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[MDX]

I'm still betting they go for a release within 3 weeks of E3. I think waiting until the holiday would be an absolute disaster, especially with what Sony and Microsoft will be showing at E3. At least one of those will be going for a powerhouse system.

Which will mean a higher price tag, which will mean consumers will wait.
So if you add the release date plus the expected price drop, that gives WiiU a potential 2 to 3 year window to get traction.

I bet Nintendo is hoping that Sony and MS are going to go all out again. Because they will have another Wii situation: Number 1 console.

 

[mj1108]

In that case you're basically asking Nintendo to not be Nintendo at all.
There's going to be Iwata. There's going to be Reggie. There's going to be Miyamoto. The lack of Cammy means more focus on harcore (who will replace her presence though?), and they would definitely need to spearhead the console with first party titles.

Cammy left Nintendo last year or year before. So don't worry -- she's gone.

 

[comedy bomb]

how i wish pikmin 3 for the wii u will just have the logo on the touch screen for no god damn reason.

It's there so you can look down and remember what you are playing.

duh

 

[BigJonsson]

Whats the new news? I can't seem to spot the post

 

[fernoca]

E3 has become more of an "expo" rather than a business conference.

But it has always been the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

 

[wsippel]

In that case you're basically asking Nintendo to not be Nintendo at all.
There's going to be Iwata. There's going to be Reggie. There's going to be Miyamoto. The lack of Cammy means more focus on harcore (who will replace her presence though?), and they would definitely need to spearhead the console with first party titles.

Scott Moffitt, some former Pepsi and Henkel dude, replaced Cammy about half a year ago. Don't think he ever made an appearance or gave a single interview, though.

 

[orioto]

I still think if they want to go beyond the regular Nintendo fans, they need to rebrand some of their ips.

The funny thing is that i see lots of people here screaming their Pikmin love for example, but hey.. You ARE the Nintendo fans, or at least you bought a GC. People who bought the NGC are basically the core Nintendo audience i think, and that's already a lot. But that's not enough to be first, if you don't have a blue ocean to back you up.

In the end, Nintendo's demographic didn't really change and the problem is still the same. The guys who shifted to Sony and Microsoft, or even debuted with them. I'm not sure they can be bring back in. But if Nintendo wants to do so, they'll need a great online environment, and especially ips with dudebro impact.

Those could be :

_A mature, dark and realistic Metroid with Crysis quality alien environments and interactions + an actual awesome art direction.

_A Wave Race with never before seen water physics and shaders and some impressive settings (like you know, a storm with the light of a lighthouse, this kind of things) and some great music (oh and a great gameplay of course )

_Same for F-Zero after that. This kind of game is just ideal to show off next gen visuals. When you think about it, last time we actually saw a Nintendo ip with never before seen graphics was 10 years ago.)

_About Mario it's tricky, not sure the dudebros would even go for it anyway, but as far as i'm concerned, i want a Mario which try to impress and be magical, ala Wind Waker for its time. Nintendo can go fuck itself with the "Mario is just about gameplay man" mentality. When i was a kid, Mario World was like playing a cartoon for christ sake!

I know i know i'm a graphic whore, but it's also a matter of cultural evolution for Nintendo.
Also graphics ARE important, and the contrary talk is wrong for me. i've got my theories on this subject. I strongly think Video game are not games, and they are, in their core definition, not only you doing things, BUT You doing thing through an artistic representation. That's what they are and what they always have been, since the first time. Pong is an exception in that regard. Representation of an action is 50% of a videogame, but anyway....

Nintendo has to work on all that.

 

[Medalion]

Nintendo will always be Nintendo

They had to battle the "mature"/"kiddy" wars even during the Sega wars

Nintendo will do its thing, and just continue to court Third parties who can and do "mature" IPs

 

[guek]

_A mature, dark and realistic Metroid with Crysis quality alien environments and interactions + an actual awesome art direction.

dude the art direction in Prime was awesome.

What you seem to be describing is moving their IPs into different genres. I'd rather they just created new IPs as well as keep the old ones

 

[Instro]

I still think if they want to go beyond the regular Nintendo fans, they need to rebrand some of their ips.

Why would they re-brand successful ips? If they want to target dudebros(which I'm not sure is particularly necessary to be successful, as long as the system gets the major 3rd party shooters) just create new ip's or fund an external dev to make a competent shooter for them.

 

[orioto]

dude the art direction in Prime was awesome.

What you seem to be describing is moving their IPs into different genres. I'd rather they just created new IPs as well as keep the old ones

My bad i meant compared to Crysis ! Of course Prime had an awesome art direction.
But i don't see where this is a genre change at all..

 

[Kerrby]

So Wii U Re-Unveiling At E3 2012 means 2013 release when possibly the PS4/NextBox are coming out?

