Support NeoGAF

[Card Boy]

Wut.

Wasn't the Wii the first of the Nintendo consoles to be the least powerful of its generation?

Isn't that what he is saying? Or did you quote the wrong post?

 

[?oe?oe]

With all this 100% factual and unconflicting to the majority of impressions we have received, we can stipulate that 360 has less power then the 360.

See what one comment can do? It changes everything we know about the Matrix.

 

[BY2K]

This is true. Nintendo pretty much always releases underpowered hardware. I don't see why this would come as any surprise to anyone.

Bull-fucking-crap.

 

[Zoramon089]

This is true. Nintendo pretty much always releases underpowered hardware. I don't see why this would come as any surprise to anyone.

This is factually incorrect

 

[saunderez]

Their consoles aren't underpowered but ever since the SNES they've been hamstrung by one thing or another. The N64 was due to using cartridges that caused bigger games to be $$$$$. The Gamecube used mini-DVDs. The Wii was drastically underpowered compared to it's competitors. They have a track record of doing things that make things harder for developers.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I tried that. Nobody listens. Everybody's so quick to call you Nintendo Defense Force or put spin on your arguments.

So you make some jokes and suddenly the thread changes.

I'd hope I speak and the world changes, but you have to start somewhere.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Feel like the rumors today are all some kind of social experiment. This thread has more replies than the other two threads combined.

I guess Nintendo is like Howard Stern, people either love them or love to hate them but either way they can't wait to find out what Nintendo is going to do next.

 

[Gahiggidy]

1,060 posts. That's a lot to read. Is there anything of note past the first two pages?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Their consoles aren't underpowered but ever since the SNES they've been hamstrung by one thing or another. The N64 was due to using cartridges that caused bigger games to be $$$$$. The Gamecube used mini-DVDs. The Wii was drastically underpowered compared to it's competitors. They have a track record of doing things that make things harder for developers.

Shit even the snes had a crappy flaw, a slow CPU

 

[Thunder Monkey]

1,060 posts. That's a lot to read. Is there anything of note past the first two pages?

Is there ever?

 

[lucius]

It is probably close to power to 360/PS3 doing some things better, maybe even some things worse since that controller won't be so cheap. I am leaning towards it will do more things better, but you won't see huge differences in the games between all 3 systems, except for maybe Nintendo 1st party games. 3rd party support should be better than Wii but very similar about a year after it release, people don't really buy Nintendo consoles for 3rd party support though so all will be fine.

 

[saunderez]

Shit even the snes had a crappy flaw, a slow CPU

True, but it was a beast with transparency and Mode 7 was pretty freakin' sweet. I still remember playing Yoshi's Island for the first time and seeing the incredible scaling in action during the boss battles.

 

[?oe?oe]

Let's face it guys. The only information on Wii U we have is from E32011, nothing more, nothing less. It's easier that way.

Disagree with me?

 

[Huff]

1,060 posts. That's a lot to read. Is there anything of note past the first two pages?

just the standard hateraid coming from all sides

 

[Gahiggidy]

It is probably close to power to 360/PS3 doing some things better, maybe even some things worse since that controller won't be so cheap....

...

Can the Wii Tablet be any more costly than that Kinect thing?

 

[Orayn]

This is true. Nintendo pretty much always releases underpowered hardware. I don't see why this would come as any surprise to anyone.

Not really.

• NES kind of dated by the time it reached the West, but it couldn't really be considered underpowered due to lack of competition.
• The Gameboy was very underpowered compared to the Lynx, Game Gear, and Turbo Express, but won anyway due to its vastly superior library.
• In its time, the SNES was bested only by the Neo Geo and transitional consoles like the 3DO and Jaguar.
• The N64 was interesting - It far outperformed the Playstation in some areas, while falling behind in others. Its Achilles heel was the medium rather than the rest of the setup.
• The GBA, again, came to a market with no real competitors. It was basically a SNES-and-then-some in terms of raw capabilities.
• The Gamecube was significantly more powerful than the PS2, and was mostly limited by its storage medium and a lack of 3rd party support, similar to the N64.

And then the legacy of arguably and not so arguably underpowered systems starts.

 

[saunderez]

Can the Wii Tablet be any more costly than that Kinect thing?

I don't see why not, Kinect doesn't really have a lot to it. A tiny motor, a couple of cameras, 4 microphones and a USB controller.

 

[Firemind]

If this thread has proved anything, it's that many, many "hardcore" gamers care about graphics as measures of a system's worth. I doubt you'll see some gentlemen's agreement between Sony and Microsoft to cut back on graphics in light of their efforts to appease this group, and because of this, the arm's race will continue.

Whether or not this strategy is viable for many more years is another matter, one that I don't think either Sony or Microsoft have truly considered.

