The sales drove off a cliff when games stopped coming out, not because the novelty wore off.
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How is Wii U going to do in 2013?
- Thread starter hatchx
- Start date
First Christmas is a piss poor way to judge performance, with barely a month inbetween that and launch to sell. I think the first half of 2013 will need to be carried by the efforts of indie devs on the eShop (which is too heavy a burden, IMO), but the latter half will be fine. By that time it'll be established and it'll be outside of that damnable "launch window" (hate that term, means the games I REALLY want to play are four months away from buying the machine). They'll have E3 to catch up on lost ground, and blow us away for the 2013 Holiday season (holy shit I never thought I'd see myself talking about next year's Christmas before I even get to this years).
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
DS2 could very well be on Wii U, we wouldn't know either way since it falls outside Nintendo's dumb "launch window". I mean, there are even games we know are probably coming in Q1 like Tomb Raider or Splinter Cell Blacklist and they still aren't announced yet. Nintendo's messaging problem seems to be trumping their support problem at this stage.
KojiKnight
Member
I completely disagree... They aren't making a real attempt or they would be doing better. If that is what they wanted they would have changed their principles... "Core" games aren't the same type of games that were "core" during the SNES days. Core used to be platformers, RPGs, and fighting games. Now core is FPS, TPS, and... well... anything with guns making for as gruesome of kills as possible. Nothing wrong with that, I enjoy those types of games a lot... But Nintendo doesn't really want them.
Nintendo allows those types of games because it has to at least make a token effort... but it has no interest in them as per every first party game and nearly all of their second party games.
SuperSonic1305
Member
Double what the Wii did? Haha wow.
One thing I have noticed is this:
I've been watching a lot of cartoon network UK recently, as I've just discovered Adventure Time. Fuck yeah
But anyway, as a result, I get ad breaks to fast forward through or watch, aimed at kids for the Christmas season.
In every single advert break, without exception for the last few weeks, the Wonderbook/£150 ps3 ad has played every time. Lots of skylanders ads too, with 360 branding.
Not a single Wii U advert. At all. Ive only ever seen one advert for the Wii U so far, on a mainstream channel.
I understand my example is only Cartoon Network...but still. Nintendo...y u no advertise?
I've been watching a lot of cartoon network UK recently, as I've just discovered Adventure Time. Fuck yeah
But anyway, as a result, I get ad breaks to fast forward through or watch, aimed at kids for the Christmas season.
In every single advert break, without exception for the last few weeks, the Wonderbook/£150 ps3 ad has played every time. Lots of skylanders ads too, with 360 branding.
Not a single Wii U advert. At all. Ive only ever seen one advert for the Wii U so far, on a mainstream channel.
I understand my example is only Cartoon Network...but still. Nintendo...y u no advertise?
The killer feature of the Wii U isn't really the controller itself, it's a far more abstract concept that ties in with the controller. Just like the Wii's killer feature wasn't really motion controls.
Always-honest
Banned
i bought it for the first party games and a couple of nice third party games.
I HOPED and EXPECTED the machine would be powerfull enough to have the best console version of multiplats in the first year. Thus far this was only true in Trine 2.
So, i'm pessimistic about the amount of great games. I'm optimistic about the quality of the few games that will be worth it. NSMB Wii-U is allready one of the very best platformers out there imo and it looks great at 720p and 60fps.
I HOPED and EXPECTED the machine would be powerfull enough to have the best console version of multiplats in the first year. Thus far this was only true in Trine 2.
So, i'm pessimistic about the amount of great games. I'm optimistic about the quality of the few games that will be worth it. NSMB Wii-U is allready one of the very best platformers out there imo and it looks great at 720p and 60fps.
H_Prestige
Banned
Right, I forgot Nintendo is keeping all of their killer apps a secret and this is all carefully planned.
How much control do you think Nintendo has over third parties?
tassletine
Member
But they did. A few developers have spoken about how easy it is to port to.
Some people here are acting like these ports are all of Bayonetta quality on the ps3. They aren't. They are very very, close to the xbox versions, and sometimes better (in the case of Sonic).
