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[Jonm1010]

Personally as long as the games load fine I couldnt care less about the OS. It would be cool if the OS is better but its really not a deal breaker. All of the extra online/OS Sony talked about sounded awesome, but most of the games they showed looked like the same boring games we are getting now so I'm not sold yet.

Except they are taking a pretty long time to load. And it's gonna seem even worse once Sony and microsofts systems hit and load times are much improved. I mean I can completely see myself having trouble going back to having to wait thirty minutes to play a digital download when the console right next to me boots up the first level only moments after I click the download button.

Blame the hackers. Nintendo is obviously reinitializing much of the OS each time you switch an app as to prevent hackers access to the root of the machine.

I'm not sure "blame the hackers for our shitty OS" sounds good from a marketing perspective. Nor do I think that explains everything.

 

[ChosenPredator]

Knack reminds me of Xbox 360 release title Kameo so I think it will be a pretty good game that in a few years everyone will be asking for Knack 2

 

[Gadirok]

Nintendo isin't stupid. They will keep rolling out software for the wii-U and try to play it safe.

They have a different method of competing against the Playstation.

If you guys haven't noticed already, they shifted their focus on games with the wii because they couldn't compete with the Playstation in the same niche. N64 and Gamecube was there to prove it.

The wii was their answer, why do you think they are going with wii-U? Because of the success of the wii.


Personally, its not playstation that will fuck up Nintendo this time. Its Nintendo themselves, if the masses aren't interested in the wiiU. Nintendo software will be amazing for the Nintendo faithfuls and it probably will deliver from the wiiU standpoint but I have a feeling it will be a mild success. Nothing like the wii was, doesn't seem as innovative.


Now sony on the other hand, seems to be going "all in" on remote play this time. Not the half assed shit with PSP and PS3. It gives consumers a reason not to be interested in the offscreen gimmick from the wiiU when they are offering the same gimmick themselves for games aimed at a more mature demographic.


I think there is a way for Nintendo to fix their mess easily. Software is always the right answer, but the proper promotion would be to promote this thing with the 3DS since that is a proven success. Get your 3ds users to buy a wiiU.


Thats what sony is doing with the vita and PS4. It may or may not work since its completely optional.


Either way, I though Sony's conference was a mess when I watched it on the live stream, but after thinking about it for a few days they hit most of the right spots for a console reveal.

They showcased the possibilities of next gen Playstation, the jump in graphics, GAMES, gameplay possibilites (I wasn't happy when I heard move was returning but we will have to wait and see if Media Molecule can deliver and the fact that the Playstation Eye wont be a required purchase as a new camera peripheral comes with the console is a added bonus, only requires a move controller this time around much better decision with consumers in mind so we don't have to buy 3-4 additional peripherals to play a game), have remote play off the bat, and showcased what they plan to do with cloud service.


They just need to begin showcasing what they are doing and get out of the planning phase by E3, which is by demonstrating what the PS4 can and will do by launch day. That is all I am interested in. Long term possibilities are great, but we know Remote play will work right off the bat, but for how many titles will gaikai provide for us at launch? I'm guessing none.

 

[entremet]

I don't think so. Both companies are really it safe and not deviating much from their core user.

 

[BD1]

Except they are taking a pretty long time to load. And it's gonna seem even worse once Sony and microsofts systems hit and load times are much improved. I mean I can completely see myself having trouble going back to having to wait thirty minutes to play a digital download when the console right next to me boots up the first level only moments after I click the download

Nintendo has specifically addressed this issue and promised an update to improve the speed. Spring and Summer updates have already been announced?

 

[Maxrunner]

After watching Sony conference announcement of Diablo 3 for PS3/4 is just nod the head thinking if there's a game really good for wiiu is diablo3 but NOA can't do shit for making deals with these third party developers...

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

Yesterday showed that the WiiU is capable of handling downgraded ports of early PS4 titles.
They obviously can't match the graphical fidelity, but if the controller is used in an innovative way, it could make up for it.
The problem for Nintendo is that they aren't building a big enough user base to make 3rd parties care.

