Wii U Speculation Thread 2: Can't take anymore of this!!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Alright, I just watched the Wii U part of the press conference again. There was a lot wrong with that intro video; it was worse than just not showing off the console enough. For instance, it kept repeating the words "New Controller" over and over again in text when showing off each feature.

"Switch from TV to the New Controller" (NSMB Mii)
"Draw on the New Controller" (sketching Link)
"Play only on the New Controller" (the board game)
"Use Motion to Control with the New Controller" (Wii U Sports, Baseball)
"Get New Views with the New Controller" (Wii U Sports, Golf)
"Stay Fit with the New Controller" (Wii U Fit)
"Take Aim with the New Controller" (Mii shooting game with zapper add-on)
"Play Across the New Controller and Your TV" (ninja star throwing game)
"Make Video Calls with the New Controller" (Wii U Skype)
"Browse with the New Controller" (internet)
"Share From the New Controller to TV" (YouTube)

So we're 3 minutes into this 3:20 video and we haven't seen anything that doesn't look exactly like an already existing Wii game until:

"Get More Detail with the New Controller" (Zelda HD)

We see 3 seconds of Link walking (from off-screen), then 4 seconds of the controller screen, then 5 seconds of Link being attacked (also off-screen). This is followed by "Coming to your living room in 2012", and then the controller resting on a table showing a couple more seconds of Zelda HD footage on its screen. Cut to logo.

It's no wonder why, especially right from the get-go, the gamer section of Twitter exploded with "it's just a new controller" and "it doesn't look any better than [Wii/PS3/360]" and so on. It's not surprising that people who weren't clued in on the latest about 'Project Cafe' (which includes some of the gaming press) would draw those conclusions. We didn't even hear the word "console" until 8 minutes later in a Miyamoto interview video.

Six years earlier, after the DS presentation at E3 2005, Iwata spent literally 13 seconds talking and then held up the prototype Wii console itself in his goddamn hand. We knew a new console was coming, because he said so and then immediately showed it to us - there was nothing vague about it.
 
Alright, I just watched the Wii U part of the press conference again. There was a lot wrong with that intro video; it was worse than just not showing off the console enough. For instance, it kept repeating the words "New Controller" over and over again in text when showing off each feature.

"Switch from TV to the New Controller" (NSMB Mii)
"Draw on the New Controller" (sketching Link)
"Play only on the New Controller" (the board game)
"Use Motion to Control with the New Controller" (Wii U Sports, Baseball)
"Get New Views with the New Controller" (Wii U Sports, Golf)
"Stay Fit with the New Controller" (Wii U Fit)
"Take Aim with the New Controller" (Mii shooting game with zapper add-on)
"Play Across the New Controller and Your TV" (ninja star throwing game)
"Make Video Calls with the New Controller" (Wii U Skype)
"Browse with the New Controller" (internet)
"Share From the New Controller to TV" (YouTube)

So we're 3 minutes into this 3:20 video and we haven't seen anything that doesn't look exactly like an already existing Wii game until:

"Get More Detail with the New Controller" (Zelda HD)

We see 3 seconds of Link walking (from off-screen), then 4 seconds of the controller screen, then 5 seconds of Link being attacked (also off-screen). This is followed by "Coming to your living room in 2012", and then the controller resting on a table showing a couple more seconds of Zelda HD footage on its screen. Cut to logo.

It's no wonder why, especially right from the get-go, the gamer section of Twitter exploded with "it's just a new controller" and "it doesn't look any better than [Wii/PS3/360]" and so on. It's not surprising that people who weren't clued in on the latest about 'Project Cafe' (which includes some of the gaming press) would draw those conclusions. We didn't even hear the word "console" until 8 minutes later in a Miyamoto interview video.

Six years earlier, after the DS presentation at E3 2005, Iwata spent literally 13 seconds talking and then held up the prototype Wii console itself in his goddamn hand. We knew a new console was coming, because he said so and then immediately showed it to us - there was nothing vague about it.

Iwata said near the start of the conference that they'd show the new system, that was pretty clear I thought.

Edit: Watching it now, Reggie's intro with the name is also pretty clear on the fact that it's a new console, that's before it even goes to the video.
 
