At this year's E3, Nintendo showed that having strong support from third-parties is definitely something that the Wii U is striving for, and at the post event shareholders' meeting, Satoru Iwata spoke briefly about the kind of titles we'll see the company produce in the coming years.
Keen to show that the 3DS and the upcoming Wii U are platforms that publishers can perform their businesses on, Nintendo wants to make sure that the latter console has a strong software line-up made up of first and third-party games, especially in the console's first year on the market:
We think it very important to make several hits from the third-party software publishers within the first year from the release of the platform, while offering Nintendo software seamlessly. In order to achieve this goal, we have shared information about the new hardware with the software publishers earlier than we did previously and built a cooperative structure, and we are developing several titles in collaboration with these publishers.
Nintendo has in the past repeatedly underlined the importance of making third-parties feel at ease with the Wii U, and recently, the console's online set-up was hinted to be more robust and able to accommodate third-party online networks.
Iwata wouldn't go into detail on what the software collaborations entail, but said Nintendo is willing to pull its wallet out in order to create a wide range of handheld and home console hits:
I cannot talk in detail about the names of the titles, or with which publishers we are currently collaborating, because we have not announced this information yet, but what we are aiming for with the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U is, platforms which have much more software and a wider variety of software than the former Nintendo DS or Wii. Therefore, we are thinking of creating an environment where software from other companies will become hits. Please understand that Nintendo is prepared to invest in order to make this a reality.
Comments (32)
I'm guessing the Dragon Quest IX treatment, or something similar.
And hopefully 3rd parties embrace this and get the returns they deserve
I don't think people who own a PS3 or 360 are going to go out and buy a Wii U for titles that are on all platforms. But at least they won't be discouraged from buying a Wii U because of games not reaching the console - like the Wii.
This actually makes me a little nervous. Owning a Wii slowed down my spending on games. Owning a Wii U may well dominate my wallet
Probably casual crap from Ubisoft in collaboration with Nintendo.
I kid but at the same time I have this sinking feeling I might not actually be that far off the mark.
@Kirk: ...Yeah something tells me its gonna be like the Wii with all this shovelware stuff...>_>
this is gonna be epic in at least fourteen different ways!
Well don't put your hopes down just yet, this might just be a new beginning of something awesome!
Can't wait for new games.
I'll be hopeful. But I'll restrain on getting my expectations high. I've been doing well for awhile
Has anyone else noticed that in the past year all Nintendo has done is made promises, and then either failed to deliver, or failed to provide any specifics?
I don't believe for a second that Nintendo is doing a better job in working with third parties than its rivals.
one word was going through my mind while reading this: "Rare"
still hoping they come back to Nintendo!
Guys, there will be some shovelware for Wii U, as there is for any console, but if any of you think that Wii U will have just as little third party support as Wii did, y're looking at things on a pecimistic perspective.
Wanna help things out? Get Darkstalkers II for Wii U instead. Get Batman: Arkham City or Wii U instead. Get Ninja Gaiden III for Wii U instead. Get Metro for Wii U instead. BUY THE THIRD PARTY GAMES FOR WII U INSTEAD OF YOUR OTHER TWO SYSTEMS! When developers see the money, you'll get more of those and less shudder Imagine games.
Now onto you, Nintendo. Show me Capcom. Show me SquareEnix. Show me Konami. Show me BandaiNamco. Show me those other guys who have been working exclusively between the other two. Make this the second coming of the SNES!
Less talk, more walk.
Both platforms need games and Corbs I agree with you. Wii-U information is slow coming but typical of Nintendo........
I agree that there's been more talk than action lately. I know things are coming, such as video services, and the online has obviously picked up since all the third party software looks to be online on Wii U.
Something still seems missing from these two platforms, especially the 3DS.
Wii U launch I can see a game from the following companies
Konami
Ubisoft
Sega
Nintendo
Square Enix (I can dream it be a RPG right?)
Capcom
BandaiNamco
Now we know not all of the games at release will be hardcore games but I could see a 15 to 20 game release Day 1 for the Wii featuring a all around roster of games of different genres. I also think Nintendo will have the online going from the gecko this time unlike the 3DS. Call me insane but I also still see the big 3 coming stateside before Wii U launch which will cover the gap games between Wii and Wii U since I don't see it appearing before even August of 2012. Now I am no insider of the industry (So wish I was) but I been gaming for a while and i follow patterns that I see.
