How do I know if a Wii is backwards compatible with Gamecube games?

Is there a way to tell?

All new Wiis built after... November 2011 or so are not backwards compatible, so if you're buying a new console off a shelf it will not be.

Thankfully, Nintendo changed the packaging to make them easy to distinguish. If the Wii is showing standing up on a stand, with the Wii logo perpendicular to the disc drive- basically the stock image of the Wii used everywhere in 2007- then it IS backwards compatible. If the Wii is show sitting on its side with no stand (New consoles don't come with them) with the Wii logo parallel to the disc drive, then it isn't.

Amazon splits the two models apart in their listings so;

This is what you want:

http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Nintendo/dp/B0009VXBAQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372534151&sr=8-2&keywords=Nintendo+wii#replacementWidget

This is what you DO NOT want:

http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Wii-Console-Black-Sports-Resort/dp/B009M72E5Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1372534151&sr=8-3&keywords=Nintendo+wii

If your buying a bundle, also check the games; for example, the Mario Galaxy Soundtrack CD only comes with non-BC Wiis.

Red Wii supports Gamecube.
Blue Wii does not.

Yeah a new backwards compatible Wii might not be worth it. Countless used consoles out there by now.
Presumably a limited number are made for repair service, as Japan still gets the ports (even vertical stand!).
But I haven't heard much recent about Nintendo fixing an older Wii.

Only thing with older Wii models is they do not come with a Remote Plus. You have to buy an attachment which makes the Wii Remote extra-long.

Not a big deal, but me personally I'm perfectly happy with my non-BC Wii I bought a year and a half ago. Then again, there aren't very many GC games I'd spend money on and most of the good ones have inflated to ridiculous prices anyway.

The GC Metroid and Pikmin games for example both have Wii releases and Wind Waker is getting an HD remake on Wii U. Would have liked to have seen F-Zero get the Wii treatment though...

Look to see if it has Gamecube controller and memory card ports on the side of the system....

Three ways actually:

1. Check for GameCube controller ports and memory cards slots on left panel, if it doesn't had one then it's not compatible.

2. Check Product ID: RVL-001 = Original Wii, RVL-101 = Wii Family Edition, RVL-102 = Wii Mini

3. Check box, if the picture on box had a vertical stand Wii then it is the original, if it had a horizontal laydown Wii then it is the Family Edition.

Ryan Si posted...

Only thing with older Wii models is they do not come with a Remote Plus. You have to buy an attachment which makes the Wii Remote extra-long.

Not a big deal, but me personally I'm perfectly happy with my non-BC Wii I bought a year and a half ago. Then again, there aren't very many GC games I'd spend money on and most of the good ones have inflated to ridiculous prices anyway.

The GC Metroid and Pikmin games for example both have Wii releases and Wind Waker is getting an HD remake on Wii U. Would have liked to have seen F-Zero get the Wii treatment though...

I guess. The bottom line here is don't intentionally seek a non-BC Wii.
Throwing away money for less, used at least.