250°

Can the Wii U attract a new audience of hardcore gamers?

Before analysing and critiquing Nintendo’s latest console, it’s probably worth establishing exactly what a ‘hardcore’ gamer is. It would be easy of me to label those who have 10th Prestige on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and a K/D ratio akin to Rambo as ‘hardcore’, due to the amount of time and dedication these players spend on one game. However, to do so would be a disservice to all the other fantastic games and franchises that populate our planet.

LOGICWINS4250d ago

Unless GTAV is on it and makes full creative use of the tablet controller, I don't see the majority of PS3/360 making the Wii U their main gaming console.

People tend to forget how powerful that franchise is.

Thatguy-3104250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

Even if GTAV was on it I doubt ps3/360 owners will jump ships. why bother when they can get it on their current system? Plus most likely they'll be waiting for next generation of Sony's and microsoft's console. I for one am waiting for the ps4.

etowntwo4250d ago

I know I've waited long enough for next gen.
7 yrs is too long.

WiiU day 1, hoping it doesn't disappoint too much in the long run.

LOGICWINS4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

"why bother when they can get it on their current system?"

Because the Wii U version MAY be the better version by a mile. Think of the difference between the PC/PS2 versions of Max Payne 2. The difference COULD be night and day given the Wii U's RAM and other technical advantages over current gen consoles.

Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3.

By the time the PS4/720 come out, the most expensive Wii U SKU will be $250-$300, making it the cheapest next-gen console.

Perjoss4250d ago

There's no need to 'jump ship', there is no law against owning more than one console.

LOGICWINS4250d ago

Correct. But not everyone has the discretionary income to own multiple consoles...hence the complaints about Bayonetta 2 being a Wii U exclusive.

Carl_Shocker4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

@Logic...

It's not about what version is better with most gamers this gen it's about where your friends are so you can play with them on that system. Since GTAV will feature multiplayer like GTA4 and Red Dead I can see people sticking with the platform they got it on with the pervious installments and the ones there friends will get.

Unless all of them buy a Wii U...but I don't see that happening

I know it's a shame that most people today go where there friends are and not get the one where you'll get the best version but thats whats happened this gen

LOGICWINS4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

@Carl- I could be wrong, but I doubt that most people buy GTA for the multiplayer. The franchise has been critically acclaimed and sold a gazillion copies WAAAAY before a competitive MP system became part of the franchise.

I agree however that what friends buy does have an effect on what you buy sometimes.

Nutsack4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

@ LOGICWINS

"Because the Wii U version MAY be the better version by a mile."

'May' eh? WiiUpgrade has no, or soon a low installed base. Low installed base consoles always get PORTS, they're not leading in development. Much like the PS3 got 360 ports because the 360 had a year head start. WiiUpgrade most likely gets a 360 port for the games that get announced for WiiUpgrade as the CPU's are similar. GTAV isn't announced for WiiUpgrade and probably won't, as Rockstar isn't interested in a console with no installed base while both 360 and PS3 are around 70 to 75 mln each...

"Think of the difference between the PC/PS2 versions of Max Payne 2. The difference COULD be night and day given the Wii U's RAM and other technical advantages over current gen consoles."

No, simply no. 'Could'? The CPU is lower clocked than the 360/PS3 in speed. The GPU might be a tad better. But a difference from PC and PS2? Never.

"Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3."

Ehr... Where is your crystal ball, you gotta show me that vision of yours. Maybe you want to clean and rub it better. Pretty sure Sony won't make the same mistake with PS4's pricing as they had with PS3. This time around BluRay isn't as expensive and high tech as in PS3. It'll be priced like a DVD player was this gen to put in a console. Be sure that Sony will launch at MAX 399 like the XBOX 8 will. Like how the PSVita launched at 250 while when it was announced everyone expected a price of 350, because the tech is much more advanced as the weak 3DS which was at 250 at that time too. PS4 will offer minimal advantage over PS3? Can you give me a link to the specs? Pretty sure Sony is trying to sell 4k reso TV's by then and some stuff leaked that they will get the PS4 to push and support 4k resolution. Much like they had PS3 push and support BluRay. If Sony showed anything lately, is that they still push the best tech possible for a reasonable price, aka again the stuff in PSVita compared to the low upgraded Nintendo DS with some gimmick 3D in it for the same launch price.

