Fry's selling Japanese Wiimotes

by David Hinkle { Apr 23rd 2007 at 12:45PM }

We don't have any Fry's Electronics around Wii Fanboy HQ, but apparently they are selling off the Japanese model for an extra $10 bucks. As you can see the two side-by-side above, you're not getting anything extra with the Japanese Wiimote, so we wonder if anyone will go for the more expensive model. Also, if there are supplies of the NTSC Wiimote (as indicated by the image above, of course), then what reason would Fry's have for selling the Japanese version?

Would you shell out $10 extra dollars for the Japanese Wiimote?

[Thanks, Nelson!]

Tags: nintendo, nintendowii, wii, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

samred @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:06PM

As of last week, the Dallas/Garland, TX Fry's had ONLY Japanese Wii-motes in stock. Assumedly, they added the controllers to their usual import orders, as the chain also sells import games for the DS and PSP (Jump Superstars, for example) since those systems' imports don't require mod chips or hacks to run. But the price was still only $39.99 for the Japanese remote at my chain, so I dunno whassup there.

Wizky911 @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:11PM

ewww, that $10 i could spend on starfox on the VC. Heck no i wouldn't pay more for a Japanese Wiimote. Unless it does something special, like work with my cable box and tv

Nelson @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:12PM

If you look at the picture I sent in REAL close, you can see that the "A" button is slightly closer to the D-Pad than the North American Wiimote. So i think the Japanese Wiimote is smaller.

nothingrecorded @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:19PM

There is absolutely nothing different about these WiiMotes other then the packaging, several of my local video game stores here in Salt Lake City, Utah have both of these in stock. We are not being jipped by an extra 10$ just because the packaging is different. Again I reiterate, there is NO difference between the two "models".
P.S. The "A" button only appears closer because the packaging bubbles around the button.

Cameron @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:21PM

will this work on U.S. a U.S. Wii

soulbreather @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:23PM

the japanese packaging is almost the same as the ones in the uk

Steve @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:07PM

Umm, it would seem most likely that they ordered Japanese Wii-motes when U.S. ones were sold out everywhere. Then when the U.S. ones sell out, they still have Japanese ones in stock for those who really want / need it. They would probably have to mark them up to pass along the cost of importing.

So basically it's to meet the demand of the consumer in the event that the U.S. Wii-motes go out of stock. That actually seems like a good idea considering the drought that was experienced early this year.