Wii U Speculation Thread of Brains Beware: Wii U Re-Unveiling At E3 2012

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They didn't have to show off a finished game, as the console was not planning to launch this year.

They needed to show something which had finished assets, doesn't need to be a game that's literally done. What Nintendo did caused much confusion and hurt mindshare more than anything else.
 
Bullshit, THQ had Darksiders 2 ready and playable. Nintendo themselves chose not to use it for the presentation.
Ok, that was a bit hyperbolic. Two games (Ghost Recon too) which were direct ports in alpha stage don't show good preparation by any means though.
 
Zelda - Gritty but very much cartoonish style. Not clean like Skyward Sword, but more like Darkstalkers 2 (love the style shown in trailers).

Actually, that just made me think of another style I'd like to see - would it be possible to render something approximating the style used in the artwork for Mario Strikers, I wonder?
 
First I heard that, link.
You can actually see it in the footage. There's Xbox button icons on the HUD. The game was either made for the 360 originally until they decided to make it for Wii U, or they started making it on a 360 devkit when the Wii U devkits weren't available. We talked about it earlier this thread.

Log4Girlz: lol
 
Sigh, a multi-platform game with current gen assets.


You can not expect third parties to jump on next gen before this gen is done. Like the DC had plenty of ps1 uprezed games. If third parties have something exclusive for Wii U, it is not ready to be shown now, and most likely it is based on current gen assets.

3DS has the same problem, with most 3rd parties effort being sub par (and we are six months after launch, not 12 months before). The editors have to upgrade their framework. That is why Naught Dog games only appear 18 months after launch too.
 
You can not expect third parties to jump on next gen before this gen is done. Like the DC had plenty of ps1 uprezed games. If third parties have something exclusive for Wii U, it is not ready to be shown now, and most likely it is based on current gen assets.

3DS has the same problem, with most 3rd parties effort being sub par (and we are six months after launch, not 12 months before). The editors have to upgrade their framework. That is why Naught Dog games only appear 18 months after launch too.

Nintendo shouldn't have shown anything until they had something that could impress.
 
It went something like...

SM64->OoT->MM->SMS->WW->TP->SS

DKJB->SMG->SMG2->SM3DL

and not the way you described it for the 3D engines. Course DKJB probably split off from the SMS engine, so really it's all different versions of the Mario 64 engine like others have said. EAD Tokyo has their own set of tools, but I'm sure there's some cross team sharing of code.

This is the way I remember too.

The Jungle Beat/Mario Galaxy engine has alot more eye candy too than the Zelda Engine.
 
I've speculated myself that if Nintendo is planning to support the Wii for at least two years after the WiiU launch, they might risk the high price entry due to the controller. Im betting 349, but maybe they might go for 399 if there is enough hype.

Are we really going through this again? There was plenty hype for PS3, as there was for 3DS. Hype is not a reliable indicator of market price and market realities.

This was a $99 device. And to have this you needed to buy a Wii which would run around $249. Thats about $348 people were shelling out for the whole package.

Nintendo wants the same thing to happen with the tablet Controller. They want people to want the controller, which means they will have to buy a console with it, this time bundled. So if that hype is there for the tablet controller, 349 to 399 is not out of the question.

Where Nintendo did fail was regarding the WiiU killer app, which I believe has not sparked the same enthusiasm as Wiifit or Wiisports.

The balance board catered to a specific subset of people. It's usp is very, very limited.

Furthermore, Wii U's controller is not a tablet controller. It can't do many or most of the things you would expect to do on a tablet device.
 
You can actually see it in the footage. There's Xbox button icons on the HUD. The game was either made for the 360 originally until they decided to make it for Wii U, or they started making it on a 360 devkit when the Wii U devkits weren't available. We talked about it earlier this thread.

Log4Girlz: lol

Probably placeholder since Ubisoft is using an alpha devkit and didn't know the "final" design or the WiiU devkit supports 360 controllers and used it as a reference, just like the gba devkit supported had hardwired Snes controllers

I hardly think it's a 360 port
 
MEMORY STRATEGIES INTERNATIONAL
http://www.memorystrategies.com/report/embeddedram.html#Description

has a trend research document called
Trends in Embedded DRAM, August 2011

in which they discuss Embedded DRAM Applications
highlighting:

2.2.1 Nintendo Wee U in 45 nm SOI

One can order this document, and possibly glean more about WiiU, in particular, how much eDRAM is actually in it.

