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

Interesting Analysis of Wii U Sales

Its not about sells, it's about quality and fun games - which gamers shouldnt miss.

You should try reading the thread title

Sure, I get that. But 3DS is still the number 1 selling console in NA.

Ignoring that this is most likely wrong (360 is usually number one in NA, and this past month the ps4 bitch slapped everything), the only comparison investors care about is 3DS vs DS, not 3DS vs other companies' consoles.
 
So two new IPs and a whole mess of sequels?

Because I'm only interested in a good game if it isn't a sequel. Some of the best games of all time are "sequels". If the game is good, and has new and fun gameplay, regardless of what IP "skin" they're using, then who the fuck cares?
 
This is has been the most depressing thing about the Wii U failing; it's made me reflect on what happened with the Gamecube. That system launched with Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin, got Metroid Prime a year later, eventually saw F-Zero GX, Wind Waker, Animal Crossing, Mario Sunshine, Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil 4. It didn't matter. It doesn't matter if Nintendo pumps out games I love, it has proven to be a failing strategy (even with the right price point and hardware power).
 
Because I'm only interested in a good game if it isn't a sequel. Some of the best games of all time are "sequels". If the game is good, and has new and fun gameplay, regardless of what IP "skin" they're using, then who the fuck cares?

I do.

New generation means new IPs. I've already played DK, Smash, Mario, Kart, Zelda etc. dozens of times. Give me something NEW!
 
This is has been the most depressing thing about the Wii U failing; it's made me reflect on what happened with the Gamecube. That system launched with Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin, got Metroid Prime a year later, eventually saw F-Zero GX, Wind Waker, Animal Crossing, Mario Sunshine, Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil 4. It didn't matter. It doesn't matter if Nintendo pumps out games I love, it has proven to be a failing strategy (even with the right price point and hardware power).

Yeah its sad. Legendary games. $99 pricepoint. But ultimately, the Wii U is selling like any other Nintendo console, with the Wii being the sole exception. Every generation has seen a very healthy slide in sales. I shudder to think what their next console will do.
 
We're not made of money. The Wii U isn't a good value proposition. Those games are not worth plonking down over $200 for most people.
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?

The WiiU is not a good value proposition for the average gamer because it has no third party support and the online capabilities are not very good compared to xbone/ps4 (though free)
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?

Part of the value proposition is long term prospects. There will be a flood of third party games coming to both of those systems. Which ones and when they come is not known yet, but they will come. We may only have a limited knowledge of some announced games within perhaps the first year, but many more are to come.

As for the Wii U. We're wondering when the plug will be pulled.
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?

systems aren't judged entirely by what's on the shelf at launch (otherwise the DC would be the highest selling console of all time) but by the potential for future games and support. Stocks are priced the same way. Valuation is based on the expectation of future business.

The ps4 and xbox have the committed support of every major and minor publisher, with the exception of nintendo themselves.

The wiiU is in the exact opposite situation. everyone else has abandoned ship. So unless you consider only Nintendo properties a "good deal" for a $300 console and literally nothing else, it's not a good value proposition.
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?
In two years time when you have a ton of multiplaftorm games for the Ps4/Xbone and barely any for the Wii u, you will see.
It's not that the Wii u doesn't have enough good games that can justify a purchase, just not enough for the average consumers to care. The Wii relied on its motion controls gimmick to appeal to the casual gamers. The Wii u doesn't have that.
 
It's amazing that in a topic explicitly about sales people still go on about how they love their Wii Us and make useless lists that obviously no one gives a shit about
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?

No, it's the exact opposite of good value. Even hardcore Nintendo fans have a difficult time justifying a purchase. That's pretty damning evidence by itself.

And ps4/xbone aren't selling out because of ryse and knack. It won't be long before those systems are drowning in games. It also helps that they aren't just boxes that play game discs and nothing else. They do other things that are useful for TV, thus offering even more "value".
 
The wii u isnt a good value proposition? But the ps4 and the xbone are? For what games? Ryse, knack?

