• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

EA has no titles in development for Wii U

as much of a pr nightmare that this is, who didn't see this coming?
seriously?
nintendo seem to be completely direction-less with their approach to the wiiU.

for the third parties that are still supporting this platform, nintendo will have to do one helluva job to demonstrate that this console can generate good-to-great sales, and they'll need to demonstrate that before the end of the year.
 
This is looking a bit familiar...

1) - Nintendo announces new system. [check]
2) - 3rd party not very enthusiastic, but test out a few sloppy ports/games. [check]
3) - Nintendo release schedule lacking, looks like system is in danger of flopping. [check]
4) - 3rd party back off even more, or pull out completely. [check]
5) - Nintendo initiates panic-mode, software volume improving.
6) - Sales of Nintendo system increase.
7) - Some 3rd parties scrambles to get stuff on the system.
8) - 3rd party games don't utilize Nintendo hardware well due to lack of prior investment.
9) - Nintendo games utilize hardware well, stand out, and flourish.
10)- 3rd party complain that N-fans only buying Nintendo games.

So how long before I can check em all?
 
If Nintendo wanted to have day and date versions they should have released Wii U earlier. Wii U should have been released in October to have Assassin's Creed 3 day and date.
I don't think it would help.
I mean how many people realistically buy another console to play of sequel game if version on new platform isn't vastly superior?
 
This is looking a bit familiar...

1) - Nintendo announces new system. [check]
2) - 3rd party not very enthusiastic, but test out a few sloppy ports/games. [check]
3) - Nintendo release schedule lacking, looks like system is in danger of flopping. [check]
4) - 3rd party back off even more, or pull out completely. [check]
5) - Nintendo initiates panic-mode, software volume improving.
6) - Sales of Nintendo system increase.
7) - Some 3rd parties scrambles to get stuff on the system.
8) - 3rd party games don't utilize Nintendo hardware well due to lack of prior investment.
9) - Nintendo games utilize hardware well, stand out, and flourish.
10)- 3rd party complain that N-fans only buying Nintendo games.

So how long before I can check em all?

This time, number 6 isn't going to be like the Wii. That's all. Otherwise the list makes sense, as there are a few more test games on the way this year. Investments from third party publishers will also probably fare worse because many publishers are going to be further risk-averse with the upcoming contraction. More of those dollars that made stuff like Boom Blox will either be completely gone or throwing together cheap games for smartphones.
 
This time, number 6 isn't going to be like the Wii. That's all. Otherwise the list makes sense, as there are a few more test games on the way this year. Investments from third party publishers will also probably fare worse because many publishers are going to be further risk-averse with the upcoming contraction. More of those dollars that made stuff like Boom Blox will either be completely gone or throwing together cheap games for smartphones.

There won't be Wii number but when the 1st Party heavy hitters get released, the system wil get a huge sales bump. No doubt. Will it last? ... uhm
 
There won't be Wii number but when the 1st Party heavy hitters get released, the system wil get a huge sales bump. No doubt. Will it last? ... uhm

I'm not sure if there will be a huge sales bump. Sure sales will increase but it will take more than 1-2 Nintendo games to reverse the consumer apathy for their console.

It is tough timing. Launch their games November onwards and they are against the two heavy weights of the nextbox and ps4. A new Mario game is great, but thanks to Nintendo milking him it is no longer a special event. There was a new Mario game last Christmas, and also the one before. It will be a tough call to get the mainstream and enthusiast media to give priority to the Wii U and Mario over two brand new console launches which happen every 5-6 years.

Launch earlier and they are against the GTA phenomenon for media attention. A tough call.
 
Grilling? Would you like us to tie EA's PR people to a chair and not let them go until they tell us what happened?

Stephen Totilo asked EA about that unprecedented partnership. He wrote up their answer: that they considered that first wave of Wii U support (Madden, ME3, etc) to have delivered on their arrangement. Clearly they don't plan to give any further details.

Maybe one day the real story will come out, from people unafraid to talk, or from people who will talk under condition of anonymity. Hopefully that happens. But to blame the media for not "grilling" executives until they tell us about a failed business deal is asinine.
Well, that's a more defensive answer than I expected.
 
