Topic: Is this bad news for the Wii U?

http://www.examiner.com/article/xbox-720-and-ps4-rumored-spec...

PS4 "Orbis"
AMD x86 3.2GHz APU Solution (Jaguar/Steamroller), 4 cores (2 core pairs), [Higher Clock than X720/Durango]
Maybe AMD 8000 series GPU solution [Customised Solution Possibly utilizing GPU + APU combo]
2-4GB GDDR5
Launch Fall 2013/Early 2014

Explanation: PS4 has a higher clock, but less cores and is using an APU solution (CPU & GPU elements combined onto a single chip). The PS4 has less RAM but is using faster GDDR ram, so the overall performance should be a wash.

Xbox 720 "Durango"
AMD x86 Jaguar 1.6GHZ 8-Core [Targeting one core being dedicated for OS tasks]
AMD 8000 series GPU
ESRAM on the GPU (unknown amount)
8GB Ram DDR3, [1.5GB of RAM likely reserved for the operating system]
Launch 2013

Explanation: 720 has a lower clock, but more cores. 720 has more but SLOWER RAM. DDR3 RAM is usually good for things like multitasking etc....It is expected to be based on Windows 8 as well.

Just wondering does this mean trouble for the Wii U's future?

1. They don't have Mario/Zelda/Metroid. It's all about the software
2. An AMD CPU is highly unlikely
3. You can get these specs on the PC already, specs alone don't win the game. It's all about the software
4. Four words: Rumoured, possibly, likely and maybe....
5. It's all about the software

If there is trouble for the Wii U's future, I don't think it will be because of it's specs.

@Skywake: I couldnt have said it better myself.

Too many people think that the power is what makes or breaks a system but its in fact the software that makes or breaks a system. You can have the most advanced high power video game system in the world but if you dont have the games that people want on it well than people just have an oversized paperweight. On the other had you could have the weakest system but you have the games people want to play people will go for that one.

The real reason Nintendo should be worried:

1) Gaikai

2) Microsoft Cloud.

Developers haven't even tapped into the WiiU power yet so I think it will be years down the track before the PS720 get the same treatment and that's if devs really need to or can afford to fully utilise that potential.

Why do people focus so much on the power of the next gen of hardware from Sony and Microsoft?

Especially ironic since the people I'm talking about in this context are the Nintendo fans that are forever going on about how specs don't matter. Unless it's Sony and Microsoft, at which point specs are suddenly very important.

Hint: Specs are not important to Sony or Microsoft's next consoles, either. They'll both be more powerful than the Wii U, but the real weapon that both will have is the features and services that the Wii U will not have.

Just pointed to one in my last post. Cloud. Wait and watch what both do with Cloud. It's going to be spectacular

I don't think the average joe will care for cloud related stuff anyway it might just end up being one of those features that sound good in theory but end up being under utilised in the long haul

Almost everyone with an Internet connection is now using some form of Cloud service - even if they don't necessarily realise it.

The average joe seems to like Netflix and Spotify just fine. The technology's about to hit the mainstream. Bet ya a case of Fosters. :3

wait that reminds me. I vaguely remember hearing news that Nintendo had been working with some Cloud related company a while ago. Whatever happened to that? Or did I just imagine that?

It wouldn't surprise me. Nintendo's not blind to the world, and it'll know it needs to develop Cloud services.

Its infrastructure has a couple of years to go though. Having accounts in the Cloud, rather than locked to the console? That's step one of a thousand or so.

If you're the beer lover that I know you are, the fact you offer Fosters as a bid makes me question about how sure you are about the growth of cloud services.

Power doesn't mean anything in the early years of a console. Developers haven't had the time to play around with the system. If you look at a PS3 game in 2006, and compare that to MGS: Ground Zeroes. Same technology, and completely different.

Or compare Uncharted 1 to 3. It's like night and day.

For an Xbox comparison: Halo 1 to Halo 2.

I guess it's better to use games that are easily comparable

Keep in mind that more power = higher costs, both to manufacture and to buy. Also they'll produce more heat (which could cause more problems, such as 360's RROD) and require more power.

From what I can tell, there are a good million or so gamers who give a crap ton about the specs of a system HOWEVER, while many may seem like they care about the specs, in the end when all 3 systems are out against each other and fully optimized, it'll be all about the games, which is why the PS3 was able to surpass the 360 in world wide sales, because of its superior gaming library despite having hardware that's more difficult to work with compared to the 360.

The only thing about that rumor that would be troubling if true is the price point, but I do believe that if the next gen Playstation/XBox come out with that price, Nintendo will react by lowering the Wii U's price along with schedule major titles to release during the launch of the other systems, just like how they did with the 3DS against the Vita in Japan.

I would have put up my case of Sapporo but... I drank it

Maybe not for the Wii U, but Sony is always bad news for gamers.

Are those specs really that much better than the Wii U? (Sorry if that appears ignorant).

As others have said, it's about the games and how easy it is for developers to make games for a system. In this day an age, where franchises from the big houses rule the roost, that means how easy it is adapt their primary development engine for games on a system. Nintendo will always ensure that any of their systems will have plenty of any generation's top exclusive titles.