Nintendo Wii U

[Smitty]

It was your suggestion that the consoles advantage is in having a map and inventory on the controller screen. If that's a selling point then I am happy to wait until there are exclusives that I actually want, which is some time off looking at the release schedule. Fucking zavvi better let me cancel though...

I've yet to be convinced the controlled based stuff is anything but a gimmick. The latest Zero Punctuation underlined that.

[Mike S]

I've yet to be convinced the controlled based stuff is anything but a gimmick. The latest Zero Punctuation underlined that.

I'm loathe to call it a gimmick, it's too early for that but, yeah, I kind of agree..

[Yewone]

It was your suggestion that the consoles advantage is in having a map and inventory on the controller screen. If that's a selling point then I am happy to wait until there are exclusives that I actually want, which is some time off looking at the release schedule. Fucking zavvi better let me cancel though...

For ZombiU that could be argued to be the case, but there are also much more interesting uses for it, in Nintendoland for example.. But the biggest plus by a mile is the cross play feature.

I hated "waggle" on the Wii with a passion but nothing Ive experienced so far on WiiU feels anywhere near as gimmicky.. It's a cracking bit of kit.

But if it's not for you, hope you manage to cancel in time.

[scottcr]

It was your suggestion that the consoles advantage is in having a map and inventory on the controller screen. If that's a selling point then I am happy to wait until there are exclusives that I actually want, which is some time off looking at the release schedule. Fucking zavvi better let me cancel though...

You didn't understand my post at all and you obviously haven't played ZombiU of nintendoland

And anyone who loves games will love NSMBU

[b00dles]

I'm loving it so far, might be the new toy bonus but the Miiverse is really rather clever and Nintendoland is brilliantly 'gamey' and pure Nintendo. They really do know how to make a games console far better than Sony or MS.

Really can't wait to get more multiplayer on Nintendoland in, only tried a bit of 3player the other day and I've subsequently battered the Donkey Kong crash course just a shame it's only the one course, I could happily play more 'levels' of that.

EDIT: I'm barely managing to stop myself buying NSMBU as a download but the d/l prices are still a bit silly (although I don't want to open up that can of worms again)

[geldra]

I like how you literally get shitted out by some of the enemies in Pikmin Adventure.

[noob]

I changed the channel on my router (and stuck the Wii U in a DMZ for good measure) and it seems better today. So I guess it is just an interference/poor wifi thing now. I've ordered a cheapo Wii LAN adaptor off Amazon (apparently they work fine on the Wii U too) and I'll homeplug it up when it gets here, should sort out the problem for good.

let me know how the adaptor goes?

[SMD]

Some of you can be utterly miserable. The gamepad is great, even if it's only ever used as a mirrored screen.

[Smitty]

Some of you can be utterly miserable. The gamepad is great, even if it's only ever used as a mirrored screen.

As an early purchaser of the WiiU, i'm sure your opinion can be trusted as unbiased.

What can be done on it that couldn't be shown on the screen?

[SMD]

so because I bought one, that makes me biased? As opposed to someone who hasn't got one so can't use it every day?

For the record I love the Wii U so much that I've been going back and playing on my 360.

I paid less for my Wii U than I did for my 360S, so as far as I'm concerned I don't need to justify my purchase. I like how the gamepad feels and I like how the screen is high quality and not laggy. If it's not a big deal for you, fine. But it comes with the Wii U and it's a nice thing to have. There's no reason to trash it because at the very least, it's a console with the potential to be a lot more powerful than competing systems and it's a nice added feature.

Price came down to £225, that's tempting for a lot of people, particularly after Christmas with gift cards and Christmas bonuses. I'm not suggesting it's a killer feature, there's just no reason to be down on it. It's there and it's nice. Playing Mario on it is brilliant.

[Smitty]

it's a console with the potential to be a lot more powerful than competing systems

The 'competing systems' are the PS4 and the 720, not the current consoles, as they are what the WiiU will be going up against within a year and then for the rest of its market life. And there's zero chance it's going to be more powerful than them.

[Not Thread Owner]

As an early purchaser of the WiiU, i'm sure your opinion can be trusted as unbiased.

What can be done on it that couldn't be shown on the screen?

Did you not actually play on one at Eurogamer? If so, you know the answer.