I think that the WiiU will perform slightly better than the Gamecube in terms of sales, and support.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I think that the WiiU will perform slightly better than the Gamecube in terms of sales, and support.

That would be a disaster.

 

[Herb Alpert]

I'm pretty sure a number of Sony studios still haven't shown their work. Which means plenty of potential new reveals at E3.

I'm also pretty sure microsofts announcement will come before E3.

Not to mention Microsoft has the real problem of lacking first party developers. I'd bet that a majority of Microsoft game reveals will be either associated with next gen kinect or will be third party. Meaning Sony will be getting them too.

My real concern for Nintendo is how they will be able to manage this transition to HD development. Will they actually have the big gun franchises ready to roll in time for ps4 and 720's launch? Nintendo has always taken their time with their franchises, but have all their teams properly transitioned and adapted to mitigate the added time it takes to make HD games with modem techniques so we aren't looking at even longer periods of drought for Nintendo franchises then previous gens? It'll be great if they show smash brothers, mario kart, Zelda, metroid and Mario galaxy 3 at E3. But it will be all for nothing if they can't get most of them out by the holidays.

That concerns me as well. I think the transition explains the drought in the last 2 years of the wii, and it is said that they hired a lot of people, which partly explains their financial losses. They took their time with HD (to say the least) and watched a lot of japanese studios struggle with HD transition, if they diddn't learn anything and didn't anticipate properly, then they deserve to be doomed!

Once these awful first months are passed (the late arrival of devkits may be a possible partial explanation) they will have a more steady stream, with retail, DL, VC...

 

[Jonm1010]

To the casual consumer, the PS4 games will not look THAT much better. I guarantee it. In fact, when discussing gaming during the current gen with average folks I have never once heard anyone mention the difference between Wii and PS360 graphics. It's always about the games themselves or the controllers. Wii motes and Kinect. Nintendo's biggest problem right now is appealing to the mass market. The bigger badder hardware will always get the dude bros and the "hardcore" types. Is that enough to sustain them? I dont know. What Nintendo needs to keep bringing in are the average consumers that buy systems because they see a game or something they feel like they want in their homes. Not "ZOMG THEM GRAFFIX" types. But Nintendo is failing at that. Maybe if they did a better job making Joe Walmart feel like he's getting the fun new gaming system and a tablet instead of convoluted commercials that make him think Wii has a new controller.

Nintendo needs more than just the casual gamer and soccer moms though(though they do need them as well). Casual gamers that buy the wii for wii sports and wii fit and then throw the thing in the closet til Christmas to pull it out and play it with relatives for a night isn't going to sustain their consoles. Though they do have their role.

And I'm pretty sure even Nintendo acknowledged this and that is why they initially spoke so much about attracting the "hardcore." Cause the hardcore buys more then one game every other year.

I wonder is Nintendo's model suistanable in the face of the rising development costs associated with an HD console while having to rely almost solely on the hardcore Nintendo fanbase for sales. Since casuals seem disinterested and the non-Nintendo Sony/Microsoft/PC crowd sees little that is compelling them at the moment and hasn't cared about a new Mario Kart or Zelda.

Nintendo has specifically addressed this issue and promised an update to improve the speed. Spring and Summer updates have already been announced?

Ill believe it when I see it?

 

[Van Owen]

Yesterday showed that the WiiU is capable of handling downgraded ports of early PS4 titles.
They obviously can't match the graphical fidelity, but if the controller is used in an innovative way, it could make up for it.
The problem for Nintendo is that they aren't building a big enough user base to make 3rd parties care.

I think that the WiiU will perform slightly better than the Gamecube in terms of sales, and support.

What happened yesterday that proved it can handle down ports?

 

[popeutlal]

Yesterday showed that the WiiU is capable of handling downgraded ports of early PS4 titles.
They obviously can't match the graphical fidelity, but if the controller is used in an innovative way, it could make up for it.
The problem for Nintendo is that they aren't building a big enough user base to make 3rd parties care.

