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[Übermatik]

I'm sticking with 32MB until Nintendo says otherwise.

Is it sad to say that Iwata screaming is the one thing I couldn't see happening?

Yeah, that's a safe assertion. It's a far more likely number, and is still "a lot" in comparison to past systems. Stay reasonable and disappointments won't be as bad/surprises will be 10x better.

And oui, iwata has always been calm and collected... at least, in the public eye. Bet he goes full flipping-table-shit-crazy down at ninty HQ.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=33214153#post33214153

Interesting.

Sweet... WiiU exclusive, then? If so, interesting bit of news.

Never heard of Star Tropics before joining GAF, but it has the potential to bring an Uncharted-like (although the setting isn't very Indiana Jonesy) game to the Wii U. Retro could do it. Doubt it's going to happen.

Ace will cry if Star Tropics comes to WiiU - and if it doesn't, he'll cry.

Only when necessary.

Amen. The midi tracks in Galaxy were fitting in the right places, even alongside fully orchestrated pieces. If there's one thing Nintendo do right, it's sound.

ALSO

Just noticed this snippet on the Ubisoft Network Programmer job listing: "- Propose, implement and further develop solutions to make games support downloadable content (DLC)."

Does this debunk the 8GB flash drive rumour? Will the WiiU be sporting larger storage after all?

 

[EatChildren]

Amen. The midi tracks in Galaxy were fitting in the right places, even alongside fully orchestrated pieces. If there's one thing Nintendo do right, it's sound.

Pretty much. As long as the sample and midi production qualities are high, we're rolling. Orchestras are nice but only at their best within context of the game. Metroid, for example, does not need an orchestra, but the digital instrumentations instead that the franchise is known for.

Does this debunk the 8GB flash drive rumour? Will the WiiU be sporting larger storage after all?

Not really. Microsoft sell a 4GB Xbox 360, and that still 'supports' DLC, so there's no reason an 8GB system wouldn't either.

 

[usmanusb]

Turrican3
Member
(Today, 04:25 PM)
Quote


#14073
Originally Posted by usmanusb:
Secondly, With WiiU, Nintendo's approach is different than Wii, I think we will be seeing some hardcore as well as casual games by them on launch.
Honestly this doesn't really sound so different: Wii had both "hardcore" and "casual" Nintendo titles available on day one, too.
----------------------------------

it was Wii but did u remember about GC? It had Star Wars Rouge Squadron, Eternal Darkness and many more.

WiiU technology is different and Nintendo itself had mentioned about different approach as they are taking on hardcore as well as casual gaming.

WiiU launch games will be different for different audiences.

Nintendo will be continuesly focus on casual gaming on Wii as they want to make something for the casual gamers more accessible. I believe by the time they will launch WiiU they will make Wii at 100$ and so on with some bundle games..

 

[guek]

$100 Wii + Mario Kart 2012 holiday bundle

it's gonna make waves

then $100 + Mariokart + NSMBWii 2013 holiday bundle is going to do the same

 

[wsippel]

Just noticed this snippet on the Ubisoft Network Programmer job listing: "- Propose, implement and further develop solutions to make games support downloadable content (DLC)."

Does this debunk the 8GB flash drive rumour? Will the WiiU be sporting larger storage after all?

Why should it? We already know it supports SD cards and USB drives, so DLC wouldn't be an issue either way.

 

[blu]

Why should it? We already know it supports SD cards and USB drives, so DLC wouldn't be an issue either way.

No Vita memory cards support = no buy.

 

[Gahiggidy]

I just thought of a cool idea for wiiu Mario kart. Imagine places on the track where you can drive on the cieling, via magetic tires... now, since you'd be driving upside down, left become right, forcing you to use the controller screen's pov perspective.

 

[Übermatik]

Pretty much. As long as the sample and midi production qualities are high, we're rolling. Orchestras are nice but only at their best within context of the game. Metroid, for example, does not need an orchestra, but the digital instrumentations instead that the franchise is known for.



Not really. Microsoft sell a 4GB Xbox 360, and that still 'supports' DLC, so there's no reason an 8GB system wouldn't either.

