Wii U / Nintendo general news and discussion

NTMK

photofinish wrote: »

Sega fans use to say it would be a cold day in Hell when Sonic the Hedgehog would appear on a Nintendo console never mind in a game with Mario and Donkey Kong in also.

If you honestly think Sega in the Dreamcast era and Nintendo now are similar you havent got a clue tbh. Sega were on the ropes after 2-3 bad consoles in a row. and while the wii u is a potential failure the 3ds has been a huge success

Nintendo are far far healthier than Sega ever were and are far healthier than Sony and the Xbox division atm


You'll sooner see Sony exclusive on nintendo systems than the other way round

Lantus

A lot of people have made some good comments.

1/ Historically the Wii was a magic hit. People queuing and kicking each other to get their hands on one. It sold in droves but the novelty of motion was not enough to keep the casual market engaged for a second round. In other words they didn't create loyal customers.

2/ The tablet market is now huge and you can buy a reasonable tablet for the kids for under €50 which can then download hundreds of games FOR FREE plus the internet and a camera and a whole other bunch of things. Even if you pay for games they are chump change compared to console games.

3/ good tablets and phones are now handling games that the last gen could and come with motion sensors as standard. where is the incentive for the casual market to invest in a secondary expensive device? MS and Sony will start to release older titles on the up coming phones and tablets sooner than you think. KOTOR, FFX, and every other PS and MS title you can think of for €5-€10eu.

4/ The ps4/x1 as always aim at the top end market for cutting edge games.



Nintendo will survive. I would think that a gamers tablet and a move to tablet orientated games would be better for them as well as providing games for the existing consoles. If Nintendo made a great tablet I'd consider buying one. something like project Fiona for windows 8. Expect to see more top end gamers tablets in the coming years

ThisRegard

richymcdermott wrote: »

yeah and another developer mostly criticised the points the man made on eurogamer

http://mynintendonews.com/2014/01/13/ping-1-5-creator-speaks-out-about-digital-foundry-wii-u-developer-article/

Haven't seen that one yet, I'll have a read,

photofinish

Lantus wrote: »

Nintendo will survive. I would think that a gamers tablet and a move to tablet orientated games would be better for them as well as providing games for the existing consoles. If Nintendo made a great tablet I'd consider buying one. something like project Fiona for windows 8. Expect to see more top end gamers tablets in the coming years

That is a great idea.

RasTa

I think they should move their 1st party titles to other devices, PS4 would be nice

"We cannot continue a business without winning," Iwata said on Friday during a press conference attended by Bloomberg. "We must take a skeptical approach whether we can still simply make game players, offer them in the same way as in the past for 20,000 yen or 30,000 yen, and sell titles for a couple of thousand yen each.

"We are thinking about a new business structure," Iwata added. "Given the expansion of smart devices, we are naturally studying how smart devices can be used to grow the game-player business. It's not as simple as enabling Mario to move on a smartphone."

Investors and analysts have urged Nintendo to broaden its horizons and boost profits by embracing smartphones on multiple occasions over the past few years, but Iwata has always insisted that his responsibility is to plan for the long term, not simply to make a quick buck.

moc moc a moc

photofinish wrote: »

I like Nintendo consoles and I have owned them all apart from the Wii U.

You bought a Virtual Boy but you wouldn't buy a Wii U?

ThisRegard

ThisRegard wrote: »

Haven't seen that one yet, I'll have a read,

It was hardly a well constructed rebuttal, it was basically some guy saying "No it's not".

Corholio

Nintendo should and will remain in the console market. If it ends up they make a huge loss on the Wii U, they will simply reevaluate and either add power or innovate another way.