The Wii controller reveal was demonstrated using actual Gamecube games and some Wii Sports-like demos made on Gamecube hardware.

Metroid Prime 2 was one of the demos, IIRC.
 
Actually as I'm re watching the reveal right now, what if at the start of the video where the guy starts watching baseball was done over the console? Is it technically feasible for the console to stream a game to the controller while someone else uses it to watch stuff? I was just thinking about this since the App store rumor included specific mention of MLB.TV.
 
Iwata said near the start of the conference that they'd show the new system, that was pretty clear I thought.

I'm talking about the Wii U portion of the conference, which is what most people ended up watching, beginning with Reggie's introduction - but most importantly, that intro video. People to this day watch that and comment that it's just a new Wii controller. Also, "system" in and of itself can mean other things than just "console" - it could be referring to a new "method of playing games" or what have you. I don't know exactly what went through people's heads when they heard that, or how long it took for them to forget it. The point is, it was a confusing conference for many people and I understand why.

EDIT:
Actually as I'm re watching the reveal right now, what if at the start of the video where the guy starts watching baseball was done over the console? Is it technically feasible for the console to stream a game to the controller while someone else uses it to watch stuff? I was just thinking about this since the App store rumor included specific mention of MLB.TV.
I really doubt it... but who knows? I'm wondering how the video chat system will work and if you can use it in-game via the controller.
 
Actually as I'm re watching the reveal right now, what if at the start of the video where the guy starts watching baseball was done over the console? Is it technically feasible for the console to stream a game to the controller while someone else uses it to watch stuff? I was just thinking about this since the App store rumor included specific mention of MLB.TV.

Indeed that's one feature that has been revealed in the video teaser, actually it was possibly the least confusing bit of the whole conference.
 
I'm talking about the Wii U portion of the conference, which is what most people ended up watching, beginning with Reggie's introduction - but most importantly, that intro video. People to this day watch that and comment that it's just a new Wii controller. Also, "system" in and of itself can mean other things than just "console" - it could be referring to a new "method of playing games" or what have you. I don't know exactly what went through people's heads when they heard that, or how long it took for them to forget it. The point is, it was a confusing conference for many people and I understand why.

EDIT:
I really doubt it... but who knows? I'm wondering how the video chat system will work and if you can use it in-game via the controller.

That doesn't really explain how people who were watching the whole conference and posting on GAF were confused, I mean I agree that the presentation wasn't very well done and could have been clearer, and I understand why someone would be confused if they might have only watched the controller video, but someone who was watching the conference and paying attention should have known it to be a new console. I still think all the talk of how confusing the conference was has been greatly overblown.
 
Indeed that's one feature that has been revealed in the video trailer, actually it was possibly the least confusing bit of the whole conference.

I meant that you can watch programming over the console itself while also playing a game, rather than just changing the channel and playing on the controller. The former hasn't been confirmed, but I think that'd be a pretty cool feature, not sure if it's possible though without causing lag or frame rate dips.
 
I'm talking about the Wii U portion of the conference, which is what most people ended up watching, beginning with Reggie's introduction - but most importantly, that intro video. People to this day watch that and comment that it's just a new Wii controller. Also, "system" in and of itself can mean other things than just "console" - it could be referring to a new "method of playing games" or what have you. I don't know exactly what went through people's heads when they heard that, or how long it took for them to forget it. The point is, it was a confusing conference for many people and I understand why.

EDIT:
I really doubt it... but who knows? I'm wondering how the video chat system will work and if you can use it in-game via the controller.

In order to think of 'system' in a video game context as anything other than a console or a handheld seems like it would take being deliberately obtuse.
 
That doesn't really explain how people who were watching the whole conference and posting on GAF were confused, I mean I agree that the presentation wasn't very well done and could have been clearer, and I understand why someone would be confused if they might have only watched the controller video, but someone who was watching the conference and paying attention should have known it to be a new console. I still think all the talk of how confusing the conference was has been greatly overblown.
I can try, but I can't explain exactly how people came to their conclusions, I just know that they did come to them. The combination of WiiSports graphics, over-emphasis on the words "New Controller", and the lack of clear console photos is what I'm guessing were the main problems. I suppose you can tack on "they're morons" if you'd like, but I'm trying to be civil here.
 