Okay, let's follow this through. If you are correct, then why are gamers buying PS4 and Xbox One in large numbers, but mostly ignoring the Wii U?
 
I do.

New generation means new IPs. I've already played DK, Smash, Mario, Kart, Zelda etc. dozens of times. Give me something NEW!
pbMYgHM.png
 
The thing is... the market for the kind of games that Nintendo makes keeps shrinking, i think the Wii U would still be bombing even if it was up to par (technically speaking) to the PS4/XB1, because the kids nowadays only play bloody games... they don't care about Mario and company...
 
Theoretically, how powerful could they make a home console with that chip in 2016 ? going on the premise that it would be the same size and power / heat envelope as WiiU ?. Are we talking on par again with PS4/Xbone or more powerful ?. Thanks.

At 20nm, they could make the console a bit smaller than PS4 and more powerful at the same time given a few years. Not Wii U small, though. Then again, I'm of the opinion that beyond a certain point, console size does not much matter. Unless we are talking Roku size, there seems little to gain. Wii U could have been as big as PS4 and nobody would care as long as the beef was in there.
 

So an add on pack to a game that is already the fourth iteration of a game that came out on the DS is new?

The thing is... the market for the kind of games that Nintendo makes keeps shrinking, i think the Wii U would still be bombing even if it was up to par (technically speaking) to the PS4/XB1, because the kids nowadays only play bloody games... they don't care about Mario and company...

I think Nintendo's idea of fun and what kids actually enjoy are different. Look at the popular games now. COD, BF, Skyrim, GTA, etc. Yeah, they involve killing, but that's not the reason they're selling. Those games are loaded with content, have online multiplayer which keeps them fresh and replayable for years, or they are RPGs with millions of things to do. A game like NSMB or 3D World is just too light and superficial.
 
The WiiU is not a good value proposition for the average gamer because it has no third party support and the online capabilities are not very good compared to xbone/ps4 (though free)
No third party support? It has. Its It's different, but it exists: sonic lost world, hyrule wars, persona x fire emblem, rayman legends... besides of that, sony and microsoft would be glad to own such powerful first party ips like nintendo - so they dont depend on third party support.
No online capabilities? Monster Hunter? Miiverse?
 
Okay, let's follow this through. If you are correct, then why are gamers buying PS4 and Xbox One in large numbers, but mostly ignoring the Wii U?

Right now its the hype train. People are betting on faith that the future output will be good. The next year is pretty bleak (at least for my gaming tastes) in terms of Sony/MS releases.
 
No third party support? It has. Its It's different, but it exists: sonic lost world, hyrule wars, persona x fire emblem, rayman legends... besides of that, sony and microsoft would be glad to own such powerful first party ips like nintendo - so they dont depend on third party support.
No online capabilities? Monster Hunter? Miiverse?

If Nintendo first party were so powerful, then the Wii U would be selling right now.

Nintendo has history and nostalgia on their side, but actual sales numbers don't suggest their first party is that much more powerful than Sony or MS.
 
I dunno what some people see, but i see following:

- super mario 3d world (a fucking classic?)
- pikmin 3 (best strategie game on consoles?)
- zelda wind waker hd(a great remake of a great zelda?)
- wonderful 101 (an action game on speed?)
- new super mario bros u (one of the best 2d marios?)
- super mario kart 8 (mario kart (best kart racer) in hd - i just want to fucking eat it?)
- super smash bros (true successor of melee(one of the best fighting games)?)
- donkey kong tf (cranky kong?;-))
- persona x fireemblem (an crossover of two great ips?)
- x (seriously do I need to say anything? )
- hyrule wars (out of nowhere? )
- monster hunter 3 ultimate (amazing online hunting and community?)
- zelda u (:-DD?)
- bayoneta 2 (fast fucking beautiful action?)

God damn, but as a -> gamer <- u should be exited! Period.
You can like the system and be happy with the games, and also realize that the system is in dire straits. The two are not mutually exclusive.
 
