Topic: Wii U lite

I was thinking, what if Nintendo could reduce costs on the Wii U to offer a "lite" model. With Nintendo likely to be left supporting the system on their own, being able to make the system more cheaply available could definitely help.

I was thinking maybe they could reduce the Gamepad screen size, replace the battery with a AA battery pack, and, if possible, use cheaper, larger, less energy efficient parts.

They could sell this at something like 200 dollars with an 8GB HDD.

Thoughts?

I don't think I'd buy that. The problem is that consoles are typically designed around grand, full screen experiences. And one of the big reasons why the Wii U is unpopular is because of inferior specs, so why would you make them worse? I don't think this really solves anything.

That would be a terrible idea that would scare off most consumers and developers.

AA batteries would ultimately be more expensive. Just imaging putting AA batteries in for every 3 hours. Charging it for 3 hours is already bad enough for alot of people, so they won't do that to cut like $15. I'm pretty sure the GamePad is already pretty cheap and efficient for what it is, and they aren't going to cut out features, either, because otherwise it make it questionable for including them in the first place. $80, which is the estimated cost of the GamePad, isn't even all that expensive on the consumer side of things, considering that regular controllers are $60 anyways and we know Nintendo is charging face value, which also just so happens to be bare minimum. That's why suggesting price cuts and stuff like this doesn't make any sense.

I'm not saying a variation of the GamePad is impossible, either, but we're far more likely to be getting the same thing, because it gets cheaper over time, anyway. Another Wii U price cut is more likely to happen before this does, I think.

So it's still the same underpowered machine, only bulkier, uglier, less efficient, and you need to replace the batteries every day?

No, I don't think it would sell well.

I think Nintendo should make an update to the specs of the system in some way.I know their some attempts at expansions for their systems have failed,but I really think the Wii U needs to be more powerful to get more attention and sales.However,a more affordable Wii U bundle with a Wii U Pro Controller instead of the GamePad would be a step in the right direction,in my opinion.

The Wii U still has some pretty good power. The only games I've seen push the console pretty hard, are Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8, and Bayonetta 2. Comparatively speaking, Xbox One is probably in the same place as Wii U is right now with 1st party games, and that's only in graphics terms. It's still pretty early in the console's lifespan, and I suspect this will be another GameCube vs. Xbox scenario, based on sales and specs.

Wii U could run the Xbox One launch games easy peasy if they actually knew how to harness the specs and cross compatibility between the 2. The PS4 has better graphics, but it is possible that games being ran like Second Son and Killzone on PS4 could be ran on other consoles, but by the time that happens, PS4 will have already moved onto better graphics.

I pay enough for batteries for my controllers! They just don't seem to last long.

The Gamepad is not going anywhere.

However I would have no problem if they could somehow improve performance and reduce manufacturing costs. Of course, thats the kind of the holy grail any manufacturer might strive for, and hardly ever achieve.

Most cost savings involve high volumes (which we sadly may not see) or performance compromises. If asked I would ask for increased range from the gamepad, but no real reduction or compromise anywhere.

However, the smaller hard drive is not such a bad idea. I went Premium Wii U and one game download (AC3) used up half the space anyway so I now have an external HDD. From what I have heard you can fill up a Ps4 hard drive with around a dozen big games and then you are digitally stuffed due to no expansion options. So smaller HDD with expansion options isnt such a bad thing after all

Anyone who buys digital game is going to be looking into an external HDD anyway, so 8GB or 32GB is a pretty insignificant difference. As long as the internal HDD is big enough for software updates, it's fine. But at the same time, the cost difference for Nintendo between 8GB and 32GB is also pretty insignificant. We're talking about a manufacturing cost difference of like $5, and at least with the 32GB HDD, it allows some room for eShop titles and VC.

I really can see this happening towards the end of Wii U's life. It could be a smaller console with a tad smaller GamePad. And add an internal memory of 64GB or 128GB. So the only thing they'll cut is the bulkiness of the whole system without sacrificing any specs and features. This would be a Wii U Lite.

A hardware revision? Yes. A bulky, less energy efficient revision that's inferior to the original? Hell no.
And didn't computer components actually get cheaper if you make them smaller instead of bigger?

