Anyone feel like the Wii U is doomed?

[rlemmon]

Hi guys. I’m not trolling here I’m a big Nintendo fan and a Mario freak. I have a gut feeling that the Wii U is sort of doomed to fail for a few reasons. First of all there calling it the Wii U. Seriously did they not learn anything from parents/uneducated gamers thinking that the 3 ds was just an updated 3ds and not a whole new platform?


Then there’s the tablet controller. It seems like a gimmick to me. I guess it could be fun in some respects but I think it’s more of a novelty. If it’s perceived that way by the public Nintendos gonna have a really big problem. There’s also the launch games issue. I remember an article with Reggie Fils-Aime talking about how if they were to launch the 3 ds with big name first party games it would make gamers feel that there was no third party support.


I would say kind of stupidity is part of why the 3 ds is in trouble. If it had been launched with Super Mario land 3d along with a Zelda game and a $200.00 price point things would be very different. I just seems like they got a little two cocky with there massive wii sales. What do you guys think? Have Nintendo learned from there mistakes and does the wii U have a good chance of making it? I would hate to see Nintendo go down the sega road. That would kill a part of me.

[hashiriya1]

I own all of Nintendo's systems from the Famicom/NES forward, but I think I might sit the Wii U out. I didn't even get the Wii until last year.

As soon as they mentioned the name at E3 I cringed a little. It does sound stupid. As far as I see it, Nintendo better sell me good on its 1st party titles. I am sure whatever 3rd party game is released for it it will also be released on the PS3 and if it needs the tablet controller, I am sure the Vita will take care of that. Of course the Vita isn't cheap but a Vita is sure to cost less than a Wii U and with the Vita you have a standalone portable.

[rlemmon]

I own all of Nintendo's systems from the Famicom/NES forward, but I think I might sit the Wii U out. I didn't even get the Wii until last year.

As soon as they mentioned the name at E3 I cringed a little. It does sound stupid. As far as I see it, Nintendo better sell me good on its 1st party titles. I am sure whatever 3rd party game is released for it it will also be released on the PS3 and if it needs the tablet controller, I am sure the Vita will take care of that. Of course the Vita isn't cheap but a Vita is sure to cost less than a Wii U and with the Vita you have a standalone portable.

I cringed to. I can just hear all the haters now. "the wii U sucks and so do u" "F U wii U" I also agree about being sold on first party titles. I dont want to see other compainys making generic launch games like they did with rabbids travel in time and asphalt 3d on the 3ds.

I want to see a high quality mario title. I would even be happy with
new super mario bros 2 or mario galaxy 3 as long as they were A+ quality. A non kid geared kirby would be fun as well.

I won't be buying one at launch time due to the 3 ds debacle as well as the fact that every launch system seems to have major quality controll/ failure issues these days.

[Leo_A]

I like the idea of an integrated screen on a controller with otherwise standard controls. Having traditional controls, motion controls (I'd bet on standard Wii controllers also being packed in), and touch screen controls available out of the box should mean we'll have the best of all three worlds and that the control type that best makes sense for each game will be selected, unlike what we've often seen on the DS and Wii. And I'm also very happy to see it being HD.

Even if I just end up playing the latest iterations of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart, Metroid, and other traditional Nintendo properties on it, I'll be happy. I'm actually more excited for it than I was the GameCube or Wii before release.

My biggest concern is NOA itself. I really don't like some of their publishing decisions this generation in regards to retail games like Fatal Frame 4, digital releases on the Virtual Console, etc. I think they've realized that largely ignoring the core market was a mistake, especially for their 3rd party publishers. But I don't think they've realized yet that some of their publishing decisions are part of the problem that keeps that segment of consumers away.

Even if something like Fatal Frame 4 sold just 25 thousand copies after being translated and released here (A game which perhaps appeals to the smallest segment of consumers out there that buy the most games, per person) and barely broke even, those 25 thousand consumers are still very important. They buy a lot of software and they're also likely far more vocal than the average consumer. Pleasing them should be enough of a reason to subsidize some releases that appeal to that market, even if they have zero chance of getting on the best sellers list.

