Is it just me, or am I interpreting this a lot differently? He said, "one of the side effects of being a launch title," and nothing even concerning the voice-chat limitations. Judging from what Activion's been muddling around lately with their own port too, wouldn't it mean that timing led to the omission of the feature? Am I missing someting here?
Remember Wii Speak, guys? ...Exactly. Be thankful for mandatory headsets.
@Varia01: The Wii U is a next-gen system that will primarily compete with the PS4 and Xbox 720. It darn well better be powerful that the PS3/360.
Encouraging to hear that the Wii U is capable of some immense graphics and textures, especially when they haven't undergone compression. Built in 'very high definition,' and 'can be used in a movie,'? Those must be some impressive graphics, sounds a lot like the Zelda Wii U tech demo from E3 2011.
But I'd also like to hear less telling, more showing.
@madgear: I don't think Nintendo was actually aware of the exploitation happening in the manufacturing of their consoles, so they weren't advertently doing any wrong. Now that it's been brought to their attention, they have recently issued a statement of them taking responsibility and consequent action on the issue, however I doubt this will be adequate enough to completely cease the practice either way. Nintendo's definitely not "playing ignorant", if you ask me.
And (not directed at anyone in particular) for me, I personally see nothing wrong with this title. It says, "Affordable Consoles Come At A Cost". Essentially, the title deciphered as it is says that the monetary benefit of unknowing consumers is the result of an unfair exploitation at the big expense of other human beings in the industry, not that this is a winning situation that should have its practices ignored on our own side.
Perhaps a more controversial title would've been, "Exploitation In China is What Gives Us Affordable Consoles"... That sounds almost like something positive. (shudder)
@Azooooz: No, these "underage workers" are illegally being held against their will, and are forced to work at the cost of their education and families. They work in atrocious conditions and for an abysmal compensation they call "minimum wage". On the other hand, I'm what an underage worker can be classified as. I'm 14, I freelance as a writer for local magazines/papers around here as a job, as well as online sites too. I voluntarily do that, and I'm adequately compensated. See the difference?
While we may say we are willing to pay an inflated price to support these underprivileged children for a better quality of life, the sad truth is that too many consumers are oblivious to the fact that this is what's going on in the parts of the world where our products are being manufactured. And if prices were raised to be able to help these workers get adequately compensated, the retail prices for these products would at least be almost double what they are now - and guess what would result from that? Consumer outrages, reduction of profits, businesses shutting down etc. And while this is all very disheartening to consider, the economy just can't afford it right now especially without any manufacturing businesses than can provide that same thing within our own countries - and the starting up of such an industry in places like the U.K., U.S., France, Germany etc. would still require our products to be retailed at equally inflated prices. This immoral exploitation is what makes our products affordable, and it is a very, very big cost for our benefit as consumers.
It's just upsetting, and further so by the fact that there's nothing that can currently be done about it right now. At the end of the day, all we can do is oppose this with our morality and speech alone and in an hour, forget all about it and continue with our daily lives, buying these products as we go along. It sounds insensitive, I know, but unfortunately, it's the sad truth of our current state globally.
@triforcepower73: I agree, but this time, Nintendo evidently seem to be making up for their mistakes. They will indeed need to put more effort into it to ensure a healthy longevity for the system to cater and compete well among audiences.
I've considered this possibility for a while. With Wii sales plummeting rather rapidly, the Wii U seemed to have jumped the gun by being an unexpected "shotgun console" that Nintendo needed to stay alive in the gaming industry without missing a year or two to have a release alongside Sony and Microsoft (which, in my opinion, would've inevitably lead to an industry crash). But that does not mean I believe the Wii U is "catching up" with their competitors - far from it, actually. And what does the name have anything to do with it?
But on the other hand, I've seen how much effort and strain Nintendo is really putting into the Wii U. The GamePad is truly a powerful and innovative contrivance, and it does have some pretty advanced tech integrated into it that not many people care to realise. And let's not forget all the features and utilities Nintendo is really focused on incorporating heavily into the Wii U this time; they're really learning from their mistakes on the Wii. They know what they're doing, and they're building upon how influential the Wii was while removing its flaws. Besides, do people really believe graphics define the start of the next console gen? An introduction of more powerful graphics will re-live the first HD console era all over again - a $600 console, $800+ TVs that can actually support the graphics, and it took five years for HD to become the accepted standard in gaming. The Wii took a calculated risk knowing this would happen, and it failed for staying on the safe side, but I doubt this will happen again for the Wii U as I don't think the next-gen will be able to survive a repeat of the scenario.
Nintendo may still be playing catch-up for a while, as they're undoubtedly balancing both re-addressing of last-gen mistakes and competence for the next-gen ahead in the Wii U. As Pachter has also said just recently, I think a few aspects of the Wii U (especially the online system) will still be a slight work in progress, just hopefully not extensively. Anyhow, this MCV article looks like purely malicious flamebait to me. It's a very sinister speculation to me and not very well-read into.
I like how immediate an action Nintendo took to resolve the situation, and that Foxconn is doing the right thing as well. Good on both of them, at least.
"Call Of Duty Elite Isn't Coming to Wii U At Launch"
It didn't say never. We'll probably have it as a free DLC pack within a month of the launch, seeing as it should've been included on-disk.
To me, Activision's timing is off. If I'm correct the Wii U port is the one that was developed last, which would explain why they're just so muddled over everything right now. Graphics, add-ons, what next? They need to familiarise themselves on the platform they're working on.
@MrWalkieTalkie: No, it doesn't. The Wii U has the option for the Wiimote/Nunchuk combo only in co-op - in single player mode, the GamePad is the mandatory form of control.
