Just bought a Wii U. Surprisingly, there were no shortages.
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Speaking purely as a member of the target audience Nintendo has been attempting to market to, the Wii U ads recently have done nothing to attract my interest. It was only seeing footage of Mario 3D World combined with reviews that made me want a Wii U. It also didn't hurt that the launch lineups for the PS4 and Xbox One are atrocious.
SporeCrawler
Member
try tabletop games. great to play while watching tv or something
Deactivision
Member
My feeling has always been that Nintendo didn't want to heavily advertise the Wii U until it was a product they felt proud of. Though they'd likely not admit it, I'm sure launching an unfinished console and all the issues with game releases/third party relations must have been quite embarrassing for them. Now that Wii U has a nice library of high quality games and the system is working as originally planned, it's full speed ahead. Hopefully it's not too late to recover some momentum.
Gamer @ Heart
Member
I'm not sure you are the target audience for those games he mentioned. People like you and me are already very savvy about this stuff and follow the latest news. Mario being amazing is all they need for gamers like us.
I coukd be totally off base. Maybe you're a 30 year old with kids.
You were not the target for those ads. Parents are the targets. It's the holiday season and they want to sell the console to parents who want to buy something for their kids. Check out the Wii U "Pitch" ad and it's pretty obvious.
nikos
Member
Found a brand new Nintendoland bundle on craigslist for $220. Target deal will be around the same price after tax, but I'd have to wait until 12/1, jump through loopholes to get it, and hope they'll have one in stock.
On the other hand, if I found a Mario & Luigi bundle at Target, I could sell those games to cut the cost even further.
Not sure what to do.
On the other hand, if I found a Mario & Luigi bundle at Target, I could sell those games to cut the cost even further.
Not sure what to do.
KilgoreTrout
Banned
The Wii U UI is slow as shit, and not nearly as polished in comparison to both. There's no voice nav. There is the easiness of having the gamepad to quickly navigate through menus though. Although this is somewhat mitigated by second screen support on PS4 and Xbone. There is still the ability (most of the time) to switch what's on the gamepad and TV which makes it somewhat better than the second screen features on other consoles.
I'm the parent of a kid who doesn't hold Nintendo in the same regard as I did when I was a child. The only reason she's interested now is because I am. As far as marketing to me and my wife (also an informed gamer) as parents, Nintendo has failed. Nothing about their ads has been appealing. It wasn't until Mario 3D World that the Wii U became remotely appealing to me or her. My daughter still only cares about it because it's a chance to play co-op with me. She's more interested in tablets and streaming Lego Marvel via Twitch on PS4 to her friends at school. As a long time Nintendo gamer, it's kinda sad to see the lack of appeal the WIi U has for kids.
I have a PS4 and the Wii U isn't in the same ballpark in regards to features, UI, OS, speed, store, account system etc etc. It's honestly night and day. It doesn't even compete well with my 360. If Nintendo put as much thought and care into their OS/UI as they did their games, their consoles could be truly amazing.
Well, they only began advertising the Wii U recently. I was referring to the more recent SM3DW ads, not what they've been doing with the Wii U in the previous months. It's completely understandable, since you've been following the Wii U and you're quite informed compared to the parents who don't follow anything related to gaming, that you feel that way. Again, you're not their target audience because you seem to be well informed with regards to the Wii U. Nothing has appealed to you until now like most people holding off purchasing a Wii U. Their ads are marketed towards parents who don't know anything and are looking for a gift for little jimmy. They've done little in the past to advertise to this audience.
Flying Toaster
Member
This times a million. Could you imagine a UI that Nintendo actually sat down and designed with the same philosophies as their game design.
SturokBGD
Member
I'm a 30-something with kids (who LOVE Super Mario!) and I would say that I'm still not the audience Nintendo are currently aiming for. I'm in the loop, I already own a Wii U because I already know exactly what is. Many of my peers (and their kids) have absolutely no idea. That's who they're aiming for, as they should be.
This is a repeat of the GC years, I remember my wife's cousin having her mind blown at how much more suitable my Gamecube was for her son than the PS2 she had bought him. She just had no idea.
Flying Toaster
Member
Do you think that Nintendo has ever really known it's target audience. Here in America a lot of people that are fans of Nintendo are the same people that had a Nintendo as their first console back in the 80's. It seems the company is confused by who to target as their audience is or who they want their target audience to be.
