@QuickSilver88 Yeah, they can't drop the gamepad now. It's just not going to happen because then developers (1st, 2nd and 3rd) would then have the paradox and added development cost of developing for one, both or neither gaming configurations. That will drive 3rd parties further away. They need to stick with it.
I honestly think this question is pretty much moot at this point. This is the platform they developed and they need to support it. If anything, they're stuck with it because of the charactaristics of the hardware and platform. I also think that it's moot because the games are now starting to come out, they have a major hit with SM3D world (the highest rated among all new releases leading into Black Friday), they have 2 great new bundles (Wind Waker and SMBU) in stores competing against next gen machines that will be, for the most part, out of stock this holiday season and media that are starting to come around and changing their stance on the Wii U. I honestly think this Xmas season will be their break out. This is why I think asking this question is kind of senseless at this point.
@Mahe
The definition of evolution: "the gradual development of something, esp. from a simple to a more complex form."
So, by your own definition, the Wii U is "devolving" because it's getting more complex? Your comment sir, is an oxymoron.
Very simply, the gamepad only adds more options for control and viewing certain aspects of the game. It also offers the ability for the game to be played remotely on it's screen vs. the TV. A feature which, yet again, has been quickly copied by it's competitor - but yet is included in every box. Unlike the Vita/PS4 streaming offering.
Question for you. Do you think the DS is too complex?
Guys.... I'm not sure where you're going with this article. Or really the purpose. Nintendo made a decision to bring to market a value proposition around the concept of the gamepad. That was the major concept behind their next generation offering. Asking whether they should have released their next generation as just an HD upgrade is kind of pointless. That's not what they were after in the least bit. And if a simple HD upgrade was ever on the table in Kyoto, whomever proposed it got the major stink eye from Miyamoto. Releasing a new hardware platform without some kind of innovation for Nintendo these days is not what they do. Why even ponder the point?
The only thing I could say that they could have done differently, staying within their original product concept, was to give it more muscle in the graphics array, introduce the system at a slightly HIGHER price of $399 (which, BTW, PS4 and XB1 (+$100) is coming to market with) but compensate for the higher price with Mario U bundled.
I tend to agree with Iwata San that price is not the factor. He's right. Games are. But so is the value of an shiny, muscular machine and the backing of the media, which really turned their nose up to the system because they focused on the gamepad vs. upgrading the graphics ability. History has shown that people WILL PAY $399 to $499 for an experience that will blow them away. So charge $50 more and give the market a new innovation in gameplay via the gamepad, plus a shinier, sexier machine that the graphics lovers and media can dig their teeth into, a then give them GAMES! Bundle Mario U from the start. And you have a completely different launch.
But this is all hindsight. It's easy to sit back and say, "should'a, could'a, would'a". To be fair, look at what Nintendo did with the Wii. They scrapped the graphics upgrade for a lower price point and a brand new control method. Everyone, media, pundits, gamers panned on the system leading up to launch. I remember clearly. But look what happened? They presented a brand new innovation in game play and unlocked and tapped a brand new market segment. Then they followed up with incredible 1st party software (2 Mario Galaxies, NSMB, 3 Metroids, 2 Zeldas, Pikmin, SSB, etc.) and there you have an under-powered system that went gang buster. So how can you fault Nintendo for trying to repeat that formula? Everything else is 20/20 hindsight.
@D3athBr1ng3r187 Ahhhh... A rant for a rant. That's cool. Mine has a little better punctuation though. You seem to contradict yourself a bit, unfortunately. You state that Nintendo abandoned the core gamer and that you want more variety than just quality Nintendo 1st party games. Well, the system released with several games that were on other systems. Sooo.... how is that abandoning the core gamer? Isn't that kind of APPEALING to the core gamer? What else would you have them do to appeal to the core gamer? They have 1st party games that no one else can replicate AND they had more quality 3rd party games than any other launch. I don't see your problem. OK, so they have games that are on the other systems you own. The PS4 has games that XB1 has. The PS3 has games that XB360 has. What's your point? But none of them have games that Nintendo has.
Nintendo has to make games for people who want to own only one system. And for people who have more than one system. I can't say that they've done a poor job. They came out strong out of the gate with a better launch line up by far than the PS4 or XB1 combined. What happened was, because systems didn't move, their 3rd party support dropped. They were depending on that 3rd party support and their pacing of 1st party releases reflected that. So when 3rd party support dropped, they were caught a bit with their pants down. And, in my opinion, that's what made a typical post-launch drought a longer one.
So what wrong "decisions" did Nintendo make to justify the ridicule by the media?! The media were on the Wii U from before release. And most of it were, "I don't get it". Which I addressed in my rant above. So what decisions dude?! And because Nintendo is so humble an organization, they didn't lash back but just said they have to do better. So what else are they going to say? It's not their culture to trash other companies, the media or make excuses. The only decision that I can fault Nintendo for - and I've been vocal about this as well - is that they should have released the Wii U last year with Mario U bundled. They haven't launched a system bundled with a Mario game from day one since the SNES - and that was the last time they were #1.
@skjia You reminded me of a great point! Thank you! Yes, I too am looking at my video game collection sitting right across from me. I count 8 Wii U games. To only 1 PS3 and 1 XBOX360 game purchased in the last year. And seriously, I'm a gamer. End of story. I have no allegiances at all. Nintendo just has extremely high quality games. There are great games on all platforms. But when I look at how many games I buy, and look at where they're played on, it's pretty profound. It's easy to let the games speak for themselves.
Yes I too am very happy with how Nintendo holds themselves in the public eye. I have wrote about this many times and I feel strongly about it. There is not one hardware manufacturer (or software publisher) that acts with the humility as Nintendo. And none of their competitors come even close to matching the amount of time they take to communicate directly to their consumers. This is a very important part of my argument that the media had a good part to play in the massive "misinformation campaign" against the Wii U... Nintendo Direct started before the Wii U was released. Well before. In their Nintendo Directs (and even E3), the Wii U was explained numerous times, in numerous ways for anyone who chose to listen. You seriously had to be a full-on noob gamer or poindexter to NOT get what the Wii U was about. What's not to get?! It's a new game system. With a huge touch screen that can have other "stuff" on it to control "stuff" in the game. And you can play games on the TV OR on the screen. And it has Mario. What's confusing? To this day, I refuse to believe the media professionals who all cried that the Wii U was confusing actually believed it. They just wanted to jump on the bandwagon and use the gentle giant as a punching bag so their talking head could rise above the rest of talking heads. And to top it off, the same media "professionals" all cried armageddon when Metroid and HD Zelda weren't announced or formally shown at E3. Seriously? Do we think Nintendo will never bring Metroid out? Zelda HD is coming. Metroid will come. Star Fox will come. To cry about games like this not coming out when they want ALL AT ONCE is just immature and unprofessional. Any industry professional who doesn't get the pacing and art of portfolio management is either too junior, has a bias or just wants to be a mouthpiece and make their mark. And through all of this, Nintendo, as you suggested, just quietly goes about their business crafting the best hardware and software - for the fans!
@kidicaroots I agree. I have thought from day one that the media has done more damage to the Wii U and it's sales than the unit or Nintendo has done themselves. Yes, there was a drought after release. But this is what happens with every system since the Genesis.
The media has built this huge bandwagon that everyone who thinks they know anything (but clearly doesn't) was itching to jump on. Nintendo has been the giant in the industry since its rebirth in 1985. And everyone in the public eye knows that the best way to get noticed is to take on and take down the big hairy giant. This is why I believe there are so many people who publicly would love to see Nintendo fail.
The fact of the matter is, that the media has, until very recently, made every effort to jump on the bandwagon to take Nintendo down, whether they know the first thing about it or not. And parents, the 60 - 70% of people who actually make the purchase, listen to what they hear. Add to that problem the fact that half the people who work at Best Buy or Gamestop ALSO don't know the facts. And who do they listen to? The idiots in the media who don't know what they're talking about. So, it's no wonder why the Wii U isn't selling.