That's a fair point. 8Gb/whatever for DLC, then, and maybe they'll encourage external HDD usage if users want to store game files/content...

 

[Log4Girlz]

That's a fair point. 8Gb/whatever for DLC, then, and maybe they'll encourage external HDD usage if users want to store game files/content...

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

 

[Übermatik]

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

Helps keep costs down. Plus, those who want to do the extra downloading/storage side of things etc. can get an external hard-drive to do so, whilst the people that aren't too bothered don't have to pay for one they won't use.

 

[guek]

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

I really don't think they'll need it. 8-16gb is enough to get things started, and it'll probably be sufficient for the majority of consumers out there. You can bet your ass though they'll have a overpriced Nintendo branded usb HDD on shelves though day 1.

 

[FyreWulff]

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

Why would they need to include a large HDD with any version when you can throw a huge SD card or hook up your terabyte HDD via USB?

They'll have a reasonably sized solid state drive on the console itself for save games and game caching, with enough space for a reasonable amount of DLC, and the power users will be able to attach huge media storage whenever they want.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

I'm fine with having an external drive, but if they do go that route I hope they have the extra ports to back it up.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Why would they need to include a large HDD with any version when you can throw a huge SD card or hook up your terabyte HDD via USB?

They'll have a reasonably sized solid state drive on the console itself for save games and game caching, with enough space for a reasonable amount of DLC, and the power users will be able to attach huge media storage whenever they want.

SD card is slow, USB is sloppy. I want to buy a box with an HDD included.

 

[Übermatik]

SD card is slow, USB is sloppy. I want to buy a box with an HDD included.

How is USB 'sloppy'? It's nice n' fast, especially if they use 3.0. (which they won't, but still...)

 

[hatchx]

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

It's a less confusing option than multiple SKUs. I just hope the extra HD, even if proprietary and Nintendo-ized, is there at launch.

Launching at 299.99 or dare I say 249.99, and have a 79.99 HD add-on would not be so bad.

 

[Log4Girlz]

How is USB 'sloppy'? It's nice n' fast, especially if they use 3.0.

Its not inside the console. Looks sloppy.

 

[Übermatik]

It's a less confusing option than multiple SKUs. I just hope the extra HD, even if proprietary and Nintendo-ized, is there at launch.

Launching at 299.99 or dare I say 249.99, and have a 79.99 HD add-on would not be so bad.

£80!? Jesus Christ, that's way too expensive. I can get a terabyte EHD for £6.0 And the console will be $299-350 - I doubt we'll see under 300.

Its not inside the console. Looks sloppy.

Ah, aesthetics wise. Hm, I'm really not bothered about that.

 

[Ashodin]

Today I'm subscribing to the EatChildren philosophy - I'm going to hang up my HD console for a Wii - I miss it terribly since exchanging it for a PS3, and it's more GF friendly - she likes playing Mario with me. All the games I've played on it are available on PC, and those that aren't, I can wait for a while to get another system when it's incredibly cheap to play them again.

Plus I have this incredible, overwhelming urge to play Zelda. Hardcore.

 

[Azure J]

I really don't know how to feel about the HDD thing with Wii U at current. On one hand, yeah I'd probably feel more reassured with the ability to add more space internally, but at the same time Nintendo has confirmed that external drives are supported and I have a 2TB disk drive looking at me right here with something over 1.3TB still free. I guess it's going to be something folks with call hit or miss on a case by case basis, but I feel comfortable with the decision they made there, especially if they go USB 3.0.

Never heard of Star Tropics before joining GAF, but it has the potential to bring an Uncharted-like (although the setting isn't very Indiana Jonesy) game to the Wii U. Retro could do it. Doubt it's going to happen.