And perhaps Ubisoft is more willing to take a chance financially than EA is? Ubi also pushed by Rayman Legends and made it multiplatform. Ubi wasnt too happy about Zombie U results if I am not mistaken so expect the sequel to be MP too.

At the end of the day the success or failure of a console falls on the manufacturer. Nobody else. Nintendo received the praise for the Wii's success and rightfully so and deserves the blame for where the Wii U is. Nobody else.

Ubisoft was happy with ZombieU.

The only thing they expressed disappointment in was that the initial batch of reviews were negative because they didn't understand the game unlike the subsequent positive ones.

Since this is an industry that values their metacritic score a lot they feel these inaccurate reviews cost them sales more than anything else.
 
This is shaping to become the worst console in Nintendo's history. At least the Virtual Boy had the whole 3D virtual reality gimmick going for it. Jesus, what a mess.
 
Wow. Just wow. For the biggest publisher out there to completely ignore your brand new system...

I hope other 3rd parties don't follow suit. I'm not a big fan of EA's games, haven't bought one in literally years, but it's a very bad sign for the WiiU. If Nintendo's first party doesn't turn the WiiU's situation around by the end of this year, I doubt the WiiU will ever recover. I have high hopes for 3D Mario...
 
As far as I'm concerned they could be making it their primary platform I wouldn't care either.
they can drop Sony too for all I care.
Sony wouldn't let it happen unless they were attempting to purposely challenge the sales of the WiiU. They also wouldn't let the latest online retailer in the largest market drop them. The results of the Wii U accurately reflect Nintendo's actions.
 
Ubisoft was happy with ZombieU.

The only thing they expressed disappointment in was that the initial batch of reviews were negative because they didn't understand the game unlike the subsequent positive ones.

Since this is an industry that values their metacritic score a lot they feel these inaccurate reviews cost them sales more than anything else.
I think they would also be pissed that Nintendo decided to pretend the WiiU didn't exist because they had no software in-house ready for it and wanted to focus on 3DS. The game was great and would have benefited from the usual push new consoles get. maybe a smart move for Nintendo but they threw a lot of third parties under the bus.
 
I'm not sure if there will be a huge sales bump. Sure sales will increase but it will take more than 1-2 Nintendo games to reverse the consumer apathy for their console.

It is tough timing. Launch their games November onwards and they are against the two heavy weights of the nextbox and ps4. A new Mario game is great, but thanks to Nintendo milking him it is no longer a special event. There was a new Mario game last Christmas, and also the one before. It will be a tough call to get the mainstream and enthusiast media to give priority to the Wii U and Mario over two brand new console launches which happen every 5-6 years.

Launch earlier and they are against the GTA phenomenon for media attention. A tough call.

TBF Nintendo consoles do better than most during Christmas, With decent first party support and a price cut they'll most probably get a decent amount of sales there's not much pointing otherwise. It's after Christmas sales which are when Nintendo's consoles weakness becomes apparent.
 
I think they would also be pissed that Nintendo decided to pretend the WiiU didn't exist because they had no software in-house ready for it and wanted to focus on 3DS. The game was great and would have benefited from the usual push new consoles get. maybe a smart move for Nintendo but they threw a lot of third parties under the bus.

ZombieU was a launch game. It got a lot of press and even its own system bundle. Ubisoft wouldn't be disappointed with Nintendo for that at the time.

The tepid sales of the console after the holiday season are a different matter.
 
untitledarjp4.png
 
Well, at least people won't be distracted by EA's showelware on the shelfs and will buy what deserves to be bought i.e. Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, etc. and will have a happy experience with WiiU.

This post is just the problem third parties face lovingly presented in a compact nutshell. Why bother with Nintendo fans, ie the only WiiU purchasers there'll ever be at all, when they've decided Need For Speed: Most Wanted, the definitive version thereof, is shovelware. Battlefield 4, the only real series contender to King COD is shovelware. If they even dare to make a Mirrors Edge 2? Shovelware.

