Nintyfan86

I think that PS4 and Xbox One will have some of the same issues that Wii U had last year.  Mainly that I'll bet it will be hard to sell to their current install base.  There's a huge gap between the Wii and Wii U- Not so sure that Xbox/PS4 is going to be "have to have...." for the vast majority of current owners.  Wii U will have a decent library by Christmas. I think those who have been developing for the Wii U will be rewarded.

 

 

 

I think if I bought mine in Nov./Dec. I would have been slightly disappointed with the available titles (and their prices at the time).  I've been able to pick up 2/3 of my collection at a reduced price- really all but one when you consider that I got a $25 gift card.    

There are various opinions; one being that the large gap between consoles has led to disinterest in current products, and the other being that the market is actually contracting (based on continuous year over year reductions in sales). 

 

I believe that gaming, in general, hit an apex around the time of Rock Band 2 through Black Ops 1. I believe there has been a downhill skid since, or somewhere around, that period. 

 

This, in my opinion, is awesome. I want publishers focusing on everyone, but with the core gamer in mind. Nintendo certainly is with the major releases. Sony definitely is. Microsoft....well, I personally think they are late to the party with a device that cannot please 2 audiences (lower power turns their prior audience off, and price turns the Kinnect group off). 

 

2014 may be the best year for those of us reading about the industry yet. Buckle up;). 

It is really fun to replay it using Luigi physics. It is either dumb luck that you pass through a course the first time, or, the Luigi 'on ice' mechanics make some of those courses almost impossible on you first try. 

 

My only criticism is that I wish they gave all four characters a revamp. Nabbit is cool and all, but when you play with your kids, one of them has to be the Toad, which is essentially the same Toad that they were before (I could be the Toad I guess, but I bought the damn thing, LOL). 

I don't believe the wii u version will look any better than the 360 or PS3 version and like Assassin's Creed 3 for the wii u (from the same developer) may look a bit worse. The important thing is how the gamepad is used and this could be where the wii u really excels to produce an enhanced experience. The idea that the wii u is going to offer a ps4 or xbox one version of the game is utterly ridiculous to be honest. Those versions will be much enhanced visually. I think the best we can hope for is marginal visual improvement over 360/PS3. However that said if the wii u has much enhanced gamepad features this may take a toll on other areas of the game. Even if the developer is now capable of pulling out a bit more performance out of the wii u that performance may be soaked up by the enhanced features of the gamepad so the main screen graphics may actually stay current gen.

 

This video shows the frame rate for all 3 versions of Assassin's Creed 3 and the wii u version is meant to be marginally weaker visually if you look at the eurogamer article. I can't see the visual weakness in this video but its clear the frame rate for wii u is the worst of the three but not by much.

 

Your using an apples-to-bananas comparison for AC3 and the Wii U platform. Remember, the dev kits were terrible when they made AC3 (most likely using 2 cores, plus they were porting a game made for the PS360 CPUs, which we know is bad because of the Wii U's weak SIMD). 

 

A better comparison would be to use Need for Speed MW U vs the other two, from the same developer. 

 

In this case, Ubi made the PC/Xbone/PS4 versions, and then made the Wii U version before starting on the HD Twins. I would expect the HD Twins to inherit a down port of the Wii U version. In any event, I am unclear on how the game will look on any platform outside of a PC like mine. The newest E3 footage was CGI (unless they had gameplay PS4 available). 

I like Iwata.
 
He is genuinely a nice guy in an era of cut-throat CEOs.
 
He is also humble.
 
He did this same thing with the 3DS and took a personal pay but to make sure the investors had some blood to satisfy them.
 
That was followed by a price drop and free games to early adopters, which cause customers to buy the thing.
 
 
 
However...
 
 
Enough talk. This conversation has been going on for 6 months.
 
And why did they "relax" marketing efforts? That's a bad move.  Not only bad, but foolish.
 
A brand new, unique system to start a new generation of gaming... and you only market at E3 and have a couple sporadic commercials.
 
You spend crazy money in R&D, engineer an impossible system and make it possible, and don't market it???!!!???
 
