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Topic: Wii U's console life span?

Posts 1 to 20 of 65

blaisedinsd

I have a Wii U and love it but it is clearly not resonating with the general public.

The Wii dominated early in it's life but being under powered relatively hurt it towards the end, I think it should have been replaced sooner and outside of its early dominance there was no need to stretch it out longer than previous console cycles.

So would you be upset if Wii U is replaced after 4 years? We get all the flagship releases we have come to expect and than no need to linger on. New Nintendo console in late 2016 early 2017, would that betray your confidence? Would you be upset?

At least in North America we have usually gone 5 years until a successor was launched. Wii went for 7 years. Would 4 years be a bad thing? If they ape PC architecture like the competition they could launch a price competitive more powerful console that publishers can easily release their titles on where the games look better than on Sony or Microsoft. Nintendo has been doing there own thing with Wii/Wii U but why not try to beat the other consoles at their own game and go after market dominance with the core gaming audience?

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Reala

I think 4 years is fine really especially given how the wii u is struggling, last gen was unusually long maybe even too long really, I think 4 years would be very respectable though.

Reala

10000mario

No, I would not be upset. Actually if Nintendo said 2015 would bring a new home console that would be fine with me.
I feel as though I already have so much on this console that it would not go to waste.

I have:
New super mario bros u
Super mario 3d world
Scribblenauts unlimited
Lego marvel superheroes
Lego city undercover
Disney infinity
Nintendo land
Pikmin 3
Wii sports club And art academy.

I feel like once mario kart 8 comes, I will have gotten my money's worth already!
And I would be ready to get some Nintendo new hardware!

10000mario

DefHalan

4 years seems fine as long as they don't shoot themselves in the foot and replace it once they start gaining traction

Also as long as my games transfer to the new system

Edited on by DefHalan

People keep saying the Xbox One doesn't have Backwards Compatibility.
I don't think they know what Backwards Compatibility means...

3DS Friend Code: 2621-2786-9784 | Nintendo Network ID: DefHalan

blaisedinsd

New here, no edit button for posts?

I was going to add that with PS4 and Xbone being basically PC's the old idea of developers learning the hardware and figuring out how to get the most out of it should be gone. If Nintendo jumps in with that type of console too around the time where some of the best games of a consoles life would be coming out they will be able to run those systems non-exclusive killer games better than they can. If all 3 consoles are basically PC's going forward than exclusives will be the main differentiating factor and Nintendo can make hay in that field. Of course they would have to embrace online and some of the other things the other guys have been doing better as well, but with consoles going that way in order to be easier to develop for they are also losing some of their unique identity.

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ACK

Long enough for me, either way. Couldn't they release a new console and still support Wii U ports, the eShop, and what not?

ACK

Twitter:

cookiex

A late 2016 date for their next console and a 4-5 year lifespan for Wii U I'm already prepared for.

Edited on by cookiex

cookiex
Self-appointed NintendoLife Hyrule Warriors ambassador

whodatninja

I hope it lasts for many years, possibly as long as the Wii.

And if you want Nintendo to make a PC basically, you can say goodbye to backwards compatibility. (One of the nicest things about Wii U)

Edited on by whodatninja

whodatninja

Nintendo Network ID: whodatninja117

blaisedinsd

Yeah I agree backwards compatibility would have to be dropped if they went that way, but can they afford not to?

The Wii U is the most backward compatible console ever outside of the PS2. I think its great too, I love that all my controllers work especially. Sony I think dropped the ball here on PS4, with bluetooth controllers there is not really any reason they couldn't make PS3 controllers work with PS4 on some level. Nintendo could keep controller compatibility easily. Supporting USB storage and SD cards is a very consumer friendly practice.