I doubt there's absolutely anything we can stop this, unless we as other consumer regions refused to purchase the products manufactured in China using this kind of abusive labour overall, which is pretty darn impossible given the situation for manufacturing industries outside of China are barely up to par. And yet again, there's China's communist infrastructure which works to the advantage of these corporations - they can create these types of workforces by the dozen, and nothing is seen as violating the law, despite the blackmailing going on.
It does make my stomach churn though - I'm 14, and I'd never want to have to be forced to work under these conditions ever. This is not the industrial revolution of the 19th century, and these are minors going against their will and benefit. I'd honestly say I wouldn't mind paying more for any leisure electronics just to say that there are people in other countries benefiting from this inflation. Honestly. It's sickening, and I also feel rather sorry for Nintendo - it's pretty likely they've inadvertently caught themselves in this situation which they'd probably be all against.
Just because Nintendo is currently refusing to publish details on their online service does not mean it's not completed. They've already announced the launch date for the Wii U, so they must have their entire schedule well-planned prior to the event.
Aside from that, to me, Activision seem rather unfamiliar with the Wii U themselves, following the whole "native/non-native 1080p" outrage. But eh.
@ThePillowGolem: I'm not sure whether or not you misread me, or whether it's the other way round, but I never said that a refresh rate of 60fps is barely discernable to the human eye or that people can't see beyond that - I said that a split delay in latency lasting 1/60th of a second is barely discernable to the human eye ("to the human senses" would've been a better phrase).
That's 0.01667 seconds of lag - I highly doubt that we can conciously discern that sort of latency, especially seeing as we aren't looking at both the TV and GamePad at the same time.
I like the prospects of Dishonored on the Wii U in this feature much better than the last RE:6 article; it seems more natural, and less gimmicky. Although, I find the touchscreen sword controls mentioned to be very... out of context, and I believe the whole inventory convenience to be overplayed - the GamePad deserves much more innovation than the obvious. I do love the integration of Miiverse in minor ways though, it really outlines the potential for it as a true gamers' network. A Dishonored sequel on the Wii U would definitely be a welcome possibility, I'd just like to see more proficient utilisation of the GamePad expanding on this.
Isn't everyone aware by now that the Wii U is more than capable of native 1080p? A handful of games, including Rayman Legends, ZombiU, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and even Toki Tori 2, have been announced to be running in native 1080p at 60fps, so clearly it's the developers at fault here. The Wii U is perfectly fine.
@rjejr: There's a difference between exaggerative PR marketing, and an actual statement concerning the Wii U's power from a developer standpoint. Everything Ancel stated here is evidently purely based on tested fact, unlike saying the Wii U is "the most innovative system on Earth".
@Mettable_King: Actually, I've heard it more often that it's essentially a remake of Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii, which was then ported to the 3DS. Apart from that, I have no idea what you're both seeing unless you're playing it in anything under HD quality.
@Mk_II Not necessarily. Remember that the PS3 and Vita are two separate devices, unlike the Wii U, and are both working together to stream images to the Vita simultaneously. But obviously, the PS3 alone would be incapable of this sort of advancement by far.
Anyhow, 1/60th of a second in latency? That's hardly discernable to the human eye - it's essentially zero latency whatsoever. This is essentially what I've been saying regarding the Wii U's power; a console that can run games rendered in native 1080p at 60FPS all while streaming an equally high-def image to the GamePad simultaneously does sound pretty powerful to me. I don't understand why people just can't connect the dots already; from what has been displayed so far, this console is seemingly not just, and I quote Xander Davis in particular here, "an Xbox 360 seven years late".
@Mahe: I shall not agree or disagree on that comment merely based on the fact that that opinion is subjective. Many of these games were met with astounding reviews and sales in conjunction, so there is no denying that the 3DS now does have a sustainable library, origination of such be damned. As long as these so-called "bad games, ports and rehashes" are prevalently well-received, I believe that opinions on comparisons to whatever quality we may have had back then is irrelevant.
And there are other factors aside from games as to why 3DS sales are lagging; take care to remember that.
@BassX0: I don't own a Wii, nor a GameCube. If the Wii U offers the complete Virtual Console selection for Wii or even delivers GameCube titles alongside, there're quite a few classics I'll have a go at.
I agree with the entire list, especially Star Fox, F-Zero and Yoshi. Although for F-Zero, despite how action-packed a re-invention of the game would ideally be, I still believe there is enough leniency for taking significant advantage of the GamePad's capabilties - but still, the GamePad is more beneficial to some genres than others. With Star Fox though, I'd expect a combination of both mind-blowing visuals and innovative use of the GamePad, more so with the option for two GamePads than asymmetrical abilities. If the link from @triforcepower78 serves true, I'd really love to see that and hope Nintendo gets more games to go that route as well; the GamePad really needs to prove itself big-time.
It's rather funny and upsetting when you realise that the possibilies for Nintendo are way more than they seem when you look at all these forgotten IPs just begging to be re-invented on such an ideal console as the Wii U. It'd be a devastating shame if Nintendo doesn't embrace the gold-mine gleaming right before them; Mario, Zelda and Metroid are all more than welcome, but Nintendo has the potential to bring on so much more and appeal an even bigger audience. I've never actually even heard of Wave Race before, but that seems to have interesting prospects.
Aside from all this, I'm a little surprised I didn't see Mother/Earthbound on this list. Would be nice to see that re-invented to.
@jarrebourn: You can't compare a $40 Mario retail title to even the best games on the iOS/Android platforms; the only justifiable comparison is digital platforms alone.
@Windy: While I agree that there are quite a few more well-priced games on those platforms that offer quite a lot more content than many games currently do on the 3DS eShop, I highly doubt going that route will satisfy you if you're also enthusiastic on retail-quality games being found there in abundance - remember, it's a digital platform and that alone. Apart from that, also take note that if you're unsure of what exactly you're looking for on the iOS/Android platform, you're most certainly not going to find it. Mobile platforms have become very cluttered and hard to sift through, given their lack of sufficient quality control and ease of search; for every high-quality indie game you'll find out there that overtly rivals (or surpasses) the quality of the eShop, there are a hundred more "$1 timewasters" overshadowing some truly great mobile games out there - rendering our set of consumers rather niche on these platforms.
