Yep, and you can pretty much say the same for EA and Activision. They just have a different way of seeing the world, and they operate through very rigid corporate structures. They are structures that their execs see as producing big profits, but they are structures that are largely indifferent to the idea of fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
A lot of Rare staffers left because they felt they'd lost control over what they were doing through interference from above at Microsoft. It wasn't necessarily that they were being 'told' what to do, but more to do with the heavy-handed bureaucracy and corporate expectations, which detracted from what they were trying to achieve as makers of imaginative and innovative games.
Their relationship with Nintendo mightn't have been 100% perfect, but I think it worked because Nintendo sort of offered Rare advice and assistance, but largely left them to create the games themselves, i.e. Rare were in the UK and Nintendo are in Japan. Rare had a lot of freedom to create software as they saw fit with a philosophy that's at odds with the strict corporate structure of the likes of Microsoft. That's why it didn't work as I understand it. It's a real shame, because those N64 Rare games still stand out in my gaming memory.
Imagine if you had Retro, Rare (with its former staff) and Platinum Games developing exclusively alongside Nintendo for the Wii U. There would simply be no debate about which console had the best exclusives!
I haven't played it yet (been waiting for the Wii U version), but i've only heard really good things about it. It's kinda like a cross between Zelda, Metroid & Diablo, and perhaps God of War. It's quite a large game too...
I think the points the Sun writer made have all been made before. The thing is, you might be able to hook up your Vita to the PS3, but is it going to be as seamless an experience? Because the Wii U gamepad was specifically designed for, and integrated with the Wii U console, you're not going to get any lag from TV Screen to gamepad. Can the same be said for the Playstation setup??
He's saying it'll be outdated within a year. Well, my guess is that PS4 won't release to 2014, Xbox 2013...so, PS3 could have up to another 2 years life. He's saying 'outdated'...but he's only talking in terms of the consoles power. So what?? If I want a powerhouse gaming machine I have my PC. If it's all about 'power', then you wouldn't be buying an Xbox 720 or Ps4, because they'll also be outdated on release.
People buy Nintendo consoles because they provide a 'qualitatively' different experience from the others. Of course processing power and graphics matter, to a point..I think the Wii U is probably a bit more powerful than these people are giving it credit for. It's going to be outmuscled by the next round of consoles for sure, but my gut feeling is that it is quite a bit more of a powerful machine than the Xbox 360 and PS3.
He says buy a Vita if you have a PS3 rather than a Wii U, but he just comes off looking like a Playstation fanboy. It has better games?? Well, I don't like any of their 1st party exclusives, and I play all the cross-platform titles I want on my PC. So it's a matter of opinion.
For the third point, mobile gaming is also going to pose a threat to the other consoles when they release as well. Nintendo historically hasn't been a haven for casual gaming, it was only really with the Wii that this happened. I know I personally want to play games on a 'proper' gaming machine with 'proper' controls, so mobile gaming is pretty much irrelevant to me, as i'm sure it is many other 'real' gamers who will buy a Wii U.
I don't think the console is necessarily an easy sell to the casual audience, but then again, i'm not convinced 'they' are the target audience for this console. Really, you don't have to be a genius to figure out how the thing works once it's explained. I have to question some people's intelligence who are apparently mystified by it all. I think it's an interesting idea.. this whole asymmetric multiplayer concept. The gamepad will also be good for reducing onscreen hud clutter which is one of my pet peeves, and I think it's interesting how the gamepad has been used in a game like Wonderful 101 for example...
To say it's overpriced....well how much did the PS3 retail for at launch?? Sure, it's not next-gen in power, but I think it's fairly reasonably priced for what it offers. It's a long term, 6 year investment, so you take a hit at the start and buy the games at launch to ensure a steady flow of quality titles follow. I think he's being contrarian for the sake of producing a 'click' worthy, attention grabbing article..
I think he's really talking about the major cross-platform titles specifically. I suspect that once the other two get their consoles out, and development is oriented towards their specs, Wii U is probably going to struggle to get those titles & perhaps even ports of them in the long run...
