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[SpookyBlackFish]

If the specs are true, I will definitely not buy the Wii U.

Greetings!

Why? Because it will lack the AAA(A) games from the other next gen consoles due to its lower power? Or it may be too expensive concerning its innards? Or do I not get the sarcasm?

Otherwise this is a kind of statement I do not fully understand. Let's say, which is very likely, there will be quite some games on this console that will provide great and detailed visuals and/or beautiful artstyle.

Is it impossible to enjoy those games, just because one knows that a couple of numbers on some sheets read like this or like that? Like "I cannot play this crap, because the beauty that we see here runs on something that is only comparable to a 10.1 feature set."? This puzzles me a little. Or a lot.

 

[Ushojax]

No one developed for those consoles.

Huh, then who made all those GC/Wii games that I own?

Shyamalan.jpeg

 

[The M.O.B]

Console RAM is not desktop RAM.

.

Plus people saying "Why not add 1 more gig, it will only cost a few dollars more". A few dollars more for you, but when you are manufacturing millions of these things, that $5 of additional ram you added just took away $50 million of potential profit when they pass the 1 million sold mark.

I don't know the actual cost of the ram, or potential profit but you get what I am saying. Every thing they add on will cost/earn them millions of dollars in the long run. That $5 of extra ram could be the difference in Nintendo losing money on the WiiU for a year, or breaking even from the start.

As a consumer it is natural to want these things, but in the business world it isn't so simple.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Question for people who know this stuff:

If the Wii U's processor really is just a beefier version of the Wii's, is it going to be relatively easy for the Dolphin people to figure out how to emulate Wii U games? Of course it'll be harder to run, but is it likely that we'll be able to play Wii U games with bonus features one or two years after the console launches?

Correct.

If the CPU architecture is similiar that leaves only the much more powerful GPU to be emulated.

Which means, as you said, it will be similiar to Dolphin (maybe Whale?) but it will require more powerful PCs to run.

Actually I can see NSMB Wii U running pretty well on a hypothetical Wii U emulator on a high-specced PC in 2013.

 

[Seance]

For $149 i'm down.

If these specs are correct then GAF is going to have some tasty breakdowns. Can't wait.

 

[The M.O.B]

Correct.

If the CPU architecture is similiar that leaves only the much more powerful GPU to be emulated.

Which means, as you said, it will be similiar to Dolphin (maybe Whale?) but it will require more powerful PCs to run.

Actually I can see NSMB Wii U running pretty well on a hypothetical Wii U emulator on a high-specced PC in 2013.

This is Nintendo. You think they didn't see the millions of people downloading Wii games and playing them on Dolphin without even owning a Wii?

If the 3DS security and architecture is anything to go by, WiiU will be nigh impossible to emulate.

 

[Ushojax]

For $149 i'm down.

If these specs are correct then GAF is going to have some tasty breakdowns. Can't wait.

The breakdowns are happening already. As always the average consumer wontgive a shit and will buy the hardware for Mario, Wii Fit, etc.

 

[specialguy]

.

Plus people saying "Why not add 1 more gig, it will only cost a few dollars more". A few dollars more for you, but when you are manufacturing millions of these things, that $5 of additional ram you added just took away $50 million of potential profit when they pass the 1 million sold mark.

Yup, and thet might conceivably be aiming for 100m+ consoles sold when all is done (though given how I think the Wii U will do I'm not on board with that, just talking about Nintendo's thinking). Given PS3 and 360 are both near 70m and Wii near 100m shipped.

$5x100m is half a billion dollars over the life of the console.

Of course in no way would I ever support any manufacturer cheaping on hardware though. Just pointing out how fast the dollars add up.

The breakdowns are happening already. As always the average consumer wontgive a shit and will buy the hardware for Mario, Wii Fot, etc.

Worked for Gamecube. Sorry couldn't help it

 

[Number45]

For $149 i'm down.

As far as I can gather Nintendo are trying to strike a balance between getting what power they can, but I guess they're desperate to keep the launch price down (learned from the 3DS launch). The components listed in this leak may be "cheap", but people seem to be forgetting that they also have to factor the pad into the launch price. :/

As it stands I'm pretty happy with the thought of Nintendo games in HD looking as good if not better than current gen and with 5.1 (The thought of Metroid Prime in 5.1 is lovely). Just need to see the games, and the official pricing. Roll on tomorrow.

 

[Seance]

The breakdowns are happening already. As always the average consumer wontgive a shit and will buy the hardware for Mario, Wii Fit, etc.

