Cornbread78
Member
LOL. It's an interesting topic to discuss, regardless if it comes from a homer site or not.
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Analyst: Nintendo needs good Wii U demo game; retailers don't grasp console
- Thread starter Cornbread78
- Start date
LOL. It's an interesting topic to discuss, regardless if it comes from a homer site or not.
Indeed. Super Wii would've been the one. Or just a simple Wii 2. It's the same problem with the 3DS which they decided to make even worse with 2DS.
Same here, for me it looks the most appealing of the 3 consoles this Christmas. And I'm a primarily PS gamer.
I think a lot of that has to do with the Wii U launching during the same time as the presidential election. It was far more expensive to put ads on TV at that time and therefore I wouldn't be surprised if they used up a ton of their money.
Ninja Scooter
Member
That's because the concept isnt very good. All most Wii U owners seem hang their hat on is Off TV play. This seems to be the number 1 feature so far. It's basically saying the Wii U is a non-portable handheld. That's not a selling point. Your average person (especially the audience that bought the original Wii) is not going to find themselves in a situation where their wife is watching Dancing With The Stars and they just HAVE to play some video games. That is not an attractive device for $300z
aygomyownroad
Member
When I purchased my WiiU yesterday the assistant who served me it also handled my PS4 preorder (which i cancelled for a WiiU).
She was very well informed on the machine and answered all of my questions very well.
When asked about the small size of WiiU space she said "its because its still new, once bigger games come out and space for previous gen is reduced it will have more presence, although as you can see from the front there is a lot of WiiU WWHD boxes and advertisement"
its more down to parents not being informed or knowing what the WiiU is. Actual advertisements would help this.
In UK and shop was Game
She was very well informed on the machine and answered all of my questions very well.
When asked about the small size of WiiU space she said "its because its still new, once bigger games come out and space for previous gen is reduced it will have more presence, although as you can see from the front there is a lot of WiiU WWHD boxes and advertisement"
its more down to parents not being informed or knowing what the WiiU is. Actual advertisements would help this.
In UK and shop was Game
This strikes me as another example of "blame everything but the product itself."
When you're heavily invested in a company or brand or product, your brain will aggressively fight the conclusion that this company/brand/product has made a huge mistake and that the product itself is not appealing to most people.
It's not the product, it's the messaging -- the advertising isn't right, the economy is in the tank, the product isn't positioned correctly, or in this case, the retailers don't know how to sell it properly. Any explanation other than "the Wii U just isn't a very compelling product to people."
That isn't to say that advertising doesn't matter at all (it does) or that no one can like the Wii U (they certainly can). But advertising alone almost certainly doesn't explain a disaster like the Wii U, and it's important we not try to lump all the blame there because it's an excuse specifically crafted to avoid self reflection. Lastly, this isn't a Nintendo-fan specific thing; last generation there were quite a few Sony fans who fell in to this same trap (And who are still falling in to it vis-à-vis the Vita), and fans of Google and Apple and many other brands with ardent fanbases have done the same when their chosen standard bearer slips up.
When you're heavily invested in a company or brand or product, your brain will aggressively fight the conclusion that this company/brand/product has made a huge mistake and that the product itself is not appealing to most people.
It's not the product, it's the messaging -- the advertising isn't right, the economy is in the tank, the product isn't positioned correctly, or in this case, the retailers don't know how to sell it properly. Any explanation other than "the Wii U just isn't a very compelling product to people."
That isn't to say that advertising doesn't matter at all (it does) or that no one can like the Wii U (they certainly can). But advertising alone almost certainly doesn't explain a disaster like the Wii U, and it's important we not try to lump all the blame there because it's an excuse specifically crafted to avoid self reflection. Lastly, this isn't a Nintendo-fan specific thing; last generation there were quite a few Sony fans who fell in to this same trap (And who are still falling in to it vis-à-vis the Vita), and fans of Google and Apple and many other brands with ardent fanbases have done the same when their chosen standard bearer slips up.
That's why you always name a successor product something that indicates that its the next in line. They had too much faith that the consumer would spend enough time to figure it out. Only enthusiasts and shoppers who generally do research on their purchases will ever know the difference.
But... you fucking post on GAF.
Super NES and GBA are pretty straight forward. I was confused but the various game boys though.
I have literally never heard this outside of the guy who started the pro ps4 advertising thread
Retail work would be an entirely deeper shithole than it already is if every poor soul working it had to spend hundreds of hours learning the ins and outs of everything the stores carry to appease people on the internet. Marketing is Nintendo's job not the people you call 'numbnuts'.
catapult37
Member
I know this is anecdotal, but at least twice I have been in target, saw the Wii and WiiU boxes next to each other, and did a double-take because I thought the WiiU was going for $129.