I have never, in my 35 years of following this industry, witnessed such an unfair media lambasting of an actually very good platform. Never. And look at the absolute fiasco of the XB1? There was about a week of noise from the media. And it wasn't even that harsh. And it went away. And how about the absolute lackluster launch games for XB1 and PS4? Not a word in the press.
Why? Because if anyone in the media took Sony or Microsoft to task, they know they would have serious financial reprecutions form the makers themselves and public backlash from the foul-mannered fanboys in each camp. But Nintendo? Nintendo is that gentle giant that all the kids that got picked on in school loved to take a cheap shot at cuz they knew he wouldn't fight back.
Yes, Nintendo has had some issues with their release schedule. But not that much worse than any platform release in the last 35 years. The media has a lot to blame for an unfair representation of the system and their effect on uneducated buyers. Now it's time for the media to redeem themselves and actually suggest the most logical value proposition for gamers and their parents this year. The Wii U has THE highest rated game of all platforms (new and old) going into the holiday buying season. It has 2 unbeatable bundles that are $100 and $200 less than the new platforms. They are in stock. And they actually work. Let's see you come clean media talking heads!
@OptometristLime Yeah, I was just talking in general. Dont know who that child is. Could be anyone. That picture is, what, 10 to 12 Years old? Could be any kid who is now grown up with a kid of their own. Just in time for the new Zelda themed 3DSXL
Excellent article! I could read these parent/child articles for days! I'm going through the same magical experience of sharing and reliving experiences with my 3 1/2 year old now. And it truly is magical to see the excitement of discovering new world's and experiences you had when you were young from a different point of view. It actually doubles the feeling on the part of the observer.
It's also very interesting that the image for this article shows a child playing the gold Zelda SP. How cool is it that that same kid (or those of us around the same age take around 10 years) now have a new Gold Zenda system to their kids!! How perfect!
Yes! YES! And... ummm... YES! I would give my 3rd nut for a new FF and Dungeons & Dragons. But, as others have said, done right. With as much care graphically that was invested in SFIV. Or, in tribute to the pixel art craft the originals were rendered in, full high-res hand-drawn art like Dragon's Crown and Rayman Legends. A low texture, simple 2.5D offering like the most recent Double Dragon or the PSP Castlevania and Ghouls and Ghosts offerings won't cut it. I'd rather they leave them be if they won't invest the love and care.
Go ahead and read my original post again and you'll see I mentioned that I felt the Wii was anomalous. No one was really prepared for its success as Nintendo themselves will be the first to say that it was initially targeted at a new type of gamer. Social groups of casual gamers. Thus the name Wii (we). And the target for Wii U was the traditional gamer - same market as their traditional consoles. Now, if you want to argue that the Wii target market of retirement home and casual gamers is the core market that Nintendo is focusing on now, that's another discussion altogether.
Let's not resort to describing other users in flaming ways -Lz
BTW, calling out a Nintendo "fanboy" out for hating on the Wii... is pretty much the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I love my Wii as much as anyone else. There's nothing more humorous that a fanboy accusing someone else trying to take an objective look at the playing field as being a fanboy. Let try and use other words. Fanboy is pretty much played out.
Honestly, I'm not sure if they will ever compete on the technology front again either. It sure doesn't seem likely but I wish they would. And I really do blame the media and guys like Pachter for making a bigger deal about it not being "Next Gen" and not "understanding" the Wii U prior to launch. The media was really vocal about Wii U not being next gen. And the word was out there prior to launch. And it was definitely not a positive message. I believe it was terribly unfair. The system is pretty damn easy to get in terms of concept. But people sometimes don't think for themselves. And the image of it not being Next Gen influences mainstream buyers greatly. Who wants to buy old gen?!
But that's really my point. They need to compensate for the lack of being on the forefront of tech with the strength of their brands. Who cares what the media is saying if you, as a parent or non-innovator (early adopter) KNOW how fun Mario is. That trumps what they hear in the media alone. So THAT is your value proposition. And the way you sell that is to PACK IT IN with the console. I don't believe the mass market will buy a console on the concept of, "Well these are all the great games you can buy with it" alone. One of them NEEDS to be included. Next Gen systems have power packed in every box. That's their value proposition. Nintendo's consoles must be packed with their value statement - their flagship games. And they need to be good. That's THEIR value proposition. If they do that, I truly believe that the question is no longer a +/- $50 in price. It has to do with the excitement of getting a new system with an awesome new game packed in. People will pay $350. And remember, I'm speaking of $350 at launch - not now. I do agree that one year later a $50 price cut is normal.
Gotta also remember that companies need to recoup expenses on initial launch. And there also needs to be room for price reduction. It's a mental thing with buyer behavior. No matter WHAT you set the initial price offering at, people will always expect price-cuts as the product lifecycle progresses. So setting the price at $299 immediately sets future revenue back for price cuts that are inevitable. You just lost at least one generation of price-cuts. I really think the $350 for a great console like the Wii U packed with Mario U is a great value for the mass market. Bundling the right software is the difference between success and failure.
@Turbo857 BTW, if Nintendo abides by a rule to never launch a system over $299.99 (inflation aside), then they will forever be catching up to their competitors in terms of technology and muscle. That's what has been holding the last 2 Nintendo consoles back. They will never be considered "Next Gen". A label that no doubt deterred lot's of gamers and parents from buying last year. Which means... they will continue to need to rely on the strength of their original 1st party IPs... which they need to bundle at launch to provide that value at point of sale I mentioned to avoid what happened last year. When people buy, they buy an experience. The experience they have when they open a box bundled with a well known seller is much different than opening a box with something they've never heard of before. People will pay for a great experience. Nintendoland simply didn't provide that experience to the mass market last year. It's really that simple.
@Turbo857 Inflation my friend. You can't compare the pricing of a 23 year old system to one launched last year. Games also sold for $39.99 to $49.99 back then too.
At the end of the day, even at $349.99 last year, it's still $50 cheaper than PS4. I'll go back to my original point. Value at point of sale. PS4 will have superior specifications. And people will flock to buy every $399 system on the shelves come the 18th. Nintendo needed a better value at point of sale for what it lacked in muscle compared to what their competitors will have in the next year. People would have bought $349 with Super Mario U packed-in in droves on launch day. You and I, being early adopters, would buy it with Nintendoland because we understand the system and the potential for future games. But little Joey's mom cruising the shelves at TRU looking for an Xmas, Easter or birthday present doesn't know Nintendo land. And they don't want to pay $350 for something they don't know about and another $50 for something they do. But paying $350 for a new system for a brand they they DO know very well already packed in is an easy sell. that's my point.
@Burning_Spear Yeah. I believe that's what they thought as well. You're right. But I challenge the wisdom. They've been doing this for 30 years. And history has shown that NOTHING rights the ship more immediately that a bundle with a major flagship IP. And Nothing hits the ball out of the park as a NEW flagship IP bundled with the system from the start. They did this with the NES and the SNES and those systems lead the market. Then they stopped this practice and from there they started being #2 or worse in market position for their consoles. They've shown with the DS that bundling a Mario game is sure to ignite sales. Not sure why they didn't learn this sooner and instead gambled that excellent software will ignite sales. Excellent software helps sales (especially future sales), but providing exceptional value at point of purchase is rule number one. And as much as I like Nintendoland, it is not an impulse buy. Mario will ALWAYS be an impulse buy. Shoulda done this sooner if not from the start,
@SCAR392 I see what you're saying too. Again. My main point was getting the initial release strategy right the first time to hit it out of the park from the start. But, I also don't see a problem with righting the ship as soon as you see the big gash in your hull. They did the same thing with the DS and then started the ambassador program to make early adopters happy. It raised a few eyebrows initially in the industry but was widely accepted as a success.
