I got this game on the cheap ($15 Toys R Us) and I finally put it in last night. It's almost unplayable. Every scene is littered with jaggies and framerate drops. It looks like they ported over the PS360 version. So graphically it is better naturally because it's a more powerful machine but it doesn't look like they did any clean up afterwards. I don't see how anyone can overlook how bad it looks and how poorly it runs. I am putting it up for sale on craigslist today. Ubisoft clearly does not care about Nintendo anymore.
They clearly won E3. That said, sales only had a minor bump from Kart 8 and unless they lower the price to $249 for the Holidays the Wii U is not going to make it. It'll be a cool little machine with great games and us owners will be happy. But I can't see it being supported past 2015 if the sales are so bad
how am I clueless douche? if after three Holiday season into this gen the install base is only 10 million how long do you think they keep this going? Don't answer, you suck and offer very little so I don't need your response
that's just not true. There is a reason why there is a term called "system sellers" and that is because certain games not only spark momentum and conversation but more importantly sell systems. Wii Sports, Mario Kart, Zelda, Smash and Mario are Nintendo console system sellers. What will be the excuse come next Spring after Smash? Will we be saying Metroid and Zelda will finally get people to buy? Kart is the most accessible of all the system sellers. If it was going to happen for the Wii U it'd be happening right now. There has been only a slight bump in console sales. It's over. It doesn't mean we can't enjoy our Wii U and all the great games. But it won't last till 2017 and if Nintendo was smart they would hold off on another Metroid, Mario Galaxy and any other big hitters until the next console less they find themselves in exactly the same predicament they were in with the Wii U. Launching without a system seller and becoming a non factor in gamer's eyes.
It's not being critical. Just stating facts. The Wii U has struggled since early 2013. All along we have been saying this game or that game will propel sales. THE game that was a system seller is Kart.If that fails to sell consoles in sufficient numbers it means the console won't remain viable. The majority of a game releases impact happen at launch and through its first 10 days. People bought the game...nobody can deny that. But consoles? No. And any bump Kart was going to give has been felt.
For instance...when Halo drops, there will be millions of Xbones sold. Sony doesn't necessarily have a system seller like Halo or Kart but they are in the lead and the sheer number of quality games both 1st and 3rd party get people to buy it. But Nintendo doesn't get the same amount of support so its 1st party massive system seller games need to do their job and sorry, Kart has not resulted in the sales we all hoped it would. Seriously...this bundle needed to be $249 with Kart and then I could see 2 million or more. But the bundle was too much, the economy sucks, people have their Wii U, PS360 already or have moved to PS4 and Xbone or even moved to mobile...so there just isn't a large market for the Wii U.
I have a Wii U..I love it..but it's not selling. Smash will help and Amiigo may a little as well but I can't see 20 million in sales at this point before they move on from or make a new console.
Truth is Mario Kart needed to boost sales by 1-2 million and it hasn't. It sure is a great console with lots of great games and more on the way. But people are not buying. Yes they are buying Kart the game..in droves. But not the console. Smash will be another driving force but it isn't as universal as Kart. So after two of Nintendo's biggest system selling franchises the Wii U will be lucky to have sold 10 million. It's done guys. Kart was always going to be the barometer. It was always going to tell us whether the Wii U would sell or not. It isn't. We can't keep pointing to the next game and hoping for sales. Kart was it. Barring a $100 price drop we are probably not going to see Wii U in 2017
let's also remember that there are several Nintndo Directs and a couple expos around the world that games could be announced. I fully expect a remake of an older game whether it's Majora's Mask, Metroid. I seriously doubt that list will remain intact with no additions
I don't understand people either pissed that this game was made or that it could be full retail price point. This looks every bit as good as SM3DW but with vastly different mechanics. People are always asking for new IP and new experiences and this gives both. Why should this be an eshop game? If it has 40-50 levels it is worthy of being viewed as any other game. Personally it's games like this and Wooly World that really set Nintendo apart and shows their talent. We all want more games for this year and this is one of them. Be happy and thankful
Why are people such apologists for Ubi? They half donkeyed ZombiU...let's be real...it wasn't polished like it could have been. Then they half ass AC3. Then they take away exclusivity for Rayman Legends (the Wii U had a decent launch only slightly worse than Xbone) and delay it. Then they make Child of Light 720p because they are lazy. Then they don't make Valiant Hearts for the Wii U despite it being a perfect game for it. Now we find out that they are holding back an exclusive due to poor sales. Meanwhile, the install base is bigger than Xbone yet they aren't delaying games for them. Love Ubisoft. Keep your games. The one game they put serious effort into (Rayman) is amazing and kudos to them. And it sold the best on Wii U. Guess that isn't enough for them. Thank you for the great game. I might pick up COL...MIGHT...but I think they need to be punished and the only way I can do that is through my wallet. I paid $5 for Rayman Legends due to Target price match and deal so they won't ever get much money from me again. Watch the profanity please — TBD
1. Mario Kart 8 2. SM3DW 3. DKTF 4. Pikmin 3 5. Rayman Legends 6. WindWakerHD (only because it was a remake, maybe best as standalone) 7. New Super Mario Bros. U 8. Lego City 9. The Wonderful 101 10. ZombiU
What this list shows is that already, only a little over 18 months in..the Wii U has an incredible lineup that I would stack against any of the previous gens top 10. Of course, we know many more are to come.
It's really a shame more people aren't enjoying this console.
For those wondering why it's not 1080p. Think about it. If it was 1080p AND had gamepad use then that would piss Sony off because then it'd be the definitive version and we can't have that. Ubisoft once again playing lip service to Nintendo and people keep defending them and try to convince everyone they are these great supporters. They are giving bare minimum effort where the Wii U is concerned.
I've never played a Smash Brothers game. Do they start you off with a few characters and unlock new ones as you gain XP? Or can you choose any of them from the start. Seems like the latter would be better as you'd have more incentive to master different characters.
This is a perfect example of why Skyward Sword is just not among the best Zelda's. When you see Mario Galaxy in HD you can see the massive difference the upgrade made. With this, it's pretty minimal. It would appear that it's 'base' was not as polished. There is so little detail in SS to be upgraded sadly. They focused way too much on the motion control aspect where they could have improved graphics by a lot.
@MAN1AC the market as a whole is down. Relax! Sales for Wii U, Xbone, Vita, and 3DS are all down. Only the PS4 is showing any strength. This latest push by Vita is most likely due to the PS4 launch. It will be short lived I'm sure.
@Zach actually boycotting DOES work. This game is a perfect example. Many Wii U owners felt disrespected by EA. Supposing they played it on other consoles but wanted to try it on the Wii U, maybe that prevented them from buying/supporting. That then led to this douche quitting his job because his game wasn't purchased. This affected EA because it took away 'talent'. And now we have this story and his words which portray EA and Nintendo in a negative light. So..it actually does affect things sometimes.
I sold my Wii U a couple of days ago. Since I had so many wii games to catch up on I just bought a backwards compatible wii (gamecube) so I could play Mario Sunshine, etc. The only game I will be missing out on is DKTF but I am playing DKCR first anyway. The way I saw it, I got close to what I paid for it, played some amazing games, but the drought is ridiculous. I will get a Wii U again when it drops sub $199. My Wii backlog includes DKCR, SMG2, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Super Smash Bros. (have never played a Smash game before), NSMB, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, deBlob, Red Steel 2.
As you can see, that is a lot of quality to play through so I will be busy, plus I have a big backlog of 3DS games to get through too. I know I could have played the wii games on Wii U but I just couldn't pass up selling my bundle for $350. I can use that to get a PS4 when it gets better games.
