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ZombiU Wii U bundle confirmed for North America

What was the next logical step though? A Wii but in HD, with a continued focus purely on the Wiimote which wasn't often utilized to its potential even though the Wii itself was extremely popular?

As a Wii U owner, the Wii U as an HD system is more sophisticated than the Wii. It's more complex, where the Wii was a very basic system with limited features. The features of the Wii U are interesting and should be enticing. The controller, because of its touch screen, is very user-friendly (maybe as much as the Wii remote). Is tapping a screen any more complicated than pointing at the sensor bar? It's a different mechanism but it's not hard to figure out even for the most casual of users, especially considering the current tablet culture.

The product is weak in terms of specs and implementation of the OS (and updates), but I think Nintendo has a pretty strong foundation for both core and casual players here. And I'm saying this as someone who owns a Wii, X360, and now Wii U. The problems are definitely with the lack of a solid software lineup, third party support, and poor marketing. The Wii was flawed but it was extremely successful because of the appeal. I don't see exactly what's missing with the Wii U other than the fact that it's not, once again, extremely basic. If anyone took the time to learn and understand the features, they'd be totally on board. The problem is that, with the HD gaming era, complexity is a necessary evil, but just past the wall is a system and interface that is actually really easy to use.

Summary: the system should be enticing at its core based on what it offers as a step up from the Wii. Put me in the camp that believes the problems are [mostly] external.

Wii had appeal as a much cheaper console than the others out at the time, besides PS2. Wii U doesn't. Its not cheaper, more powerful, or even offers a better game lineup over 360/PS3.

Wii appealed to casuals by using few buttons and motion to keep new players on the screen and not worrying about what to press. Wii U is almost the exact antithesis of Wii, forcing people to stare at the controller in many games to perform actions. Many have pointed out how its more cumbersome in even hardcore games to use the tablet and distracting from on screen action. How do you think casuals feel then?

Its the product offered, as it always is when one fails. Its a copout to say otherwise.
 
This bundle isn't out there for its price point. If you want to spend less, buy a Basic unit.

It's to promote the Pro controller (provides a more familiar controller experience) and Zombi U, an exclusive not usually associated with the Nintendo name.
 
What was the next logical step though? A Wii but in HD, with a continued focus purely on the Wiimote which wasn't often utilized to its potential even though the Wii itself was extremely popular?

As a Wii U owner, the Wii U as an HD system is more sophisticated than the Wii. It's more complex, where the Wii was a very basic system with limited features. The features of the Wii U are interesting and should be enticing. The controller, because of its touch screen, is very user-friendly (maybe as much as the Wii remote). Is tapping a screen any more complicated than pointing at the sensor bar? It's a different mechanism but it's not hard to figure out even for the most casual of users, especially considering the current tablet culture.

There's also Miiverse and a general sense of gaming community that the Wii lacked completely. We're in the social media age, so Facebook+Twitter+video games is a neat idea and it actually does work pretty well. Ask many Wii U owners and they'll say that Miiverse is a wonderful addition that expands the video game experience on Nintendo consoles.

The product is weak in terms of specs and implementation of the OS (and updates), but I think Nintendo has a pretty strong foundation for both core and casual players here. And I'm saying this as someone who owns a Wii, X360, and now Wii U. The problems are definitely with the lack of a solid software lineup, third party support, and poor marketing. The Wii was flawed but it was extremely successful because of pure accessibility. I don't see exactly what's missing with the Wii U other than the fact that it's not, once again, extremely basic. If anyone took the time to learn and understand the features, they'd be totally on board. The problem is that, with the HD gaming era, complexity is a necessary evil, but just past the wall is a system and interface that is actually really easy to use.

Summary: the system should be enticing at its core based on what it offers as a step up from the Wii. Put me in the camp that believes the problems are [mostly] external.


I think a Wii 2, released in summer 2012, would have done just fine. Motionplus as the standard control. Don't worry about designing a tiny case that has a low power draw - just make whatever squeezes the most performance out at a $299 price point - something that, at the least, can brute force Xbox360 and PS3 ports into running at 1080p/60fps.
 
This is a great value and I wish this would've been an option at launch.

Why would I want a pro controller? To play non existent 3rd party games?


And I tried really hard to care about zombie U but it just looks so boring. Anything zombie related is just too played out for me to care. My Wii U now going to collect dust for months to come thanks to Rayman delay

Why not try out the Zombi U demo since it's on the eShop? Watching videos of the game isn't going to do much. It's a very experience-oriented game. It has flaws but it is still one of the best survival horror games in a long time.
 
Bundled with not one but two games I don't want to play Nintendo you really shouldn't have :(
 
Added value does not work in America. Price is king here.

This will do nothing.

If your statement were true then the Wii U Basic bundle would be the most popular and demanded SKU and it's clearly not (and wasn't during the launch/holiday period).
 
This bundle isn't out there for its price point. If you want to spend less, buy a Basic unit.

It's to promote the Pro controller (provides a more familiar controller experience) and Zombi U, an exclusive not usually associated with the Nintendo name.
I assume the bundle is out there because Nintendo wants people to buy it. Price point plays a pretty big factor.
 
This bundle isn't out there for its price point. If you want to spend less, buy a Basic unit.