In my opinion, it'd be a shame to ever see Nintendo as just a game company given their ideas in hardware since consoles were born.

jaykhunter

I hope it's not indicative of the casual gaming audience but I've had a few friends ask me when the new Nintendo console is out (assuming the WiiU was just the controller) and that the 2DS is just a rebranded DS. Nintendo stinks at marketing right now. I'd place the name "WiiU" at the forefront of the problem. It doesn't sound like a new console. People understand NES, then Super NES. What does the U stand for (or is it some terrible play on of we, you?). In the end, Ninty will survive. I deplore the gaming dirtrags heralding the death of Nintendo. Iwata in his Scrooge McDuck mansion still has plenty of coin in the bank.

nesf wrote: »

Why on earth do you want a third console that can play the same games as the other two? It's not aimed at the same market demographic, really it doesn't need to share hardware with the other two.

This is an excellent strategy if they had killer exclusives to back it up.

gaynorvader wrote: »

They could possibly save it if they sold the console without the controller (dropping the price substantially in doing so) and put in the ability to use an ipad or android touch screen device or a kindle or surface pro or whatever in it's place as most people have these things.

This is an excellent idea. I don't know if it's feasible as the tech is locked in place now but great idea.

CastorTroy

Yes the Wii U isn't doing well but I don't understand why so many online are happy about the fact.

They complain about the price and that the gamepad is a stupid gimmick yet are rushing out to but XBox One with a mandatory Kinect. Also people blaming the name yet how come the XBox One name hasn't caused any confusion?

I can't see third parties rushing back anytime soon. They won't develop if there are no customers and people aren't buying the Wii U due to the third parties not devloping for it. Also due to the small install base, anyone who's a fan of multiplayer is less likely to play a third party multiplayer game on Wii U due to less people being online.

And even if there is a turnaround in sales and third party devs decide to come back, it won;t be sudden as they'll then need time to develop leading to delayed releases which will be along the lines of the launch lineup. And this was one of EA's excuses for abandoning the Wi U. They blamed the fact that games that were released on other platforms a long time before the Wii U launch, such as Mass Effect 3, sold poorly on Wii U.

I have one. I like it. But sadly I think, like the Wii, self proclaimed "hardcore gamers" will dismiss it as having no/kids' games and say Nintendo never do anything different with their games. The Wii had some of the best games around, in my opinion and I still have games like Mario 3D World to play on my Wii U.

Also they make games that let me do something a lot of games these days seem to ignore. They let me have fun.

And just so you know, I've got the Nintendo consoles, PS3 and PC.

Star Lord

gaynorvader wrote: »

They could possibly save it if they sold the console without the controller (dropping the price substantially in doing so) and put in the ability to use an ipad or android touch screen device or a kindle or surface pro or whatever in it's place as most people have these things. It's tough buying a console and then only been able to play it by yourself unless a friend happens to have one too as the controllers are so cripplingly expensive. Half the allure of consoles, for me at least, is being able to throw it on when a friend calls up and hand them a controller and play some co-op or head to head. This was the main thrust of the Wii in my eyes and it's all but lost on the Wii U as buying a second controller is just too much.

You seem to be under the illusion that people can buy a second Wii U pad to play two player games. This was talked about as a possibility, but it's not currently the case at all.

Most two player games can be played with one person on the Wii U pad, and another on a Wii remote (with/without nunchuck) or a Wii U Pro Controller.

cherryghost wrote: »

PC + PS4/Xbox One + Wii U is all a true gamer really needs

You missed the 3DS

ShadowHearth

CastorTroy wrote: »

Yes the Wii U isn't doing well but I don't understand why so many online are happy about the fact.

They complain about the price and that the gamepad is a stupid gimmick yet are rushing out to but XBox One with a mandatory Kinect. Also people blaming the name yet how come the XBox One name hasn't caused any confusion?

I can't see third parties rushing back anytime soon. They won't develop if there are no customers and people aren't buying the Wii U due to the third parties not devloping for it. Also due to the small install base, anyone who's a fan of multiplayer is less likely to play a third party multiplayer game on Wii U due to less people being online.

And even if there is a turnaround in sales and third party devs decide to come back, it won;t be sudden as they'll then need time to develop leading to delayed releases which will be along the lines of the launch lineup. And this was one of EA's excuses for abandoning the Wi U. They blamed the fact that games that were released on other platforms a long time before the Wii U launch, such as Mass Effect 3, sold poorly on Wii U.

