Nintendo WiiU : Thread 04

[Hartley Hare]

Indeed, exactly the same boat, finished wind waker, half way through 3dworld and until Mario kart and a new Zelda lands, the dust will be building. A new Metroid, pilot wings, earthbound would spark my interest but I have accepted many moons ago, buy a Nintendo machine for Nintendo games, buy the other two for everything else and use your daily tools for the quick fix.

[PaTaito]

I have accepted many moons ago, buy a Nintendo machine for Nintendo games, buy the other two for everything else and use your daily tools for the quick fix.

I think thats the problem in a nutshell, because i know so many people who are happy with one console for the yearly churn outs.

I mean what did they think would happen with 3rd party support once this new generation arrived, and the tech was basically a hurdle for devs?

Its not so bad while lots of games are still developed for ps3/360, but once that market comes to an end, developing multiplatform stuff on a machine which needs an old engine, surely is nothing but a headache for minimal returns.

And because kids want those big 3rd party games like FIFA/COD, which are no doubt the main games banded around school playgrounds, much in the same way we older gamers used to band mario/sonic around...

I think it raises another point, 3rd party games are the biggest of all now, and nintendo have failed to respect this during the making of the WiiU.

Then again its moot because 3rd party support was dead before ps4/xbone arrived.

A real shame.

I agree with a comment somebody made a while back regarding an uber handheld for nintendo, and scrapping home consoles...because this playing around with the design of every new console in a market where peoples expectations are pretty set in stone, was never going to work for them in the long run.

[Sam The Man]

Perhaps Nintendo should consider making a Steam Machine and have all their games on Steam only.

[randombs]

I'd be upset if Nintendo stopped making home consoles.

I think. I'm not sure anymore.

I'd love it if they resumed their position as the "gamer's company" like what they did with the Gamecube(no DVD support, etc) and released a new, more conventional console.

Rebrand it so it's not confused with the Wii(and will stop people saying it'll be for casuals and grandmas). At least spec it similar to the XB1/PS4 and definitely make it x86. Basically, remove as many technical barriers as possible with regards to porting multiplatform games. Yes, Nintendo's own aesthetic doesn't need super power but other stuff does.

@PaTaito: Regarding your last post about the Pro Controller, I didn't realise support for it is very high. Who knows? Maybe they will release a Wii-U without the screen gamepad. Come to think of it there's a heck of a lot you can do with the Wii-U that doesn't need the gamepad. Browsing and watching videos is great with it, though - searching for stuff while the TV shows your video is lovely(although I can achieve the pretty much the same thing using my iPhone and PS3) - but as you say, it's not that integral to the experience.

[Paddy]

Lots of opinions for past and future expectations of the Wii U. A really good read of a thread and although the general consensus seems to be that the machine has had its day and we'll get an announcement on Nintendo's next console within a couple of years, given the company's current sales numbers with the Wii U that might not be a bad thing.

I do want the Wii U to pick up starting with some of the key releases coming this year such as Mario Kart, Bayonetta 2, X and Super Smash Bros. U and roll from that into a storm of must-have titles that start to push Wii U's into gamers hands. If after those titles release the console is in the same position it is currently, well, perhaps fate will dictate what happens to it? Or maybe Nintendo really needs to think about going portable-only as they are still on top regarding that part of the games market atm.

[cutmymilk]

They could release a new console early, as long as it is compatible with wii u software (minus gamepad) and they still support wii with several titles per year for a couple of years. Make it as powerful as PS4 etc. It would be like the 3rd pillar **** they came up with for DS.

The pro controller is seriously crap compared to, say, Gamecube, though so that needs to be better!

[djtickle]

They could release a new console early, as long as it is compatible with wii u software (minus gamepad) and they still support wii with several titles per year for a couple of years. Make it as powerful as PS4 etc. It would be like the 3rd pillar **** they came up with for DS.

The pro controller is seriously crap compared to, say, Gamecube, though so that needs to be better!

Id be happy if they made a new console early as powerful as ps4/xbo etc, but I don't think they will. It takes them so long to get the likes of Mario/Kart, DK, Smash Bro etc ready that unless they are already doing it and thats why game releases are so slow now that its just not feasible for them.

I've said it before though if they did have a console as powerful as xbo/ps4 it would be a clear winner with 3rd party support and there own IP.

On the list though for a new console would have to be compatibility with wii u games and all games should work with 1 controller. (unless it requires wiimote). I'd like to be able to use the gamepad though, or even a new version with a better screen!

[Brad]

I agree with the above. However, making a console that can compete with ps4 and xbone and receive the third party games that those platforms get probably means that they'll need to have similar architecture to those platforms. I suppose if it's powerful enough they could maybe emulate wiiu hardware but it'd be very difficult I think. At this point it does seem like that's the best plan for them though.

I loved all the Nintendo games of the past but to be honest I think I'm done with them. I'm tired of mario kart and zelda and probably even the main mario games. I want new stuff from them. Use their skill to make completely new stuff I mean; it doesn't matter to me that the level designs in the latest mario are superb because I'm bored at the thought of playing it. I don't think I'm their target audience anymore though so they should probably ignore any and all of my suggestions.

