12 replies to this topic

[Happy Monk]

We all know that the Wii U has not been selling in the UK (especially), but a few things have happened over the course of this Christmas week that have made me think there is hope for the Wii U yet in my home country.

 

First off, I've noticed a general amount of buzz just while walking down the high-streets I have been hearing people talk about the Wii U, not as much as the new Xbox or Playstation (or 3DS), but a huge amount more than before. It's not like everyone is talking about it, but I have overheard the odd conversation while out and about.

 

Secondly, my brother got a Wii U for Christmas (he's wanted one since launch but he's a poor student) and it was faulty - the right-hand speaker on the Gamepad buzzed when over 50% volume. When he was trying to return it by way of a replacement through Tesco (where it was bought) he could not as it was out of stock. I know Tesco don't exactly sell a lot of Wii Us or any other console and the fact that it is a Windwaker bundle may have helped, but it does show that people have been buying them.

 

Thirdly (and lastly), someone my family knows when asked what they got for Christmas responded by saying a Wii U. Now, this is someone who does not play games, one of your types of families who bought the Wii just because it was the hot thing to own. If this is the kind of family that actively went out to purchase a Wii U, that has got to say something - people are finally starting to take notice from a more casual perspective.

 

I'm not saying the Wii U is going to sell a lot, but I have definitely noticed trends and more people taking notice of the cheapest option for new games.

[Pjsprojects]

Its got a very long way to go,but I did notice my local Sainsburys had ran out of WiiU & PS4 but had Xbone in stock.
Same at Argos although they now never show PS4 stock online due to people selling reservations.

[DéliopT]

I hope so - Nintendo really needs it!

 

I too think it can do better this year with more and better games coming.

[KeptMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

Canadian here, and on boxing day I saw

1. Some people in walmart seriously considering getting a wii u when I had only been stopped there for a couple seconds. Also, the Wii u section was a pushed into the very corner, and if I remember correctly, wasn't even labelled, so it's possible they actually were searching for it, and didn't just think "let's buy this random thing".

2. A pile of Wii u's next to a pile of Xbone's, and it LOOKED like the Wii u had been outselling the Xbone's. I suppose it's possible the Xbone pile had been restocked, but even then, at least the Wii U had made some sales.

[SailtheSeas]

Some of the bundles on the Game website seem to be selling out every few days.

 

I think the Wii U will be a profitable console for Nintendo in the UK, they just need to get their big games out i.e. Mario Kart, Zelda and Super Smash Bros. Once those come out and if they are bundled with a Wii U will sell a lot of units in the UK (not to mention globally).

 

The problem with the Xbox One is the price point, it's the most expensive and there seems to be a lot of stuff that needs to be ironed out on the console,  it's these two things which have put me off (and some of my work colleagues) from picking up an Xbox One.

[Pjsprojects]

The only reason to buy an Xbone is exclusives or maybe for a few it's Kinect. Why buy a lower power system at a higher price than PS4?

At least the WiiU has the game pad and backwards compatability.

[SailtheSeas]

Does the lower power really matter though?

 

I mean I owned a PS3 and was always told that the PS3 was a superior console to the 360 when it came to hardware specification and yet I always found that games ran smoother and quicker on the 360 then games on the PS3.

 

I remember playing MW2 on my friends 360 and I just couldn't keep up with the flow of the gameplay, it seemed faster and more slick while the PS3 version in comparison seemed slower and more sluggish. The same applied to FIFA games, the game seemed to flow better on the 360 while it felt slow and sluggish on the PS3.

 

Will this be the case on the PS4? I mean for all the raving about the PS4 and its native 1080p games with 60fps, the Xbox One versions look better to my eyes. I watched a comparison of Ghosts and I thought the Xbox One version looked better, the colours just looked better, sure the crispness of the footage is with the PS4, but it looked darker and more drab. The same applies to Battlefield 4, from what I have seen I like the look of the Xbox One version better.

 

Then there's the exclusives which I think the Xbox One wins hands down at the moment. Titanfall, Forza 5, Sunset Overdrive and Quantum Break really appeal to me, where as the only PS4 exclusives that appeal me are Uncharted 4 and The Order 1886. That said I was disappointed with the third Uncharted game and wouldn't necessarily rush out to play it like I did with the first three games. To me the franchise won't ever reach the same heights as Uncharted 2 and that Naughty Dog are quite possibly flogging a dead horse.

 

Then there's the power supply being inside the PS4. My PS3 used to get quite warm and used to become quite noisey (I had a PS3 slim), the Xbox One seems to offer a large space inside for air to pass through it and it is less noisey and doesn't become as warm as the PS4 which means that the Xbox One should last considerably longer in lifespan then the PS4.

 

I look at the air vents on the PS4 and I just think "how can enough air pass through the system to keep it cooler?".

 

That said you are quite right, most people won't see the point in spending £80 more on an Xbox One when they can get a PS4 and a game for the price of the Xbox One which in terms of hardware specifications is the inferior console, though performance matters much more in my opinion.

Edited by SailtheSeas, 01 January 2014 - 09:14 AM.

[Poptartboy]

I agree about the price difference, even though some of the Kinect stuff is cool.

We got an Xbox One because my girlfriend prefers Xbox to Playstation. I actually do really like it though and am looking forward to Titanfall, Project Spark, Sunset Overdrive, and Quantum Break.

And of course stuff like Watch Dogs and The Division will play great on it even if the PS4 version does end up looking slightly better.

[Nintyfan86]

Why am I seeing an abundance of the words 'PS4', '1080p', and '60 FPS'?

 

It is not in this thread specifically, but in many places on these forums, others, and in the comments sections of articles. 

 

I am not sure I can pin point one game, currently out, that meets this standard (not including re-released stuff). 

 

Wait, COD: Ghosts. I can think of one. However, everything else is 1080/30, usually upscaled. 

[Happy Monk]

I forgot I made this thread... Well, just yesterday I was told I had to show my Wii U to a friend from university (by him), and he really appreciated it. He is now going to get one for his birthday this year. On top of this I know two people who got one for Christmas, and I don't know a huge amount of people, but a fair amount. I think the Wii U will see a gradual upturn in sales in the UK, and I think Donkey Kong will start this properly, Country Returns was a big deal over here.

[Ledo Jaeger]

I hope the future will bring with it news of U-nited Kingdom success

[SailtheSeas]

I think the Wii U will do

 

Why am I seeing an abundance of the words 'PS4', '1080p', and '60 FPS'?

 

It is not in this thread specifically, but in many places on these forums, others, and in the comments sections of articles. 

 

I am not sure I can pin point one game, currently out, that meets this standard (not including re-released stuff). 

 

Wait, COD: Ghosts. I can think of one. However, everything else is 1080/30, usually upscaled. 

 

What annoyed me about the PS4 is how Mark Cerny referred to the console as a supercharged PC when as Nvidia pointed out, the PS4 is a low-end PC. I believe the PS4 will be a great console, but people have really fallen for the whole "PS4 is a supercharged PC", the architecture of the PS4 was already outdated prior to its launch.

[ThePopiPenguin]

I think the Wii U will do

 

 

What annoyed me about the PS4 is how Mark Cerny referred to the console as a supercharged PC when as Nvidia pointed out, the PS4 is a low-end PC. I believe the PS4 will be a great console, but people have really fallen for the whole "PS4 is a supercharged PC", the architecture of the PS4 was already outdated prior to its launch.

When buying the Heathen Boxes this generation always remember that only one of these two words will exist in a game, "1080p" and "60fps steady".