The boxes look EXACTLY THE SAME. The brand confusion is off the charts already and the boxes are only contributing to the problem.
The boxes look EXACTLY THE SAME. The brand confusion is off the charts already and the boxes are only contributing to the problem.
sixteen-bit
Member
Yeah, most people think the Game Boy Color was a regular Game Boy with colorized graphics instead of a generational leap in hardware (processor was twice as fast as OG monochrome GB) and had it's own library of games that weren't compatible with original Game Boy hardware.
plagiarize
Banned
Yup. I've said since before release that while the Wii U definitely appealed to me, as someone who loved GBA - GC connectivity, and who finds off screen play very appealing, that I wasn't sure if there was any real market for such functionality. I thought there might be, but I wasn't sure.
I still love my system, but... yeah. There's no evidence that it's unique selling point is appealing.
Poor messaging doesn't help, obviously. But Nintendo created that problem with the look and name of the system, and they failed to solve it with their marketing. So it's not like Nintendo aren't solely responsible either way.
I don't expect Vita sales to explode with the release of the PS4 either... but you can bet I've got mine ready for all that remote play goodness.
Well me neither but it wasn't him, it was his friends. Safe to say there are other people out there with similar misconceptions.
Starwolf_UK
Member
I remember when NOE sent me a survey earlier this year and one of the questions specifically was "what is the Wii U" and one of the answers was "an accessory for the Wii". The fact this confusion continues is sad.
If this was a game of baseball it feels like Nintendo is still struggling to hit the ball let alone reach first base.
If this was a game of baseball it feels like Nintendo is still struggling to hit the ball let alone reach first base.
BakedSardine
Banned
You put out a console that looks nearly identical (to the non-NeoGAF public):
Give it nearly an identical name.
Game graphics are on par with current gen consoles (PS3, 360).
And you blame the public and minimum wage sales clerks for not understanding the difference.
Give it nearly an identical name.
Game graphics are on par with current gen consoles (PS3, 360).
And you blame the public and minimum wage sales clerks for not understanding the difference.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Looks like they've blamed everyone right now.
Fans are being blamed.
Developers are being blamed.
Retailers are being blamed.
Store Staff are being blamed.
Websites are being blamed.
Recession is being blamed.
US Govt Shutdown is being blamed.
Next-gen is being blamed.
Have we ever thought that maybe *gasp* Nintendo is to be blamed?
Fans are being blamed.
Developers are being blamed.
Retailers are being blamed.
Store Staff are being blamed.
Websites are being blamed.
Recession is being blamed.
US Govt Shutdown is being blamed.
Next-gen is being blamed.
Have we ever thought that maybe *gasp* Nintendo is to be blamed?
I bet advertisers think the name Wii U is really clever. The problem is they're the only ones who get it. It's as if Sony called the next PS the Playstation Mauve. There is nothing in the name that denotes a new version like 3DS does for example. There's a three in the name, so therefore it's newer than the plain old DS.
Fox Mulder
Member
that's never going to happen. The WiiU is already getting lumped in with Wii games at some retailers, and they're going to carry the 360 and ps3 for a few more years as well due to cross gen games, no BC, and a lower price.
so?
no console for nintendo ever printed money as the ds did. were they doomed even before existing?
Holy Order Sol
Member
Then again the staff hardly knows shit about anything anyway.
His friends also knew Titanfall was on 360 and xb1.
How could they NOT think it was a new system.
Skellig Gra
Member
You must not come on GAF much.
It's extremely interesting to see how confusing this console is.
I had people over at my house playing Nintendoland for about 30 minutes before one of them asked me "dude how much does one of those cost?" and pointed to the controller. I said "you mean the controller?", he replied "yeah, I wanna get it for my Wii".
I lol'd and said "sorry dude, this controller is part of the new Nintendo console, Wii U, it's not just a controller upgrade, it's their entire new system."
"Oh" he said. I pointed at the black Wii U standing in front of him and he shouted "Oh! That's not your Wii, is it? It looks just like it!"
Rofl Nintendo. Just rofl.
I had people over at my house playing Nintendoland for about 30 minutes before one of them asked me "dude how much does one of those cost?" and pointed to the controller. I said "you mean the controller?", he replied "yeah, I wanna get it for my Wii".
I lol'd and said "sorry dude, this controller is part of the new Nintendo console, Wii U, it's not just a controller upgrade, it's their entire new system."
"Oh" he said. I pointed at the black Wii U standing in front of him and he shouted "Oh! That's not your Wii, is it? It looks just like it!"
Rofl Nintendo. Just rofl.
Seriously. The fucking audacity some people have to UNIRONICALLY blame min wage/dead end job workers for not educating the masses on one out of thousands of products being sold where they work is just mindblowing
Skellig Gra
Member
To be fair, it does say Wii U right on the front.