My advice would be that, if you're not happy with the standard or pricing you're finding on the 3DS eShop as of now, take time to scour other mobile platforms for cheaper, better equivalents to sustain your digital needs for now. Abandoning retail completely is only going to prove shallow right now, especially with everything we've got headed our way to the 3DS right now.
@SteveW: I believe he's referring to exclusive IPs such as Uncharted, God of War, Infamous, Beyond etc. to which I honestly believe Nintendo's IPs have proved to rival just the same - only in a different manner, if not more prevalent.
@edhe: Agreed. To me, Cave Story has kind of lost its original value as a result of that, but eh, it's still a superb game.
Never played Ikachan after playing Cave Story, but looking forward to seeing how it pans out on handhelds. Just as long as they price it well though, I hear it isn't really that long or replayable.
@dylantalon: Because an isolated $250 handheld device and an isolated $250 console with a very limited library using cross-play features can do exactly the same things as the Wii U. Pretty sure the Wii U also has some pretty amazing launch exclusives, both first- and third-party. Opinion =/= fact.
Anywho, I'm unaware of what gameplay mechanics Epic Mickey actually utilises, but something tells me a similar scheme of this paintbrush/thinner aiming thingamabob can be replicated using either the GamePad's touchscreen/stylus combo, or even using the controller's motion controls? It could be just as good, seeing as they're aiming for a new experience. Just a shot in the dark here, but maybe all this might play out better than all the doom and gloom going on here. Maybe it's an advantage.
Not too bothered by this. Playing games solely on the GamePad is a very nice addition, especially for titles as vast as Darksiders II and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, but when all is said and done, it's still a console game - best experienced on a full-screen TV, utilising fully versatile controls on the second screen. I didn't really expect all Wii U games to incorporate the feature anyway, especially for third-parties.
Still haven't got a clue what Epic Mickey is even vaguely about or looks like. Must find time to check it out.
@Mahe: It takes singular games to make up a robust library: if you look at it now, we do have a sustainable blockbuster library over the entirety of the 3DS's short lifetime. Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 7, StarFox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Tekken: 3D Edition, Resident Evil: Revelations, Nintendogs + Cats, Cave Story 3D, Super Street Fighter IV, Super Monkey Ball, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and quite a few others I may have left out, with more even bigger hits to come this season. Animal Crossing: Jump Out, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Professor Layton: Miracle Mask and Paper Mario: Sticker Star are all hugely anticipated games that will definitely impact 3DS sales when they arrive, and there are more to come (Fantasy Life, for one, we haven't heard much about).
The 3DS does have a pretty robust library for the amount of time it has been out and everything the system encountered, more so than people care to mention because the combined release of all these titles were consequently fractured. Some at launch, some in-between, some just now, and obviously much more coming later. I think it's unfair to be comparing it to the DS library right now, given the respective lifetimes of each system - the DS has been out for a long time, and still saw many hits come in its latest years before the 3DS and is still continuing to do so. Compared to the DS's lifetime, the 3DS is still considered to be taking its first steps right now; and even so, it's doing a good job for being out under two years and encountering an early sales crisis.
Besides, an 89% increase on 3DS figures is pretty significant, regardless of whatever the initial values were. That's almost a doubling of sales figures - that's pretty significant. I do agree though, that comparing 3DS sales to Vita sales is a dismissable target, seeing how the latter has performed up until now.
Looks interesting. May look into it if I ever have the extra mon- oh, who am I kidding, like I'll ever have extra money with the way the Wii U's going. ;___;
@Rapadash6: Oh, no, I agree with you. What I meant is that we shouldn't be understating the Wii U's possible power by comparing it to the standards of the higher-end consoles of this gen. I personally believe the Wii U will probably be capable of many great things, especially seeing the subtle hints a few devs and related people have been dropping (from what I've read). Eh, I don't know; point is, the Wii U shouldn't be compared to the capabilities of the PS3/360 in relation to the PS4/720 just yet, especially when we know nothing of the Wii U in terms of power, or the PS4/720 in terms of existence - but I highly doubt the next generation will still be limited to 720p as a standard resolution, and the Wii U should be the one to start this trend, in my opinion (which it has to some extent).
Personally, I believe ZombiU will satisfy the Wii U better than anything Resident Evil 6 displayed as a game in itself; a true survival horror experience which makes exceptional native use of the "gimmicky" GamePad features. (Go watch the first E3 gameplay trailer released, now.) RE:6 may need the Wii U to at least present itself better, but the Wii U certainly doesn't need RE:6. Personally though, I don't believe an appearance on the Wii U would give the game any more overall appeal, even with the GamePad.
I feel that if Capcom truly wants to continue their fame with the Resident Evil series successfully (which is looking questionable from this side), they'll re-visit their roots with the game. Intensely.
@Rapadash6: Well, seeing as it was quite an acclaimed success on Wii, and the Wii U is now getting an exclusive successor to the title, I'd say it's pretty unnecessary. The Wii missed out on all those AAA multi-platform titles last year, and we're not exactly getting an exclusive successor to Batman: Arkham City, so I'd say all is pretty much within reason.
@dylantalon: That's merely an unfounded rumour right now. And imagining the PS4 can do 4k resolution, I doubt the price of the console and the appropriate TV to enjoy the feature will be consumer-friendly, especially seeing as this technology is in its prime. Remember when HD was first introduced six years ago? $800+ TVs and the PS3 was initially launched at $600. Quite absurd in retrospect, and a repeat of that situation is something the next generation is probably incapable of surviving.