What we have seen so far is nothing. Can someone fill me in on why the Zelda demo is impressive? I can't see anything that's outstanding other than the lighting. Can't imagine PS360 being unable to pull of those visuals.

 

[The M.O.B]

What we have seen so far is nothing. Can someone fill me in on why the Zelda demo is impressive? I can't see anything that's outstanding other than the lighting. Can't imagine PS360 being unable to pull of those visuals.

It's not about whether the PS3 or 360 can pull of the same visuals, the tech demo looks great, full stop.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Worked for Gamecube. Sorry couldn't help it

No, it's very true.

Occasionally Nintendo hits a nerve and finds success, but they've had just as many misfires.

And while I think the Wii name will carry it to a degree of success, I wouldn't be surprised that it will be muted in comparison. Especially if Sony and MS don't have any insane blunders.

 

[Goodlife]

What we have seen so far is nothing. Can someone fill me in on why the Zelda demo is impressive? I can't see anything that's outstanding other than the lighting. Can't imagine PS360 being unable to pull of those visuals.

HTH's

It's all very well saying PS360 can do these things, but fact of the matter is they are never going to have a Zelda game on them.

This is the first HD zelda game people have seen.
This is why it's so impressive.

 

[shark sandwich]

I may not be reading this right, but doesn't this...

PowerPC architecture.
Three cores (fully coherent).
3MB aggregate L2 Cache size.
core 0: 512 KB
core 1: 2048 KB
core 2: 512 KB
Write gatherer per core.
Locked (L1d) cache DMA per core.

...imply that the three cores aren't all the same?

Is that relevant?

Yeah this part is really interesting. I wonder if there are other differences between the cores.

 

[Thrakier]

Well, no, I played SS on Dolphin. And impressive surely isn't the right word for it. It's "ok" for 2012 and it'll look bad as soon as nextgen arrives.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m95l52Uw121rbwcyao1_500.gif[IMG]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GWya1.gif[IMG]

HTH's

It's all very well saying PS360 can do these things, but fact of the matter is they are never going to have a Zelda game on them.

This is the first HD zelda game people have seen.
This is why it's so impressive.[/QUOTE]

This is sort of depressing...

 

[Clairvoyance]

Well, no, I played SS on Dolphin. And impressive surely isn't the right word for it. It's "ok" for 2012 and it'll look bad as soon as nextgen arrives.

Just like how Wind Waker looks bad now.

 

[M°°nblade]

Greetings!

Why? Because it will lack the AAA(A) games from the other next gen consoles due to its lower power? Or it may be too expensive concerning its innards? Or do I not get the sarcasm?

Otherwise this is a kind of statement I do not fully understand. Let's say, which is very likely, there will be quite some games on this console that will provide great and detailed visuals and/or beautiful artstyle.

Is it impossible to enjoy those games, just because one knows that a couple of numbers on some sheets read like this or like that? Like "I cannot play this crap, because the beauty that we see here runs on something that is only comparable to a 10.1 feature set."? This puzzles me a little. Or a lot.

Apparently.

Why ask a question when you already give part of the answer?

There are a thousand reasons why poor hardware is bad.

 

[mrklaw]

If you could run a particular Durango game on Wii U at 720 p vs. 1080 p at 30 fps with relatively minimal loss of detail (at least foreground detail, things may stream in closer up in open world games), good lighting, and still have decent texture quality. That would be flattering.

I could be wrong but I think most devs will either not bother with ports or they will be substantially downgraded. Sub HD, inconsistent frame rate, slashing details/object density, substantially lower texture resolution with pronounced texture streaming, tearing, dramatically reduced lighting.

Why would I even come to such a conclusion? Because so far, none of the ports from the previous gen are doing anything visually impressive thus far and we even have reports of some big ports currently looking like ass. So, if they are willing to show that, I really have no hope for ports from machines 10 times more advanced :/

Best case - the WiiU slowly gets ports that improve over PS3/360 with at least higher res textures etc. When the PS4/720 comes out, the WiiU is good enough (and has enough publisher support) to get reduced spec PS4/720 ports - more like lower end PC versions.

worst case - publishers put WiiU in the 360/PS3 camp. So they'll get current games ported, and when the PS4/720 come out, the WiiU will follow the 360/PS3 into getting separate quick development of mostly licensed stuff while the PS3/360 still have a decent market.

