NeoGAF

Gaming is already an expensive hobby...
And no: The Wiimote is a great controler, and I see no harm in giving the consumer and developers more choice

Oh man, this is getting more and more absurd

No.
But there might be a case for not showing the Wiimotes as often in commercials, unless they actually state "Backwards compatible with almost all Wii controllers"

This is crazy. The issue is the name, not compatibility.

The biggest problem with the WiiU, in my mind, will always be the odd backwards compatibility. The way it's integrated almost makes it a non-feature. I think I could forgive the execution if they had better virtual console offerings consistent with what was available on the Wii. That said, I just don't see how they could so easily miss a feature that would have been a huge selling point for a lot of people. Playing Wii games on the gamepad would be pure bliss; it's currently a disjointed mess. Rectifying the integration should be their number one priority. Seamless backwards compatibility would resolve many of the issues I currently have with the system. The update to allow Wii games on the gamepad was such a disappointment once I realized I had to use a Wiimote.

Continuing on with Wii Remotes, if anything, is the brilliant part of the Wii U. Backwards compatibility too. People don't appreciate these things enough.

While the Gamepad is great, the existence of a new system doesn't suddenly make Wii Remotes a thing of the past. In fact, they still allow for some of the best control schemes in gaming.

Originally Posted by :Motorbass

Oh man, this is getting more and more absurd

Do you say that because of the 200 million wiimotes? I'm sure that's your number one reason.

Wii U shouldn't drop anything except for the price when Nintendo can afford it. Otherwise is a great little console as it is. And whoever doesn't like it for what it is should not buy it and not wishing to ruin the experience for the others.

If they take out wiimote then BC is gone too, then you are forced to spend 49.99 on extra controllers, also games like NintendoLand, Pikmin 3 would be worst.

Options are better then not having them

Having Wiimote's have nothing to do with the WiiU issuse

I wish they packed in a Wiimote with the system

I wish they'd have included a Wiimote in the box if they expected me to use one. My Wii U came with a sensor bar and Nintendoland, in which half the games require me to use one, but I don't have one and that shit's expensive. In Australia a Wiimote Plus retails for $70 (same as an Xbone controller, for comparison), with the Nunchuk another $30, which is just insane. I'm sure those things cost Nintendo practically nothing to churn out at this point.

Yeah this is crazy, but there is a point that the remote is an issue, but I think the issue is that it's not included in the package.

I think they should have redesign the Wii remote, only in pure aesthetics, to make it seem "new", while regular remote compatibility should still be there, because this is one of those things that confuse people and make them think Wii U is a Wii.

If anything, it should've come with a remote and nunchuck. The majority of the games on the system allow for that particular setup in conjunction with the gamepad as a second screen, which is a more interesting setup than asymmetrical multiplayer in my eyes.

Originally Posted by Berordn

If anything, it should've come with a remote and nunchuck. The majority of the games on the system allow for that particular setup in conjunction with the gamepad as a second screen, which is a more interesting setup than asymmetrical multiplayer in my eyes.

This. Wii U is founded on multiplayer games, and the initial bundle needs to foster that.

They also need to think about upgrading it* without making previous Wii Remotes obselete. There's too many out there.

*A microphone on a Wiimote sounds pretty damn obvious

So no multiplayer? Or you'd need 4 pads at once? Talk about expensive.

Are you kidding me?

One of the best things about the device is that it still works with those peripherals!

The Wii U needs to include whatever it currently includes (console, gamepad, cables, free game/s)...but then also be priced at $249.99 or less by default. The machine is a year old...too early to start cutting features, especially integral ones.

Originally Posted by Berordn

If anything, it should've come with a remote and nunchuck. The majority of the games on the system allow for that particular setup in conjunction with the gamepad as a second screen, which is a more interesting setup than asymmetrical multiplayer in my eyes.

Yep, every single Wii U model should have a Wiimote and Pro controller. If you are going to sell your console on local multiplayer expecting people to shell out a shit ton more money is stupid especially when your base has generally never payed high prices anyway

love that wiimotes are compatible

can't imagine jogging on wii fit u with a gamepad or pro controller in my pocket, for 1 of 100 reasons why this thread is ridiculous

even by nintendo thread standards

Originally Posted by metalslimer

Yep, every single Wii U model should have a Wiimote and Pro controller. If you are going to sell your console on local multiplayer expecting people to shell out a shit ton more money is stupid especially when your base has generally never payed high prices anyway

Putting more things in the box doesn't make them free.

Originally Posted by Gamer @ Heart

This is crazy. The issue is the name, not compatibility.

No, I think that's a copout. Nobody had trouble understanding that the Super Nintendo wasn't just an add-on for Nintendo. Nobody is confusing the Xbox One with the original Xbox. The name really doesn't matter. The issue is how they presented it to consumers.

