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[Unison]

Now we're pretty much aware of the Xbone DRM setup, and it's horrible. There's still no definitive word from Sony either way, but I think many of us agree that there has to be at least some form of DRM on the platform that will placate third parties.

That gets the conspiracy theorist in me wondering if the rampant hate parade that Western third parties have directed toward Wii U might have been an attempt to kill a system that didn't support their favored DRM measures.

We all know that EA has been both the most actively antagonistic toward Nintendo and one of the prime supporters of these DRM measures, but they are hardly the only ones who are being utterly dismissive of Nintendo's new system, which has DRM that is, frankly, last-gen.

For example, here's 2K's statement about the NBA game:

"We are not doing a Wii U version this year," Argent said. "The decision was made internally that our resources would be best put toward making a really amazing current-generation and next generation game, and we did not want to take resources away from making a great experience on those platforms."

I'm not suggesting that the DRM issue is the only issue that Wii U has. Nintendo and third parties have always had a rocky relationship. Still, the outright hostile attitude toward Wii U is pretty much unprecedented, and if Sony and MS both turn out to be supporting heavy DRM that prevents game lending and rentals and restricts used game sales, it would provide some retrospective understanding for why third parties have been so vocal and negative about Nintendo's new console.

Maybe we just need to see what Sony has cooked up before commenting, but I'd love to hear some responses...

 

[ascii42]

If they had confidence that the game would sell on the WiiU, they would put it on the WiiU, much like they are putting it on the PS3 and 360, which also have "last gen DRM"

 

[Meelow]

I'm just scared to see that Nintendo might give in.

And no, I don't think all western third parties abandoned Nintendo, some might off but I don't think all of them did.

If the Wii U starts selling better than it can help.

 

[TreasureHunterG]

Makes sense.

Of course Nintendo haters will deny it at all costs.

 

[EMT0]

Well, slimy things happen all the time in business. See Bethesda's ruining of the company that was making Prey 2 or the Aliens: Colonial Marines debacle. So this wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if it were truly a thing.

 

[royalan]

If they had confidence that the game would sell on the WiiU, they would put it on the WiiU, much like they are putting it on the PS3 and 360, which also don't have DRM.

Bingo.

It's not a conspiracy. Nintendo just struck out with this console.

 

[wildfire]

If they had confidence that the game would sell on the WiiU, they would put it on the WiiU, much like they are putting it on the PS3 and 360, which also don't have DRM.

Consoles have DRM. How can you be a part of GAF since 2007 and not know this already?

 

[guek]

i think there are probably other reasons

 

[theviolenthero]

360 and PS3 don't have DRM though.

 

[bakuryu]

Nope, the small WiiU install base makes 3rd parties abandon WiiU. There's no point looking beyond that.

 

[metalslimer]

Why are the games on PS3/360 then? These conspiracy theories still make no sense

 

[ascii42]

Consoles have DRM. How can you be a part of GAF since 2007 and not know this already?

You're right, I'll edit.

 

[chertipros]

It's not like no DRM is stopping publishers from releasing PS360 games.

 

[Justzisguyukno]

I doubt it had much if anything to do with DRM. Companies just want to cut cost, and porting a game to a new console seems like a risk most don't want to take right now.

 

[Mileena]

No, because PS360 are still getting more games than the Wii U.

 

[Schnozberry]

If they thought it would sell it would get a port.

 

[Carlisle]

EA's "partnership" with MS coming at the same time as Xbone's DRM and the dropping of EA online passes, along with the first time a Nintendo console isn't getting a version of Madden... you might be on to something there sir. Could be coincidence of course, but who really knows.

 

[Lasdrub]

Nah, Nintendo can screw up just fine on their own. No conspiracy needed.

 

[walking fiend]

If they had confidence that the game would sell on the WiiU, they would put it on the WiiU, much like they are putting it on the PS3 and 360, which also don't have DRM.

They have installed base of ~ 150m, and in a couple of years people already have moved away from them. However, supporting Wii U means having a viable platform with no DRM for the next couple of years.

Of course, they can do this because it has sold like shit.

 

[codhand]

wanted to make this thread, but got scurred, ive heard this idea floated elsewhere.....

 

[TreasureHunterG]

Why are the games on PS3/360 then? These conspiracy theories still make no sense

Because they can't simply abandon current gen which most of the gamers are still playing, right?

 

[mgcastro]

Man the word 'hate' makes no sense, business is business, it's not selling enough to ensure 3rd party success, just saying.

 

[MemoryHumanity]

Yeah, but PS3 and 360 have a combined install base of over 100 million. They're not exactly going to ignore that, are they?

OP, I think you might be right. For certain publishers, at least.

 

[Unknown One]

They weren't going to put games on it in the first place or put an effort. Ubisoft is the publisher alongside EA and Activision might be responsible for the Console DRM decision, yet they support the Wii-U.

 

[Freezie KO]

It's entirely possible that Nintendo's unwillingness or inability to use DRM measures contributed to the pre-existing feeling that Nintendo's platforms are unfriendly to third parties.

