Why is the Wii U not succeeding?

[Hazy992]

@Hazy

No disrespect to you, but I'm not talking about average street casuals as they don't support the games industry (save for mobile), I'm talking about gamers that buy their consoles and a shed load of games across its life time. Those kind of gamers largely do care what their systems can do.

Its easy to think that when I say specs that some might picture a very picky person, but overall they are just dedicated to get the best purchase so they can experience games at their best. Skyrim and Battlefield are some of the best experiences in gaming, and any console that misses them is a little poorer. Would love these kind of games to grace a Nintendo system, but that's going to be a long way off from happening now.

But what you've got to bear in mind is that most gamers aren't like us. Gamers that get caught up in technical specs are in a minority, most gamers will be content with whatever lets them play the latest COD or Madden or Mario Kart (which I'm not disparaging them for). THOSE are the people that keep the industry going more.

Specs simply don't matter for most gamers. If they did the PS2 wouldn't have dominated it's generation, the Wii wouldn't have been such a massive hit and the DS wouldn't be the most successful handheld console of all time.

 

[Sharkeyboi]

I've heard that an awful lot of gamers (not the sort to keep an eye of E3 coverage but gamers nonetheless) didn't or possible still haven't realised that the wii u is not just a peripheral but a brand new console, sweetly backwards compatible as f*ck. I know my nieces are keen on it but they're pretty core, having been brought up that way partially by me. Lack of games is another reason. The fresh-faced, casual audience, perhaps not accustomed to the pace at which this medium evolves, is yet another. Factors abound as to why the wii u is not selling like the hottest hot cakes. Apologise if these points have already been raised; I know I've read them in news articles about the escapist, just making my contribution to a thread Nintendo might have some stock in. Link knows I wish them all the luck in the world.

 

[Lightknight]

I just checked out some of the games for the Wii U and honestly besides the Deus Ex: Director's Cut which is now going multiplatform there are no other games that look interesting to me.

What Nintendo needs to do is make a great Pokemon MMO for the Wii U.

That's how it has been for the past two or three Nintendo consoles for me. About 10 or so Nintendo games and then MAYBE three 3rd party exclusives that I want to try and most often the popular 3rd party titles get ported later (RE4, I'm looking at you).

 

[Bat Vader]

I just checked out some of the games for the Wii U and honestly besides the Deus Ex: Director's Cut which is now going multiplatform there are no other games that look interesting to me.

What Nintendo needs to do is make a great Pokemon MMO for the Wii U.

That's how it has been for the past two or three Nintendo consoles for me. About 10 or so Nintendo games and then MAYBE three 3rd party exclusives that I want to try and most often the popular 3rd party titles get ported later (RE4, I'm looking at you).

If Nintendo could get stuff like GTA V and/or Saints Row IV ported to the Wii U I think they might do better. A Metroid or Pokemon MMO would help sell consoles and get people interested.

 

[deadish]

If you truly give a damn about specs, you shouldn't care about consoles period. None of the next-gen consoles have cutting edge tech specs. The PS4 and Xbone are both using Jaguar CPUs for Chrissakes, CPUs designed to be used with tablets.

Specs have never won a console generation, and never had anything to do with which consoles succeed and which don't. The N64 had far more processing power than the PS1. Guess which console of the two sold 100 million. The Xbox was around 3X more powerful than the PS2. Guess which game got all the third party support and made it to 150 million sales. The PSP crapped all over the DS' specs. Guess which handheld went on to be the most succesful of all time. Even going all the way back, the Game Gear had specs the Gambeboy could never hope to rival. Shame the Gameboy still outsold it four to one.

If you think the PS4 or Xbone are in any way high-end tech, you're sadly mistaken. They're both already completely outclassed by high end PCs. The only thing consoles have to separate themselves from PCs is software. And first-party software is where Nintendo have always delivered.

Why shouldn't I care about the specs? It indicates the capability of the machine to run games. It's primary purpose.

So what if it's out-classed by top of the line PCs? When I buy a Toyota do I give a crap that it's out-classed by a F1 car?

 

[Cybylt]

Lol. Bullshit. Gamers don't need to know the spec, but devs do. WTF?

If people truly cared about a specs, Apple would be in the shitter for selling middling tech for thousands over its worth.

Why shouldn't I care about the specs? It indicates the capability of the machine to run games. It's primary purpose.

So what if it's out-classed by top of the line PCs? When I buy a Toyota do I give a crap that it's out-classed by a F1 car?

