LOL no.
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Nintendo to meet UK retailers after unofficial Wii U price cuts fail
- Thread starter CrunchinJelly
- Start date
LOL no.
ElectricKaibutsu
Member
But, you can already do that.
Aquamarine
Member
The only way you could ditch the Gamepad is to completely relaunch the console. It DEFINES the Wii U.
Pointless.
Changing the name. Dropping the gamepad. Anything like that does nothing and shouldn't be done.
Clear and simple marketing will do away with any confusion as to what the system is. This has not been done anywhere and for that reason alone heads should roll at Nintendo. Then games, games, and more games from Nintendo along side clear and simple marketing of the games will sell the system to people.
Duxxy3
Member
It's a $150 albatross hanging around the Wii U's neck. The system won't sell for over $199 and it won't hit $199 without taking a huge loss or dropping the tablet.
Ok, so what's wrong with relaunching a failing system?
Skiesofwonder
Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
Nintendo needs a DS-lite turnaround. Have 3D Mario U, Mario Kart U, Windwaker HD, Wii Sports U, and a more attractive (to the eyes) console/pad ou this holiday season for $250 with NintendoLand installed.
I know it sounds drastic, but they need drastic. Hopefully Nintendo has something along those lines planned for this holiday season.
I know it sounds drastic, but they need drastic. Hopefully Nintendo has something along those lines planned for this holiday season.
Aquamarine
Member
Many millions in write-off costs. Imagine all of the confusion, the materials you would have to recall...the unsold inventory you'd have to dump...all of those R&D opportunity costs wasted...
Consoles are investments. You can't just decide to throwaway an integral feature of a console without major repercussions.
SneakyStephan
Banned
Gamecube actually had games (gamecube owner speaking)
Stiflers Mom
Banned
Strangely enough, I wouldn't miss the tablet that much, I guess.
I love being able to play games on the crapper, but the biggest thing about the Wii is that it is HD (imo).
I think games won't use "asymmetrical gameplay" anyway, in the future.
So it boils down to having a map on the gamepad, and that's it.
So, a Wii U at a much lower price point with a WiiMote doesn't sound so bad to me.
I love being able to play games on the crapper, but the biggest thing about the Wii is that it is HD (imo).
I think games won't use "asymmetrical gameplay" anyway, in the future.
So it boils down to having a map on the gamepad, and that's it.
So, a Wii U at a much lower price point with a WiiMote doesn't sound so bad to me.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
I personally don't think the physical appearance of the console or the gamepad are as big a deal as they've been made out.
But otherwise, I agree - the problem here isn't the name, it's not the font, the color, and it's not entirely the price. It's marketing and content, at the end of the day.
Nintendo obviously was pushed beyond their ability at the time (if we give Iwata any credit for being truthful about having overcome development hurdles) to get such hardware, OS, apps, and retail games ready for Christmas 2012. The fact that they couldn't figure out how to market it didn't help any.
Priory list for what Wii U needs:
1. Games
2. Marketing
3. Price cut
Thing is, the games will come (Nintendo has no choice there).
The only questions are: will they come at a sufficient pace, will Nintendo figure out how to market effectively in combination with the games, and will they officially price cut at a time that's harmonious with the games and better marketing.
I really believe there is no easy fix to the Wii U situation. Sure once the software comes many of us, the core gamers will jump on, but the audience that made the Wii such a success is gone. That audience probably cares more about smartphones and tablets now. I foresee Gamecube levels of success, but hey I loved my Cube. Then again I loved my Dreamcast too. . .
Dion Blaster
Member
I wonder how the 3DS and Wii U would have turned out without 3D and the tablet. Probably the same games but much cheaper systems.
ElectricKaibutsu
Member
For the 3DS the games would actually look better without 3D. It would free up resources.
Major partnerships? Who said anything about major partnerships? Their style seems to be less about headline partnerships and more about minor but important behind the scenes deals. The BBC iPlayer channel, for instance. Or Netflix or Lovefilm channels. Why would you need major partnership with Weightwatchers to be able to output your weight or activity to an external website? You can already do this tracking - it would just automate the process instead of requiring manual inputs.
