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[royalan]

If it comes 'early' I can only see July happening like the Europeans predict. You don't launch a console in August, that's usually the slowest month for videogame sales.

You don't launch in August expecting Holiday numbers. You launch your console in August so you can establish a presence for your unproven hardware and get those big Holiday numbers later.

The Wii U isn't the next Xbox or Playstation; Nintendo needs to be really aggressive to have a chance at changing some perceptions here, and I think a good strategy would be getting the Wii U out with enough time before the holidays so that they have time to really start turning heads with their hardware.

Launch in July-August with a handful of killer titles to attract initial interest and start building a base. Market the hell out of Wii U's features for the next two months and hit with an onslaught of games in November.

 

[Übermatik]

If it comes 'early' I can only see July happening like the Europeans predict. You don't launch a console in August, that's usually the slowest month for videogame sales.

Exactly

 

[guek]

I know everyone assumed this already but I think Gaijin Games' response to being asked if bit.trip runner 2 is coming to the Wii U only solidifies the idea that nintendo is preventing anyone with their grubby mitts on a dev kit from saying anything about anything. T2 could be planning to have GTAV as a launch title for all we know (yes, unlikely), but are unable to even mention the platform before nintendo releases them from their NDAs. Devs has been eerily silent, but I think that makes sense.

 

[v1oz]

If Nintendo were smart they would make the touch screen pressure sensitive. Which would give it and edge over the iPad.

 

[AceBandage]

Even devs that are making games for the WiiU that Nintendo themselves have shown (like Batman: AC) can't talk about the system. They have everyone under an insanely strict NDA.

 

[guek]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

 

[wsippel]

If Nintendo were smart they would make the touch screen pressure sensitive. Which would give it and edge over the iPad.

Resistive touchscreens typically are pressure sensitive. They're also rather crude thermometers.

 

[udivision]

If Nintendo were smart they would make the touch screen pressure sensitive. Which would give it and edge over the iPad.

heh... what?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

If it comes 'early' I can only see July happening like the Europeans predict. You don't launch a console in August, that's usually the slowest month for videogame sales.

If they are, for whatever reason, utterly convinced that their launch software is going to be huge, late summer would not be that crazy.

If it takes off, it could build a decent base for Christmas, give people the Nintendo software they want with a Nintendo system, and have it not compete that much with third-party titles during Christmas.

 

[TunaLover]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

I still don't get how they can get all those views from objects in a plane (as opposed to poligonals objects)

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

Anybody else see that Pachter once again said that the Wii U will be on the same level as the 360 in that CES discussion?

I don't really trust Pachter, but he seems to be really sure about this point, which is not very encouraging.

Pachter knows nothing, he just gets paid to say this shit so people keep watching when he is on.

 

[royalan]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

Wow, that was some impressive panorama. You could see the screen lagging a bit, but still...that was sweet.

And NOW I'm impressed by that Zelda demo. Seeing it running silky smooth on that flat screen, and the realtime changes in lighting without a drop in framerate...that was hot.

 

[wsippel]

And NOW I'm impressed by that Zelda demo. Seeing it running silky smooth on that flat screen, and the realtime changes in lighting without a drop in framerate...that was hot.

Yep. And the lighting is truly gorgeous.

 

[guek]

And NOW I'm impressed by that Zelda demo. Seeing it running silky smooth on that flat screen, and the realtime changes in lighting without a drop in framerate...that was hot.

I think it was partly due to the TV. I know the Wii U is going to make my old bravia cry :-( I can hardly stand to even watch blu-rays on it anymore knowing how good it could look.

 

[HeySeuss]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

That looks impressive. The city demo was highly detailed.

 

[Plinko]

Anybody else see that Pachter once again said that the Wii U will be on the same level as the 360 in that CES discussion?

I don't really trust Pachter, but he seems to be really sure about this point, which is not very encouraging.

Pachter is still angry that the mythical "Wii HD" he predicted didn't ever exist.

I love my 360, but I haven't seen it put out detail like that Zelda demo.

 

[udivision]

That looks impressive. The city demo was highly detailed.

The city wasn't being rendered, I don't think.
I thought it was real footage.

 

[The M.O.B]

That looks impressive. The city demo was highly detailed.

It's just video footage, not rendered.

 

[Fess]

Wow that was great, the city demo was new to me, really cool. I'm not sure that I want a game using that function though, might be quite tiresome. And Zelda always impress me. E3 is going to be so awesome!

 

[Indyana]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

Minute 2:48, both Wii U pads are showing the city!!

Sorry it was a TV reflection.

 

[A.KU.MU]

I want that Zelda tech demo to be the game. I want it. Am cry.

 

[HeySeuss]

The city wasn't being rendered, I don't think.
I thought it was real footage.

