Nintendo Wii U

[squirtle]

I think this all depends on what they add to it. Like Just Dance 4, I just don't think they'll be enough for people to upgrade to a Wii U when they can happily use the Wii Fit+ they already have in their living rooms. I personally can't imagine it doing anywhere near the numbers the original did.

Well unlike Just Dance 4 it won't be released on the Wii.

[Bojangle]

Well unlike Just Dance 4 it won't be released on the Wii.

Yes I know that. But that showed that people don't care about a stupid Gamepad. They're happy with what they have, shit graphics 'n all. And you could argue "Yeah but maybe if they didn't have the option of a Wii version they would have upgraded to the Wii U!" but I don't reckon being able to get the latest Just Dance would get them to hand over £200+ for a new console. They'd probably just pick up the Xbox/PS3 version and play it on dad's console instead.

[Not Thread Owner]

So the new MS and Sony consoles *won't* sell.

[Rain Birds]

Two big points in that sentence that really need evidence. Is the first point based on anything beyond a few people on the internet saying their local hasn't any stock, and the second just seems debatable.

The first point is personal experience - I'm not sure how much rhyme or reason there is to it, but there are an awful lot that just don't have it, and I'm sure that there's not a network of Asda / Tesco kingpins who see that I'm working in the area & hide all stock and any mention of the thing from numerous stores I've found myself in from Cheshire to the Midlands to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and so on and so forth.

As for the second: http://www.mcvuk.com...tailers/0106556

[Bojangle]

So the new MS and Sony consoles *won't* sell.

Nope. What I'm saying is, I disagree with Scott that Wii Fit U will give a boost to console sales. I don't doubt at all that the console will sell once stuff like Mario, Wind Waker, Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 are out.

As to your point, no, I doubt the new MS and Sony consoles will sell to the people who own a PS3/360 for games such as Just Dance.

[dreamylittledream]

But it has lost any momentum hasn't it? I've just been reading over at Neogaf how the WiiU only shifted 34,000 pieces of software in the U.K during the whole of January. That includes Nintendoland, showing how quickly sales are slowing down. That seems pretty terrible for a new console.

On the plus side, and rather selfishly I admit, I'm hoping that means it hits £200 for the premium sooner rather than later.

This is probably a side effect of there being nothing really released for the machine since it launched to be fair.

After launch splurge, Xmas and now my birthday there are literally no games out on the WiiU until we hit the next wave that I'm interested in.

Thing is I'd buy anything on the WiiU as my format of choice just for the Gamepad play option if given the choice - as it is I've been playing DmC and Dead Space 3 on the PS3 and will be playing MGS Reavengence and Tomb Raider on it too - with limited time to play the WiiU is going to gather dust...

When's the next 30p VC game anyway? With Rayman receeding into the distance thats about all that seems to focus on for the next few months

[SMD]

Anecdotal evidence: I've seen the Wii U sold in three Tescos and one Asda in Liverpool. They've all sold Wii U games too.

The problems are really that no one other than gaming enthusiasts (i.e. us) really know much about it - but you could say the same about the Vita or the different versions of PS3/360, it costs more than a PS360 and people don't see why the games are any different.

So it could either be a slow burner like the 3DS, a sudden hit once the big games are released or just fizzles out like the Saturn. And we won't know any of this until at E3 at the earliest.

[angel]

Millions of people are going to buy GTA V on current gen platforms... And be very happy with it.

Neither the PS3 or 360 need replacing just now.

The Wii does.

Nah, the 360/ps3 are looking decidedly old hat now, Halo 4 pushed things a little bit further but it cost hundreds of millions of dollars to do so, and even then it wasnt spectacular. This gen has gona on way too long now, I just hope they improve the build quality of the new launching consoles..

[scottcr]

They look old to you... To million of CoD players, some of which bought their first ever console at Christmas, it looks great...

[Liquid Myth]

I've never seen a WiiU in a supermarket - nor have I seen any wiiu games in a supermarket

I've seen them in loads! Do I win something?

Honestly it's like some bonkers conspiracy or something. "No, this is the real reason why the Wii U isn't gaining traction!"

[SMD]

Wikipedia says the Xbox 360 didn't have a single title released between December 2nd 2005 and January 20th 2006.

There were three games in total released in January and February 2006. Ridge Racer 6, Dead or Alive 4, Full Auto.