[Smitty]

I'm not suggesting it's a killer feature, there's just no reason to be down on it.

Well there's nothing objectionable in any of what you've said, but it's entirely irrelevant. I didn't say anything about whether it was a killer feature, or whether it was 'bad'.

What I said is that I've yet to see anything that has really demonstrated to me that most uses of the screen (aside from a genuine unique USP like playing on the screen whilst someone uses the telly) aren't going to be gimmicky.

Maps? Looking in bags? A sniper scope?

As was discussed widely before release, all of these things and more can quite easily be done on the main screen, and they really don't act as an impediment. So far the screen seems like a solution in search of a problem. Using it for these things just because it's there fails to convince one that it is something you actually need or that adds something to the game.

Much like waggle for me. Except waggle was actually far more significant of a change than the screen seems to be.

So you'll excuse my cynicism.

[SMD]

The 'competing systems' are the PS4 and the 720, not the current consoles, as they are what the WiiU will be going up against within a year and then for the rest of its market life. And there's zero chance it's going to be more powerful than them.

Right now it isn't. It competes for time and money with the PS3 and 360, in my opinion, there's no point in me worrying about consoles that aren't out yet. When they're released, I'll judge them on their own merits too. I wouldn't have a Wii U if it wasn't for the £199 misprice and that's the biggest factor for me. If the PS4 and 720 come out at £400, then I won't be getting them - simple as.

I like the Wii U but it doesn't mean I sit at home and stare at it while the other consoles get ignored. I just bought The Walking Dead on XBLA but if it'd been out for a similar price on the Wii U, would've plumped for that instead. Because I could play it on the screen as well as with touchscreen and traditional controls. I don't know why having a second screen is considered a gimmick if it's being used as the primary display. I didn't pay extra for it, which is what Microsoft would have you do with a Surface tablet or Sony with a Vita. It came with it, it's just there. You don't have to use it but I like that I can.

[Smitty]

. I didn't pay extra for it

Yes, of course, the cost of the gamepad isn't reflected in the cost of the WiiU at all. What an absurd statement.

The WiiU can afford to be cheaper because it's using Nintendo's customary 'withered technology'.

[SMD]

Well there's nothing objectionable in any of what you've said, but it's entirely irrelevant. I didn't say anything about whether it was a killer feature, or whether it was 'bad'.

What I said is that I've yet to see anything that has really demonstrated to me that most uses of the screen (aside from a genuine unique USP like playing on the screen whilst someone uses the telly) aren't going to be gimmicky.

Maps? Looking in bags? A sniper scope?

As was discussed widely before release, all of these things and more can quite easily be done on the main screen, and they really don't act as an impediment. So far the screen seems like a solution in search of a problem. Using it for these things just because it's there fails to convince one that it is something you actually need or that adds something to the game.

Much like waggle for me. Except waggle was actually far more significant of a change than the screen seems to be.

So you'll excuse my cynicism.

It's fine to be cynical, it just seems to be a recurring theme for those who own the console that the gamepad doubling up as a screen is actually a really neat feature. I don't think that's a coincidence and we're all trying to justify it to ourselves, I've seen loads of us pop up regularly on Xbox Live still so clearly we're not abandoning all other platforms to sail in the good ship Nintendo at any cost.

I know Scott waxes lyrical about to the point that it turns people off but Nintendo have managed to make people enthusiastic about the gamepad after extended use. If it brings them to choose them for multiplatform games then it doesn't matter if it's a gimmick or not, it's bringing in the numbers.

And y'know what, if the second screen ends up replacing QTEs then I'm all for it. Let it act like a map or a sniper scope instead of shoehorning well timed button presses, at least there's more variety to that.

[Dandy_Sephy]

The 'competing systems' are the PS4 and the 720, not the current consoles, as they are what the WiiU will be going up against within a year and then for the rest of its market life. And there's zero chance it's going to be more powerful than them.

Competing systems generally have to be out to be competing. They haven't even been announced, much less available for comparison. At the moment it has to compete with what is actually available for purchase so it can gather momentum for whatever comes out in 12 months (if anything)

[Smitty]

Competing systems generally have to be out to be competing. They haven't even been announced, much less available for comparison. At the moment it has to compete with what is actually available for purchase.

Wow, no shit Sherlock. Nothing gets past you, does it?