When managing anything in life, there is a saying, would you rather be happy or be right? In business, it's much the same. Would you rather you r product be successful or would you rather be "right". If Nintendo would have released this bundle 6 months ago, when Luigi U was brand new, the impact would have been even greater with the new title and new consoles 6 months off. I guarantee that Nintendo's investors would be basking in the green and happily ignoring any naysayers on the timing of the new bundle. Put it this way, there wasn't any lower their PR could have gotten. And this would have been seen as an aggressive move to immediately right the ship by their board of directors and shareholders.
@SCAR392 This has everything to do with strategic planning before initial commercialization of the product. What I'm saying is they should have done this from the start. (Besides the Wii - which was anomalous - they didn't even expect that) They haven't had a console that sold through at launch since the SNES. And yes, they CAN offer a bundle within 6 months, especially given the tremendous bad PR they were receiving at the time. They need to start learning from their past.
I certainly wouldn't accuse them of slacking on purpose. There's nothing in my post that suggested that. My question was why it's taken them so long to learn from the past success and start bundling systems with major IP from the start.
@Burning_Spear That's a great point! But look at it this way, the system hasn't sold out ANYWHERE to this point. And when they sold a total of 300,000 units last quarter, that's a pretty big spike in demand and shows a significant potential spike in interest as well. They can always bundle more games with systems sitting on the shelf to satisfy the demand. A 20% spike in demand over less than a week is a huge success any way you cut it.
I didn't need a Mario bundle. I happily plunked the cash down on day one without it (as most here did, I'm sure). But I did know this is what was needed for market penetration. I called this and the Zelda bundle as soon as Wind Waker was announced. The last system that sold like hotcakes that was bundled with a Mario game was the SNES. Think about it. They should have done this from the start last November. If they had, we'd all be having a very different conversation about the Wii U. The impact would have been huge with a brand new Mario (it's one year old now) and a brand new system. Would have been the SNES all over again. I realize that they wanted to capitalize on add-on sales with Mario. But sales of a title are only as good as the number of sales of the system. And if the system doesn't sell, the title won't sell. Plus, if you crush the installed based of systems, you make it up on licensing fees of 3rd parties and sales of your NEXT flagship IP.
I really don't understand why it took them so long to do this. Especially through such a painful year of bad sales and bad PR. It set them back and they lost a user-base that is now torn between Wii U and the next machines coming out this month. It could have been a slam dunk from last year. They should have pulled the trigger sooner.
But either way, it sounds like the system is finally getting the traction it deserves. Better late than never!
Excellent article! Thank you for sharing! It was a great trip down memory lane while serving as a great tribute to one of the industry's most relevant people
I bought this game for my 3 1/2 year old and myself to play together. And I have to say, we play it ALL the time. It's a great way for him to get into the the realm of controlling characters, cause and effect, etc. Especially when he loves all the Disney characters like mad. This is a great game with tons of depth. And it's not just the Play Sets and Toy Box. Those are the two major modes. But inside each, there are special trials, missions, pre-made toy boxes and Toy Box "adventures" designed to help you learn how to play and design within your toy box. And the great thing about this universe is it's "modularity". For instance, the Monsters, Incredibles and Pirates Playsets have a different type of game play. And The Cars Play set is more centered around racing as well as the standard mission stuff. So all in all, this is a great game for you or you and your kids to "grow in to" as you can buy new disks, figures and play sets as time goes on to make it fresh. Yeah it's a lot of money. But just watch how much you get sucked in and pick and choose how you want to expand. No one says you have to buy everything.
Now for the complaints. And they are pretty big. In fact, if it weren't for how good the core of the game is, I'd probably not be playing as long as I have with my son. 1. The menus are very confusing and not very intuitive. And they seem to be almost random at times. Moving from Toy Box to Play Sets is very cumbersome. It's a different method going from one to the other and vice versa. And there are way too many confirmations. Too many button clicks to save games or move around. In essense, the UI (User Interface) feels like it was made as a middle school basic programming project. 2. This bit is maddening... when going to a play set, the default option is to start a new game as opposed to continue. While you can have multiple toy box saves, as far as I can tell, you can't with the Play Sets. Soooo... if my 3 1/2 year old starts a Play Set session and chooses "New Game" in the Incredibles because that's the default menu selection, he plays a while and the auto save kicks in, guess what happens to the hours you've spent in the previous save? Gone. The universal convention in most games I've seen to this point (they also use in the Toy Box by the way) is for the first menu option be the continue and the "New" option to be select-able. For parents playing with young children and trying to teach them to play on their own, this is a must. I've lost at least 3 late saves because of this. Just switch the default option to load the previous save. The inconsistency is a level of polish I would not expect in a retail release. 3. Using the nun-chuck in the Toy Box, pressing "+" to enter edit mode seems to be random. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 4. Frame rate is not very good. It actually slows down quite a bit. Especially in split screen mode. Way more often than I'd like. Not sure if X360 or PS3 versions do this. ?? 5. Load times are atrocious. This is like pre-Spring Update bad. This needs to be fixed if people are going to keep playing this over time and buying expansions to the overall product family.
So while the game is very fun, very promising and shows a ton fo potential for kids to grow with it, the execution and general game-governing mechanics is terrible. With all of this, I still play it daily with my son and love the bonding time it offers. I would love the developer, however, to invest in some polish if they want me to invest even more over time.
Most Def will get this. I've been holding off on the other platforms. I'm glad they are finally releasing. I will definitely be supporting pretty much all classic Capcom arcade and console remakes like this going forward. Keep em coming!!
"It would be interesting to know if this is the reason for the lack of clamshell design..."
Well... ummm... yeah?! It would be kinda hard to fold a single screen, wouldn't it? The single screen and lack of 3D is the single biggest reduction in component cost. That is really the driving factor in bringing this device to market. All of the research and feedback I've read form the medical and scientific community confirms that there is no risk to children under 5 or 7 from looking at 3D images. This was done to reduce cost and offer a lite version of the 3DS to increase the footprint for DS/3DS software sales.
I will say that it's kinda cool to see a bit of a throwback to the original Gameboy design! I like it!
So, hold on a sec... is the accusation here that Gamestop - who is not a publisher - is printing discs and manuals, packaging them and selling them? As far as I know, they are not a publisher and do not have publishing rights. If this is the accusation, it's a pretty big one because it would be piracy of the most heinous kind, given their relevance in the retail space.
If this is the accusation, I highly doubt they are doing this. The risk is simply too high for a publicly traded company. The risk is basically a law suit (or law suits) that would shut them down. All over capitalizing on a tiny spike in niche demand.
My bet is that GS actually started pushing higher trade-in prices for this game with some local promotions to get people to trade their games in. And there's your influx of new used games appearing on shelves. And unless someone tells me that out of 50 games, 50 all had unused Nintendo Club codes, this is not news. I have bought several used games with unused Nintendo Club codes. Besides the fact, GS does not issue the club codes. LOL! that's simply silly to think GS could create new codes. If THAT is true, then Nintendo has to be involved as well. Or, the publisher may have started up a short run for new distribution to GS. There could also be reasons why they can't sell them as new based on how the discs or manuals were replicated.
This is a pretty big accusation. And this all based on an "observed" new infusion of used gmes on the market? I'm sure there is an explanation
I very rarely disagree with Iwata-san's comments. But I disagree here. The value proposition between the basic and deluxe editions just wasn't there. The difference in cost didn't justify what was lost between the two bundles. Plus, if you look at the fact that most of the early adopters are Nintendo fans, you wouldn't expect many to opt for the lesser bundle. At this point, neither units are selling.
They need to work on getting more games out, yes. But also the value proposition. The basic just wasn't a good deal. The need to pack in a newly released game like Marioworld 3D or Windwaker WHEN THEY LAUNCH to the rest of the world. Don't wait a year! Like they did with the SNES. And what they did with SML3D bundle for the 3DS.