@Rapadash6: The norm for the current generation. The Wii U is being introduced as the first next-gen console and should definitely not be expected to keep to today's standards.
Anyhow, quite a handful of launch and launch window games have been confirmed to be running in native 1080p, both first- and third-party titles, which I assume also means to be running at 60fps. Even if Mario has to miss out (which I hope not), I'd say the prospects for all/most after-launch titles are good.
Will you all lay off Nintendo Life for posting certain articles? As much as you all may hate to admit it, Michael Pachter is a prominent figure in the industry as an analys, and as pompous and uninformed as he may sound on these Nintendo issues, he is still concerned with the gaming industry and whenever he issues a statement about Nintendo and their endeavours, it is still news, period. This site deals with news concerning absolutely anything Nintendo, even if it deals with swooned-over teen celebs or analysts who may appear to have a stick up their hiney, so if it has the word "Wii U", "Nintendo", "3DS", "Iwata" or even "koopa", it's the duty of the editors here to post it, however irrelevant it may seem. End of story, no negotiation.
The difference between 720p and 1080p hardly bothers me personally, but I think Nintendo having most, if not all, of their launch titles in full native 1080p, including Mario on the issue now, would be a brilliant "in-your-face". Many games have already been confirmed to be running in 1080p, Rayman Legends for one included, so I really don't think Mario of all things should be the one to be upstaged. It's practically the flagship title of the console.
@BLUlink: A 16GB SD card'll be able to store all of these titles listed with quite some space left to spare for other media. It should be good enough for you at the moment and for a few to come.
If you're looking long-term though, I'd say to invest in one of those compatible 64/128GB cards @SanderEvers mentioned a few comments ago. That'll last you possibly for years to come, VC, external media and all. But if that's still a little too expensive, a 32GB SD card should still last you for more of a while if you're uncertain.
Not sure if it's only me, but these sizes seem pretty optimistic to me. More so than I expected. Heck, if I was set on downloading things digitally for the 3DS, a 32GB SD card dedicated solely to retail downloads would be good enough for me - that's a heck of a lot of retail games on one card.
@HarmoKnight: It's been six years since the Wii was first released, and there are practically zero new releases coming out for it presently. You really think that it's just "us gamers" who are aware that the Wii is obsolete? News travels faster than that, even on non-gaming related channels.
On topic, I really believe Sony's actions are proving absurd. I understand that any company would go to drastic lengths to protect what is perceived to be their IP, but Jerry Lambert was clearly not portraying Kevin Butler in the promotion - he was an entirely different character.
Although, on Sony's side of things, I can understand their aggressiveness seeing the exact terms outlined in the contract; Jerry Lambert himself must not be seen promoting any other rival consoles. So, I suppose legally he is in breach of his contract. The only saving grace Lambert's got right now is that those terms had expired three days before anything went public - perfect timing. I still think the whole lawsuit is being overplayed, and possibly even the contract regulations, but hey, law's a crazy field.
@phoenixology: iOS and Android are practically open platforms for development seeing as they're mobile, that's why they're able to have their information plastered on to every brick wall out there. And judging from the quality control on both platforms, I'd say it's easy to see why Nintendo is more strict on their digital platform information and dispensal of SDK kits. At the end of the day, it's a standard console gaming platform; they do need some discretion in place. Anyhow, give them time - we've hardly even gotten any revelations of the Wii U eShop yet, so it's too early to judge their embrace.
Having said that, I'm hoping they'll establish their platform to be more welcoming to smaller indie groups, while still maintaining a better standard of quality control. I wrote something on this issue a few days ago, and I'm glad to see it seems to be turning out the way many are hoping it does.
Comments 436
Re: No Voice Support For Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed On Wii U
@MegaWatts Ah, I see it. Thanks for the clarification!
Re: No Voice Support For Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed On Wii U
Is it just me, or am I interpreting this a lot differently? He said, "one of the side effects of being a launch title," and nothing even concerning the voice-chat limitations. Judging from what Activion's been muddling around lately with their own port too, wouldn't it mean that timing led to the omission of the feature? Am I missing someting here?
Remember Wii Speak, guys? ...Exactly. Be thankful for mandatory headsets.
Re: Rayman Creator Says Wii U is "Surprisingly Powerful"
@Varia01: The Wii U is a next-gen system that will primarily compete with the PS4 and Xbox 720. It darn well better be powerful that the PS3/360.
Encouraging to hear that the Wii U is capable of some immense graphics and textures, especially when they haven't undergone compression. Built in 'very high definition,' and 'can be used in a movie,'? Those must be some impressive graphics, sounds a lot like the Zelda Wii U tech demo from E3 2011.
But I'd also like to hear less telling, more showing.
Re: Talking Point: Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost
...And people like @-Max- are a prime example of the type of consumers I was talking about. Good grief, grow a central nervous system or something.
Re: Talking Point: Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost
@madgear: I don't think Nintendo was actually aware of the exploitation happening in the manufacturing of their consoles, so they weren't advertently doing any wrong. Now that it's been brought to their attention, they have recently issued a statement of them taking responsibility and consequent action on the issue, however I doubt this will be adequate enough to completely cease the practice either way. Nintendo's definitely not "playing ignorant", if you ask me.
And (not directed at anyone in particular) for me, I personally see nothing wrong with this title. It says, "Affordable Consoles Come At A Cost". Essentially, the title deciphered as it is says that the monetary benefit of unknowing consumers is the result of an unfair exploitation at the big expense of other human beings in the industry, not that this is a winning situation that should have its practices ignored on our own side.
Perhaps a more controversial title would've been, "Exploitation In China is What Gives Us Affordable Consoles"... That sounds almost like something positive. (shudder)
Re: Talking Point: Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost
@Squiggle55: Refer to the first part of comment #24.