*long-ish reply time*

It's basically Uncharted with a tropical island setting, more paranormal elements and "IN AMERICA" kind of humor/nuances. Something like that has huge potential just because Nintendo owns Retro, some of the best guys at creative environments and ambiance, and they are 100% through and through Americans. Not saying they should overload it with American culture, but I feel like they have the minds to gauge it and make something universal while adhering to that kind of quirky 90s Nintendo spirit and subtle American/Western flair. It would be a pretty big chance to bolster their library with something off the beaten Nintendo of Japan path. There's also the idea that it could fit in a different "grand scale adventure" mold to keep the IP diversity high and prevent folks from clamoring for their next hit of Zelda thus easing EAD's pressure to constantly be making "that next Zelda". It'd also be nice to have the Japanese Nintendo fans where something came from for once too.

All they'd really have to do is keep the charming elements of the series (IMO a few characters namely, Mike & his Uncle, Mica & the Argonians & the almost Saturday Morning Cartoon like vibe of the game, though that can be updated with sharper humor too) and everything else becomes an open canvas that Retro could use to show just how wild their level & environment designers and artists can be. Taking an Indiana Jones style adventure into tropics in outer space? Yes please.

And yes I'm a little passionate about the idea since all these pieces are in place. No, that is not a Mike Jones Scribblenauts avatar I have there, what makes you think that?

Edit: Oh dammit, why did this have to be an end of page post... :/

 

[BurntPork]

Only when necessary.

When isn't it necessary?

 

[DCKing]

I definitely agree about the disadvantage, but since they don't use TSMC or GF I wouldn't say it's pretty much impossible either. With them using NEC it's almost like they have a dedicated fab provider since their order should be more than large enough to gain priority. And with that year-old press release being from them about eDRAM for 28nm LSIs, that helps support the idea that it's possible. Especially when devs already have the "ugly retail version", yet Nintendo put a chip in there that ran hot enough to freeze the system at least early on. If this is true then the devs probably won't see a real change in the kits till next year since lherre said things are still the same so far. Hypothetically speaking on all this of course.

From what I understand though, being able to use 28nm for memory chips is definitely not the same as being able to produce complex logic chips on 28nm. NEC may be able to produce 28nm EDRAM, but that's a chip that's so homogenous (just millions and millions of memory cells) that it's relatively easy to configure. Only TSMC seems to be able to produce 28nm processors at this time, and that will definitely not be very high volume.

Nintendo's only option to improve on 40nm may be to have GlobalFoundries (AMD's factories) produce the chip on 32nm. Should be decent enough. That's still sort of a non-standard procedure for GPUs though, even AMD has TSMC make them.

 

[BurntPork]

From what I understand though, being able to use 28nm for memory chips is definitely not the same as being able to produce complex logic chips on 28nm. NEC may be able to produce 28nm EDRAM, but that's a chip that's so homogenous (just millions and millions of memory cells) that it's relatively easy to configure. Only TSMC seems to be able to produce 28nm processors at this time, and that will definitely not be very high volume.

Nintendo's only option to improve on 40nm may be to have GlobalFoundries (AMD's factories) produce the chip on 32nm. Should be decent enough. That's still sort of a non-standard procedure for GPUs though, even AMD has TSMC make them.

Based on what we know, it seems that NEC produced the GCN and Wii GPUs.

 

[DCKing]

Based on what we know, it seems that NEC produced the GCN and Wii GPUs.

IBM seems to have confirmed they'll be producing the Wii U CPU in their own factories in their press release. At 45nm. IBM is somewhat behind the curve (compared to Intel/TSMC/Samsung/GlobalFoundries) so that's kind of a shame. 32nm should be mature enough for the Wii U now.

 

[DCKing]

It's basically Uncharted with a tropical island setting, more paranormal elements and "IN AMERICA" kind of humor/nuances. Something like that has huge potential just because Nintendo owns Retro, some of the best guys at creative environments and ambiance, and they are 100% through and through Americans. Not saying they should overload it with American culture, but I feel like they have the minds to gauge it and make something universal while adhering to that kind of quirky 90s Nintendo spirit and subtle American/Western flair. It would be a pretty big chance to bolster their library with something off the beaten Nintendo of Japan path. There's also the idea that it could fit in a different "grand scale adventure" mold to keep the IP diversity high and prevent folks from clamoring for their next hit of Zelda thus easing EAD's pressure to constantly be making "that next Zelda". It'd also be nice to have the Japanese Nintendo fans where something came from for once too.