It's to promote the Pro controller (provides a more familiar controller experience) and Zombi U, an exclusive not usually associated with the Nintendo name.

If they want to promote the pro controller they can release a Wii U with just the pro controller, no Wii U pad. That will definitely drive the price below $250.

Nintendo has a major identity crisis when it comes to input devices. Stop giving consumers a dozen options and stick to ONE, just one.

If your statement were true then the Wii U Basic bundle would be the most popular and demanded SKU and it's clearly not (and wasn't during the launch/holiday period).

Did people buy the deluxe version for nintendoland or because it had 4x the in-upgradable storage that the basic version had? That's like asking why someone purchased a 32GB iPhone over an 8GB iPhone. It's not for value, it's for the space.
 
If they want to promote the pro controller they can release a Wii U with just the pro controller, no Wii U pad. That will definitely drive the price below $250.

Nintendo has a major identity crisis when it comes to input devices. Stop giving consumers a dozen options and stick to ONE, just one.



Did people buy the deluxe version for nintendoland or because it had 4x the in-upgradable storage that the basic version had? That's like asking why someone purchased a 32GB iPhone over an 8GB iPhone. It's not for value, it's for the space.

So you're claiming that people bought the Premium Bundle for the 32GB of space over everything else that comes with it?

The Wii U is not an iPhone. Most people probably don't give a shit about how much space it comes with. Even if they do, 32GB is hardly that much if you're downloading a lot.
 
So you're claiming that people bought the Premium Bundle for the 32GB of space over everything else that comes with it?

The Wii U is not an iPhone. Most people probably don't give a shit about how much space it comes with. Even if they do, 32GB is hardly that much if you're downloading a lot.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. It's the same reason that people buy more HDD equipped 360's than just flash equipped 360's.
 
I considered taking it with the demo. But now after waiting, I'm not so sure.
When I replayed the nursery part, knowing everything, it got considerably faster and given there's a lot of scripts, less interesting. In the end, when a barrage of zombies come to you and being in a zone with multiple connected rooms, I though it could break a bit linearity and having different viable strategies to handle them, but it seemed to me that's not really needed and kind of useless like in bioshock. I would like to hear if the whole game is well designed enough for replayability or if the demo was representative of what to expect.
 
Hey, just in time for the mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead!

They could've done it back then, but now's a decent 2nd chance.
 
If they want to promote the pro controller they can release a Wii U with just the pro controller, no Wii U pad. That will definitely drive the price below $250.

Nintendo has a major identity crisis when it comes to input devices. Stop giving consumers a dozen options and stick to ONE, just one.
Considering the pad is the one controller you actually need, that'd actually be a terrible idea.
 
is it really smart to launch a $400 bundle three days before Sony unveils their new playstation?

A: The price is going in the wrong direction
B: Nobody is going to be paying attention
 
Add an "EXCLUSIVE RAYMAN DEMO PRE-INSTALLED" logo on there for that extra value!
 
Just bought a Wii U and this. Game seems kinda cool but I'm really, really underwhelmed by the Wii U itself. It takes an eternity to navigate the main menu. And asides from Wind Waker I don't want anything other games for it. :( I really should thought this through a little better.
 
I'm about 5 hours in and I'm almost too scared to continue lol.

I didn't play for a week cause i was shook and stuck and scared in this one part haha, game got me good , loved it.


hmmmmm didnt see the downloadable part for nintendoland, like will it be a code? or already installed on the console?

those download codes in bundles can go cheap, might look into getting one code.
 
You know even though this is a pretty good deal, I'm still vehemently opposed to the glossy black finish.
In the end, I think I'll still spring for the white basic sku for that reason alone.
 
Just bought a Wii U and this. Game seems kinda cool but I'm really, really underwhelmed by the Wii U itself. It takes an eternity to navigate the main menu. And asides from Wind Waker I don't want anything other games for it. :( I really should thought this through a little better.
Hey, there's Rayman Legends coming in a...

oh.
 
Great game if you're a survival horror fan. I was doubting it until the very end myself, almost not buying it, but it really is surprisingly awesome.

The Rayman stunt looks even more pathetic now, seeing how Nintendo is doing such favors for Ubisoft.
 
Anybody touching this?

I was really looking forward to picking this up tomorrow, but those NPD numbers scared me pretty good. I'm now concerned about the longevity of the platform.

"Zombi U"--pack-in or portent?
 
Anybody touching this?

I was really looking forward to picking this up tomorrow, but those NPD numbers scared me pretty good. I'm now concerned about the longevity of the platform.

"Zombi U"--pack-in or portent?

Honestly, if you wanted to pick it up, it's a pretty good deal. If you like Nintendo games, it's not like they're going to abandon the platform. Also, look at its upcoming software - monster hunter, lego city, Pikmin, and W101. If you like any of those, go ahead and pick it up. If not, I'd wait for a price drop/holidays.
 
Anybody touching this?

I was really looking forward to picking this up tomorrow, but those NPD numbers scared me pretty good. I'm now concerned about the longevity of the platform.

"Zombi U"--pack-in or portent?


Platform will surely be on the market for 5 years.
Its not going anywhere.
And by the end of this year it will surely offer plenty of nice titles.
 
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