 

[MarkMclovin]

So thing thing could be out in less than 2 months yet we still don't know anything about the hardware?

Jesus.

 

[Goodlife]

This is sort of depressing...

Yeah, guess for PS360 only owners it kind of is

 

[zoukka]

i don't recall the textures in kameo being as detailed as that hand.

Kameo, pfffft

 

[mrklaw]

But why would Nintendo do this?

They haven't stopped talking about extra support from 3rd parties and how lack of support hurt the Wii.

Why then would they design something that makes support harder for the first year or two?

because what they talk about, and what they do are two separate things. I don't think they care about third parties. They develop their hardware to suit their internal teams and what they want to do. Then tell third parties and see what happens.

Of course they want more 3rd party support - who wouldn't? But not to the extent where it impacts how they develop the machine.

 

[M°°nblade]

Best case - the WiiU slowly gets ports that improve over PS3/360 with at least higher res textures etc. When the PS4/720 comes out, the WiiU is good enough (and has enough publisher support) to get reduced spec PS4/720 ports - more like lower end PC versions.

worst case - publishers put WiiU in the 360/PS3 camp. So they'll get current games ported, and when the PS4/720 come out, the WiiU will follow the 360/PS3 into getting separate quick development of mostly licensed stuff while the PS3/360 still have a decent market.

ambigue case- Publishers put the Wii U in the casual camp, they won't even get current games ported. Instead, publishers will release Wii U exclusive games for a different audience like they did for the Wii. The good news is, this development could continue independently of a PS4/720 launch.

That's actually an even worser case for core gamers but at the same time a better scenario for Nintendo.

 

[opticalmace]

Yeah, guess for PS360 only owners it kind of is

You'll do well around here.

 

[Iceblade]

So thing thing could be out in less than 2 months yet we still don't know anything about the hardware?

Jesus.

On the consumer end--that is, accessibility side of things--we know everything we need to know about the hardware already, if we're talking inputs, outputs, specifications. It's nothing knew for the big 3 to keep the innards under lock and key until somebody finds out themselves.

 

[EloquentM]

So thing thing could be out in less than 2 months yet we still don't know anything about the hardware?

Jesus.

since the gamecube have we ever known anything in detail about nintendo hardware?

 

[Unknown One]

On the consumer end--that is, accessibility side of things--we know everything we need to know about the hardware already, if we're talking inputs, outputs, specifications. It's nothing knew for the big 3 to keep the innards under lock and key until somebody finds out themselves.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the case for the PS3, 360, and the Vita.

 

[Erasus]

Weird how there is no ethernet and optical out....

Reciver is what, 6 years old now, but does dolby & dts 5.1 great. But only has a toslink port.
And running through the TV speakers.... lol

I wonder if the CPU is really just 4 higher clocked Broadways together in one chip or if there is a new architechture.

GPU seems good though!

Low internal memory, I have way more than 8GB PSN games as a comparison...

RAM is very good compared to PS3/360 but when next gen comes.... They will probably have 2GB minimum.

 

[Number45]

You'll do well around here.

I don't see anything wrong with his statement - it's pretty clear that this is going to be a significant step up for fans of Nintendo games on home consoles who want to play them with improved graphics and sound (and more control options). How they fit into the grand scheme of things isn't an issue for everyone.

 

[Spinluck]

HTH's

It's all very well saying PS360 can do these things, but fact of the matter is they are never going to have a Zelda game on them.

This is the first HD zelda game people have seen.
This is why it's so impressive.

I have yet to see a PS3 or 360 game look that good though.

 

[EloquentM]

I have yet to see a PS3 or 360 game look that good though.

good thing those .gifs are of a tech demo then.

 

[Number45]

I have yet to see a PS3 or 360 game look that good though.

Well, we haven't seen one on Wii U either.

Seriously though, I don't see what's so special about the first GIF. The second looks lovely.

 

[zoukka]

I have yet to see a PS3 or 360 game look that good though.

It's not surprising considering that is not a game at all.

 

[Varjet]

Seriously though, I don't see what's so special about the first GIF.

That's Twilight Princess.

 

[Daschysta]

Well, we haven't seen one on Wii U either.

Seriously though, I don't see what's so special about the first GIF. The second looks lovely.

The first one is Twilight Princess.

 

[EloquentM]

Well, we haven't seen one on Wii U either.

Seriously though, I don't see what's so special about the first GIF. The second looks lovely.

the first is there to show the difference between the hardware (gamecube/wii(?) versus Wii U). Also, apparently that tech demo was using twighlight princess assets.