Nintendo really dropped the ball and I can't see them being able to right the ship. This last Direct was their opportunity. With PS4 dropping in Japan and PS4 and Xbone about to come out with a huge amount/variety of games this year, the Wii U will be lost in the shuffle. I expect Nintendo is already working on their next system that will be what they teased...a gamepad type 3ds that you will be able to use with your TV. I think they might be done with stand alone consoles. They got lucky with the wii but haven't been able to really hang since SNES
The Wii U is doomed. They needed to knock it out of the park no pun intended and wow us with Wii U news but instead we got scraps. X looks great, but how about when it's coming out? Bayonetta 2? Great. We already know! Mario Kart 8, Smash Brothers...ditto.
This Direct has proven beyond a shadow of the doubt that they are much further behind and out of sync when it comes to the Wii U than even our worst fears. They needed to launch with Mario 3D World and this past Christmas Kart should have been out with Smash for this summer. They are 6-12 months behind schedule. They had an opportunity the first half of this year to really bring it when the other two consoles were light on games. They have failed. They are screwed. I have been a huge supporter, even an apologist at times, but no more. The Wii U will not survive through 2016. I seriously don't think you will see a Metroid, Star Fox, or Mario Galaxy. I think they will stop at Zelda U as their big game of 2015 and announce a new console for 2016.
Folks, with so much riding on today's Direct, the fact that they didn't announce any new 1st party games..not even a hint. .shows they just don't have anything remotely close to production. This is a disaster. I am going to hurry and try to beat my library of Wii U games and sell this thingamigaroowhee. I have a 3DS that I could be playing more that continues to get major support. The Wii U is an afterthought. Iwata needs to be fired
this game would take a year to beat completely without using the Super Guide. Hardest game I have ever played. On map 5 now and can't imagine people trying to beat a single level for hours. The train cart levels are damn near impossible. Screw that, I just got as far as I could and then used the Guide. Most times it's just the end sequence I can't get by and after 30 tries I throw in the towel. Great game though! Best graphics I have seen on the Wii
@Daruncic you know, maybe this is part of their new push to be more accommodating. Does anyone know if they'd allow them to make an Infinity style Pokeman game? Because Iwata did intimate that they were going to outsource some 1st party games so they could focus their internal teams on getting the others up to speed.
@TreonsRealm maybe they were nudged to do this by Nintendo. It'd be about time Nintendo tried to work with 3rd parties to gain favors of this type. They need the Wii U to be successful. They know Star Wars and Marvel are not far behind. If they can get kids to invest in a Wii U to play Infinity maybe it can result in lots of consoles being sold. The Wii U will still be able to do the older wii versions so this will only push those kids to have to get a Wii U to play the new ones. Genius and two years too late...but better late than never.
@AdanVC in the Wii U's defense, it had a pretty solid release and sales were pretty good going into 2013. There were enough 1st party (exclusives) games (NSMBU, ZombiU, NintendoLand) and ports of older 3rd party games (Arkham City, COD BO2, Fifa, Madden, AC3, ME3) to keep Wii U owners satisfied. I'm not saying that was overwhelming, but for the Nintendo fanboys (who primarily made up most of the initial sales tbh), finally getting to play these 3rd party games in HD on a Nintendo console was sufficient despite them being months old and oftentimes gimped.
So that brings us to 2013. And it's easy to see that Wii U owners might have played out the games they were interested in by the end of January. But great news, a 3rd party game loved and respected by pretty much all the gaming community, an exclusive, that once released solely on the Wii U, might have given some PS360 owners a legit reason to get a Wii U. And that game is Rayman Legends. Not only an exclusive but showed (via playing the character Murphy) a real legit use for the gamepad. Sweet right? Not only were Wii U owners clamoring for more games, but this is the dead season in gaming across all platforms. So it would have really had the spotlight on it and brought much needed attention to the Wii U instead of all the talk about no 3rd party games, no games period, only old ports, etc etc that were so damn prevalent during that time.
Let's pretend that did actually come out on Feb 26th like it was supposed to. That would have been a shot in the arm for the Wii U. Would have made Wii U owners happy, would have pushed a decent amount of console sales I'm sure, and shown a nice use for the gamepad. But that is just one game. What next? Well, in March we were given another two stellar exclusives (Lego City Undercover, and Monster Hunter Tri U) plus maybe the best 3rd party port to date from our 'friends' at EA, Need for Speed Most Wanted.
So armed with all these games, initial launch owners should have had enough games to tide them over until New Super Luigi U and Pikmin 3 hit mid summer. Yes there was a lull there but there is a lull for all consoles, it's just a very slow time in the gaming world. The Wii U owners that had come on board during the Rayman Legends release would have shown the gaming community that sales were continuing from the strong launch, that the Wii U was getting 3rd party support, and would have at least halved the amount of negative press the Wii U was getting (helped in large part by the fuel the non exclusivity and delay caused by Rayman Legends). I really think we are talking 500k to 1 million difference in Wii U sales were affected by Ubisoft's decision to screw Nintendo over.
The Wii U could have entered the 2013 Holiday season with 5 million consoles sold and by now be at 7-8 million. Certainly not super strong but a big difference from 5.86 million.
In summation, if Rayman Legends had come out as an exclusive in Feb, there would have been a very strong showing from both 1st and 3rd party going into the summer where Game and Wario, New Super Luigi U, PIkmin 3, and The Wonderful 101 came out for 1st party and Disney Infinity, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Ducktales Remastered. Then in the fall you got Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World and Wii Party U, Super Mario 3d World, Mario and Sonic at the Olympics for exclusives an old port Deus Ex and Arkham Origins, Lego Marvel, AC 4, Cod Ghosts for 3rd parties. So basically the Wii U has had pretty strong 3rd party titles interspersed with 1st party all along.
The one and only time it didn't was when Rayman Legends screwed them. If that doesn't happen, the sales might have jumped, the perception may have changed, the negative narrative might have gone away, and with all of that, maybe 3rd party software sales may have improved enough to get people off their backs.
I know Nintendo can't call out Ubisoft publicly but the ramifications for Ubi's decision has been grossly underscored. It was massive in the greater scheme of things. Maybe if the Wii U had sold 5 million by March instead of 3.9 million EA might have taken the time to deliver the 2014 Fifa and Madden and 2K might have made the NBA 2K14 game. That could have further pushed sales northward.
That is why I will not buy another Ubi game until it hit the bargain bin. I also won't buy any 3rd party game that doesn't come out at the same time as the other consoles and isn't gimped in some way (multiplayer, graphics, dlc). They just don't deserve your hard earned dollars. Save your money for the stellar games Nintendo makes. Since most of us have a 3ds or a PS360, there should be plenty of games to keep you busy until the Wii U can deliver on its promising exclusive offerings.
Sadly, I think 3rd party is all but gone. Watchdogs (if it even comes to the Wii U) might be the last one we see.
@TheRealThanos It's all and good that they understand the Japanese market. However, with America being their biggest market, it's time they take that audience into consideration a little more. It obviously isn't working what they are doing now. It's pretty universal that the Wii U name is bad. It's bad because it didn't differentiate itself from its predecessor and was too confusing. Many people still don't know it's a stand alone console, some still think it's a wii peripheral. Since I don't know who is ultimately responsible it might be unfair to blame Iwata for the name. I can blame Iwata for the lack of foresight to either name it something different (if he was responsible) or as CEO make sure those that were responsible understood what a bad idea it was.