When the Xbox is the lead platform it is to be expected that all ports will be substandard to that version. Release games aren't usually this high quality.
H_Prestige
Banned
There is no reason for this other than hardware deficiencies. Hell, in a lot of cases the ps3 is the lead platform, yet it still turns out equal or slightly worse.
And no, most ports so far are not very, very close to the 360 versions. They struggle to keep up with the ps3.
Exterminieren
Banned
I think the time where we can convince ourselves that Nintendo are shackling third parties and preventing them from mentioning Wii U ports has passed, with respect.
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
Evidently quite a bit given games we long knew were in development like NFSMW or F1 Race Stars were denied by their publishers for months up until they were casually announced in random Nintendo release lists. I have no clue why Nintendo's doing it this way, it's completely self defeating with the core market they want to woo.
Well, I hoped that would the case by now, but it clearly isn't given the official release schedule. Hell, F1 Race Stars just became official last week when it randomly showed up on a NOE release list, and we've known about that game for almost half a year now. It's a losing strategy for sure but it's one Nintendo's stubbornly adhering to.
If you want to look at the VGAs specifically, I do sort of doubt the two new announcements (DS2, MGSV/PP) will be getting Wii U ports due both to developer and series histories. On the other hand there were other previously announced titles (like Castlevania LOS2) that I think are pretty likely to be ported too.
Exactly, wii u is out now. There's no more NDA.
Third parties can announce their wii u games whenever they want.
That was before Nintendo Network Services Co., Ltd. and Nintendo European Research & Development Inc.
There is a reason Tricky is the only person I have on 'ignore'
DragonSworne
Banned
Thanks for the laugh
frankie_baby
Member
Oh so you know the details of the NDAs?
Seriously? Default? Lets see NES #1 SNES #1 Wii #1 , now handhelds I dont even have to mention.
frankie_baby
Member
Some people seem to think gaming started with the ps2
Nope. Castlevania has the highest chance of having a WiiU version I think though.
No, but you really think Nintendo went to Namco and told them:
"Well we know you've got a wii u version of Dark Souls 2 in the works, but please don't tell anyone, we've just launched a new console and we sure don't want to give people any reason to buy it."
Rush2thestart
Member
Nintendo had a gag order on Activision for several months. COD was thought to be MIA on Wii U for a long time, along with other 3rd party titles.
What makes you think they wont do it again?
Nintendo has repeated their approach time and time again for the Wii U, they wont be showing anything past launch window to avoid a 3DS like situation where people ended up waiting many months for software a long time away.
DragonSworne
Banned
Probably Sony and MS went to Nacmo and told them not to reveal a WiiU version.
Either way, we KNOW there are games coming out 1Q for 360 and PS3 that are being ported to WiiU. The reason why these haven't been announced yet is anyone's guess.
frankie_baby
Member
Then explain why games we know about (such as f1 race stars and secret square enix game) still haven't been announced?
Most of these games are coming out next year. And these are multiplatform games.
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
As always, it's case by case. ME3 was ported by an external mobile developer and it generally outperforms the PS3 version. UE3 stuff being GPU/RAM heavy should actually improve quite a bit in general too as Epic optimizes their toolchain on Wii U. Titles that use more modern lighting/shading engines (like Trine 2) have an off the bat performance advantage on Wii U as well. The major Wii U performance issue seems to be framerate, and coincidentially in every case it also correlates to vsync being forced (which some have speculated my be part of a requirement for the Game Pad). Hell, the worst Wii U port performance wise is actually a Wii port (Epic Mickey 2). What are the "hardware deficiencies" leading to that?
In any case, U ports are coming a whole hell of lot closer than early PS3 ports did. That in itself could be a good insight into hardware capability and versatility.
How do we "know" though? After 60 million posts worth of WUST et al, I have no faith anymore that Nintendo fans respect common definitions for words like "know".
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
No, it's not to be expected that a next gen system should be running multiplatform ports almost as good as 7yr old current gen system. The next gen system should clearly be superior as that's how it's always been.