All they'd really have to do is keep the charming elements of the series (IMO a few characters namely, Mike & his Uncle, Mica & the Argonians & the almost Saturday Morning Cartoon like vibe of the game, though that can be updated with sharper humor too) and everything else becomes an open canvas that Retro could use to show just how wild their level & environment designers and artists can be. Taking an Indiana Jones style adventure into tropics in outer space? Yes please.

And yes I'm a little passionate about the idea since all these pieces are in place. No, that is not a Mike Jones Scribblenauts avatar I have there, what makes you think that?

Nice writeup. Retro should definitely do this! Something like this fits well in Nintendo's franchise lineup too.

Also, what are the chances of Nintendo doing a white family Wii U with built-in flash, and a more expensive black dudebro edition with built-in HDD? Besides pleasing more people and covering some initial losses by the premium price, it would also help their image with publishers. I'd definitely buy the dudebro edition (pack-in game: Call of Duty Trilogy or Ninja Gaiden).

 

[bgassassin]

Yeah, that's a safe assertion. It's a far more likely number, and is still "a lot" in comparison to past systems. Stay reasonable and disappointments won't be as bad/surprises will be 10x better.

Well that amount was indicated to me before brain_stew's post. That's what helped me come up with my first set of specs.

From what I understand though, being able to use 28nm for memory chips is definitely not the same as being able to produce complex logic chips on 28nm. NEC may be able to produce 28nm EDRAM, but that's a chip that's so homogenous (just millions and millions of memory cells) that it's relatively easy to configure. Only TSMC seems to be able to produce 28nm processors at this time, and that will definitely not be very high volume.

Nintendo's only option to improve on 40nm may be to have GlobalFoundries (AMD's factories) produce the chip on 32nm. Should be decent enough. That's still sort of a non-standard procedure for GPUs though, even AMD has TSMC make them.

I think you're misunderstanding it. They developed a process to implement eDRAM on LSIs that are 28nm and eventually smaller, not 28nm eDRAM.

TSMC isn't the only one that makes 28nm. And like I said NEC has made their GPUs in the past. NEC is a part of the 28nm alliance.

Ok I didn't say exactly that NEC made them, but now I am.

 

[BurntPork]

IBM seems to have confirmed they'll be producing the Wii U CPU in their own factories in their press release. At 45nm. IBM is somewhat behind the curve (compared to Intel/TSMC/Samsung/GlobalFoundries) so that's kind of a shame. 32nm should be mature enough for the Wii U now.

Unless you're assuming SoC, I don't think the CPU fab is relevant.

 

[EatChildren]

When isn't it necessary?

Orchestra is necessary to a video game as much as CGI is necessary to film. It's purely contextual, like everything in art, and only relevant to a game that can be enhanced by that specific audio production. Not every game needs an orchestra to back it's soundtrack, as an orchestra isn't relevant to the compositions, nor the atmosphere and mood the game is trying to convey.

Again, Metroid is a good example. Prime's OST would be worse off if all that heavy digital work was replaced with a booming orchestra. Same goes for Akira Yamaoka's work on Silent Hill, or more recently Shadows of the Damned; electric guitar + ambient synth = perfect for the mood.

Orchestral compositions aren't the ceiling of music, just one of many genres that fit when appropriate, but not when something more suitable should be in it's place.

 

[DCKing]

I think you're misunderstanding it. They developed a process to implement eDRAM on LSIs that are 28nm and eventually smaller, not 28nm eDRAM.

TSMC isn't the only one that makes 28nm. And like I said NEC has made their GPUs in the past. NEC is a part of the 28nm alliance.

Do you have any sort of press release or something that states NEC has manufactured a 28nm piece of logic? Because I'm finding it hard to believe. I mean, there are lots of companies in that 28nm alliance. If knowledge is spread among them that's great, but it definitely doesn't mean that NEC is able to make 28nm chips at this point. IBM is in that alliance too, and the best they can do is 32nm EDRAM (their POWER7 chips are actually still on 45nm).