I meant that you can watch programming over the console itself while also playing a game, rather than just changing the channel and playing on the controller. The former hasn't been confirmed, but I think that'd be a pretty cool feature, not sure if it's possible though without causing lag or frame rate dips.

Ah, now I see what you mean, a sort of multitasking thing where you can watch TV streaming such as NetFlix via WiiU browser whilst playing a game on UTablet.

I think that sort of thing would affect somehow hardware performance, by the way if 3DS is any hint, it will be possible to open the browser on the fly while playing.
 
Cmon guys, I like Nintendo, but that reveal was very jumbled and confusing. By the end I didnt know what the Wii U was. To say that the press was trolling and people were idiots for being confused....I dont get how anyone could think that. The reveal was horrible.
 
Ah, now I see what you mean, a sort of multitasking thing where you can watch TV streaming such as NetFlix via WiiU browser whilst playing a game on UTablet.

I think that sort of thing would affect somehow hardware performance, by the way if 3DS is any hint, it will be possible to open the browser on the fly while playing.

I watched that e3 pretty recently. In the reel with all the game developers one of them mentions playing 2 games at the same time. Also if you look at the trailer when the dude swipes the youtube video to the screen there is another one on the screen. So this seems to hint that doing shit on the controller and doing different unrelated shit on the screen will happen. Wonder if that means you and someone can play two proper games at the same though... (obviously one of them being discless) Though why would you do this anyway..

In regards to the reveal it is unquestionable that it was confusing, yet the only people that will watch the Wii U reveal in context (with the E3) already should have some idea that this is Nintendos new console. What is worse is the trailer on youtube without any kind of context cos that kind of does look like it may be a new peripheral. Its not just the lack of console showing or the name, its the Mii's and the very Wii-looking style of the whole thing. Im sure they'll do it right however at this years one, which is really going to be the official Wii U reveal anyway, last year was just a tease.
 
I thought it was obvious that I was indicting the idiots here. I wouldn't expect random gamers even to follow the news and rumors. The people of this forum though? They knew. They'd seen the same damn rumors, seen the same threads I had. They knew the system would be revealed in some capacity at E3. Others had mentioned it in other threads not directly related to it..

i was unable to watch most of the conference (because i was driving the car en route to e3 that day, and then i was sitting there waiting to get into e3 that day), but my friend brought it up on his ipad just as they were talking about the controller. even though i knew the rumors were of a new console, i assumed that they had just made a tablet thingy for the wii instead. for some reason. i didn't quite get what the hell was going on until they showed stuff like ninja gaiden.
 
The upads do have HDMI ports though as they're all currently tethered.(might be a nintendo own connector)

Watch demos from E3. They even have cables going from upads to small TVs so people can see what that user can see on the pad
 
that demo reel thing from e3 shows some pretty good ideas. i was thinking in basic 'oh it's going to be a console version of the ds' sort of way.

i wonder if they'll be able to do stuff like checkers on the touch screen adequately. one thing about the controller is that it probably needs to have some sort of charging station, in part just so the thing stays flat instead of sitting at an angle.
 
This is my first post on NeoGAF. I have been reading all your Wii U talk for a while now and came to this conclusion: You guys are crazy. And I love it. :P

Personally, I'm super excited about the new system, can't wait for Iwata walking on the stage and giving as the "deep experiences" he was talking about all year.
 
Cmon guys, I like Nintendo, but that reveal was very jumbled and confusing. By the end I didnt know what the Wii U was. To say that the press was trolling and people were idiots for being confused....I dont get how anyone could think that. The reveal was horrible.

There are really only two possibilities.

1. They had such short attention spans and horrible memories that they forgot the rumors, inside information, and press releases from Nintendo that they themselves reported on as early as April of that year. (Considering even Mr. Fils-Aime said it was a new console before the video reel was shown,their attentions spans may actually indeed be that short.)