Re: Talking Point: Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost
@Azooooz: No, these "underage workers" are illegally being held against their will, and are forced to work at the cost of their education and families. They work in atrocious conditions and for an abysmal compensation they call "minimum wage". On the other hand, I'm what an underage worker can be classified as. I'm 14, I freelance as a writer for local magazines/papers around here as a job, as well as online sites too. I voluntarily do that, and I'm adequately compensated. See the difference?
While we may say we are willing to pay an inflated price to support these underprivileged children for a better quality of life, the sad truth is that too many consumers are oblivious to the fact that this is what's going on in the parts of the world where our products are being manufactured. And if prices were raised to be able to help these workers get adequately compensated, the retail prices for these products would at least be almost double what they are now - and guess what would result from that? Consumer outrages, reduction of profits, businesses shutting down etc. And while this is all very disheartening to consider, the economy just can't afford it right now especially without any manufacturing businesses than can provide that same thing within our own countries - and the starting up of such an industry in places like the U.K., U.S., France, Germany etc. would still require our products to be retailed at equally inflated prices. This immoral exploitation is what makes our products affordable, and it is a very, very big cost for our benefit as consumers.
It's just upsetting, and further so by the fact that there's nothing that can currently be done about it right now. At the end of the day, all we can do is oppose this with our morality and speech alone and in an hour, forget all about it and continue with our daily lives, buying these products as we go along. It sounds insensitive, I know, but unfortunately, it's the sad truth of our current state globally.
Re: Gangnam Style Confirmed for Just Dance 4
YouTube is going to be a very interesting place when this launches.
Re: MCV: Wii U Is A Stopgap System, Real Successor Is Still To Come
@triforcepower73: I agree, but this time, Nintendo evidently seem to be making up for their mistakes. They will indeed need to put more effort into it to ensure a healthy longevity for the system to cater and compete well among audiences.
Re: MCV: Wii U Is A Stopgap System, Real Successor Is Still To Come
I've considered this possibility for a while. With Wii sales plummeting rather rapidly, the Wii U seemed to have jumped the gun by being an unexpected "shotgun console" that Nintendo needed to stay alive in the gaming industry without missing a year or two to have a release alongside Sony and Microsoft (which, in my opinion, would've inevitably lead to an industry crash). But that does not mean I believe the Wii U is "catching up" with their competitors - far from it, actually. And what does the name have anything to do with it?
But on the other hand, I've seen how much effort and strain Nintendo is really putting into the Wii U. The GamePad is truly a powerful and innovative contrivance, and it does have some pretty advanced tech integrated into it that not many people care to realise. And let's not forget all the features and utilities Nintendo is really focused on incorporating heavily into the Wii U this time; they're really learning from their mistakes on the Wii. They know what they're doing, and they're building upon how influential the Wii was while removing its flaws. Besides, do people really believe graphics define the start of the next console gen? An introduction of more powerful graphics will re-live the first HD console era all over again - a $600 console, $800+ TVs that can actually support the graphics, and it took five years for HD to become the accepted standard in gaming. The Wii took a calculated risk knowing this would happen, and it failed for staying on the safe side, but I doubt this will happen again for the Wii U as I don't think the next-gen will be able to survive a repeat of the scenario.
Nintendo may still be playing catch-up for a while, as they're undoubtedly balancing both re-addressing of last-gen mistakes and competence for the next-gen ahead in the Wii U. As Pachter has also said just recently, I think a few aspects of the Wii U (especially the online system) will still be a slight work in progress, just hopefully not extensively. Anyhow, this MCV article looks like purely malicious flamebait to me. It's a very sinister speculation to me and not very well-read into.
TL;DR: MCV, U Mad?
Re: Business Insider: Wii U Is The Most Fun I've Had With A Game Console, Ever
Dylan Love is my new favourite man-in-a-suit.
Re: Nintendo Responds To Foxconn's Admission Of Guilt In Child Labour Scandal
I like how immediate an action Nintendo took to resolve the situation, and that Foxconn is doing the right thing as well. Good on both of them, at least.
Re: Call Of Duty Elite Isn't Coming to Wii U at Launch
"Call Of Duty Elite Isn't Coming to Wii U At Launch"
It didn't say never. We'll probably have it as a free DLC pack within a month of the launch, seeing as it should've been included on-disk.
To me, Activision's timing is off. If I'm correct the Wii U port is the one that was developed last, which would explain why they're just so muddled over everything right now. Graphics, add-ons, what next? They need to familiarise themselves on the platform they're working on.
Re: Disney Paints A New Epic Mickey 2 Trailer
@MrWalkieTalkie: No, it doesn't. The Wii U has the option for the Wiimote/Nunchuk combo only in co-op - in single player mode, the GamePad is the mandatory form of control.
Re: Under-Age Workers Allegedly Worked on Wii U Manufacturing
I doubt there's absolutely anything we can stop this, unless we as other consumer regions refused to purchase the products manufactured in China using this kind of abusive labour overall, which is pretty darn impossible given the situation for manufacturing industries outside of China are barely up to par. And yet again, there's China's communist infrastructure which works to the advantage of these corporations - they can create these types of workforces by the dozen, and nothing is seen as violating the law, despite the blackmailing going on.
It does make my stomach churn though - I'm 14, and I'd never want to have to be forced to work under these conditions ever. This is not the industrial revolution of the 19th century, and these are minors going against their will and benefit. I'd honestly say I wouldn't mind paying more for any leisure electronics just to say that there are people in other countries benefiting from this inflation. Honestly. It's sickening, and I also feel rather sorry for Nintendo - it's pretty likely they've inadvertently caught themselves in this situation which they'd probably be all against.
If only morality could supercede state law.
Re: Super Mario Gangnam Style Flash Mob's Got Some Moves
♫ Oppa 'weegee style! ♫
Six years from now, this is going to be the new Macarena.
