th 2007 1:15PM

Or, maybe they're dropping BC for GCN games.

felixlighter @ Oct 8th 2007 1:16PM

I would be very surprised if they packaged a game that is guaranteed to sell incredibly on it's own, especially considering that the hardware sales do not need any help.

megaStryke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:17PM

OH SNAP! NO MORE GC BC! SCOOP OF THE CENTURY!

NaeemTHM @ Oct 8th 2007 1:17PM

Remember the days when gaming companies would released ONE fucking game console for that generation?

...yea I miss those days.

What's with the 800 different PS3's and 360's?! I get SO pissed too when a new console that is faster and less prone to death is released and I'm stuck with my FUBAR 360.

xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 8th 2007 1:21PM

One can only wish that itd be a Mario Bundle =) Id buy it but its very doubtful

sheppy2.0 @ Oct 8th 2007 1:26PM

@Naheem,

Actually, no. No I don't. Because, depending upon the time you bought the system, all sorts of game/peripheral packins were made available. This follows all the way up to current times.

DG @ Oct 8th 2007 1:26PM

I don't remember the days of gaming companies releasing one console for a generation at all. There was the NES Control deck with nothing but the system and a controller, or the NES Power Pack with an extra controller and (if I'm not mistaken) R.O.B. the Robot.

The Sega Genesis went through three designs in total, not counting the CDX or Nomad, and the SNES two. Come to think of it, the NES also had two designs.

That's to say nothing of the PSX vs. PSOne, the PS2 Slim, the GCN without modem connectivity, or the Sega Saturn with different buttons.

Gaming companies re-releasing their systems is far from being anything new. They've also done this.

Jake @ Oct 8th 2007 2:19PM

I bet it is a Mario bundle. It wouldn't be the first time Nintendo has packaged the game everyone is getting anyways.

Laner @ Oct 9th 2007 9:43AM

@ Naemthm's misplaced rant

Multiple SKUs and revisions are as old as videogames themselves. The Atari 2600 had five major revisions (and several smaller ones). The Playstation 1 had at least 6. And that's just hardware - not counting various game pack-in promotions and such.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:05PM

The only thing I would guess it needs is DVD support. Maybe thats the new sku.

..or maybe the new one comes with a plunger so you can cosplay as Mario!

megaStryke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:06PM

Probably just a new bundle pack. I wouldn't hold my breathe for an extra Wii Remote, but maybe they'll throw in a Classic Controller.

Of course, there were those discussions way back when about a possible DVD-playing Wii, and if that's what this is, I predict a whole lot of flack against Nintendo for screwing over early adopters.

In fact, I predict at least four pages of comments just because of this rumor.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:07PM

242 comments

xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 8th 2007 1:20PM

@samfish

242??? uhhhh NO

more like 85

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:06PM

Getting Wii Fit out before Xmas and bundling it would be so smart it's telepathic.

Actually, just getting Wii Fit out before Xmas would be smart alone. Incredibly stupid that it won't be, though.

My Guess: a black Wii with either Zelda, Paper Mario or Brain Training.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:12PM

They don't need WiiFit to sell console this holiday.

They need WiiFit to sell consoles AFTER the holiday.

Count Noobula @ Oct 8th 2007 1:14PM

That is my guess as well. A black Wii that is bundled with software. The software I would guess would be Zelda, Metroid, Paper Mario, Warioware, or possibly Super Mario Galaxy. But if it has any of those then I would guess that it won't include Wii sports.

I highly doubt that this model has DVD playback, Nintendo would have too much of a backlash from its current user base.

megaStryke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:18PM

mr nimblewick, I saw what you did there. Nice.

Raikage (NDF - PK THUNDER RING) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:06PM

Yeah I'm thinking something like Rocker. Maybe Mario Party or one of their other casual games (Cooking Mama, Brain Academy, Wii Play, etc.)

Princess Skittles @ Oct 8th 2007 1:11PM

Hopefully this is nothing more than a bundle of some sort, like a Family Pack that comes with a second remote and nunchuck and Wii Play. Hardware revisions are a disaster for Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo should be it sweet and simple.

kingrottenboy @ Oct 8th 2007 1:13PM

my friends brother girlfriend works as a ups driver and drops off alot of stuff at nintendo and she says the extra 40 dollars will allow the wii to be completely backward compatible with the ps2

NATO_Duke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:27PM

Nice.