I think that the WiiU will perform slightly better than the Gamecube in terms of sales, and support.

Better support from Nintendo or 3rd parties? Currently there is no support for Wii U from 3rd parties, or even Nintendo besides the two half assed launch games.

Do you believe Wii U will actually get ports from 3rd parties in the future?

 

[Ingueferroque]

No one buys a Nintendo system to be wowed by its graphics or tech, at least not as their main focus.

Nintendo's selling point has always been their quality first party.
That being said, the WiiU need to start releasing more first party games to stay relevant.

But wouldn't their first party games have even more potential if they had power like the PS4 to draw from? Why would you not want to see a Mario game on PS4-level tech? Wouldn't hurt anyone.

Seeing the PS4 made me a bit upset at Nintendo, the way they handle hardware design lately seems like it cares more about build cost (since they sell it to us at a high price anyway (both 3DS and WiiU are not cheap). If gaming was just up to Nintendo, we'd probably see little if any hardware spec evolution.

It's obvious most of the cost of 3DS goes into the 3D screen, and most of the cost of Wii-U goes into the gamepad. I guess that's where I disagree with them.

I know it's superficial, but the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 and Gamecube made me really excited because the hardware specs actually pushed a lot of gaming's conventions forward. We might not have seen games like Metroid Prime or RE4 (on a Nintendo system) if back then they operated with their current hardware strategy.

 

[Jonm1010]

Yesterday showed that the WiiU is capable of handling downgraded ports of early PS4 titles.
They obviously can't match the graphical fidelity, but if the controller is used in an innovative way, it could make up for it.
The problem for Nintendo is that they aren't building a big enough user base to make 3rd parties care.

I think that the WiiU will perform slightly better than the Gamecube in terms of sales, and support.

If the wiiU gets the level of support from third parties as the GameCube did I'd be absolutely shocked. That would be an improvement over wii and im not sure that's gonna happen unless sales of wiiU's and third party software begins to climb for the system.

 

[hokahey]

Nintendo needs more than just the casual gamer and soccer moms though(though they do need them as well). Casual gamers that buy the wii for wii sports and wii fit and then throw the thing in the closet til Christmas to pull it out and play it with relatives for a night isn't going to sustain their consoles. Though they do have their role.

And I'm pretty sure even Nintendo acknowledged this and that is why they initially spoke so much about attracting the "hardcore." Cause the hardcore buys more then one game every other year.

I wonder is Nintendo's model suistanable in the face of the rising development costs associated with an HD console while having to rely almost solely on the hardcore Nintendo fanbase for sales. Since casuals seem disinterested and the non-Nintendo Sony/Microsoft/PC crowd sees little that is compelling them at the moment and hasn't cared about a new Mario Kart or Zelda.



Ill believe it when I see it?

I don't think they need more than their hardcore fans and casual consumers. What they need is to a better job keeping both factions satisfied and coming back for more. Well, right now they need to first get them to the table.

I question the substainability of massively expensive hardware with ridiculous gaming production costs more than Nintendos model. Nintendo is just fucking up their marketing and missing that one title that hooks the average gamer and or enthusiasts.

If these next consoles are over 400 then I don't see them performing so well. Gaming on those machines will be more of a niche hobby.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

I'm sure the WiiU will eke out a healthy enough life. I may even still get one down the line for all the potentially great games in the works.

Nintendo survived with inferior hardware most of this gen, their latest hardware is an improvement over that at least. The biggest problem is being a next gen system that is struggling against current gen competition.

Nintendo just needs to do whatever is necessary to prove to 3rd parties that it is a profitable platform to continue making software for. Nothing else really matters to its health, or its fanbase. Anyone who has cared only about getting the next gen system with the most superior hardware has done so and will continue to do so.