I have one. I like it. But sadly I think, like the Wii, self proclaimed "hardcore gamers" will dismiss it as having no/kids' games and say Nintendo never do anything different with their games. The Wii had some of the best games around, in my opinion and I still have games like Mario 3D World to play on my Wii U.

Also they make games that let me do something a lot of games these days seem to ignore. They let me have fun.

And just so you know, I've got the Nintendo consoles, PS3 and PC.

Everyone have their own way of having fun. I had fun playing DayZ with my friends using ventrilo, then I had fun playing Metro Last light in completely dark room ( I know weird funb lol ), then I had fun playing Persona 4 golden in my bed.
Not everyone ( me included ) have fun playing mario games. I dont see it as fun and unfortunately there is nothing much outside of that on Wii U right now. Well, it does have MH3, but I am able to play that on 3DS and to make it even worse MH4 is only on 3DS ( which is stupid ).

Nintendo right now putting all its eggs in to one basket - Own franchises. To their defence they dont have other choice as all other publishers took their baskets away and went to other sandboxes to play.

nesf

jaykhunter wrote: »

This is an excellent strategy if they had killer exclusives to back it up.

Well, if there's one thing Nintendo really can't be said to lack it's first party releases with broad appeal. I've no idea if they'll be enough, if some excellent Mario, Zelda or whatever title will make the console a must buy for enough people for 3rd parties to become interested maybe?

CastorTroy

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Everyone have their own way of having fun. I had fun playing DayZ with my friends using ventrilo, then I had fun playing Metro Last light in completely dark room ( I know weird funb lol ), then I had fun playing Persona 4 golden in my bed.
Not everyone ( me included ) have fun playing mario games. I dont see it as fun and unfortunately there is nothing much outside of that on Wii U right now. Well, it does have MH3, but I am able to play that on 3DS and to make it even worse MH4 is only on 3DS ( which is stupid ).

Nintendo right now putting all its eggs in to one basket - Own franchises. To their defence they dont have other choice as all other publishers took their baskets away and went to other sandboxes to play.

I just mean fun and lighthearted without their games needing to be all dark and serious the whole time. Though dark and violent games can be fun as well. (Infamous, House of the Dead Overkill, Mad World)

And when you say they put all their eggs in one basket, I'd have to disagree. seems they've at least 2. The second being 3DS. Seems every Direct is "We know we've no games coming to Wii U, so here's more 3DS games" It's been said multiple times on sites that 3DS is established now so they should concentrate more on getting Wii U a bit of a foothold.

Although the 3DS is a success now after not doing well at launch, the boost they got is probably the worst thing for Wii U. They believed what worked for the 3DS would work for the Wii U and it would have a similar comeback.

ShadowHearth

CastorTroy wrote: »

I just mean fun and lighthearted without their games needing to be all dark and serious the whole time. Though dark and violent games can be fun as well. (Infamous, House of the Dead Overkill, Mad World)

And when you say they put all their eggs in one basket, I'd have to disagree. seems they've at least 2. The second being 3DS. Seems every Direct is "We know we've no games coming to Wii U, so here's more 3DS games" It's been said multiple times on sites that 3DS is established now so they should concentrate more on getting Wii U a bit of a foothold.

Although the 3DS is a success now after not doing well at launch, the boost they got is probably the worst thing for Wii U. They believed what worked for the 3DS would work for the Wii U and it would have a similar comeback.

I am not saying that I play those games due them being dark or serious. I just find fun in those games and I dont find Fun in Mario games. I dont find fun in Mario games not because they are not serious or dark...

I was talking more about Wii U and that basket. Thats the topic we discussing here. I might be more clear on that. As for 3ds, its biggest Wii Us enemy. Nintendo is doing a lot of games that work on both consoles. So when we all got 3ds in our hands it makes even less point of getting Wii U. If MH3 would have been Wii U only, I would own Wii U already. It was not, so I sank 80h in to it on 3ds.

Mal-Adjusted

What some people on here seem to think is the failure of the Wii U means the end of Nintendo as a hardware manufacturer. They should easily have enough reserves to see out another home console generation.