 

[Goodlife]

Seriously though, I don't see what's so special about the first GIF. The second looks lovely.

First one is Twilight Princess

 

[Triple U]

Yup, and thet might conceivably be aiming for 100m+ consoles sold when all is done (though given how I think the Wii U will do I'm not on board with that, just talking about Nintendo's thinking). Given PS3 and 360 are both near 70m and Wii near 100m shipped.

$5x100m is half a billion dollars over the life of the console.
Of course in no way would I ever support any manufacturer cheaping on hardware though. Just pointing out how fast the dollars add up.


Worked for Gamecube. Sorry couldn't help it

Thats kind of a moot point though. Things don't stay the same price for 5-6 years. It just depends of the frugality of the platform maker.

 

[MadeInBeats]

This thread is almost 30 pages, so forgive me for asking, but regarding the CPU, they're just talking about the architecture being the same as broadway, but not the clockspeeds or anything else, right?

Yes, and even then it contradicts IBM's multiple statements that POWER7 will be used.

Wrong. OP tells us nothing about the CPU.

 

[Diablos]

Will it have an optical drive for BC? The specs would tell me they planned for being able to play Wii games on it in HD.

 

[Canis lupus]

Will it have an optical drive?

To put in your discs?

edit: quoted fast, it has BC only for Wii, both retail and digital.

 

[Diablos]

To put in your discs?

Yes. All I see is 8GB of internal storage + SD and hard drives.

 

[SpookyBlackFish]

Apparently.

Why ask a question when you already give part of the answer?

There are a thousand reasons why poor hardware is bad.

This question / answer thing sometimes is a part of my behavior. I gave two possible ones among thousand as you say there may be. Well, I guess there is nothing to discuss about any further. If someone says 'bad specs no buy', this could be reason enough to him or her. Even if someone says 'purple power-on LED no buy', reason enough. I'll leave it to that.

 

[zoukka]

Also, apparently that tech demo was using twighlight princess assets.

Yeah no.

 

[Number45]

That's Twilight Princess.

The first one is Twilight Princess.

First one is Twilight Princess

Haha, I'm an idiot.

FACT: I played Twilight Princess through component and found out after I'd completed it that the component inputs on my amp were borked - so I played the entire game with a distinct yellow hue assuming that was intentional.

 

[brain_stew]

So the OS will take a share of the 1 GB RAM?

No the RAM used for the OS Isn't specified here.

 

[Black-Wind]

Yeah no.

Hmm? I thought the it was confirmed TP assets in some interview. Got any source that says otherwise?

good thing those .gifs are of a tech demo then.

Zelda tech demos have a proven history of looking like shit compared to the actual LoZ games released on the system.
Nintendo's conservative when making them ... which makes that all the more impressive to me.

 

[Shokio]

Don't know why everyone is taking this as fact. They did after all say, "Our anonymous sources."

Don't get me wrong, those specs are, O.K., (but JUST O.K) but I really think Nintendo would put more ram than THAT into the system.

I understand that some people like EC have said this is what they heard. But for the longest, many people on this site have rumored HEAVILY on 2 GB RAM, with 512 of the RAM being dedicated to the OS/multi-tasking. Now all the sudden this pops up, and they've switched their claim to "Oh yeah, it's really 1 gig."

And then, we have multiple developers commenting on the impressive amount of RAM the Wii U has.

Michel Ancele from Ubisoft for instance:
"-Wii U has an enormous amount of memory
"- almost no limitations in terms of memory"

Sumo: "The Wii U has way more memory, so we can take advantage of that with less compression on elements and textures"


I understand 1 gig might feel real good to devs since they've been working with only half a gig all gen, but still, I don't think devs would use the term "enormous" or "a lot more" if we're talking just 1 gig.

The CPU talk is also confusing to me. It may make sense to a lot of you, and I know about the whole "Espresso" guy on the Beyond forums, but keep in mind, all because something makes sense, doesn't mean it's true. It can just be well thought-up rumors to create max credibility.

If I sound like a dumbass cause maybe I'm missing something, please don't hurt me :< I'm just a confused noob here wanting a clear explanation lol.

Anyways, we're only 2 months for launch, so really all this speculating is pointless. At this point we should just wait in see. Still alright specs though. Alright.

 

[lherre]

I don't see anything special in the zelda tech demo too ... (with anything special I mean nothing that we couldn't see in current gen machines).