@smashbrolink I think what he's saying is that his parents are actually doing their jobs and monitoring what he plays. If they feel he's to young to play a game rated as such, then they have done their jobs not allowing him to play it. I doubt he meant that he thought the game was bad because of the rating.
Not interested in this one at all. I'm glad I tried the demo first. I really do not like the overly cerebral combat engine. Each battle with even the lowest grunt takes way too long.
Konami, please just deliver another 2D metroidvania like 80% of us are asking for. Then you can get all fancy and artsy again.
@orravan85 Have you seen the monster sale they have on Steam right now? Pretty much every ID game made for $89. I'm having trouble fighting my right index finger off from clicking the "Buy" button. D3BFG is part of it.
It's a combination of factors. Not just lack of games. People love to pinpoint the slow sales on just that one thing but it's not that simple. It's a combination of things.
But I think you need to back up the "outgrowing Nintendo" comment as something that is unique to North America because that's a pretty general comment that I've heard in other parts of the world personally. Even in seemingly peaceful India they're gobbling up their PS4 shooters over Nintendo's more placid game themes. I was there for 7 months and gamed with several co-workers.
At the end of the day, they've already made that poster available to Platinum Club NOA members. Wand and everything. So they seem to think it's good enough for that. The Windwaker is a key component to the game and Link holding it is the centerpiece to the poster. It's the main concept of the game. If it were 1989 and we were talking about Capcom, yeah, I could see them changing it to a sword. But I give NOA a much bigger vote of confidence in understanding what really needs to be changed for this market. I don't see it changing. Besides, unless that image was made in Photoshop and layered (I think that's form the original Gamecube manual or other materials actually) it would be hard to change it to a sword without having to change everything else around it. If they are going to change anything, they'd probably change the entire image before they'd change the Windwaker to a sword.
@QBertFarnsworth Besides, people are "outgrowing" Nintendo everywhere, aren't they? As a matter of fact, I believe Wii U sales are proportionately lower in the UK than the States?
@QBertFarnsworth Honestly dude, it's the same everywhere. The stereo-type doesn't hold up just for American gamers. I have traveled a LOT for my business and have noticed that gamers are just as bloodthirsty and foul-mouthed in most parts of the world. As a matter of fact, I've never gone to a concert here in the States and witnessed 3 separate fist fights on a single train ride to the venue like I did in the UK - my first show there. People are just as bloodthirsty. International audiences gobble up Hollywood as much as we do. Games are no different.
This is actually one of the 3 posters offered to Club Nintendo (America) Platinum members. I would imagine the cover won't change for North America. Covers don't always change from region to region.
Again, IGN shows the immaturity of their editors and their lack of any kind of business sense when it comes to offering analysis of the industry. Set aside all the great arguments here about how games will sell the system and that a slew of AAA games are coming - but the mere suggestion that Nintendo abandon 3.61 million users and introduce a new console in anything less than 5 years is laughable and simply preposterous. Id be embarrassed. Nintendo wont be #1 this generation but they are a bunch of AAA games and some new-release pack-ins away this holiday season from being a respectable 3rd.
If Nintendo released a new console in anything less than 4 years, it would be PR suicide. They would destroy all the trust and good will they have built with their consumers over the years. Not gonna happen.
That one comment by Iizuka just made this on to my buy list. Wasn't going to get it but will pick it up now. I've always loved Sonic from the first day he was released. That lasted up through the "Adventure" games on the Dreamcast.
Then I've missed him since. I fully believe that the speed mechanic took far too much front stage attention and, basically, put the games on autopilot. Yeah it was fun to watch the speed but not fun to play a game that pretty much played itself. I applaud Sega for realizing what has derailed the franchise and trying something to bring it back home.
Finally, timing works in my favor! The joys of watching your kids grow into your favorite hobby are paved with broken controllers and smashed touchscreens. Good ol' "Blu", you served me and my family well. Hopefully my new "Metallica Black" will fare a bit better!
Would love to see Phantasy Star II or IV in 3D!! I remember the multiple layers of parallax in the dungeons and the matrix look of the battles. Would show great depth!
Ahhh!!!! Well, I'm not too far behind you! My first console was the Atari 2600 the year it came out. Before that, there were just... Legos! Which was never a bad thing either!
My son just turned 3 and is now able to start using the motor skills necessary to play and be drawn in by video games. I have all 4 consoles and the DS, 3DS and Vita. But the only ones he really plays on are the Wii U and the 3DS. He loves, "Scary Luigi" (Luigi's Mansion 3DS), Mario U, Epic Mickey, Donkey Kong on 3DS and Lego City Undercover. I love every aspect of watching him discover new play mechanics, master those mechanics and see that huge smile on his face. And yes, when he asks, "Daddy can you help me on this level?" Of course I'm there to help him get unstuck or coach him. I just wish he'd let me play longer than 60 seconds at a time! LOL!
I also have a stand-up arcade machine with pretty much every arcade game on it. So far he loves playing Turtles in Time and Street Fighter 2 with me. The thing I look forward to most is the day he truly discovers how many games are in the house (current gen and all systems and games back to the NES)! I remember when I was a kid discovering the treasure trove of comics and books my older brother had. I felt like I stepped into this whole new world filled with new experiences that I just had to reach out and try. It took me years to go through all of it and by then, I started adding to the collection. Imagine a young child who finally has grown into the skills and imagination needed to be totally enraptured by the worlds that video games provide and then opening a door, finding hundreds of classic games from today and going all the way back 30 years! Right now he plays what I think he CAN play when I introduce it to him. But one day he'll start to explore and find this huge world of games that he just has to reach out and pop in. I can't wait for that day of discovery. And then I get to experience it all over again in 2 1/2 years when his younger brother follows in his footsteps
Comments 548
Re: M2: Bringing Space Harrier To 3DS Was "Almost Impossible", But It's "The Definitive Version"
Please oh PLEASE!! bring the Phantasy Star Sega Ages series to the West! This NEEDS to be done!
Re: Talking Point: The GamePad and its Role Defining the Wii U
@QuickSilver88 Yeah, they can't drop the gamepad now. It's just not going to happen because then developers (1st, 2nd and 3rd) would then have the paradox and added development cost of developing for one, both or neither gaming configurations. That will drive 3rd parties further away. They need to stick with it.
I honestly think this question is pretty much moot at this point. This is the platform they developed and they need to support it. If anything, they're stuck with it because of the charactaristics of the hardware and platform. I also think that it's moot because the games are now starting to come out, they have a major hit with SM3D world (the highest rated among all new releases leading into Black Friday), they have 2 great new bundles (Wind Waker and SMBU) in stores competing against next gen machines that will be, for the most part, out of stock this holiday season and media that are starting to come around and changing their stance on the Wii U. I honestly think this Xmas season will be their break out. This is why I think asking this question is kind of senseless at this point.
Re: Talking Point: The GamePad and its Role Defining the Wii U
@Mahe
The definition of evolution: "the gradual development of something, esp. from a simple to a more complex form."
So, by your own definition, the Wii U is "devolving" because it's getting more complex? Your comment sir, is an oxymoron.
Very simply, the gamepad only adds more options for control and viewing certain aspects of the game. It also offers the ability for the game to be played remotely on it's screen vs. the TV. A feature which, yet again, has been quickly copied by it's competitor - but yet is included in every box. Unlike the Vita/PS4 streaming offering.
Question for you. Do you think the DS is too complex?
Re: Talking Point: The GamePad and its Role Defining the Wii U
Guys.... I'm not sure where you're going with this article. Or really the purpose. Nintendo made a decision to bring to market a value proposition around the concept of the gamepad. That was the major concept behind their next generation offering. Asking whether they should have released their next generation as just an HD upgrade is kind of pointless. That's not what they were after in the least bit. And if a simple HD upgrade was ever on the table in Kyoto, whomever proposed it got the major stink eye from Miyamoto. Releasing a new hardware platform without some kind of innovation for Nintendo these days is not what they do. Why even ponder the point?