ShadowHearth

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

What some people on here seem to think is the failure of the Wii U means the end of Nintendo as a hardware manufacturer. They should easily have enough reserves to see out another home console generation.

They can launch 3 more Wii Us and maybe 2 more Virtual boys, before they will actual start going in to proper red.

Radiosonde

ShadowHearth wrote: »

They can launch 3 more Wii Us and maybe 2 more Virtual boys, before they will actual start going in to proper red.

It's more about how the company will change in response to making substantial losses, something Nintendo and its shareholders have seldom had to deal with.

They won't pull out of hardware, no way, but things could change massively soon. They could easily announce that their next "console" is an educational tablet or something, all bets are off. And WiiU, great little machine though it is, may not last beyond next year.

super_furry

Think a price drop is needed too. Was just in Argos today and browsing when I noticed that you can't really buy a 32gb Wii U for less than 330 euro. I know that's with a game but it's still only 70 euro less than a PS4. Get the price down to 249.99 with a pack-in game, say Zelda, and it's a more tempting prospect.

CiDeRmAn

moc moc a moc wrote: »

You bought a Virtual Boy but you wouldn't buy a Wii U?

Actually, I do own a Virtual Boy and Wii U along with most other things Nintendo have released.
The WiiU is a cracking machine and the games are superb so far.
When buying a console are you jumping in to have better tech demos, all particle effects and lighting or would you prefer games you can really really enjoy?
If the latter then the WiiU won't disappoint at all.
Who the heck needs another Fifa anyway?
My 360/PS3/WiiU console combination will keep in good current games for the next year at least, before I buy one of the two identikit consoles.

richymcdermott

if the wii u ends up becoming a niche console with niche games I dont care as long the game experience are fulfilling

Tipsy McSwagger

I really hope Nintendo turn it around like the 3DS. The day there is no Nintendo console competing with the others will be a very sad day indeed.

Retr0gamer

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I am not saying that I play those games due them being dark or serious. I just find fun in those games and I dont find Fun in Mario games. I dont find fun in Mario games not because they are not serious or dark...

Maybe you should give them another chance and approach them with no bias, considering you hated jrpgs and now are really enjoying the jrpg parts of persona 4. You might enjoy them. I say this because the only person that could say mario games aren't fun is the devil himself

As for Nintendo going third party this generation, not a hope. They've too much money at the moment and and worth too much with all that great ip and the 3ds is doing amazingly well. WiiU will make money in the long run and will probably do GameCube numbers.

WiiU marketing was very poor but I think another factor was the game pad. People understood the wiimote, it was simple to understand. With the wiiu Nintendo have made a console with the most complicated controller of the lot.

As long as the WiiU keeps its head above water I'll be happy. I see no reason to pick up the other two consoles yet while the wiiu has a library that embarrasses both of them. As long as I'm getting those great games I don't care. I can see it acting like the GameCube when I eventually get on of the big two.

As for who the wiiu is marketed to, at the moment it just looks like Nintendo fans.

RasTa

Has anyone explained how they lost 230million? That can't all be down to the Wii-U

The 3DS hasn't sold as well as predicted so guessing that accounts for some of the figure.

This quote is from April 2012

For the 2011 fiscal year (April 2011 through March 2012), Nintendo posted a historic first-ever net loss of $530 million dollars.

Add in 2013 and is that over $700 million lost?

Retr0gamer

RasTa wrote: »

Has anyone explained how they lost 230million? That can't all be down to the Wii-U

The 3DS hasn't sold as well as predicted so guessing that accounts for some of the figure.

This quote is from April 2012



Add in 2013 and is that over $700 million lost?

