E3: Nintendo's New Console Is: The Wii U

[00slash00]

i dont think nintendo gets it. they used to say its all about gameplay and now they're like "its all about how many different things the controller can do!" unless theres a conference i didnt hear, nintendo spent the entire time talking about their controller and almost no time talking about the actual system. once again they seem to care more about their shitty controller, than games. this is the wii all over again. nintendo has an uphill battle if they want me back as a customer, and so far they aint doing so well

 

[TheSchaef]

I'm a little confused is the console itself the controller that hooks up to the curent Wii1

NO. This is a BRAND NEW CONSOLE which by all reports has significantly more power than even the PS3. The original Wii could not in a million jillion years play a title like Arkham City.

The controller was the major selling point because it was the most significant change in their presentation, but EVERY new console had a new controller design of some kind at launch.

 

[sansai]

So is no one else concerned over the fact all of the tech demos used only ONE of these gee-whiz controllers, while the other users used Wii-motes? When the Wii was first demoed, they had all sorts of people playing with more than one Wii-mote.

So can the system not stream to multiple units? That is kind of an important detail, more so to me than the specs. If the selling point again is the controller, you would think they would want you all over that, and not just using Wii-motes as well. So a family would all have to share one controller? Passing it around doesn't sound very fun at all, nor does sitting there with a Wii-mote while someone is playing with a data pad.

Which then makes me wonder once more over cost of the controller unit. Because it is only streaming what it receives from the system, the internal components need not carry much internal processing power (save for what makes the buttons and features work), but it is still a relatively sizable color touch screen. To me that controller looks $100 alone. I certainly hope I am wrong.

 

[sansai]

One last thought:

Since the game can also be played on the screen itself while the TV is used for a movie or well TV (a cool idea really), does that mean the use of the screen while playing games on the TV won't require/need the use of the controllers screen?

The reason is the game would have to allow for use on just the controller screen, or the controller screen and the TV. That to me spells three irks:

#1 - The screen won't be as much of a focus as it should be.

#2 - And in the games it is you won't be able to really use it without the TV on due to the need of using it while playing.

#3 - I should not have to "let go" the do something, only to hold on again to get back to the game. The thing that hurt the DS for me was when I was using the d-pad and buttons, and then (for no reason) use the touch pad, it really took me out of the game and what I was doing for something that seems a tack on feature.



EDIT : Changed the line from "..while the TV is in use..." to "...while the TV is used for a movie or well TV..."

 

[Zombie Izzard]

Silly fanboy, this is a gyroscope.

And yes, I liked them more when they were punker.

How does that make me a fanboy?

 

[funguy2121]

Silly fanboy, this is a gyroscope.

And yes, I liked them more when they were punker.

How does that make me a fanboy?

Oh God, what you said makes you a fanboy. "I just like normal controllers. This is different and so I fear it." (paraphrased )

It's already been pointed out on this thread and others: consoles are reaching a plateau in terms of graphic finesse and processing power. Hell, even the Wii has a small handful of gorgeous games, and it's roughly as powerful as the original XBox. None of the next three consoles will represent a graphical leap forward, so to stand out they'll have to do something different with the available tech and better court the 3rd parties. Nintendo is doing this, though they have expressed that the purpose of the system is to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. If you'd looked into the new system, you'd know that numerous major AAA developers have already signed on and that the system will be compatible with all of the Wii peripherals, including the classic controller pro.

 

[Closet Superhero]

Does anyone know the point of this controller when you're actually using the console?

 

[Xanthious]

I just can't see who Nintendo is thinking will buy this console. I think this will be an interesting situation where it's far too much for one part of the audience and just not enough for the other. The casual "Wii Audience" won't take to this thing. Not a chance. Of course the flip side is that if the casuals won't want it then surely the hardcore crowd will latch on. Sadly I think it will be too little too late to attract any meaningful amount of the hardcore crowd.

The casuals are the people that bought the Wii because it was cheap and simple. This looks to be neither of those things. These people have their Wii, and their balance board, and all two of their games and that is just fine for the once or twice a month they dust it off and play it. These people won't be very likely to lay down another 350 dollars for the bastard love child of an iPad and a Wii.

This brings us to the hardcore crowd. These people also already have their 360s and PS3s. I just don't see them laying down the price of a WiiU to play all the same games that they are already playing on their 360s or PS3s. I honestly doubt it's going to be that much better than either of those systems. Likely if there are places it out does the current gen systems it will be negligible and not worth upgrading over.

Furthermore, we don't know exactly what kind of third party support this thing will have. Will it be the kind that the 360 and PS3 enjoy or will it be like the Wii and be twisted and bastardized to make use of all the gimmicks that are ramapant on the WiiU. You have to remember both Madden and Call of Duty are available for the Wii and they are fucking awful because they system doesn't lend it's self well to those types of games. So even though all the big AAA titles may end up on the WiiU you have to wonder in what kind of state will they end up there.

As I said at the start of all this I just don't see who they are trying to sell this to. I'm sure the die hard Nintendo fanboys will be crawling over each other to get to this thing but I honestly doubt it will find the casual success the Wii enjoyed nor do I think that it will appeal to the bulk of the hardcore crowd. I guess only time will tell but I don't see good things in store for the WiiU.

 

[TheGuy(wantstobe)]

Alright. So you're saying that this new Wii will be part of the next generation of game consoles and thus cannot be compared to this generations? Fine. When Sony and M$'s consoles come out after the WiiU, chances are they'll be several orders of magnitude more powerful than Nintendo's new console, and Nintendo will be in the same boat as before.

If you judge which console is better by its power, then you should just get a PC. Because PC's have been more powerful than consoles for a long time, and will continue to be. Otherwise? Shut the fuck up and enjoy all the great fucking videogames that are coming out instead of talking about "superior technology" like it makes you better.

