Topic: The Wii U is next gen, but does it deserve to be next gen?

James Bond started a thread citing "Wii U" and "generation" in the same sentence.

Run quickly.

wait James Bond?! Quick, run before we have to play 007 Legends! AAAAAH! runs away

Its technically a next gen console so yes it deserves it. I wasnt aware that hardware had to earn this label but whatever.

However, if we're talking about what the Wii U offers in comparison to its competitors, then no it isn't unfortunately.

Haha. Based on what?

If Wii U actually was ONLY as capable as Xbox 360 and PS3(7th gen), I wouldn't be here saying that it's current/8th gen. 7th gen software doesn't mean 7th gen hardware. Look at Mega Man 9 and 10. That could have been done on NES, but they're games that were released on 7th gen hardware.

You might as well say that Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii were 3rd gen consoles, because of Mega Man 9-10.

The hardware implies that Wii U can handle a better OS, and 8th generation software, solely based on specs.

If generations are defined by power with the most powerful one being current then all of these consoles are last gen. Valve is putting out console competitors with 780s in them. So the idea that you'd divide it by horsepower doesn't make much sense.

If you were to do it you'd divide by the sort of things done in software. For example the generation before last was all about local multiplayer on a 4:3 SDTV. For me the pinnacle of that generation was eight player Halo death matches played locally with two CRTs. It was the last generation where online and widescreen were things to be excited about rather than things to expect. Last gen was all about shiny new TVs, online multiplayer and motion controls.

So far if you were to ask me what this current gen was about I probably wouldn't be entirely sure. However what does seem to stick out is the fact that all of these consoles are starting to become bigger than the piece of hardware. They're starting to behave more like services that happen to run on a fairly expensive piece of hardware. Nintendo has the GamePad, the PS4 has the Vita and XBOne has SmartGlass. XBOne and PS4 do livestreaming and the Wii U has MiiVerse. Isn't that enough similar features to define a generation?

What? I have no earthly idea what you're talking about.

People keep insisting that a Gen is all about timing but that's wrong, being next gen is not only about coming after last gen but is also about replacing last gen...... between the fouth (genesis/snes) and fifth (PSOne, N64, Saturn) there were a bunch of consoles that were released like the 3DO, CDi, ect which are not considered a generation because they never replaced the fourth gen consoles in the market and had lost relevance by the time the real fifth gen consoles rolled out..... Wii U, XBONE and PS4 are at this point next gen candidates as the 360 and PS3 still retain the largest part of the market. Whether they'll be the next gen or not depends on whether they'll take over the market from 360/PS3 before something else does....

Now the reason why I think Wii U won't fulfil its dreams of being next gen is because its too close to the 360/PS3 so their futures are tied, I think Wii U/PS3/360 would maintain relevance for about 2 more years before all 3 completely fade away to leave place to the next gen

1. Single screen, single colour games. Some consoles only came with one game.
2. Lots of games, no quality controls, two to eight colours. Basic AI
3. More colours, D-pads, scrolling backgrounds
4. More colours again, Nintendo vs Sega. The 2D gaming renaissance
5. 3D, proper local multi, Analogue sticks and everyone but Nintendo was using CDs
6. Attempts at online, consoles as DVD players, phones failing to beat the GameBoy
7. Online works, shiny TVs, motion controls, wireless controllers and everything is white and black
8. Tablet and phone integration, support for online services, streaming the game online or to other devices

A simple test for the people who think this is too hard to understand. If you're not sure if a console is of one generation or not think about what was out at around the time the generation you think it bellongs to started. Then think about whether or not the console you're thinking of could have appeared as is at that time. Basically could the Wii U have launched in 2005 with it's GamePad and all of its MiiVerse functionality without people asking Nintendo where they got their time machine.

I think that the Wii U does deserve to be next gen, I think that the gamepad is a great idea, even if it hasn't been used in wow way in anything I've played yet, well at least in a single player game. Still has been put to good use in though.

The GamePad, Smartglass, and PS Vita are reminiscent of each other. Denying one of them is denying all of them.

The same thing could be said for numerous aspects of each system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_consoles

I think this does a good job at showing most consoles in their respective generations (maybe not Wii Mini being a part of the 8th as Wii Mini is just another version of the Wii)

It is next gen. I just feel like the Wii U gamepad was not as revolutionary as the Wiimote I wish Nintendo would have spent the gamepad money making the system more powerful instead. At least on the Wii I felt like the Wiimote was justified only because it really was revolutionary.

The Wii remote is still relevant, though. The Wii remote is still part of what makes Wii U, similarly to Move on the PS4.

Also, if you want more "power", you have to understand the "power" you already have, and what said "power" means.
Look at what you have, before asking for more.

Whenever I see somebody say, "The Wii U isn't next gen material!"... I "kindly" show them a trailer for Monolith's X and a trailer for that game usually shuts the person up.

It's current gen, like the Xbox One, PS4 and other stuff. Generations are merely a matter of 'everything released before this point is past gen, everything released before the next set of systems is current gen and everything still to come is next gen'.

Do you really want me to beat a dead horse?

You already did by saying that, so...

too late

Next gen is a fake term made up by the community that really doesn't mean squat. Video game consoles have always varied in specs for a while. The Wii U, Xbox One and PS4 are all current gen regardless of opinion.