I understand needing to swing for the fences on occasion, think outside the box, fail in order to succeed. But what people are forgetting is Nintendo has been failing pretty hard for awhile. The whole transition to the Wii U was a failure. They pretty much stopped supporting the wii with games but kept selling it at low prices which when the Wii U launched, contribute to the lack of sales. Since people didn't understand the differences between the two..for two whole holiday seasons they might have chosen a wii. Either those wii's should have been taken off shelves immediately upon the Wii U release or they should have kept making top games for the Wii but they didn't do either. The Wii Mini is a stupid product and stupid decision. Who can argue with that? In the last couple of years of the wii's life they could have included the component cables (for 480p) but instead cheaped out and continued with just the composite. They stopped making the wii backwards compatible with the gamecube..why? The Virtual Console was a joke with the limited releases and lack of games. Having zero quality control as far as what games came out was a huge reason the wii became a dust collector for millions. There was just too much cheap shovelware that was on shelves instead of the great 1st party games and the numerous top shelf 3rd party. Way too many people opted for the cheapest bad game and because their experience sucked they stopped playing the console. That really helped promote the perception that the wii had no games and was a fad. When in fact, there are so many great titles that were lost in the sea of shovelware.
When the Wii U came out they could have just sold the console without the gamepad for $199. This would have allowed everyone a chance to still play HD Nintendo games, Mii Verse etc. They could have sold the gamepad as a separate controller for $150. It isn't like the gamepad is being used all that much even after a full year. It's almost like an added plus, like the Kinect.
The name Wii U is horrible. Another major mistake by Iwata. Trying to ride the Wiis coattails. Most everyone can agree on that. Seeing how poorly the 3DS launched due to lack of games and proper marketing, he came out and said he had learned his lesson, yet the exact same thing has happened with the Wii U. Except a major difference, there still is a lack of games. There are some great titles but for a struggling console there needs to be back to back to back releases of top notch games with advertising.
So folks, for those saying let's give him a couple more years, you are missing the point. He has already proven to be lacking in foresight and understanding western and global trends. If the they are working behind the scenes on their next handhelds and consoles do you want this guy to be spearheading that effort? If so, why? Because he hit on a fad in the Wii?
People are capable of changing and he may turn things around. But I have my doubts and I'd rather not take the chance that he screws up another generation. Maybe give him through 2014 to try and turn things around but if he can't then I'd rather get someone in there with enough time to have input on the next gen before Iwata screws that up too.
So this isn't about the Wii U as a failure for why Iwata needs to go, it goes way back.
@TheRealThanos how again did I make that 'same mistake'. All I said was Iwata has failed to grasp the trends in western markets. He has even admitted so. But you disagree with him and me? hmmmm
Even Iwata has admitted he has failed to properly gauge and understand the Western market. How that is possible considering Nintendo is truly a global brand is beyond me. But how a CEO can admit to this type of failure and still have a job is baffling
@Yorumi I totally agree, we are on the same page. That said, it's not these types of gamers per se you are trying to include in your message...it's the trends that appeal to westerners you need to factor in. Even Iwata admitted he has failed to do this
I get what the author is saying but Iwata has proven to me that he is ill prepared to lead Nintendo into the next era of gaming. Nintendo wasn't ready for HD, they weren't ready for online gaming, they failed to learn from the poor 3DS launch, they still haven't figured out how to monetize their vast catalog of games (think a Nintendo version of PS Plus or Xbox Live), they keep pushing local coop play over what the west prefers...online multiplayer. The list is long. Iwata lucked out with the Wii. It became a fad and sold like gangbusters. He is pretty solid with handhelds but even there the 2DS is a bust. The stock price over the last three years has dropped from $38 to $15. C'mon people, that is as bad as it can get. Stop making excuses for him. Many companies have had moments of brilliance and then they went bankrupt. Sega being one of them. They need new leadership period
@Yorumi Just to be clear, I am not talking about me when I say what I think are things western gamers want. I don't care about any of that. I am just trying to think of reason why the way they are approaching this market is failing them regarding the Wii U. I honestly attribute more of the issues with the name, and the economy. That's it. But there are certain things that can be approved upon. The digital sales for the others also depend on whether you have an Xbox Live or PS Plus account. But when you do have those account, you get some amazing deals that Nintendo can't even approach. That's another decent idea. Start a subscription service instead of Virtual Console. Combine it with the Eshop. Maybe offer some free games each month, have huge discounts on older titles. Include all platforms instead of just a few. That could work.
If it was me, I would have waited to release the console. Bundle it with Super Mario 3D World at launch. At a price of $299. Have a blu ray drive and make sure Fifa was on it at all costs. You pretty much need that if you want any success in Europe. The rest I don't care about. And honestly, I am perfectly fine with mine, just trying to think of ways to increase sales to those who don't already have one.
@Yorumi I wasn't talking about software, but since that is what you focused on I responded in kind. Online to me doesn't necessarily mean MIiVerse or games having online capabilities. To me, it is the way Nintendo caters to the local co-op play that works great in Japan and to an extent, worked for the Wii while that fad lasted. However, the Western audience has grown up, moved out of the house and away from many of their friends. However, they still want to keep gaming with them. So these people gravitate towards games that focus on that experience like Fifa, Madden, NBA 2K, Battlefield, etc. Meanwhile, the Wii U has focused mostly on local multi player experiences like SM3DW, NSMBU, Pikmin3, Wii Party U which doesn't seem to appeal to U.S./European gamers as much anymore. Also, achievements are a big thing for Western gamers and they haven't implemented that type of thing either. Finally, it appears for good or bad that digital is where consoles are headed. Nintendo rarely if ever offer digital sales, they also have scant hard drive space like the other consoles. You'd think in this day and age they would have embraced the cheaper digital age but even with that they are behind the times.
There is a lot I like about the Wii U and reasons I think they are ahead of the competition. But there are just many instances where they are not in tune with what has been working for Western gamers and the direction that market is going in.
@unrandomsam so me owning a Wii U and owning Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World, Wind Waker HD and The Wonderful 101 is akin to being a Western with no taste? lol, troll. F.O.
@Yorumi I'm not talking about software. I am talking about providing what the Western audience wants. But if you want to talk software...here goes. Perfect example. Minecraft. Nintendo should have done whatever it took to get that on the Wii U. They gamepad use, the perfect audience. I mean, if ever there was a lost opportunity it is that one. They STILL don't have it. They STILL don't have GTA games. They still don't have Skyrim. They didn't get 2K14. Honestly, they seem stuck in the mindset that we make what we make, like it or not, we aren't changing or adapting. Of the above it's really Minecraft's exclusion that really irks me. That could have been an early bundle and would have shown the reason for gamepad and sold like hot cakes. But this is software. What I am referring to is appetite for online and HD in the western markets. It's also that blu ray should have been included like the rest of them have. It's little things that Western markets are expecting that Nintendo just doesn't get.
@unrandomsam yeah, that makes sense...NOT. You don't have to make dudebro games and use DLC to become more western. But you do need to embrace online gaming and the way developers are given incentives for making games on your system. Having a better understanding of what the Western audience wants and how they view gaming couldn't hurt.
@dumedum it may be up year over year but from 2011 (when they announced the Wii U) till now it has gone from $39 to it's present $14.90. That is terrible. The dividend is gone, the last two hardware launches were among the worst in gaming history, and implementation of today's technology (online, HD, marketing) has been slow to come. This is not a company that has done much right. If the Vita hadn't been so devoid of games over the past couple years the 3DS might not have done as well. Let's be real and not fanboys. I love my Wii U, but the name sucks, they should have learned from the 3DS launch and had more games ready. In fact, they should have just waited and come out in 2013 like the others except they would have had a much larger lineup of games and could have won that head to head battle. Seriously, what good did they gain by rushing it out early? They never should have done it. These decisions are on Iwata. Do you want to see if the next couple of years are as bad as these three to fire him? If you do, he will have been in charge of everything Nintendo is planning to do going forward that whole time. I for one do not have faith in him. You could get someone in there that understands Western markets better. He needs to go.
