Topic: IF the Nintendo Code-Name "NX" DOESN'T have backwards compatibility...

@Octane i agree if the NX is a handheld, then we should look at BC for 3DS, not Eii U. If the NX is a hybrid then it should be looked at as replacing both. If it doesn't support BC with Wii U then that is a reason for me not to upgrade at launch. I don't see the appeal of Wii U remasters, these games couldn't sell our console before, lets release them without ElWii U features and see if they will sell this system? That doesn't make sense to me. Lookinh at PS4/XB1 it is the games that sold well and moved systems that are the ones that sold well

If the VC continues on NX, would you be happy with keeping games the same, or would you pay extra to transfer them across if, for example, they were up-scaled or had some new feature?

@GrailUK I wouldn't be happy paying a dime for VC games I already own. The Virtual console transition from Wii to Wii U has been miserable, I haven't transferred a thing from my Wii to Wii U yet. No reason to so far, it stills works like a charm. Really hope they don't make the same cash-grab.

@GrailUK I would be ok paying if the features were worth it. Off-TV play was worth it for Wii U upgrade. I hope they can see what Wii VC games you own and I could upgrade those too. I don't know what features they could add that would both keep the game the same and make it worth it to upgrade, especially if we are talking about 3DS VC.

@DefHalan That's my issue with a ''hybrid'', it doesn't work. If the Eurogamer rumours are true, maybe you could call it a hybrid, but it's still a handheld first. A powerful handheld that can stream to your TV. I agree that a comparison to other home consoles is still fair if Nintendo says the NX will replace both, but I don't think that we can realistically expect the system to cover both the handheld and home console space equally well.

Another issue is that they ditched Club Nintendo and don't have any other way to track your purchases. As much as it pains me to say, I think that expecting any kind of BC with the Wii U isn't worth your time. I don't think it'll happen as I cannot see how they can make it happen. Plus, we all know how much Nintendo loves to charge their customers for games a second or third time. So I wouldn't rule out the idea of remasters or digital Wii U ports at all. In fact, that's the most likely scenario. Remasters and ports are relatively cheap, so even though they don't move systems or sell a million copies, they often make enough money regardless. Nintendo is a company that wants to see profits in the short term; I don't think that they're really concerned about the long term.

If that were the case, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now... no games

@DefHalan True, but they could've supported the Wii U for a bit longer than earlier this year. They would've gained the trust of more people and that means they're investing in long term profits as those people are more likely to buy their next system. It seems that the last year of Wii U support has at least left a sour taste in some people's mouth. Anyway, it wasn't really an argument I was trying to make, but I guess it depends on how you look at it? What I should've said was that Nintendo doesn't seem to be concerned with creating a program, system, environment, whatever you want to call it, that allows for your digital VC purchases to carry over to newer systems.

@DefHalan But would it have been like that if NX was releasing in November 2016 instead of March 2017?

I don't think it would have. Let the first half of the year be identical to what it was, nothing in summer is normal when looking at previous years, release Color Splash in mid September. Finally BotW, NX launch and a bunch of other NX games for November.

The only potential info we obtain is that NX was probably originally planned for holiday 2016 but got delayed to March 2017 for certain reasons. That said the whole abandonment even before being 4 years old situation in either case is a completely different debate.

@Grumblevolcano I don't think it matters "if the NX was launching this year." Nintendo, unlike Sony and Microsoft, have much harder cut off points for their systems mostly because of the lack of 3rd Party support. This approach to hardware replacement ahows they aren't looking for quicker profits but more long term stability for their systems.

@Octane We don't know how the NX is going to work with past purchases, especially digital.

@gizmor Yeh... I'm not sure they're quite at the 'drag and drop' stage with their programming for the eshop just yet.

Some comments are saying that NX will be a clean slate and have no backwards compatibility with Wii U. However, at the March 2014 Investor's briefing (Q5/A5 page 2 - https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130qa/02.h... Iwata made the following comments:

"...we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately. When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems."

"If the transition of software from platform to platform can be made simpler, this will help solve the problem of game shortages in the launch periods of new platforms."

"...we always ended up developing a system that was completely different from its predecessor. The only exception was when we went from Nintendo GameCube to Wii."

I think those comments do indicate that NX will have strong compatibility with Wii U. As does BotW being developed for both. Also, I think Iwata believed that having Wii U's game library available at the launch of NX would alleviate concerns about software shortages.

An aside, I don't think compatibility with Gamecube was a factor in the success of Wii as, iirc, there were complaints about Wii software shortages, despite Gamecube compatibility. People want new games for their new system and access to older software doesn't solve that issue, imo.

I know Kimishima said that NX will be new, unique, not a direct successor, etc but assuming Iwata's comments do hold, in what ways can Nintendo move the "Wii U architecture" to NX? Is it only through hardware or emulation? Is he referring more to programming architecture? Would Nintendo be tied to Power PC to maintain compatibility? Seems unlikely that they will do that. If through emulation, does that indicate the power level needed for NX to emulate Wii U software?

To answer the thread topic: I'd be okay without backwards compatibility if it means getting a more modern console. If Wii U software could be emulated I'd be good with that. Not sure how game pad implementation could be removed.

Hope this was the right thread to post in - similar topic threads seem to get locked.

I haven't watched the video but the thumbnail is pretty hilarious. Why would a console have face buttons on it? I imagine holding the wii u itself trying to press the buttons while I shove a disc in it

Dude tries ripping on a four-year console lifespan by quoting Sega's 3 year approach. Good one chuck.

Wow, that was a terrible video... can I get those 10 minutes back???

@DefHalan
You watched the full 10mins? I'm clearly not the most patient person on this forum

@skywake It is far too early for me. My brain was running so slow that by the time I realized I was still watching it, it ended lol

I'm ok with the NX not having backwards compatibility with WiiU. I'll be keeping both of mine up for wii functionality anyway.

I am hoping if this thing is a hybrid that they do some sort of 3ds backwards compatibility. Neither will limit my buying decision but it may have an impact on WHEN I upgrade.

This video went from meh to instantly lame the moment it was like "THE CD-I GAMES HAPPENED, THAT QUALIFIES AS A JOKE!"

I really believe in the rumors in regards to the NX using cartridges instead of disc. Just makes more sense, there smaller in size and easier to carry around instead of a conventional disc that also has a greater chance of getting scratched because carrying around a tablet hybrid, cartridges just make more sense than disks. Plus cartridges use flash memory, so the game(s) overall load faster but you do sacrifice using less memory. I'm really really hoping with the NX release, they'll include digitally a ton of the more popular Wii U games from the get go. Xenoblade Chronicles X was a great game that unfortunately was exclusively released for a console many people didn't have. So for a lot, Xenoblade will be a completely new game and one that should have a larger audience because its an awesome game. I feel this way a lot about those great wii u games that are out and I have to feel Nintendo shares a similar mindset. It's only in their favor to have a large library of wii u games (available digitally) that a lot of gamers missed out on/never played.

Matter of fact I bought myself a second wii u recently to be on the safe side. It came with super mario maker, the only game I didnt own which was bundled.
As far as appreciation goes, I like the wii u. That is not say it doesnt have its flaws. And nintendo could have done so much more with it, especially gameswise.