[Rain Birds]

I've seen them in loads! Do I win something?

Honestly it's like some bonkers conspiracy or something. "No, this is the real reason why the Wii U isn't gaining traction!"

Yeah, really mad to speculate that a combination of next to no advertising, shit advertising when they do bother, being overly expensive and Nintendo being able to boast having the first home console in years not to be rolled out in every large supermarket with an entertainment section might be having an impact on sales.

As far as I can tell, the mishaps are attributable exclusively to Nintendo, but if they've managed to concoct this brew entirely unintentionally and it's not a bungled quiet launch, I question whether they have the people in place to have any hope of turning it around (in the UK at least).

Worldwide, sales aren't great but failure is relative. It's certainly one of the more successful console launches in history, but perhaps Nintendo didn't really think they'd have to try to sell that first five million and that has bitten them in the backside.

[gizmo1990]

I question whether they have the people in place to have any hope of turning it around (in the UK at least).

Tbh this is my main worry with Nintendo. It's almost as if the people they have working for them are part of the furniture and have been there years kind of thing. Y'know, too long to be sacked even though they're shit. The 'only purchase certain games between 11 and 3 in the morning' debacle anyone? I mean stupid stuff happening like that is shocking imo and sends out awful vibes and pr. Doubly so for a large multinational company.

[Jbone]

Part of the problem is that they run the entire European operation from Germany. For an entertainment company, that subjects them to a load of legislation that they could do without. From the perspective of just "selling stuff online", it also puts them in a bit of an awkward position as Germany is still a few years behind the US and the UK with things like analytics and optimisation and it's difficult to hire local experience capable of managing integrated storefronts.

Sorry, that's mainly about the eShop and the weird policies that we sometimes see, rather than the operation in general. In any case, it won't change any time soon.

[Red Alignment]

I have to admit that more than ever, I regard the Wii U as my biggest hardware purchase regret after all the years I've been gaming. The future's not bright at all for the machine, bar some first-party titles perhaps, and I don't really enjoy owning it. Nintendo Land is a shallow hardware demo, and honestly, I haven't played it since mid December and have no enthusiasm to play it again. New SMB U was quite good fun, but just too familiar to superior past glories. The GamePad? Honestly, take the Pro controller, make the Z shoulder buttons analogue, and I'd much prefer that as the default controller for the machine. The GamePad isn't comfortable, and I strongly question the wisdom of making the console so expensive just so could tack on a low-resolution tablet-style screen onto the default controller.

[scottcr]

Punt it then...

Then you'll buy it again anyway

[NEG]

Don't sell it yet! Rayman coming out soon!

[Not Thread Owner]

Anecdotal evidence: I've seen the Wii U sold in three Tescos and one Asda in Liverpool. They've all sold Wii U games too.

Both Sainsburys and Asda have them in Norwich, but only Sainsburys have games - and even then only ZombiU, Nintendoland and Mario. And Just Dance 4 (which is the Wii version but on the Wii U shelf).

Wikipedia says the Xbox 360 didn't have a single title released between December 2nd 2005 and January 20th 2006.

There were three games in total released in January and February 2006. Ridge Racer 6, Dead or Alive 4, Full Auto.

Careful. Your NDF Super Suit is poking through your shirt!

[gizmo1990]

Rumor but still interesting. Devs down on Wii U at DICE

[DC Lemon]

I have to admit that more than ever, I regard the Wii U as my biggest hardware purchase regret after all the years I've been gaming. The future's not bright at all for the machine, bar some first-party titles perhaps, and I don't really enjoy owning it. Nintendo Land is a shallow hardware demo, and honestly, I haven't played it since mid December and have no enthusiasm to play it again. New SMB U was quite good fun, but just too familiar to superior past glories. The GamePad? Honestly, take the Pro controller, make the Z shoulder buttons analogue, and I'd much prefer that as the default controller for the machine. The GamePad isn't comfortable, and I strongly question the wisdom of making the console so expensive just so could tack on a low-resolution tablet-style screen onto the default controller.

Yes, we thought we were buying the new SNES and ended up with the new Virtual Boy.

I can't regret my purchase because I have more money and Nintendo fanboyism than sense, but neither can I recall a major console being in such trouble after two months. The current competing formats remain far better propositions and the future ones are threatening to bring the final nail. It will take a miracle to even get back up to Gamecube levels of sales from here. Any hope of Nintendo staying where Wii put them is surely already out of the question.

