Nintendo is a company that doesn’t like us tinkering around with their systems. However, with the Wii mini, big-N decided to use plain-ol’ philips-head screws. Of course, we saw these and had to take the thing apart.
It’s interesting when we saw the insides just how much space is actually left that could have made the Wii mini even… uh, mini-er. As you’ll see in the pictures, all the input-output (except the power button, if you count that) is on the main motherboard, while the optical reader sits atop it, much like the GameCube internal layout. However, there is a ton of space at the front of the console that is almost entirely unused. This could be for heat dispersion, but there are no vents up front for either intake or exhaust, so that probably isn’t the reason.
Making an even smaller console (the Wii mini isn’t really that mini at all) wouldn’t have cost anything more since the motherboard and components are so small to begin with, so we’re not sure why Nintendo didn’t go super-mini with this, but either way we’re happy. Take a look, and if you feel like tinkering, grab a tiny philips-head screwdriver and get at it! Everything is pretty easy to open up, and there are only about 26 screws holding everything together, all with the same size head.
Or, you know, take a look at our pictures if you’re too lazy or scared to do it yourself!