The only thing I could say that they could have done differently, staying within their original product concept, was to give it more muscle in the graphics array, introduce the system at a slightly HIGHER price of $399 (which, BTW, PS4 and XB1 (+$100) is coming to market with) but compensate for the higher price with Mario U bundled.
I tend to agree with Iwata San that price is not the factor. He's right. Games are. But so is the value of an shiny, muscular machine and the backing of the media, which really turned their nose up to the system because they focused on the gamepad vs. upgrading the graphics ability. History has shown that people WILL PAY $399 to $499 for an experience that will blow them away. So charge $50 more and give the market a new innovation in gameplay via the gamepad, plus a shinier, sexier machine that the graphics lovers and media can dig their teeth into, a then give them GAMES! Bundle Mario U from the start. And you have a completely different launch.
But this is all hindsight. It's easy to sit back and say, "should'a, could'a, would'a". To be fair, look at what Nintendo did with the Wii. They scrapped the graphics upgrade for a lower price point and a brand new control method. Everyone, media, pundits, gamers panned on the system leading up to launch. I remember clearly. But look what happened? They presented a brand new innovation in game play and unlocked and tapped a brand new market segment. Then they followed up with incredible 1st party software (2 Mario Galaxies, NSMB, 3 Metroids, 2 Zeldas, Pikmin, SSB, etc.) and there you have an under-powered system that went gang buster. So how can you fault Nintendo for trying to repeat that formula? Everything else is 20/20 hindsight.
Re: CNET Outlines Console Purchase Choices And Highlights Wii U as a "Pretty Compelling Buy"
@D3athBr1ng3r187 Ahhhh... A rant for a rant. That's cool. Mine has a little better punctuation though. You seem to contradict yourself a bit, unfortunately. You state that Nintendo abandoned the core gamer and that you want more variety than just quality Nintendo 1st party games. Well, the system released with several games that were on other systems. Sooo.... how is that abandoning the core gamer? Isn't that kind of APPEALING to the core gamer? What else would you have them do to appeal to the core gamer? They have 1st party games that no one else can replicate AND they had more quality 3rd party games than any other launch. I don't see your problem. OK, so they have games that are on the other systems you own. The PS4 has games that XB1 has. The PS3 has games that XB360 has. What's your point? But none of them have games that Nintendo has.
Nintendo has to make games for people who want to own only one system. And for people who have more than one system. I can't say that they've done a poor job. They came out strong out of the gate with a better launch line up by far than the PS4 or XB1 combined. What happened was, because systems didn't move, their 3rd party support dropped. They were depending on that 3rd party support and their pacing of 1st party releases reflected that. So when 3rd party support dropped, they were caught a bit with their pants down. And, in my opinion, that's what made a typical post-launch drought a longer one.
So what wrong "decisions" did Nintendo make to justify the ridicule by the media?! The media were on the Wii U from before release. And most of it were, "I don't get it". Which I addressed in my rant above. So what decisions dude?! And because Nintendo is so humble an organization, they didn't lash back but just said they have to do better. So what else are they going to say? It's not their culture to trash other companies, the media or make excuses. The only decision that I can fault Nintendo for - and I've been vocal about this as well - is that they should have released the Wii U last year with Mario U bundled. They haven't launched a system bundled with a Mario game from day one since the SNES - and that was the last time they were #1.
Re: CNET Outlines Console Purchase Choices And Highlights Wii U as a "Pretty Compelling Buy"
@skjia You reminded me of a great point! Thank you! Yes, I too am looking at my video game collection sitting right across from me. I count 8 Wii U games. To only 1 PS3 and 1 XBOX360 game purchased in the last year. And seriously, I'm a gamer. End of story. I have no allegiances at all. Nintendo just has extremely high quality games. There are great games on all platforms. But when I look at how many games I buy, and look at where they're played on, it's pretty profound. It's easy to let the games speak for themselves.
Yes I too am very happy with how Nintendo holds themselves in the public eye. I have wrote about this many times and I feel strongly about it. There is not one hardware manufacturer (or software publisher) that acts with the humility as Nintendo. And none of their competitors come even close to matching the amount of time they take to communicate directly to their consumers. This is a very important part of my argument that the media had a good part to play in the massive "misinformation campaign" against the Wii U... Nintendo Direct started before the Wii U was released. Well before. In their Nintendo Directs (and even E3), the Wii U was explained numerous times, in numerous ways for anyone who chose to listen. You seriously had to be a full-on noob gamer or poindexter to NOT get what the Wii U was about. What's not to get?! It's a new game system. With a huge touch screen that can have other "stuff" on it to control "stuff" in the game. And you can play games on the TV OR on the screen. And it has Mario. What's confusing? To this day, I refuse to believe the media professionals who all cried that the Wii U was confusing actually believed it. They just wanted to jump on the bandwagon and use the gentle giant as a punching bag so their talking head could rise above the rest of talking heads. And to top it off, the same media "professionals" all cried armageddon when Metroid and HD Zelda weren't announced or formally shown at E3. Seriously? Do we think Nintendo will never bring Metroid out? Zelda HD is coming. Metroid will come. Star Fox will come. To cry about games like this not coming out when they want ALL AT ONCE is just immature and unprofessional. Any industry professional who doesn't get the pacing and art of portfolio management is either too junior, has a bias or just wants to be a mouthpiece and make their mark. And through all of this, Nintendo, as you suggested, just quietly goes about their business crafting the best hardware and software - for the fans!
Re: CNET Outlines Console Purchase Choices And Highlights Wii U as a "Pretty Compelling Buy"
@kidicaroots I agree. I have thought from day one that the media has done more damage to the Wii U and it's sales than the unit or Nintendo has done themselves. Yes, there was a drought after release. But this is what happens with every system since the Genesis.
The media has built this huge bandwagon that everyone who thinks they know anything (but clearly doesn't) was itching to jump on. Nintendo has been the giant in the industry since its rebirth in 1985. And everyone in the public eye knows that the best way to get noticed is to take on and take down the big hairy giant. This is why I believe there are so many people who publicly would love to see Nintendo fail.
The fact of the matter is, that the media has, until very recently, made every effort to jump on the bandwagon to take Nintendo down, whether they know the first thing about it or not. And parents, the 60 - 70% of people who actually make the purchase, listen to what they hear. Add to that problem the fact that half the people who work at Best Buy or Gamestop ALSO don't know the facts. And who do they listen to? The idiots in the media who don't know what they're talking about. So, it's no wonder why the Wii U isn't selling.
I have never, in my 35 years of following this industry, witnessed such an unfair media lambasting of an actually very good platform. Never. And look at the absolute fiasco of the XB1? There was about a week of noise from the media. And it wasn't even that harsh. And it went away. And how about the absolute lackluster launch games for XB1 and PS4? Not a word in the press.
Why? Because if anyone in the media took Sony or Microsoft to task, they know they would have serious financial reprecutions form the makers themselves and public backlash from the foul-mannered fanboys in each camp. But Nintendo? Nintendo is that gentle giant that all the kids that got picked on in school loved to take a cheap shot at cuz they knew he wouldn't fight back.
Yes, Nintendo has had some issues with their release schedule. But not that much worse than any platform release in the last 35 years. The media has a lot to blame for an unfair representation of the system and their effect on uneducated buyers. Now it's time for the media to redeem themselves and actually suggest the most logical value proposition for gamers and their parents this year. The Wii U has THE highest rated game of all platforms (new and old) going into the holiday buying season. It has 2 unbeatable bundles that are $100 and $200 less than the new platforms. They are in stock. And they actually work. Let's see you come clean media talking heads!