You make music rights management sound so easy. It's not as if Apple struggled for years for that competitive advantage. I'm sure they would offer it up for a trickle of karaoke song sales.
They haven't updated it in 4 months? Jesus, those animals. It's not as if they have major OS updates planned for spring and summer.
I don't have any problem with your opinion. I just think it's weird that the one upgrade you can envisage coming for the Fit games is 'HD graphics' as though the original, with its ghost people and Frank Lampard lookalike was some sort of jawdropping powerhouse of graphical fidelity.
metalslimer
Member
Its pretty much too late to drop the tablet considering how many games are in development 1st party wise and not everyone would patch games because 3rd party sales have been so bad. They either give up and release a new console in 2015 or stick it out.
The Wiiu but moreso the 3ds are nintendo at their creative worst. They really just looked at the tech that was becoming popular and based thei whole systems around that but with massive limitations that hold very little appeal to the original market. They didnt even try to get 3d movies as DD on 3ds. Theres so many other selling points that could have been much more interesting than a controller screen and 3d. Besides 2-3 games how many games have truly been shown to have 3d as a gamechanger. The pointer was a revolution for shooters for me and touchscreen was amazing for different kind of genres.
The Wiiu but moreso the 3ds are nintendo at their creative worst. They really just looked at the tech that was becoming popular and based thei whole systems around that but with massive limitations that hold very little appeal to the original market. They didnt even try to get 3d movies as DD on 3ds. Theres so many other selling points that could have been much more interesting than a controller screen and 3d. Besides 2-3 games how many games have truly been shown to have 3d as a gamechanger. The pointer was a revolution for shooters for me and touchscreen was amazing for different kind of genres.
NeonZ
Member
Not every game uses the Tablet as an essential aspect even as things are though. Many games likely could be easily redesgined to eliminate it.
That's why they'd need a new name for the new Tablet-less model. They could market and patch some old standard Wii U games as compatible with it, and from that point on everything would be made to work without the tablet, which would stay supported as an optional acessory.
It's not happening though.
Grimhammer
Neo Member
I said this before launch! Release a WiiU as Wii 2 and make pad optional. You guys really can't see the elephant here? Third party devs and more to the point publishers - don't wanna make a game that isn't cost-easy to port between HD consoles. Next gen Xbox & ps3 development is rumored to be easy as easy can be for devs. They will not be making concurrent releases on wiiu if the game is even possible to dumb down to wiiu specs. And then your asking them to add pad functionality? To a comparatively non-existent user base?
The pad was never revolutionary (though they scared MS into singing about Surface) ...it was a trend following failure. Mostly because the trend they thought was the next Wii remote...is about tons of functionality and portability.
3hr charge pad with single touch and low resolution is dismal at best.
Marketing is also massive cock-up. And no steady software that proves their pad as the next big thing ....it's shocking to me that Ninny could fail so hard in so many areas at once!!!
With Sony & MS releasing next gen soon...it's going to be really really bad for Ninny's WiiU.
When Reggie said that Ninny wouldn't compete in the online arena vs Sony or MS due to their enormous 7yr head start ....that should've been the red flag to steer clear!!!
But I get it, people have nostalgia for Nintenfo and their aging ips. And they are fun. But are they is fun to ignore the failings and wait for their release?
I'd like Ninny to succeed and pressure the other two to step up and lower retail costs. But I'm pretty sure that Ninny was always lost on WiiU target market and understanding the audience they left behind for casuals. They couldn't even see why trophy/achievements are important enough to make standard across all games. Their is a whole group of gamers who won't trade a game simply because they are trying to 100% the games.
Anyhow...
Price cut significantly
Add pro controller and make pad optional
Rewrite OS
Market as the family alternative that's cheaper than the other two guys.
Release games from 1st partu
The pad was never revolutionary (though they scared MS into singing about Surface) ...it was a trend following failure. Mostly because the trend they thought was the next Wii remote...is about tons of functionality and portability.
3hr charge pad with single touch and low resolution is dismal at best.
Marketing is also massive cock-up. And no steady software that proves their pad as the next big thing ....it's shocking to me that Ninny could fail so hard in so many areas at once!!!