Goldenmoney
Member
Yeah but also to be fair, for all people know, that could mean it's an expansion to the original console. Like the WiiFit peripheral. Or WiiMotionPLUS, etc.
CrAzY FiNgErS
Member
True story:
I went into my local GameStop the other day looking for the original Wii classic controller pro. The 2 employees there were truly confused when they tried to sell me the Wii U version of the classic controller pro. The problem is not only with ignorant employees, but with Nintendo's confusing branding of the Wii family brand. I think most of the blame falls on Nintendo with their poor marketing.
I went into my local GameStop the other day looking for the original Wii classic controller pro. The 2 employees there were truly confused when they tried to sell me the Wii U version of the classic controller pro. The problem is not only with ignorant employees, but with Nintendo's confusing branding of the Wii family brand. I think most of the blame falls on Nintendo with their poor marketing.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
People want new feeling things. New experiences. Or they want something that is a jump ahead of what they currently have. Wii was successful for it. Wii U doesn't really fit those. It tries to be a new experience but isn't really. And it certainly isn't a big jump in any direction. There's just no appeal for it. It feels like it's being targeted towards a demographic that doesn't exist.
BakedSardine
Banned
SolidSnakex
Member
Nintendo should simply ask themselves why they thought it was a good idea to name it "Wii" anything given that the brand name wasn't all that strong in the later years of its life. No first place console ever dropped off the sales cliff the way that console did. It's also a brand name heavily associated with casual gaming when they were apparently trying to pull in hardcore gamers.
Nintendo also is known to have multiple versions of the same hardware on the market at the same time too. To him it could have just been another version of the Wii like Wii mini or 2DS/3DS/3DS XL.
Cornbread78
Member
OK, I LOL'd at that title change...
btw, the Wii-U demo station is much better at retail than the PS3/360 ones. The XB1 and PS4 units being sent to stores are said to be just at good as the Wii-U one, meaning they will finnally be on 1080p TV with good resolution, not just crappy LCDs.
btw, the Wii-U demo station is much better at retail than the PS3/360 ones. The XB1 and PS4 units being sent to stores are said to be just at good as the Wii-U one, meaning they will finnally be on 1080p TV with good resolution, not just crappy LCDs.
Skellig Gra
Member
Yeah, just like every other electronics manufacturer ever. It's all about marketing.
Have you ever sat down and played Nintendoland with 4 people? That feeling is pretty new.
Why does everything have to be a new experience? If the games are great there should be no problem and slowly but surely they're getting there.
The problem is not a confusing name, it's apathy about the Wii brand from people who are casual video game fans and a lack of positive word-of-mouth from enthusiasts.
There's no problem with people thinking the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S are the same thing, even though they look alike and have almost the same name.
We don't expect consumers to be baffled about the Xbox One, which has a name that suggests it's a predecessor to the Xbox 360.
If people were still excited about the Wii, they would be interested in the Wii U even if it was just a peripheral. If it was blowing up among the enthusiast gamers, the casuals would know about it regardless of the name.
Why should we believe that people would be any more excited about it if it was called Wii 2? I think this is all just one big excuse to avoid the reality that the tablet concept is less interesting to the people who were brought in by the motion controls.
There's no problem with people thinking the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S are the same thing, even though they look alike and have almost the same name.
We don't expect consumers to be baffled about the Xbox One, which has a name that suggests it's a predecessor to the Xbox 360.
If people were still excited about the Wii, they would be interested in the Wii U even if it was just a peripheral. If it was blowing up among the enthusiast gamers, the casuals would know about it regardless of the name.
Why should we believe that people would be any more excited about it if it was called Wii 2? I think this is all just one big excuse to avoid the reality that the tablet concept is less interesting to the people who were brought in by the motion controls.
Rob Ryan looks like someone ran over his dog...classic GIF. Especially since it was just over a football game.
As for the Wii U: I like mine, but Nintendo hasn't helped themselves in a lot of ways. Given the Wii was peripheral heaven, a lot of people thinking the Wii U Gamepad was an accessory for the Wii isn't far-fetched.
The name should have been different. Keeping it branded under the Wii name wasn't a bad idea, but the "U"? Most people don't get it. It should have been the Wii 2 or Super Wii (or even the Wii HD would have made more sense).
And Nintendo's marketing of the system has been absolutely terrible. I haven't seen a Wii U commercial on television (in the US) since the system launched.
Ninja Scooter
Member
If your product requires you to sit down with 3 other people and buy 3 extra controllers to see why it's worthwhile, no wonder its failing. The appeal of the Wii could be seen by watching a single person play it on the Today Show.
A Best Buy employee asked me why I was buying a 3DS instead of a tablet. Then she asked if it was for my kid. I said that it was for me and she said, "oh, a big kid."