Everyone knows that wildly more powerful systems will be out within a year or so.

Most of the people who are going to buy a 360/PS3 have already bought one. The WiiU's competitors are CLEARLY the next gen consoles. If it's around for 6 years, 5 of those years will be in direct competition with them.

To argue otherwise is ridiculous.

Also, I'm still amazed that Nintendo owners are still boasting that their underpowered console released in 2012 is more powerful than consoles released in 2006. Yes, well done, very clever.

[Smitty]

it doesn't matter if it's a gimmick or not

It matters to the argument I was making. Why are you banging on about sales? Did I say anything about sales?

My point was about whether the uses of it were anything more than gimmicky. Do you actually care to address that or would you like to wave your hands and talk about something else - perhaps the marketing campaign or something equally irrelevant to my point?

[mdn2]

The 'competing systems' are the PS4 and the 720, not the current consoles, as they are what the WiiU will be going up against within a year and then for the rest of its market life. And there's zero chance it's going to be more powerful than them.

Am I genuinely the only person who doesn't give a toss about 'more power?' I don't have a WiiU, and I'm not really bothered about getting one, but I'm seriously not bothered by the prospect of flashier graphics on the forthcoming XBox and PS systems either.

Personally, I would be happy with the 360 and PS3 for another few years, but I realise that's probably sacrilege to say round here.

[SMD]

It matters to the argument I was making. Why are you banging on about sales? Did I say anything about sales?

My point was about whether the uses of it were anything more than gimmicky. Do you actually care to address that or would you like to wave your hands and talk about something else - perhaps the marketing campaign or something equally irrelevant to my point?

I just said the use of the gamepad as a primary display was a bit more than a gimmick.

[Smitty]

Am I genuinely the only person who doesn't give a toss about 'more power?'

I don't know but to be honest I don't really want to have another grinding discussion about power. My point was about whether the gamepad is being used in interesting and unique ways that make it a real strong USP.

It's SMD who's bringing up everything else except that.

[pulsemyne]

And yet I'm having more fun with gaming on the WIIU than I've had for a very long time. I have a 360 and all it's done is gather dust for the past few months. For me ZombieU has been one of, if not the, game of the year.

Also please leave the thread smitty. This was a lovely place not so long ago.

[Smitty]

I just said the use of the gamepad as a primary display was a bit more than a gimmick.

Well, that's me convinced. Stirringly argued.

Also please leave the thread smitty.

Grow the fuck up.

This is the WiiU thread. Not the 'The WiiU Love-In Thread - Positive Comments Only'.

Edited December 29, 2012 by Smitty

[pulsemyne]

No I will not! Where's my toys...out you get!

Nice quick edit there smitty

[Smitty]

I'm a gamer. As such I am automatically interested in the WiiU. I could actually be a customer for this thing (I like the look of ZombieU).

After my disappointment with the Wii I certainly have a desire to see the WiiU be more successful in the ways that matter to me.

I would actually like to know if there's any real point to putting these sort of on-screen things onto the gamepad screen.

Do you see?

Fuck me, the amount of defensiveness about any piece of electronics on Rllmuk these days is mental.

[pulsemyne]

"This is the WiiU thread. Not the 'The WiiU Love-In Thread - Positive Comments Only'.

Well shouldn't it be those of us who own a WiiU who can offer valid criticism of the console. All of us owners have bitched about the updates, the ports, the updates, the slow OS, the updates etc. One thing we haven't moaned about is the controller. It really adds a lot to the games. Just playing great games without having to use the TV is brilliant. Also that browser is cocking superb.

[Calashnikov]

Smitty, man. The pad is a fucking JOY to use. As a mirror of the TV screen, as a panel of touchscreen buttons, or for watching videos online, it totally bangs. None of those things are groundbreaking at all, but the interface and the build and the slickness just makes the whole thing so fucking fun to use. Such a nice piece of kit. I'm not particularly fussed about it being used for gameplay mechanics (I've only played single-player Mario, FFS), but the whole experience just makes me want to bust out and start wanking. Trust us.

[hub2]

The screen mirroring is an amazing feature, and NOT a gimmick in the slightest for those of us who live with others.

[The Mighty Ash]

Screen mirroring is the shit. I'm often choosing to play black ops on the pad instead of the tv even when the tv is free. I didn't see the point until I owned one.