LOL, I love Iwata has decided he shouldn't be fired. Shouldn't that decision not lie with him? Of course he doesn't think three losing years in a row should get him fired. How about shareholders and those on the board of directors? Why are they not wondering if it's time for a change. Some of his moves really leave you scratching your head.
exactly. They need to come out all guns blazing, and I mean literally come out with Judas Priest's "All Guns Blazing" as the intro to their next Direct. Then reveal Zelda U footage, announce Metroid, and release dates for Mario Kart in March in a bundle. AND also announce new IP spend money on the first Time Out commercial of the Super Bowl after the game starts. Seriously, they need to stop messing around and get serious or the Wii U will fail within 2 years.
I still love my Wii U. I will remain happy as long as a Metroid and Zelda are released on it. Anything more i.e. Star Fox, F-Zero, Mario Galaxy and a new IP and it will rank as one of the best console they have made. Sales does not equate to quality. In this economy all these companies are going to have to reconsider their projections. Over the past week I have gone into a couple Targets, Fred Meyers, and Walmart and there are plenty of Xbone and Wii U (PS4 still sold out at one of the Targets but available everywhere else) so to me, it just seems like people are tapped out and are getting their gaming fixes from the PS360 and 3DS. This current gen is really going to sell much worse than the last. Expect to hear how bad the PS4 and Xbone are doing come Summer
There's a of posters making fun of some of us for not caring all that much whether the Wii U has 3rd party support. Why? I bought a Wii U for a coupe of reasons. One being that I never got a chance to play several wii titles I always wanted to play (before I sold my wii during a move) and also because I thought the gamepad was unique and love Nintendo 1st party titles and couldn't wait to see them in HD. There were a couple 3rd party titles I was interested in (ZombiU, Batman Arkham City, Rayman Legends) and that was icing on the cake. I honestly have zero interest in any sports games as I think they just aren't as good as the good ole days. I also don't have a large crew of gaming buddies that I can get online with to play fps. We are all older and have kids.
So why should I care if the Wii U doesn't get AAA titles that I truly don't care to play? Is it because somehow by me not caring I am perpetuating the lack of 3rd party support? When a 3rd party dev makes a great game and it comes out on the Wii U I will support it. With caveats of course. It has to be on par with other versions for other consoles and it must come out at the same time. Barring that, they may some day make it to my library if they hit the bargain bins. Until then, there are plenty of outstanding 1st party games and wii games I have yet to play. I am not sweating on games from other consoles I am missing out on.
I do plan on getting a PS4 if there is a port of The Last of Us and also, once it gets some damn games I want to play, and it figures out 3d blu ray playback. That day will come, probably late fall, and I will get one. I see zero reason to get an Xbox right now but who knows it might surprise me.
So don't tell us we need 3rd party games. I don't. I also don't care how many consoles the Wii U sells. Why should I? If it fails to sell better and they cancel it in the next two years I will still have gotten to play some stellar titles and my money was well spent. It will also mean they have come up with some new innovative way to deliver their 1st party games whether by console or handheld and I will buy that. I do own Nintendo stock and have made a pretty penny but the Wii U success may or may not have much bearing on its performance before I sell it so no big deal there. Some people are entirely too blind when it comes to Nintendo as far as defending them, but many of us just like their games and buy their delivery systems for that alone. Trust me on this
@gsmaciel I'm not sure. Most of what has been announced for 2014 have been exclusives for each respective console. The multi plats that have been announced for Xbone and PS4 aren't exactly Nintendo's audience. As much as some us want the option of getting some of these fps and movie riddled games, they just aren't going to sell well. At least not enough to justify spending dev time. So instead of being honest about that, 3rd party insults the Wii U. I've heard a couple that own up to that but most remain anonymous or are from bought and paid for houses that rarely if ever made games on any Nintendo console.
If I want to play those types of games I will just have to buy another console. Just like if they want to play Nintendo stellar titles, they have to buy a Wii U.
The difference is that you don't hear Nintendo devs bad mouthing other consoles. They go about their business and make great games. Period
@Barsteward1 I know. I am tempted to start a site just focused on Nintendo's positives. It won't immediately give news a negative slant, it won't give low review scores just to be an outlier and it won't fan flame wars. But it probably would only get 2 clicks a day lol
This was written by a butthurt early dev (most likely EA) who tried to port over an old game already bought and played by millions (Fifa, NFSMW, ME3, etc) and he passing the buck because his game sold poorly. Besides NFSMW (I doubt this is that dev) most ports were severely lacking and lazy attempts.
This article is irrelevant because this dev kit was from probably 2 years ago. Nobody but bought and paid for devs from Sony and Microsoft seems to have an issue developing. Only lazy, inept, devs would complain. Nintendo and Ubisoft seem to be able to make it work, why can't they?
LOL. I believe there are forces at work trying to make the Wii U look bad. There are a couple weak donkey blogs that are running a story that Nintendo has lowered sales forecasts. It's funny because they are quoting some random dude's tweet and trying to pass this off as official or news. It's like this article. I believe there were issues from some 3rd party developers. But I also believe they are in Microsoft and Sony's pockets for the most part so it means nothing. If Shin'en has no issues, and Ubi on rare occasions (Rayman Legends) has no issues then it can't be that difficult. This sounds like a butthurt EA developer to be honest.
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Re: Review: Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Wii U)
I got this game on the cheap ($15 Toys R Us) and I finally put it in last night. It's almost unplayable. Every scene is littered with jaggies and framerate drops. It looks like they ported over the PS360 version. So graphically it is better naturally because it's a more powerful machine but it doesn't look like they did any clean up afterwards. I don't see how anyone can overlook how bad it looks and how poorly it runs. I am putting it up for sale on craigslist today. Ubisoft clearly does not care about Nintendo anymore.
Re: Ubisoft Runs Another eShop Discount Bonanza in North America
I just bought Rayman Legends for $6 from Targer using their recent $15 off any $39.99 game with purchase of $1 reservation card.
Got AC4 for $15 at Toys R Us two days ago on their clearance sale
Got ZombiU for $9.99 at Best Buy two weeks ago.
If you try hard enough there are way better deals to be had if you are patient. Plus physical is always better
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Successfully Wooed Some Wii U Doubters at E3
They clearly won E3. That said, sales only had a minor bump from Kart 8 and unless they lower the price to $249 for the Holidays the Wii U is not going to make it. It'll be a cool little machine with great games and us owners will be happy. But I can't see it being supported past 2015 if the sales are so bad
Re: Nintendo Executive Suggests Wii U is at a "Tipping Point" Towards Success
how am I clueless douche? if after three Holiday season into this gen the install base is only 10 million how long do you think they keep this going? Don't answer, you suck and offer very little so I don't need your response
Re: Nintendo Executive Suggests Wii U is at a "Tipping Point" Towards Success
that's just not true. There is a reason why there is a term called "system sellers" and that is because certain games not only spark momentum and conversation but more importantly sell systems. Wii Sports, Mario Kart, Zelda, Smash and Mario are Nintendo console system sellers. What will be the excuse come next Spring after Smash? Will we be saying Metroid and Zelda will finally get people to buy? Kart is the most accessible of all the system sellers. If it was going to happen for the Wii U it'd be happening right now. There has been only a slight bump in console sales. It's over. It doesn't mean we can't enjoy our Wii U and all the great games. But it won't last till 2017 and if Nintendo was smart they would hold off on another Metroid, Mario Galaxy and any other big hitters until the next console less they find themselves in exactly the same predicament they were in with the Wii U. Launching without a system seller and becoming a non factor in gamer's eyes.