But what did his dog groomer's sister's fiance's uncle's golfing buddy who knows a guy who once drove by a Nintendo display at Walmart have to say about it?

blehh @ Oct 8th 2007 1:13PM

(crosses fingers) wii with hdmi ports?

megaStryke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:19PM

And SUPERblu-Ray?

Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 8th 2007 3:39PM

LOL... for 480p and DPL II? What would be the point?

FOXHOUND @ Oct 8th 2007 1:13PM

Of course, it's a total longshot this would happen, but a SMASH BROS BRAWL bundle would be neat-o torpedo. :o

Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:16PM

A Smash Bros bundle will cause that Japan sinks in the ocean with the amount of money in the accounts of Shigeru and company.

jorojoserojas @ Oct 8th 2007 1:15PM

I'm thinking a new bundle as well...

...but maybe, just maybe, they upgraded the storage. If that's the case, then please release something that I can buy as well...no more room for more VC games on my Wii. =(

zero2dash @ Oct 8th 2007 1:16PM

Graphical power of two Wii's duct taped together?

*zing!*

lebowsky @ Oct 8th 2007 1:17PM

First off, this is pretty old news. Second, the prices listed in this article are Canadian dollars. Third, the current price of the Wii in Canada is $289.99. This this new SKU is a price increase of 1 cent. Obviously this isn't a Wii with a new pack-in game or with the zapper. It is probably the Wii with the new Wiimote jackets included.

megaStryke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:20PM

Thanks for killing the dream.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:23PM

So... Nintendo isn't screwing early adopters? Don't they know that's where the industry is heading? Well, I guess Sony and MS will continue to show the way.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:25PM

Black Wii confirmed!

NATO_Duke @ Oct 8th 2007 1:28PM

Killjoy.

zk13 @ Oct 8th 2007 2:58PM

agreed. the Wii with jackets would be different than the current bundle (which I managed to snag recently), so essentially, it could have a different SKU.

but with the price bump, they've got to be throwing in a game...

then again...don't Wiis cost more in Canada? anyone know the price difference?

cyx @ Oct 8th 2007 3:12PM

Pack-in jimmy jackets for my black Wii.
Pool is clo-hosed.

driven2sin @ Oct 8th 2007 1:25PM

they are ducttaping a DS Phat to the Wii

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:26PM

They should start bundling Wiis with classic controllers, Wii Points cards, and a little pamphlet explaining the Virtual Console. Get those suckers hooked. It's like a free taste of crack before you start charging.

jorojoserojas @ Oct 8th 2007 1:30PM

Heck yeah...I got 3 of my non-gaming co-workers to buy a Wii simply for the VC. They all couldn't wait to play the original Super Mario Bros.

ThornedVenom @ Oct 8th 2007 1:26PM

They're charging an extra 40 dollars for the black color.

You didn't hear that from me. ;P

PS: I'd LOL real hard if the +40 bucks was to go HD.

James @ Oct 8th 2007 1:36PM

DVD player and coloured units.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Oct 9th 2007 7:47AM

That would mean more than one SKU.

If it's referred to as "Play n Learn", maybe they're swapping out Wii Sports for Big Bucks Acadamy or something. Why on Earth is Nintendo going to include freebies and games if they can't meet demand as it is? Nintendo is probably already mad that they didn't charge more money for it, or at least try to sell memory cards separately.

My guess is that it's just a market shake-up.

Mr Khan @ Oct 8th 2007 2:00PM

$40 extra would have to be a bundle-pack, most likely similar to what PS3 is doing in US, with a game that wouldn't sell as well anymore on its own (Motorstorm) but is a nice bonus. Something like WarioWare, Mario Party 8, Super Paper Mario, or maybe some pre-loaded Wii points and a Classic Controller

DVD compatibility couldn't cost an extra $40, HD compatibility would SLAUGHTER early adopters, since we are generally those who are hungriest for that compatibility, but extra on-board memory (that NAND RAM is expensive stuff) is a definite possibility, although not by much