Gaming Cafe Diem Baby: The Nintendo Wii U Discussion

Okay, some news came in. I'll start with something really really big:



Playtonic Games are creating a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.

Nintendo forms an alliance with DeNA to create mobile games, apps, online membership platform for access across several platforms (smart devices, PC, Wii U, 3DS). I wonder if that online membership platform be the replacement for Club Nintendo.

Followed by the Nintendo NX is the code name for Nintendo's next console.

Side note, Metroid: Zero Mission arrived on eShop and about time too!!

 

Nintendo already needs to replace the Wii U?

 

It's unconfirmed what it actually is.

 

The diagram in the article would seem to suggest that it's some third thing, alongside the 3DS and the Wii U.

 

That pad is going to be the first thing to go, it's emblematic of the sales issues the system's having.

 

Third party support is an issue, but I think "only" chalking it up to system power is at best a bit disingenuous. A lot of Nintendo's early marketing push focused on the pad - to their detriment, as it became very confusing for the exact same large casual audience they courted very easily to tell that it was a new system, and not a new peripheral. Hell, people who actually follow gaming news were confused as hell about the damn thing for about two days after its initial E3 reveal. Third party developers, eager to completely cut ties to a company that they have a long history of poor interactions with, used the pad as an excuse to claim that they wanted to 'develop games that took advantage of it," which we now know was basically a load. The initial confusion created a lead-off slump the system hasn't really recovered from, as poor sales justify continued third party alienation of the platform, which perpetuates poor sales, and so on. If I'm a Nintendo executive and I'm seriously looking at a Wii U successor (Which I'm still not convinced the NX is, because I never underestimate Nintendo's ability to confound me), that pad is absolutely the first thing I'm abandoning as an interesting but flawed experiment, particularly as backwards compatibility is no longer a console selling point.

I agree with you that it's an interesting and unfortunately underutilized part of the device (I also love my DS/3DS touchscreen and will vehemently defend it), but I just don't see it surviving to future hardware.

 

Considering that there's an 8 year gap between the initial release of the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One, I'm not so sure that MS and Sony are seriously planning their next generation consoles. I might be wrong, sure, but given that the last generation outlasted all previous generations, I would imagine that the mere thought of a next generation to be somewhat painful to MS and Sony.

Regarding the Wii U tablet: It's neat and I really didn't think I'd care for it. But it's actually quite interesting to use. However, I imagine that Nintendo simply sucks at convincing people and developers to try it out.

If the NX is next generation, then Nintendo really needs to stop thinking that they could create a sustainable demand for novelty products and simply try to satisfy the demands that already exist in the console marketplace. They seem obsessed with niche devices when most console consumers look for all-in-one devices. Sure the Wii U has a few media apps and TV functionality, but by this stage in the game, it looks like too little too late.

Nintendo gives off the impression that they don't want to compete with Sony and MS and that they're content with their consoles being a consumer's secondary device rather than a primary device. Unfortunately for them, many developers aren't content to develop software for secondary devices.

 

I am starting to think Nintendo is almost more my speed than Sony or MS, since I am not into all-in-one devices.

 

So Nintendo is finally caving in and joining the smartphone market. Oh well, it was only a matter of time, and better to join in then lose out on that much money. Here's hoping that they have a more centralized online presence when they join the smartphone market, the 3DS/Wii U online stuff is still quite a bit behinds PSN/XBL/itunes/something else.

I don't mind the Gamepad, but most games don't really use it that well, so it just ends up being a big screen. While things like off-TV mirroring on the gamepad is nice, its not really that useful. For party games or multiplayer it has some uses, but those games aren't as big as they used to be with online multiplayer being huge these days (and Nintendo's online is still weak).

If the Wii U was more powerful, getting third party support would probably be easier, but at the same time it would mean Nintendo would be stepping into the same ring as Sony and Microsoft, and they've tried to avoid doing that for years. Not to mention will probably involve raising the console price too, but people were shelling out for four and five hundred dollar consoles recently, so there should still be room to expand there. Though in Microsoft's case, their required Kinect hurt their console too somewhat, and the all-in-one device weakened its gaming cred somewhat, well, the media options being pushed at the expense of trailers for more game franchises hurt, combined with all the other initial bad press.

