The increase from the Gamecube is pretty insignificant, the Wii is basically equivalent to the Xbox.
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Wii U Speculation Thread 2: Can't take anymore of this!!!
- Thread starter ClovingWestbrook
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The increase from the Gamecube is pretty insignificant, the Wii is basically equivalent to the Xbox.
AceBandage
Banned
Like Ono?
Fourth Storm
Member
In terms of third party support I have hopes that this year will be pleasantly surprising, but I'm not expecting everything to come en masse. Some of the titles scheduled for at or around launch (Batman, Darksiders, Ninja Gaiden 3) will be late, but they will certainly take the extra time to include some cool Wii U features/upgrades and are also leveraging key licenses to a demographic proven to be on Nintendo platforms. Other than this , the few exclusives we know, and of course a few we don't know, Nintendo will snag a few key multiplatform releases and tout their version as superior. Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, (likely) Resident Evil 6, and (can you imagine) Grand Theft Auto 5 all coming out this year on Wii U would be huge. These are key titles we know Nintendo are targeting to appear on their platform.
ShockingAlberto
Member
Well, it's not really a ban bet with anyone. No one has anything to lose from it and I have nothing to gain.
I'm just saying, if the hardware inside the system is weaker than the 360, then I wouldn't want to be here that next month, anyway. But I'm betting it's not.
I'm just saying, if the hardware inside the system is weaker than the 360, then I wouldn't want to be here that next month, anyway. But I'm betting it's not.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
Oh god, if the Wii U is weaker. The rage that will ensue...
Can't wait.
Can't wait.
lordfroakie
Member
Not like they'll buy wiiu for graphics!
AceBandage
Banned
Hell, the rage from developers, who have been actively communicating with Nintendo on the creation of the Wii U, would drown us all out.
It's just not happening.
Nintendo has been going to all the major publishers and studios and asking them what they want. And not a single one is going to say "Hey, make it weaker than what we have now."
Dreamwriter
Member
Hypothetical Question:
Wii-U comes out with a price of $600. Launch titles include a huge number of AAA games such as a new Zelda, Pikmin 3, a new Metroid, a sequel to New Super Mario Bros., Bioshock Infinite, a new Baten Kaitos, Skyrim with both high res texture pack and creation kit (with support for PC mods), Darksiders 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Diablo 3. Graphics are almost (but not quite) at modern PC graphics standards.
Do you buy the system at $600? Do you think the system could sustain that price?
Wii-U comes out with a price of $600. Launch titles include a huge number of AAA games such as a new Zelda, Pikmin 3, a new Metroid, a sequel to New Super Mario Bros., Bioshock Infinite, a new Baten Kaitos, Skyrim with both high res texture pack and creation kit (with support for PC mods), Darksiders 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Diablo 3. Graphics are almost (but not quite) at modern PC graphics standards.
Do you buy the system at $600? Do you think the system could sustain that price?
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
So Nintendo should just make the Wii U as strong as the Atari 2600 and they'll have droves of people in line, right?
I don't know why, but I see some developer saying that, just to troll..
AceBandage
Banned
Not unless you got all those games free with purchase...
$600 is insane. Absolutely without a doubt insane. Regardless of what it has or can do.
Shogmaster
Member
Holy shitakes... Is there really a chance that WiiU is only in the neighborhood of the 5+ year old HD twins? Well, this is Nintendo after all. I guess there is more than just a chance.
Arkam's comments could have some truth to them if they simply imply equal or lower clocks in Wii U. My revised worst case scenario could look like:
CPU: tri-core at 2.916 GHz
GPU: 480 SPUs at 486 MHz
RAM: 1 GB
While the 360 CPU runs at 3.2 GHz, the Wii U CPU would certainly be of improved architecture, possibly including OoOE and more cache than the 360 CPU which would mean more muscle despite the lower clock rate. As has been discussed.
The 360 GPU is 500 MHz but with only the equivalent of 240 SPUs, as was pointed out to me a ways back. The Wii U GPU would be more powerful.