With Sony & MS releasing next gen soon...it's going to be really really bad for Ninny's WiiU.
When Reggie said that Ninny wouldn't compete in the online arena vs Sony or MS due to their enormous 7yr head start ....that should've been the red flag to steer clear!!!
But I get it, people have nostalgia for Nintenfo and their aging ips. And they are fun. But are they is fun to ignore the failings and wait for their release?
I'd like Ninny to succeed and pressure the other two to step up and lower retail costs. But I'm pretty sure that Ninny was always lost on WiiU target market and understanding the audience they left behind for casuals. They couldn't even see why trophy/achievements are important enough to make standard across all games. Their is a whole group of gamers who won't trade a game simply because they are trying to 100% the games.
Anyhow...
Price cut significantly
Add pro controller and make pad optional
Rewrite OS
Market as the family alternative that's cheaper than the other two guys.
Release games from 1st partu
AZ Greg
Member
And then what? No more sales after that? Because you basically described the Gamecube...
A Link to the Past
Banned
All they gotta do is bump the price up $100; make it seem like people are buying something "exclusive".
And then criminalize them from selling it back
And then criminalize them from selling it back
Duxxy3
Member
Right now gamecube sales would be a huge improvement.
And no, i didn't say there wouldn't be anymore sales. Overnight was just an exaggeration of quick sales.
Has anybody actually bought a Wii U for the tablet? Specifically for the tablet? My only interest in the system is for HD Nintendo games. The tablet does nothing for me except inflate the initial cost of the system.
I never said they should change the name, because that's not something they could do that easily. This is what I meant:
that would not help
As long as that Wii is in the front of the U people would still assume it is a add on called the U tablet for Wii
Wii should be removed entirely or nothing will change.
Not at first but now after using Off Tv play is pretty much a big factor on what games I get.
Doctor Hades
Member
I'm a core gamer who bought the Wii at launch but ended up frustrated at the lack of quality games on the platform. Nintendo even admitted that they'd decided to support casual gamers over their core fans and I can't help but wonder if this has impacted the sales of the Wii U. I have not bought one nor do I intend to any time soon as I don't want to repeat the mistake of the Wii and end up with a console that remains unused for four years.
I fear that by the time the Wii U games arrive that people are craving for that the PS4 and next Xbox will be grabbing the limelight and, I suspect, that is what most core gamers are waiting for. I know I am. The Wii U is in a similar situation really to the poor old Dreamcast, which sold poorly as people waited for the PS2. I suspect a lot of people are waiting for the real next-generation consoles. The Wii U having multi-format games like Batman: Arkham City, Mass Effect 3 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted is of no interest to me as I played them months ago (and superior versions too on my PC) and currently the exclusives are not looking that appealing. Monster Hunter 3 and LEGO Undercover City are not the sort of games I'm interested either.
I suspect I will end up not buying the Wii U at all. There's only so many Super Mario, Mario Kart and Zelda games I can stand before even those start to get tired. Nintendo need to innovate IMO by releasing new and exciting franchises, not recycling the same old tired ones each generation. Much as I love The Wind Waker, the news that an HD version is coming to the Wii U actually depresses me as it shows a Nintendo that is more interested in looking to past glories rather than being forward thinking.
I fear that by the time the Wii U games arrive that people are craving for that the PS4 and next Xbox will be grabbing the limelight and, I suspect, that is what most core gamers are waiting for. I know I am. The Wii U is in a similar situation really to the poor old Dreamcast, which sold poorly as people waited for the PS2. I suspect a lot of people are waiting for the real next-generation consoles. The Wii U having multi-format games like Batman: Arkham City, Mass Effect 3 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted is of no interest to me as I played them months ago (and superior versions too on my PC) and currently the exclusives are not looking that appealing. Monster Hunter 3 and LEGO Undercover City are not the sort of games I'm interested either.