Where are you getting the 2013 loss from? Pretty sure Nintendo were profitable this year. As for the loss from 2012, it costs money to make a new console and if you are selling it at a loss you will lose money. Pretty sure Sony and especially Microsoft are losing money hand over fist at the moment on their consoles. Once software sales pick up that loss is negated.

cherryghost

No they made a hefty loss, it was on BBC at some point this week. Will find link

richymcdermott

the loss was something like 335 million dollars

http://www.thegamingliberty.com/2014/01/nintendo-forecasts-335m-operating-loss-iwata-will-not-stand-down/

RasTa

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Where are you getting the 2013 loss from? Pretty sure Nintendo were profitable this year. As for the loss from 2012, it costs money to make a new console and if you are selling it at a loss you will lose money. Pretty sure Sony and especially Microsoft are losing money hand over fist at the moment on their consoles. Once software sales pick up that loss is negated.

Predicited loss, could be even worse.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/technology/nintendo-warns-of-full-year-loss-on-weak-wii-u-3ds-sales-1.1658821

NTMK

RasTa wrote: »

Has anyone explained how they lost 230million? That can't all be down to the Wii-U

The 3DS hasn't sold as well as predicted so guessing that accounts for some of the figure.

This quote is from April 2012



Add in 2013 and is that over $700 million lost?

Console R&D game development etc all add up when stuff isnt selling as well as it could

230mill isnt a terrible loss when nintendo dont have any debt and have cash reserves of about 70billion

the 2011 loss by the wii reaching saturation with the 3ds not selling along with wii u R&D so it looks alot worse than it really is

jenjenten

The real issue imo is the NON existant third party support!....loads of compamies have pulled out of supplying Wii U titles, the install base is sooo small the money dosent justify development costs.

jenjenten

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Where are you getting the 2013 loss from? Pretty sure Nintendo were profitable this year. As for the loss from 2012, it costs money to make a new console and if you are selling it at a loss you will lose money. Pretty sure Sony and especially Microsoft are losing money hand over fist at the moment on their consoles. Once software sales pick up that loss is negated.

Sony and Microsoft are loosing WAY less then Nintendo with the Wii U....its estimated Sony is only loosing 20-30 Dollars per PS4, whereas Microsoft are loosing 50-80.

nintendo are loosing over 100$ per console!

jenjenten

I would add further points....the Wii U is seen by many as for children, not teens or adults. And many of the first party games are very much for young children, in addition the MiiVerse is soooo utterly modded you cannot say or do anything remotely "adult" without being modded.

The gamepad is too large and bulky, having to look at the gamepad and then the screen is infuriating to say the least! :mad:

Dreadful battery life, the OS is woefully slow....the Wii U is just hopelessly underpowered

CastorTroy wrote: »

Yes the Wii U isn't doing well but I don't understand why so many online are happy about the fact.

They complain about the price and that the gamepad is a stupid gimmick yet are rushing out to but XBox One with a mandatory Kinect. Also people blaming the name yet how come the XBox One name hasn't caused any confusion?

I can't see third parties rushing back anytime soon. They won't develop if there are no customers and people aren't buying the Wii U due to the third parties not devloping for it. Also due to the small install base, anyone who's a fan of multiplayer is less likely to play a third party multiplayer game on Wii U due to less people being online.

And even if there is a turnaround in sales and third party devs decide to come back, it won;t be sudden as they'll then need time to develop leading to delayed releases which will be along the lines of the launch lineup. And this was one of EA's excuses for abandoning the Wi U. They blamed the fact that games that were released on other platforms a long time before the Wii U launch, such as Mass Effect 3, sold poorly on Wii U.

I have one. I like it. But sadly I think, like the Wii, self proclaimed "hardcore gamers" will dismiss it as having no/kids' games and say Nintendo never do anything different with their games. The Wii had some of the best games around, in my opinion and I still have games like Mario 3D World to play on my Wii U.

Also they make games that let me do something a lot of games these days seem to ignore. They let me have fun.

And just so you know, I've got the Nintendo consoles, PS3 and PC.

jenjenten

cloud493 wrote: »

Right, but this isn't the same situation. Nintendo are not bankrupt, or haemorrhaging money. All they need to do in fact, is pay more attention to the competition, step up the advertising, and price drop the sodding Wii U.