Though that comment doesn't take into account that maybe the increasing costs of game development associated with the new console tech. of the Xbox720 & PS4 might lead some 3rd parties to look to the Wii U as a more cost-effective and less risky platform to develop for.
Wii U could actually become a haven for innovative/creative 3rd party exclusives, because developers are very familiar with the technology, it's going to be less expensive to develop for with a potentially enormous installed base. Who knows??
I'm not sure what he's basing his conclusions on, but it's going to be important that titles like Assassin's Creed 3, Zombi, Darksiders, and Bayonetta sell well initially to show 3rd parties that there is an audience for their games, and not just Nintendo titles & casual games. If they sell poorly, then it's going to be hard to attract 3rd parties for the rest of the consoles lifetime.
Plus I thought the casuals already jumped ship?? They've got their i-phone's and android devices to entertain them right?? Why would they need a wii-u?
I'm not convinced FTP is the 'game-changing' revolutionary method for delivering games despite all the hype. Many work on a model of 'pay-to-win', forcing the player to fork out money just to be able to compete with players who've purchased op items & gear....so they can be very unbalanced experiences.
At the end of the day the F2P model is only really currently relevant in the multiplayer on-line arena, and Nintendo's biggest titles like Zelda, Metroid, 3D Mario, etc.. tend to be focused on epic single-player experiences, so the F2P model just doesn't make a lot of sense for Nintendo's own games. They're just a different type of game.
Having said that, with the presence of an on-line store they could do something like the Steam sales you get on PC, where you can get games up to 75% off. Those sales are pretty lucrative and ensure that game sales tick-over during off-season periods for gaming (i.e. Summer). You get great bargains, and I definately find myself buying games that I think are great value, rather than the fact that I desperately want to play them..
I think having that flat $60 price-tag is an issue and needs to change, with there being so much competition in the gaming space. I mean, i'm not too worried about the lack of graphical prowess because like most people i'm buying a Wii U primarily for Nintendo's own franchises and exclusives like Bayonetta 2, kart racers and 3rd person action titles...games with local multiplayer, etc..
I mean, i'm just not sure how much Nintendo's own franchises would benefit from a cutting edge powerhouse system, and I think that plays into their thinking and has left them to try to do novel things from an input perspective as a point of difference from the other consoles.
People are disappointed by a lack of a Mario 3D HD or Zelda or Metroid title..but hey, comparatively I think the launch lineup is actually pretty strong compared to other launches.
On paper, Nintendo are trying quite hard to cater for everybody despite not having an awful lot of software ready themselves.
Rayman Legends, Pikmin 3, Epic Mickey 2, Scribblenauts, Sonic & All Stars Racing (New Mario Bros. if we're being generous imo), I mean those are the sort of games that appeal to everyone. I would buy 'em for my kids at launch if i had kids:) Those games are looking superb..
It's a really solid launch...plus I really want Darksiders 2, Wonderful 101 looks great, and even 007 Legends (despite somewhat underwhelming graphics) will be worth a look. Zombi, Assassins Creed 3 , Fifa 13 and then Monster Hunter....
Most launches suck. You only have to look at Wikipedia to see it. This one, while not brimming with knockout exclusives is looking very very solid...
Yes, they're a Japanese developer, and they've got a good track record of producing quality games. So, Nintendo are just giving them a better deal than what PS and XBox would.. Hey, i mean....i don't know why they'd be complaining because they want exclusives too. Beaten to the punch..
I've played both on my PC and honestly, you won't be missing much if they don't port it over to WiiU. Crysis 1 was pretty decent up until they introduced aliens to the mixture, then it just became a farce. Yes, it's a big sandbox but unfortunately there's not much of interest to be found. It's easily the prettiest game I've seen, even today, and it was released back in 2007.
Crysis 2 was much more of a COD clone. It took away the sandbox of the 1st game in favour of relatively large but linear levels lots of explosions, set pieces, and long immersion breaking cutscenes where you are prompted to look at something 'awesome' happening in the distance. They also stripped back the nanosuit powers to just cloak and maximum strength.