Only the other two's desire to destroy the second-hand market on their new systems can save Reggie and Iwata now.

[moosegrinder]

I don't regret it because I'll play the Wii games I've got on it, ZombieU was worth it alone (for what I paid) and there's still LEGO City Undercover and Bayonetta 2. It's not looking good though.

[Calashnikov]

I don't know why Nintendo have never bothered to make a full, proper Pokemon game for one of their home consoles. I suppose the ease of connectivity between handhelds is what has kept them on that format, for trading and battling and whatnot, but now with online home consoles and Miiverse and all that, surely the stage is now set to take those features into the living room? It would print money.

[gone fishin]

I'm one of those knobs that hasn't bought a Wii U, and it's the first Nintendo home console I haven't bought at launch since the N64 (I haven't got a 3DS either, and I queued up to get a GBC..).

I put it down a bit to age (I don't have the time to dedicate to lots of games), other distractions and a bit of the fact that the console doesn't really interest me at the moment. Maybe it's also because I have a shit load of Wii games that I really need to finish off.

But I honestly think the future for Nintendo is brighter than Microsoft and particular Sony in the console industry. Nintendo will always have amazing first party games- so even if they just release purely a Nintendo games box that plays Nintendo games- and nothing else- they'll still do fine.

The problem , to me, is general customer apathy outside of the so called "hardcore" gamer clique. The games industry might look like its getting bigger interns of total revenue, but there's really hardly any home console games driving that- CoD, FIFA and maybe a few others. And with budgets getting bigger, publishers are taking even fewer risks (see all the multi platform releases of Wii U exclusives). So are the PS4 and next Xbox just going to be a CoD and FIFA box? What else can you really play?

Add to the fact that he publishers are wanting to squeeze even more money out of the current restrictive business model- so that means more digital releases and dlc, so the dont want high street retailers, or even physical discs.

That's when the completion of a potential steam box or android console becomes interesting. I can see MS going into at space, as it plays to their whole "service model", but Sony (as a whole) like selling physical things- they aren't set up for the whole digital thing.

If the Wii U is a failure, and it's predecessor is one of the biggest selling consoles of all time- Sony and MS must be shitting themselves, no matter what the whole marketing bullshit is. Especially Sony with the flop of Vita and PS3 sales dropping.

I wouldn't be surprised if they still try and delay their next consoles for a bit longer. Milk it until the recession has gone.

However, I also think Nintendo need to do two things- drop the whole handheld thing, the don't have the resources to have a handheld and home console platform( and tablets are destroying the handheld area for them).

The second is they need a better resource manager, maybe even get rid of Iwata. They've got hundreds of developers, dozens of first and second party teams with a really shitty level of output. How many games has retro, nst, next level games etc done in the past 6 years? Fucking get them working more, and concentrate on the home console area where they can still have an impact....

You can also ignore everything I'm saying as its only an opinion!

[Ivanho]

Surely this is about the long game though. I didn't buy a Wii until 2010, when it was at a price point I could afford. At the moment it's all the early adopters who rushed out to buy it so they could be first, burned through all the launch releases & and are now sitting like twitchy haribo sugar addicts waiting for their next fix. It's the downside of being in the 'Me First!!' gang.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to be in the gang but finances dictate otherwise. It does mean that when I do get one, I should have a lot more choice in the software dept.

[angel]

Without games being developed, there isn't really much of a long game to come...or it'll be one exclusively of 3 Nintendo releases a year and a few downports with touchscreen crowbarred in.

[scottcr]

And eShop for indies with very little restrictions and unity 3D

[gizmo1990]

@moora, drop handhelds!? That's the daftest suggestion I've heard yet! Nintendo have consistently demonstrated their understanding of portable gaming and continue to dominate it. Yes phones are undoubtably hurting their business model. But they're still doing good business with the 3ds and will continue to do so.

[scottcr]

I haven't finished a single one of my launch games yet - between Mario, sonic, ZombiU, cod, Skylanders and trine 2...

Where do you guys find the time?

[gizmo1990]

They need unity on 3ds Scott

[scottcr]

Dropping handhelds would be totally mental...

MS and Sony would kill to get a bit of that action