@ 10.. I completely agree. This time Nintendo is getting good games which are coming out on other consoles too, like Batman Arkham City. The machine seems to be on par to a certain level with the PS3 & 360. It will probably allow for developers to add stuff to the games as well.
After the Wii came out, we saw xbox's Miis and PS3's Wiimotes...
nintendo keeps making hits like puff daddy!!!!
nintendo keeps making hits like puff daddy!!!!
Back when the Wii had all of these problems, Lacking online, no HD, not very many good 3rd party games, complaints were minimal. Now Nintendo promises to fix it’s mistakes, and suddenly everyone is angry!
@18
I believe it has to do with the fact that we've heard this song and dance before with no recognizable improvements. Most of us are afraid that just because they're saying it doesn't mean it's going to happen. It could all be just to get investors on their good side.
@yoyogamer i agree with you they are going HD and getting my Third Party support. now i would like to remind everyone how great the Wii is it has alot of awesome games like Donkey Kong Country Returns, Super Mario Galaxy one and two, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Goldeneye 007, Conduit one and two, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Tatsunoku vs. Capcom heck even some good third party support besides shovel ware like COD Black Ops, Star Wars The Force Unleashed 1 (Haven't played the second yet) Lego Batman, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 1 and more oh and 2010 was the best year for the Wii fans and i liked the online Multiplayer it was free
Expecting 3rd parties to pick up the slack was the problem with the 3DS launch. I'd like to them just to come out and say: screw the third parties, we will self-produce more than enough unique software to justify your purchase of the console.
Castlevania for launch and I'll buy two Wii U's.
@22 They NEED to make a new Castlevania, but more than anything, they need to make it a difficult, sidescrolling action platformer that is STAGE BASED. I am sick and tired of hearing about a new Castlevania only to be dissapointed that it's anther "metroidvania" game. Don't get me wrong, these games were awesome, but doing the exact same thing over and over again isn't something Konami should be doing with one of its best franchises. Even worse is making all of the characters look like emos from an anime when they were designed to be more realistic(remember Grant in Judgement?) A staged based reboot will bring tons of gamers to the Wii U. Just add multiplayer, DLC, and a very long campaign mode and it's all good!
This is really big news! Nintendo's own games will be certified hits on Wii U as always but this new focus will do it's part to entice PS3 and 360 customers to consider Wii! Also previous collaborations have resulted in new ties in 3rd party relations eg. Tecmo!
My thoughts on why nintendo wont win with the third parties and the level that they will support wii u.
Namco for obvious reasons although id expect ridge racer and a tekken game. Ridge racer will be fun to play with a tablet control with non analogue shoulder buttons. Tekken will be fun to play with a tablet...............
Capcom will want to continue major assetts on PS3 and 360 and companies like sony and microsoft will pay them for exclusive rights of the major games. Nintendo wont pay.
Konami may release some classics but games like metal gear will stick with sonys machine. Also pro evolution soccer on that pad...............
Arc System works obviously are but that pad.............
EA will most likely release on all platforms but with a controller like that whos gonna want to play fifa or tiger woods with that.....
Square Enix will keep the best games on the above formats and release childish variants of Final Fantasy etc on WII U.
Activision will release games on all formats but I can see them being the same ports as the other platforms.
If you want to see third party stuff on Nintendo systems, you're gonna have to buy it for those systems. Simple as that. Both Nintendo and those third party developers are not gonna waste their time for long on flops. That was the problem for both the Wii and the DS — people yammered and cried and whined that they wanted games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto on those systems, Nintendo and the developers of those games took a chance and it went no where. As long as these games are ignored on Nintendo systems, they will become fewer and fewer.
Third parties a good system does not make.
this is great idea but only certain great games will work on Nintendo systems I think. Really looking forward to Darkstalkers 2 and Killer Freaks or whatever the Ubisoft's new series their making.
Third parties are what pretty much keeping the 360 alive and relevant this year.
I think N knows that they better get 3rd p support early on in the system's lifespan, before the more powerful competition comes, & sweeps 3rd party support out from under Nintendo, as they will more than likely once again end up being the least powerful system next gen. Then all 3rd parties will migrate to the other systems.
All I can say is I like the way Iwata is talking... can't say the same for Reggie lately.
I knew it! Monster Hunter 3DS!
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