You can buy a 32GB Premium Wii U for 250 Euro now....and its still not flying off the shelves

ShadowHearth

jenjenten wrote: »

You can buy a 32GB Premium Wii U for 250 Euro now....and its still not flying off the shelves

Where?

jenjenten

gaynorvader wrote: »

They could possibly save it if they sold the console without the controller (dropping the price substantially in doing so) and put in the ability to use an ipad or android touch screen device or a kindle or surface pro or whatever in it's place as most people have these things. It's tough buying a console and then only been able to play it by yourself unless a friend happens to have one too as the controllers are so cripplingly expensive. Half the allure of consoles, for me at least, is being able to throw it on when a friend calls up and hand them a controller and play some co-op or head to head. This was the main thrust of the Wii in my eyes and it's all but lost on the Wii U as buying a second controller is just too much.

Drop the gamepad....bundle the pro controller, sorted!.....199.99

Polar101

jenjenten wrote: »

I would add further points....the Wii U is seen by many as for children, not teens or adults. And many of the first party games are very much for young children

I never really understood the 'Nintendo is for kids' argument - they've been around for decades, as have most of their main franchises. Surely the kids have grown up by now? Maybe it's just because some of their consoles have been pretty cheap when compared to competition, so parents go for Nintendo as a first console.

But Wii U isn't exactly cheap, and surely Sony and Microsoft have more 'kids' titles available than Wii U does.

jenjenten

_Redzer_ wrote: »

Nintendo need to make a console just as powerful as the next PS5 and xbox. They'd be complete and utter idiots to do what they've done this gen again.

Underpowered console with no 3rd party support, aimed at casuals who bought the wii because it was a gimmick, but never again.

If they had a powerful console they'd have the first party and 3rd party and could have a console you wouldn't get second to a playstation or xbox. It could actually directly compete.

As it stands I don't see any value in a wii u

The problem i see is that nintendo dont see the point of making the most powerful console!.....all there games dont need the horsepower and run fine on the Wii, let alone the Wii U.

They are stuck in the past, rely too much on first party games, overprotective of their intelectual property + are very much a closed mindset and stuck in the late 80's

ShadowHearth

jenjenten wrote: »

Drop the gamepad....bundle the pro controller, sorted!.....199.99

Then it would lose the only thing that makes it unique and interesting and worth owning beside the ps4/xbox one.

If they would drop pad, then it would be an old gen console with feck all games on it.

jenjenten

Polar101 wrote: »

I never really understood the 'Nintendo is for kids' argument - they've been around for decades, as have most of their main franchises. Surely the kids have grown up by now? Maybe it's just because some of their consoles have been pretty cheap when compared to competition, so parents go for Nintendo as a first console.

But Wii U isn't exactly cheap, and surely Sony and Microsoft have more 'kids' titles available than Wii U does.

Many of there games are rehashes of game from the 80's and 90's....are graphically simple compared to next gen titles, they are mostly old skool platformers.

Thats not to say they are bad games, but the perception is they are old games for children.

jenjenten

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Then it would lose the only thing that makes it unique and interesting and worth owning beside the ps4/xbox one.

If they would drop pad, then it would be an old gen console with feck all games on it.

True....but it would sell alot more!....people dont like the dual looking at screen gamepad crap!, if they made it like a normal console they could cut another 50 quid off the price and sell it as proper console!

jenjenten

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Where?

http://www.toys.ie/Wii-U-Console--Black-Premium-Pack--Nintendoland-!125012-prd.aspx


Cork, Maylor Street.....;)

Kinsalr Road has better stock levels: http://www.toys.ie/Wii-U-Console--Black-Premium-Pack--Nintendoland-!125012-prd.aspx

NTMK

jenjenten wrote: »

The problem i see is that nintendo dont see the point of making the most powerful console!.....all there games dont need the horsepower and run fine on the Wii, let alone the Wii U.

the most popular console has rarely been the most powerful of the gen. the ps4 looks like it will be the first in a long long time to curb that.... if sony dont **** it up

Nollog

NTMK wrote: »

the most popular console has rarely been the most powerful of the gen. the ps4 looks like it will be the first in a long long time to curb that.... if sony dont **** it up

Steam box will make that old pattern hold true.