Re: Activision Clueless On How Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC Will Work On Wii U
Just because Nintendo is currently refusing to publish details on their online service does not mean it's not completed. They've already announced the launch date for the Wii U, so they must have their entire schedule well-planned prior to the event.
Aside from that, to me, Activision seem rather unfamiliar with the Wii U themselves, following the whole "native/non-native 1080p" outrage. But eh.
Re: Archos Uses Star Fox And Mario To Demo Its Console-Killing Tablet
...To me, this device contradicts itself in too many ways for me to outline fully.
Re: Ubisoft States That Wii U GamePad Latency is "Just 1/60 of a Second"
@ThePillowGolem: I'm not sure whether or not you misread me, or whether it's the other way round, but I never said that a refresh rate of 60fps is barely discernable to the human eye or that people can't see beyond that - I said that a split delay in latency lasting 1/60th of a second is barely discernable to the human eye ("to the human senses" would've been a better phrase).
That's 0.01667 seconds of lag - I highly doubt that we can conciously discern that sort of latency, especially seeing as we aren't looking at both the TV and GamePad at the same time.
Re: Talking Point: Games That Need Wii U - Dishonored
I like the prospects of Dishonored on the Wii U in this feature much better than the last RE:6 article; it seems more natural, and less gimmicky. Although, I find the touchscreen sword controls mentioned to be very... out of context, and I believe the whole inventory convenience to be overplayed - the GamePad deserves much more innovation than the obvious. I do love the integration of Miiverse in minor ways though, it really outlines the potential for it as a true gamers' network. A Dishonored sequel on the Wii U would definitely be a welcome possibility, I'd just like to see more proficient utilisation of the GamePad expanding on this.
Re: Rumour: Wii U Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Not Running Natively At 1080p?
Isn't everyone aware by now that the Wii U is more than capable of native 1080p? A handful of games, including Rayman Legends, ZombiU, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and even Toki Tori 2, have been announced to be running in native 1080p at 60fps, so clearly it's the developers at fault here. The Wii U is perfectly fine.
Re: Ken's Rage Cannot Be Contained By PS3 And 360 Alone, Wii U Version Confirmed
As days go past, the Wii U is increasingly getting more and more proficient in attracting better multi-platform support. Nice advancement.
Re: Ubisoft States That Wii U GamePad Latency is "Just 1/60 of a Second"
@rjejr: There's a difference between exaggerative PR marketing, and an actual statement concerning the Wii U's power from a developer standpoint. Everything Ancel stated here is evidently purely based on tested fact, unlike saying the Wii U is "the most innovative system on Earth".
Re: Watch Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate's Newest Trailer Right Here
@Mettable_King: Actually, I've heard it more often that it's essentially a remake of Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii, which was then ported to the 3DS. Apart from that, I have no idea what you're both seeing unless you're playing it in anything under HD quality.
Re: Ubisoft States That Wii U GamePad Latency is "Just 1/60 of a Second"
@Mk_II Not necessarily. Remember that the PS3 and Vita are two separate devices, unlike the Wii U, and are both working together to stream images to the Vita simultaneously. But obviously, the PS3 alone would be incapable of this sort of advancement by far.
Anyhow, 1/60th of a second in latency? That's hardly discernable to the human eye - it's essentially zero latency whatsoever. This is essentially what I've been saying regarding the Wii U's power; a console that can run games rendered in native 1080p at 60FPS all while streaming an equally high-def image to the GamePad simultaneously does sound pretty powerful to me. I don't understand why people just can't connect the dots already; from what has been displayed so far, this console is seemingly not just, and I quote Xander Davis in particular here, "an Xbox 360 seven years late".
Re: Mega Man Fans Troll Capcom Following iOS Social Game Announcement
Please tell me this is Capcom embracing 21st century trolling, and not a serious business decision on their willful behalf. This is atrocious.
Re: Soothsayers, Begone - 3DS Software Sales Rise 89 Percent Over Last Year
@Mahe: I shall not agree or disagree on that comment merely based on the fact that that opinion is subjective. Many of these games were met with astounding reviews and sales in conjunction, so there is no denying that the 3DS now does have a sustainable library, origination of such be damned. As long as these so-called "bad games, ports and rehashes" are prevalently well-received, I believe that opinions on comparisons to whatever quality we may have had back then is irrelevant.
And there are other factors aside from games as to why 3DS sales are lagging; take care to remember that.
Re: Feature: Reinventing Nintendo's Major Franchises on Wii U
@BassX0: I don't own a Wii, nor a GameCube. If the Wii U offers the complete Virtual Console selection for Wii or even delivers GameCube titles alongside, there're quite a few classics I'll have a go at.
Re: Feature: Reinventing Nintendo's Major Franchises on Wii U
I agree with the entire list, especially Star Fox, F-Zero and Yoshi. Although for F-Zero, despite how action-packed a re-invention of the game would ideally be, I still believe there is enough leniency for taking significant advantage of the GamePad's capabilties - but still, the GamePad is more beneficial to some genres than others. With Star Fox though, I'd expect a combination of both mind-blowing visuals and innovative use of the GamePad, more so with the option for two GamePads than asymmetrical abilities. If the link from @triforcepower78 serves true, I'd really love to see that and hope Nintendo gets more games to go that route as well; the GamePad really needs to prove itself big-time.
It's rather funny and upsetting when you realise that the possibilies for Nintendo are way more than they seem when you look at all these forgotten IPs just begging to be re-invented on such an ideal console as the Wii U. It'd be a devastating shame if Nintendo doesn't embrace the gold-mine gleaming right before them; Mario, Zelda and Metroid are all more than welcome, but Nintendo has the potential to bring on so much more and appeal an even bigger audience. I've never actually even heard of Wave Race before, but that seems to have interesting prospects.
Aside from all this, I'm a little surprised I didn't see Mother/Earthbound on this list. Would be nice to see that re-invented to.