If it runs CryEngine 3 well, it ought to be able to run Unreal Engine 4 and any other comparable so-called 'next-gen' engine. 'Scalability' is key, because the games have to run on anything from a high end pc to a mobile phone device..Gabe Newell said something to the same effect. I'm fairly certain Valve are waiting for the other two consoles to release Source2...and Gabe interestingly pointed out that the Wii U fitted in well in terms of their scalability structure looking ahead.
That's not to say Wii U versions of the same cross-platform games will measure up to the new X-box & PS, but it doesn't seem that the gap is anywhere near as great this time around...from the snippets we know.
Like many others, I was fairly bemused by the fact that virtually every AAA game trailer shown off at E3 displayed over-the top violence with little if no context. They were violent for the sake of being violent..
It's pretty sad that this is all big game developers can come up with, and even sadder for us the consumers for buying and playing these games in the millions..
That's why i'm looking forward to this new console so I can get some games that are light-hearted and fun, but still presenting a decent challenge.
I don't see the likes of Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, The Last of Us and Dead Space, etc.. doing any of those things. Would not be upset at all if none of those games made it to the Wii U because they are boring.
I haven't picked this one up yet. Hope they tidy it up before release, because it didn't look in a particularly good state at E3. It's one i'd definately like to get if they port it properly..
@BenAV Yeah, well I guess so. They still might buy it... But, they're going to be in for an awful shock when they see how the full game plays .
What I meant was, that if Nintendo were doing the mini-games as market research, I don't know by what measure they'd be able to judge whether these kids would actually want to play the full version, simply because they're so different.
Is it market research or are they simply imposing brand recognition though?? I mean the F-Zero minigame is nothing at all like F-Zero and so forth. How could you gauge whether kids would like playing a game where you fly in a futuristic aircraft doing 80, 000 miles per hour around ridiculously challenging tracks from that?
I think it would be a great idea, but the minigame would in someway actually have to represent the full titles beyond simply the association of the 'name', and they don't appear to do that well enough.
To me it looks like Nintendo saying, "at some stage down the track we are going to release an F-Zero title, and the F-Zero minigame is sort of a way of indoctrinating the kids who weren't alive or were too young to play the last release".
If they'd wanted to create NintendoLand as market research they should've made the mini-games better reflect what the full titles do.
I actually believe the launch line-up is comparatively quite strong when measured against previous launches. You have to remember that announcing titles that are further down the track will only serve to deviate attention away from the launch lineup. From Nintendo's perspective, I think they'll want to get the console out the door and promote the titles it already has before turning attention to what lies ahead..
If you only game on Nintendo's systems, or like me, are yet to pick up a game like Arkham City, I think the launch window is going to be really quite good for you, with a fair bit of quality on offer.
'Pikmin 3' is going to be a really solid 1st party launch title no doubt. Then there' s Zombi' which is looking superior to most survival horror titles on the market atm by virtue of its punishing gameplay mechanics and novel control scheme. It looks genuinely good..I mean, i'd buy it on PC based on what they've shown so far.. 3 high quality action/adventure titles in 'Assassins Creed 3', 'Batman: Arkham City' and 'Darksiders 2'. 'Rayman: Legends' looks fantastic as well, and really I don't know why you'd want NSMB when you can get this, because visually it looks terrific and its doing some really novel and neat things with the new controller...it's not simply iterating on the same thing for the 100th time.. 'Project P-100' looked fun too...and with Platinum Games behind it, you know the final product will be worth playing..
Aside from those, there's two other games that either weren't on display or haven't officially been revealed for the WiiU, but will likely release in the launch window and are sure to be of high quality....'Sonic & Sega All Stars: Transformed' (which looks very Diddy Kong Racing N64 inspired) and 'Fifa 13', for those wanting a sports title. Yeah, they might be cross-platform titles and they're not the highest profile games around, but as I said, if you're not gaming on the other consoles, then there's going to be at least 8 titles within the first 3 or 4 months that you're probably going to want to get...well, at least I know I do.
Also, why EA are releasing Mass Effect 3 instead of packaging it as a trilogy, i'll never know..
I think publishers are waiting to see how well the console is received at launch, and how many units the likes of Arkham City, Assassins Creed 3, Darksiders 2, and Zombi shift. Will the audience be there??