I thought I saw some jaggies on the lightpoles. Maybe it was just the tv, looked rendered to me.

But it wasn't controllable, so that's the main reason I thought it was rendered. Maybe not.

 

[TheCongressman1]

I thought I saw some jaggies on the lightpoles. Maybe it was just the tv, looked rendered to me.

But it wasn't controllable, so that's the main reason I thought it was rendered. Maybe not.

Nah, it probably would have not been so laggy if it were rendered.

 

[GDGF]

whoa, there's footage of the panorama view demo in this video: http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/11/2700613/nintendo-wii-u-video-walkthrough at about 2:37

What is the sorcery behind the interactive driving panorama and can I get a fps that looks like that?

 

[HeySeuss]

Nah, it probably would have not been so laggy if it were rendered.

Just watched it again, and it still looks rendered to me. The first tree on the left side looks fake-ish, and the blue street sign and the orange things on the light poles just look "off".

 

[guek]

If that's rendered, then the wii-u is far more powerful than anyone predicted - I'm pretty sure it's just a video or they would have said otherwise

 

[Thraktor]

It's a video, people. There might be some glitches in it due to the need to sew together video from multiple cameras to get the panorama, but it's definitely a video.

 

[Skiesofwonder]

I spot THREE Wii U pads at 2:35-2:37 (two on desk, one in players hand), two of which seem to be tethered to the same Wii U console.

I know Wii U was confirmed to support two controllers, but why have them there unless you were showing off new software that supports two (or more) controllers....

 

[wsippel]

What is the sorcery behind the interactive driving panorama and can I get a fps that looks like that?

If I had to guess, I'd assume the demo uses a sequence of spherical images with an overall resolution far beyond 1080p (tiled). Some of those tiles are used to display the main video on the TV screen, and the system uses gyro data to select, load and display tiles showing a part at a certain angle on the pad. So I believe the demo is meant to demonstrate the systems ability to work with huge amounts of data.

 

[Demon Lizardman]

I spot THREE Wii U pads at 2:35-2:37 (two on desk, one in players hand), two of which seem to be tethered to the same Wii U console.

I know Wii U was confirmed to support two controllers, but why have them there unless you were showing off new software that supports two (or more) controllers....

Because Nintendo is being fucking lazy, they had 7 months to add at least one or two new experiences to showcase and they didn't add anything, the whole CES showing was pointless.

 

[Thraktor]

I spot THREE Wii U pads at 2:35-2:37 (two on desk, one in players hand), two of which seem to be tethered to the same Wii U console.

I know Wii U was confirmed to support two controllers, but why have them there unless you were showing off new software that supports two (or more) controllers....

Wii U has only been confirmed to support a single Wii U pad thus far. The most they've said thus far is "We're considering it" (or something along those lines).

 

[HeySeuss]

If that's rendered, then the wii-u is far more powerful than anyone predicted - I'm pretty sure it's just a video or they would have said otherwise

Look at the shadow of the van from 2:48-2:50. The shadow goes from one size, goes smaller and lighter when it hits the white painted lines, then returns to normal size.

There is no reason that I can tell from an outside source that would cause the shadow to distort like that.

I'm not saying its proof positive, but its another flag to me that its rendered. Either way, its more of a demonstration of what the tablet can be used for anyway. And it looks pretty cool to me.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Because Nintendo is being fucking lazy, they had 7 months to add at least one or two new experiences to showcase and they didn't add anything, the whole CES showing was pointless.

The point of the CES showing, was so people who didn't get a chance to experience the Wii U at E3 could now do so.

The new stuff will be at E3 this year.

 

[BY2K]

If that's rendered, then the wii-u is far more powerful than anyone predicted - I'm pretty sure it's just a video or they would have said otherwise

The framerate was terrible, though.

 

[GDGF]

If I had to guess, I'd assume the demo uses a sequence of spherical images with an overall resolution far beyond 1080p (tiled). Some of those tiles are used to display the main video on the TV screen, and the system uses gyro data to select, load and display tiles showing a part at a certain angle on the pad. So I believe the demo is meant to demonstrate the systems ability to work with huge amounts of data.

Very thoughtful and interesting. Thanks!

 

[Caelus]

I think it's confirmed not to be rendered a while ago, but if it is and they were fibbing, holy shit. The slow FPS may be just because of the panorama view to the uPad.

 

[FyreWulff]

If it's real time then it's an unoptimized tech demo, which is probably why they didn't show it as a main centerpiece.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

k guyz it's not rendenrs.z

 

[Skiesofwonder]

Wii U has only been confirmed to support a single Wii U pad thus far. The most they've said thus far is "We're considering it" (or something along those lines).

For what it's worth, Reggie confirmed it (kinda).