I know these are very vague specs, but the point is that even in the worst case, Wii U should outperform 360. Surely those more knowledgeable than me can back this up with crazy talk about flabification processes and nanomeats.
CPU: tri-core at 2.916 GHz
GPU: 480 SPUs at 486 MHz
RAM: 1 GB
While the 360 CPU runs at 3.2 GHz, the Wii U CPU would certainly be of improved architecture, possibly including OoOE and more cache than the 360 CPU which would mean more muscle despite the lower clock rate. As has been discussed.
The 360 GPU is 500 MHz but with only the equivalent of 240 SPUs, as was pointed out to me a ways back. The Wii U GPU would be more powerful.
I know these are very vague specs, but the point is that even in the worst case, Wii U should outperform 360. Surely those more knowledgeable than me can back this up with crazy talk about flabification processes and nanomeats.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
uggh...UGGGH
AceBandage
Banned
Not a chance in all the 7 hells of all the infinite Earths.
i haven't been able to resist a zelda at launch yet, but if bioshock infinite was there too, that would be a clear and resounding no.
I don't think anyone would even be able to get read the forums if that happens. Gotta admit, that would be funny as hell.
At $600, the wife wouldn't even let me look in the Wii U's general direction. Regardless of how many games it came with. Especially since those games wouldn't come packed in with the system. I doubt it'd be able to survive at that price, too.
Eternal Darkness wasn't a success sales-wise.
Yes, I buy it. No doubts there. I'd budget close to $1000 for Launch Week, with the cost including system, games, accessories, and junk food for my video game vacation.
I'd also cringe with the knowledge that Nintendo has made a terrible mistake.
(side note: look at the posting rate in here tonight! wow! jumpin'!)
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
I think all the Nintendo fanboys (myself included) would have a small heart attack, and wake up foaming in the mouth.
AceBandage
Banned
Neither was Sin and Punishment.
Or Kid Icarus.
And guess what. They both got recent sequels.
Dreamwriter
Member
Nintendo *always* makes at least one terrible mistake 
Just gotta hope the rest of their decisions counteract the inevitable mistake.
Just gotta hope the rest of their decisions counteract the inevitable mistake.Nintendo *always* makes at least one terrible mistake
I think pricing is the one terrible mistake I don't want them to make. Their own personal "five hundred and ninety-nine dollars" moment would be disasterous.
Fourth Storm
Member
Dyack's gotta be up to something, no? I'm coincidentally playing through Eternal Darkness right now. I have to say it's held up pretty damn well. Underrated outside those of us who stuck it out through the Gamecube years.
lordfroakie
Member
Does Luigi's Mansion 2 count?
AceBandage
Banned
I'm not sure what the original sold, actually.
Regardless, my point is Nintendo doesn't just make games simply because they part of a giant franchise.
They like to experiment and make games for small audiences too.
Lord Ghirahim
Member
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
but what if they said $599.99, New Super Mario Bros. Mii and HD A Link to the Past are packed in?
Would you still purchase it?
Would you still flip out if Nintendo said $599.99 but it comes with two games packed in?
Of course you would, you're basically surrounded by money ;_;
TheExplodingHead
Banned
I think it'd be interesting if Nintendo shook up the market with that price by also including (in the price) a 20 year full service warranty, 200 free VC/WiiWare game, full development engine with full access to all HW and pipelines, full modding and homebrew support, free re-downloads of all existing VC/WiiWare to include achievements and extended community support, and 5 free Wii U games of your choosing (with OST), a GAF app.
Then yes, I would gladly pay $600, although I can afford it. Otherwise, in the real world it would be terrible. I build my PC for aggressive HW, I want a different experience from a console and a price according to it.
bgassassin
Member
Even though what I saw was the early version, I don't know if I could even call that one bulky. And as some of us have discussed before, there is the possibility that they chose a GPU like a 4830 instead of a 4770 because of the disabled SIMDs. Hypothetically speaking that helps to keep it cooler while still at 55nn though the intent with the final would be to have all SIMDs enabled on the smaller process.