Honestly, i'm not surprised.. its a new system with a novel control scheme coming from a company that's historically had a poor relationship with most major publishers. It's current console is SD and has an archaic on-line setup. So there is a bit of the unknown there from the publishers perspective.... Plus i'm sure that there are some publishers who are currently experimenting with ways the controller can be integrated into pre-existing titles, which takes time...perhaps for some its just too much of a hassle.
Whether the Wii U gets quality 3rd party support throughout its lifespan will probably depend more on whether Nintendo can show major publishers like Square Enix, Ubi, 2K, EA, etc.. it has an audience for its games and not simply Wii Fit, Mario & Zelda, etc..
They need to get the on-line aspect of the system on par with what microsoft & sony are doing as a minimum...but I also think the 3rd party ports are a bit of a testing ground, and if they don't sell well, then it could be a real nail in the coffin for quality 3rd party titles on the Wii U..
So if you want great 3rd party support on the WiiU, i'd suggest that buying games like Assassins Creed 3, Arkham City, Darksiders 2, Mass Effect 3, and Zombi for the WiiU at launch will go a long way to ensuring this.
I really don't think 3rd party support for the WiiU will suffer for technical deficiencies in graphical capability, but mainly for the aforementioned reasons...because I don't think the gap between the upcoming systems will present as big a barrier as this generation's did.
Forget about EA & Activision, etc.. Nintendo would do well to encourage the partnership with Ubisoft though, that is one worth growing, and Ubi seem willing to make it work. They need to court talented smaller developers out there to publish exclusives as a point of difference to the other consoles..like say, i dunno SuperGiant games for example. Bastion was superb, and better than a lot of the titles coming from major publishers/developers. Hopefully there are more titles from Platinum Games as well in the future..
I can't think of one EA or Activision title that I could be bothered playing anyway. Square Enix have some good titles, but they don't seem too interested at this stage. Who knows..
Ok, well this completely contradicts what he said in the Pikmin3 presentation. He said that Nintendo were keen to show that gaming experiences with depth are still relevant in a world where casual mobile gaming was gaining great prominence..
So what's this all about?? To my eyes, it appears to be hinting towards dumbed down versions of key franchises like Zelda, which would be a horrible path to go down. I mean, it's not exactly Dwarf Fortress difficult is it?? There is no way that they can appease both hardcore devotees of the Zelda franchise and casual gamers who don't even really like games tbh. There is no happy medium here, and I think that's why Nintendo are struggling for an answer to the question being posed by Miyamoto.
Seriously, make a dumbed down Zelda game for the casuals, and make a separate hardcore title for the gamers who buy Nintendo's new hardware come rain, hail or shine. Like most others here, i've been excited about what Nintendo can do with the big titles like Zelda, Metroid, Mario 3D, and F-Zero in HD. I was hoping for deeper, challenging and more immersive experiences, but statements like this leave me feeling somewhat pessimistic as to the overall direction Nintendo is taking with its key franchises..
Comments 225
Re: Ex-Rare Staffer: Exodus Wouldn't Have Happened Under Nintendo
Yep, and you can pretty much say the same for EA and Activision. They just have a different way of seeing the world, and they operate through very rigid corporate structures. They are structures that their execs see as producing big profits, but they are structures that are largely indifferent to the idea of fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
A lot of Rare staffers left because they felt they'd lost control over what they were doing through interference from above at Microsoft. It wasn't necessarily that they were being 'told' what to do, but more to do with the heavy-handed bureaucracy and corporate expectations, which detracted from what they were trying to achieve as makers of imaginative and innovative games.
Their relationship with Nintendo mightn't have been 100% perfect, but I think it worked because Nintendo sort of offered Rare advice and assistance, but largely left them to create the games themselves, i.e. Rare were in the UK and Nintendo are in Japan. Rare had a lot of freedom to create software as they saw fit with a philosophy that's at odds with the strict corporate structure of the likes of Microsoft. That's why it didn't work as I understand it. It's a real shame, because those N64 Rare games still stand out in my gaming memory.
Imagine if you had Retro, Rare (with its former staff) and Platinum Games developing exclusively alongside Nintendo for the Wii U. There would simply be no debate about which console had the best exclusives!