They were particularly unclear about whether the console would support more than one of their tablet-like controllers; Mr. Miyamoto said no, but Reggie said yes (to me in a meeting)," said Pachter.

And an anonymous developer came out (according to sources) last November and said he found "numerous indications" in the Wii U code base that it supports two controllers.

 

[Thraktor]

If I had to guess, I'd assume the demo uses a sequence of spherical images with an overall resolution far beyond 1080p (tiled). Some of those tiles are used to display the main video on the TV screen, and the system uses gyro data to select, load and display tiles showing a part at a certain angle on the pad. So I believe the demo is meant to demonstrate the systems ability to work with huge amounts of data.

You're probably right about the technique, but I think the demo is more "look, the controller can be used for AR!" than anything else (and for that matter I don't think the video was actually that high resolution, although of course that's hard to tell from an off-screen flash video).

Because Nintendo is being fucking lazy, they had 7 months to add at least one or two new experiences to showcase and they didn't add anything, the whole CES showing was pointless.

Laziness doesn't come into it. Nintendo have obviously made a decision to save everything for E3, to make the reveal as big as possible. Keep in mind that even third parties are forbidden to say anything about games being made for the system. It sucks for us news-hungry forumites, but Nintendo are going for one big reveal rather than the drip-drip approach.

For what it's worth, Reggie confirmed it (kinda).

And an anonymous developer came out (according to sources) last November and said he found "numerous indications" in the Wii U code base that it supports two controllers.

I'd trust Miyamoto over Reggie on this one. My personal guess is that they originally intended for the console to only support one Wii U pad (hence all the asynchronous multiplayer games with Wiimotes), but have been looking at ways they can get two working for a reasonable cost since being asked about it so much at E3.

 

[Skiesofwonder]

I think everyone is missing my point here. There is NO point to have two controllers tethered to the same console UNLESS they were showing off something behind close doors that took advantage of both the controllers.

My guess is they showed something new but made anybody who saw it sign NDAs. I know that gets us no where.... but it still makes me excited none-the-less.

 

[Mistle]

The framerate was terrible, though.

If I had to guess, it's because to get that panoramic view, it's not actually a "video", but a series of really quickly captured photos all put together.

 

[royalan]

I think everyone is missing my point here. There is NO point to have two controllers tethered to the same console UNLESS they were showing off something behind close doors that took advantage of both the controllers.

My guess is they showed something new but made anybody who saw it sign NDAs. I know that gets us no where.... but it still makes me excited none-the-less.

I don't know. I mean, we've seen pictures of the back to Wii U unit...didn't see multiple ports for plugging upads in.

 

[HeySeuss]

I think everyone is missing my point here. There is NO point to have two controllers tethered to the same console UNLESS they were showing off something behind close doors that took advantage of both the controllers.

My guess is they showed something new but made anybody who saw it sign NDAs. I know that gets us no where.... but it still makes me excited none-the-less.

Yep. No way after the stink it caused before only supporting one tablet, that they didn't fix the issue. Of course it might have been the plan all along and they just showed it too early without being far enough along to get the programming down.

 

[Inferno313]

If I had to guess, it's because to get that panoramic view, it's not actually a "video", but a series of really quickly captured photos all put together.

You know that's what a video is, right?

 

[TheCongressman1]

I don't know. I mean, we've seen pictures of the back to Wii U unit...didn't see multiple ports for plugging upads in.

But you don't plug them in. I mean, I guess you can charge them that way, but that doesn't mean they have to have more than one port.

 

[HeySeuss]

I don't know. I mean, we've seen pictures of the back to Wii U unit...didn't see multiple ports for plugging upads in.

Uhh...isn't the tablet Bluetooth wireless?

 

[AzaK]

How do they do these types of views where as he looks around there is no shots of any truck or interior? I'm thinking they have multiple cameras with super wide angle lenses. Top, bottom, left, right, from, back. All outside the car itself?

That, or it's rendered

 

[wsippel]

You're probably right about the technique, but I think the demo is more "look, the controller can be used for AR!" than anything else (and for that matter I don't think the video was actually that high resolution, although of course that's hard to tell from an off-screen flash video).

It's a sphere, only a small part of the actual image is displayed on the TV - it needs to be very high resolution or else you'd end up with something like 300x200 on the TV (and yes, I'm pulling those numbers out of my ass, but you get the idea). I'm also not sure the demo was ever meant to showcase anything at trade shows, judging by how unpolished it looks. I consider it more likely that it's an example included in the SDK or otherwise targeted at developers, so it's almost certainly not about AR. Too elaborate for something that trivial.

 

[AzaK]

Uhh...isn't the tablet Bluetooth wireless?

It will likely have Bluetooth for transmission from tablet to Wii U for controls etc, but the other way for the screen will be some sort of 802.11, WirelessHD, proprietary etc.