Originally Posted by richiek

I've seen numerous posts of people saying that Nintendo should drop the Wii U Gamepad, which is completely wrongheaded. Instead, I've been thinking that instead, maybe they should have dropped Wii Remote compatibility. This may seem like a crazy idea, but when you think about it, not many Wii U games (other than Call of Duty) really take advantage of its special features, and it would have more effectively driven home the point that it is its own machine. The only downside is that it mean that the Wii U would no longer be backwards compatible with Wii games, but Wiis are pretty ubiquitous in homes anyway, so I don't think it's much of a loss.

You haven't played Pikmin 3 have you?

Almost all multiplayer games support it since no game supports two gamepads yet (you can't even buy them individually in stores)

And backwards compatibility of the highest selling console of the last gen is important. Not including Wii remote support would be stupid.

I thought the OP might be on to something so I tried playing Pikmin 3 with just the Wii U pad and now I want to stab the OP in the face or at least give him a stern frowning at.

Also playing pointer-based Wii games Off-TV on the Wii U gamepad with the Wii remote is as hilarious as it is pointless.

Originally Posted by Roto13

Putting more things in the box doesn't make them free.

Well Nintendo should subsidize the cost of them especially with how little they cost. Of course this is the Nintendo who can't afford AC adapters currently.

Originally Posted by metalslimer

Well Nintendo should subsidize the cost of them especially with how little they cost. Of course this is the Nintendo who can't afford AC adapters currently.

How little they cost.

The hell do you know about how much controllers cost to make?

Terrible idea. Millions of people already own it and it still is an awesome device. Easy to understand, multiple ways to use it. It revived the lightgun shooter genre, offers superior controls in FPS and has motion capabilties. In the last two months i used it in Pikmin, NSMBU, 3DWorld, Bowling, Tennis and various VC Games.

Noooo. Being completely backward compatible is a major plus for the wii u. It cuts expenses for people who owned wiis considerably and wii mote plus nnunchuck is one of my favorite control schemes ever.

What? no. The wii remote is too nice not to have...and wii games compatibility.

i spent $10 bucks on a third party pro controller and im able to play 4 player co-op sm3dw because i had 2 wiimotes already. i like that.

Originally Posted by metalslimer

Yep, every single Wii U model should have a Wiimote and Pro controller. If you are going to sell your console on local multiplayer expecting people to shell out a shit ton more money is stupid especially when your base has generally never payed high prices anyway

I can't argue with more is better, but it's not as if 100 million households didn't have wiimotes already.

Nintendo's problem is they have not succeeded in explaining the value for customers to reuse their wiimotes. Showing them in ads and expecting people to connect the dots didn't make it. Nowdays I believe it's less the case, in a year lots of people found a way to learn Wii U is a new console. But the wiimote part is an asset they have yet to leverage correctly in their communication.

Originally Posted by LinktoDrink

No, I think that's a copout. Nobody had trouble understanding that the Super Nintendo wasn't just an add-on for Nintendo. Nobody is confusing the Xbox One with the original Xbox. The name really doesn't matter. The issue is how they presented it to consumers.

I reckon your right there. Certainly here in the uk given the almost total lack of marketing it wouldn't matter what it was called, no-one has heard of it.

I can see some logic in them having only included wiimote for backwards compatibility purposes but made all new games gamepad only, but I love the wiimote pointer for lots of games and I'm glad they kept it.

The Wii U would still support bluetooth anyway for the pro controller, so it wouldn't save any money at all. Also, I get that you want the Wii U to be differentiated from the Wii, but the architecture is similar already. Taking out backwards compatibility doesn't really seem worth it by itself. You might as well just redesign the Wii U altogether.

Not at all. There are tons of wiimotes around, and it is actually a huge plus for most people that they can continue to use their old controllers with a new system. This was one of the few things NIntendo did absolutely right with the Wii U imo.

What? No. In fact, it's great that it does support those controllers. The problem is the messaging and the name.

what the hell? if anything nintendo should have included a wiimote with the system, not exclude wiimote functionality. i mean it has WII in the goddamn title of the console. this thread makes no sense to me.

horrible idea OP. It's been great playing co-op and multiplayer games with friends and not having to buy extra controllers. I'm just glad there isn't a requirement for Wii-Motion Plus controllers, as I've only got 2.

thanks Nintendo.

Originally Posted by Sendou

... why?

I want motion plus support! If motion plus controllers are required, we get more motion plus support, less waggle.

Originally Posted by moltonasty

what the hell? if anything nintendo should have included a wiimote with the system, not exclude wiimote functionality. i mean it has WII in the goddamn title of the console. this thread makes no sense to me.

It's a case of people thinking a (real) communication issue should be solved by removing value for customers, because the lack of understanding brings (real) confusion. Obviously the good way to handle this would be to focus on the communication issue in the first place. Make this minus a plus.