Re: Ikachan Confirmed For Both DSiWare And 3DS eShop
@jarrebourn: You can't compare a $40 Mario retail title to even the best games on the iOS/Android platforms; the only justifiable comparison is digital platforms alone.
@Windy: While I agree that there are quite a few more well-priced games on those platforms that offer quite a lot more content than many games currently do on the 3DS eShop, I highly doubt going that route will satisfy you if you're also enthusiastic on retail-quality games being found there in abundance - remember, it's a digital platform and that alone. Apart from that, also take note that if you're unsure of what exactly you're looking for on the iOS/Android platform, you're most certainly not going to find it. Mobile platforms have become very cluttered and hard to sift through, given their lack of sufficient quality control and ease of search; for every high-quality indie game you'll find out there that overtly rivals (or surpasses) the quality of the eShop, there are a hundred more "$1 timewasters" overshadowing some truly great mobile games out there - rendering our set of consumers rather niche on these platforms.
My advice would be that, if you're not happy with the standard or pricing you're finding on the 3DS eShop as of now, take time to scour other mobile platforms for cheaper, better equivalents to sustain your digital needs for now. Abandoning retail completely is only going to prove shallow right now, especially with everything we've got headed our way to the 3DS right now.
Re: Wii U Epic Mickey 2 May Not Feature Off-TV Play
@SteveW: I believe he's referring to exclusive IPs such as Uncharted, God of War, Infamous, Beyond etc. to which I honestly believe Nintendo's IPs have proved to rival just the same - only in a different manner, if not more prevalent.
Re: Ikachan Confirmed For Both DSiWare And 3DS eShop
@edhe: Agreed. To me, Cave Story has kind of lost its original value as a result of that, but eh, it's still a superb game.
Never played Ikachan after playing Cave Story, but looking forward to seeing how it pans out on handhelds. Just as long as they price it well though, I hear it isn't really that long or replayable.
Re: Wii U Epic Mickey 2 May Not Feature Off-TV Play
@dylantalon: Because an isolated $250 handheld device and an isolated $250 console with a very limited library using cross-play features can do exactly the same things as the Wii U. Pretty sure the Wii U also has some pretty amazing launch exclusives, both first- and third-party. Opinion =/= fact.
Anywho, I'm unaware of what gameplay mechanics Epic Mickey actually utilises, but something tells me a similar scheme of this paintbrush/thinner aiming thingamabob can be replicated using either the GamePad's touchscreen/stylus combo, or even using the controller's motion controls? It could be just as good, seeing as they're aiming for a new experience. Just a shot in the dark here, but maybe all this might play out better than all the doom and gloom going on here. Maybe it's an advantage.
Re: Wii U Epic Mickey 2 May Not Feature Off-TV Play
Not too bothered by this. Playing games solely on the GamePad is a very nice addition, especially for titles as vast as Darksiders II and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, but when all is said and done, it's still a console game - best experienced on a full-screen TV, utilising fully versatile controls on the second screen. I didn't really expect all Wii U games to incorporate the feature anyway, especially for third-parties.
Still haven't got a clue what Epic Mickey is even vaguely about or looks like. Must find time to check it out.
Re: Soothsayers, Begone - 3DS Software Sales Rise 89 Percent Over Last Year
@Mahe: It takes singular games to make up a robust library: if you look at it now, we do have a sustainable blockbuster library over the entirety of the 3DS's short lifetime. Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 7, StarFox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Tekken: 3D Edition, Resident Evil: Revelations, Nintendogs + Cats, Cave Story 3D, Super Street Fighter IV, Super Monkey Ball, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and quite a few others I may have left out, with more even bigger hits to come this season. Animal Crossing: Jump Out, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Professor Layton: Miracle Mask and Paper Mario: Sticker Star are all hugely anticipated games that will definitely impact 3DS sales when they arrive, and there are more to come (Fantasy Life, for one, we haven't heard much about).
The 3DS does have a pretty robust library for the amount of time it has been out and everything the system encountered, more so than people care to mention because the combined release of all these titles were consequently fractured. Some at launch, some in-between, some just now, and obviously much more coming later. I think it's unfair to be comparing it to the DS library right now, given the respective lifetimes of each system - the DS has been out for a long time, and still saw many hits come in its latest years before the 3DS and is still continuing to do so. Compared to the DS's lifetime, the 3DS is still considered to be taking its first steps right now; and even so, it's doing a good job for being out under two years and encountering an early sales crisis.
Besides, an 89% increase on 3DS figures is pretty significant, regardless of whatever the initial values were. That's almost a doubling of sales figures - that's pretty significant. I do agree though, that comparing 3DS sales to Vita sales is a dismissable target, seeing how the latter has performed up until now.
Re: Take a Tour of The Tower of London, ZombiU Style
Damien, typo alert: "To quite Ubisoft..."
This game has captured me ever since day one at E3. True survival horror at its finest. And wicked gameplay, in my opinion. ZombiU's quality. n__n
Re: More Nintendo Costumes For Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition
Looks interesting. May look into it if I ever have the extra mon- oh, who am I kidding, like I'll ever have extra money with the way the Wii U's going. ;___;
Re: Ubisoft Announces Rabbids Rumble North American Release Date
PokéRabbids.
In all seriousness, though I'm not too interested, this does look nice. The utilisation of SpotPass is indeed an addictive plus.
Re: New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not
@Rapadash6: Oh, no, I agree with you. What I meant is that we shouldn't be understating the Wii U's possible power by comparing it to the standards of the higher-end consoles of this gen. I personally believe the Wii U will probably be capable of many great things, especially seeing the subtle hints a few devs and related people have been dropping (from what I've read). Eh, I don't know; point is, the Wii U shouldn't be compared to the capabilities of the PS3/360 in relation to the PS4/720 just yet, especially when we know nothing of the Wii U in terms of power, or the PS4/720 in terms of existence - but I highly doubt the next generation will still be limited to 720p as a standard resolution, and the Wii U should be the one to start this trend, in my opinion (which it has to some extent).