The only thing is:

Send us the information requested below by e-mail, fax, or post along with your check, bank transfer, or purchase order for $975. ($850 if a Technical Market Analysis has been ordered from Memory Strategies in the past year.)

I dont have that kind of money. So, does anyone here on GAF, that can miss a grand, want to take one for the team? Or maybe convince their boss at work this report is needed for their research. LOL.

what is soi?
 
Probably placeholder since Ubisoft is using an alpha devkit and didn't know the "final" design or the WiiU devkit supports 360 controllers and used it as a reference, just like the gba devkit supported had hardwired Snes controllers

I hardly think it's a 360 port
That really makes no sense at all. A Nintendo devkit supporting MS controllers? What? Ubisoft and Nintendo actually have placeholder button icons for the Classic Controller that could be used, anyway. Come on.
what is soi?
Silicon on insulator. It describes the material used to make the chip.
 
They needed to show something which had finished assets, doesn't need to be a game that's literally done. What Nintendo did caused much confusion and hurt mindshare more than anything else.

What confusion?

Nintendo showed what the controller could do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tVFKosGiKE

Which was clear. The only confusion SOME people had about the controller was whether it was for a new console or the old console. And the confusion was only for a moment, because once they showed their graphic tech demos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shch7LNkVXw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Lf4uVuE50&feature=related

People understood there was a new console behind the controller.
So, Nintendo revealed a new controller, then a new console.

People tend to expect a new console reveal, then its features.
But again, thats not Nintendo's selling point here. Its the controller.
Just like they did with the Wii.

So no, Nintendo didnt cause confusion. Some get easily confused when their
expectations are not met.
 
What confusion?

Nintendo showed what the controller could do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tVFKosGiKE

Which was clear. The only confusion SOME people had about the controller was whether it was for a new console or the old console. And the confusion was only for a moment, because once they showed their graphic tech demos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shch7LNkVXw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Lf4uVuE50&feature=related

People understood there was a new console behind the controller.
So, Nintendo revealed a new controller, then a new console.

People tend to expect a new console reveal, then its features.
But again, thats not Nintendo's selling point here. Its the controller.
Just like they did with the Wii.

So no, Nintendo didnt cause confusion. Some get easily confused when their
expectations are not met.

THIS WHOLE THREAD IS A TESTAMENT TO THE CONFUSION.
 
Do you guys think that most of the internal Nintendo studios are collaborating on a monster of an engine that will be used across the board in all 1st party titles for Wii U? Does it even make sense for Nintendo and does it suit their dev philosophy?
I think it'll more likely be a set of libraries, not a whole engine, but I definitely think they'll do something. Especially in light of some recent hirings, like that out-of-core specialist now at Retro and a few other guys with a background in more scientific stuff, artificial intelligence and such.
 
So no, Nintendo didnt cause confusion. Some get easily confused when their
expectations are not met.

Yes, Nintendo did cause confusion, as evident by the plenty of people I know who were unsure what, exactly, was going on with the system, confused as to whether it was a legitimately new platform or a peripheral for the Wii. These people are not the kind who go over E3 with a fine tooth comb or intensely follow every piece of news that trickles out.

Nintendo's E3 2011 Wii U reveal was an absolute mess, and I'm struggling to fathom how an argument could be made otherwise.
 
Yes, Nintendo did cause confusion, as evident by the plenty of people I know who were unsure what, exactly, was going on with the system, confused as to whether it was a legitimately new platform or a peripheral for the Wii. These people are not the kind who go over E3 with a fine tooth comb or intensely follow every piece of news that trickles out.

Nintendo's E3 2011 Wii U reveal was an absolute mess, and I'm struggling to fathom how an argument could be made otherwise.

Let's not forget all the news stories about a new Wii controller.
 
Yes, Nintendo did cause confusion, as evident by the plenty of people I know who were unsure what, exactly, was going on with the system, confused as to whether it was a legitimately new platform or a peripheral for the Wii. These people are not the kind who go over E3 with a fine tooth comb or intensely follow every piece of news that trickles out.

Nintendo's E3 2011 Wii U reveal was an absolute mess, and I'm struggling to fathom how an argument could be made otherwise.