As for the multiplier I think that was Old Man Simpson that made that claim. An old Anandtech article I read on the Gamecube talked about how the synching of the clocks lowered latency. I don't see why that would change for the worse, become completely irrelevant even today, or see Nintendo deviating from that.
As for figuring it out I still stand by my guess unless one or more of those numbers saw a bump as was indicated/told to wsippel.
Yikes. That would probably be a no-go. I'd be very sad at that point. Those two particular games wouldn't be enough.
(I have a personal ban bet of-sorts.. when Nintendo exits making new games/hardware, I'd be done with playing new games. I'd be happy with perfecting my collection and playing off of that catalogue for my remaining years.)
-Pyromaniac-
Member
It's pretty absurd to think that a console coming out in 2012 would be weaker than consoles that came out in many a years before. Can't believe people are even entertaining that idea. Unless the console is CHEAPASFUCKKK which you know it wont be.
AceBandage
Banned
Yeah, they've already said it'll likely be more than the Wii was.
And the controller doesn't cost enough for that kind of price increase on a system that would likely costs less than $200 to make.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
I guess it's HIGH drama though, GAFs fave thing.
boiled goose
good with gravy
Thinking about it...
The wii was not exactly more powerful than the Xbox. It was better in some areas, yet weaker in others.
What if it is the same case here? Better in some than aspects than current gen, worse in others.
Why did the economical arguments for why it would be silly for Nintendo to go weaker not hold back then?
It seems third party support is more important now, given that everything is multiplat. Exclusives are far and few in between.
I would be disappointed if WiiU was around the same level as current gen. Would definitely not invest in one for quite a while if ever.
The wii was not exactly more powerful than the Xbox. It was better in some areas, yet weaker in others.
What if it is the same case here? Better in some than aspects than current gen, worse in others.
Why did the economical arguments for why it would be silly for Nintendo to go weaker not hold back then?
It seems third party support is more important now, given that everything is multiplat. Exclusives are far and few in between.
I would be disappointed if WiiU was around the same level as current gen. Would definitely not invest in one for quite a while if ever.
Lord Ghirahim
Member
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
Don't forget about those two Link riding Epona statues (one Original, one Gold). How many meals did you have to skip for that ):
ShockingAlberto
Member
Nintendo was still using the same supply chains for the Wii that they had for the Gamecube. Built from scratch, the Wii would have likely outdone the XBox (though it did things with DirectX that would likely have not been reproducible on non-DX hardware).
Unless they're iterating on Dolphin hardware again, it seems unlikely that would be the case. They didn't just go less powerful than the XBox simply because, they were purposely attempting to hew closer to architecture they were used to.
Not at launch, games are not free
yes because there is Zelda, Metroid , Baten and PC mods
AceBandage
Banned
There's a few differences here.
1. The Wii and Xbox used different architectures. That is why it was viewed as weaker, despite being stronger. The Xbox was easier to program for.
2. The Wii U will have a similar architecture to the 360, meaning it'll all basically be based on hardware power.
3. The Wii got away with being weaker because it was a lot cheaper and had amazing word of mouth in an era where HD development was dragging studios back.
4. The Wii U will now be competing not just with the 720/PS4 but also the 360/PS3. It will have to separate itself not only in features, but in power. Putting it at or below would be certain death.
bgassassin
Member
I think my earlier post might answer this.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=35322616#post35322616
StreetsAhead
Member
3.53 million is the best figure I can find, but it was a launch game.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
Well Iwata was right, we did say "wow" (;They didn't make those claims with Wii (well Iwata did say we would say "wow"
bgassassin
Member
Smiles and Cries
Member
wow at this thread just wow
you guys were not trolled you were grossly violated
you guys were not trolled you were grossly violated
boiled goose
good with gravy
Good points.
Seeing exactly what happened to Wii support partially because of a lack of power, it would be so surprising for Nintendo to go with considerably underpowered hardware again.
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