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
Well, past precedent is a good one. Sources that revealed (currently unannounced) stuff like Tomb Raider, SC Blacklist, PES2013, Lost Planet 3, etc also initially releaved (currently announced/released) stuff like NFSMW, Warriors Orochi 3, Blops 2, F1 Race Stars, etc, well before it was official. The problem is, nothing seems to have really changed after launch in regards to how Nintendo's doing this rollout.
frankie_baby
Member
ooh hadn't heard about lost planet 3
Phoenician_Viking
Banned
Honestly, i think it would be very hard for Nintendo to have a great software output on the WiiU in comparison for the Wii, while a third/half of their studios are working on the 3DS. HD games take much more time, and man power. So i don´t expect at all that Nintendo can have the same software output as the Wii. Yeah, i know that Nintendo hired some people, but i don´t think that would be enough to keep pumping games. Games will take much longer to develop in HD than SD, and very little or without third party support there will be a lot of dry out between Nintendo software output.
I think the majority of purchasers will be Wii owners, but I don't expect them to migrate in huge numbers. I think it'll do pretty well though, but it really needs some top tier exclusives. If you want to play multi-plats, you can do that on the PS3/360 for half the price and the Wii-U isn't getting some of the big titles that are coming out in 2013.
It's really hard to say though and I'm likely to be totally wrong. When I first saw the Wii Remote I thought "surely not? This is gonna flop massively", then as soon as I saw it being demonstrated I did a complete u-turn and thought "this will be huge", but I really don't know how much appeal the tablet controller has this time and whether it will be a big driver of sales. I mostly game alone or I play online with friends, so the appeal of the tablet controller was using it like a handheld, but that appeal was tempered largely by the fact that not every game will offer that, but I have spoken to other people I know who have a Wii-U and they have a family, and they're really enjoying it. Perhaps it's just not for me, but then neither was the Wii and that was a huge success.
It's really hard to say though and I'm likely to be totally wrong. When I first saw the Wii Remote I thought "surely not? This is gonna flop massively", then as soon as I saw it being demonstrated I did a complete u-turn and thought "this will be huge", but I really don't know how much appeal the tablet controller has this time and whether it will be a big driver of sales. I mostly game alone or I play online with friends, so the appeal of the tablet controller was using it like a handheld, but that appeal was tempered largely by the fact that not every game will offer that, but I have spoken to other people I know who have a Wii-U and they have a family, and they're really enjoying it. Perhaps it's just not for me, but then neither was the Wii and that was a huge success.
IHaveCandy
Banned
I don't get how so many people are content with Nintendo just Uing up their classic franchises. How many times can you play a different Mario/Zelda game?
The Wii wasn't exactly the opus magnum of R&D management for Nintendo. They canceled several big internal projects, shunned several localizations, and had to restructure a few big development departments (like Nd Cube which was a non factor until 2010).
The company should have a stronger first-party offering (through internal and external resources) barring any management set backs.
There's a good reason for that, too.
DragonSworne
Banned
Did you buy Halo 4 or MGS4 or any other sequel?
That's how. Nintendo games are arguably more varied than sequels by third parties or other first party studios.
Resistance100
Member
The Zelda games (skyward sword aside) are good enough to justify getting the console, so thats why i want it as soon as possible.
I do wish Nintendo would try something different.
I'm personally much more interested in games like Pikmin 3 or MonolithSoft's (Either a Xeno____ or Baiten Kaitos X), Retro Studios' (Metroid, DK, something new), Intelligent Systems' (Mario RPG, Fire Emblem, something new, hopefully they have a couple Wii U entries) or something along the lines of new entries in Star Fox, F-Zero, etc.
Bruno MB
Member
Wii U was never going to get any kind of serious third-party support, let alone western third-party support.
I truly feel sorry for all those who really thought this time things would be different.
My only concern is Nintendo, I feel they are struggling a lot with HD development. Right now I'm not sure if they will be able to sustain a steady flow of games to Wii U. Let's be sincere, as of now, first-party output cannot be more disappointing.
I truly feel sorry for all those who really thought this time things would be different.