While your argument is valid, it's not the Cold War. They're businesses and probably have a target of specs that doesn't exceed a certain manufacturing price threshold. This why their final hardware aren't likely going to be too far apart. The only dilemma is that this group you're mentioning will logically flock to the one that has the best performances of multiplatform titles, so there is a stake to upend each other, true.

 

[Gospel]

1,060 posts. That's a lot to read. Is there anything of note past the first two pages?

This post is great

 

[H_Prestige]

Memories only go back about a generation.

For example, see how many people think of Nintendo as some sort of game selling titan in spite of the decade or so that preceded the Wii.

Oh shit

 

[outunderthestars]

Not really.

• NES was outdone by kind of dated by the time it reached the West, but it couldn't really be considered underpowered due to lack of competition.
• The Gameboy was very underpowered compared to the Lynx, Game Gear, and Turbo Express, but won anyway due to its vastly superior library.
• In its time, the SNES was bested only by the Neo Geo and transitional consoles like the 3DO and Jaguar.
• The N64 was interesting - It far outperformed the Playstation in some areas, while falling behind in others. Its Achilles heel was the medium rather than the rest of the setup.
• The GBA, again, came to a market with no real competitors. It was basically a SNES-and-then-some in terms of raw capabilities.
• The Gamecube was significantly more powerful than the PS2, and was mostly limited by its storage medium and a lack of 3rd party support, similar to the N64.

And then the legacy of arguably and not so arguably underpowered systems starts.

This was well stated. I stand corrected.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Oh shit

That's reaching and you know it. The reason the games weren't mega sellers is because the hardware wasn't a mega seller. Hell it was barely a seller. It took five years to get just over double the unit tally of the Dreamcast.

Of course Nintendo's games would have trouble selling during that era.

 

[watership]

Memories only go back about a generation.

For example, see how many people think of Nintendo as some sort of game selling titan in spite of the decade or so that preceded the Wii.

Knives out!

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Knives out!

Knives need to be put up.

You guys look like idiots.

 

[H_Prestige]

That's reaching and you know it. The reason the games weren't mega sellers is because the hardware wasn't a mega seller. Hell it was barely a seller. It took five years to get just over double the unit tally of the Dreamcast.

Of course Nintendo's games would have trouble selling during that era.

Wait, what? So now it's hardware that moves software?

Nintendo wasn't good at making very popular games. If they were, those systems would have sold just like the wii.

 

[AndyMoogle]

I don't see why not, Kinect doesn't really have a lot to it. A tiny motor, a couple of cameras, 4 microphones and a USB controller.

It's not like the Wii U controller has anything special in it either. It's a controller with a screen, a microphone, two (?) speakers and a camera.

 

[TheLastCandle]

Oh shit

Pokemon. It never existed.

 

[watership]

Knives need to be put up.

You guys look like idiots.

Not at all. Unless you were a Mario/Zelda or the like.

 

[H_Prestige]

Pokemon. It never existed.

On home consoles? I'm not sure if it did.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Wait, what? So now it's hardware that moves software?

Nintendo wasn't good at making very popular games. If they were, those systems would have sold just like the wii.

Nintendo in that era had no idea what the mass market wanted. And those expectations shift from generation to generation.

I was making no statements about hardware moving software, just that the hardware has to have moved to continue selling games.

I thought GCN era Nintendo made great games, but they were obviously far from what the market wanted. So it's pretty much a domino effect. Games don't catch fire, hardware doesn't which leads to stifled sales and an impossible to beat cycle. If the games don't cause hardware sale spikes the games won't have a larger audience to sell to.

Not at all. Unless you were a Mario/Zelda or the like.

I was talking about all of you. Angry Nintendo fans, angry every one else. You all look like idiots arguing back and forth using the exact same arguments every time.

"Too weak!" "Nuh!"

If the WiiU is on par, slightly stronger, slightly weaker than the PS3/360 that won't stop beautiful games from being released on the system. It potentially does mean the system won't be able to handle the highest end of videogame visuals.

I won't deny that point because to do so would be lying for no reason. Does this limit development? It depends on the developer honestly. Some haven't even caught up with the 360's minimum of Gun.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Man are we getting trolled hard with these rumors. Wii U ranging from less than current HD twins to 5 x. Durango going from mild Wii like increase in power to 6x to Dual GPU monster beast. Well then there's Orbis but whatever

 

[Orayn]

Man are we getting trolled hard with these rumors. Wii U ranging from less than current HD twins to 5 x. Durango going from mild Wii like increase in power to 6x to Dual GPU monster beast. Well then there's Orbis but whatever

The secret is that the WiiU's CPU and GPU are upgradable, but the upgrades are sold in boosters like a collectible card game. Get ready to buy lots of packs if you want the ultra rare chips that enable 1080P and 60 FPS!