Re: Super Mario 3D Land Clone Hits iPhone, and Looks Rubbish
That's just sad. It's hard to believe how cynical and pathetic some people are.
Anything for a buck.
Re: You'll Be Able To Play Darksiders II Entirely On The Wii U GamePad
I haven't played it yet (been waiting for the Wii U version), but i've only heard really good things about it. It's kinda like a cross between Zelda, Metroid & Diablo, and perhaps God of War. It's quite a large game too...
BUY IT!!!
Re: Talking Point: Five Reasons to Buy a Wii U
I think the points the Sun writer made have all been made before. The thing is, you might be able to hook up your Vita to the PS3, but is it going to be as seamless an experience? Because the Wii U gamepad was specifically designed for, and integrated with the Wii U console, you're not going to get any lag from TV Screen to gamepad. Can the same be said for the Playstation setup??
He's saying it'll be outdated within a year. Well, my guess is that PS4 won't release to 2014, Xbox 2013...so, PS3 could have up to another 2 years life.
He's saying 'outdated'...but he's only talking in terms of the consoles power. So what?? If I want a powerhouse gaming machine I have my PC. If it's all about 'power', then you wouldn't be buying an Xbox 720 or Ps4, because they'll also be outdated on release.
People buy Nintendo consoles because they provide a 'qualitatively' different experience from the others. Of course processing power and graphics matter, to a point..I think the Wii U is probably a bit more powerful than these people are giving it credit for. It's going to be outmuscled by the next round of consoles for sure, but my gut feeling is that it is quite a bit more of a powerful machine than the Xbox 360 and PS3.
He says buy a Vita if you have a PS3 rather than a Wii U, but he just comes off looking like a Playstation fanboy. It has better games?? Well, I don't like any of their 1st party exclusives, and I play all the cross-platform titles I want on my PC. So it's a matter of opinion.
For the third point, mobile gaming is also going to pose a threat to the other consoles when they release as well. Nintendo historically hasn't been a haven for casual gaming, it was only really with the Wii that this happened. I know I personally want to play games on a 'proper' gaming machine with 'proper' controls, so mobile gaming is pretty much irrelevant to me, as i'm sure it is many other 'real' gamers who will buy a Wii U.
I don't think the console is necessarily an easy sell to the casual audience, but then again, i'm not convinced 'they' are the target audience for this console. Really, you don't have to be a genius to figure out how the thing works once it's explained. I have to question some people's intelligence who are apparently mystified by it all. I think it's an interesting idea.. this whole asymmetric multiplayer concept. The gamepad will also be good for reducing onscreen hud clutter which is one of my pet peeves, and I think it's interesting how the gamepad has been used in a game like Wonderful 101 for example...
To say it's overpriced....well how much did the PS3 retail for at launch?? Sure, it's not next-gen in power, but I think it's fairly reasonably priced for what it offers. It's a long term, 6 year investment, so you take a hit at the start and buy the games at launch to ensure a steady flow of quality titles follow. I think he's being contrarian for the sake of producing a 'click' worthy, attention grabbing article..
Re: Two Tribes Founder: Wii U Could Become A "Casual Haven"
I think he's really talking about the major cross-platform titles specifically. I suspect that once the other two get their consoles out, and development is oriented towards their specs, Wii U is probably going to struggle to get those titles & perhaps even ports of them in the long run...
Though that comment doesn't take into account that maybe the increasing costs of game development associated with the new console tech. of the Xbox720 & PS4 might lead some 3rd parties to look to the Wii U as a more cost-effective and less risky platform to develop for.
Wii U could actually become a haven for innovative/creative 3rd party exclusives, because developers are very familiar with the technology, it's going to be less expensive to develop for with a potentially enormous installed base. Who knows??
I'm not sure what he's basing his conclusions on, but it's going to be important that titles like Assassin's Creed 3, Zombi, Darksiders, and Bayonetta sell well initially to show 3rd parties that there is an audience for their games, and not just Nintendo titles & casual games. If they sell poorly, then it's going to be hard to attract 3rd parties for the rest of the consoles lifetime.