 
 
Marketing the Wii U's power isn't a bad idea either. No, it doesn't have the specs of the PS4, but it has grunt. Market that.  Don't concede to the other guys, then really build up the gamepad - with actual games that prove it was a good move.  Zombi U did that.  But it's one game.  Batman AC did that. but it was an old game. so not seen as something new.
 
How about you get with Ubisoft to make sure Watch Dogs proves it.
 
Then get to making great commercials.  Don't let these third parties dump on you.  Contract with them.  Offer minimum guarantees, whatever you have to do.  make it happen.
 
Then, once you have traction, you don't have to risk such things.
 
But sheesh! You have world class competition trying to end you.
 
The Wii U is a great console.  It's powerful, it is built well, it has a very awesome GamePad included.  It simply needs software and marketing.
 
I wish Nintendo would make a round of purchases to buy up some third parties and have a Rare type situation again.  It would really do them good right now.
 
As it is, we are waiting a looooooooooong time not only for games, but for games that actually belong on Wii U.
 
Yes they look light years ahead of 360/ps3 games, but it's taking so long that no one will care.
 
Being first out of the gate doesn't matter when you forgot to tie your track shoes.
 
Iwata more and more simply seems like he was unprepared for a new console launch.
 
I said in the past that nintendo is moving uncharacteristically fast these days to try to keep up with sony and MS and even surpass them in some ways, but they have been doing so with the same people that are used to a different pace.  they don't need to get rid of those people.  They need those people.  but a restructuring may be in order along with some new staff that can manage multiple projects at once.

I agree with you, but want to point something out.

Relaxed marketing efforts make sense given the launch issues (the huge update), sub
par ports, and following drought. Marketing it full force, if successful, would have had multiplied the number of people upset with the drought (if successful).

Or, the marketing effort leads to consumer research, and blowback from the factors listed above. I expect a marketing blitzkrieg this holiday season, and more or less a relaunch.

I also highly doubt they played their hand fully at E3.

I love the dude, but I agree, these days Nintendo just seems to be a load of old farts trying to re-create thier hey day..........

I know. That 4 player 3d Mario, new DK in HD, ANOTHER exclusive Sonic game (they already had Colors), the boring X thing, Mario Kart 8? more like 80, Bayonetta (that GOW clone), some superhero strategy thing....

 

You guys are right. They need to make one space marine shooter and a third person shooter. I also expect them to survive off of annualized updated titles. I want to shoot things dammit. I also want to do so in a linear way. 

 

::Sarcasm Off:: Anyway, you can't fault him for his opinion. It is like sending Megadeth into a music convention, and asking them about the music MTV had playing. They would be out of touch with that audience, but not others. 

My main question for Nintendo after seeing the Direct:

 

You have some incredible games coming out. I understand there will be off screen play, inventory cycling, and even specific gamepad features for Wii Play, Dues Ex, and WindWaker. However, from what we see today, would you have been better off without the tough pad, and slightly beefier hardware, in order to have extended the third party reel?

 

I can understand what Reggie is saying. Nintendo has always been a Pineapple, while Sony and Microsoft have been a mixed bag of Apples. However, we still do not have that Wii Sports game that really shows people the need for the gamepad, and, provided they are a Madden fan, they can get the PS4 for $50 bucks more. If they love Nintendo, they have the Wii U in any incarnation.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the gamepad. However, I do not see how E3's offerings will drive the install base, at this price point, without third party support, and while missing that crucial gamepad only game at the same time.

 

To me, the gamepad is like the N64's analogue stick. It desperately needs its Mario 64.  

I think it would be a good idea for Nintendo to tap into this with the eShop and gamepad.... start selling little games and then also allow them to be integrated with multiple gamepads- I know that this takes resources but shouldn't be a big deal if they were just simple games. Thought some of those touchscreen games at a bar would be fun on the gamepad.

That is a great idea. The blue ocean strategy employed by Nintendo should not be limited to the living room or the traditional online setting. 

 

The bar scenario would be great, presuming they could safeguard the gamepad from damage from intoxicated people. Also, they would need to be able to really get something going to fit in for that setting. I bet a social medium, like a dating app type of thing, combined with games, would work very well in a bar setting. 

 

Your outside of the box thinking is very intriguing and commendable. I applaud your entrepreneurial spirit;).  