[djtickle]

I guess Mario Kart might make or break it for me. I'm loving Mario 3D world at the moment but its lifespan will only last so long.

Totally off topic but i'd love a 3DS player for wii u like days of old. 3DS games, full screen and in 3D? Awesome, I should work for nintendo.

[VR46]

Not read all the posts in here of the last week, is all such a shame that everyone on here can see where Nintendo are going wrong yet they can't - I'm not being sarcastic but genuine. Them even adding one VC title a week is piss poor, why not stick up ten a week and run some deals/offers on the eShop. But they really don't seem interested in doing that. Is all pretty bizarre. And sad.

I did read that even if they lose the same amount of money they'll lose this year, their bank balance would cover it until 2052.

MK8 will my main game for me on the machine now, assuming it's out in March/April.

[capcom_suicide]

I did read that even if they lose the same amount of money they'll lose this year, their bank balance would cover it until 2052.

Their financial strength and what I percieve as a true passion to innovate in video games is what gives me hope that they are prepared to try and fail and try again, knowing that not every generation is a Wii success.

How is their ownership structure, does a family or single investor have a majority vote? Or do they have to answer to the needs of a wide range shareholders?

[gIzzE]

I loved all the Nintendo games of the past but to be honest I think I'm done with them. I'm tired of mario kart and zelda and probably even the main mario games. I want new stuff from them. Use their skill to make completely new stuff I mean; it doesn't matter to me that the level designs in the latest mario are superb because I'm bored at the thought of playing it. I don't think I'm their target audience anymore though so they should probably ignore any and all of my suggestions.

But who is the target audience?

I'm now in my 40's, I grew up with NES and SNES, I buy the Nintendo hardware because it feels nostalgic, it is the same as Watching ET or Back To The Future on a Sunday afternoon, great for an hour or so, but not really something I will do for an 18 hour session like I would when I sat round with all my mates.
And to be honest, after an hour or so on most games these days I am off thinking about other things, like getting back online. How sad!

So who is Nintendo's target audience, the goalposts have shifted since I grew up, the graphics are so good now that many games don't need to be cartoony, that worked back in the day of 16x16 sprites, we had a fat Italian plumber because it was easy to replicate in screen, try and replicate a buff looking secret agent and it could have been an ant for all we knew wit the graphics so poor.
Plus kids get older faster now, they want to be far more grown up before their time, or maybe they don't? Maybe that is peer pressure?
You can see why many see Ninteno as a kids machine though, there is no nostalgia from them, no rose tinted glasses to put on as you hand over ?300 to play Wind Waker or Super Mario Bros again. But many are still at the age where there will be one console and then a couple of games every birthday or Christmas, and if you want to play any more you better make sure you have the same machine as everyone else at school.

I simply don't enjoy games as much as I did a few years ago, in the last 3 years the only game I have not got bored of before the end was Last Of Us. Wind Waker got about 50% done and sits there, Mario 3D World I like but don't rush to get home and play it, in fact not been played since Xmas, and Zelda on the 3DS has sat unplayed for 2 weeks since I got to Lorule.

All my mates are the same, as if when we hit 40 we simply couldn't be arsed any more, we all buy the latest N product, but no one really plays it, if you had told me at 35 that in 5 years time you would be bored of gaming I would have laughed, but I am.

And that is Nintendo's biggest problem, they are building machines that will impress and make 40 year olds smile, but to be honest, we're not interested any more. They need to attract the new breed, problem is, most of them are not interested in Nintendo any more either.

Shame.

['Press Start']

Yup, a great console terribly marketed (though I think Dreamcast's European marketing might pip it to overall worst ).

Ahh yes buddy, how could I forget that one. One mate asked me what the console was as he had never heard of it before! Then we proceeded to play Cannon Spike and he wanted one that week. He was confused as to why he could not find Cannon Spike in the shops though.

[wakka]

And that is Nintendo's biggest problem, they are building machines that will impress and make 40 year olds smile, but to be honest, we're not interested any more. They need to attract the new breed, problem is, most of them are not interested in Nintendo any more either.

Shame.

I think Nintendo games are still popular with kids. They sell enough 3DS systems and copies of Pok?mon and Mario Kart. I don't think nostalgic 40 year olds are a a key target at all for their products.

I don't think an overall decline in popularity of Nintendo software has been the clincher in the Wii U's failure, either. There is still an enormous amount of equity in their game brands for kids and adults alike.

[Brad]

@gIzzE - I'm bored of 99% of gaming too. But, gaming has moved on if you know where to find it.

Bored of ACIV now (only 17% into it, no desire to load it up again). Bored of KZSF before the end. Third attempt at enjoying Mass Effect. Played it last night; seemed to mostly be a game of wandering about a bit. Bored again.

However, Day Z and Borderlands 2 still hold my interest. Loving Tearaway on Vita. Enjoyed A Clone in the Dark on Vita too, and even KZ mercs. Think I'm just more discerning now.