Plus I thought the casuals already jumped ship?? They've got their i-phone's and android devices to entertain them right?? Why would they need a wii-u?
Re: Bayonetta 2 Dev: Wii U Exclusivity Isn't a Snub, It's About Reaching a Wider Audience
Great move by Nintendo. Hopefully, Platinum Games joins the Nintendo stable on a permanent basis..
Re: Talking Point: Are Wii U Games Going To Be Too Expensive?
I'm not convinced FTP is the 'game-changing' revolutionary method for delivering games despite all the hype. Many work on a model of 'pay-to-win', forcing the player to fork out money just to be able to compete with players who've purchased op items & gear....so they can be very unbalanced experiences.
At the end of the day the F2P model is only really currently relevant in the multiplayer on-line arena, and Nintendo's biggest titles like Zelda, Metroid, 3D Mario, etc.. tend to be focused on epic single-player experiences, so the F2P model just doesn't make a lot of sense for Nintendo's own games. They're just a different type of game.
Having said that, with the presence of an on-line store they could do something like the Steam sales you get on PC, where you can get games up to 75% off. Those sales are pretty lucrative and ensure that game sales tick-over during off-season periods for gaming (i.e. Summer). You get great bargains, and I definately find myself buying games that I think are great value, rather than the fact that I desperately want to play them..
I think having that flat $60 price-tag is an issue and needs to change, with there being so much competition in the gaming space. I mean, i'm not too worried about the lack of graphical prowess because like most people i'm buying a Wii U primarily for Nintendo's own franchises and exclusives like Bayonetta 2, kart racers and 3rd person action titles...games with local multiplayer, etc..
I mean, i'm just not sure how much Nintendo's own franchises would benefit from a cutting edge powerhouse system, and I think that plays into their thinking and has left them to try to do novel things from an input perspective as a point of difference from the other consoles.
Re: Round Up: Wii U Launch Window Games
People are disappointed by a lack of a Mario 3D HD or Zelda or Metroid title..but hey, comparatively I think the launch lineup is actually pretty strong compared to other launches.
On paper, Nintendo are trying quite hard to cater for everybody despite not having an awful lot of software ready themselves.
Rayman Legends, Pikmin 3, Epic Mickey 2, Scribblenauts, Sonic & All Stars Racing (New Mario Bros. if we're being generous imo), I mean those are the sort of games that appeal to everyone. I would buy 'em for my kids at launch if i had kids:) Those games are looking superb..
It's a really solid launch...plus I really want Darksiders 2, Wonderful 101 looks great, and even 007 Legends (despite somewhat underwhelming graphics) will be worth a look. Zombi, Assassins Creed 3 , Fifa 13 and then Monster Hunter....
Most launches suck. You only have to look at Wikipedia to see it. This one, while not brimming with knockout exclusives is looking very very solid...
Re: Golly, Pluto! The Wii U Is Getting Epic Mickey 2 As Well
Two words...
Warren Spector.
Re: Bayonetta 2 Dev: Wii U Exclusivity Isn't a Snub, It's About Reaching a Wider Audience
@Haywired
Yes, they're a Japanese developer, and they've got a good track record of producing quality games.
So, Nintendo are just giving them a better deal than what PS and XBox would..
Hey, i mean....i don't know why they'd be complaining because they want exclusives too. Beaten to the punch..
Re: Crytek: Crysis 3 on Wii U 'Is a Possibility'
I've played both on my PC and honestly, you won't be missing much if they don't port it over to WiiU. Crysis 1 was pretty decent up until they introduced aliens to the mixture, then it just became a farce. Yes, it's a big sandbox but unfortunately there's not much of interest to be found. It's easily the prettiest game I've seen, even today, and it was released back in 2007.
Crysis 2 was much more of a COD clone. It took away the sandbox of the 1st game in favour of relatively large but linear levels lots of explosions, set pieces, and long immersion breaking cutscenes where you are prompted to look at something 'awesome' happening in the distance. They also stripped back the nanosuit powers to just cloak and maximum strength.