If the specs are what's selling the console to you alone then you probably wouldn't be buying consoles, you can get better pcs for the same price and without all of the membership fees. On top of that on average the games would be cheaper too.

That analogy only works if you're strictly talking about cutting edge tech in the PC, but realistically you'd be getting a middle of the road rig which is fine, seeing as the same money in a console gives you a middling rig from three or more years ago.

And someone mentioned the idea that the pad is an absolute necessity in development for all games on the system and that's kind of a dumb way to look at it. "Because it's there," is a crap reason for incorporating features. By that logic every single game on the One will need to incorporate Kinect, and every single game on PS4 will need to use Move/SIXAXIS and touchpad and both will require you to live stream it, because those features are there.

 

[deadish]

If the specs are what's selling the console to you alone then you probably wouldn't be buying consoles, you can get better pcs for the same price and without all of the membership fees. On top of that on average the games would be cheaper too.

That analogy only works if you're strictly talking about cutting edge tech in the PC, but realistically you'd be getting a middle of the road rig which is fine, seeing as the same money in a console gives you a middling rig from three or more years ago.

And someone mentioned the idea that the pad is an absolute necessity in development for all games on the system and that's kind of a dumb way to look at it. "Because it's there," is a crap reason for incorporating features. By that logic every single game on the One will need to incorporate Kinect, and every single game on PS4 will need to use Move/SIXAXIS and touchpad and both will require you to live stream it, because those features are there.

This the thing.

People are buying a console because they want a console, not a PC. So when we compare, we compare console vs console, not console vs PC, because PCs have never been in the equation.

 

[Cybylt]

This the thing.

People are buying a console because they want a console, not a PC. So when we compare, we compare console vs console, not console vs PC, because PCs have never been in the equation.

Maybe not in the past but Microsoft and Sony have been making it a point that their consoles are more and more like PC to the point of creating sufficient overlap in the target market. In fact their biggest point of pride during their presentations is that the base architecture is PC stock.

Especially Microsoft who do not claim to be selling a game console at all, but an "entertainment centerpiece" since the mid life of the 360.

 

[Fredvdp]

While I think there are definitely some promising games for the system, both released and coming soon, I don't really feel that any of these games are must-plays. If I had a Wii U, I'd get Pikmin 3 and the latest Mario game, but I can do without.

Secondly, I think the games and console are too expensive, and I think many people will agree with me, especially with the PS4's very reasonable price tag. I saw Mass Effect 3 for ?65, while I can find it for ?10 on other platforms which support the save import feature. Same goes for other third party titles which are cheaper on the other platforms.

It's possible that I get a Wii U in a couple of years if the price drops, though it's more likely I'll skip this generation and get the next Nintendo system if it's backwards compatible.

 

[devotedsniper]

People have probably already said these so here goes. specs, lack of games that anyone wants and just anyone with half a brain would have waited for Sonys/Microsofts releases.


Oh...not to mention I don't want to play the 500th billion Mario or Zelda, those series became boring a long time ago to me.

 

[Cybylt]

This the thing.

People are buying a console because they want a console, not a PC. So when we compare, we compare console vs console, not console vs PC, because PCs have never been in the equation.

Sony and Microsoft have been selling their consoles on the fact they're using x86 PC architecture. The Xbone has been getting marketed based on its multimedia entertainment playback features, its internet browsing, and its online infrastructure.

How can you, in all honesty, tell me that is not competing with PCs? They're not just competing on multiplat titles, they're now overlapping on functionality and architecture.

Also, I think this GIF is rather nice for anyone who still argues the Wii U is outdated in terms of tech:

Spoiler

Thank you, I honestly can't believe anyone who says with a straight face "PC doesn't factor in" when every statement coming out of the two console makers (that isn't microsoft redacting something stupid they've done) is "Hey guys, this machine's great because it's basically a PC."

 

[deadish]

This the thing.

People are buying a console because they want a console, not a PC. So when we compare, we compare console vs console, not console vs PC, because PCs have never been in the equation.

Maybe not in the past but Microsoft and Sony have been making it a point that their consoles are more and more like PC to the point of creating sufficient overlap in the target market. In fact their biggest point of pride during their presentations is that the base architecture is PC stock.

Especially Microsoft who do not claim to be selling a game console at all, but an "entertainment centerpiece" since the mid life of the 360.

To developers, yes. To consumers, no.

The shift to using x86 was partly driven by the need to cut cost, custom design chips are expensive - especially if you do it from scratch. Why bother when there are companies like AMD willing and eager to license their CPU and GPU technology to you?