Re: Nintendo Executive Suggests Wii U is at a "Tipping Point" Towards Success
It's not being critical. Just stating facts. The Wii U has struggled since early 2013. All along we have been saying this game or that game will propel sales. THE game that was a system seller is Kart.If that fails to sell consoles in sufficient numbers it means the console won't remain viable. The majority of a game releases impact happen at launch and through its first 10 days. People bought the game...nobody can deny that. But consoles? No. And any bump Kart was going to give has been felt.
For instance...when Halo drops, there will be millions of Xbones sold. Sony doesn't necessarily have a system seller like Halo or Kart but they are in the lead and the sheer number of quality games both 1st and 3rd party get people to buy it. But Nintendo doesn't get the same amount of support so its 1st party massive system seller games need to do their job and sorry, Kart has not resulted in the sales we all hoped it would. Seriously...this bundle needed to be $249 with Kart and then I could see 2 million or more. But the bundle was too much, the economy sucks, people have their Wii U, PS360 already or have moved to PS4 and Xbone or even moved to mobile...so there just isn't a large market for the Wii U.
I have a Wii U..I love it..but it's not selling. Smash will help and Amiigo may a little as well but I can't see 20 million in sales at this point before they move on from or make a new console.
Re: Nintendo Executive Suggests Wii U is at a "Tipping Point" Towards Success
Truth is Mario Kart needed to boost sales by 1-2 million and it hasn't. It sure is a great console with lots of great games and more on the way. But people are not buying. Yes they are buying Kart the game..in droves. But not the console. Smash will be another driving force but it isn't as universal as Kart. So after two of Nintendo's biggest system selling franchises the Wii U will be lucky to have sold 10 million. It's done guys. Kart was always going to be the barometer. It was always going to tell us whether the Wii U would sell or not. It isn't. We can't keep pointing to the next game and hoping for sales. Kart was it. Barring a $100 price drop we are probably not going to see Wii U in 2017
Re: Guide: The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Retail Games Coming In 2014
let's also remember that there are several Nintndo Directs and a couple expos around the world that games could be announced. I fully expect a remake of an older game whether it's Majora's Mask, Metroid. I seriously doubt that list will remain intact with no additions
Re: First Impressions: Solving the Puzzle of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
I don't understand people either pissed that this game was made or that it could be full retail price point. This looks every bit as good as SM3DW but with vastly different mechanics. People are always asking for new IP and new experiences and this gives both. Why should this be an eshop game? If it has 40-50 levels it is worthy of being viewed as any other game. Personally it's games like this and Wooly World that really set Nintendo apart and shows their talent. We all want more games for this year and this is one of them. Be happy and thankful
Re: E3 2014: Ubisoft Admits to Holding Back Completed Wii U Game Until Sales Improve
Why are people such apologists for Ubi? They half donkeyed ZombiU...let's be real...it wasn't polished like it could have been. Then they half ass AC3. Then they take away exclusivity for Rayman Legends (the Wii U had a decent launch only slightly worse than Xbone) and delay it. Then they make Child of Light 720p because they are lazy. Then they don't make Valiant Hearts for the Wii U despite it being a perfect game for it. Now we find out that they are holding back an exclusive due to poor sales. Meanwhile, the install base is bigger than Xbone yet they aren't delaying games for them. Love Ubisoft. Keep your games. The one game they put serious effort into (Rayman) is amazing and kudos to them. And it sold the best on Wii U. Guess that isn't enough for them. Thank you for the great game. I might pick up COL...MIGHT...but I think they need to be punished and the only way I can do that is through my wallet. I paid $5 for Rayman Legends due to Target price match and deal so they won't ever get much money from me again.
Watch the profanity please — TBD
Re: Feature: Our Top 10 Wii U Retail Games - Summer 2014
1. Mario Kart 8
2. SM3DW
3. DKTF
4. Pikmin 3
5. Rayman Legends
6. WindWakerHD (only because it was a remake, maybe best as standalone)
7. New Super Mario Bros. U
8. Lego City
9. The Wonderful 101
10. ZombiU
What this list shows is that already, only a little over 18 months in..the Wii U has an incredible lineup that I would stack against any of the previous gens top 10. Of course, we know many more are to come.
It's really a shame more people aren't enjoying this console.
Re: Review: Child of Light (Wii U eShop)
For those wondering why it's not 1080p. Think about it. If it was 1080p AND had gamepad use then that would piss Sony off because then it'd be the definitive version and we can't have that. Ubisoft once again playing lip service to Nintendo and people keep defending them and try to convince everyone they are these great supporters. They are giving bare minimum effort where the Wii U is concerned.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Direct Will Bring the Hype on 8th April
I've never played a Smash Brothers game. Do they start you off with a few characters and unlock new ones as you gain XP? Or can you choose any of them from the start. Seems like the latter would be better as you'd have more incentive to master different characters.
Re: Video: What Could The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Look Like In HD?
This is a perfect example of why Skyward Sword is just not among the best Zelda's. When you see Mario Galaxy in HD you can see the massive difference the upgrade made. With this, it's pretty minimal. It would appear that it's 'base' was not as polished. There is so little detail in SS to be upgraded sadly. They focused way too much on the motion control aspect where they could have improved graphics by a lot.
Re: Industry Veteran Peter Molyneux Warns The Indie Craze "Won't Last"
the douchness oozes from this guy's pores. Not sure what's worse, his photo or his comments
Re: Walmart Announces Foray Into Pre-Owned Games
Walmart is gross. Years ago I would go there for something I found on sale but now it looks like Beirut. Cannot believe it is still in business
Re: 3DS Faces a Renewed Vita Challenge in Japan as Home Consoles Underperform
@MAN1AC the market as a whole is down. Relax! Sales for Wii U, Xbone, Vita, and 3DS are all down. Only the PS4 is showing any strength. This latest push by Vita is most likely due to the PS4 launch. It will be short lived I'm sure.
Re: Former Criterion Boss Alex Ward Laments Issues With Releasing Need For Speed On Wii U
@Zach actually boycotting DOES work. This game is a perfect example. Many Wii U owners felt disrespected by EA. Supposing they played it on other consoles but wanted to try it on the Wii U, maybe that prevented them from buying/supporting. That then led to this douche quitting his job because his game wasn't purchased. This affected EA because it took away 'talent'. And now we have this story and his words which portray EA and Nintendo in a negative light. So..it actually does affect things sometimes.
Re: Watch_Dogs Wii U 2014 Release a "Possibility", Bucharest Studio to Make "Good Use" of the System
more spin. love them. they won't see a dime from me. love how they pawn it off to a sister studio. chumps
Watch the profanity, please — TBD
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Direct Pointed to Another Wii U Retail Drought
I sold my Wii U a couple of days ago. Since I had so many wii games to catch up on I just bought a backwards compatible wii (gamecube) so I could play Mario Sunshine, etc. The only game I will be missing out on is DKTF but I am playing DKCR first anyway. The way I saw it, I got close to what I paid for it, played some amazing games, but the drought is ridiculous. I will get a Wii U again when it drops sub $199. My Wii backlog includes DKCR, SMG2, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Super Smash Bros. (have never played a Smash game before), NSMB, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, deBlob, Red Steel 2.
As you can see, that is a lot of quality to play through so I will be busy, plus I have a big backlog of 3DS games to get through too. I know I could have played the wii games on Wii U but I just couldn't pass up selling my bundle for $350. I can use that to get a PS4 when it gets better games.