Laughable. If the Wii U will be affected by the loss of non-traditional gamers, where does this leave the Xbone? Until the used game thing gets sorted out, how can he presume the Xbone will receive equal consideration with the PS4, unless Sony reveals something equally offsetting? If this is the case, does he not believe there will be a positive reaction towards Nintendo from traditional gamers? 

 

I can't comment on the handheld issue outside of, well, thanks again captain obvious. IOS/Android games will eat into hardware sales, but, so would any device. It will not eat into the sales of people wanting to play Nintendo/Sony exclusives, on a real handheld gaming machine. I am surprised he did not comment on Razer's platform eating into the high end, and costing the other handhelds software sales for those who bought one, LOL. 

 

On a serious note, damage control before E3. He is just citing the highest probability scenarios with the pertinent information investors want to see when speculating on market fluctuations. If anyone said what they really thought at a time like this, and they were anyone outside of a news correspondent, they would not be employed/running a firm after their predictions were both wrong and backed by pure speculation (I personally believe people are waiting to see the PS4/Xbone, along with Wii U games side by side before committing. We will see a Wii U sales bump after all three are displayed regardless of any announcements based on consumer parity).

i will feel dissapointed because i want to pay more

I read this earlier, and I am still laughing at it. I love posts like this. 

 

After going through the cycle with GPU's and consoles, I have a formula-wait a little while after launch to buy. Maybe not years, but give it some time. Do not fall for the hysteria. In the case of consoles, you will clean up on launch software at a better price for some titles, and others will be patched. PC titles will almost always be better months after launch, and possibly cheaper because you miss out on the bugs. 

 

My plan for this launch? Enjoy the Wii U. Let the PS4 earn my business, and make sure I buy it when I can walk into the store and easily buy one. There is nothing worse than having two launch consoles (I did this with Wii and PS3) and not being able to really fully enjoy either one. 

 

I don't see why anyone is disappointed in the Wii U given the above. If your an early adopter, you knew that the probability of first party delays was great, and you also knew you could get third party titles elsewhere. You also paid the price of entry. So, I do not see what there is to be upset about.   

 

I should disclose that I am not really interested in the PS4 now, but when Uncharted comes out, the wife will make me buy one and play through it so she can watch it. Of course, she was like this with the Wii U and Metroid/Mario. Could be much worse, lol. 

If only I had a desktop. I wanted to get one but this laptop is a gift and getting it replaced now would be disrespectful. Thanks anyway.

Oh no, I don't think you should go that route yet anyway. 

 

If someone enjoys PC Gaming, or wants to get into it, and feels price is the barrier, it simply is not true. Yet, it is misleading to suggest the same, spec for spec, box with the new Xbox in 2013 will last it's entire life span while playing the games. It most likely will not. 

 

Plus, if you have a Wii U now, and you have enough to play, you can get a new console next year when games are discounted. Catch up, and, guess what? No driver issues, games always run exactly as expected across all machines, and so forth. 

 

In essence, the PC 'master race' thing is over stated, but this really long generation made it somewhat essential for some yearning for an upgrade. Others enjoy PC specific features. Personally, I like, above all else, being able to customize the hardware. 

 

However, I cannot imagine life without the gamepad now. So, Nintendo has sort of killed the PC for me, LOL. 

We already know it won't be.  They are using two separate teams to develop the x86 and PowerISA versions of the game.  The team that is making the Wii U version will downport to PS360, the other team will make it for PS4 and XBone

  

The wii u version of the game started along with ps4.
360 and ps3 started later.
The wii u version will likely use PC/ps4 assets and vice versa.
And this is to be expected of most games as the new generation continues with new consoles entering the market.

  

They are developing the next Gen together. It's not ported from PS3 and 360.

I hope it turns out really good. Without specific screens, and an influx of GAF rumors, one can get a little concerned that the Wii U version would be on a completely different level. Then again, the GAF group presumes the PS4 will be ultra efficient, and the Jaguar cores will all be available to games. Oh, and that the cores are fast, lol.