The other component to the shift is developer pressure. Publishers want to do multiplatform titles, there isn't much console manufacturers can do to stop them. You either make it easy to multiplatform or developers will do a shitty job on your port or not bother to port at all - depending on your install base.

To consumers, a console is a console. You don't need to install antivirus. No updating of graphic/motherboard/whatever drivers - just the close to automatic updating of the OS; you don't even have to do it online as games normally come with the latest OS on the disc and will update the console if it's out of date. You plug it into your TV, then that's it. If you have any problems, it's either a your unit is defective or the developers fucked up - it's never your fault and you never have to do any troubleshooting.

 

[deadish]

How can you, in all honesty, tell me that is not competing with PCs? They're not just competing on multiplat titles, they're now overlapping on functionality and architecture.

Also, I think this GIF is rather nice for anyone who still argues the Wii U is outdated in terms of tech:

Spoiler

The PS4 and Xbone can do several times better ...

There is no working around the Wii U's anemic amount of RAM - 1 GB available for game use v.s. 4.5 - 5.5 GB of the PS4 and I'm quite sure Sony can "give" more if they wanted to, the OS reserving up 2.5-3.5GB of RAM is probably a measure to future proof the device.

The same can be said for the CPU/GPU.

 

[Axzarious]

When the new Smash Bros gets released, sales for the system will probably skyrocket.

 

[ThePuzzldPirate]

How can you, in all honesty, tell me that is not competing with PCs? They're not just competing on multiplat titles, they're now overlapping on functionality and architecture.

Also, I think this GIF is rather nice for anyone who still argues the Wii U is outdated in terms of tech:

Spoiler

The PS4 and Xbone can do several times better ...

There is no working around the Wii U's anemic amount of RAM.

I'm sorry, are you not seeing what I'm seeing right there? It looks like a game and probably plays like one too. It seems developers have found a way too work around/with it.

 

[subtlefuge]

I didn't want a Wii U at all until I saw Chip Cheezum's skilled playthrough of the Wonderful 101 demo.


It looks fairly deep and fun, but I'll definitely wait for at least 2 or 3 other titles to come out that I really want.

 

[Cybylt]

To developers, yes. To consumers, no.

The shift to using x86 was partly driven by the need to cut cost, custom design chips are expensive - especially if you do it from scratch. Why bother when there are companies like AMD willing and eager to license their CPU and GPU technology to you?

The other component to the shift is developer pressure. Publishers want to do multiplatform titles, there isn't much console manufacturers can do to stop them. You either make it easy to multiplatform or developers will do a shitty job on your port or not bother to port at all - depending on your install base.

To consumers, a console is a console. You don't need to install antivirus. No updating of graphic/motherboard/whatever drivers - just the close to automatic updating of the OS; you don't even have to do it online as games normally come with the latest OS on the disc and will update the console if it's out of date. You plug it into your TV, then that's it. If you have any problems, it's either a your unit is defective or the developers fucked up - it's never your fault and you never have to do any troubleshooting.

If those points are there solely for the developers' sake then they had no reason to state them at consumer media events, which they have. And that's still completely ignoring that Microsoft is NOT selling the system as a gaming console but as a multimedia device. Looking at any of their presentations to date, the One is not a gaming console at all, it's Microsoft's big shiny new cable box and social media machine... oh yeah it also plays Call of Duty and Titanfall.

It really isn't all that hard or complicated to work with a PC and all of the parts upgrades can be done on similar time intervals to console launches unless for whatever reason you feel compelled to always be on the cutting edge, but if you're fine with console capabilities you'd obviously feel no need to.

Most PC games these days are bought, downloaded and installed with the same level of ease as their console counterparts, especially with services like Steam, GoG, and Green Man where updates (even ones to drivers) and patches are automatically done on start up or there's a button on the launcher that does it all for you with one click. You can even use a controller and plug it into a TV if you'd like and never have to deal with a monopolized store, or subscription fees. There tends to be significantly better with deprecation of value since they've been dealing with a digital market much longer. It also has one more distinct advantage with online games, on consoles if the developer decides to shut down servers you're simply out of luck while with pc you can just set up your own or find someone else who has.

What's more, if a game does have bugs then chances are patches are coming to the pc days, weeks, hell possibly even months ahead of the console versions because anybody can do it.

Oh, and if you get hacked or get a virus then 99% of the time that is your fault so the antivirus thing is hardly an argument.