I wonder is Nintendo's model suistanable in the face of the rising development costs associated with an HD console while having to rely almost solely on the hardcore Nintendo fanbase for sales. Since casuals seem disinterested and the non-Nintendo Sony/Microsoft/PC crowd sees little that is compelling them at the moment and hasn't cared about a new Mario Kart or Zelda.

Many publishers are claiming they don't anticipate next gen dev costs to increase greatly. Should that be true, Nintendo is theoretically investing nearly the same amount of money in AAA WiiU projects that AAA PS4/XB3 will incur, but as you say will be attracting virtually none of the customers who are only attracted to AAA titles. By this time next year, most of those people will take one look at a WiiU game and won't even consider it AAA.

We'll see I suppose. It just seems to me that time and time again, Nintendo finds a way to hang on.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

double post, sorry

 

[Parmenides]

Nintendo released a console on par with platforms that have shipped 150 million units.

The pubs and devs do not care about the new console so the two established consoles are selling 4-5X more units than Wii U,without resorting to price cuts.

PS360 is now, Nintendo's biggest problem.For instance,a PS3 price drop would do more damage to Wii U than the launch of the PS4.

Sony/MS strategy is working just fine: the Wii collapsed and now its successor is stuck between two generations.PS360 are stealing Nintendo's money and undermining the Wii brand on behalf of the PS4720.

It's the first mover disadvantage at its finest.

 

[Effect]

Nintendo released a console on par with platforms that have shipped 150 million units.

The pubs and devs do not care about the new console so the two established consoles are selling 4-5X more units than Wii U,without resorting to price cuts.

PS360 is now, Nintendo's biggest problem.For instance,a PS3 price drop would do more damage to Wii U than the launch of the PS4.

Sony/MS strategy is working just fine: the Wii collapsed and now its successor is stuck between two generations.PS360 are stealing Nintendo's money and undermining the Wii brand on behalf of the PS4720.

It's the first mover disadvantage as its finest.

This needs to stop. The Wii U is more capable then the PS3/360. Not on par or weaker. That shouldn't be up for debate. Period.

 

[Roxas]

I dont think even Mario can save the Wii U now.

 

[Hiltz]

Yesterday showed that the WiiU is capable of handling downgraded ports of early PS4 titles. They obviously can't match the graphical fidelity, but if the controller is used in an innovative way, it could make up for it.

I think you're being a bit too optimistic. With third-parties focusing so much on multiplatform as their main business model, there's not much of a reason for third-parties to try to do something really special with the GamePad beyond slapping on Off-TV play and using the touchscreen for things like putting the HUD on to it and inventory/map access. As awesome as Off-TV play sounds, it's not going to be a big enough trade off for gamers to choose the Wii U version over a PS4/Xbox 720 version with much better graphics and superior technical performance if that's all the Wii U version has to offer. Besides, you can't really do something special with the Wii U's two-screen capability if it isn't going to be a vital component to the core gameplay concept like it is in say, Nintendo Land. Without the asymmetric gameplay, Nintendo Land's concept can't exist. It's a bit of a different story with other games such as Rayman Legends and ZombiU.

 

[megabytecr]

People in here are understimating the PS3 and the 360. We know the leap, the technical details, resolution, etc but the average person does not. Point is X360 and PS3 are close to mass market prices and Wii U will be in the future.

I bet X360, PS3 and possibly Wii U will be selling way better than next gen consoles. Nintendo took a bet based on this idea in including a system better than PS360 but not close to next gen with the added value of the gamepad.

I think this will eventually pay off in the long run. If 3rd party does not care Nintendo is in a position to sell consoles and eventually some more 3rd party support will come.

I am hype to, but lets not forget the mass market is anything like us. Then take into account the tablet and phones and you have a very different market than last gen transition. I see more people satisfied with a PS3 now than last transition with a PS2. The more technology advances in graphics it is more difficult to avg consumers to tell the difference.

 

[cyberheater]

Jonathan Blow's interview about The Witness has some interesting comments. Basically looked a developing the game on WiiU but decided not to because:-

The Wii U still has pretty low system specs

Nintendo really gimped that machine.