 

[qko]

360 and PS3 don't have DRM though.

Oh online passes aren't DRM?

 

[Blades64]

Why are the games on PS3/360 then? These conspiracy theories still make no sense

Install base?

 

[LuisSepulveda]

I think that this is true. In that way we can explain the lack of EA games on Wii U, if we consider that EA wanted full Origin on WiiU with complete control and profit, using Nintendo servers, wanting to sale it's "season pass" DLC, but Nintendo refused.

 

[codhand]

sure low install base and history are big factors, but DRM could be another factor as well.

 

[javac]

i think there are probably other reasons

Twist. Iwata is allergic to games.

 

[MYE]

I'm just scared to see that Nintendo might give in.

Hopefully their "stubbornness to adopt industry standards" goes both ways.

 

[akidnamededdy]

Nope, the small WiiU install base makes 3rd parties abandon WiiU. There's no point looking beyond that.

How big is the PS4/XBone install base, again?

 

[Unison]

360 and PS3 don't have DRM though.

Yeah, but I don't think it's financially viable to dump them given the install base... I can understand how a third party might continue to support them going forward, but refuse to support a new system that didn't offer the level of protection they desired.

 

[Father_Brain]

I think there's a good chance that lack of DRM was at least a further disincentive to support the platform for some publishers, but that's it.

 

[wildfire]

360 and PS3 don't have DRM though.

The ignorance of regular visitors to an enthusiast messageboard is pretty mind boggling.


The skullgirls indiegogo thread was bad enough; but people not knowing the basic selling point of consoles to developers is to prevent casual piracy is ludicrous.

You're right, I'll edit.

Cool

 

[Schnozberry]

Yeah, but PS3 and 360 have a combined install base of over 100 million. They're not exactly going to ignore that, are they?

OP, I think you might be right. For certain publishers, at least.

Isn't it 150 million? NBA 2K13 didn't sell on Wii U. If the install base grows they'll probably give it a second shot.

 

[ec0ec0]

well, i hope nintendo the best and, once the games are there, i am there too.

 

[TreasureHunterG]

How big is the PS4/XBone install base, again?

Indeed. Supporting PS4/XBone and claim you won't support WiiU because of the low userbase automatically invalidate your argument.

 

[axisofweevils]

I definitely think EA abandoning the system is because of this.

 

[StevieP]

Many of the cancellations happened before the console was launched, not as sales data rolled in this year (there is usually a 1-2 year lead time on software).

That said, Nintendo has had poor third party support for a long time and have been second class citizens of many publishers for ages. This is nothing new, and I don't think there are mega conspiracies behind it. Just business, demographic pigeonholing and the like. Expect some more test games in other words.

The EA thing on the other hand: there is some smoke there

 

[DrNeroCF]

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if publishers took those factors into account when 'running the numbers' (publishers do love their numbers).

360 and ps3 have the install base, ps4 and one they can justify because of the DRM.

 

[ASTROID2]

I'm just scared to see that Nintendo might give in.

And no, I don't think all western third parties abandoned Nintendo, some might off but I don't think all of them did.

If the Wii U starts selling better than it can help.

If there's one thing Nintendo has shown it's that they don't give in to what people want.

 

[way more]

Does that mean if I buy a Wii U I'm standing up to the fascists just like my Grandpa did?

 

[jaz013]

Seems more and more likely with every new detail about the xbone, and to a lesser extend, the ps4...

Plenty of money in risk to be "defeated" again by the weak console, and even worst, let the so-called "hardcore gamers" keep their money.

 

[Unison]

I think there's a good chance that lack of DRM was at least a further disincentive to support the platform for some publishers, but that's it.

Yeah, that might be the case... I'm not really an insane conspiracy theorist, but there's no doubt that nefarious DRM like Microsoft's cooked up doesn't just spring from the head of Zeus... It requires coordinated efforts from a lot of involved, powerful parties (MS, third-parties, retailers, etc...).

 

[Eusis]

Oh online passes aren't DRM?

That wouldn't be the real DRM, but rather the hardware itself, innately acting as a gate keeper meant only to run authentic discs. Which has been the case for forever and why X1 taking it further worries everyone so much.

 

[Somnid]

This is conspiracy-level stuff. While I think many publishers will be interested in taking new opportunities presented by next-gen DRM schemes both to push digital and maybe scrounge up some extra revenue I don't think they have any intention of passing up something they see as lucrative.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Makes sense.

Of course Nintendo haters will deny it at all costs.

Just like Nintendo lovers deny that the system is selling like complete shit?

Yeah, but I don't think it's financially viable to dump them given the install base...

So if the Wii U were selling like hot cakes, pubs would give them a pass on DRM...doesn't that mean the real reason publishers are ignoring Wii U is because of their pitiful sales and not some vendetta over DRM policies?

 

[vareon]

No.

 

[goomba]

it may be a factor but the situation is basically the same as when 3rd parties shunned wii (to start with). they thought it would bomb because its graphics wernt as good plus they get better incentives from sony and ms.