Wii U - thread 3

[Shozuki]

This makes the assumption that everyone wants those kind of games on Wii U.
Personally, I'm happy having a device that makes Last of Us type stuff and one that does Pikmin type stuff.
I can't remember the last time I played a game like Pikmin on PS3 / 360.

Oh I understand what your saying mate, but all I'm saying is - I'd love to see Nintendo's take on something simiar. I'd bet it'll gather a lot of interest. They also have potential development teams ready for such a task. Like Retro...

You can't on one hand say "It's not a killer feature" and then say "the other guys have it too" like it doesn't matter. The simple fact is, playing Pikmin 3 in bed, to me, is a game changer. I'm also not confident that the PS4-Vita remote play will work as well as the game pad does - and don't even get me started on the Xbox One's streaming to tablets.

Well, we'll see how well the other consoles do it, but I don't think many care about off:TV play, it's more about what the 2nd screen can do with the main screen, so far there's nothing to suggest it's anything special. That's what I mean by Nintendo needing to lead the way.

[Duncan James Waugh]

Nintendo need to show us why the gamepad is a killer feature and so far they haven't. Plus the other consoles support 2nd screens anyway...

I think with games likes Nintendoland, Zombi U and Rayman, the Wii U has though. For the first time ever I've been able to play a FPS with my girlfriend thanks to Zombi U, with her on the gamepad. The Zelda game on Nintendoland is a perfect example of how the lightgun genre can be made loads better through the tech. And Rayman (and presumably Mario, though I haven't tried it) makes a co-op 2D platformer fun for the first time that I've ever experienced.

While the other platforms can feature a 2nd screen the frameworks aren't really that comparable. There's some technical differences both in terms of what is pushing what, the latency involved, longterm compatibility and the integration with the main console, not to mention the inclusion of physical controls but there's also the fact that every Wii-U owner has a gamepad, which means that when designing a game with gamepad features they don't have to worry about excluding large portions of their market.

Take the XB1, only a percentage of the install base will have tablets, only a percentage of that group will have compatible tablets. Each of those tablets will have different resolutions and possibly aspect ratios which affects everything from basic UI layouts to actual game design. Different tablets will support different numbers of concurrent inputs, different input and display latencies, colour depths and so on. Not to mention if it's expanded to more than just Windows devices (not sure if they have mentioned this at all), different OSes will place wildly different performance limitations on the application. Each device will also have it's own little hardware niggles under the hood, awkward bugs that might only show up on that one device, very common in this market. Any one of these problems could render a given game design unworkable on a particular device. The developers won't be able to test on every device, they'll just pick a representative proportion of the biggest sellers and test on those, and as such they can't guarantee 100% universal compatibility. This only gets worse if the platform becomes popular, and even more widespread fragmentation occurs which will always happen when you support multiple third party manufacturers. I would be quite surprised if any developer would design their game's core gameplay around the possibility of a second screen feature given the amount of testing work it adds and the fact that they'd be relying on the user owning a peripheral made by a different manufacturer. None of these problems affect the gamepad however. And if they wanted to make a game like the Zelda title in Nintendoland where you using the movement sensors in combination with the buttons you're also relying on them buying another separate peripheral that attaches to their tablet!

[dataDave]

Nintendo Land is awesome. Dumped loads of hours into it so far and that's just me and the mrs.

Can't wait to play with the nieces next week. Speaking of which, they are going to explode when I show them the new DKC game that's coming.

Then in five wees there's this:

[jim g]

Frankly all + / - discussions interesting as they are, have no affect on Nintendo sales. 10,000 units in EU and Australia in three months, is totally indefensible. Moreover, even if a great game does come out, no bugger owns a machine so it won't sell unless the user base increases. Will ma and pa pay ?200 + to play one game, I think not.

[jim g]

Just saw this on EGM on their Pikmin Review, for me it sums up all that is wrong (and yes I know there is a lot right) with Wii U.

"As mentioned earlier, Pikmin 3 features several different control setups, all of which have their own shortcomings. The GamePad option is the one I preferred and used through most of the game, but using the analog stick to aim the Pikmin never quite delivered the accuracy I wanted. The Wii Remote/Nunchuck setup (Miyamoto’s recommended control configuration) does deliver more precise aiming, but you need to use the GamePad to access the map (which you’ll be doing a lot). I don’t know about you, but I don’t have three hands to hold the Wiimote, Nunchuck and GamePad all at once"

[parkinho]

Nintendo Land is awesome. Dumped loads of hours into it so far and that's just me and the mrs.

Can't wait to play with the nieces next week. Speaking of which, they are going to explode when I show them the new DKC game that's coming.

Then in five wees there's this:

You gonna get Monster Hunter Dave?

[Geoff D]

Pikmin keyrings up in the Stars catalogue - bloody expensive though at 1700 stars each

[InvisibleKid]

That's not expensive. It's INSANE.

[Guts]

I've got two Club Nintendo codes from 3DS games, anyone want them? Are they worth anything? I can't use them as I'm from Finland. I'll send them to first two posters who want them, one each.

Edit: Actually I have three codes.

[J0e Musashi]

I wouldn't mind one please.

[Guts]

PM'd you one, Joe.

[shaffy_oppa]

Oooo I'll take one please

[gambit6613]

I would be very grateful for one of your Club Nintendo codes you have

[Guts]

Okay, all gone. I'll PM them to you shaffy and gambit.

[dvdx2]

I was an absolute skeptic when the Wii-U hit, but after an E3 where we saw companies boasting how they've spent vast sums of money on killer new features like characters who walk around with hands in their pockets or incredible super accurate dog models. Everything saturated with the words "epic", "narrative based" and reeking of more movie-director wannabe developers I decided to give it a try. Two days and everyone here is in love with it, and that's just with Nintendoland, Rayman Challenge and just today Zombi U. Every game looks incredible and seeing Nintendo's art direction in HD is just glorious. Between what's out now and the 8 or so solid exclusives hitting by year's end I don't see how the launch line ups on the other consoles can complete with what the Wii-U has, plus it will be cheaper. With the gamepad it actually offers something innovative and new.

Of course everyone is in love with it after only 2 days. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, until after about 2 mths. Its when the faint whiffs of boredom and cracks start appearing due to lack of software/support. Doesnt seem to be too much out since i sold mine and support is worsening.

Are you saying the next gen launches wont be able to compete with what the wiiu will have to offer? - really?