Just under a decade ago, publisher THQ released Big Family Games, a Wii title which hoped to follow in the famous footsteps of Wii Sports with its own family-friendly, motion control minigames. If you haven't heard of it before, that's likely because it never reached those high levels of success, but there's a rather comical PR stunt story to be told surrounding it anyway.
To spark media interest in the game, THQ supposedly sent a golden Wii console to Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, so that she could enjoy flinging digital horseshoes at chickens in her spare time. Since then, the whereabouts of this special Wii has been largely unknown - especially since you can't just send any old item to the Queen - so where is it now?
Amazingly, one man has actually set out to track it down, even if that means flying around the globe to do so. That man is Chris Bratt, host of People Make Games and ex-video producer for the good folk at Eurogamer, and he's created this ace little video below showing his discoveries. If you're a fan of incredibly random Nintendo trivia, this one's for you:
Above all, we're happy to see that it still exists and is being loved to this very day, even if not by the Queen herself...
[source youtube.com]
Comments 33
Easy,the Queen gave the console to Lord Lucan.
Will have to watch this at some point
I didn't know if there was a GOLD Wii.
Is that PAL region Only ?
Can someone tldr this for me till I get home and can watch?
Good thing he got it before Soulja Boy does.
@boatie with a collector. the video is great, tho, watch it!
@Anti-Matter It was specially made by THQ just for this purpose - they were never available to buy or anything 🙂
@ryancraddock
Aw, snap.
I thought it will be available for purchase.
He probably paid the most for his Wii U since you know only 1 of those things was ever made
I can't watch this right now but I hope there's some thrilling Corgi-related story
That video was gold. Thanks
A collector, "Dan", in the Netherlands (Utrecht, specifically).
You're welcome.
@ryancraddock @Anti-Matter
Actually, there was a golden Wii you could buy at some point.
Only three made in total and... Well, it's actual gold plating with actual diamonds as buttons on the console.
So you could have gotten it for as cheap as £299,995.00
https://stuarthughes.com/shop/luxury-gadgets/games-consoles/nintendo-wii-supreme-the-worlds-most-expensive-games-console/
I've got a golden wii remote https://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Zelda-Skyward-Limited-Remote/dp/B005KJLAOQ
@Kirgo Yes, there's a few people that will make any console gold for the right price.
Remember the $5,000 gold version of the Analogue NT NES? (when arguably even $500 for the normal version for what was effectively a modded AV Famicom was ridiculous)
@1UP_MARIO I see what you did there
I'll just stick with my golden Wii Remote+ that I got with Skyward Sword. It still sees frequent use.
Is it truly gold-plated? Or just painted?
If it is gold paint, it seems like it would be very easy to fake... how does the collector know it is authentic?
Vinyl (of N64Forever.com)!!! Great collector and extremely knowledge guy!!
@holygeez03 If you know the mass of a regular Wii, the mass of the gold plated Wii, the volume the Wii occupies, and the density of gold, then you could probably determine if it is fake gold or real gold.
For a fun time, say the title of this article out loud to the next person you see. Enjoy the ensuing hilarity!
The queen isn't exactly young anymore. When my Grandmother was that age it was hard enough for her to simply walk or use a TV remote. The Queen looks healthy on TV, but I wonder how much of that is just careful media presentation.
Not saying she's gonna die or anything. Just that it would likely be extremely hard, if not almost impossible for her to enjoy motion control games anymore.
@Heavyarms55 I mean, she's gonna die.
But, regardless, I think you're right.
It's one of those... unfortunate facts of life.
@nonprophetmusic Well yeah, she is gonna die eventually. But what I meant was, she isn't on her death bed.
Only in England.
You'd never see that in America. Here you see consoles for everyone.
And opportunity.
And stagnating income for the majority.
And stark class delineation.
And a President who...uh...who...
Hooray for the Queen!
@TheDanslator well now I can’t unhear it .. the article is ruined, I say!
@nintendosage Make that 2 Wii Us. I have one as well. Unless you intended that as a joke.
Obviously it was traded into GameStop for less than $4
I make the golden Wii ever morning. Best Wii of the day!
No wonder THQ went out of business.....
I had no idea lizard people could play computer games.
Solid Gold Wii, now I wish him the best of luck with the search for the Solid Gold GBASP.
I SO wanna play Goldeneye on that Wii.
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