After reading a recent "Talking Point" I've decided to start this thread. Here's the article:
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/08/talking_point_the_wi...
this article points out yet another issue with the Wii U being underpowered or underequipped.
The system currently has a less than acceptable number of systems in the wild, a price point not far removed from next gen systems, and a system less powerful than next gen and underequipped even compared to current gen. There is already a serious lack of 3rd party support. It truly begs the question whether or not the Wii U will succeed in the long term.
I'm really curious to see what happens.
Nintendo could potentially make a comeback a la 3DS, but it also may not.
I'm actually really curious to see what Nintendo's move might be if the Wii U has another unsuccessful year in it's second year out.
Will they pull the plug on the console and get to work on it's successor? Or will they continue to pour all of their resources into marketing the system and riding out a normal life cycle, say 5 years, as the article suggests?
With PS4 and Xbox One aiming to have 10 year life spans, I wonder how long the Wii U will be Nintendo's flagship system, and when they will release a successor.
I understand the Wii U's motives for not including a large hdd to keep cost down, but then it is impossible to implement mandatory installs because you cannot assuming even a single person will have an external hdd.
I understand Nintendo again went for a "new way to play" with the tablet, but then to keep costs down the system is now underpowered.
Furthermore it only supports one tablet, and it isn't even a multitouch screen.
Developers are skipping Wii U, and clearly gamers are as well.
As all Nintendo systems are great in their own way, the Wii U is as well. But I've not been compelled to buy one yet, and am not compelled to do so anytime soon. If others feel the same way and the system continues to struggle, what will Nintendo do? What do you think?
I'm holding off on Wii U for now, I want to see what happens with it. It's likely that a successor will be able to play Wii U games anyway, so if I miss the console entirely I'll likely be able to still play the games I miss on it.
To give my hope and opinion, I'd honestly rather see Nintendo ditch the system if it has another unsuccessful year. I'd rather see them start working right now on a system still uniquely Nintendo (incorporate Wii plus remotes, and perhaps even the tablet, and start selling an upgraded tablet as it's own device) but with a standard controller (the gamecube was one of the best, bring something new and unique! i.e. not the Wii U "pro" controller) and specs that will match Microsoft and Sony's offerings. Why? Because they could sell it at $400 like Sony, or even less. And because all of a sudden 3rd parties would have no reason to not include that system in their next gen titles. And because it gives a third option for consumers who want a powerful new system, AND Nintendo's library of incredible first party content.
Plus, if they released such a system 2 years into the life span of PS4/Xbone, it could still succeed and be on the shelf for 8 years, following the life cycles of those consoles.
Here is a more likely scenario.
Nintendo won't ditch the Wii U, but if it isn't quite successful than it's lifespan will be cut short, maybe 4 or 5 more years.
By then though, the PS4/Xbone will have been out for 4-5 years, halfway through their lifespans.
It might be too little too late for Nintendo to release an equal system at that time, and such a console might only see a 4 or 5 year life span, similar to the Wii U. That's way too short for new consoles to be on the market given the investment such a product costs.
I'd say Nintendo needs to act swiftly and decisively if they were to bring in another system, and do it sooner than later.
Sure it might be a shot in the foot of Wii U owners, but it's honestly not that bad. Maybe Wii U owners could get a discount or special edition or some such thing.
Nintendo is safe from failure, though. Unlike SEGA with the Dreamcast, Nintendo can afford a failed system and simply take another crack at it.
They just need to act quickly, and not let the system bleed them dry for more then two years.
Thoughts?
drumsandperc92