Unless you're assuming SoC, I don't think the CPU fab is relevant.

Of course it is. Suppose Nintendo tried a 2.5 GHz @ 45nm chip. The same design on 32 nm could do 3 GHz @ 32 nm for example, giving them more power for less silicon and fewer cooling requirements.

 

[Rolf NB]

Unless you're assuming SoC, I don't think the CPU fab is relevant.

CPU process would be quite relevant if all the "rumors" about many-core PPC7s weren't purely hopeful fantasies.

 

[Forsaken82]

UGH, that's so ridiculous. All this talk of a Nintendo being more open to online and no option for a HDD SKU? Ok I'm assuming, but dammit I doubt they'll have an SKU with a large HDD included.

You don't need a large HDD if you have an online system in place that supports cloud storage. Just saying.

 

[Übermatik]

You don't need a large HDD if you have an online system in place that supports cloud storage. Just saying.

AAAAAAAACCCCEEEEEEEEERRRRRR. IGGGGWAAAAAAAREEEEE.

 

[bgassassin]

Do you have any sort of press release or something that states NEC has manufactured a 28nm piece of logic? Because I'm finding it hard to believe. I mean, there are lots of companies in that 28nm alliance. If knowledge is spread among them that's great, but it definitely doesn't mean that NEC is able to make 28nm chips at this point. IBM is in that alliance too, and the best they can do is 32nm EDRAM (their POWER7 chips are actually still on 45nm).

No considering NEC doesn't make them for graphics card makers. Just like I probably couldn't find anything around the time Hollywood was made. If there is something out there it will be very low-profile.

That said, it also doesn't mean NEC can't make them at this point either.

IBM may not make 28nm products themselves, but they are making money from what they've designed. From back in March:

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4213894/IBM-licenses-28nm-technology-to-CNSE

CNSE of the University at Albany has acquired from IBM the rights to low power, 28nm high-k metal gate (HKMG) bulk CMOS technology expected to be deployed at CNSE’s world-class Albany NanoTech Complex this year.

So I don't know why they haven't made the move for their on processors even though it sounds like the design is there for them to do it.

CPU process would be quite relevant if all the "rumors" about many-core PPC7s weren't purely hopeful fantasies.

What's a PPC7?

 

[DCKing]

You don't need a large HDD if you have an online system in place that supports cloud storage. Just saying.

Streaming DLC, patches, GameCube games or WiiWare of similar size over the internet is definitely not an option.

So I don't know why they haven't made the move for their on processors even though it sounds like the design is there for them to do it.

Eh. It's not ruled out but it's not a solid case. Even supposing IBM or NEC could do it, and Nintendo could somehow get an exclusive production line, it's not a very safe investment to have millions of consoles depend on a potentially expensive and low-yield production line. These new production lines have proven to be increasingly problematic in that regard, at least for TSMC. 32nm is really the best option here. NEC could probably do that.

 

[BurntPork]

Of course it is. Suppose Nintendo tried a 2.5 GHz @ 45nm chip. The same design on 32 nm could do 3 GHz @ 32 nm for example, giving them more power for less silicon and fewer cooling requirements.

I mean that the GPU fab and the CPU fab can be 100% independent.

 

[AzaK]

I really don't know how to feel about the HDD thing with Wii U at current. On one hand, yeah I'd probably feel more reassured with the ability to add more space internally, but at the same time Nintendo has confirmed that external drives are supported and I have a 2TB disk drive looking at me right here with something over 1.3TB still free. I guess it's going to be something folks with call hit or miss on a case by case basis, but I feel comfortable with the decision they made there, especially if they go USB 3.0.

While I'd prefer something internal for general aesthetics and handling, I'm happy to give it up if

1) It lowers the cost of the system
2) I can plug my own drives in and don't need to go proprietary

If the system can handle additional SD cards I can see myself just throwing in a couple of "best bang for buck" pieces to keep me happy for quite a while until the big mega-install RPG's appear. Then I can add the HDD.


