Video: Nintendo Makes a Holiday Pitch for Wii U 'Magical Nights'

Cute advert, I'm skeptical about the choice of putting Smash in there. I mean yeah its a best seller on Wii U, and 4 players, and it can be a button mash fest, but I feel it's slightly out of place here (at least for it's intended audience), or, they should have added a few more games to show the diversity of the collection, like Mario Kart, and 3D world, regardless of how old they are, because the idea is to show fun, and these games would include diversity and fun.

Not bad,could of shown more game though

Why in the world would they show a family playing with GCN controllers? Not like the average consumer would know, but it's not really a great advertising point.

Awesome 😃

Is this the only advert or are there a couple different ones with "Bowser's little helpers" visiting other families' homes showing off other games?

@RoomB31 I agree they should have shown more games. If they didn't want too much mario, they could have shown DK tropical freeze and yoshi woolly world as these are at least 2 player co-op. I wonder if this will show worldwide.

Skip the family stuff and add in Mario Kart, Bayonetta, DKC, Yoshi, 3D World and Xenoblade. Otherwise I liked the bit at the start.

@RoomB31 3 letters. D-L-C. As in, there is more money to be made in DLC than the cost of the game.

OK, to be fair and less skeptical/sarcastic - the new "holiday" bundle includes SSBU and SpAltoon, those are the 2 games they are marketing as new for the holidays b/c that's what's in the bundle. SMM is the game they plan to sell on th side, which of course is only single player so has nothing to do w/ family play. But hey, it's SMM, it will sell, it's the only game w/ any mass market awareness.

Really weird Nintneod spent so much time on amiibo in the ND but not have them make an appearance here. Perhaps Nitnnedo is doing the right thing and acknowledging the difficulty in obtaining them?

Or maybe there will be an amiibo commercial forthcoming focusing on AC:aF and Mario Tennis. Mario Tennis is 4 player family fun, makes no sense that isn't in the commercial, it releases the Friday before Black Friday, it must be getting its own commercial. Or Ninnteod is afraid to confuse Wii Sports Tennis players w/ the lack of "motion" control in this game?

OK, critique aside, I really like it. I really like Christmas morning commercials w/ trees and fireplaces and Santa. And they did a really good job on the CG. I'm kind of sick of all the PC people who will complain about the heterosexual couple w/ Caucasian children and no Kinara.

Should have shown this box at the end though, maybe w/ the SMM box off to the side - "game and system sold separatly" - disclaimer tiny at the bottom. . And the $279 MSRP. Maybe those commercials are yet to come?

But I really did like it. Hope to see it during the parade.

I feel like they should have also placed Captain Toad, Kirby Rainbow and Yoshi's WW boxes in that end shot. They're great family games all and feature at least as much meaningful local multiplayer as Splatoon does.

I still remember the sega genesis advertising before Christmas of 1991anf it consisted of showing around 20 games and they were really quick clips in a 25-30 second commercial. I still remember seeing many games that appealed to me and that commercial convinced me to buy the console. I am always for showing more games versus longer clips if trying to sell consoles, but I'll say this commercial is pretty good at trying to do both. I really like the pirahna plant shooting fire.

....I read that as patch, figures...xD

@RoomB31 to be honest...they could've just flashed all the major Nintendo titles since the Wii U's release...that way it doesn't look like Smash n Splatoon is all it has to offer

Really good commercial. Too bad it'll sound horribly when it gets dubbed to spanish.

It's pretty decent, although I agree with everyone saying they could have shown some more games. Mario Kart and 3D World at the very least. Also why does the 'Dad' look a generation older than the rest of the family?

I misread the title as a pitch for a new "Nights" game. Now I'm sad

By all means buy a new console this season, but I would argue to buy a Wii U first. Most of the “exclusives” on the Xbox One and Playstation 4 are just PC games that have been ported to these systems. In contrast, the Wii U has some great titles that are REAL exclusives. In my opinion, the Wii U is the much better console for several reasons:

1. Full Backwards Compatibility with Wii Games and Controllers: The Wii U is the only console this gen where the controllers and the games are fully backward compatible with the previous generation. This means that if you already own a Wii, Wii games, and Wii controllers, then the Wii games and the Wii controllers can be played and used on the Wii U. You do not have to get rid of your Wii gaming library you probably spent hundreds of dollars on.

2. Better and More Actual Exclusives: Again, most of the exclusives titles on the Xbox One and the Ps4 are PC games that have been ported to these systems. If you have a PC, you can play Fallout 4, Witcher 3, Star Wars Battlefront, Diablo III, etc. You do not necessarily need a new console to play these games. Wii U exclusives on the other hand can only be played on the Wii U. Games like Supersmash Brothers, Xenoblade, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition, Lego City Undercover, Bayonetta, Super Mario Brothers 3d World, Fast Racing Neo, Zelda, Star Fox, etc., can only be played on the Wii U and are not found on any other gaming system or the PC.