Re: Soapbox: Zelda's Magic Creates A Link Between Generations
@OptometristLime Yeah, I was just talking in general. Dont know who that child is. Could be anyone. That picture is, what, 10 to 12 Years old? Could be any kid who is now grown up with a kid of their own. Just in time for the new Zelda themed 3DSXL
Re: Soapbox: Zelda's Magic Creates A Link Between Generations
Excellent article! I could read these parent/child articles for days! I'm going through the same magical experience of sharing and reliving experiences with my 3 1/2 year old now. And it truly is magical to see the excitement of discovering new world's and experiences you had when you were young from a different point of view. It actually doubles the feeling on the part of the observer.
It's also very interesting that the image for this article shows a child playing the gold Zelda SP. How cool is it that that same kid (or those of us around the same age take around 10 years) now have a new Gold Zenda system to their kids!! How perfect!
Re: Ace Attorney Producer Wants To Revive Capcom's Final Fight
@Technosphile WURD!
Re: Ace Attorney Producer Wants To Revive Capcom's Final Fight
Yes! YES! And... ummm... YES! I would give my 3rd nut for a new FF and Dungeons & Dragons. But, as others have said, done right. With as much care graphically that was invested in SFIV. Or, in tribute to the pixel art craft the originals were rendered in, full high-res hand-drawn art like Dragon's Crown and Rayman Legends. A low texture, simple 2.5D offering like the most recent Double Dragon or the PSP Castlevania and Ghouls and Ghosts offerings won't cut it. I'd rather they leave them be if they won't invest the love and care.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
Go ahead and read my original post again and you'll see I mentioned that I felt the Wii was anomalous. No one was really prepared for its success as Nintendo themselves will be the first to say that it was initially targeted at a new type of gamer. Social groups of casual gamers. Thus the name Wii (we). And the target for Wii U was the traditional gamer - same market as their traditional consoles. Now, if you want to argue that the Wii target market of retirement home and casual gamers is the core market that Nintendo is focusing on now, that's another discussion altogether.
Let's not resort to describing other users in flaming ways -Lz
BTW, calling out a Nintendo "fanboy" out for hating on the Wii... is pretty much the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I love my Wii as much as anyone else. There's nothing more humorous that a fanboy accusing someone else trying to take an objective look at the playing field as being a fanboy. Let try and use other words. Fanboy is pretty much played out.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
Honestly, I'm not sure if they will ever compete on the technology front again either. It sure doesn't seem likely but I wish they would. And I really do blame the media and guys like Pachter for making a bigger deal about it not being "Next Gen" and not "understanding" the Wii U prior to launch. The media was really vocal about Wii U not being next gen. And the word was out there prior to launch. And it was definitely not a positive message. I believe it was terribly unfair. The system is pretty damn easy to get in terms of concept. But people sometimes don't think for themselves. And the image of it not being Next Gen influences mainstream buyers greatly. Who wants to buy old gen?!
But that's really my point. They need to compensate for the lack of being on the forefront of tech with the strength of their brands. Who cares what the media is saying if you, as a parent or non-innovator (early adopter) KNOW how fun Mario is. That trumps what they hear in the media alone. So THAT is your value proposition. And the way you sell that is to PACK IT IN with the console. I don't believe the mass market will buy a console on the concept of, "Well these are all the great games you can buy with it" alone. One of them NEEDS to be included. Next Gen systems have power packed in every box. That's their value proposition. Nintendo's consoles must be packed with their value statement - their flagship games. And they need to be good. That's THEIR value proposition. If they do that, I truly believe that the question is no longer a +/- $50 in price. It has to do with the excitement of getting a new system with an awesome new game packed in. People will pay $350. And remember, I'm speaking of $350 at launch - not now. I do agree that one year later a $50 price cut is normal.
Gotta also remember that companies need to recoup expenses on initial launch. And there also needs to be room for price reduction. It's a mental thing with buyer behavior. No matter WHAT you set the initial price offering at, people will always expect price-cuts as the product lifecycle progresses. So setting the price at $299 immediately sets future revenue back for price cuts that are inevitable. You just lost at least one generation of price-cuts. I really think the $350 for a great console like the Wii U packed with Mario U is a great value for the mass market. Bundling the right software is the difference between success and failure.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@Turbo857 BTW, if Nintendo abides by a rule to never launch a system over $299.99 (inflation aside), then they will forever be catching up to their competitors in terms of technology and muscle. That's what has been holding the last 2 Nintendo consoles back. They will never be considered "Next Gen". A label that no doubt deterred lot's of gamers and parents from buying last year. Which means... they will continue to need to rely on the strength of their original 1st party IPs... which they need to bundle at launch to provide that value at point of sale I mentioned to avoid what happened last year. When people buy, they buy an experience. The experience they have when they open a box bundled with a well known seller is much different than opening a box with something they've never heard of before. People will pay for a great experience. Nintendoland simply didn't provide that experience to the mass market last year. It's really that simple.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@Turbo857 Inflation my friend. You can't compare the pricing of a 23 year old system to one launched last year. Games also sold for $39.99 to $49.99 back then too.
At the end of the day, even at $349.99 last year, it's still $50 cheaper than PS4. I'll go back to my original point. Value at point of sale. PS4 will have superior specifications. And people will flock to buy every $399 system on the shelves come the 18th. Nintendo needed a better value at point of sale for what it lacked in muscle compared to what their competitors will have in the next year. People would have bought $349 with Super Mario U packed-in in droves on launch day. You and I, being early adopters, would buy it with Nintendoland because we understand the system and the potential for future games. But little Joey's mom cruising the shelves at TRU looking for an Xmas, Easter or birthday present doesn't know Nintendo land. And they don't want to pay $350 for something they don't know about and another $50 for something they do. But paying $350 for a new system for a brand they they DO know very well already packed in is an easy sell. that's my point.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@Burning_Spear Yeah. I believe that's what they thought as well. You're right. But I challenge the wisdom. They've been doing this for 30 years. And history has shown that NOTHING rights the ship more immediately that a bundle with a major flagship IP. And Nothing hits the ball out of the park as a NEW flagship IP bundled with the system from the start. They did this with the NES and the SNES and those systems lead the market. Then they stopped this practice and from there they started being #2 or worse in market position for their consoles. They've shown with the DS that bundling a Mario game is sure to ignite sales. Not sure why they didn't learn this sooner and instead gambled that excellent software will ignite sales. Excellent software helps sales (especially future sales), but providing exceptional value at point of purchase is rule number one. And as much as I like Nintendoland, it is not an impulse buy. Mario will ALWAYS be an impulse buy. Shoulda done this sooner if not from the start,
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@FJOJR Yes! This is what I'm saying! Bundled, of course
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@SCAR392 I see what you're saying too. Again. My main point was getting the initial release strategy right the first time to hit it out of the park from the start. But, I also don't see a problem with righting the ship as soon as you see the big gash in your hull. They did the same thing with the DS and then started the ambassador program to make early adopters happy. It raised a few eyebrows initially in the industry but was widely accepted as a success.
When managing anything in life, there is a saying, would you rather be happy or be right? In business, it's much the same. Would you rather you r product be successful or would you rather be "right". If Nintendo would have released this bundle 6 months ago, when Luigi U was brand new, the impact would have been even greater with the new title and new consoles 6 months off. I guarantee that Nintendo's investors would be basking in the green and happily ignoring any naysayers on the timing of the new bundle. Put it this way, there wasn't any lower their PR could have gotten. And this would have been seen as an aggressive move to immediately right the ship by their board of directors and shareholders.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@SCAR392 This has everything to do with strategic planning before initial commercialization of the product. What I'm saying is they should have done this from the start. (Besides the Wii - which was anomalous - they didn't even expect that) They haven't had a console that sold through at launch since the SNES. And yes, they CAN offer a bundle within 6 months, especially given the tremendous bad PR they were receiving at the time. They need to start learning from their past.