I think Nintendo's idea of fun and what kids actually enjoy are different. Look at the popular games now. COD, BF, Skyrim, GTA, etc. Yeah, they involve killing, but that's not the reason they're selling. Those games are loaded with content, have online multiplayer which keeps them fresh and replayable for years, or they are RPGs with millions of things to do. A game like NSMB or 3D World is just too light and superficial.

Well i was talking from personal experience, the kids i know play GTA and CoD and all those games to be naughty, hitting people, shooting people... that's what they find "fun" about them, of course if doesn't apply to everybody but still...
 
At 20nm, they could make the console a bit smaller than PS4 and more powerful at the same time given a few years. Not Wii U small, though. Then again, I'm of the opinion that beyond a certain point, console size does not much matter. Unless we are talking Roku size, there seems little to gain. Wii U could have been as big as PS4 and nobody would care as long as the beef was in there.

I see, thanks for taking the time to answer :).
 
Part of the value proposition is long term prospects. There will be a flood of third party games coming to both of those systems. Which ones and when they come is not known yet, but they will come. We may only have a limited knowledge of some announced games within perhaps the first year, but many more are to come.

As for the Wii U. We're wondering when the plug will be pulled.

Third party support is of course nice, but a company should not depend on it. Why? Its simple, so no one can pull out the plug.
 
Third party support is of course nice, but a company should not depend on it. Why? Its simple, so no one can pull out the plug.

Nintendo certainly doesn't rely on third party support. So apart from Wii, their sole break-out success since the NES, this has done nothing but harm their business. Wii U is now Gamecube 2.0...down the death spiral sales go.
 
Let's be perfectly honest here, the moment they dropped the motion controls and brought in the tablet is the moment the Wii U was destined to fail.

The tablet is not that much different from traditional controls, the touch screen could be interesting but it will never be used in the same sense as it was on the DS.

People were interested in the Wii because of motion controls, that's it. Really, go back to 2006 and 2007 and the vast majority of people got the Wii because they wanted to see what the motion controls were all about, if the Wii had the gamecube controller FAR less people would've jumped into the system.

In short, there is absolutely nothing interesting about the Wii U except a few games. And those games are the same stuff we have already seen before, while PS4 and the XONE have new things like Destiny, The Division, Watch Dogs and so on. The Wii U has none of that.

If they just went with a much improved and exclusively MOTION controlled system it would likely have done better. Imagine actual precise controls, the casuals would've loved it. But no they went with just wii mote support, with is NOT an improvement over what they already had.

They shot themselves in the foot.
 
Let's be perfectly honest here, the moment they dropped the motion controls and brought in the tablet is the moment the Wii U was destined to fail.

The tablet is not that much different from traditional controls, the touch screen could be interesting but it will never be used in the same sense as it was on the DS.

People were interested in the Wii because of motion controls, that's it. Really, go back to 2006 and 2007 and the vast majority of people got the Wii because they wanted to see what the motion controls were all about, if the Wii had the gamecube controller FAR less people would've jumped into the system.

In short, there is absolutely nothing interesting about the Wii U except a few games. And those games are the same stuff we have already seen before, while PS4 and the XONE have new things like Destiny, The Division, Watch Dogs and so on. The Wii U has none of that.

If they just went with a much improved and exclusively MOTION controlled system it would likely have done better. Imagine actual precise controls, the casuals would've loved it. But no they went with just wii mote support, with is NOT an improvement over what they already had.

They shot themselves in the foot.

The Wii sold on the novelty of motion controls. As soon as that was old hat, any successor was doomed. I mean perhaps if the Wii U were cheap, named something less confusing, had refined motion controls and was $250 at launch with a plethora of games...it would have done somewhat better. But it still wouldn't have come anywhere close to the Wii's appeal and consequently its sales.
 
systems aren't judged entirely by what's on the shelf at launch (otherwise the DC would be the highest selling console of all time) but by the potential for future games and support. Stocks are priced the same way. Valuation is based on the expectation of future business.

The ps4 and xbox have the committed support of every major and minor publisher, with the exception of nintendo themselves.