I think this is key. It's part of the reason they're struggling to sell Wii Us.
megabytecr
Member
Yes it could be better and I can see someone annoyed by it, but IMO it is very basic but gets the job done, I mostly play games, use Netflix and browse the web. For those 3 it gets the job done, I don´t have issues with that.
I don't own a ps4 (or xbo for that matter) but i can tell just from looking at it that the WiiU UI can't hold up because it isn't seamless. the ui is very simple and easy to navigate, but to have to load a friends list, and load the e-shop, and load effing settings... it makes everything slow. If nintendo could have all those things running in the bg where you can just access them on the fly without having to go to a load sequence, It'll at least be a seamless experience. The best way to describe the Wii U's ui is fragmented. Don't get me wrong, it's very functional though.
I would like if things like friends list, browser and the eshop could be ran on the gamepad in tandem with what is on the tv as at least an option. I think this would really really bring the UI together.
the gamepad controlling TV completely makes up for no voice commands for me. Speaking of! The TV remote app is EXACTLY how i was saying everything should work with the ui. It just overlays with whatever you have going on. Its seamless and fast.
GustyGardens
Banned
UI Features?
Xbox One has them both beat in terms of Entertainment Services and features like that. Wii U comes close with Nintendo TVii, which integrates your existing cable and satellite provider, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon to an create a easy to use and navigate environment. This feature also allows you to interact with other people that are watching the show or live event with TV Tag. They update these features consistently, but it's still a bit slow. The Playstation has the services available, but not as integrated as the Xbox or Wii U. Also, the Wii U can also interact with your DVR.
The Overall UI is easy to use on the Wii U. It's a simple point and click; No fuss. There's also some integration with Miiverse that shows off what people, and your friends, are playing. The Playstation 4 has an updated version of the XMB, which is simple and modern, but a bit harder to learn than Wii U. The Playstation also has a similar feed that lets you know what your friends are up playing. Xbox has the least intuitive UI, but the voice navigation makes it easier to move around.
Friends list function very similar on all three systems, but the Wii U falls in to last place because it's a bit convoluted, which is why people prefer the Miiverse method; It makes it on par with the other consoles. All three of them allow for direct messaging and let you see what your friends are playing. The Wii U also has Miiverse, so a users profile is a bit more fleshed out through posts and followers.
And because it's been an issue, the Wii U boots up at around 25 seconds and the Playstation 4 at around the same. The Wii U does not have a suspend feature, but it will download and install updates for you, without having the system on. It'll also install demos you may enjoy. Most recently, Wii Sports Club installed by itself.
Lastly, the Wii U treats each section as its own app. There's a notification app, a settings app and a friends list app. While they're much faster than they were at launch, they're not as seamless as the other consoles.
gamergirly
Member
A little off topic, but people are buying the U:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_3075...112011&ie=UTF8&qid=1385057721&rnid=3075112011
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_3075...112011&ie=UTF8&qid=1385057721&rnid=3075112011
megabytecr
Member
Gladly it seems so. Others have added some anecdotes.
iamaustrian
Member
I will never understand this.
To me the WiiU has the most user friendly and console'lish UI.
I also liked the similar Wii UI way better than the horrible PS360 interfaces.
the PS3 one drove me nuts and the xbox360 made me want to rip my eyes out.
The Wii and WiiUs interfaces may not the be the fastest but they are great to navigate; have a clean and nice look; are extremly easy on your eyes and even small kids "get" them. same goes to the eshop
but to each it's own
tastes are different
Colonel Mustard
Banned
Hey new Wii U owners. Buy EDGE from the eShop. Seriously, it's awesome.
GustyGardens
Banned
And at the polar opposite, Yahoo! News calls the Wii U a dead console walking. Though, the article is not very well researched as it sites New Super Mario Bros. U as its big holiday game and uses this as a reason that the console is in a dire state. This article was written an hour ago.
http://news.yahoo.com/wii-u-looks-dead-console-walking-165029927.html
OminoMichelin
Member
I think it would be incredibly hilarious if we had another wii situation in our hands in terms of sales. EVERYONE would have to eat crow. Every single user of this forum, including me.
But realistically, the wii U will still probably sell about 20m
But realistically, the wii U will still probably sell about 20m
Twenty7KVN
Member
Yahoo is pretty terrible when it comes to anything besides sports.
This. It's only £1.79 in the UK too.