Unless you're talking about the consoles coming out in 3-4 years the actual powergap is going to much much smaller and we'll end up with the PS2/GC/Xbox gen in terms of game design as getting over the powerdraw+heat problem of the top of the line GPUs is not something you can just snap your fingers and it's gone.

 

[Cav415]

I don't know I get a (WA-WA) feeling. Feels like a fail.

 

[rossatdi]

that said these machines will exist concurrently for while but no informed "gamer" should be ignorant as to which of the 3 simply is the superior technology for that would be dumb.

realism is the issue and fanboyism be damned.

The PS3s 'superior technology' such as the inclusion of a Blu-ray play helped it come in last in terms of raw sales so far between the 360, Wii and PS3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(seventh_generation)#Sales_standings

Because the machine is new, of course it should be more powerful. I'll get excited when they show us more than cheap tech demos, FMV scenes from a future Zelda title and steal footage from 3rd party games running on other platforms.

 

[TheGuy(wantstobe)]

that said these machines will exist concurrently for while but no informed "gamer" should be ignorant as to which of the 3 simply is the superior technology for that would be dumb.

realism is the issue and fanboyism be damned.

The PS3s 'superior technology' such as the inclusion of a Blu-ray play helped it come in last in terms of raw sales so far between the 360, Wii and PS3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(seventh_generation)#Sales_standings

Because the machine is new, of course it should be more powerful. I'll get excited when they show us more than cheap tech demos, FMV scenes from a future Zelda title and steal footage from 3rd party games running on other platforms.

The zelda is rendered in realtime. You can change camera angles/lighting on the fly which you wouldnt be able to do in CG sequence.

 

[Eternal_Lament]

Yes, there will be a console to go with that controller. [http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/htwfy/new_nintendo_console_wii_u_fact_sheet/]

Also, prices similar to current PS3 and 360 prices, says Reggie.

That did it for me! If this console is gonna be 200-300 dollars at launch, with Super Smash Bros WiiU as a launch title, then you can bet your sweet bippy that I will buy this ASAP!

That would be sick. Now if those controllers are only 40$ I'm totally sold on this. Sony and Microsoft really have to do something to change my mind on the WiiU (and copying it isn't going to cut it).

I can assure you that if Nintendo sells these controllers at $40 each then either a) they will lose money 'snap' just like that, or b) they'll be making a profit on controller sales, meaning that the controllers are actually pretty sketchy and probably no-where near as functional as they show it to be.

These controllers are basically tablets: this isn't an insult or saying its worthless (well, technically worthless to me since I'm not planning on getting this), its a simple fact based on the tech on display. If Nintendo doesn't sell these controllers at $200-300, they'd be losing money with each controller sale, because that's how much a tablet like this would cost to make. As I said before, chances are the console will cost between $400-600 (combine price of current day gaming tech [$200-300] with one controller [$200-300]), and assuming you wish to buy 3 more controllers (based on what Nintendo has shown, this console is definitely aimed at people who live with or frequently meet with other people, which would warrent more controllers) this can easily be a $1000-1500 investment. Not to say that you will need to save up a grand for WiiU's release, but chances are you may need to if you want to get the full effect of what Nintendo is advertising.

Why won't any of the complainers on this thread spend 120 seconds to look things up before they start bitching?

Gaming journos have tested and reviewed the controller. They've interacted with the console and spoken to the developers. The system will support up to 4 wii remotes in addition to the tablet and most of the multiplayer games shouldn't require more than 1 tablet. The system will cost about as much as the PS3 and 360 cost now.

All of these longwinded statements are of no value if you don't understand what you're talking about. You took the time to compose a large paragraph; why not take a few more seconds to look into what you're discussing?

Ok, thanks for letting me know all that. I still think though the tablets themselves are going to cost alot (unless they released a price for those yet, which I've yet to see be posted). Also, small question: Perhaps this was answered in the same article where the price was being compared, but when they said the system was about as much as as 360 or PS3, did they say "The system will come with a tablet controller and will be priced about as much as a 360 and PS3" or "The cost of making this system is about the same as making a 360 or PS3"? One deals with final price, the other though deals with simple cost to make, which doesn't always translate to the expense to the consumer. Sorry about asking this, my connection up here is going on and off up here, so its hard for me to find anything right now. I'd be surprised if this went through

 

[rossatdi]

that said these machines will exist concurrently for while but no informed "gamer" should be ignorant as to which of the 3 simply is the superior technology for that would be dumb.

realism is the issue and fanboyism be damned.

The PS3s 'superior technology' such as the inclusion of a Blu-ray play helped it come in last in terms of raw sales so far between the 360, Wii and PS3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_(seventh_generation)#Sales_standings

Because the machine is new, of course it should be more powerful. I'll get excited when they show us more than cheap tech demos, FMV scenes from a future Zelda title and steal footage from 3rd party games running on other platforms.

The zelda is rendered in realtime. You can change camera angles/lighting on the fly which you wouldnt be able to do in CG sequence.

My jaw literally dropped, that changes everything then, its like a contemporary video game but on the Wii!

 

[BytByte]

While I do see some challenges ahead of Nintendo in selling it to people just because of the awkward timing of its release, it seems like it could work. If the developers can truly find unique ways to use the touch pad, then I'd really see little reason to get any other console except for those rare occasions like Sly or some shooter that everyone likes.

 

[AzzA-D]

I was so sad and confused whilst watching this press release. I thought WiiU was literally just a new controller, peripheral device, for the Wii console. Turns out it IS in fact a new, more powerful, fully HD console with a snazzy controller, something which isnt really being reported so much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U

Having learnt that, I am much more excited.