Varik

NTMK wrote: »

the most popular console has rarely been the most powerful of the gen. the ps4 looks like it will be the first in a long long time to curb that.... if sony dont **** it up

The most powerful are generally the most expensive.

Retr0gamer

jenjenten wrote: »

Many of there games are rehashes of game from the 80's and 90's....are graphically simple compared to next gen titles, they are mostly old skool platformers.

Thats not to say they are bad games, but the perception is they are old games for children.

While I agree there is a preception that Nintendo are for kids I can't agree with it. They make a wide range of games that can be enjoyed by all ages. Also some of their games such as Xenoblade, Chibi robo, mother, zelda (particularly majoras mask) etc. deal in far more mature subject matter than most games that carry an M rating but are in fact utterly childish.

As for their games looking bad, have you played Pokemon 3 and mario 3d world? They are absolutely stunning games and Nintendo along with platinum are the only developers that really care about 60 GPS gameplay unfortunately.

While Nintendo do rehash ip they do so in new and inventive ways, well other than Pokemon. Even zelda seems to be pushing the boundaries with the latest on 3ds.

That negative preception is there unfortunately but it's also unfounded.

Monotype

I think the underwhelming power in the console has a lot to do with developers not releasing their games on it - not the sole issue, of course.

If they wait another 2 or 3 years, they'll be in a good position to launch with more powerful hardware than xbox/PS at an affordable price.

Varik

Monotype wrote: »

If they wait another 2 or 3 years, they'll be in a good position to launch with more powerful hardware than xbox/PS at an affordable price.

The Wii U is not floundering due to lack of power, and this isn't the reason that 3rd party are avoiding it. If they did release a new console in 2 or 3 year they really would be sentencing their home consoles to death, in 2 or 3 years the PS4 and ONE will have gained a large market share and considerable support from devs at which point Nintendo releasing a new console (even a more powerful one) would just be stupid.

Nintendo need to continue to support the Wii U, calling it quits and moving on would just make things worse and even if they can afford a failure or 2 they're a public company and they don't get the luxury of failing without people losing their jobs at the top.

Monotype

Alright, maybe 2 years is a bit ambitious. More like 3-5 years.

I'm not saying they axe their new console now and move on. The customers would feel betrayed. I'm saying that xbox/PS4 is already midrange hardware. Another 2 years, we could double the power behind it for affordable prices (i.e., launch prices of current consoles) and throw on an extra year or so if they want to keep the prices low.

It's not their strategy to sell the most powerful console on the market, but Microsoft and Sony expect these things to last ten years. They could easily snatch back a large share.

The original wii had a run of 6 years, I think 5 is plenty for this; another 4 years, with plans in action before then. That would enough time to balance out not abandoning it vs introducing in the middle of the other console cycles.

Retr0gamer

Axing a console and then bringing a new one out straight away isn't that easy. You have to sort out R&D, find manufacturers, sort out patents and legal issues with licensing, then there is creating the dies for the new components and writing all that software. Nintendo will ride out the WiiU because even if the WiiU flops it would be commercial suicide to jump straight into another console development cycle.

I think Nintendos main problem now is trying to battle that negative preception gamers have of them in the West. In Japan home consoles are pretty much dead so there's not a lot they can do about that but it's battling the image that they have from the Call of Duty/Fifa crowd and even bigger gamers that see Nintendo as not being cool which is their bigger hurdle. Nintendo might have made the best game of last year with Mario 3D World but you can't really tell somebody what they should like even if it's good for them. They want their populist action games and Nintendo just can't deliver them on their platform especially with third parties not on their system.

They now have an image of their consoles not having those big populist games and that image isn't unfounded. Even if they bring out a new console that will match their competitors in the next gen they still have that image associated with them.

Fnz

Varik wrote: »

The Wii U is not floundering due to lack of power

It's probably a factor. Say what you will about their games, I don't see value in the hardware. It's pretty much a generation behind but not priced accordingly.

Just because the original Wii was successful despite its lack of grunt, doesn't mean people don't care about power.