2. They decided that a little "confusion" would be worth some clicks and faux-drama. So they acted like they had never heard of Project Cafe having the very same screen controller that it displayed and acted with confusion as to there actually being a console. Instead of "Rumors of Wii U having a touchscreen controller are true," they ran "Wii U JUST a controller?" instead.

I highly doubt #2 is more plausible, but it's still a possibility. On the other hand, #1 would require game journalists to have forgotten news that they broke themselves. They'd have to be untalented hacks in order for that to happen.

I don't really see any middle ground between the two. There's no way for anybody to have been following "Project Cafe," as Nintendo focused journalists or not, know about the rumors of a touch screen controller for the new console, and think zebras instead of horses when that controller is shown and assume there is no console. Unless they somehow forgot their own scoops.

This isn't to say there was no confusion possible, but any confusion probably lasted maybe 12 hours, after which they showed images of the console on the PR reports and floor models. This "confusion" really had no relevance then and it certainly doesn't now.
 
I don't really see any middle ground between the two. There's no way for anybody to have been following "Project Cafe," as Nintendo focused journalists or not, know about the rumors of a touch screen controller for the new console, and think zebras instead of horses when that controller is shown and assume there is no console. Unless they somehow forgot their own scoops.

I distinctly remember speculation on these boards regarding Café that the new console could be a self contained tablet.
 
The upads do have HDMI ports though as they're all currently tethered.(might be a nintendo own connector)

Watch demos from E3. They even have cables going from upads to small TVs so people can see what that user can see on the pad

Even so, it's not an advertised feature of the controller is it?

If they are outputting the Upad's stream to an external monitor, it's more for presentation reasons than to showcase it as one of Upad's capabilities.
 
I followed Wii U, but I had no idea it was actually a new console by the reveal. Because first we got the name Wii U. I was cool with that - thought it was the name of a new service. Then they started talking about the new controller, and showed no console - considering how well it matched the rumors, now I believed that it was only an attachment for Wii, and I was severely disappointed. Only two reasons that ended:

1) Zelda. An add-on couldn't improve the graphics like that.
2) GAF. Thanks for posting the picture of the console, y'all.

So I knew before the end of the presentation, but it was hella confusing.

Anyways, Nintendo should change the name, definitely.
 
I distinctly remember speculation on these boards regarding Café that the new console could be a self contained tablet.

I believe I'm talking about just journalists.

There's also speculation that Nintendo is going third party on these boards too. I bet they were confused when Nintendo's E3 Show didn't explicitly point out that they weren't. They heard that Nintendo was going TO third parties for game support, so I guess that leaves the door open I suppose.
 
I was streaming the conference live and I thought it was just a new controller add-on for the existing Wii. Even when they showed that Zelda I thought it must be using the controllers 4th Pikmin or something.
 
At no point did I even consider the notion people might consider it an add-on for Wii.

Wasn't until afterwards I realised people thought such things.
 
I wonder if Nintendo is going to upgrade/improve their wii-motes once again. Wii U is rumored to only support 1 - 2 Wii U controllers, so concidering there is 1 already bundled with the console, they won't be able to sell more than 1 extra tablet controller as an extra peripheral - as opposed to the multiple wii-motes per household they've sold this generation.

They've made tons of money of the extra hardware, so not this time? I know that telling families that they'll be able to continue using their excisting wii-motes is a huge advantage, but I still wonder...

I'd love to see a "wii mote pro" or "super wii-mote".
 
I don't care how short that preview of the Zelda demo was during the conference, it was clearly indicative of an entirely new system different to the Wii.

Anyone who's into video games and somehow happened to have been confused up until that point should have seen that and realised Nintendo were talking about a new home console, because those kind of graphics simply aren't achievable with current generation machines.

End of.
 
I don't care how short that preview of the Zelda demo was during the conference, it was clearly indicative of an entirely new system different to the Wii.

Anyone who's into video games and somehow happened to have been confused up until that point should have seen that and realised Nintendo were talking about a new home console, because those kind of graphics simply aren't achievable with current generation machines.

End of.

Don't exaggerate too much. Yes it was an impressive tech demo but it's not a leap from current generation consoles.
 
Don't exaggerate too much. Yes it was an impressive tech demo but it's not a leap from current generation consoles.