Also, since launch, I've never been able to understand why people think that this:

and it would have more effectively driven home the point that it is its own machine.

is the issue. The idea that people don't realize that the Wii U is a new console is a symptom of the larger problem that the mass market is apathetic about the product. "They don't care because they don't know that it's new!" I don't buy that. At some level, consumers understand that Nintendo has released a new controller, and they understand that Nintendo is releasing new console titles. If they cared about those, they'd realize during their inquiries into purchasing these new software titles and accessories that the Wii U was actually a new console. The fact that some are ignorant of this is symptomatic of the real problem which is that Nintendo hasn't generated enough interest in the GamePad/Wii U titles.

No but those first demo units should never of had the game pad and Wii controls all hooked up. Remember seeing it thinking how ridiculous it looked and it just made it look more like a wii.

Worse is Sonic and Mario Olympics is not playable with just the gamepad. How stupid is that!!

Also yes a wiimote should of been bundled in the box.

No, they should have improved the Wiimote+, made that the focus of the system, and named it Wii 2.

Originally Posted by Steve Youngblood

Nintendo hasn't generated enough interest in the GamePad/Wii U titles.

The drought after the good launch, poor communication and initial price created all the troubles Nintendo had selling this console. Most of these issues are solved now, but their communication should still be much better. I'll make a thread about it, with some tips for their marketing team, once I have the time.

Rocksmith 2014 uses the same hardware as Rocksmith. However, the Rocksmith market is not confused that Rocksmith 2014 is a new game.

The Wii U's problem isn't that it used old controllers. In fact, with controllers costing so much, I'm always a little surprised to see people so happy about a new controller that doesn't substantially change the method of control. Old controllers are good.

Originally Posted by richiek

As for buying all new controllers, how is this any different for PS 4 and Xbox One owners having to buy brand new controllers for multiplayer and not being able to use their 360 and PS 3 controllers?

It's one of the biggest selling points for families, whom the Wii U targets in particular. We picked up our new console with no accessories a year ago, and were able to immediately start having a blast with 3-player couch games. No extra costs, use the Wiimotes you already own.

All the new systems should have backward compatibility with older controllers. They might not have all the features that the new controller does have, but depending on the game it might not matter. The PS4/XB1 systems should be able to use the PS3/360 controllers.

I guess it is a good thing that local multiplayer is mostly a thing of the past.

Originally Posted by richiek

I've seen numerous posts of people saying that Nintendo should drop the Wii U Gamepad, which is completely wrongheaded. Instead, I've been thinking that instead, maybe they should have dropped Wii Remote compatibility. This may seem like a crazy idea, but when you think about it, not many Wii U games (other than Call of Duty) really take advantage of its special features, and it would have more effectively driven home the point that it is its own machine. The only downside is that it mean that the Wii U would no longer be backwards compatible with Wii games, but Wiis are pretty ubiquitous in homes anyway, so I don't think it's much of a loss.

Originally Posted by MemoryHumanity

Wtf at these threads.

Pretty much.

Also, have you played Pikmin 3? The Wii Remote is the optimal way to play the game and officially recommended by Miyamoto.

Nintendo should have never created those Anti-Left Handed monstrosities known as the Wiimotes in the first place! Down with Nintendo!

Originally Posted by Steve Youngblood

Also, since launch, I've never been able to understand why people think that this:

is the issue. The idea that people don't realize that the Wii U is a new console is a symptom of the larger problem that the mass market is apathetic about the product. "They don't care because they don't know that it's new!" I don't buy that. At some level, consumers understand that Nintendo has released a new controller, and they understand that Nintendo is releasing new console titles. If they cared about those, they'd realize during their inquiries into purchasing these new software titles and accessories that the Wii U was actually a new console. The fact that some are ignorant of this is symptomatic of the real problem which is that Nintendo hasn't generated enough interest in the GamePad/Wii U titles.

Could be some just view it as another iteration of the Wii.

Originally Posted by Azula

Could be some just view it as another iteration of the Wii.

Well, OK, but I'm not sure what we're getting at here. What I'm suggesting is that with the Wii and DS, Nintendo started to capitalize on the strength of their software and UI innovation. They don't try to compete in the tech arms race in terms of trying to dazzle you with their graphics, so people aren't going to rush out to buy Nintendo hardware because it's bigger and badder. The reason to buy the Wii U is because of the appeal of the GamePad and/or Nintendo's software. If either were generating buzz, people would figure out that the U was a new console when they went to the store to buy the tablet controller thingamajig for their Wii. Or they'd figure out that it's a new console when New Super Mario U and Super Mario 3D World didn't play in their Wii.

That this isn't happening is the problem. The core appeal of the Wii U is the GamePad and Nintendo's exclusive software. If that alone isn't getting people interested, I don't understand why clarifying that the GamePad and software requires new hardware is suddenly going to provide the necessary spark.