"By the time the PS4/720 come out, the most expensive Wii U SKU will be $250-$300, making it the cheapest next-gen console"

Errrrrrrrr pretty sure Nintendo kept the Wii for a long ass time on their launch price and they already said they will do the same with WiiUpgrade. Don't be so sure about the cheapest console. Oh and don't call it next gen, as the WiiUpgrade just about updates it to current gen 360/PS3. It ain't like 10x as powerful as current gen, so its not next gen. Thats about the steps that every real next gen gets, being 10 x as powerful as the last.

The WiiUpgrade being at 300 to 350 now makes it the most expensive CURRENT GEN console, with a new controller. That new controller ain't that impressive either, its just a blown up DS with a one touch panel, not even multitouch which every tablet, smartphone has nowadays, or a PSVita if you like.

Its the same thing they did selling the Wii, giving a non accurate weak Wiimote, and sell other gimmick hardware like WiiFits balance board or the Wiimote Plus addon to fix their own faulty inaccurate Wiimote.

360's basic model is the cheapest current gen console, even if you add Kinect as another control method its cheaper than the WiiUpgrade. PS3 superslim 12GB new model comes in at a recommended 230 bucks, but retailers are free in pricing it, which will lead to a 200 bucks pricelevel soon, being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than the WiiUpgrade too.

Gaming1014250d ago

lol @ No Logic, you're not winning.

There will be no "By a mile" graphics leap for the Wii U compared to current gen. There will be minute differences just like you saw with Batman Arkham City.

How does anyone figure that the PS4 would have a minimal difference from PS3, yet the Wii U will surpass it by a mile? What planet does this guy live on?

There will be the odd franchise, but once PS4 gets released, it will leave the Wii U in the dust by miles. It won't even be close. It will be just like the current gen consoles. But it doesn't matter, because Nintendo doesn't care if it doesn't completely dominate in hardcore gamers. They will make a shallow attempt at it but nothing that will drive them further in the long run.

The "author" seems to spend forever trying to define a hardcore gamer as well. We already determined that casual gamers "ie. the Wii's audience" only buys a few games and that's it, there are very low software attachment rates in the casual audience. Hardcore is the opposite - high software attachment rates, someone who buys lots of games. That's it. It has nothing to do with your gamer score, or whether you play online or offline, or whether you collected every feather in Assassin's Creed. It has everything to do with how much money you spend - don't forget it, money is the measuring stick every company uses. They don't care if you beat their game on the hardest difficulty, they care that you bought it, and all the DLC they sold you afterwards.

LOGICWINS4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

"There will be the odd franchise, but once PS4 gets released, it will leave the Wii U in the dust by miles."

And I never argued against that. What does that have to do with anything?

@Nutsack- Not reading that Berlin Wall of text..sorry.

Hisiru4249d ago

@LOGICWINS
They are mad, we shouldn't even bother trying to read all that text, seriously. I agree with you bro :)

knowyourstuff4249d ago

lol ok Logic, nice of you to completely disagree with your own previous comments ^^^

"Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3."

It's clear you don't think it will have an advantage over PS3 yet the Wii U will suprass it by leaps and bounds. Try using better logic next time.

Bye!

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4249d ago
OmegaSlayer4249d ago

Why should I buy a current generation console (even if supposedly the more performing hardware) if I can buy a next gen platform after a year from WiiU release?
With this economy I should eithe be extra rich or using all my money for videogames.
And if I would have 300$ to use, I think I would buy 5-6 new games, or much more if I decide to pick some title I missed at launch

Hellsvacancy4250d ago

Not me, but im just one person, ill hold on for PS4

"Hay your a fanboy" no, im happy with what ive got for now

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

indeed.

So far everyone but sony has abandoned the hardcore this gen. But everyon has better marketing then sony for now.

In my opinion nintendo always makes innovative hardware but games? no.

I am satisfied with ps3 graphics until ps4.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

sure sony is making a smash bros but hey they have a great variety! I want this!
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

I still respect that nintendo raised bayonetta from the dead. That shows how serious they are. But until wiiU has a lot of games and it will probably be cheaper by the time I buy one I will play God of war.

I haven't loved nintendo since my Epic N64 so it's hard to just welcome them with a day 1 purchase. Especially when they market a next gen system with not even one next gen games.