Nintendo really dropped the ball and I can't see them being able to right the ship. This last Direct was their opportunity. With PS4 dropping in Japan and PS4 and Xbone about to come out with a huge amount/variety of games this year, the Wii U will be lost in the shuffle. I expect Nintendo is already working on their next system that will be what they teased...a gamepad type 3ds that you will be able to use with your TV. I think they might be done with stand alone consoles. They got lucky with the wii but haven't been able to really hang since SNES
Re: Nintendo Direct: Trailers Round-Up
The Wii U is doomed. They needed to knock it out of the park no pun intended and wow us with Wii U news but instead we got scraps. X looks great, but how about when it's coming out? Bayonetta 2? Great. We already know! Mario Kart 8, Smash Brothers...ditto.
This Direct has proven beyond a shadow of the doubt that they are much further behind and out of sync when it comes to the Wii U than even our worst fears. They needed to launch with Mario 3D World and this past Christmas Kart should have been out with Smash for this summer. They are 6-12 months behind schedule. They had an opportunity the first half of this year to really bring it when the other two consoles were light on games. They have failed. They are screwed. I have been a huge supporter, even an apologist at times, but no more. The Wii U will not survive through 2016. I seriously don't think you will see a Metroid, Star Fox, or Mario Galaxy. I think they will stop at Zelda U as their big game of 2015 and announce a new console for 2016.
Folks, with so much riding on today's Direct, the fact that they didn't announce any new 1st party games..not even a hint. .shows they just don't have anything remotely close to production. This is a disaster. I am going to hurry and try to beat my library of Wii U games and sell this thingamigaroowhee. I have a 3DS that I could be playing more that continues to get major support. The Wii U is an afterthought. Iwata needs to be fired
Watch the profanity -Lz
Re: Talking Point: The Watch_Dogs Wii U Delay Demonstrates That Major Third-Parties Are Walking Away
great article. This site might not be as active as some others but the articles are very well thought out and written. Keep up the good work
Re: If Donkey Kong Country Returns is Too Hard, Use Super Guide
this game would take a year to beat completely without using the Super Guide. Hardest game I have ever played. On map 5 now and can't imagine people trying to beat a single level for hours. The train cart levels are damn near impossible. Screw that, I just got as far as I could and then used the Guide. Most times it's just the end sequence I can't get by and after 30 tries I throw in the towel. Great game though! Best graphics I have seen on the Wii
Re: Rumour: Disney Infinity 2 Coming To Wii U, But Not Wii
@Daruncic you know, maybe this is part of their new push to be more accommodating. Does anyone know if they'd allow them to make an Infinity style Pokeman game? Because Iwata did intimate that they were going to outsource some 1st party games so they could focus their internal teams on getting the others up to speed.
Re: Rumour: Disney Infinity 2 Coming To Wii U, But Not Wii
@TreonsRealm maybe they were nudged to do this by Nintendo. It'd be about time Nintendo tried to work with 3rd parties to gain favors of this type. They need the Wii U to be successful. They know Star Wars and Marvel are not far behind. If they can get kids to invest in a Wii U to play Infinity maybe it can result in lots of consoles being sold. The Wii U will still be able to do the older wii versions so this will only push those kids to have to get a Wii U to play the new ones. Genius and two years too late...but better late than never.
Re: Satoru Iwata Talks Down Wii U Price Cut Prospects, 3DS to Drive Profits in 2014
@AdanVC in the Wii U's defense, it had a pretty solid release and sales were pretty good going into 2013. There were enough 1st party (exclusives) games (NSMBU, ZombiU, NintendoLand) and ports of older 3rd party games (Arkham City, COD BO2, Fifa, Madden, AC3, ME3) to keep Wii U owners satisfied. I'm not saying that was overwhelming, but for the Nintendo fanboys (who primarily made up most of the initial sales tbh), finally getting to play these 3rd party games in HD on a Nintendo console was sufficient despite them being months old and oftentimes gimped.
So that brings us to 2013. And it's easy to see that Wii U owners might have played out the games they were interested in by the end of January. But great news, a 3rd party game loved and respected by pretty much all the gaming community, an exclusive, that once released solely on the Wii U, might have given some PS360 owners a legit reason to get a Wii U. And that game is Rayman Legends. Not only an exclusive but showed (via playing the character Murphy) a real legit use for the gamepad. Sweet right? Not only were Wii U owners clamoring for more games, but this is the dead season in gaming across all platforms. So it would have really had the spotlight on it and brought much needed attention to the Wii U instead of all the talk about no 3rd party games, no games period, only old ports, etc etc that were so damn prevalent during that time.
Let's pretend that did actually come out on Feb 26th like it was supposed to. That would have been a shot in the arm for the Wii U. Would have made Wii U owners happy, would have pushed a decent amount of console sales I'm sure, and shown a nice use for the gamepad. But that is just one game. What next? Well, in March we were given another two stellar exclusives (Lego City Undercover, and Monster Hunter Tri U) plus maybe the best 3rd party port to date from our 'friends' at EA, Need for Speed Most Wanted.
So armed with all these games, initial launch owners should have had enough games to tide them over until New Super Luigi U and Pikmin 3 hit mid summer. Yes there was a lull there but there is a lull for all consoles, it's just a very slow time in the gaming world. The Wii U owners that had come on board during the Rayman Legends release would have shown the gaming community that sales were continuing from the strong launch, that the Wii U was getting 3rd party support, and would have at least halved the amount of negative press the Wii U was getting (helped in large part by the fuel the non exclusivity and delay caused by Rayman Legends). I really think we are talking 500k to 1 million difference in Wii U sales were affected by Ubisoft's decision to screw Nintendo over.
The Wii U could have entered the 2013 Holiday season with 5 million consoles sold and by now be at 7-8 million. Certainly not super strong but a big difference from 5.86 million.
In summation, if Rayman Legends had come out as an exclusive in Feb, there would have been a very strong showing from both 1st and 3rd party going into the summer where Game and Wario, New Super Luigi U, PIkmin 3, and The Wonderful 101 came out for 1st party and Disney Infinity, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Ducktales Remastered. Then in the fall you got Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World and Wii Party U, Super Mario 3d World, Mario and Sonic at the Olympics for exclusives an old port Deus Ex and Arkham Origins, Lego Marvel, AC 4, Cod Ghosts for 3rd parties. So basically the Wii U has had pretty strong 3rd party titles interspersed with 1st party all along.
The one and only time it didn't was when Rayman Legends screwed them. If that doesn't happen, the sales might have jumped, the perception may have changed, the negative narrative might have gone away, and with all of that, maybe 3rd party software sales may have improved enough to get people off their backs.
I know Nintendo can't call out Ubisoft publicly but the ramifications for Ubi's decision has been grossly underscored. It was massive in the greater scheme of things. Maybe if the Wii U had sold 5 million by March instead of 3.9 million EA might have taken the time to deliver the 2014 Fifa and Madden and 2K might have made the NBA 2K14 game. That could have further pushed sales northward.
That is why I will not buy another Ubi game until it hit the bargain bin. I also won't buy any 3rd party game that doesn't come out at the same time as the other consoles and isn't gimped in some way (multiplayer, graphics, dlc). They just don't deserve your hard earned dollars. Save your money for the stellar games Nintendo makes. Since most of us have a 3ds or a PS360, there should be plenty of games to keep you busy until the Wii U can deliver on its promising exclusive offerings.
Sadly, I think 3rd party is all but gone. Watchdogs (if it even comes to the Wii U) might be the last one we see.