To me it was clear that in fact it was. Early hardware or not, the differences are identifiable. Granted, not everyone may have such a keen eye for visual fidelity as many of us here on GAF, but looking in comparison to the capability of the Wii, I think it's fairly obvious that Nintendo were revealing a new system.
 
I think most people are going to be a little disappointed when they see the final WiiU specs from what I am hearing. I know I was.
Seemed fine to me. Different strokes for different folks, I guess *shrug*. Though I have to admit I haven't got anything solid on the ps720 yet. But I hear some journalists describe them as 'ultra-powerful'. Which could pan a tad funny in the end, if things go the way I see them.
 
Sure but you're elevating their status above the average message board poster for some bizarre reason.

Uhh well maybe because I think more is expected from people with more access and their stories having more impact than message boards, not to mention getting paid for it?

I know the standards for game journalism are quite low but that doesn't mean it should be acceptable for them to be that low.
 
I don't understand how the same company that was bold enough to ditch the Gameboy brand believes they have to use the DS and Wii names on future products. Isn't the Nintendo name enough as far as recognition?
 
I don't care how short that preview of the Zelda demo was during the conference, it was clearly indicative of an entirely new system different to the Wii.

Anyone who's into video games and somehow happened to have been confused up until that point should have seen that and realised Nintendo were talking about a new home console, because those kind of graphics simply aren't achievable with current generation machines.

End of.

Yeah, when they showed Zelda and Zen garden demos I felt quite relieved about WiiU's hardware potential, as I was really puzzled upon previously watching the teaser trailer; that was the highlight of the conference for me, at that point it was quite obvious the footage shown was not of any indication about what actual games will look like.
 
I don't care how short that preview of the Zelda demo was during the conference, it was clearly indicative of an entirely new system different to the Wii.

Anyone who's into video games and somehow happened to have been confused up until that point should have seen that and realised Nintendo were talking about a new home console, because those kind of graphics simply aren't achievable with current generation machines.

End of.

What Nintendo did with Galaxy though I thought that maybe, just maybe if they gave the Wii a sort of Expansion Pak like they did with the N64 (but on a bigger scale) that Zelda might be achievable.

New console wasn't mentioned at all, New Controller was.
 
Yeah, when they showed Zelda and Zen garden demos I felt quite relieved about WiiU's hardware potential, as I was really puzzled upon watching the teaser trailer; that was the highlight of the conference for me, at that point it was quite obvious the footage shown was not of any indication about what actual games will look like.

Yeah, I got really excited at the sight of those demos and game footage, and it was at that point that I began hyping myself for the system.
Zelda HD, I mean come on...
Thinking we'll see something more impressive this year makes the wait even more difficult.
 
To me, it's clearly a problem with the video, it is a new controller video, for a console they hadn't shown yet. They talked about it and showed off some nice graphics that obviously meant a new console, but they didn't show the console itself.

As for Wii U matching up with the next 2 consoles in 2013-2014. There is nothing that Wii U can't do fundamentally that the 7970 can do, the next consoles won't be more powerful than that, so I don't think anything on the ps4 couldn't be scaled back to look just as good at a lower resolution, or less AA or less frame rate.

basically if RE4 is passable as the same generation from Gamecube to PS2, when Leon was half the polygon count and lower resolution, then I don't see Wii U being a generation behind in even the most bias of minds.
 
GDC's around start of March, right? Is Iwata even giving a keynote there or is there no chance for any Wii U information?

The wait is killing me..................
 
I don't understand how the same company that was bold enough to ditch the Gameboy brand believes they have to use the DS and Wii names on future products. Isn't the Nintendo name enough as far as recognition?
Nintendo kept the Game Boy brand for 16 years, and Game Boys sold less than the DS. The GB+GBP+GBC outsold the Wii only if you add them together, and the GBA sold less than the Wii.

Wii and DS are Nintendo's most succesful brands ever. To be honest, I could understand why Nintendo did it for the 3DS (it's a DS + 3D, duh), but it looks like the Wii U is going to be very different from the Wii in many ways.
 
GDC's around start of March, right? Is Iwata even giving a keynote there or is there no chance for any Wii U information?

The wait is killing me..................

