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[Kusagari]

"We would like to show the final format of the Wii U at the E3 show next year. As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch."

In the same meeting the Nintendo boss said he feels "greatly accountable for missing our financial forecast for the half year ended September and revising downward our forecast for the full year".

He explained: "The company was unable to launch much-anticipated first-party titles for the Wii nor for the Nintendo 3DS in a timely fashion in the first half of the term. In the game platform business, creating momentum is very important, but the momentum was once lost, and it has had a large negative effect on our sales and profits."

If the games weren't coming along then they should have just delayed the launch instead of doing exactly what Iwata promised they wouldn't.

 

[Nirolak]

Madden isn't coming to Wii U?

So far Madden has only been announced for 360 and PS3 in every press release about the game.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Smash being on wiiu won't help much when it will also be on 3DS at the same time. It's cross platform ala monster hunter.

You really believe smash Wii U and 3DS will be the same? I bet its gonna be something like pokemon X compared to pokemon mystery dungeon. It aint gon be the same thing dude.

 

[Pie and Beans]

I think the bigger worry for Wii U (in August) would be missing out on the Madden 25 and GTA 5 hype trains.

With Pikmin in August, when is Mario 3D or Mario Kart realistically even possible? As you said, September is GTA month, but then that leaves October before a PS4 and/or 720 launch in November. Theyve achieved worst case scenario. Its over.

The X and Bayo 2 threads were legendary. The tears of joy during 3D Mario and Smash, can't wait!

Well most family members usually do turn up to a funeral.

 

[BlackJace]

If the games weren't coming along then they should have just delayed the launch instead of doing exactly what Iwata promised they wouldn't.

I agree. Absolutely nothing learned, really.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

There will definitely be tears.

I can't even imagine the pressure those guys must be under. It will not be enough for them to look ''ok''. They need to be absolutely excellent.

 

[TheNatural]

So far Madden has only been announced for 360 and PS3 in every press release about the game.

Wow. I noticed this about FIFA the other day as well. I never thought EA may just to a flat out complete pull from Nintendo platforms, but I guess it may be happening.

 

[Soriku]

Smash being on wiiu won't help much when it will also be on 3DS at the same time. It's cross platform ala monster hunter.

Smash is traditionally a console franchise so I think it'll do more for the Wii U than 3DS unless the easy connectivity with portables really blows up.

 

[TheDrowningMan]

If anything, they front loaded the launch too much. Nintendo should have requested that third parties spread the games out. I believe that it has a similar number of games relative to its time on shelves as the 360 & PS3 did. It's no N64 in that sense, but the current drought makes it feel like it.

 

[Cheebo]

You really believe smash Wii U and 3DS will be the same? I bet its gonna be something like pokemon X compared to pokemon mystery dungeon. It aint gon be the same thing dude.

They aren't going to halfass it on 3ds. That's their core main system. The way they announced it made it very clear its one game and on both platforms. Not two different games.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

So far Madden has only been announced for 360 and PS3 in every press release about the game.

Hmm. Did not know that. That's positively troubling. I guess Dreamcast confirmed.




Cheer up, Nintendo dudes. NFL 2U incoming.

 

[Daingurse]

If the games weren't coming along then they should have just delayed the launch instead of doing exactly what Iwata promised they wouldn't.

Yep, there would be waaaay fewer gripes with the console then. Last Gen or not at least you'd have games.

 

[BlackJace]

With Pikmin in August, when is Mario 3D or Mario Kart realistically even possible? As you said, September is GTA month, but then that leaves October before a PS4 and/or 720 launch in November. Theyve achieved worst case scenario. Its over.



Well most family members usually do turn up to a funeral.

Now I'm convinced you exist solely as a doomsayer :/

 

[Jarmel]

They lost some money in Tomb Raider. Well if 3-5 was SE's goal, I think it's going to fall pretty short until it hits the discount bin.

 

[SolarPowered]

It's pretty sad when people hope for consoles to fail. I can understand crappy games but consoles...why?

Consoles can't be crappy?

 

[shinra-bansho]

Your right Nintendo is to blame but not because of arrogance. The launched Wii U ill-equipped. Software (price) is the problem and thats the bottom line cause stone cold says so.

There's plenty of arrogance. It's a different kind of arrogance to the "Get a second job," that Sony portrayed, but it's arrogance still.

They bought into the idea that they're really just that much more innovative and trendsetting.
They bought into the idea that their franchises were just that much better than everyone else.
And that people would buy their $350 system because of that.

 

[hatchx]

I imagine at the time they signed the deal it didn't seem like a bad idea.

I mean looking at the success of the Wii and DS, especially among their target audience, guessing that the Wii U and 3DS with a strong co-marketing push from Nintendo could lead to great results doesn't seem unreasonable if you're looking at this from early 2011's perspective.

The game certainly gets a little more notoriety being a new exclusive on a new machine, however much it is failing. In fact, it probably got a little MORE attention due to being an exclusive on a struggling machine.

These Wii U sales are just pathetic though. I think the problem runs deeper than the games. Unless they have 5 of the top 10 GOTYs this year, no one is going to notice. They need major brand reinvigoration (*cough drop the 'Wii' name*) and some major marketing.

My friend came over the other day. He loves Battlefield and COD. I showed him COD on the Wii U (he had never even heard of the Wii U) and he was really impressed. He told me he was going to buy a Wii U to play COD from now on. I didn't have the heart to tell him how grim things were, and how small a chance the system has to keep getting CODs.

 

[Katana_Strikes]

Well look on the bright side, there's ~60k more WiiU owners out there then there was last month. *shrug*

 

[A Human Becoming]

PS3 passed 24 million this month I believe.

That would probably put March's number > 125k.

 

[Scum]

So far Madden has only been announced for 360 and PS3 in every press release about the game.

I don't think there'll be a WiiU version, to be honest.

 

[Snowden's Secret]

Smash being on wiiu won't help much when it will also be on 3DS at the same time. It's cross platform ala monster hunter.

Nintendo has never released a cross platform game and I doubt they'll start with Smash Bros. They'll be two separate games with some mild connectivity features.

 

[Zoramon089]

They aren't going to halfass it on 3ds. That's their core main system. The way they announced it made it very clear its one game and on both platforms. Not two different games.

No it didn't. In fact, it made it sound like there was a different focus in both games

 

[Tagg9]

Smash being on wiiu won't help much when it will also be on 3DS at the same time. It's cross platform ala monster hunter.

I can't see anyone choosing a 3DS version of Smash Bros over a console version.

 

[Miles X]

That would probably put March's number > 125k.

I said passed not hit, probably 220k+ this month at least.

 

[Ridley327]

With Pikmin in August, when is Mario 3D or Mario Kart realistically even possible? As you said, September is GTA month, but then that leaves October before a PS4 and/or 720 launch in November. Theyve achieved worst case scenario. Its over.



Well most family members usually do turn up to a funeral.

November for Mario and December for Mario Kart, like they already did for the 3DS' first holiday?

I don't see how that's even remotely impossible to achieve; the MK team works fast (too fast, in the case of Mario Kart 64), and there's an entire team at EAD Tokyo that hasn't released anything in a while.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Do you really think that is going to happen when they hire some suit that is concerned more about money then their fans? Star Fox and F-Zero are c-tier franchises and new IPs are huge risks so why waste resources on them when you could instead milk Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc. even more?

Yeah I see what you are saying , I just miss those franchises

New ips are a huge risk yes and every game has started as a new ip. If you have great, talented 1st party couldn't they introduce something new, fresh along with a price cut for the system?

They are meant to be highly talented people, every property is a risk

 

[TheDrowningMan]

With Pikmin in August, when is Mario 3D or Mario Kart realistically even possible? As you said, September is GTA month, but then that leaves October before a PS4 and/or 720 launch in November. Theyve achieved worst case scenario. Its over.