[substantial_snake]

I think that relying on the casual market while largely neglecting their base is going to eventually shoot Nintendo in the foot. I believe we have already seen part of that "backlash" in the 3DS with its initial arrogantly high pricing and we may see the same with the wiiU if Nintendo fails to get its act together.

I have full confidence in Nintendo making fantastic use of whatever technology they are pushing, including the WiiU tablet idea, but I honestly don't know that is going to happen. I honestly wouldn't be too saddened if Nintendo went the way of Sega though I doubt that would ever happen. I don't really have much interest in buying a console just for the Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Starfox goodness inside the largely shovelware librarys I consistently find on Nintendo consoles.

[jonebone]

I think it's way too early to make a call. Nintendo has always made profits through innovation and creation rather than graphical powerhouses (at least since the Gamecube). They are continuing down that path, and I applaud them.

The 3DS is in our recent memory, but people forget what an amazing success the Wii was, in terms of profit and sales. PS3 and Xbox were actually loosing money on every console produced initially, while Wiis were profitable from the very beginning. And not to mention the actual sales.

I'm indifferent at this point. I don't think it's doomed, but I'm not eagerly awaiting its arrival either.

Gimmick or not, get me a brand new Zelda or Mario and I'll probably at least check it out.

[Cornelius]

Is any of the talk in this thread really any different than the talk before the Wii came out? I'm not saying that means the Wii U will be a success or failure, just that this sort of speculation is just that, speculation.

Anyone less lazy than me want to dig out the old threads?

[treismac]

Gimmick or not, get me a brand new Zelda or Mario and I'll probably at least check it out.

You and everybody else, sir.

[Graham Mitchell]

I like the idea of an integrated screen on a controller with otherwise standard controls. Having traditional controls, motion controls (I'd bet on standard Wii controllers also being packed in), and touch screen controls available out of the box should mean we'll have the best of all three worlds and that the control type that best makes sense for each game will be selected, unlike what we've often seen on the DS and Wii. And I'm also very happy to see it being HD.

Even if I just end up playing the latest iterations of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart, Metroid, and other traditional Nintendo properties on it, I'll be happy. I'm actually more excited for it than I was the GameCube or Wii before release.

My biggest concern is NOA itself. I really don't like some of their publishing decisions this generation in regards to retail games like Fatal Frame 4, digital releases on the Virtual Console, etc. I think they've realized that largely ignoring the core market was a mistake, especially for their 3rd party publishers. But I don't think they've realized yet that some of their publishing decisions are part of the problem that keeps that segment of consumers away.

Even if something like Fatal Frame 4 sold just 25 thousand copies after being translated and released here (A game which perhaps appeals to the smallest segment of consumers out there that buy the most games, per person) and barely broke even, those 25 thousand consumers are still very important. They buy a lot of software and they're also likely far more vocal than the average consumer. Pleasing them should be enough of a reason to subsidize some releases that appeal to that market, even if they have zero chance of getting on the best sellers list.

I agree with everything you said, Leo. Everything.

I couldn't give a flying fuck about the tablet, motion controls or any of that. Most serious game buyers know that you don't buy Nintendo systems for the balance board, or the power pad, or the Super Scope. You buy them because they play Zelda, Mario, and Metroid games. Really, that's about it. Nintendo is one of the greatest game makers in the world (if not THE best).

As such, I will buy a Wii U to play these games. I think the N64 only had about 4 games worth playing on it, and they were all first-party Nintendo games. But these games were so good, and so important, that you wouldn't dare miss them. It's probably going to be a similar situation with the Wii U.

Another bonus for me is that I sold my Wii a few years ago. I've missed out on NSMB Wii, Punch Out, and now I'm going to miss out on Skyward Sword. Since the Wii U is backwards compatible with the Wii, I'll get to check these games out without having to buy another Wii.

[SonicBoom]

Honestly, If i buy it, I'd be using it for the tablet. I Knew the 3DS Would bomb and it did. And i think the wii u will be ok. Not gonna fail, But not gonna do awesome ether.