This is kinda similar to how I feel. I like touch controls, and I like the idea of streaming video, but they're gimmicks I'm not really interested in. I would prefer touch interface gimmicks be kept to the 3DS, and as neat as game streaming is the reality is I'll rarely use it (as in, TV being used, thus I play on the pad). Nice for others who do, pretty useless to me.
So do you just want a Nintendo version of the 360 and nothing else? To me that sounds pretty boring.
I expect uses to be mixed but, as a whole, gimmicky, as most games will not be built specifically for the Wii U. Even neat stuff like what IdeaMan suggest with Assassin's Creed 3 really aren't enough. Doesn't matter how neat or useful the gimmick is: it's not how the game was designed from the ground up, and it's not going to be enough to sell me on that port. I don't care about additional birds eye hunting cameras on the Wii U Pad when I can play the same game, minus the gimmick, just as effectively and significantly better looking on my PC.
The same can be said about ANY console though. PC versions will always look much better so I don't quite see your point. The Wii U versions of 3rd party ports will have nothing but ADDITIONAL stuff to the 360/PS3/PC because of it's dual screen. Having the tablet takes nothing away from the experience and can only really add to it.
But this goes hand in hand with my disinterest in the pad as a whole, because of how much I love the Wii remote. I was actually disappointed with the pad. Neat it may be, but unique it is not. It's an extension of the DS/3DS philosophy, now on a console.
I lot of people said the same thing about the iPad; that it's just an extension of the iPhone. However once you actually use one you realise that that extra real-estate opens up possibilities that you can't do on an iPhone. The subscreen isn't connected to the main TV so that for one makes the gameplay different. It has dual sticks and triggers etc. It has NFC. It has a sensor bar in it (Or so we think). The whole thing is larger than a 3DS by far.
I see it as much like a 3DS as an iPhone is like an iPad. Similar but they are used for very different things and excel at different things.
The actually controller itself is back peddling to pander to pad-only gamers who can't hack the sheer awesomeness of the Wii Remote, which is ultimately the superior, more original and unique control scheme. When I look at the Wii U pad I see a touch screen with a traditional controller attached to it. With the Wii Remote I see awesome motion controls, comfortable split controller design, and the incredible IR pointer.
I agree that the Wii remote is damned awesome for shooters and was totally underutilised for things like RTS games or the oft-wanted light sabre game. However I think what the subscreen brings to the table is WAY more than what we lose, and that's assuming that developers will not use the Wiimote for games that it suits better (FPS). In fact I think that until we see the thing and what devs have done, we have a few possible options that may come to fruition.
1) Devs make Wii remote only controls for games like FPS'
2) Devs make Wii remote pointing with the subscreen in the other hand for moving/screen. I'm not sure if it's light enough though but if so it "might" work. And you know, it wouldn't surprise me if Wii U ships with a strap where you can strap the subscreen to your arm. That way you can view screen and use nunchuck and Wii Remote.
3) The subscreen actually ends up with a Wii remote camera in it so we can sort of use it like a two handed Wii remote.
4) FPS games use a well implemented combo of sticks and gyros a-la Killer freaks. I can see myself running and looking around with sticks with fine/fast control done with the pad.
In my head, I would have much preferred to see the Wii U simply refine the Wii Remote philosophy with stronger hardware. I wanted to see the Wii dream evolve, Nintendo and others taking the Wii remote to new levels. Given the NES->SNES and N64->GCN path of progress, I totally expected this to happen. Wii->Wii U. And yeah, it's backwards compatible, and a lot of games will still probably use the remotes, I just don't care about the pad.
This is especially true for what you said: it's an more expensive unit that will detract from hardware strength relative to sale price.
While you're probably right we won't know until we see it and hear the price. Nintendo might start out with a low/no/-ve profit for a while just to get the power up there at a good price. Also, even if Nintendo didn't make a system with a tablet controller, they still wouldn't make a $500 system like most of the "real next-gen" people are wanting.
Do you all plan to use your GAF username as your NiN ID? I know I do for my 3DS mii so I was wondering if anyone would do the same.
Nope, I have my go to gaming ID that I use and it's not this.
crap