Well most family members usually do turn up to a funeral.

PS4 / Xbox aren't going to leap out of the blocks like an Apple product, especially if either company ends up being idiotic enough to go over $350.

 

[Gonzo The Great]

Your right Nintendo is to blame but not because of arrogance. The launched Wii U ill-equipped. Software (price) is the problem and thats the bottom line cause stone cold says so.

Because of arrogance. They thought a convoluted mini-game collection and a New Super Mario bros. Wii clone (as much as I love it, there's no denying that it bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor) would be enough to entice consumers. At the hefty price of $349.99, and in a world where families are spending what little money they earn on iOS devices, not a chance in hell. The people who think the PS4 and Xbox 720 are going to fly off the shelves in spite of this are also delusional.

 

[Dave Meltzer]

It's pretty sad when people hope for consoles to fail. I can understand crappy games but consoles...why?

Because it will force Nintendo to TRY HARDER.

 

[Jarmel]

Waiting for dat WiiU news.

 

[Kandinsky]

I'm just hoping MH3U did good enough to get MH4 next year, game is amazing.

Smash being on wiiu won't help much when it will also be on 3DS at the same time. It's cross platform ala monster hunter.

In other words, you know absolutely nothing about Smash 4. Got it.

They aren't going to halfass it on 3ds. That's their core main system. The way they announced it made it very clear its one game and on both platforms. Not two different games.

Dude it was actually the opposite.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

They aren't going to halfass it on 3ds. That's their core main system. The way they announced it made it very clear its one game and on both platforms. Not two different games.

Where did I say half ass? Pokemon mystery dungeon aint half assed its a different type of game.

There's plenty of arrogance. It's a different kind of arrogance to the "Get a second job," that Sony portrayed, but it's arrogance still.

They bought into the idea that they're really just that much more innovative and trendsetting.
They bought into the idea that their franchises were just that much better than everyone else.
And that people would buy their $350 system because of that.

Arrogance..nah they really botched the launch though.

 

[Brainiac 8]

Please let that be true.

This is where we're at now? Now we are hoping a game company fails just because they don't make stuff we like.

 

[Majmun]

I don't think there'll be a WiiU version, to be honest.

Can't wait to see EA's reasons for not releasing Madden and Fifa for the U

 

[A Human Becoming]

I said passed not hit, probably 220k+ this month at least.

That's why I put the greater than sign. And with 360 at 261k, I'd expect 200k-220k.

 

[Yopis]

I don't think there'll be a WiiU version, to be honest.

Bet Madden will come to WiiU, just not Madden 25. The press release was just for the full featured Maddens. WiiU will get a cheap port of madden 12.5 or something probably.

 

[UberTag]

Nintendo released the Wii U too early. It's not arrogance, they literally have nothing significant ready till the second half of this year. No one's buying a console with no games.

Next time they'll do better and won't release a system on par with 8-year-old hardware too early. They'll wait until it's on par with 9-year-old hardware and has some games to go along with it.

Wii U 2 in 2022. Boy, does that sound catchy!

 

[TheDrowningMan]

Next time they'll do better and won't release a system on par with 8-year-old hardware too early.

Hahahahahahhaa

Oh, these people.

 

[Soriku]

Because of arrogance. They thought a convoluted mini-game collection and a New Super Mario bros. Wii clone (as much as I love it, there's no denying that it bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor) would be enough to entice consumers. At the hefty price of $349.99, and in a world where families are spending what little money they earn on iOS devices, not a chance in hell. The people who think the PS4 and Xbox 720 are going to fly off the shelves in spite of this are also delusional.

I really don't think they believed it'll fly off shelves themselves.

 

[Can Crusher]

If Fifa and Madden don't come out on the WiiU then holy Dreamcast repeat.

 

[TheUnknownForce]

With Pikmin in August, when is Mario 3D or Mario Kart realistically even possible? As you said, September is GTA month, but then that leaves October before a PS4 and/or 720 launch in November. Theyve achieved worst case scenario. Its over.