There might be some info around GDC, but Iwata is not giving a keynote at the event.

Also, honestly, as nostalgic as the GameBoy line was, that name needed to be ditched.
It has no place in this world anymore.
RIP GameBoy.
 
GDC's around start of March, right? Is Iwata even giving a keynote there or is there no chance for any Wii U information?

The wait is killing me..................
There will actually be no keynote (at least not a major given by for example Mr. Iwata) at Game Developers Conference this year, instead we'll have track keynotes:

Audio Track: "Build That Wall: Creating the Audio for Bastion," Darren Korb, Audio Director, Supergiant Games

Business, Marketing & Management Track: "Why 'Free' and Cross-Platform Is The Future of Gaming," John Schappert, Chief Operating Officer, Zynga

Game Design Track: "How I Got My Mom to Play Through Plants Vs. Zombies," George Fan, Senior Game Designer, PopCap

Production Track: "Concrete Practices to be a Better Leader: Framing & Intention," Brian Sharp, Lead Engineer, Bungie

Programming Track: "Designing a Technology Strategy for a Large Publisher," Julian Merceron, Worldwide Technology Director, Square Enix

Visual Arts Track: "The Art of Diablo 3," Christian Lichtner, Art Director, Blizzard Entertainment

Nintendo has announced two (look below) speaker(s), Steve Rabin (Principal Software Engineer, NOA) for the session "Existential Crisis: Do We Really Need AI?" at the AI summit.

UPDATE: I noticed Koichi Hayashida has a session as well: Thinking In 3D: The Development of Super Mario 3D Land.

Noteworthy however is that Nintendo has a bigger booth at the shoow floor this year. Last year it was 50' x 40', this year it's 50' x 50': http://www.gdconf.com/pdf/floorplans/GDC_2012_FloorPlan_North_West_02_02_2012.pdf

It could mean nothing basically, but that extra space could house a few Wii U demo kiosk.
 
Rösti;34856140 said:
Business, Marketing & Management Track: "Why 'Free' and Cross-Platform Is The Future of Gaming," John Schappert, Chief Operating Officer, Zynga


LOL!
So glad they're adding a comedy skit to GDC!
 
Screenboy said:
What Nintendo did with Galaxy though I thought that maybe, just maybe if they gave the Wii a sort of Expansion Pak like they did with the N64 (but on a bigger scale) that Zelda might be achievable.
How? Plugged in through the orange port?
jwhit28 said:
I don't understand how the same company that was bold enough to ditch the Gameboy brand believes they have to use the DS and Wii names on future products.
I read this entirely differently. They gave DS a non-Game Boy name and claimed it was a third pillar so they could more easily and quickly wipe their hands of it and claim a more conventional system as the true Game Boy successor if DS didn't do well.
 
I read this entirely differently. They gave DS a non-Game Boy name and claimed it was a third pillar so they could more easily and quickly wipe their hands of it and claim a more conventional system as the true Game Boy successor if DS didn't do well.

I'm still waiting for the Gameboy Evolution that IGN spoke of :/
 
some random thoughts:

  • The Wii U is Nintendo's first brand-new console architecture since 2001 (or technically, 1999). People who use the Wii's lack of power as some kind of indicator of the Wii U don't factor in how the Wii was basically just the second half of Gamecube's hardware cycle. Like Kinect and Move, Wii was the Gamecube's mid-cycle upgrade - with the same old late-90's tech the purple box had, just sped up by 50%. Wii U is the start of a new hardware cycle altogether, something which just could not be said for Wii.
  • It's going to be interesting when people do the math and realize that 1) they mostly play their handheld game devices at home and 2) the Wii U is going to be the most powerful home-based handheld game device possible. Sure it'll cost much more than a gaming-only handheld, but it is also a next-gen console. I can't stress enough how much of a brilliant move that is, and I'm kind of baffled as to why I haven't seen more articles pointing this out.
  • (This kind of already happened, but) once they're leaked, Wii U specs will be placed side-by-side with 360/PS3 specs by people who think they can be directly compared. People who do know they can't be directly compared... will also do it [read: get ready for some of the most hilariously awful, flame-bait ridden gaming journalism in history].
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom