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[guek]

A-HA!!!!

Rockstar has removed any mention of nexgen consoles from their job listing.

While not a confirmation of anything, it's possible that it was removed because it's referring to the Wii U and nintendo doesn't want anyone hinting or referring to it in any context. Hell, darksiders II ads aren't even aloud to use the Wii U logo yet.

Or it could have just been a mistake

 

[Lupin the Third]

I absolutely don't see this. A lot of those pieces capture LoZ perfectly, imo. Would that exact style be perfect for a video game? Probably not, but they have a nice feel to them, and some of the elements I would like to see in the game, especially with the use of minimalistic color pallets.

I didn't like them when I saw them as a kid and I only like them a little more now. I don't think they deserve the praise other GAFfers give them, but I can appreciate them to an extent. I like how Zelda looks in that Triforce picture, for instance. But it doesn't evoke "Zelda" to me, just kind of a weird generic fantasy vibe. Like they're pulled from some old AD&D supplement or something.

That said, I think the limited color palette idea makes plenty of sense. There's definitely room for experimentation there.

Mostly, I remember when the first Wind Waker teaser trailer was shown and thinking "this is different." It took me a while to warm up to it, like with most people. However, I couldn't help but think one thing at the time, with "Mario Sunshine" already shown off/released/whatever: "Why isn't Mario cel-shaded and Zelda realistically shaded?"

Mind-bogglingly enough, Nintendo has YET to try a cel-shaded Mario game. Why the heck not? It's a perfect fit!

 

[Penguin]

THQ is apparently working on 2 secret Wii-U titles, if true i wonder if they will be any good.

http://www.nintendo-town.fr/index.p...n-reserve-pour-wii-u&catid=84:wii2&Itemid=183

Yeah I assume one title is WWE '13, I mean I believe every game has been on the Wii so why not the Wii U.

I would also assume they could retro fit a few of their uDraw HD titles into like a launch comp or something. Not like anyone played em

 

[Sadist]

Mind-bogglingly enough, Nintendo has YET to try a cel-shaded Mario game. Why the heck not? It's a perfect fit!

'cuz he's papershaded!

 

[Deguello]

It will be a good game... it just won't be Kid Icarus.

It's hard to say exactly what the original Kid Icarus was since it was an amalgamation of three game designs, and each was sorta crappier than the source. It was one-third frustrating vertical/horizontal platformer, one third really bad Zelda Dungeon crawl, and one third (big secret) shallow rail shooter.

Since the original didn't even know what it wanted to be itself, it's hard to exactly pin down what it was with any definitive certainty, thus there are no "roots" to "betray." That Sora focused mostly on the first and last parts of the list above shows they didn't just want to make a Zelda clone with Kid Icarus instead of Link, and it's probably for the best.

 

[Father_Brain]

I would be totally impressed if Nintendo pulled an Apple with Wii U at E3. They're historically pretty tight-lipped, but not THAT tight-lipped.

That's completely impossible for a console, though, because retailers need at least a few months of advance notice to decide order numbers, how to reorganize shelf space, etc. Apple can only pull off a 10-day announcement->release window because they control their own distribution and retail channels.

 

[Lupin the Third]

That's completely impossible for a console, though, because retailers need at least a few months of advance notice to decide order numbers, how to reorganize shelf space, etc. Apple can only pull off a 10-day announcement->release window because they control their own distribution and retail channels.

Two words: Sega Saturn.

Not that it worked in their favor....

e: Similarly, I don't think it's a good idea for Nintendo either. We want developers to be sure their finished products are good and done. Saturn launch games were pretty much all abysmal or at least mediocre.

 

[Father_Brain]

Two words: Sega Saturn.

Not that it worked in their favor....

Besides being a complete disaster, the Saturn stealth launch was only possible because it happened in 1995, before the Internet took off as a viral news medium. If Nintendo or any other gaming company tried that today, it'd be all over Twitter within an hour of appearing in the POS system.

 

[-WindYoshi-]

What about Xbox Slim eh? There were rumors only shortly before E3 IIRC.

 

[EloquentM]

What about Xbox Slim eh? There were rumors only shortly before E3 IIRC.

We knew abou a month before and there were a lot of rumors leading up to it as well

 

[Lupin the Third]

We knew abou a month before and there were a lot of rumors leading up to it as well

"Knew" is speaking pretty broadly there. We heard rumors that seemed pretty credible. We didn't even see the system until it leaked on an Italian ad banner like right before E3.

I'm not saying I expect Nintendo would or even CAN pull off a surprise Wii U launch, I'm just saying it's not impossible. Nowadays, rumors will always exist, however. So it can never be a perfect surprise. But it's not like we'll have a deluge of details or even necessarily an exact date prior to its official announcement.

 

[JonnyBrad]

What about Xbox Slim eh? There were rumors only shortly before E3 IIRC.

That's a little different. It wasn't the release of a whole new console. You didn't have studios making games for it/leaking things left right and centre.

They did a better job of secrecy with their slim than Sony however lol

 

[JJConrad]

The Xbox Slim and the typically new Apple product are entirely different from launching a new console. They don't create a new market, they only add to the existing market. There's no new branding, no new software, and only a limited amount of new accessories to be considered. So a surprise WiiU launch isn't just a surprise console launch, but a surprise launch of the every game and everything with it. The possibility of anyone pulling that off is so low, it might as well be considered impossible.



Wow... Last page already...

 

[waicol]

Well they could just announce a fake release date just before E3 to set the internet on fire. this to just pull a Saturn after an amazing conference.

 

[[Nintex]]

"Knew" is speaking pretty broadly there. We heard rumors that seemed pretty credible. We didn't even see the system until it leaked on an Italian ad banner like right before E3.

I'm not saying I expect Nintendo would or even CAN pull off a surprise Wii U launch, I'm just saying it's not impossible. Nowadays, rumors will always exist, however. So it can never be a perfect surprise. But it's not like we'll have a deluge of details or even necessarily an exact date prior to its official announcement.

I think the surprise isn't going to be: "Launching at E3" but rather "Launching in July". August is out of the question so either they gun for July(early?), September or wait for the big November push.

 

[Lupin the Third]

The Xbox Slim and the typically new Apple product are entirely different from launching a new console. They don't create a new market, they only add to the existing market. There's no new branding, no new software, and only a limited amount of new accessories to be considered. So a surprise WiiU launch isn't just a surprise console launch, but a surprise launch of the every game and everything with it. The possibility of anyone pulling that off is so low, it might as well be considered impossible.



Wow... Last page already...

Thing is, though, is that we already know a console is coming this year. The only surprise would be its arrival date. We already expect leaks about additional hardware and games being announced. As long as Nintendo keeps the date secret close enough to launch to consider it an Apple-level (or at least near-Apple-level) surprise, I'd say they've done pretty darn well.

e: Just like [Nintex] suggested: they wouldn't likely attempt a Saturn, but a one- or two-month lead time could be pretty impressive.

 

[Chittagong]

There is zero benefit doing a surprise launch. It's not like consumers would go "oh wow, really caught me off guard there, I am so impressed, take my money."

Nope, you would rather build some demand first.

 

[EloquentM]

The Xbox Slim and the typically new Apple product are entirely different from launching a new console. They don't create a new market, they only add to the existing market. There's no new branding, no new software, and only a limited amount of new accessories to be considered. So a surprise WiiU launch isn't just a surprise console launch, but a surprise launch of the every game and everything with it. The possibility of anyone pulling that off is so low, it might as well be considered impossible.



Wow... Last page already...

I honestly think that nintendo is looking for a fall launch window. Is this thread getting locked at page 400?

 

[Wolfie5]

If it launches early, like July, I think it will be Japan only. For US/EU it will be a Fall release.

 

[canadian crowe]

I'm hoping for a summer release, and then do some bundles and games for the Christmas season.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I think the surprise isn't going to be: "Launching at E3" but rather "Launching in July". August is out of the question so either they gun for July(early?), September or wait for the big November push.

Wait, why is August out of the question?

 

[[Nintex]]

I honestly think that nintendo is looking for a fall launch window. Is this thread getting locked at page 400?

I'm not sure about a fall launch window. It seems to me they want it out by July, NoE, NCL and NOA are releasing most or their remaining Wii games within the next 3 months. There's nothing that indicates they've yet to announce a bunch of Wii titles or that they still have a number of Wii games in production(I'm sure they'll release 'something' for Wii during the fall but it's probably just another left over). The 3DS is also back on track to the point that games like Animal Crossing 3DS had their release dates moved behind the scenes.

Wait, why is August out of the question?

August is usually a slow summer month on the hardware side, and without the Madden hype all around slow in Europe and the various NoE branches/distributors always plan their summer holidays in August.

 

[Souldriver]

Yup. Sounds about right for Ubi.

One of the most apt graphs I've seen on gaf. The Wii third party situation was utterly ridiculous.

 

[udivision]

Is there a history of consoles launching in the summer?
The only launches I was aware of were Wii and PS3.

 

[Pociask]

While I don't expect Nintendo to surprise/stealth launch the Wii U after E3, I definitely think it's possible they'll show some kick-ass video reel of surprise titles, drop launch date and price, and then say that all the titles shown are playable on the show floor on final release ready units.

Too bad we all know Reggie will come up and awkwardly intro demonstrations of the great new experiences not possible on any other consoles. When a journalist asks about the hard core being abandoned, Reggie will say, what, isn't Mario and Mii, Wii Relax, and Animal Crossing: Rehash core?

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Is there a history of consoles launching in the summer?
The only launches I was aware of were Wii and PS3.

November-December has been the most common for the last couple generations, and before that September-October was pretty common. But for some exceptions, at least in some parts of the world--

PS2 was a March release in Japan.
N64 was a June release in Japan.
NES was a July release in Japan.
SNES was an August release in the US.

Bringing portables in,
3DS was February/March around the world
GBA was March in Japan and June elsewhere
PSP was March in the US
Vita will be February for US/EU

 

[blu]

Ok, gaf, good job - thread's been a decent source of leaks. See you all in the Wii U Speculation OT2: Mind Your Other More Vital Bodyparts

 

[Fess]

I don't care when it launches, just make it launch simultaneously through the whole world. I'd go crazy if I had to wait half a year for it to launch in Europe. Feels like I've waited for this thing since forever.

 

[EatChildren]

If someone wants to make a new thread please do so I can lock up this one.

 

[Anth0ny]

I don't care when it launches, just make it launch simultaneously through the whole world. I'd go crazy if I had to wait half a year for it to launch in Europe. Feels like I've waited for this thing since forever.

If it launches with Pikmin 3 in Japan a month earlier than North America, I'd be forced to import ; _ ;

 

[Sadist]

Guess Clovingsteam made one

 

[MDX]

If it launches early, like July, I think it will be Japan only. For US/EU it will be a Fall release.

There you go, but reverse that.
Makes no sense launching in Japan first after E3. They'll launch in Japan after TGS.
Then symbolically we'll have a western focused console.

 

[EatChildren]

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

Continue discussion here.