 

[OmegaZero]

Wii U stuck with unpowerful graphics confirmed.

 

[Medalion]

Wii U stuck with unpowerful graphics confirmed.

Yep, no reason to care about that console anymore, time to look to the future of powerful graphics... the powerfulerest the awesomerest

 

[Log4Girlz]

The secret is that the WiiU's CPU and GPU are upgradable, but the upgrades are sold in boosters like a collectible card game. Get ready to buy lots of packs if you want the ultra rare chips that enable 1080P and 60 FPS!

I want the kiddy shader pack.

 

[saunderez]

It's not like the Wii U controller has anything special in it either. It's a controller with a screen, a microphone, two (?) speakers and a camera.

Plus whatever they're using to transmit video wirelessly. I imagine thats one of the more expensive components. You're also forgetting the battery and the buttons and analog sticks. There's quite a few more components in there I do expect it would cost more to manufacture than a Kinect. Microsoft is making insane profits per Kinect sold there's no doubt about that.

 

[Brashnir]

The secret is that the WiiU's CPU and GPU are upgradable, but the upgrades are sold in boosters like a collectible card game. Get ready to buy lots of packs if you want the ultra rare chips that enable 1080P and 60 FPS!

The console itself is the game.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I will state what I'm about to say is a definite.

Until we've explored every input option, every play mechanic, games won't need the newest tech to make an impact.

They'll just need a defining "hook".

Those games that have defined mechanics though. They do need a tech boost occasionally to change core mechanics.

 

[kittens]

Now it's LESS powerful? Hahaha, so many contradictory rumors.

 

[Log4Girlz]

I will state what I'm about to say is a definite.

Until we've explored every input option, every play mechanic, games won't need the newest tech to make an impact.

They'll just need a defining "hook".

Those games that have defined mechanics though. They do need a tech boost occasionally to change core mechanics.

I want to input something somewhere dammit

 

[Medalion]

Now it's LESS powerful? Hahaha, so many contradictory rumors.

It's possible Nintendo is stripping things back as time goes on... that 3DS price cut may have hit em harder than we thought.

 

[Red UFO]

This .gif does a good job of summing up this entire thread.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I want to input something somewhere dammit

Penile controllers.

The future of gaming entertainment.

 

[Mxrz]

If the WiiU is on par, slightly stronger, slightly weaker than the PS3/360 that won't stop beautiful games from being released on the system. It potentially does mean the system won't be able to handle the highest end of videogame visuals.

Apparently with the wii graphics didn't matter, but with the Wii-U it does so much that the thought of it only doing current gen stuff is flat out heresy. Today's games look so f'ing awful after all.

 

[BigTnaples]

Apparently with the wii graphics didn't matter, but with the Wii-U it does so much that the thought of it only doing current gen stuff is flat out heresy. Today's games look so f'ing awful after all.

For 2012, yes, they do look f'ing awful.

 

[Mondriaan]

Apparently with the wii graphics didn't matter, but with the Wii-U it does so much that the thought of it only doing current gen stuff is flat out heresy. Today's games look so f'ing awful after all.

My current working hypothesis is that the weaker Nintendo's hardware is compared to its competition, the more money Nintendo will make. Nintendo might be in trouble, though, because of the iPad.

 

[Jim E. Rossler]

I Don't see what the big deal is here guys. All this talk about things like 'shaders' and 'gpu's and abstract concepts like 'more/less powerful' distract from the real truth:
For over 25 Years Nintendo has delivered quality home video game entertainment to millions upon millions of gamers from all walks of life. With the recent successful launch of the 3DS, and it's exciting and varied library of announced games that will satisfy all, from the core gamers to the expanded audience, there's no doubt in my mind that Nintendo will continue it's legacy of great entertainment aimed at all ages at a reasonable price with the Wii U Video Game Console. This is evident from it's groundbreaking Handheld tablet-like controller that will facilitate a whole new experience for it's users. Even looking back it Nintendo's long and varied history, we can see that it is almost expected for them to raise the bar like that with their brilliant innovations on the home console frontier.

 

[JazzmanZ]

'The Wii U is more powerful than the 360, Ps3'

'The Wii U is as powerful as the 360, Ps3'

'The WII U is less powerful than the 360, Ps3'

make up your damn mind developers.

 

[herzogzwei1989]

No way Wii U is weaker than current HD consoles in terms of rendering performance. They would not have had 2-3x the amount of RAM (1 ~ 1.5 GB) in there if the GPU, computing and rendering performance was lower than 360/PS3.

RIGHT GUYS ?????

 

[Zoramon089]

It's not like the Wii U controller has anything special in it either. It's a controller with a screen, a microphone, two (?) speakers and a camera.

It's a wiimotion+ controller with a screen, camera, and other hardware