I certainly wouldn't accuse them of slacking on purpose. There's nothing in my post that suggested that. My question was why it's taken them so long to learn from the past success and start bundling systems with major IP from the start.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
@Burning_Spear
That's a great point! But look at it this way, the system hasn't sold out ANYWHERE to this point. And when they sold a total of 300,000 units last quarter, that's a pretty big spike in demand and shows a significant potential spike in interest as well. They can always bundle more games with systems sitting on the shelf to satisfy the demand. A 20% spike in demand over less than a week is a huge success any way you cut it.
Re: Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
I didn't need a Mario bundle. I happily plunked the cash down on day one without it (as most here did, I'm sure). But I did know this is what was needed for market penetration. I called this and the Zelda bundle as soon as Wind Waker was announced. The last system that sold like hotcakes that was bundled with a Mario game was the SNES. Think about it. They should have done this from the start last November. If they had, we'd all be having a very different conversation about the Wii U. The impact would have been huge with a brand new Mario (it's one year old now) and a brand new system. Would have been the SNES all over again. I realize that they wanted to capitalize on add-on sales with Mario. But sales of a title are only as good as the number of sales of the system. And if the system doesn't sell, the title won't sell. Plus, if you crush the installed based of systems, you make it up on licensing fees of 3rd parties and sales of your NEXT flagship IP.
I really don't understand why it took them so long to do this. Especially through such a painful year of bad sales and bad PR. It set them back and they lost a user-base that is now torn between Wii U and the next machines coming out this month. It could have been a slam dunk from last year. They should have pulled the trigger sooner.
But either way, it sounds like the system is finally getting the traction it deserves. Better late than never!
Re: SEGA's Retro Remakes Down to Fans for "Next Lineup"
I would absolutely give my 3rd nut for Phantasy Star I - IV. Sega Ages style (as others have mentioned). I'd pay a premium in fact!
Also, Golden Axe is a must!
Re: Video: Compare 16-Bit With HD In This Pier Solar and the Great Architects Trailer
I agree with some of the folks on here. It looks great but they walk TOO SLOW... they need to speed that up or add a run action.
Re: Feature: Hiroshi Yamauchi - The Man Who Made Nintendo
Excellent article! Thank you for sharing! It was a great trip down memory lane while serving as a great tribute to one of the industry's most relevant people
Re: Poll: Would You Buy Grand Theft Auto V On Wii U?
Nope. Not into punk simulators.
Re: Review: Disney Infinity (Wii U)
I bought this game for my 3 1/2 year old and myself to play together. And I have to say, we play it ALL the time. It's a great way for him to get into the the realm of controlling characters, cause and effect, etc. Especially when he loves all the Disney characters like mad. This is a great game with tons of depth. And it's not just the Play Sets and Toy Box. Those are the two major modes. But inside each, there are special trials, missions, pre-made toy boxes and Toy Box "adventures" designed to help you learn how to play and design within your toy box. And the great thing about this universe is it's "modularity". For instance, the Monsters, Incredibles and Pirates Playsets have a different type of game play. And The Cars Play set is more centered around racing as well as the standard mission stuff. So all in all, this is a great game for you or you and your kids to "grow in to" as you can buy new disks, figures and play sets as time goes on to make it fresh. Yeah it's a lot of money. But just watch how much you get sucked in and pick and choose how you want to expand. No one says you have to buy everything.
Now for the complaints. And they are pretty big. In fact, if it weren't for how good the core of the game is, I'd probably not be playing as long as I have with my son.
1. The menus are very confusing and not very intuitive. And they seem to be almost random at times. Moving from Toy Box to Play Sets is very cumbersome. It's a different method going from one to the other and vice versa. And there are way too many confirmations. Too many button clicks to save games or move around. In essense, the UI (User Interface) feels like it was made as a middle school basic programming project.
2. This bit is maddening... when going to a play set, the default option is to start a new game as opposed to continue. While you can have multiple toy box saves, as far as I can tell, you can't with the Play Sets. Soooo... if my 3 1/2 year old starts a Play Set session and chooses "New Game" in the Incredibles because that's the default menu selection, he plays a while and the auto save kicks in, guess what happens to the hours you've spent in the previous save? Gone. The universal convention in most games I've seen to this point (they also use in the Toy Box by the way) is for the first menu option be the continue and the "New" option to be select-able. For parents playing with young children and trying to teach them to play on their own, this is a must. I've lost at least 3 late saves because of this. Just switch the default option to load the previous save. The inconsistency is a level of polish I would not expect in a retail release.
3. Using the nun-chuck in the Toy Box, pressing "+" to enter edit mode seems to be random. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
4. Frame rate is not very good. It actually slows down quite a bit. Especially in split screen mode. Way more often than I'd like. Not sure if X360 or PS3 versions do this. ??
5. Load times are atrocious. This is like pre-Spring Update bad. This needs to be fixed if people are going to keep playing this over time and buying expansions to the overall product family.
So while the game is very fun, very promising and shows a ton fo potential for kids to grow with it, the execution and general game-governing mechanics is terrible. With all of this, I still play it daily with my son and love the bonding time it offers. I would love the developer, however, to invest in some polish if they want me to invest even more over time.
Re: Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara Battles to North America This Week
Most Def will get this. I've been holding off on the other platforms. I'm glad they are finally releasing. I will definitely be supporting pretty much all classic Capcom arcade and console remakes like this going forward. Keep em coming!!
Re: Nintendo 2DS is Actually Made With Just One Screen
"It would be interesting to know if this is the reason for the lack of clamshell design..."
Well... ummm... yeah?! It would be kinda hard to fold a single screen, wouldn't it? The single screen and lack of 3D is the single biggest reduction in component cost. That is really the driving factor in bringing this device to market. All of the research and feedback I've read form the medical and scientific community confirms that there is no risk to children under 5 or 7 from looking at 3D images. This was done to reduce cost and offer a lite version of the 3DS to increase the footprint for DS/3DS software sales.
I will say that it's kinda cool to see a bit of a throwback to the original Gameboy design! I like it!
Re: Interview: Capcom on Remastering DuckTales, The Perils of GamePad Maps and Reaching a New Audience
Yes! Strider!!! I called that one out when this and D&D were announced. Thanks Capcom!! Now, how about a new Final Fight after that!
Re: GameStop Accused of Re-Printing Xenoblade Chronicles, Then Selling as "Used" For $90
@theblackdragon LOL! Just as I surmised in my post above just before yours. There's your reason folks! Thank you for the voice of reason black dragon.
My question is how does this article appear in Nintendolife? I'd expect a higher degree of vetting from this site.
Re: GameStop Accused of Re-Printing Xenoblade Chronicles, Then Selling as "Used" For $90
So, hold on a sec... is the accusation here that Gamestop - who is not a publisher - is printing discs and manuals, packaging them and selling them? As far as I know, they are not a publisher and do not have publishing rights. If this is the accusation, it's a pretty big one because it would be piracy of the most heinous kind, given their relevance in the retail space.
If this is the accusation, I highly doubt they are doing this. The risk is simply too high for a publicly traded company. The risk is basically a law suit (or law suits) that would shut them down. All over capitalizing on a tiny spike in niche demand.
My bet is that GS actually started pushing higher trade-in prices for this game with some local promotions to get people to trade their games in. And there's your influx of new used games appearing on shelves. And unless someone tells me that out of 50 games, 50 all had unused Nintendo Club codes, this is not news. I have bought several used games with unused Nintendo Club codes. Besides the fact, GS does not issue the club codes. LOL! that's simply silly to think GS could create new codes. If THAT is true, then Nintendo has to be involved as well. Or, the publisher may have started up a short run for new distribution to GS. There could also be reasons why they can't sell them as new based on how the discs or manuals were replicated.