Re: Talking Point: The Wii U's 'Relevance' Is About Sales, Nintendo's Strategy Has Remained Consistent
@theadrock13 just no
Re: Nintendo President Satoru Iwata "Has Earned The Right To Fail", Says David Jaffe
@TheRealThanos It's all and good that they understand the Japanese market. However, with America being their biggest market, it's time they take that audience into consideration a little more. It obviously isn't working what they are doing now. It's pretty universal that the Wii U name is bad. It's bad because it didn't differentiate itself from its predecessor and was too confusing. Many people still don't know it's a stand alone console, some still think it's a wii peripheral. Since I don't know who is ultimately responsible it might be unfair to blame Iwata for the name. I can blame Iwata for the lack of foresight to either name it something different (if he was responsible) or as CEO make sure those that were responsible understood what a bad idea it was.
Re: Nintendo President Satoru Iwata "Has Earned The Right To Fail", Says David Jaffe
I understand needing to swing for the fences on occasion, think outside the box, fail in order to succeed. But what people are forgetting is Nintendo has been failing pretty hard for awhile. The whole transition to the Wii U was a failure. They pretty much stopped supporting the wii with games but kept selling it at low prices which when the Wii U launched, contribute to the lack of sales. Since people didn't understand the differences between the two..for two whole holiday seasons they might have chosen a wii. Either those wii's should have been taken off shelves immediately upon the Wii U release or they should have kept making top games for the Wii but they didn't do either. The Wii Mini is a stupid product and stupid decision. Who can argue with that? In the last couple of years of the wii's life they could have included the component cables (for 480p) but instead cheaped out and continued with just the composite. They stopped making the wii backwards compatible with the gamecube..why? The Virtual Console was a joke with the limited releases and lack of games. Having zero quality control as far as what games came out was a huge reason the wii became a dust collector for millions. There was just too much cheap shovelware that was on shelves instead of the great 1st party games and the numerous top shelf 3rd party. Way too many people opted for the cheapest bad game and because their experience sucked they stopped playing the console. That really helped promote the perception that the wii had no games and was a fad. When in fact, there are so many great titles that were lost in the sea of shovelware.
When the Wii U came out they could have just sold the console without the gamepad for $199. This would have allowed everyone a chance to still play HD Nintendo games, Mii Verse etc. They could have sold the gamepad as a separate controller for $150. It isn't like the gamepad is being used all that much even after a full year. It's almost like an added plus, like the Kinect.
The name Wii U is horrible. Another major mistake by Iwata. Trying to ride the Wiis coattails. Most everyone can agree on that. Seeing how poorly the 3DS launched due to lack of games and proper marketing, he came out and said he had learned his lesson, yet the exact same thing has happened with the Wii U. Except a major difference, there still is a lack of games. There are some great titles but for a struggling console there needs to be back to back to back releases of top notch games with advertising.
So folks, for those saying let's give him a couple more years, you are missing the point. He has already proven to be lacking in foresight and understanding western and global trends. If the they are working behind the scenes on their next handhelds and consoles do you want this guy to be spearheading that effort? If so, why? Because he hit on a fad in the Wii?
People are capable of changing and he may turn things around. But I have my doubts and I'd rather not take the chance that he screws up another generation. Maybe give him through 2014 to try and turn things around but if he can't then I'd rather get someone in there with enough time to have input on the next gen before Iwata screws that up too.
So this isn't about the Wii U as a failure for why Iwata needs to go, it goes way back.
Re: Nintendo President Satoru Iwata "Has Earned The Right To Fail", Says David Jaffe
@TheRealThanos how again did I make that 'same mistake'. All I said was Iwata has failed to grasp the trends in western markets. He has even admitted so. But you disagree with him and me? hmmmm
Re: Nintendo President Satoru Iwata "Has Earned The Right To Fail", Says David Jaffe
Even Iwata has admitted he has failed to properly gauge and understand the Western market. How that is possible considering Nintendo is truly a global brand is beyond me. But how a CEO can admit to this type of failure and still have a job is baffling
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303465004579325760899958956
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@Yorumi I totally agree, we are on the same page. That said, it's not these types of gamers per se you are trying to include in your message...it's the trends that appeal to westerners you need to factor in. Even Iwata admitted he has failed to do this
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303465004579325760899958956
Re: Nintendo President Satoru Iwata "Has Earned The Right To Fail", Says David Jaffe
I get what the author is saying but Iwata has proven to me that he is ill prepared to lead Nintendo into the next era of gaming. Nintendo wasn't ready for HD, they weren't ready for online gaming, they failed to learn from the poor 3DS launch, they still haven't figured out how to monetize their vast catalog of games (think a Nintendo version of PS Plus or Xbox Live), they keep pushing local coop play over what the west prefers...online multiplayer. The list is long. Iwata lucked out with the Wii. It became a fad and sold like gangbusters. He is pretty solid with handhelds but even there the 2DS is a bust. The stock price over the last three years has dropped from $38 to $15. C'mon people, that is as bad as it can get. Stop making excuses for him. Many companies have had moments of brilliance and then they went bankrupt. Sega being one of them. They need new leadership period
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@Yorumi Just to be clear, I am not talking about me when I say what I think are things western gamers want. I don't care about any of that. I am just trying to think of reason why the way they are approaching this market is failing them regarding the Wii U. I honestly attribute more of the issues with the name, and the economy. That's it. But there are certain things that can be approved upon. The digital sales for the others also depend on whether you have an Xbox Live or PS Plus account. But when you do have those account, you get some amazing deals that Nintendo can't even approach. That's another decent idea. Start a subscription service instead of Virtual Console. Combine it with the Eshop. Maybe offer some free games each month, have huge discounts on older titles. Include all platforms instead of just a few. That could work.
If it was me, I would have waited to release the console. Bundle it with Super Mario 3D World at launch. At a price of $299. Have a blu ray drive and make sure Fifa was on it at all costs. You pretty much need that if you want any success in Europe. The rest I don't care about. And honestly, I am perfectly fine with mine, just trying to think of ways to increase sales to those who don't already have one.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@Yorumi I wasn't talking about software, but since that is what you focused on I responded in kind. Online to me doesn't necessarily mean MIiVerse or games having online capabilities. To me, it is the way Nintendo caters to the local co-op play that works great in Japan and to an extent, worked for the Wii while that fad lasted. However, the Western audience has grown up, moved out of the house and away from many of their friends. However, they still want to keep gaming with them. So these people gravitate towards games that focus on that experience like Fifa, Madden, NBA 2K, Battlefield, etc. Meanwhile, the Wii U has focused mostly on local multi player experiences like SM3DW, NSMBU, Pikmin3, Wii Party U which doesn't seem to appeal to U.S./European gamers as much anymore. Also, achievements are a big thing for Western gamers and they haven't implemented that type of thing either. Finally, it appears for good or bad that digital is where consoles are headed. Nintendo rarely if ever offer digital sales, they also have scant hard drive space like the other consoles. You'd think in this day and age they would have embraced the cheaper digital age but even with that they are behind the times.
There is a lot I like about the Wii U and reasons I think they are ahead of the competition. But there are just many instances where they are not in tune with what has been working for Western gamers and the direction that market is going in.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@unrandomsam no, you are the one making generalized statements about the West
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@unrandomsam so me owning a Wii U and owning Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World, Wind Waker HD and The Wonderful 101 is akin to being a Western with no taste? lol, troll. F.O.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@Yorumi I'm not talking about software. I am talking about providing what the Western audience wants. But if you want to talk software...here goes. Perfect example. Minecraft. Nintendo should have done whatever it took to get that on the Wii U. They gamepad use, the perfect audience. I mean, if ever there was a lost opportunity it is that one. They STILL don't have it. They STILL don't have GTA games. They still don't have Skyrim. They didn't get 2K14. Honestly, they seem stuck in the mindset that we make what we make, like it or not, we aren't changing or adapting. Of the above it's really Minecraft's exclusion that really irks me. That could have been an early bundle and would have shown the reason for gamepad and sold like hot cakes.