Or are we expecting it to be released Christmas 2012?

GAF CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH SPECULATION!!

 

[Instro]

My bad i meant compared to Crysis ! Of course Prime had an awesome art direction.
But i don't see where this is a genre change at all..

Maybe it was the word "realistic". On that note though, I think Metroid has always been rather dark so I dont think much needs to change there. Its not a series that will ever have mass appeal though given the nature of its gameplay and the lack of multiplayer(please keep it this way).

However it is a great series, much like F-Zero, to put out as a graphical showcase if they so choose.

 

[NinjaTehFish]

So Wii U Re-Unveiling At E3 2012 means 2013 release when possibly the PS4/NextBox are coming out?

Or are we expecting it to be released Christmas 2012?

GAF CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH SPECULATION!!

It's launching next year. any '13 dates you hear are referring to the fiscal year which starts around halfway through next.

 

[StreetsAhead]

We would like to show the final format of the Wii U at the E3 show next year.

Where does it say re-unveil? They are not the same thing. Or do you have trouble understanding English/reading more than GAF thread titles?

 

[Medalion]

To make up for the controversially lousy and confusing unveil, this is the reunveil...the proper one that everybody was hoping for and expecting

 

[orioto]

Maybe it was the word "realistic". On that note though, I think Metroid has always been rather dark so I dont think much needs to change there. Its not a series that will ever have mass appeal though given the nature of its gameplay and the lack of multiplayer(please keep it this way).

However it is a great series, much like F-Zero, to put out as a graphical showcase if they so choose.

Well indeed what i'm imagining wouldn't be a drastic change, just an evolution of the game. By realistic i mean visually, and by having a solid and dynamic environment (that was already awesome in prime). Maybe i would just add some "simulation" aspects to play more with the fact that you know, you're all alone and all that. Ho and it would be third person... An Uncharted balance of platforming/shooter is actually more faithful to the old Metroids. But that's just the logical expansion of metroid's concept. I really think it could be a killer. I mean... Some one player survival or third person shooters are big hits... There is everything you need for that in Metroid. A female protagonist, cool powers, ghotic/alienish background... If Epic or Bioware made a game with those ingredients, they would sell a tons of copies.

What i only mean is that basically, A badass Metroid with some more modern elements could be marketed as something huge. Not just as a "Fans like Metroid, let's make one for them" though. Nintendo has the tools to be come more offensive.

 

[Cygnus X-1]

I'm usually interested in what Iwata has to say.

That's because he is believable. What he says usually are not lies. Even if he's wrong in the end, he usually is able to recognize it and take the necessary countermeasures. I have to admit Yamauchi made a fantastic choice while appointing him as new CEO.

Instead Reggie lost all his credibility because he said lot of crap which never took place.

 

[Chris1964]

Where does it say re-unveil? They are not the same thing. Or do you have trouble understanding English/reading more than GAF thread titles?

No, it's not re-unveil. The controller is ready, only the hardware specs have yet to be finalized.

 

[Black-Wind]

I'm still betting they go for a release within 3 weeks of E3. I think waiting until the holiday would be an absolute disaster, especially with what Sony and Microsoft will be showing at E3. At least one of those will be going for a powerhouse system.

Interesting ...

Nintendo would need to have a BIG con sometime before then though because no one is gonna want to take the leap on this without a hype-train plowing at full speed for sometime before then.

I would say that at BEST they would release within 3 months of e3. I also think that waiting until winter would be bad, they need this fucker out asap. I don't think the Wii can handle anything after SS ... I don't think Nintendo is going to waste time and money supporting it much after it gets its swan song.

At the end of the day it's clear ... Nintendo fucked up last e3. Nintendo fucked up BAD. :/

Which will mean a higher price tag, which will mean consumers will wait..

Not sure how you came up with that. If it's possible to get it out at that time than IDK what a few months would change price-wise.

 

[Jarmel]

Doing another unveiling at 2012 is a very bad idea unless there is a signficant re-design. Not only that Microsoft and Sony are for sure going to be announcing their next generation consoles.

 

[comedy bomb]

I don't think Nintendo is going to waste time and money supporting it much after it gets its swan song.

:/

Which is too bad. If NOA turned around and said Xenoblade/Pandora's Tower/Last Story would release in Feb/Mar/Apr they could at the very least keep the core gamers happy for a bit.

 

[Medalion]

Doing another unveiling at 2012 is a very bad idea unless there is a signficant re-design. Not only that Microsoft and Sony are for sure going to be announcing their next generation consoles.

Since that unveil at E3 we still haven't seen squat or heard about it since and they don't plan to show shit till the upcoming E3, for all we know, the system is almost a completely different one by now anyways

 

[comedy bomb]

the system is almost a completely different one by now anyways

I get the feeling that they intentionally left out a key component of the system out of the initial reveal, which would explain the less than informative E3 conference and the dead silence since.