3. Better Local Multiplayer and Couch Co-op: Sony and Microsoft have made drastic moves this generation away from local multiplayer and couch co-op. For example, Sony’s new driving game “Driveclub” is single player and online player only — you cannot race your friends and family members on the same couch. In contrast, the Wii U has far more titles for local multiplayer and cooperative play. Mario Kart 8 and Fast Racing Neo for example are both stellar driving games that support 4-5 player local co-operative play and up to 8 players online. For social gaming, the Wii U is by far the best option.
4. More Highly Acclaimed Family-Friendly Titles: Most titles that have been released for the PS4 and Xbox One are m-rated games. As gaming systems have become more sophisticated over the last decade, these “mature” titles have become increasingly realistic and graphic. Games like Fallout 4 and the Witcher three are far from being appropriate for gamers under the age of 17. For example, the Witcher 3 has ample full frontal nudity and very graphic sex scenes. In contrast, most titles for the Wii U are rate E (for everyone), E10 (for everyone over the age of 10), and T for teen (i.e., appropriate for teens).

5. Cheaper System: The Wii is being sold for on average over $50-$100 less than the other systems. This means you can spend more money on things that matter, like games. Several stores are selling the Wii U with the gamepad, Super Smash Brothers, and Splatoon for $250. That basically means you are getting two $60 games and the console hardware and gamepad controller and accessories for $130. That is a steal.

6. Something for Everyone: The Wii U is just not about kids games either. Bayonetta II is an M-rated title that one game of the year a couple of years ago and can only be played on the Wii U. Likewise, the new Xenoblade is one of the most highly anticipated games for all consoles this December.

7. The Gamepad is Highly Innovative and is Great for Off Tv Play: The controller that comes with the Wii U (i.e., the gamepad) opens up a whole new world of opportunity in gaming. But the best benefit I have found is that Dad can watch the college football game on TV while the kids can play their games on the gamepad.

In short, the Wii U may just be the most underrated console of all time. Get the Wii U first.

I can't believe I saw this and another ad on TV from Nintendo. First off I don't watch TV, so the one time I did I was shocked to see what I saw. It made me feel like I haven't seen an ad from them since that commercial where they roll up in the smartcar and say "We would like to play" and suddenly the westerners have been enlightened. Mild nostalgia.

Now they finally get their act together. If this sort of marketing had been around at launch, Wii U would be in a much better state.
Also, two of the games it's showing off are part of it's new bundle, the one mentioned in the Nintendo Direct. So this may be a push to get those bundles sold. And that bundle is a great deal, seems I bought mine a few weeks early.

With the Wii U this is actually a believable scenario. Buy your family a PS4 or One however, and you'll spend the first week downloading firmware updates and patches. By the time Easter drops, you'll be playing all the 3rd party offerings you can dream of!

Why is there a Christmas themed ad for the Wii U in November? Heck, I even remember some Christmas ads appearing in October and September.

@Boerewors I'm guessing you bought your Wii U a long time ago and forgot the length updating it goes through? I don't have an Xbone, but the PS4 didn't take anywhere near as long to get set up. That's before you even factor in stuff like a Wii system transfer.

@SteedLaw
Backwards Compatibility and local multiplayer are seen as "casual" features by the industry and gamers.

This in part due to heavy marketing from Sony, who has called out BC for being for "casuals" and those who aren't ready to embrace the NEXT GEN.

Sony, Microsoft and Western 3rd parties heavily market online gaming as a key "hardcore" feature and local play for those who want to play with kids and parents. Also in many ads local play is seen as a cheapness by gamers.

Nintendo's holiday ad is decent, better than Sony's recent blitz of Greatness Awaits, which just shows mainly games that were shown at E3 and aren't coming for at least a year or two.
Has PS4 not achieved Greatness?
I haven't seen any Xbox One ads recently outside of Halo 5!.

This was actually awesome. Good to see the father in it instead of only the mom and kids. It reminded me of the good old 80's adverts and the Wii ones: about the gamers.

Cool

In your face PS and XB.....we got controllers from two gens back! HOLLER!

I really liked the ad.

@RoomB31 Smash Bros is actually perfect for this. It's a perfect game for a bunch of family and friends over at Christmas, especially if you have 8 controllers for it!

@FubumblR Well, there's this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM0rsYbAO_k

@Boerewors first week? Its like a few hours at most. And you do know that you can still play the games while simultaneously downloading.

I am just amused that with those two particular games installed, will there actually be room left on the console of anything else? Otherwise it is a decent commercial, but I think the main audience left the room a long time ago.

Kinda reminds me of the old 80's and 90's commercials. I miss those!

@RoomB31 8 players...

This was a GREAT commercial, now to see if it actually airs, let alone at times and places that matter.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for that Christmas-morning shtick with the holiday music but dammit it's cute!

Best part of the commercial was the dad saying to the kid, "You made this?" re: Mario Maker. I think that might stick in parents' minds as a creative outlet plus a fun way to spend time together as a family even though the game is technically single-player. Even though it was manufactured here, that sort of real moment actually happens sometimes and it's a special brand of Nintendo magic I think they were smart to highlight.

@WaveGhoul lol. Yes, his voice was warm and cozy.