Re the CPU node size discussion, does mixing node sizes (32nm CPU and 28nm GPU) cause any real problems like bottlenecks etc?

 

[Forsaken82]

Streaming DLC, patches, GameCube games or WiiWare of similar size over the internet is definitely not an option.

Whos to say that in a years time, there won't be some big steps taken to cloud gaming? I am just saying there is potential there and given that cloud is becoming a huge deal now adays, it wouldn't surprise me to see something cloud related that also works for DD, DLC and Patches. I would definitely not say it isn't an option though. I think outside of the box alot

 

[Pancakes R Us]

IIRC, Nintendo also said that Wii would be compatible with an external HDD, and it isn't unless you softmod your system. Don't believe everything the company says prior to launch, there's often things stated which never come to fruition (this doesn't just apply to Nintendo).

 

[AzaK]

IIRC, Nintendo also said that Wii would be compatible with an external HDD, and it isn't unless you softmod your system. Don't believe everything the company says prior to launch, there's often things stated which never come to fruition (this doesn't just apply to Nintendo).

True, but I think that this time Nintendo understand the need to support things like DLC, if only to get 3rd party support. They are doing it with the 3DS so I can't see them ignoring it for Wii U.

 

[Übermatik]

IIRC, Nintendo also said that Wii would be compatible with an external HDD, and it isn't unless you softmod your system. Don't believe everything the company says prior to launch, there's often things stated which never come to fruition (this doesn't just apply to Nintendo).

They'd be stupid if they didn't. It really closes the market and narrows possibilities.

 

[Proelite]

6950m. 40nm. 1.1 teraflops. 50 TDP.

Perfect analogy for GPU in the Wii-U.

Since it's a laptop card, further optimizations can be made, either by lowering the power draw even more, or bumping up the flops.

 

[bgassassin]

Eh. It's not ruled out but it's not a solid case. Even supposing IBM or NEC could do it, and Nintendo could somehow get an exclusive production line, it's not a very safe investment to have millions of consoles depend on a potentially expensive and low-yield production line. These new production lines have proven to be increasingly problematic in that regard, at least for TSMC. 32nm is really the best option here. NEC could probably do that.

That's all I'm saying is that it's plausible. There was also that rumor about console manufacturing starting what would have been a couple months or so ago, so any truth to that would easily kill the notion.

That said there's no reason to keep bring IBM up. That's the CPU and I'm focusing on the GPU.

After further searching I found an older article stating that NEC and Renesas were developing separate 28nm processes despite the merger and that Renesas started theirs back in Oct. 2009.

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4084998/NEC-Renesas-to-devise-separate-28-nm-process

NEC seemed to have at least completed their design in Nov. 2009.

https://www.semiconportal.com/en/ar...1109-nec-electronics-package-28nm-sirrus.html

The packaging technology targets high-performance LSIs, such as image-processing LSIs, using 28nm process and beyond for TVs, game consoles and DVD recorders.

As for TSMC, they are having to deal with a much, much larger amount of orders so they are at a different level altogether.

EDIT: For some reason I thought you said humongous, not homogenous. >_<

 

[Azure J]

6950m. 40nm. 1.1 teraflops. 50 TDP.

Perfect analogy for GPU in the Wii-U.

Since it's a laptop card, further optimizations can be made, either by lowering the power draw even more, or bumping up the flops.

Would be cool and all, but methinks that's opening a whole new can of worms for speculations' sake. FWIW though, I think the final chip could be comparable.

Edit: Scratch that, the bus is 256 bit wide, too complex for a console based on what I understand from previous discussions on that much. Also, the SPs seem high, I think ~800 is tops.

 

[idwl]

what is the possibility of skyrim coming to Wii U?

 

[Fourth Storm]

I'd be surprised if Nintendo goes USB 3.0, but they have proven that they will use newer technology in areas like that.

One thing I'm wondering, however, is why there are those two centered "legs" on the one side of the system amidst all the vents. Nintendo has stated that the console is intended to be laid flat and not stood up. So what's the deal? Maybe they were experimenting with standing it up and things just didn't work out, but they were stuck with the old cases for E3?