I suspect I will end up not buying the Wii U at all. There's only so many Super Mario, Mario Kart and Zelda games I can stand before even those start to get tired. Nintendo need to innovate IMO by releasing new and exciting franchises, not recycling the same old tired ones each generation. Much as I love The Wind Waker, the news that an HD version is coming to the Wii U actually depresses me as it shows a Nintendo that is more interested in looking to past glories rather than being forward thinking.
Davey Cakes
Member
Once you use the Gamepad enough, you understand why it's integral to the console. This is why Wii U owners are rather adamant about it.
The problem with the Wii U is that Nintendo hasn't done the best job of getting it into peoples' hands. The Wii sold itself once people picked up a Wiimote and played Wii Sports. It's much more difficult to pull something similar off with the new system, but it's not impossible.
Games, marketing, and "playing is believing." These things will help the Wii U in the long run but Nintendo has to get on it.
I wonder how much market research they did before announcing the Wii U.
The "Wii" branding stopped helping them about 3 years ago.
It's more like $75 to Nintendo directly.
Your assertions about it not selling due to price is a bit silly. It's not about price. It's about value. Nintendo has a value-perception problem. It doesn't require a reboot, relaunch, rebrand, or redesign. It requires software. It requires feature expansion. It's failing because they haven't yet developed value-rich support around the system.
All developers have to do is toss pieces of the interface that is on the TV down to the gamepad. Or simply make the game playable on the gamepad and just have a logo when it's on the TV. That is all they have to do if they don't want to do anything extra. That gamepad can not be used as an excuse by anyone. Period.
Dave Meltzer
Banned
Captainsweatpants
Member
Please don't put this man in charge of any company or nation.
evilromero
Member
It should have just been the Nintendo U.
DragonSworne
Banned
Better deal than you guys were getting.... about on par with what they are selling for in the USA. I'm not on board with the current USA prices, so I guess perhaps it is a relative thing, since the consoles normally cost more over there.
You could always wait and see. I think Nintendo is going to be launching some bitching bundles for £250... or even £200.... but only time will tell.
Of course if it gets cheaper in Europe... then perhaps the sales in the USA will take an even greater hit?
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
For the Italian GAF'ers out there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CVsM__6xa0&t=6m55s
Now, imagine this guy or the equivalent Nintendo executive in charge of planning Wii U... or imagine a mix Iwata + this guy
.Wickerbasket
Member
I'm waiting for the premium to hit £150 bundled with NSBU and Nintendo Land.
£200 is a lot more attractive than it was before though.
Meus Renaissance
Member
Personally, I think the marketing and the name (causing confusion as to its distinction from its predecessor) are bigger barriers than lack of games
You do? I really don't. It doesn't matter what the fuck the name is if there's not a competent software library. It's not exactly rocket science.
Beer Monkey
Member
I think that's a bit extreme.
They can't dump the controller. It's too integral to the design of the system. I bought a cheap used Wii U yesterday and once you use it, it's obvious. It might be a mistake, but it's not something that can be dropped.
..but if everyone wants off tv play..it really does mean Nintendo should dump the Gamepad.
There's no point in the Gamepad being any more than an add-on if dual screen play isn't used in any meaningful way.
If games aren't designed around the concept of using both screens..then bundling a second screen is ultimately a waste of money.
Honestly, this. Off-tv play should be required. Its the best thing about the gamepad, bar none.
ChimpanzeeThat
Member
From a retailing POV it does matter. As i said earlier in this thread, there are people who think this is just an add-on for the Wii like Wii Fit.
@bolded
Conditionally, I agree. It depends again, if they have or will seek the necessary support that comes from an expansion to meet increased pproduction demand.
Beer Monkey
Member
There's system UI stuff that is done ONLY through the gamepad. Personally not a choice I would have made, but they are really locked to the gamepad now.
Have you played Nintendo Land? There is a lot of gameplay potential with GamePad. Multiplayer with GamePad is arguably better than Off-TV play. I guess it depends on where your priorities lie.
It's secondary. People won't buy the product as it currently is no matter what they call it. Besides Wii is still a strong brand something that GAF likes to forget.
I've said the same thing, except make it mandatory to support off screen play. Everyone laughed.
SafeinSound
Member
Yeah, because this is what major western audiences want from Nintendo.