This is a pretty big accusation. And this all based on an "observed" new infusion of used gmes on the market? I'm sure there is an explanation
Re: Satoru Iwata Cites Poor Basic Wii U Sales To Rule Out Price Cut Benefits
I very rarely disagree with Iwata-san's comments. But I disagree here. The value proposition between the basic and deluxe editions just wasn't there. The difference in cost didn't justify what was lost between the two bundles. Plus, if you look at the fact that most of the early adopters are Nintendo fans, you wouldn't expect many to opt for the lesser bundle. At this point, neither units are selling.
They need to work on getting more games out, yes. But also the value proposition. The basic just wasn't a good deal. The need to pack in a newly released game like Marioworld 3D or Windwaker WHEN THEY LAUNCH to the rest of the world. Don't wait a year! Like they did with the SNES. And what they did with SML3D bundle for the 3DS.
Re: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Gets Price Drop in North America
@smashbrolink I think what he's saying is that his parents are actually doing their jobs and monitoring what he plays. If they feel he's to young to play a game rated as such, then they have done their jobs not allowing him to play it. I doubt he meant that he thought the game was bad because of the rating.
Re: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Gets Price Drop in North America
Not interested in this one at all. I'm glad I tried the demo first. I really do not like the overly cerebral combat engine. Each battle with even the lowest grunt takes way too long.
Konami, please just deliver another 2D metroidvania like 80% of us are asking for. Then you can get all fancy and artsy again.
Re: John Carmack: Doom 3 BFG Edition Would Be Great On Wii U, But There's Not Enough Interest
@orravan85 Have you seen the monster sale they have on Steam right now? Pretty much every ID game made for $89. I'm having trouble fighting my right index finger off from clicking the "Buy" button. D3BFG is part of it.
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@Kirk I agree. It's a wonderful work of art and fits Nintendo's family adventure sensibilities. I don't see anything they really need to change
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
It's a combination of factors. Not just lack of games. People love to pinpoint the slow sales on just that one thing but it's not that simple. It's a combination of things.
But I think you need to back up the "outgrowing Nintendo" comment as something that is unique to North America because that's a pretty general comment that I've heard in other parts of the world personally. Even in seemingly peaceful India they're gobbling up their PS4 shooters over Nintendo's more placid game themes. I was there for 7 months and gamed with several co-workers.
At the end of the day, they've already made that poster available to Platinum Club NOA members. Wand and everything. So they seem to think it's good enough for that. The Windwaker is a key component to the game and Link holding it is the centerpiece to the poster. It's the main concept of the game. If it were 1989 and we were talking about Capcom, yeah, I could see them changing it to a sword. But I give NOA a much bigger vote of confidence in understanding what really needs to be changed for this market. I don't see it changing. Besides, unless that image was made in Photoshop and layered (I think that's form the original Gamecube manual or other materials actually) it would be hard to change it to a sword without having to change everything else around it. If they are going to change anything, they'd probably change the entire image before they'd change the Windwaker to a sword.
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@QBertFarnsworth Besides, people are "outgrowing" Nintendo everywhere, aren't they? As a matter of fact, I believe Wii U sales are proportionately lower in the UK than the States?
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@QBertFarnsworth Honestly dude, it's the same everywhere. The stereo-type doesn't hold up just for American gamers. I have traveled a LOT for my business and have noticed that gamers are just as bloodthirsty and foul-mouthed in most parts of the world. As a matter of fact, I've never gone to a concert here in the States and witnessed 3 separate fist fights on a single train ride to the venue like I did in the UK - my first show there. People are just as bloodthirsty. International audiences gobble up Hollywood as much as we do. Games are no different.
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@19Robb92 LOL! Ok... everyone needs an eye wax?
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@19Robb92 That's an image of the Japanese cover pictured above
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
This is actually one of the 3 posters offered to Club Nintendo (America) Platinum members. I would imagine the cover won't change for North America. Covers don't always change from region to region.
Re: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Japanese Box Art Revealed
@QBertFarnsworth Have you looked at your avatar recently? Not exactly lacking in action or "bloodthirsty" intent, is it?
Re: IGN Editor: If Wii U Doesn't Pick Up, Nintendo Should Look To New Hardware
Again, IGN shows the immaturity of their editors and their lack of any kind of business sense when it comes to offering analysis of the industry. Set aside all the great arguments here about how games will sell the system and that a slew of AAA games are coming - but the mere suggestion that Nintendo abandon 3.61 million users and introduce a new console in anything less than 5 years is laughable and simply preposterous. Id be embarrassed. Nintendo wont be #1 this generation but they are a bunch of AAA games and some new-release pack-ins away this holiday season from being a respectable 3rd.
If Nintendo released a new console in anything less than 4 years, it would be PR suicide. They would destroy all the trust and good will they have built with their consumers over the years. Not gonna happen.
Re: SEGA Is Hoping To Win Back Platforming Fans With Sonic Lost World
That one comment by Iizuka just made this on to my buy list. Wasn't going to get it but will pick it up now. I've always loved Sonic from the first day he was released. That lasted up through the "Adventure" games on the Dreamcast.
Then I've missed him since. I fully believe that the speed mechanic took far too much front stage attention and, basically, put the games on autopilot. Yeah it was fun to watch the speed but not fun to play a game that pretty much played itself. I applaud Sega for realizing what has derailed the franchise and trying something to bring it back home.
Re: North America, It Looks Like You'll Have The Black 3DS XL Soon Enough
Finally, timing works in my favor! The joys of watching your kids grow into your favorite hobby are paved with broken controllers and smashed touchscreens. Good ol' "Blu", you served me and my family well. Hopefully my new "Metallica Black" will fare a bit better!
Re: Nintendo Direct Mini Reveals SEGA 3D Classics on the Way to Europe
Would love to see Phantasy Star II or IV in 3D!! I remember the multiple layers of parallax in the dungeons and the matrix look of the battles. Would show great depth!
Re: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Helped Miyamoto Bond With His Daughter
Ahhh!!!! Well, I'm not too far behind you! My first console was the Atari 2600 the year it came out. Before that, there were just... Legos! Which was never a bad thing either!
Re: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Helped Miyamoto Bond With His Daughter
My son just turned 3 and is now able to start using the motor skills necessary to play and be drawn in by video games. I have all 4 consoles and the DS, 3DS and Vita. But the only ones he really plays on are the Wii U and the 3DS. He loves, "Scary Luigi" (Luigi's Mansion 3DS), Mario U, Epic Mickey, Donkey Kong on 3DS and Lego City Undercover. I love every aspect of watching him discover new play mechanics, master those mechanics and see that huge smile on his face. And yes, when he asks, "Daddy can you help me on this level?" Of course I'm there to help him get unstuck or coach him. I just wish he'd let me play longer than 60 seconds at a time! LOL!
I also have a stand-up arcade machine with pretty much every arcade game on it. So far he loves playing Turtles in Time and Street Fighter 2 with me. The thing I look forward to most is the day he truly discovers how many games are in the house (current gen and all systems and games back to the NES)! I remember when I was a kid discovering the treasure trove of comics and books my older brother had. I felt like I stepped into this whole new world filled with new experiences that I just had to reach out and try. It took me years to go through all of it and by then, I started adding to the collection. Imagine a young child who finally has grown into the skills and imagination needed to be totally enraptured by the worlds that video games provide and then opening a door, finding hundreds of classic games from today and going all the way back 30 years! Right now he plays what I think he CAN play when I introduce it to him. But one day he'll start to explore and find this huge world of games that he just has to reach out and pop in. I can't wait for that day of discovery. And then I get to experience it all over again in 2 1/2 years when his younger brother follows in his footsteps
It's the little things in life
Re: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Helped Miyamoto Bond With His Daughter
@Mk_II Sorry to hear that. But you now have the opportunity to correct that missed opportunity one day when you have little critters of your own!