 

[Rhod]

Nintendo (Japan) has woken up to their ability to circumvent the blogs and media with a positive and encouraging presentation in Nintendo Direct. I suspect there will be much less scope for all the nonsense about 'not knowing what it is' and 'it's just a new controller wtf?' in future.

That said, NoA's approach to Nintendo Direct and to social media - from their condescending, kiddie Twitter feed to their offensively stupid Facebook pages - needs serious revision. It totally lacks the personal touch of having, say, a Major Nelson, and is instead just a corporate lifeless mouthpiece.

 

[Übermatik]

I get the feeling that they intentionally left out a key component of the system out of the initial reveal, which would explain the less than informative E3 conference and the dead silence since.

This kinda comes across when they talk about the online. At E3, what the devs said, and the Geoff interview, Reggie (and others) keep saying the online is done, it's solid. Yet no details...

 

[Rhod]

This kinda comes across when they talk about the online. At E3, what the devs said, and the Geoff interview, Reggie (and others) keep saying the online is done, it's solid. Yet no details...

There is very little evidence, from the 3DS, that they are 'done', or anywhere near on top of any online system that would satisfy GAF.

 

[daakusedo]

I'm not really worried about the quality of their e3 conf with the time they have to prepare and already having shown a bit of the wiiu. And if they follow the 3ds way for its first year line up minor the launch time, my problem is more with waiting for it. I know I like nothing but in early 2012 that's not just on wii it will be silent.

 

[Übermatik]

There is very little evidence, from the 3DS, that they are 'done', or anywhere near on top of any online system that would satisfy GAF.

Okay, maybe 'done' was the wrong word, but they seemed inexplicably confident about it, like it was there, in full swing.
And taking examples from the 3DS isn't a smart idea. Come the Wii U's launch, Nintendo can make alterations to adapt the 3DS' online to suit the Wii U more appropriately.
They're direction has changed and their services improved quite a bit with the 3DS, too, actually - universal friend code isn't ideal, but it's better.

 

[Rhod]

Okay, maybe 'done' was the wrong word, but they seemed inexplicably confident about it, like it was there, in full swing.

Like 3rd party support for 3DS launch window, and 3rd party Wii software in 2008.

Inexplicable is right.

 

[IrishNinja]

That's because he is believable. What he says usually are not lies. Even if he's wrong in the end, he usually is able to recognize it and take the necessary countermeasures. I have to admit Yamauchi made a fantastic choice while appointing him as new CEO.

Instead Reggie lost all his credibility because he said lot of crap which never took place.

reggie sure felt like he was bullshitting on the WU debut this summer (and ducking the second "panel", heh) but what specifically's being referred to here?

 

[Pancakes R Us]

Okay, maybe 'done' was the wrong word, but they seemed inexplicably confident about it, like it was there, in full swing.

I think you're reading too much into nothing. This is Nintendo we're talking about.

 

[Übermatik]

I think you're reading too much into nothing. This is Nintendo we're talking about.

True, but there were mentions in the developer interview video, Reggie commented on it in his interview, both instances there was clear acknowledgement that they had solid plans for the online...

 

[StreetsAhead]

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/110608qa/02.html

See Q6. I definitely don't see any plans/ideas/vague "we'll discuss details later" talk about online here at all.

 

[Pancakes R Us]

True, but there were mentions in the developer interview video, Reggie commented on it in his interview, both instances there was clear acknowledgement that they had solid plans for the online...

Nintendo has also clearly acknowledged that it needs to avoid software droughts (numerous times over the years) but still runs into this issue often. I wouldn't take what we've heard so far about online as gospel (the upcoming stuff for 3DS should have happened a while ago with Wii/DSi, but Nintendo is too stubborn in its ways (only eventually throwing users a bone when it comes to things like online.

 

[MikeE21286]

I'm extremely interested to see what software Wii U launches with.

You gotta think that there's gonna be something non-traditional that takes advantage of the hardware, sure. But are there any games from the stable of Nintendo franchises that launch as well. I'd bet a lot of money on that New Super Mario Bros. game launching with the system. Hell, it might even be a pack-in game.

 

[Plinko]

Interesting ...

Nintendo would need to have a BIG con sometime before then though because no one is gonna want to take the leap on this without a hype-train plowing at full speed for sometime before then.

I would say that at BEST they would release within 3 months of e3. I also think that waiting until winter would be bad, they need this fucker out asap. I don't think the Wii can handle anything after SS ... I don't think Nintendo is going to waste time and money supporting it much after it gets its swan song.