Re: Talking Point: Games That Need Wii U - Resident Evil 6
Personally, I believe ZombiU will satisfy the Wii U better than anything Resident Evil 6 displayed as a game in itself; a true survival horror experience which makes exceptional native use of the "gimmicky" GamePad features. (Go watch the first E3 gameplay trailer released, now.) RE:6 may need the Wii U to at least present itself better, but the Wii U certainly doesn't need RE:6. Personally though, I don't believe an appearance on the Wii U would give the game any more overall appeal, even with the GamePad.
I feel that if Capcom truly wants to continue their fame with the Resident Evil series successfully (which is looking questionable from this side), they'll re-visit their roots with the game. Intensely.
Re: Rayman Origins Was In The Works For The Wii U
@Rapadash6: Well, seeing as it was quite an acclaimed success on Wii, and the Wii U is now getting an exclusive successor to the title, I'd say it's pretty unnecessary. The Wii missed out on all those AAA multi-platform titles last year, and we're not exactly getting an exclusive successor to Batman: Arkham City, so I'd say all is pretty much within reason.
Re: New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not
@dylantalon: That's merely an unfounded rumour right now. And imagining the PS4 can do 4k resolution, I doubt the price of the console and the appropriate TV to enjoy the feature will be consumer-friendly, especially seeing as this technology is in its prime. Remember when HD was first introduced six years ago? $800+ TVs and the PS3 was initially launched at $600. Quite absurd in retrospect, and a repeat of that situation is something the next generation is probably incapable of surviving.
Re: New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not
@Rapadash6: The norm for the current generation. The Wii U is being introduced as the first next-gen console and should definitely not be expected to keep to today's standards.
Anyhow, quite a handful of launch and launch window games have been confirmed to be running in native 1080p, both first- and third-party titles, which I assume also means to be running at 60fps. Even if Mario has to miss out (which I hope not), I'd say the prospects for all/most after-launch titles are good.
Re: Guess What? Michael Pachter Isn't a Fan of The Wii U
Will you all lay off Nintendo Life for posting certain articles? As much as you all may hate to admit it, Michael Pachter is a prominent figure in the industry as an analys, and as pompous and uninformed as he may sound on these Nintendo issues, he is still concerned with the gaming industry and whenever he issues a statement about Nintendo and their endeavours, it is still news, period. This site deals with news concerning absolutely anything Nintendo, even if it deals with swooned-over teen celebs or analysts who may appear to have a stick up their hiney, so if it has the word "Wii U", "Nintendo", "3DS", "Iwata" or even "koopa", it's the duty of the editors here to post it, however irrelevant it may seem. End of story, no negotiation.
Re: Kylie Sing & Dance Coming To Wii Next Month
The tagline for this article is just sensational.
Re: New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not
The difference between 720p and 1080p hardly bothers me personally, but I think Nintendo having most, if not all, of their launch titles in full native 1080p, including Mario on the issue now, would be a brilliant "in-your-face". Many games have already been confirmed to be running in 1080p, Rayman Legends for one included, so I really don't think Mario of all things should be the one to be upstaged. It's practically the flagship title of the console.
Re: File Sizes Revealed For 3DS eShop Retail Downloads
@BLUlink: A 16GB SD card'll be able to store all of these titles listed with quite some space left to spare for other media. It should be good enough for you at the moment and for a few to come.
If you're looking long-term though, I'd say to invest in one of those compatible 64/128GB cards @SanderEvers mentioned a few comments ago. That'll last you possibly for years to come, VC, external media and all. But if that's still a little too expensive, a 32GB SD card should still last you for more of a while if you're uncertain.
Re: File Sizes Revealed For 3DS eShop Retail Downloads
Not sure if it's only me, but these sizes seem pretty optimistic to me. More so than I expected. Heck, if I was set on downloading things digitally for the 3DS, a 32GB SD card dedicated solely to retail downloads would be good enough for me - that's a heck of a lot of retail games on one card.
Re: Bridgestone Responds to Sony's "Kevin Butler" Lawsuit
@HarmoKnight: It's been six years since the Wii was first released, and there are practically zero new releases coming out for it presently. You really think that it's just "us gamers" who are aware that the Wii is obsolete? News travels faster than that, even on non-gaming related channels.
On topic, I really believe Sony's actions are proving absurd. I understand that any company would go to drastic lengths to protect what is perceived to be their IP, but Jerry Lambert was clearly not portraying Kevin Butler in the promotion - he was an entirely different character.
Although, on Sony's side of things, I can understand their aggressiveness seeing the exact terms outlined in the contract; Jerry Lambert himself must not be seen promoting any other rival consoles. So, I suppose legally he is in breach of his contract. The only saving grace Lambert's got right now is that those terms had expired three days before anything went public - perfect timing. I still think the whole lawsuit is being overplayed, and possibly even the contract regulations, but hey, law's a crazy field.
Re: Indie Developers Speak Highly of Wii U eShop
@phoenixology: iOS and Android are practically open platforms for development seeing as they're mobile, that's why they're able to have their information plastered on to every brick wall out there. And judging from the quality control on both platforms, I'd say it's easy to see why Nintendo is more strict on their digital platform information and dispensal of SDK kits. At the end of the day, it's a standard console gaming platform; they do need some discretion in place. Anyhow, give them time - we've hardly even gotten any revelations of the Wii U eShop yet, so it's too early to judge their embrace.
Having said that, I'm hoping they'll establish their platform to be more welcoming to smaller indie groups, while still maintaining a better standard of quality control. I wrote something on this issue a few days ago, and I'm glad to see it seems to be turning out the way many are hoping it does.