Even though PS4, and to some extent Xbone, have sold well so far I still think there are some troubling signs for console gaming overall. PS3 in many ways was a disaster. It's uniqueness was a disadvantage from the 360 which was reportedly easier to develop for. With PS4, Sony basically decided to make an Xbox. I think many people are choosing Sony this time because of all the negative reaction to some of the policies microsoft was originally planning for the Xbone. PS3 and 360 were in many ways the same console with the vast majority of cames being released on both and being just about the same thing. Now with PS4 and Xbone they are even more similar. It just seems to me their are more advantages to going that way too with Nintendos next console. Then most multi-platfom games would have no reason not to release a version on Nintendos console. They should also try to leverage their handheld success by integrating it, perhaps releasing a 3DS successor simultaneously that gives us all the goodness of the gamepad without requiring it. Coupled with their exclusive franchises they could do well if they went that way.

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MrWalkieTalkie

I feel like the Wii U would last a little shorter than past consoles, but at the same time I feel like Nintendo might try to hold off from making another home console right away. I feel like they should rather wait and see what the competition has coming next rather than make a new console right away that will probably be outdone by more impressive tech like the Wii U's 1 year headstart.

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Nintendo Network ID: Mr.WalkieTalkie
3DS Friend Code: 4382-2073-7299

VOTE WONDER-RED FOR SMASH!!

Super_Gravy

@blaisedlnsd: There is an edit button. You just have to hover over it to find it. It is top right corner right beside your Posted Date. Sorry for off-topic here.

Umm… Care to have some gravy?

Bolt_Strike

4-5 years would be an appropriate lifespan for the Wii U, everyone (Nintendo included) is eager to trash it as soon as possible, but they're going to wait until their next console is good and ready before they do, and that will take a few years. 2016/2017 is a good estimate with that in mind.

Edited on by Bolt_Strike

Bolt_Strike

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blaisedinsd

MrWalkieTalkie wrote:

I feel like the Wii U would last a little shorter than past consoles, but at the same time I feel like Nintendo might try to hold off from making another home console right away. I feel like they should rather wait and see what the competition has coming next rather than make a new console right away that will probably be outdone by more impressive tech like the Wii U's 1 year headstart.

Wait, are you saying wait until PS5 launches before coming with a successor?

I think you know right now what the competition is doing. The Wii U was never going for a power grab, trying to be the most powerful console. No one was surprised the other consoles had more impressive tech, everyone knew that was going to be the case as soon as we found out what the Wii U was bringing.

And a big reason the Wii U is not as powerful is because of the cost of the gamepad.

We hear all the time that investors are pushing for Nintendo to release games on other platforms. Well we have seen the future, home consoles are basically xboxes which are basically PC's. So why not come out with your own xbox that people have to buy to play your games?

Right now many people buy a Nintendo console for Nintendo games anyway as well as another console for other games. So make a console that plays their games so people only need to buy the Nintendo console.

360 had a the longest cycle and I would say "won" that generations console war. In large part it was easy to develop for and had the best online gaming implementation and was cheaper than PS3. PS3 had better exclusives in general mostly single player type of games. Wii had the motion control that was a huge success and was copied and sold to plenty of people that had not gone HD yet and it was cheaper and succeeded in expanding the gaming audience. That expanded audience is not loyal though.

Today Sony has moved forward with bascially an xbox to correct some problems PS3 had and is trying to copy Micorosofts online implementation. I think if Nintendo comes out with an xbox and copies online implementation and keeps some consumer friendly practices (sd cards, USB storage, controller compatibility) the only thing they will have to overcome is their marketing image. They need to attempt to rebrand themselves.

Edited on by blaisedinsd

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Howard24U

MrWalkieTalkie wrote:

I feel like the Wii U would last a little shorter than past consoles, but at the same time I feel like Nintendo might try to hold off from making another home console right away. I feel like they should rather wait and see what the competition has coming next rather than make a new console right away that will probably be outdone by more impressive tech like the Wii U's 1 year headstart.

If they were to wait until a PS5 or XBTwo was released, we may not see another Nintendo console until the 2020's, no way that's going to happen.

Howard24U

Howard24U

blaisedinsd wrote:

I was going to add that with PS4 and Xbone being basically PC's the old idea of developers learning the hardware and figuring out how to get the most out of it should be gone. If Nintendo jumps in with that type of console too around the time where some of the best games of a consoles life would be coming out they will be able to run those systems non-exclusive killer games better than they can. If all 3 consoles are basically PC's going forward than exclusives will be the main differentiating factor and Nintendo can make hay in that field.