The wiiU is in the exact opposite situation. everyone else has abandoned ship. So unless you consider only Nintendo properties a "good deal" for a $300 console and literally nothing else, it's not a good value proposition.

As a gamer u should consider to buy a wii u just for nintendo games. Why? Because they are simply good. And aren't gamers seeking good games?
 
As a gamer u should consider to buy a wii u just for nintendo games. Why? Because they are simply good. And aren't gamers seeking good games?
Maybe they already have a 3DS.

I don't really feel like I need another system dedicated solely to Nintendo games for that price. The Wii U's value is lower to me because I can already play similar Nintendo games on 3DS.
 
Metroid is not the answer to Nintendos troubles. Have any metroid games sold me than 3 million?

Nintendo needs a first person shooter, or something else trendy.
 
Okay, let's follow this through. If you are correct, then why are gamers buying PS4 and Xbox One in large numbers, but mostly ignoring the Wii U?

You are talking about the launch of the the consoles?
Mostly ignoring the wiiu? Dont ya see the increasesing sales and the growing interest in the public?
 
As a gamer u should consider to buy a wii u just for nintendo games. Why? Because they are simply good. And aren't gamers seeking good games?

There are good games on every system.

I'd rather have good games (better, IMO) on modern hardware with modern online infrastructure than good games on a piece of ancient hardware with a nearly nonexistent online infrastructure.
 
Completely convinced this is Nintendos last home console - handhelds? For sure, keep em coming. Home consoles? Snap up a Wii U, it's the last one I reckon

If console gaming from the other two progresses towards a microtransaction-laden model, it might be my last console, too.

The pay-to-play online already has me gnashing my teeth, but I can probably begrudgingly suck that one up.
 
As a gamer u should consider to buy a wii u just for nintendo games. Why? Because they are simply good. And aren't gamers seeking good games?

We are not made of money. Nintendo platforms cost money. There is not enough of a value proposition to entice consumers to purchase their hardware and subsequently, their games. Its just not there and will never be there.
 
If Nintendo first party were so powerful, then the Wii U would be selling right now.

Nintendo has history and nostalgia on their side, but actual sales numbers don't suggest their first party is that much more powerful than Sony or MS.

2k-> 70k in few weeks - japan sells. I dunno how much percent that is, but its clearly powerful.
 
I dunno what some people see, but i see following:

- super mario 3d world (a fucking classic?)
- pikmin 3 (best strategie game on consoles?)
- zelda wind waker hd(a great remake of a great zelda?)
- wonderful 101 (an action game on speed?)
- new super mario bros u (one of the best 2d marios?)
- super mario kart 8 (mario kart (best kart racer) in hd - i just want to fucking eat it?)
- super smash bros (true successor of melee(one of the best fighting games)?)
- donkey kong tf (cranky kong?;-))
- persona x fireemblem (an crossover of two great ips?)
- x (seriously do I need to say anything? )
- hyrule wars (out of nowhere? )
- monster hunter 3 ultimate (amazing online hunting and community?)
- zelda u (:-DD?)
- bayoneta 2 (fast fucking beautiful action?)

God damn, but as a -> gamer <- u should be exited! Period.


980.gif
 
Part of the value proposition is long term prospects. There will be a flood of third party games coming to both of those systems. Which ones and when they come is not known yet, but they will come. We may only have a limited knowledge of some announced games within perhaps the first year, but many more are to come.

While I do agree that the other two consoles project to have a better long-term value proposition, a) future libraries aren't the only facet that needs to be considered, and b) that certainly doesn't justify buying in at launch (much as it didn't for most people for the WiiU, though at launch it had better value prospects for me than the PS4 and XB1 did at their respective launches).

In some ways, the argument reminds me of the people on HFBoards wanting to pitched established talent for draft picks and unproven prospects... and then when they don't exceed expectations in two years, trade them for draft picks and prospects. In this case, I don't think it's a bad move, but the argument itself is just so cringe-worthy, especially when a take on same argument was used as a strike against one console ("has no games") and a pro for the other ("will have games")
 
Top Bottom