Re: CryEngine 3 "Runs Beautifully" on Wii U
If it runs CryEngine 3 well, it ought to be able to run Unreal Engine 4 and any other comparable so-called 'next-gen' engine. 'Scalability' is key, because the games have to run on anything from a high end pc to a mobile phone device..Gabe Newell said something to the same effect. I'm fairly certain Valve are waiting for the other two consoles to release Source2...and Gabe interestingly pointed out that the Wii U fitted in well in terms of their scalability structure looking ahead.
That's not to say Wii U versions of the same cross-platform games will measure up to the new X-box & PS, but it doesn't seem that the gap is anywhere near as great this time around...from the snippets we know.
Re: Miyamoto: Nintendo Focused on Fun, Not Competition
and so they should be..
Like many others, I was fairly bemused by the fact that virtually every AAA game trailer shown off at E3 displayed over-the top violence with little if no context. They were violent for the sake of being violent..
It's pretty sad that this is all big game developers can come up with, and even sadder for us the consumers for buying and playing these games in the millions..
That's why i'm looking forward to this new console so I can get some games that are light-hearted and fun, but still presenting a decent challenge.
I don't see the likes of Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, The Last of Us and Dead Space, etc.. doing any of those things. Would not be upset at all if none of those games made it to the Wii U because they are boring.
Re: Photos from Nintendo UK's Another Dimension Events
@Vintage
damn, you beat me to it!!
Re: Zelda Remakes Still Part of Nintendo's Quest
Majora's Mask Wii U HD!! Can't believe I never got around to playing it..
Re: First Impressions: Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition
I haven't picked this one up yet. Hope they tidy it up before release, because it didn't look in a particularly good state at E3. It's one i'd definately like to get if they port it properly..
Re: Feature: Nintendo Land's Potential
@BenAV
Yeah, well I guess so. They still might buy it... But, they're going to be in for an awful shock when they see how the full game plays .
What I meant was, that if Nintendo were doing the mini-games as market research, I don't know by what measure they'd be able to judge whether these kids would actually want to play the full version, simply because they're so different.
Re: E3 2012: Skylanders Giants Stomping onto Wii U
the way this game is being monetized is interesting to say the least.
Re: Feature: Nintendo Land's Potential
Is it market research or are they simply imposing brand recognition though?? I mean the F-Zero minigame is nothing at all like F-Zero and so forth. How could you gauge whether kids would like playing a game where you fly in a futuristic aircraft doing 80, 000 miles per hour around ridiculously challenging tracks from that?
I think it would be a great idea, but the minigame would in someway actually have to represent the full titles beyond simply the association of the 'name', and they don't appear to do that well enough.
To me it looks like Nintendo saying, "at some stage down the track we are going to release an F-Zero title, and the F-Zero minigame is sort of a way of indoctrinating the kids who weren't alive or were too young to play the last release".
If they'd wanted to create NintendoLand as market research they should've made the mini-games better reflect what the full titles do.
Re: Black Ops 2 Coming to Wii U
hooray!!
Re: E3 2012: Our View of Nintendo's E3
I actually believe the launch line-up is comparatively quite strong when measured against previous launches. You have to remember that announcing titles that are further down the track will only serve to deviate attention away from the launch lineup. From Nintendo's perspective, I think they'll want to get the console out the door and promote the titles it already has before turning attention to what lies ahead..
If you only game on Nintendo's systems, or like me, are yet to pick up a game like Arkham City, I think the launch window is going to be really quite good for you, with a fair bit of quality on offer.
'Pikmin 3' is going to be a really solid 1st party launch title no doubt. Then there' s Zombi' which is looking superior to most survival horror titles on the market atm by virtue of its punishing gameplay mechanics and novel control scheme. It looks genuinely good..I mean, i'd buy it on PC based on what they've shown so far.. 3 high quality action/adventure titles in 'Assassins Creed 3', 'Batman: Arkham City' and 'Darksiders 2'. 'Rayman: Legends' looks fantastic as well, and really I don't know why you'd want NSMB when you can get this, because visually it looks terrific and its doing some really novel and neat things with the new controller...it's not simply iterating on the same thing for the 100th time.. 'Project P-100' looked fun too...and with Platinum Games behind it, you know the final product will be worth playing..