I agree with you on this. Additionally, I think developing a new home console today is significantly easier than developing a home console even just 10 years ago. All everyone wants to do now-a-days is put a reasonably priced, higher end PC into a box that can sit in the living room and connect to a TV. That's what we are seeing with the XBone, PS4, and now Steam Machines. All of the major components are being developed by other companies and simply being sourced for use in today's home consoles (RAM, CPU, GPU, etc...)

I think it would be very likely that we will see a new Nintendo console (perhaps both a home and portable) in 2016. This would only be cutting the console life short by 1 year (Considering almost all of Nintendo's consoles had 5 year lives - Wii was 6 years btw, not 7). I would not be upset, especially since I would expect that Nintendo will still allow use of the Gamepad on their next console. I doubt the console will come packaged with a Gamepad, but I can see it still being supported for remote play, web browsing, etc.

Howard24U

MikeLove

I think no matter if Nintendo releases a new console in 2016 or 2018, consumers will look at whatever comes next as being dead in the water. A lot of Wii consumers felt burned by Nintendo when the system was essentially abandoned in 2010 and they turned their backs on the Wii-U because of that. If Wii-U adopters are shunned by Nintendo when/if a new console is released in 3-4 years, they will feel the same way and likely jump ship to another console company to get their gaming fix.

As much as I hate the gamepad and feel the cons outweigh the pros, Nintendo needs to just gut it out and keep it going for at least 6 years.

MikeLove

ogo79

i hope yall guys have a sega genesis...or two

the_shpydar wrote:
As @ogo79 said, the SNS-RZ-USA is a prime giveaway that it's not a legit retail cart.
And yes, he is (usually) always right, and he is (almost) the sexiest gamer out there (not counting me) ;)

blaisedinsd

JohnRedcorn wrote:

I think no matter if Nintendo releases a new console in 2016 or 2018, consumers will look at whatever comes next as being dead in the water. A lot of Wii consumers felt burned by Nintendo when the system was essentially abandoned in 2010 and they turned their backs on the Wii-U because of that. If Wii-U adopters are shunned by Nintendo when/if a new console is released in 3-4 years, they will feel the same way and likely jump ship to another console company to get their gaming fix.

As much as I hate the gamepad and feel the cons outweigh the pros, Nintendo needs to just gut it out and keep it going for at least 6 years.

I have never heard this line of thinking before. I guess you were not a fan of Skyward Sword? Mario Sports Mix? Xenoblade? The Last Story?

Yeah Wii got pretty barren there at the end while the HD twins picked up steam. I generally consider this a product of being under powered and not having enough 3rd party support. I had not heard Wii owners were angry and ready to boycott Nintendo.

If they had an xbox type of console I am sure the big third party games would come out on it. Being underpowered and very different to develop for creates obstacles, but if its a simple cheap thing to port the game and release it on a Nintendo console those companies will do it.

Edited on by blaisedinsd

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blaisedinsd

Howard24U wrote:

I agree with you on this. Additionally, I think developing a new home console today is significantly easier than developing a home console even just 10 years ago. All everyone wants to do now-a-days is put a reasonably priced, higher end PC into a box that can sit in the living room and connect to a TV. That's what we are seeing with the XBone, PS4, and now Steam Machines. All of the major components are being developed by other companies and simply being sourced for use in today's home consoles (RAM, CPU, GPU, etc...)

I think it would be very likely that we will see a new Nintendo console (perhaps both a home and portable) in 2016. This would only be cutting the console life short by 1 year (Considering almost all of Nintendo's consoles had 5 year lives - Wii was 6 years btw, not 7). I would not be upset, especially since I would expect that Nintendo will still allow use of the Gamepad on their next console. I doubt the console will come packaged with a Gamepad, but I can see it still being supported for remote play, web browsing, etc.

Yeah, 360 came out a year before so I was mixing up the length of the console generation with the wii.

Gamepad uses a modified wi-fi connection and controllers using bluetooth....yeah keeping some backward compatibility there would be a nice consumer friendly idea.

If things don't pick up this year they should shoot for early 2016 probably.

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