Nintendo Wii U

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

The UI layout isn't bad, it's just so sluggish and slow when going one menu to another or going back to the home screen. When setting the console up I spent a lot of time staring at a blank screen with a Wii U in the corner while it was doing its thing. Of course it didn't help that the network was playing up, so a lot of errors popped up and lots of retries were necessary, adding to the slow proceedings. Now that it's all set up, it works fine though. I don't really understand this speed thing though. Starting and switching between comparable or maybe even more demanding apps on my iPad or Nexus 5 is near instant. Why does it take so long on the Wii U to load?

Surprisingly enough the browser is half-decent for a change.

[Not Thread Owner]

Just press the orange face at bottom of home screen and add NNID

Adding a few of you now

NONONO!

Do it in a Miiverse, otherwise they don't get a friend request.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Yay, I've got some friends now Finally! Mom!

[Jim]

NONONO!

Do it in a Miiverse, otherwise they don't get a friend request.

People on here have been accepting them, so must be working ok now

[Not Thread Owner]

Yeah, if they go looking for a request they can see it - it just doesnt pop up in Miiverse as a notification

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

It's great that this mutual-manual-friendcode-entering shit is finally a thing of the past.

[Not Thread Owner]

It's still there if you want to do it like that. As you would if you're a parent and set parental controls that way.

[SpagMasterSwift]

I could do with more people on my friends list - NNID Spagmasterswift

[stefcha]

Is actually very very difficult to do a universally intuitive UI.

I disagree, but regardless it certainly wouldn't be in any way difficult to make probably hundreds of obvious improvements to any of Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony's offerings for a start, and I don't just mean a list of things I'd like. It's so bad I wonder how much copyright infringement has to play in things sometimes.

Anyway, in other news should the Wii U pad be really shit at maintaining a connection with the Wii U or is it just me? I presume it's the latter because it shouldn't be having issues from about 6ft away should it? It's sat on the shelf above my amp, on top of a blu-ray player with a WDTV Live next to it and Humax Youview box on the shelf above. The amp & Humax is connected to a powerline network adapter, the WDTV Live is using wireless. To be honest, it wasn't much better when it was sat on the floor in front of this lot.

[shirubagan]

Stefcha, as I've recently found out, there are so many cultural and legal barriers, considerations and management steps involved in corporate decision-making that it's a miracle the UI was designed at all, let alone it being half-decent. I'm sure you could make some improvements that would benefit you personally that would fail completely across a large amount of different cultures globally.

I think the Wii U interface is very good, very simple, very user friendly, suitable for all ages and does a good job of marginalising all of the complicated options so your kids don't accidentally format the hard drive or fuck up system settings by accident.

[stefcha]

Stefcha, as I've recently found out, there are so many cultural and legal barriers, considerations and management steps involved in corporate decision-making that it's a miracle the UI was designed at all, let alone it being half-decent. I'm sure you could make some improvements that would benefit you personally that would fail completely across a large amount of different cultures globally.

That's why I specifically said "and I don't just mean a list of things I'd like". I've studied the psychology of, and worked on and with things like this. Enough to know it's usually taken out of your hands by some dickhead who doesn't know what they're doing anyway, for reasons unknown

[shirubagan]

Ha, totally true!

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Anyway, in other news should the Wii U pad be really shit at maintaining a connection with the Wii U or is it just me? I presume it's the latter because it shouldn't be having issues from about 6ft away should it?

I haven't tested the range yet, but I've definitely moved it further from the Wii U than 6 feet (or 10 feet for that matter) without losing connection.

Tonight I've been playing some Need for Speed Most Wanted U and Lego City Undercover. NFS is a bit 'meh'. After hearing this was the definitive version and not having played the game on another format I was hoping for an echo of the brilliant Criterion developed Hot Pursuit, but the controls are way off in this game and it feels weirdly heavy and clunky. It's not really very pretty either, in my memory Hot Pursuit looked a lot better with its lighting and atmosphere. Maybe it needs some getting used to, but not impressed at all so far.

Lego City Undercover on the other hand is brilliant. Genuine laughing-out-loud moments and simple yet perfectly serviceable gameplay. My kids will love it, although it might be a bit too complex for them yet.

[Mr Cochese]

Boo. It wouldn't connect to let me make an nnid. Some of you dickheads had better be my friends to make this worthwhile.

[Not Thread Owner]

I haven't tested the range yet, but I've definitely moved it further from the Wii U than 6 feet (or 10 feet for that matter) without losing connection.

Tonight I've been playing some Need for Speed Most Wanted U and Lego City Undercover. NFS is a bit 'meh'. After hearing this was the definitive version and not having played the game on another format I was hoping for an echo of the brilliant Criterion developed Hot Pursuit,

NFSMW is Burnout Paradise, not Hot Pursuit.

[choddo]

GC-Wiimote adapter works well (though a bit sketchy with a wavebird so no good for hardcore C64 games )

Bloody transfer thing (as cute as the pikmin powered transfer was) downloaded my missing games that were still stuck on the SD card transparently anyway - not sure if that would have worked with titles you can't get any more like those C64 ones, but it did it for Sin & Punishment and Pilotwings without me having to go and fetch them so it actually works better than advertised.

[Broker]

My gamepad was a but sketchy during SM3DW four player the other day, despite me being six feet away. When I sat next to it it was ok.

[Not Thread Owner]

Completed D&D. No idea what the fuck was going on there.

[Broker]

Is it co-op? Which order do I play the two games it seems to be in? How complex is it?

[Not Thread Owner]

It's coop for 4 players, online too.

It seemed to want me to play the second game first.

There is some sort of weapon collection system I noticed after the game ended. Never collected any. Bought hammers from the shop , no idea what they do.

I played as an elf if that matters.

[Broker]

Sounds great, I'm going to force my kids to play it with me. They're four and six, did it seem like you could make it through if two members of your party were not that helpful?

[Not Thread Owner]

Yeah, sure. I don't know if collected money is pooled though - you need it (a pitiful amount mind) to continue.

[Broker]

I'm hoping that I can play alone and get stronger then bring them along on quests while I kick ass.

[Not Thread Owner]

I only levelled up three times in the entire game. And even then, for some reason, I didn't actually got from lvl 10 (I started at 8) to 11 even though it told me it did. And it says 9 (120/150) on the game select screen and I don't know why.

[sinky72]

Loving Windwaker, the sound track is something else. Running round this island listening to this has me smiling all the time, not to mention my feet tapping

[Broker]

I only levelled up three times in the entire game. And even then, for some reason, I didn't actually got from lvl 10 (I started at 8) to 11 even though it told me it did. And it says 9 (120/150) on the game select screen and I don't know why.

That sounds awesome.

[shirubagan]

D&D is utterly bonkers and nonsensical, stupidly difficult and awesome. The last boss is designed to be a coin guzzler and it's great fun. I used 45 continues to finish it and loved every second.

[Nobuo's Organ]

The last boss in the default D&D game it starts you on is a re-do of a boss in the earliest of the two games - in that one you have to go through a bunch of "are you really sure?" prompts to fight it which all-but tell you outright that this boss will be eating all your credits

I prefer the later,"more complex" (lol) game which adds the quarter-circle special move and slide, makes it feel a bit less cheap at times and gives it satisfying combo-ability.

[Elseb]

So i'm thinking of picking up a Wii U in January, does anybody know where I can get a good deal? Does the console have any hidden gems that I should be buying? I like the look of Wonderful 101 but haven't got a clue if it's any good or not. The idea of playing Earthbound again is a good one.

[Super Craig]

Lego City Undercover on the other hand is brilliant. Genuine laughing-out-loud moments and simple yet perfectly serviceable gameplay. My kids will love it, although it might be a bit too complex for them yet.

I don't think that my nephew would be able to tackle the story, but he loves just mucking around in the city. Helps when you've unlocked the instant vehicle cheats.