Aside from those, there's two other games that either weren't on display or haven't officially been revealed for the WiiU, but will likely release in the launch window and are sure to be of high quality....'Sonic & Sega All Stars: Transformed' (which looks very Diddy Kong Racing N64 inspired) and 'Fifa 13', for those wanting a sports title. Yeah, they might be cross-platform titles and they're not the highest profile games around, but as I said, if you're not gaming on the other consoles, then there's going to be at least 8 titles within the first 3 or 4 months that you're probably going to want to get...well, at least I know I do.
Also, why EA are releasing Mass Effect 3 instead of packaging it as a trilogy, i'll never know..
Re: Wii U Power Lacks a 'Generational Leap'
I think publishers are waiting to see how well the console is received at launch, and how many units the likes of Arkham City, Assassins Creed 3, Darksiders 2, and Zombi shift. Will the audience be there??
Honestly, i'm not surprised.. its a new system with a novel control scheme coming from a company that's historically had a poor relationship with most major publishers. It's current console is SD and has an archaic on-line setup. So there is a bit of the unknown there from the publishers perspective.... Plus i'm sure that there are some publishers who are currently experimenting with ways the controller can be integrated into pre-existing titles, which takes time...perhaps for some its just too much of a hassle.
Whether the Wii U gets quality 3rd party support throughout its lifespan will probably depend more on whether Nintendo can show major publishers like Square Enix, Ubi, 2K, EA, etc.. it has an audience for its games and not simply Wii Fit, Mario & Zelda, etc..
They need to get the on-line aspect of the system on par with what microsoft & sony are doing as a minimum...but I also think the 3rd party ports are a bit of a testing ground, and if they don't sell well, then it could be a real nail in the coffin for quality 3rd party titles on the Wii U..
So if you want great 3rd party support on the WiiU, i'd suggest that buying games like Assassins Creed 3, Arkham City, Darksiders 2, Mass Effect 3, and Zombi for the WiiU at launch will go a long way to ensuring this.
I really don't think 3rd party support for the WiiU will suffer for technical deficiencies in graphical capability, but mainly for the aforementioned reasons...because I don't think the gap between the upcoming systems will present as big a barrier as this generation's did.
Re: Reaction: What Happened to EA and Nintendo's Unprecedented Partnership?
@pc999
agreed.
Forget about EA & Activision, etc.. Nintendo would do well to encourage the partnership with Ubisoft though, that is one worth growing, and Ubi seem willing to make it work. They need to court talented smaller developers out there to publish exclusives as a point of difference to the other consoles..like say, i dunno SuperGiant games for example. Bastion was superb, and better than a lot of the titles coming from major publishers/developers. Hopefully there are more titles from Platinum Games as well in the future..
I can't think of one EA or Activision title that I could be bothered playing anyway. Square Enix have some good titles, but they don't seem too interested at this stage. Who knows..
Re: E3 2012: Miyamoto Talks Zelda Wii U Experiments
@SuperSonic95
I hope you're right.
Re: E3 2012: Miyamoto Talks Zelda Wii U Experiments
Ok, well this completely contradicts what he said in the Pikmin3 presentation. He said that Nintendo were keen to show that gaming experiences with depth are still relevant in a world where casual mobile gaming was gaining great prominence..
So what's this all about?? To my eyes, it appears to be hinting towards dumbed down versions of key franchises like Zelda, which would be a horrible path to go down. I mean, it's not exactly Dwarf Fortress difficult is it?? There is no way that they can appease both hardcore devotees of the Zelda franchise and casual gamers who don't even really like games tbh. There is no happy medium here, and I think that's why Nintendo are struggling for an answer to the question being posed by Miyamoto.
Seriously, make a dumbed down Zelda game for the casuals, and make a separate hardcore title for the gamers who buy Nintendo's new hardware come rain, hail or shine. Like most others here, i've been excited about what Nintendo can do with the big titles like Zelda, Metroid, Mario 3D, and F-Zero in HD. I was hoping for deeper, challenging and more immersive experiences, but statements like this leave me feeling somewhat pessimistic as to the overall direction Nintendo is taking with its key franchises..