 

[Effect]

Jonathan Blow's interview about The Witness has some interesting comments. Basically looked a developing the game on WiiU but decided not to because:-

Nintendo really gimped that machine.

Does he have access to a dev kit or is he commenting on what he's read.

 

[metalslimer]

What happened yesterday that proved it can handle down ports?

Probably Watch Dogs, but that is a cross gen game where we haven't even seen how bad the downports are going to look. Technically any console can handle any kind of downport. I'm sure the Gamecube could have run some PS3 games looking much worse. Hell we saw them try with Dead Rising on the Wii.

Does he have access to a dev kit or is he commenting on what he's read.

Probably saw the dev kit specs.

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

What happened yesterday that proved it can handle down ports?

I specifically said early titles, because many of them will have begun development on older hardware. Watch Dogs is a good example.

A high budget, triple A title, built for the ground up for PS4 couldn't get ported, but hopefully no one was dumb enough as to expect that. The next Ridge Racer/Street Fighter type game is still a possibility though.

Better support from Nintendo or 3rd parties? Currently there is no support for Wii U from 3rd parties, or even Nintendo besides the two half assed launch games.

Do you believe Wii U will actually get ports from 3rd parties in the future?

I think that the Wii U might get a few ports now, and none after 2014.
I do believe that there will be a solid selection of third party exclusives though. Iwata has stated that their franchises are open to other developers, and I hope that they will be taken up on this offer.

If the PS4 and 720 end up sharing the majority of titles, I think the Wii U can carve out a nice niche as a secondary console (it should never be more than that to a serious gamer).

I have zero reason to worry about Nintendo's 1st party development though. Nintendo always has lulls in their release schedule, it's nothing new. Generation after generation, I find myself with more Nintendo titles than any other developer. I'd be surprised if that changed for me this gen.

 

[Projectjustice]

This needs to stop. The Wii U is more capable then the PS3/360. Not on par or weaker. That shouldn't be up for debate. Period.

It does, lets go with the facts people.

 

[Crazyorloco]

At the end of the day, it's still about the games. I'm not buying a PS4 for the 8GB GDDR5 ram. I will be getting it for the games. It's what really matters to me. Graphics don't do much for me anymore. I'm wowed only for a brief time, then I pretty much get use to it. The gameplay/fun factor is what keeps me engaged.

Nintendo has a great track record with their games...and has a ton of franchises to use. People still like mario, pokemon, etc...the appeal is still there. Nintendo just needs to bring the games already. At least 2 or 3 must haves. A Smash Bros. and a Galaxy/Zelda game... I'll purchase a Wii U when that happens.

 

[Deszaras]

Didn't the ps3 start out with slow, too? Look at its library, now..

I'm chalking this one to new technology.. give it time.

 

[cyberheater]

Probably saw the dev kit specs.

Yeah. That's the impression I get.

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

I think you're being a bit too optimistic. With third-parties focusing so much on multiplatform as their main business model, there's not much of a reason for third-parties to try to do something really special with the GamePad beyond slapping on Off-TV play and using the touchscreen for things like putting the HUD on to it and inventory/map access. As awesome as Off-TV play sounds, it's not going to be a big enough trade off for gamers to choose the Wii U version over a PS4/Xbox 720 version with much better graphics and superior technical performance if that's all the Wii U version has to offer. Besides, you can't really do something special with the Wii U's two-screen capability if it isn't going to be a vital component to the core gameplay concept like it is in say, Nintendo Land. Without the asymmetric gameplay, Nintendo Land's concept can't exist. It's a bit of a different story with other games such as Rayman Legends and ZombiU.

You're right.
I was speaking hypothetically.
We all know that third parties do not consider Nintendo consoles to be viable platforms for ports.

 

[Van Owen]

Didn't the ps3 start out with slow, too? Look at its library, now..

I'm chalking this one to new technology.. give it time.

Nobody doubted Sony's ability to get 3rd party games on their home console and it wasnt technologically gimped compared to the rest of the console market.