I do agree that the Wii U at this time is at the worst case scenario. They have a system that has had a meh first-party launch lineup followed by no major first-party release and pretty much no third-party support now or going forward as far as we can see. To top it off, it is currently against cheaper systems with much greater lineups now and going forward. They have a hardcore fanbase shrugging without new major releases and casuals moving on to other platforms or confused by the marketing. There is literally no worse the situation can get. And when I think about it, that might be the best position at this point, because there is nowhere for the system to go but up (or flatlining entirely). Iwata will get bashed, but he will note that they have "lots of big games" coming this FY to save his ass. Next FY will be their attempt to rebirth the system before the new systems launch. If not, Iwata's out next April.

However, in regards to your other comment, I feel a 3D Mario and Mario Kart are not something that can't release on the same month as a Sony or Microsoft console launch. In fact, it would probably be the best time to try and take away people who might be close to pulling the trigger on the other two consoles. Nintendo's biggest issue will be whether the other two consoles are close to the Wii U in price. It's not like the same people who would buy a system for Mario Kart or new 3D Mario would be the exact same people buying a PS4 for Killzone: Shadow Fall or NextBox for another Forza.

 

[Tenki]

They aren't going to halfass it on 3ds. That's their core main system. The way they announced it made it very clear its one game and on both platforms. Not two different games.

You should check your facts.

 

[UberTag]

Wow. I noticed this about FIFA the other day as well. I never thought EA may just to a flat out complete pull from Nintendo platforms, but I guess it may be happening.

EA has bailed from dying platforms before.
I oughta know. I owned a Dreamcast.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

So far Madden has only been announced for 360 and PS3 in every press release about the game.

Even if a Wii U version is planned, announcing it at the last minute will have the same effect of not announcing it at all, it won't move hardware even a little bit. Every football fan who walks into Gamestop between now and launch is going to say "Okay, PS3/360 it is". Though I really, really doubt MS and Sony will go an entire E3 conference without announcing Madden '14 for their next gen consoles.

 

[Scum]

Can't wait to see EA's reasons for not releasing Madden and Fifa for the U

It will be a crappy PR excuse and they'll get away with it too.

Bet Madden will come to WiiU, just not Madden 25. The press release was just for the full featured Maddens. WiiU will get a cheap port of madden 12.5 or something probably.

Yeah. That'll be EA alright. lol

 

[chubigans]

I really don't think they believed it'll fly off shelves themselves.

If they didn't believe it, then holy crap, what are they doing.

 

[Ridley327]

EA has bailed from dying platforms before.
I oughta know. I owned a Dreamcast.

They didn't bail on a dying Dreamcast; they didn't even show up at all!

 

[Chinpoko_Master]

There's plenty of arrogance. It's a different kind of arrogance to the "Get a second job," that Sony portrayed, but it's arrogance still.

They bought into the idea that they're really just that much more innovative and trendsetting.
They bought into the idea that their franchises were just that much better than everyone else.
And that people would buy their $350 system because of that.

I would say that it's more overconfidence than arrogance.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Do you really think that is going to happen when they hire some suit that is concerned more about money then their fans? Star Fox and F-Zero are c-tier franchises and new IPs are huge risks so why waste resources on them when you could instead milk Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc. even more?

Because when they were doing well, like say, the SNES era, they made all of those games. I'm only there now when a new Zelda comes or new F-Zero comes out. Then....I might look at some of the other games on the console. Smash Brothers? I have the last two, but I'm not going to get one day one. I don't know what Nintendo's strategy nowadays, largely because I don't really look their way and also how I feel I've been burned in the past by them. I love my GC, not so much my Wii and I'm not a Wii U owner presently.

 

[Katana_Strikes]

If Fifa and Madden don't come out on the WiiU then holy Dreamcast repeat.

Were the Wii versions of these worthy sellers? Seems like these games won't be worthwhile sellers on U for EA to bother.