At the end of the day it's clear ... Nintendo fucked up last e3. Nintendo fucked up BAD. :/

With the right marketing campaign, though, you could easily take care of it. I'm still convinced the absolute best thing they could do for this system is rush Smash Bros. for launch. That gives the hardcore an incredibly deep game with a ton of content that will keep them playing for months.

 

[The Cartographer]

With the right marketing campaign, though, you could easily take care of it. I'm still convinced the absolute best thing they could do for this system is rush Smash Bros. for launch. That gives the hardcore an incredibly deep game with a ton of content that will keep them playing for months.

Not a bad idea

 

[StreetsAhead]

Or, they could not rush the game into a less-than-twelve month development and have it be good and not risk losing any brand-trust with consumers.

 

[jacksrb]

Just wanted to chime in on the third party sales during the GC, etc.

In that generation, the biggest mature titles (GTA and Halo) were console exclusives - leading some other games (like a Madden) to sale better on the other consoles.

However, the economics of game development now make it really prohibitive for third parties to not take major titles to all (similar) platforms.

Not to say that Madden won't continue to sell better on the other consoles, but the small cost of developing a Wii U version before the new consoles from MS and Sony (and hopefully after) will ensure that they continue to put content on it, even for 50,000 thousand copies.

Lastly, hopefully the market will reward versions of games that make use of the Upad in innovative and non-trivial ways.

 

[Luigiv]

With the right marketing campaign, though, you could easily take care of it. I'm still convinced the absolute best thing they could do for this system is rush Smash Bros. for launch. That gives the hardcore an incredibly deep game with a ton of content that will keep them playing for months.

Um, yeah sure, a rushed game will totally be packed with content, right? Nothing contradictory about that statement at all.

Anyway, that aside, Development on Smash Bros is still very early (assume it's even started at all). Even if they rush it, it's going to take years. It'd be impossible to get the game ready for launch by any metric.

 

[EricDiesel]

Rushing games is always a fantastic idea. That line of thinking has never bit a developer in the ass before.

They need to take their time with SSB. That's not a game you half-ass. Stop spouting nonsense.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Nonesense. They just need announcements. They revealed next to nothing of their own stuff this year software wise for this system. If they really do save everything for next e3r, people will be blown away.

how is it nonsense? They just need to stop with their typical weirdness. For instance don't not show the system itself and then tell everyone "it's just a box" later on. Just one example of many. They need to be clear, concise, but detailed in their information on the console, and then show the games they are working on. I'm sure they can do the second half, the first half though :/

We'll see. Even the commercial they made was a bit confusing.

 

[Plinko]

No need for the massive overreaction--I shouldn't have used the word "rush." By "rush" I didn't mean "put out a game with a massive load of glitches." I meant "put this game at the forefront of development," i.e., focus your launch AROUND this game.

In fact, Smash Bros could be Nintendo's first big foray into showing off their new online infrastructure, incorporating DLC characters, stages, and more. It really seems like the prime game to do for this type of thing.

 

[MDX]

No need for the massive overreaction--I shouldn't have used the word "rush." By "rush" I didn't mean "put out a game with a massive load of glitches." I meant "put this game at the forefront of development," i.e., focus your launch AROUND this game.

In fact, Smash Bros could be Nintendo's first big foray into showing off their new online infrastructure, incorporating DLC characters, stages, and more. It really seems like the prime game to do for this type of thing.

Will it be a launch game?
Because if not, thats too late.
Nintendo needs to have that infrastructure up day one for third parties to take advantage of.
The Wii may not have to compete against XBL & PSN, but the WiiU has. Like a horse being born, it has to be ready to run.

 

[Jocchan]

There's no way in hell a Smash Bros. game that hadn't even started development 4 months ago can be ready for the WiiU launch.

 

[Übermatik]

There's no way in hell a Smash Bros. game that hadn't even started development 4 months ago can be ready for the WiiU launch.

But there's a possibility of a teaser trailer!

 

[Hiltz]

I think we'd be lucky to have the next Smash Bros game come out as early as Holiday 2013. That would be within the same development time it took Sakurai to make Smash Bros. Brawl which was between 16-20 months, but pushed back in time for a holiday release.l Problem is, there's also that 3DS version which is going to cut into the development team's resources. Who knows, we may end up having to wait another 6 months for both games to be completed and launched simulanetously. Remember, Smash Bros Brawl ended up getting delayed. It was originally scheduled for a Dec. 2007 release date but got pushed back to early March for North America while Europe and Australia had to wait until late June.

 

[guek]

But there's a possibility of a teaser trailer!

I think we'll get a logo at least, possibly a bit of art, unlikely but possibly a teaser, and at absolute best a short teaser with no gameplay that reveals a 3rd party character.

 

[daakusedo]

Sure, there will be something, if they announced it without even started it at last e3, it will follow at next conference. And it's was already crazy to do again a brawl type announcement. Poor Sakurai...