But this is software. What I am referring to is appetite for online and HD in the western markets. It's also that blu ray should have been included like the rest of them have. It's little things that Western markets are expecting that Nintendo just doesn't get.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@unrandomsam yeah, that makes sense...NOT. You don't have to make dudebro games and use DLC to become more western. But you do need to embrace online gaming and the way developers are given incentives for making games on your system. Having a better understanding of what the Western audience wants and how they view gaming couldn't hurt.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
@dumedum it may be up year over year but from 2011 (when they announced the Wii U) till now it has gone from $39 to it's present $14.90. That is terrible. The dividend is gone, the last two hardware launches were among the worst in gaming history, and implementation of today's technology (online, HD, marketing) has been slow to come. This is not a company that has done much right. If the Vita hadn't been so devoid of games over the past couple years the 3DS might not have done as well. Let's be real and not fanboys. I love my Wii U, but the name sucks, they should have learned from the 3DS launch and had more games ready. In fact, they should have just waited and come out in 2013 like the others except they would have had a much larger lineup of games and could have won that head to head battle. Seriously, what good did they gain by rushing it out early? They never should have done it. These decisions are on Iwata. Do you want to see if the next couple of years are as bad as these three to fire him? If you do, he will have been in charge of everything Nintendo is planning to do going forward that whole time. I for one do not have faith in him. You could get someone in there that understands Western markets better. He needs to go.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
LOL, I love Iwata has decided he shouldn't be fired. Shouldn't that decision not lie with him? Of course he doesn't think three losing years in a row should get him fired. How about shareholders and those on the board of directors? Why are they not wondering if it's time for a change. Some of his moves really leave you scratching your head.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
exactly. They need to come out all guns blazing, and I mean literally come out with Judas Priest's "All Guns Blazing" as the intro to their next Direct. Then reveal Zelda U footage, announce Metroid, and release dates for Mario Kart in March in a bundle. AND also announce new IP spend money on the first Time Out commercial of the Super Bowl after the game starts. Seriously, they need to stop messing around and get serious or the Wii U will fail within 2 years.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
I still love my Wii U. I will remain happy as long as a Metroid and Zelda are released on it. Anything more i.e. Star Fox, F-Zero, Mario Galaxy and a new IP and it will rank as one of the best console they have made. Sales does not equate to quality. In this economy all these companies are going to have to reconsider their projections. Over the past week I have gone into a couple Targets, Fred Meyers, and Walmart and there are plenty of Xbone and Wii U (PS4 still sold out at one of the Targets but available everywhere else) so to me, it just seems like people are tapped out and are getting their gaming fixes from the PS360 and 3DS. This current gen is really going to sell much worse than the last. Expect to hear how bad the PS4 and Xbone are doing come Summer
Re: Talking Point: Claims of Wii U Third-Party Development Troubles Shouldn't Be Dismissed Lightly
There's a of posters making fun of some of us for not caring all that much whether the Wii U has 3rd party support. Why? I bought a Wii U for a coupe of reasons. One being that I never got a chance to play several wii titles I always wanted to play (before I sold my wii during a move) and also because I thought the gamepad was unique and love Nintendo 1st party titles and couldn't wait to see them in HD. There were a couple 3rd party titles I was interested in (ZombiU, Batman Arkham City, Rayman Legends) and that was icing on the cake. I honestly have zero interest in any sports games as I think they just aren't as good as the good ole days. I also don't have a large crew of gaming buddies that I can get online with to play fps. We are all older and have kids.
So why should I care if the Wii U doesn't get AAA titles that I truly don't care to play? Is it because somehow by me not caring I am perpetuating the lack of 3rd party support? When a 3rd party dev makes a great game and it comes out on the Wii U I will support it. With caveats of course. It has to be on par with other versions for other consoles and it must come out at the same time. Barring that, they may some day make it to my library if they hit the bargain bins. Until then, there are plenty of outstanding 1st party games and wii games I have yet to play. I am not sweating on games from other consoles I am missing out on.
I do plan on getting a PS4 if there is a port of The Last of Us and also, once it gets some damn games I want to play, and it figures out 3d blu ray playback. That day will come, probably late fall, and I will get one. I see zero reason to get an Xbox right now but who knows it might surprise me.
So don't tell us we need 3rd party games. I don't. I also don't care how many consoles the Wii U sells. Why should I? If it fails to sell better and they cancel it in the next two years I will still have gotten to play some stellar titles and my money was well spent. It will also mean they have come up with some new innovative way to deliver their 1st party games whether by console or handheld and I will buy that. I do own Nintendo stock and have made a pretty penny but the Wii U success may or may not have much bearing on its performance before I sell it so no big deal there. Some people are entirely too blind when it comes to Nintendo as far as defending them, but many of us just like their games and buy their delivery systems for that alone. Trust me on this
Re: Talking Point: Claims of Wii U Third-Party Development Troubles Shouldn't Be Dismissed Lightly
@gsmaciel I'm not sure. Most of what has been announced for 2014 have been exclusives for each respective console. The multi plats that have been announced for Xbone and PS4 aren't exactly Nintendo's audience. As much as some us want the option of getting some of these fps and movie riddled games, they just aren't going to sell well. At least not enough to justify spending dev time. So instead of being honest about that, 3rd party insults the Wii U. I've heard a couple that own up to that but most remain anonymous or are from bought and paid for houses that rarely if ever made games on any Nintendo console.
If I want to play those types of games I will just have to buy another console. Just like if they want to play Nintendo stellar titles, they have to buy a Wii U.
The difference is that you don't hear Nintendo devs bad mouthing other consoles. They go about their business and make great games. Period
Re: Talking Point: Claims of Wii U Third-Party Development Troubles Shouldn't Be Dismissed Lightly
@Barsteward1 I know. I am tempted to start a site just focused on Nintendo's positives. It won't immediately give news a negative slant, it won't give low review scores just to be an outlier and it won't fan flame wars. But it probably would only get 2 clicks a day lol
Re: Talking Point: Claims of Wii U Third-Party Development Troubles Shouldn't Be Dismissed Lightly
@gsmaciel Rayman Legends, Project Cars, 'X', Watchdogs say Hi!!
Re: Talking Point: Claims of Wii U Third-Party Development Troubles Shouldn't Be Dismissed Lightly
This was written by a butthurt early dev (most likely EA) who tried to port over an old game already bought and played by millions (Fifa, NFSMW, ME3, etc) and he passing the buck because his game sold poorly. Besides NFSMW (I doubt this is that dev) most ports were severely lacking and lazy attempts.
This article is irrelevant because this dev kit was from probably 2 years ago. Nobody but bought and paid for devs from Sony and Microsoft seems to have an issue developing. Only lazy, inept, devs would complain. Nintendo and Ubisoft seem to be able to make it work, why can't they?
Re: A Third-Party "Secret Developer" Gives an Inside Story of Working on Wii U
LOL. I believe there are forces at work trying to make the Wii U look bad. There are a couple weak donkey blogs that are running a story that Nintendo has lowered sales forecasts. It's funny because they are quoting some random dude's tweet and trying to pass this off as official or news. It's like this article. I believe there were issues from some 3rd party developers. But I also believe they are in Microsoft and Sony's pockets for the most part so it means nothing. If Shin'en has no issues, and Ubi on rare occasions (Rayman Legends) has no issues then it can't be that difficult. This sounds like a butthurt EA developer to be honest.
Re: A Third-Party "Secret Developer" Gives an Inside Story of Working on Wii U
@Samurairu