Most of the articles I saw in the mainstream media(BBC, CNN, etc.) seemed to have no problems understanding it was a new console.
 
Most of the articles I saw in the mainstream media(BBC, CNN, etc.) seemed to have no problems understanding it was a new console.

Because they're fed PR announcements that come directly from Nintendo. The actual E3 showing was a confusing mess. I get what they were trying to do, but they did it poorly, focusing far too much on a controller which could have been easily mistaken for a Wii peripheral, and all of the hands-on demos not only looked like Wii games, but in same cases appeared to be modded Wii games (looking at you, Super Mii Mario whatever).

They showed not a single game (no, a rushed demo reel compiled of footage from other platforms doesn't count), and spent not a single moment explaining what the console was about. No details on the UI, online, connectivity, or graphical output beyond a ho-hum garden tech demo. Hell, the name itself, 'Wii U', alone failed to differentiate the system from the Wii.

Yes, for anybody paying attention and 'in the know' it was clearly a new console. But the idea that this was obvious to everybody is absurd. I was asked by several people who were casually paying attention to E3 what the deal with the Wii U was, legitimately confused as to whether or not it was a controller peripheral or revised Wii, or a whole new system entirely. Most of them, when quickly looking for info, found nothing except a bunch of pictures of the controller and the Wii look alike tech demoes.

Nintendo revealed a console, except the console forgot to show up.
 
Because they're fed PR announcements that come directly from Nintendo. The actual E3 showing was a confusing mess. I get what they were trying to do, but they did it poorly, focusing far too much on a controller which could have been easily mistaken for a Wii peripheral, and all of the hands-on demos not only looked like Wii games, but in same cases appeared to be modded Wii games (looking at you, Super Mii Mario whatever).

They showed not a single game (no, a rushed demo reel compiled of footage from other platforms doesn't count), and spent not a single moment explaining what the console was about. No details on the UI, online, connectivity, or graphical output beyond a ho-hum garden tech demo. Hell, the name itself, 'Wii U', alone failed to differentiate the system from the Wii.

Yes, for anybody paying attention and 'in the know' it was clearly a new console. But the idea that this was obvious to everybody is absurd. I was asked by several people who were casually paying attention to E3 what the deal with the Wii U was, legitimately confused as to whether or not it was a controller peripheral or revised Wii, or a whole new system entirely. Most of them, when quickly looking for info, found nothing except a bunch of pictures of the controller and the Wii look alike tech demoes.

Nintendo revealed a console, except the console forgot to show up.

I think the worst offender is that the console looks so much like the original Wii.
 
I think the worst offender is that the console looks so much like the original Wii.

This too is another problem. I mean, it looks sleek and good, but at a quick glance the whole package looks like the Wii.

Nintendo could have very easily prevented confusion by showing at least one next generation game to show off the system, instead of a bunch of Wii ports.
 
Because they're fed PR announcements that come directly from Nintendo. The actual E3 showing was a confusing mess. I get what they were trying to do, but they did it poorly, focusing far too much on a controller which could have been easily mistaken for a Wii peripheral, and all of the hands-on demos not only looked like Wii games, but in same cases appeared to be modded Wii games (looking at you, Super Mii Mario whatever).

They showed not a single game (no, a rushed demo reel compiled of footage from other platforms doesn't count), and spent not a single moment explaining what the console was about. No details on the UI, online, connectivity, or graphical output beyond a ho-hum garden tech demo. Hell, the name itself, 'Wii U', alone failed to differentiate the system from the Wii.

Yes, for anybody paying attention and 'in the know' it was clearly a new console. But the idea that this was obvious to everybody is absurd. I was asked by several people who were casually paying attention to E3 what the deal with the Wii U was, legitimately confused as to whether or not it was a controller peripheral or revised Wii, or a whole new system entirely. Most of them, when quickly looking for info, found nothing except a bunch of pictures of the controller and the Wii look alike tech demoes.

Nintendo revealed a console, except the console forgot to show up.

I think the problem lies with the people who you were speaking to, people who don't know what E3 is should have had no real problem, & obviously people following closely knew before E3 that it was a new console.

As for their actual "unveil" it was more an extended tease, the proper unveil will be next year ( I honestly think Nintendo would have been served better if they had just shown the 3DS games & then at the end of the conference just had a 30sec sizzle reel ending with Zelda Wii U & a quick flash of the tablet).
 