They aren't going to make the console smaller. The Wii U is basically as compact as it gets. I don't think a smaller GamePad will happen either. The flash drive size is really the only thing I could see them adding more to, because that part can actually vary. The costs for Wii U parts are already minimum for how much they are charging consumers. Like I said, that's why it didn't make sense that people were complaining about the $350 price in the first place.

They COULD make a smaller GamePad, but it won't get rid of any features, which means costs would stay the same. It would basically be a smaller screen, and that's it; otherwise, they are just saving some plastic, so why bother. It's not even really about the price, but form and function, which the GamePad and Wii U are already doing.

There's also the long-life Gamepad battery, which should IMO be included as standard in any updated model. Part of the reason for the Gamepad's large/thick design is because it supports a much larger battery that isn't provided by default. The Gamepad battery life affects how I play the games, which became very clear after I upgraded it this summer.

I forgot about that. Good call. I could see them including that, as well, and a Wii remote or Pro controller wouldn't be that hard, either. They aren't gonna give the stuff away for free, though. That's what people fail to understand.

Instead of paying $300 + $30 for the GamePad battery, the console with the bigger battery will be included by the time Wii U costs $270, so they throw in the $30 battery to keep the price the same and costs have gone down. That's just an example.

Actually, what I meant with a 'smaller GamePad' is mostly with the screen. Take a look at the original DS and compare it to DS Lite. The DS Lite is more compact, has all the features of the original AND even improves some of them e.g. the backlit screens and battery life. I could even bring more handhelds to the table but I wouldn't know if I'm correct with facts.
All consolws starting form 6th gen. except GameCube, Xbox, DreamCast and the present gen consoles had a revision that was smaller than the original. I don't really think it's likely it will not be the same with this gen. I can totally see a Wii U that's smaller in length and width but not in height. I don't know about the price, though...

It's not for current Wii U owners to buy. Most hardware revisions aren't.

The game specs wouldn't change. They let us that the cost of production would drop, making the idea of buying a system for only a few games a lot more enticing.

If a new Wii U costed 150-200 dollars (with refurbished even cheaper), I'd be a lot faster to pick it up for games like Wonderful 101, Splatoon, X, and Zelda (smash is currently off the table for reasons unnassociated with my expectations changing).

No. Overall size/weight, Screen size, and battery are some of the most expensive electronic components unassociated with direct computing power.

This is why Apple machines tend to be so expensive, with the retina 15" MBP being only 4.5 pounds and .71" think. With a large long lasting battery, and hi-def screen, you can be damn well sure the machine would be expensive. It's also why many cheaper 15-17 inch computers tend to cost less than 12-13 inch equivalents.

It's also why smartphones can be up to 6-700 dollars despite being weaker than computers at the same price. Fitting all that power together in a phone is expensive.

That's why it's utterly asinine that Nintendo tried to keep the Wii U compact. With the GC, it made sense, as, with very few wires and accessories, it was easy to move around with the handle. With the Wii, it also made sense, as the small size and efficiency increased it's viability with families, kids, and casuals. It lacked the overbearing feel a behemoth like the PS3 had.

But the Wii U was, from the start, designed to be something of the opposite of the Wii, spitting in the face of intuitivity and accessibility for casuals. But they should have similarly built the console larger like the PS4.

Yeah, no. The Wii U was, from the start, designed to appeal to BOTH casuals and core gamers. Didn't work out too well though.
Also, the Wii U still won't magically become cheaper to produce if they made it bigger. Apple machines are expensive because Apple has an asinine profit margin on their products, they're not actually that expensive to build. And while the processors in smart devices are enormously powerful for their size and the machines fabricating them would therefore get cheaper of they were bigger, that does not count for Wii U. Its power relative to it's size is poopoodoodoocacapoopledoople and making it bigger will only increase the amount of silicon required to make it. Plus, it'd make the name 'lite' totally illogical .

Sounds like a good time for the basic white Wii U to make a return. If a refurbished Wii U Deluxe w/Nintendo Land can cost $200, I can imagine the basic costing around the same or even less. Especially if no games come included.