Nintendo Wii U (Thread 2!)

[Cornflakes]

I'm actually more excited about the other announcement that hasn't been picked up by other news sites yet. They are not strictly related only to the Wii U.

source: siliconera furure of Nintendo OSes and architecture and development costs (or how to secure 3rd party exclusives?)

[MisterBubbles]

Ok first off not just trolling here, but the public have voted at its too expensive for what it is, 200 is the magic number. Im sure it will sell better this coming christmas but its never going to be Wii numbers.

[wakka]

All part of Nintendo's usual strategy. Soft launch with quickly developed, non showcase blockbuster titles (Nintendoland, NSMBU), then release the megahits in time for next Xmas. Hardware and software bugs are ironed out by then and there's plenty of stock in the supply chain.

'The public voted' that the 3DS was too expensive at launch - yet the XL at 180 quid is now selling gangbusters, as are copies of MK7 and Mario 3D Land 14+ months after release (at full price, of course).

To those asking why Nintendo always 'remake' the same games (which is not a grammatical error, incidentally, it's a choice of wording), the answer is that it's because it works. EAD is one of the most talented developers out there, and the Mario games in particular are some of the most stunning games available on any platform. They're also virtually unique at this point. 'They never come up with new characters' is not really a valid criticism when the games are so consistently brilliant. I've been playing the latest ones all my life and I'm still not bored of them.

The only area where lack of innovation is genuinely evident is in the NSMB games - however these are not the main Mario games. They are part of a subseries which exists to supply the constant demand for new 2D mario games. People love 'em, just the way they are, so Nintendo keep making them that way. It's the 3D Mario games which are really stunning. People comparing NSMB U to Mario World are barking up the wrong tree - they should be comparing Mario World to SMG2, and to the new 3D Mario on Wii U.

Other games are criticized for being derivative because they are endlessly derivative of each other - witness the reduction of platforming controls to largely hold/tap R1 and R2 in many recent titles.

[Brad]

Regarding price, the XL is a much nicer looking device and is ?50 less than the 3ds launch price so yes, the 3ds was too expensive at launch and Nintendo were right to quickly drop it. I still think the normal 3ds looks and feels like a prototype (much liek the original DS). The XL looks lovely though. Been tempted to get one many times.

[ETC]

Regarding price, the XL is a much nicer looking device and is ?50 less than the 3ds launch price so yes, the 3ds was too expensive at launch and Nintendo were right to quickly drop it. I still think the normal 3ds looks and feels like a prototype (much liek the original DS). The XL looks lovely though. Been tempted to get one many times.

I hated the XL made things feel a bit blocky

[Brad]

Yeah the low res is a problem but the actual form of the hardware is much better. Looking at a 3ds xl screen after a vita is... disappointing.

[originalbadboy]

Yeah the low res is a problem but the actual form of the hardware is much better. Looking at a 3ds xl screen after a vita is... disappointing.

And yet most would probably say they prefer playing the 3DS(XL) ... The Vita screen (and hardware that powers it) is proper lush there is no doubting that ... Pity there still isn't really any reason to get one at the moment that I can see.

I love my 3DS XL .. the slightly blockier graphics really don't bother me.

[MisterBubbles]

The 3DS is selling gangbuster where? , only in japan, everywhere else is sluggish. http://www.computerandvideogames.com...side-of-japan/

[Brad]

And yet most would probably say they prefer playing the 3DS(XL) ... The Vita screen (and hardware that powers it) is proper lush there is no doubting that ... Pity there still isn't really any reason to get one at the moment that I can see.

I love my 3DS XL .. the slightly blockier graphics really don't bother me.

Oh very true mate. I wouldn't let the blocky graphics stop me from buying one. Just mentioning how noticeable it was. All down to the games as you say. Vita is deffo lacking in games but it actually has more that I want to play than 3DS does at the moment. All the platform holders seem to not really understand the importance of this. The mass public didn't buy a Wii; they bought Wii sports.

[fishbowlhead]

Iwata said in their recent earnings meeting that there will be no price drop as they are already making the console at a loss, at ?300?.

I'm calling total bull on that. For starters its very old tech, same power roughly as ps3 and 360, maybe I don't know, but still that's old as far as chip sets go. No hard drive, DVD reader with no license to play movies, no ethernet port. Unless the controller costs near ?200 to produce I just don't see it.

[MisterBubbles]

And he's defiantly talking BS that there will be no price drop, like it or not the WiiU is flopping and in 3 months time Sony & Microsoft will bring the next gen to show.

[Brad]

Re: Nintendo Wii U (Thread 2!)

If they're selling wiiu at a loss then they are being ripped off by their suppliers. Nintendo have cut every possible corner on wiiu. No way should it cost more to make than a ps3.

[nakamura]

Having played Persona 4 Golden and EDF last weekend, the Vita displays just as many rough and jaggy looking games as the 3DS.

[MisterBubbles]

Vita looks like the Vita, theres something i didn't know.

[nakamura]

Whoops! Not slept for four days.