I believe it is reasonable to expect a lack of support as the main concern over and beyond power. Other than that, my impression is this:

 

Ultra Hd

High-End PC-Very High

Mid Range PC-High

 

1080p

PS4-Medium

Xbone-low to medium

 

720p

Wii U- Low to Medium

 

This is, say, 2 years from now. Of course, we need sales and third parties in order to prove any kind of theory. The current 'toss on something old since those Wii owners don't have other consoles' thing is not helping. However, anyone with a PC now can try bumping graphics up and down, with a controller in hand, and seeing how large of a difference it makes to the game experience. It just isn't the big deal it used to be.

 

So, underpowered, compared to what? Certainly not to the extent Wii was incompatible with the current generation. 

 

 

 

 

I honestly love the potential for the gamepad and TV integration for exclusive titles. Stuff like Wario G&W is really exciting to me, as this concept could carry on to the indie scene. Speaking of that, some of these IOS and Droid devs have a great deal of potential, but those games are limited by the lack of buttons (my opinion). 

 

(Nintendo's IP's+Indie Devs)^GamePad=excitement 

 

This will be interesting. I hope third parties end up on board. However, it will have to be a la Watch Dogs (separate development team), or it will always feel like tacked on half assery. 

He's trolling.  Regardless, GDDR5 won't make any difference with regard to game visuals.

Nothing you said is correct, just none of it.  "GPU-Centric games" all next gen games will be GPU centric because all next gen systems are GPU centric. 

 

The main memory bandwidth is not understood, and only criticized by sites that are willing to forgo journalistic integrity for hits. When any real analysis or discussion is done, with people who actually develop for the system, there are never any of these criticisms.  No criticism of the GPU, no criticism of the memory architecture, and yes, not even any criticism of the CPU.

 

40nm is not a cheap process, it is just common at the moment.  They are not using "low bandwifth" RAM chips, they are using DDR3, the current general purpose processing memory standard.  Their memory architecture is actually much more robust and efficient than PS4's.

 

Wii U isn't "competitive" with PS3 and 360, it wallops them, The weak point of the WiiU (the CPU) is more powerful than both of the PPE based CPU's with regards to IPC.  The only area where it is weaker is SIMD, which is not necessary on a GPU centric system.  Still, the SIMD on the CPU is enough to get equivalent if not better performance on games that are ported and running on two of the CPU cores (using CPU SIMD still, rather than GPU).  It was revealed recently that all of the ports for the WiiU only had access to two of the CPU cores because the tools were very immature, it still was able to run CPU-centric games.

 

Again you are arguing GLFOPs when they mean so very little.  When will some of you people realize that FLOPS is the new GHz, its the big number that can be used to market chips.  WiiU has fewer FLOPS from fully programmable shaders, yes, but 50% of the GPU logic is not accounted for.  PS4 will be pretty much all unified shaders, no custom logic.  WiiU is not the same, and while it is still a weaker GPU, it is not as weak as you think.

 

For reference, RSX (PS3 GPU) was marketed by Sony as having 1.8TFLOPs.

 

Your arguments are tired, and you apparently refuse to read anything that isn't in agreement with your confirmation bias.  Learn something before responding again with nonsense.

Thank you, Sir. You continue to make fantastic posts that stand as beacons in a sea of confusion. 

 

Everything remains to be seen from Sony and Microsoft. Even then, next gen is going to rock at 1080p and sub 30 fps. Anyone getting consoles for graphics fidelity is fooling themselves. Get a console for exclusive games and new ways of playing. 

 

I have news for everyone, if the PS4 was as powerful as they will claim, it would cost $1500 at a loss, and be very large. Remember the PS3's promises? Routerbad points one out. I remember 2 monitors, 1080p as a standard, 4d, and various other nonsensical claims. Meanwhile, the Wii U has 1 game being showcased on mature development tools at the moment that isn't a remake. 

 

The internets are a lot of fun around console launch times. I have really missed it. 

I am doing this with Wii U, 3ds, and PC. It isn't fanboyism, but rather, time constraints. I would love you have everything, but I cannot justify the expense unless it will occupy hours of my time. Honestly, I cannot justify the expense of PC upgrades if the game is on Wii U. 

 

Honestly, a game like Ninja Rabbit is giving me more enjoyment than online shooters ever have. I guess I am not hardcore enough for a second console anyway, LOL.