And not surprised to hear Nintendo is working on next generation hardware, the question being whether they'll rush it to try to cover up for the Wii U or not. Although the shadow of the Wii's success looming over everything doesn't help, and I think Nintendo still has quite a safety cushion in terms of cash. All the game companies probably have at least several prototypes for next generation, as well as ideas for even beyond that, just in case. If Nintendo could get new games from many of their first party franchises out on a system that was closer to the current gen systems, those would awesome, but the problem is that it would probably take years to reach that good graphics. We haven't even gotten a true HD Zelda yet (not counting Wind Waker as that was an upgrade of an older title).

 

They said more details next year, so it won't come until 2017 probably. That would be a five year cycle, not that long, but typical for Nintendo recently.

 

I was wondering if this is to be a successor to the 3DS line or a home console though I remember reports from a few months ago where Nintendo is aiming to have a united framework between their handheld and home consoles to improve the development process of software. Backward compatibility would be great too with the GamePad, et al.

There seems to be a trend that Microsoft and Sony have been doing for sometime now of homogenising their products… it becomes the samey same and nothing to make it stand apart. There is no real innovation in that and it causes stagnation. I just don't see Nintendo wanting to jump into that direction. "Moar power!" does not necessarily mean more successful. The Gameboy out did the GameGear, the PS2 out did the Gamecube, Wii outdid the PS/360. It be nice though if the hardware can stand toe-to-toe though.

There is another thing, MS and Sony also have other revenues in which they are drawing in money (unless sold at a loss… not sure how it is going...) so they can splash money about. Nintendo mostly get theirs from video games but they are branching out and expanding. There is more merchandise out there. That partnership with DeNA will have content appear on smart devices (new titles with Nintendo IP theme, there will be no ports of past and are having a hand to ensure the quality of the product), that online membership platform that is most likely a replacement to Club Nintendo and possibly share content between certain devices (cross buy anyone?). We'll get more details on the Quality of Life range of products later in the year, probably the first to come out next year.

 

I'm only semi-surprised because I believe they're discontinuing the Nintendo Club and this would seem to be taking its place...to a degree. There's obviously a lot we do not know so I guess all we can do is speculate.

Suffice to say, I do not ever need to buy another Nintendo console. Ever again. If the deal really is as good as it so far hints at being, then any of the current or retro Nintendo titles can just be played on a PC or tablet. But that's just me speculating.

But props to Nintendo .Smart move. I always believed that since around the Wii or possibly even the Gamecube that the glory days of Nintendo as a console manufacturer were on the downward spiral. They certainly made their revenue but it never held a candle to the 1990s. But, they still have the software downpat. All I ask that this deal also includes Virtual Console releases on PC too with full screen support without the vertical bars. I'm genuinely excited and really do not see the need to ever own a Nintendo console again. Happy to continue with Nintendo on my own systems.

 

No no, Nintendo has stated that their backlog and current titles will not appear on smart phones/PC. There be special software that be developed for smart devices with a Nintendo IP attached but it will not replace the main game experiences. Nintendo will continue to develop hardware and software for for said hardware.

 

Which makes sense I suppose otherwise why bother buying a Nintendo Console at all. Though i'm disappointed, I can completely see the logic for it.

 

The point about Sony and Microsoft having the ability to sell their consoles at an initial loss is a good one, admittedly. They can afford to cram as much stuff into their consoles, whereas Nintendo needs to keep costs within reason of direct revenue. Fair point.

Nonetheless, I do wish to see a Nintendo console that can seriously compete directly with current generation Playstations and Xboxes.

 

Reverse Darwinism at its finest. Reminds me of how some people were saying that "Isn't it wonderful how Kanye West is giving that newcomer Paul McCartney a career?" *Double Face+Palm*

Those Gold Marios look really nice. I don't think we are getting them in Australia any time soon but did pick up the Toad one so I can use him for Captain Toad. Also picked up some eShop credit as they had 15% off special. Downloaded The Fall which is quite atmospheric and feels like a slower paced Metroid mixed with those old point and click.

 

Oh! LEGO City Undercover is really good. I need to go back to that to unlock everything. Definitely recommend checking out as it is great fun.