I want to talk seriously about the launch lineup for a minute. I'm trying to think of what Nintendo might have ready for late 2012 and there are a few issues. For one, Nintendo stated before the release of the Wii, they would never launch a console without one of the big 3 franchises (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, although that last one may have fallen out of grace due to disappointing sales). They tried to with the Gamecube and it was a disaster. They more recently tried to do this with the 3DS, and again, things didn't quite work out.

Zelda is definitely out of the equation, and Metroid is possibly going into hibernation for a while (seems Retro is working on something not Metroid and not Donkey Kong for Wii U, and whatever it is probably won't be ready until 2013 if it is as epic as we are hoping for). That leaves NSMB as the most likely candidate for Wii U's launch "killer app." If they just started it around E3 this year (as seems to be the case since they used all old assets and levels for that demo), it seems to me they would have enough time to finish it by next November (albeit perhaps barely).

If they do launch with NSMB, does Nintendo risk alienating third parties? Or are they in such a panic, that they no longer care? After all, giving 3rd parties the limelight was the plan for the 3DS launch and pretty much all of them dropped the ball. One compromise I could see is if Nintendo launched the system in September with a few packed in mini games and software. Nintendo usually stick to published 2-3 games for console launches. WiiU Sports (I'm predicting at least one SKU with a packed in Wii Remote+ or even an updated version of it) would be one of those and perhaps a racing title from Monster Games (F-Zero or maybe even a new Wave Race). Then, they could drop the NSMB bomb in November so that 3rd party launch titles enjoy a couple months without having to compete with a sure megaseller. Let's be honest: most people who buy a Wii U at launch will buy Mario if it's available, and there are many people who can only afford one game in addition to the console and whatever peripherals.

They could then hopefully release Pikmin 3 in January of February to fill that usual gap and keep the momentum going.

Oh boy, that was a bit of a ramble, but whatever....

 

[bgassassin]

Also, the SPs seem high, I think ~800 is tops.

That's what I would have said.

One thing I'm wondering, however, is why there are those two centered "legs" on the one side of the system amidst all the vents.

If you're talking about what I think you are, then that's to prevent the vents from being blocked when up against a flat surface.

 

[Fourth Storm]

If you're talking about what I think you are, then that's to prevent the vents from being blocked when up against a flat surface.

Indeed, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Übermatik]

what is the possibility of skyrim coming to Wii U?

Eh, it could do, but it'd be quite late. and bethesda don't seem to intrested in porting it over.

Also, @Fourth Storm, I'm betting on a launch line-up that includes a 3D Mario game, NSMBiiU as a package game/Wii U Play as a package game, the Retro new IP (might be Metroid, might not be), a bunch of 3rd party ports, a couple of new 3rd party exclusives, and maybe Wave race/F-Zero too. Oh, and the usual 'shovelware' mediocre games too.

 

[BurntPork]

6950m. 40nm. 1.1 teraflops. 50 TDP.

Perfect analogy for GPU in the Wii-U.

Since it's a laptop card, further optimizations can be made, either by lowering the power draw even more, or bumping up the flops.

It runs hot and is too big.

 

[Fourth Storm]

Also, @Fourth Storm, I'm betting on a launch line-up that includes a 3D Mario game, NSMBiiU as a package game/Wii U Play as a package game, the Retro new IP (might be Metroid, might not be), a bunch of 3rd party ports, a couple of new 3rd party exclusives, and maybe Wave race/F-Zero too. Oh, and the usual 'shovelware' mediocre games too.

You better believe there's gonna be some shovelware. Should make for some good laughs on these boards..

A 3D Mario game seems unlikely since EAD Tokyo just finished SM3DL and even so, a 2D Mario game and a 3D one releasing at once would cannibalize sales. With Retro, again they only finished DKCR in the latter portion of 2010 afaik. That would be about 2 years from the Wii U launch. That may not be enough time once you consider they need to build a new engine from the ground up...