The fact that games will look better won't stop people from being confused. The problem existed with the 3ds, cause it had the sam design, name and logo than the nds.

It's actually worse with the WiiU, and the name especially. Super Wii, for exemple, would mean it's something above wii. WiiU sounds like it's something FOR the wii...
 
I get it, what you wanted was Nintendo to simply state
WiiU's specs. Well thats not going to happen.
So I guess you'll remain confused.

I'm pretty sure specs aren't the problem but okay then.
 
Nintendo definitely caused the confusion, even though some that were confused should have known better. There are two things Nintendo could have done in their press conference that could have eliminated a lot of problems.

1. At least show the console for about 20-30 seconds for photos. That kills any ideas that the Controller was a Wii add-on.

2. Show game logos in the sizzle reel instead of gameplay. This way people don't go thinking that PS360 games look worse than PS360 games and you still let people know what games to expect down the road. But hindsight is 20/20.

Do you guys think that most of the internal Nintendo studios are collaborating on a monster of an engine that will be used across the board in all 1st party titles for Wii U? Does it even make sense for Nintendo and does it suit their dev philosophy?

From the small amount of info I got from a discussion many moons ago it sounds like they upgrade their engine each time, sorta like how we have UE, UE2, UE3, and eventually UE4.
 
They should've just shown the tablet, like E3 2005 where all they showed was a prototype remote. If I were to hazard a guess, that was probably their plan all along. Instead, I think all the leaks from Ubisoft forced a bit more out of them...

And that "bit more" was rushed to high heavens. I guess it was the best they could cobble together in a <1 month timeframe.

You want a new Hunters?

I remember Hunters basically being Quake Lite (with good proof-in-concept controls for FPS on DS). It wasn't horrific, unless you're talking about the single player.
 
Don't think it's very likely. No previous TES games were ever on a Nintendo console, and I don't think Bethesda will see a market for it. Maybe it won't be incredibly hard to port 360 code to the Wii U, don't know if that would make a difference.

That said, a 1080p GOTY edition of Skyrim with Upad support on a console with enough memory to actually run the game would be the definitive version. Come at me, PC gamers.

I wonder if you could squeeze the entire savefile into the supposedly-massive eDRAM and still have space for all the graphical gubbins you want to do?

Perverse, a completely inappropriate misuse of what the eDRAM is for... but actually quite a quick solution for the apparent reason for Skyrim's issues.
 
I get it, what you wanted was Nintendo to simply state
WiiU's specs. Well thats not going to happen.
So I guess you'll remain confused.

You don't need that, or specific games. Just choose your language carefully

'brand new home console'
'amazing HD graphics'
'this revolutionary controller, together with the cutting edge technology in the new Wii U console..'


For example, would have helped emphasise that its not just a peripheral. And lets face it, Nintendo are fond of their peripherals so its not that silly to be confused
 
From the small amount of info I got from a discussion many moons ago it sounds like they upgrade their engine each time, sorta like how we have UE, UE2, UE3, and eventually UE4.

Yup, I recall someone who was in the know on these boards explaining how the Galaxy engine amazingly goes all the way back to Mario 64. And that, in turn, is the same engine that is in Wind Waker, Twilight Princess , etc. People make the mistake of thinking because something uses toon shading or an abundance of bump mapping that it's a different engine. Nope.
 
They should've just shown the tablet, like E3 2005 where all they showed was a prototype remote. If I were to hazard a guess, that was probably their plan all along. Instead, I think all the leaks from Ubisoft forced a bit more out of them...

The only showed the console at E3 2005. The Wiimote was TGS 2005. While I never believed the leaks forced them to do it, I also found this dated in March which was before the Cafe leaks.

http://www.slashgear.com/nintendo-wii-2-at-e3-hints-ea-boss-16140276/

Yup, I recall someone who was in the know on these boards explaining how the Galaxy engine amazingly goes all the way back to Mario 64. And that, in turn, is the same engine that is in Wind Waker, Twilight Princess , etc. People make the mistake of thinking because something uses toon shading or an abundance of bump mapping that it's a different engine. Nope.

Yeah we (me and another guy) had that discussion in this thread and it helped me understand how different assets and engines are.
 
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