Thank god Nintendo released another NSMB for launch though. Fressssssshhhhh.
 
This post is just the problem third parties face lovingly presented in a compact nutshell. Why bother with Nintendo fans, ie the only WiiU purchasers there'll ever be at all, when they've decided Need For Speed: Most Wanted, the definitive version thereof, is shovelware. Battlefield 4, the only real series contender to King COD is shovelware. If they even dare to make a Mirrors Edge 2? Shovelware.

Thank god Nintendo released another NSMB for launch though. Fressssssshhhhh.
Please don't lump him in with more mature rational thinking Nintendo fans.
 
Well, at least people won't be distracted by EA's showelware on the shelfs and will buy what deserves to be bought i.e. Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, etc. and will have a happy experience with WiiU.

And how many months can U owners expect to wait on average between all of these Zeldas, Marios, etc? The system launched in November and the next release is a ho hum mini game collection in June?

Constantly waiting for new games doesn't sound like a happy experience to me.
 
ZombieU was a launch game. It got a lot of press and even its own system bundle. Ubisoft wouldn't be disappointed with Nintendo for that at the time.

The tepid sales of the console after the holiday season are a different matter.


Also ubisoft can't be pleased with -1% revenue on the Wii u. We shall see how much longer they support it with core games. They don't even regard it as next gen in their conference call.
 
Havent kept up with the thread, but... not even Fifa? Seems weird since that game sells basically on every console.
 
1) - Nintendo announces new system without any input from outsiders. [check]
2) - 3rd party not very enthusiastic, but test out a few sloppy ports/games plus a few that take advantage of this new hardware. Find out the ratio of software to hardware is once again very low.[check]
3) - Nintendo release schedule lacking due to huge gaps in software titles and no real system sellers, looks like system is in danger of flopping. [check]
4) - 3rd party back off even more, or pull out completely. [check]
5) - Nintendo initiates panic-mode, software volume improving but with no real release dates.
6) - Sales of Nintendo system increase but only in bursts when high profile games get released.
7) - Some 3rd parties still think money can be made but once again find out consumers prefer playing 3rd party games on other systems.
8) - 3rd party games don't utilize Nintendo hardware well due to the system being underpowered and don't want to commit to unique hardware features when initial investments didn't pan out.
9) - Nintendo games utilize hardware well, stand out, and flourish.
10)- 3rd party complain that N-fans only buying Nintendo games because history has shown just that aside from a few examples.
11) - Nintendo creates new hardware in 5 years that once again has no input from outside sources and thinks what worked 30 years ago still applies to today.

Fixed
 
I really hope that Nintendo realizes this time that they need third parties. That they must create good relations with third parties, not only in japan. They must adapt to current days and reach a level where the easy mutliplatform port is possible and start a massive campaign of embracing third titles.

Perhaps in the next generation.
 
Sony wouldn't let it happen unless they were attempting to purposely challenge the sales of the WiiU. They also wouldn't let the latest online retailer in the largest market drop them. The results of the Wii U accurately reflect Nintendo's actions.

That's not what I was saying.
In the same way most of you couldn't give 2 shits that Wiiplay is more popular than pretty much all your favourite games combined, I don't give 2 shits what EA does and was expressing that.
Again if this thread was about them going MS only this gen my reaction would be the same.
 
That's not what I was saying.
In the same way most of you couldn't give 2 shits that Wiiplay is more popular than pretty much all your favourite games combined, I don't give 2 shits what EA does and was expressing that.
Again if this thread was about them going MS only this gen my reaction would be the same.

People who do buy EA games also buy games you may like, increasing the viability of games you like on the system you like.

It's a symbiotic relationship. All popular publishers are important, regardless of whether or not you like their games.
 
So I guess Nintendo was going over their E3 keynote plans and they were talking to EA on the phone about what their CEO could reveal for the WiiU when he came up and the guy said "Well we could reveal that we have no plans to support the WiiU" and then Nintendo went "oh. well we better cancel this shit then."

When Iwata heard this he furrowed his brows and with steepled fingers pronounced "They will regret this"

*(maniacal) laughs*
 
Top Bottom