 

[EloquentM]

Power is one of the least relevant factors that have to do with a consoles success and yet many of you keep on flogging that horse which is nothing left but a pile of bones ground up into dust. I will say that some of you are consistent in the support of your arguments. It's almost white noise at this point.

 

[popeutlal]

Didn't the ps3 start out with slow, too? Look at its library, now..

I'm chalking this one to new technology.. give it time.

But the 3rd parties kept putting their games on it..any game that came out on 360 was also released on PS3...Wii U isn't even getting current console ports, no way it'll get ports from future consoles.

 

[PapaJustify]

On the 360 and PS3 you have to go to other parts in their Home Menus to check Friends online (starting with a number til you open the Friends tab) and check downloads. Why is it an issue when Nintendo does it

Eh, you can't really compare that. I am no expert with Xbox, but on PS3 you just browse to the right to see your friends and you can immediately see who is online without loading any menus. Also you can select a friend and from there accomplish all the logical tasks you would want to do with your friend (Profile, Write Message, Compare Trophies, etc.). Not to say that the PS3's friend system is super good but at least it is CONSISTENT. That is what the Wii U's not is. The XMB is rather fast and responsive and to get to the Friend List you don't have loading times of at least 5 secs.

The PS3 has nothing like the Miiverse so I don't really want to compare, I would just expect that Nintendo would at least have looked a bit into the technological progress that came with Smartphones and other devices with great user experiences (Always On, fast responsive UI, etc.).

 

[george_us]

Nintendo innovates with their franchises.

Killzone looks like the same exact game as all the others with slightly prettier graphics. After 10 minutes of "wow" you will realize you are playing the same old boring corridor shooter. My opinion of course.

Yeah New Super Mario Bros. U TOTALLY doesn't look like every other NSMB game except in HD.

I don't think Wii U is in a worse position but that's because they're already in a horrible position in the first place. The problem is that they simply haven't won their previous audience over with the GamePad. PS3 and 360 graphically smoked the Wii from day one but people were incredibly enamored with the Wii Remote and Wii Sports that it didn't matter. The only reason the Wii started to falter is because Nintendo basically stopped making games for it.

Right now the mass market couldn't care less about the GamePad and Nintendoland. I also honestly don't believe a 3D Mario, Mario Kart, etc. will help them that much. The N64 and GC had these franchises but those did nothing to help. Wii Sports is what propelled the Wii into the stratosphere and it'll take another Wii Sports-like hit to the propel the Wii U.

 

[jrDev]

Same position it's in until I see games I want for the system released. PS4 WILL have the same problem. Watch the hardcores scream and bawl come holiday season when PS4 is floundering, because, you know what; most of the games announced for the system won't see the light of day till 2014.

 

[Zeal]

No one buys a Nintendo system to be wowed by its graphics or tech, at least not as their main focus.

This is what's wrong with the Nintendo of today.

 

[Van Owen]

Power is one of the least relevant factors that have to do with a consoles success and yet many of you keep on flogging that horse which is nothing left but a pile of bones ground up into dust. I will say that some of you are consistent in the support of your arguments. It's almost white noise at this point.

Other than Wii, when was the last time a home console a generation behind tech-wise been super successful?

 

[royalan]

This needs to stop. The Wii U is more capable then the PS3/360. Not on par or weaker. That shouldn't be up for debate. Period.

Like hell it does. If we're expected to believe the "average person" won't notice the difference between PS4 and PS3 how are they going to notice the difference between PS360 and Wii U?

More to the point, considering that the hardware in the Wii U is only marginally more powerful than the PS360 which do you think the system is more likely to get - ports of PS360 games or downports of PS4/720?

 

[cyberheater]

Other than Wii, when was the last time a home console a generation behind tech-wise been super successful?

It's a trick question isn't it. There has never been another console that was a generation behind.

Well. I guess there will be when the next HD twins launch because WiiU will be a generation behind at that point.