My only concern is Nintendo, I feel they are struggling a lot with HD development. Right now I'm not sure if they will be able to sustain a steady flow of games to Wii U. Let's be sincere, as of now, first-party output cannot be more disappointing.
There's a huge difference between the slew of yearly Mario titles and then the once a decade F-Zero, Star Fox, Metroid (not counting Prime), Advance Wars, 1080, Wave Race franchises.
Where did you come to that conclusion already? It seems pretty clear that their first run of games are almost "HD-ized" Wii projects. Their bigger scale games will come later next year. The 3D Zelda, 3D Mario, and any surprises.
I don't get that either. Nintendo seems to be largely exempt from complaints about franchise fatigue even though they've been milking the same ones for longer than any other company. Over time, for me at least, it turns their exclusives from system sellers into "I'd maybe buy this if I had the system already" games. Not that other manufacturers are doing a far better job (Sony do better I think, but MS arguably do worse if you ignore all the Kinect stuff) - but they seem to get criticised for it, while Nintendo don't. Maybe I'm not representative of the folks that buy these games though, just like FIFA and Madden sell massive numbers every single year and I think "you're basically buying the same game over and over". People who like those games don't seem to be complaining though.
"I'm not buying an Xbox 720. It'll just be Gears, Forza, Halo, Fable etc. all over again!"
"I'm looking forward to the Wii-U! I can't wait to play Mario Kart, Mario World, Zelda etc. in HD!"
Maybe I just read too much into what's said on forums, haha.
IHaveCandy
Banned
I'm not against the idea of sequals or extensive use of established franchises. But that is all Nintendo ever does. They very rarely make a big game that is a new franchise. Pikmin is the last one they made that was targeted at people that play a lot of games.
Alex
Member
I'm hoping the next one is worth it. The three hit combo of PH, ST and SS doesn't leave me with that much confidence in the handling of the franchise lately.
My thing with Nintendo isn't so much the franchise recycling: It's the lazy & cheap franchise recycling. I'd like to see some nice, expansive 3D games and meaty design efforts again, less safe titles, less 2D platformers. Lord, I am so spent on 2D platformers in the same way I was back in the 90s if not moreso. Good ones just pour down with such great frequency but it's all just too familiar and it needs another break.
It'd just be nice to see a bit classic spark of creativity from them more often, like with the first Galaxy. I'm not so much concerned about new IP's as I am that they've been basically just stripmining their NES, SNES and N64 efforts for too long, now.
I think the only one poised to do well is Microsoft.
Until Nintendo wakes up and smells their dwindling profits (are they really so dense that they haven't noticed that they've been posting losses for the first time in their company history?) and capitulates to 3rd party demands, then all they are going to get are table scraps from those 3rd parties.
Is in the console space, tech means a hell of a lot (not so much in the handheld space), but they really couldn't give two shits.
Sony is in trouble because the company as a whole is fucked.
Until Nintendo wakes up and smells their dwindling profits (are they really so dense that they haven't noticed that they've been posting losses for the first time in their company history?) and capitulates to 3rd party demands, then all they are going to get are table scraps from those 3rd parties.
Is in the console space, tech means a hell of a lot (not so much in the handheld space), but they really couldn't give two shits.
Sony is in trouble because the company as a whole is fucked.
2D Mario they've leaned on a little too much and it's hit the point of diminishing returns.
Mario Galaxy was incredibly awesome and fresh, so I'm down for whatever they do as a successor to that on Wii U.
Skyward Sword was a bit different but the Zelda series still needs a big shakeup and to fully break the OOT formula.
There's a Mario Kart on every Nintendo system. I don't blame them for that given the sales.
Metroid needs a reboot and could be made into a game that's much more appealing to the Western audience (if they just remake Super Metroid in 3D again the franchise isn't going to do very well).
I do agree that they need to try to make a few new IPs that will appeal to the PS3/360 casualcore gamer. Hopefully Monolith Soft's game will be one of those. Nintendo's issue has been that most of their franchises either appeal to absolutely everyone (and turn off the core gamer) or end up being more niche games that COD/Madden/GTA playing guy would never buy.