The main problem I have with the Wii U OS/UI is that it's incredibly disjointed. It has the look of something that is a collection of individual parts developed by wholly separate development teams with no one overseeing them to make sure they mesh. It's functional obviously, but it's far from ideal. I'm not trying to bash Nintendo or make you guys feel bad, just giving my opinion after using both the Wii U and PS4 for a short time. I apologize if it comes off as trollish.
Imagine how well Wii U would be selling at Amazon if NOA pulled their head out of their ass and repaired the relationship with Amazon and they started selling WIi Us for MSRP.
This. Just downloading it myself and I have finished it once on PC. One of my favorite indies games.
I don't see the disjointed part to be honest. Out of PS3 and 360 (I haven't used the most recent Dashboards there) Wii U has the best UI in my opinion.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
That's a rehosted article from BGR (Boy Genius Report) which has always had a downer on Nintendo. They are always poorly researched too. An article earlier this year called Iwata a new CEO.
i will.
(two tribes is probably selling a lot of those $2 games. How can anyone resist a good game for a great price??
Developers should really lower their prices on the eshop, and let the crowd of eshop lurkers take everything on impulse buy)
batman2million
Member
If Nintendo was to market this better it would sell really well with the casual market. I think it has a lot going for it being cheaper than the competition. Not to mention the Wii name is pretty well known from last gen, maybe it'll help.
graywolf323
Gold Member
the new prices are insane on Amazon since Amazon themselves still don't carry the Wii U
How can you tell?
Yes, this.
My 2 year old can turn it on, login, Select netflix and start watching whatever she wants.
The UI is very Nintendo. Just does the job with minimal fuss
megabytecr
Member
That would leave crow extinct and major meltdowns.
Wii U sales are a huge WTF at this point, but gamers having a Wii U and not TW101 is even more abnormal.
Impossiburu
Neo Member
That's actually a repost of BGR's story...which, and this fucking kills me, is point-for-point inaccurate.
They suggest NSMBU is the newly released Mario game and that it only sold 13k this week (edit: a few weeks ago, I missed). That's why the Wii U is dead.
Here's that bit.
iamaustrian
Member
Lordwindowlicker
Member
Not anymore it's not.
I don't have it yet... Planning on picking it up sometime though. Already have too many games and not enough time.
How much is EDGE? I am at work and can't look right now.
But... that's a gimmick! :-D
Not to be rude, but you can't be serious. The UI for settings, Miiverse, the main UI, the eshop, the settings in the eshop, etc etc are all different. There's zero cohesion. On 360 it's all the same UI. On PS4 it's all the same UI. I'm willing to bet that the speed issues Wii U has doing pretty much everything is caused by this disjointed approach to OS development. Everything appears to be its own entity and thus needs to be loaded as such. There's no flow whatsoever.
It was worse than what I'm seeing today?
Amazon fulfills orders for many of the retailers that sell the Wii U at stupid prices. So when you see a delay on Wii U orders (it's currently November 23rd on Mario Luigi bundles), it means Amazon ran out. That's a good sign for Nintendo. But it would be far more beneficial to Nintendo to have Amazon sell them at MSRP. It sends a bad signal to customers to see different prices for the same exact product.
adamsappel
Member
Then you have failed as a parent.
Just kidding. My 11-year-old daughter is a huge 3DS gamer, but we haven't played much on the Wii U lately. Pikmin 3 is unopened, Rayman Legends is barely cracked, and SM3DW might be a Christmas present. But, if Nintendo would just throw some money at Notch and get Minecraft, I wouldn't be able to stop her from playing.
Lordwindowlicker
Member
The current, released version of the Wii U interface is far from slow.
I've said that to myself on several occasions. She had a 3DS and traded it in towards a Touch. Fucking kids man. But she's smart, she knows her old man still has one that she can take when she wants it.
Sorry, but I've used all the competition. Wii U is incredibly slow in comparison. Just loading settings takes 5-10 seconds. It's instantaneous on every other console. Ditto for the eshop.
It's also far from fast.
LunarKnite
Member
Thanks guys. Guess I'll need to see if moving it further from the TV will work first...if I can find a spot to place it. Though I still find it weird that the Wii can connect but not the Wii U.
Lordwindowlicker
Member
I own both a Wii U and a Ps4. The Ps4 seems to load more quickly, but after the updates that came earlier in the year I haven't really noticed the Wii U taking a long time to load at all. It's certainly not slow enough to note beside perhaps pointing out that the other two consoles are a bit faster.
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