 

[EloquentM]

Other than Wii, when was the last time a home console a generation behind tech-wise been super successful?

That's a trick question. Aside from Wii U, Wii is the only "home" console that's been a generation behind, tech-wise.

 

[Van Owen]

Well, DC was like half a gen behind...

 

[EloquentM]

My point still stands though. A consoles success has never been about power. It's always been about the games and the experience those games bring that translate to the appeasement of the audience at large. Ps1 did that. Ps2 did that. Wii certainly did that to the lament of many gamers questionable wishes for it to fail. If the Wii u can prove to bring unique game experiences with the gamepad that appeals to a target audience, coupled with more than a handful of games (which we've already seen on the horizon), it'll all work out fine. This is a relevant reason why Nintendo has survived without a substantial aid of 3rd parties since n64 era. Something they realized after trying to brute force the market with the hardware power of the GameCube. That failure gave birth to the Wii which probably shot off further than they even expected.

 

[EloquentM]

Well, DC was like half a gen behind...

Dreamcast is an amazing system but segas support(?) and illmanagement killed it off.

 

[Deactivision]

I think the Wii U will have a good holiday season in 2013, as consumers become more aware of 'next gen' machines and start evaluating their options. PS4/Nextbox at 400-500 dollars with a limited library of games, vs Wii U for $250-300 (assuming a price cut or attractive bundles) with a decent number of family-friendly Nintendo staples, off-TV play, and backwards compatibility with Wii games and peripherals? It's not so cut and dry for most consumers and I can see the Wii U being the more appealing choice for many.

The second wave of Nintendo games will have very nice visuals that, due to art style, will likely seem comparable to whatever is available on the other machines to a casual observer. Most people haven't seen graphics like what PS4 will offer, but they also haven't seen 3D Mario in high definition. Both will look impressive IMO, making price and game selection the most distinguishing factors.

 

[EloquentM]

That post also got me thinking why people differentiate handheld and console markets. I think if anything, console manufactures should take most of the philosophies of handhelds and translate them into consoles. I think this is what Nintendo is (horribly) trying to implement with the Wii U and what they'll successfully implement with their next console if it does end up a hybrid of sorts.

 

[royalan]

My point still stands though. A consoles success has never been about power. It's always been about the games and the experience those games bring that translate to the appeasement of the audience at large. Ps1 did that. Ps2 did that. Wii certainly did that to the lament of many gamers questionable wishes for it to fail. If the Wii u can prove to bring unique game experiences with the gamepad that appeals to a target audience, coupled with more than a handful of games (which we've already seen on the horizon), it'll all work out fine. This is a relevant reason why Nintendo has survived without a substantial aid of 3rd parties since n64 era. Something they realized after trying to brute force the market with the hardware power of the GameCube.

I disagree.

Outside of Nintendo's own games I think the Wii's library was more than just a little weak in comparison to the competition, especially in latter years (and its sales started tanking in response).

Yeah it's all about the games, but what's becoming more and more obvious is that Nintendo's got to provide the platform to get those games, because I think what we're seeing with Wii U is exactly what happens to Nintendo hardware when people start to think Nintendo software alone can carry a system.

 

[Oppo]

It does, lets go with the facts people.

This needs to stop. The Wii U is more capable then the PS3/360. Not on par or weaker. That shouldn't be up for debate. Period.

Get over it. Even if the Wii U is 15% (or whatever) more powerful than PS3/360, it certainly hasn't shown that yet. "On par" is not a mischaracterization in generally referring to the machine. Rail into the uncaring wind all you like, there's no evident power gap on display.

 

[thecouncil]

This is what's wrong with the Nintendo of today.

...why?


Anyway, I don't care what Nintendo does with Wii U because I'll also have a PS4 next to it.

Slow OS? Absolutely. Am I going to be playing a new 3D Mario on it? Definitely. So, whatever.

No in-game chatting/messaging is the most offensive thing Wii U does. That's #1 on the list of 'most unacceptable things in a modern home console'. I seriously do not understand that move on their part.