I just wonder if every console will now have a screen?

Also I think the controller is not really innovative but a reaction to the tablet craze. Which also shows that they are eyeing the tablet/phone users. Everyone says it's innovative but really nintendo is just the first console maker to follow today's industry. I expect angry birds to be one of wiiU's biggest sellers.(not joking)

live2play4250d ago

"So far everyone but sony has abandoned the hardcore this gen"

hardcore meaning? the thing 12 year olds like to call themselves to feel cool about playing call of duty, halo, gears, killszone, shooters etc?

or their hardcore fanbase?
because nintendo has certainly not abandoned its hardcore fanbase: smash bros, mario kart, 2 mario galaxies, donkey country returns, a 2D mario since the snes, kirby returns to dreamland, metoid corruption 3, and metroid trilogy
look you get the point, im gonna stop now.

"In my opinion nintendo always makes innovative hardware but games? no."
haha ok man, please tell me what is innovative? how many polygons a character is made up of? how many interactive cutscenes there are?

wiisports resort, mario galaxy, kirbys epic yarn are innovative to their genre

"Also I think the controller is not really innovative but a reaction to the tablet craze. "
OH REALLY???
oh here i thought nintendo was following the philosophy and design they used on the NINTENDO DS
you know with the camera, gyro sensors, two screens, touch screen so on

BattleAxe4249d ago

^^^

Excuses excuses....The only hardcore fans that Nintendo has are hardcore Super Mario fans and hardcore Zelda fans, thats pretty much it. And if the so called "pro controller" is as crappy as some game sites have said it is, then the only fanbase that the WiiU is going to attract are a bunch of little kids.

iamnsuperman4250d ago (Edited 4250d ago )

Not for me at the moment. Nintendo need to show me that they are going to push for new, mature titles that do not only come from the third party. To be frank the next generation games are going to be like this generations. All multiplats are going to be similar across all platform.

JBSleek4250d ago

Yes. They are selling out right now even though that is partially due to low manufacturing production of console.

I think hardcore Nintendo fans will flock to this system and as rightfully they should. I think we all assume hardcore means PS3/Xbox uses yet I think Nintendo fans are some of the most hardcore gamers out there,

WeskerChildReborned4250d ago

I'm getting a Wii U to try it since i'm still a bit impressed. I'll still have my PS3 though for those great games like The Last of Us and MGS Ground Zeroes.

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How Many More Victims, Like Garry's Mod, Will Nintendo's Hurtful Crusade Create?

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RiseNShine9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

The irony that some of the most disgusting business practices come from companies like Disney or Nintendo, i can't even begin to understand what terrible damage was Garrys Mod making to Nintendo bottom line, imho they're getting pretty nervous about where they're heading in the future, handhelds are no longer something exclusive to Nintendo, from Steam Deck to many others, now you can play the latest games and pay a fraction of the price on Steam sales, so it's up to their exclusives, which just on their own would make hard to justify purchasing a closed overpriced hardware with outrageous price policies (Super Mario Odyssey is still 60 euro 6 years later!), and as a home console they're always underperforming compared to Sony or Xbox.

gold_drake9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

i cam guarantee you, that their exclusives alone is what drives switch sales. they sell in the 10s of millions of copies.

nintendo created their franchises to be sort of nostalgia driven, exclusive only on nintendo.

people will always buy the pkmn games as they always bring in new younger fans amd is family friendly

mario kart, the same thing, mario games in general.

zelda games are system sellers. animal crossing for the casual gamers.

nintendo doesnt need third vame devs essentially. they made sure with the switch and the limitations that they looked more to pc ps and xbox.

its sad, but nintendo is more than fine with what they're doing. they positioned themselves to appeal to the more casual gamers.

but to your point, im not sure why they're doing this rly.

Inverno9d ago

Look at how they handled Nintendo games being streamed or uploaded on YouTube in the past. They killed Yuzu and Citra even when they had nothing to do with ToTK being leaked, not to mention it was basically unplayable on emulation the week it was leaked. Smash Bros tournament, that was fairly recent. They shut down their online services without any care for purchases made. I bought a switch after skipping their last 2 consoles and handhelds but I don't plan on buying anything Nintendo in the future. They take things to the extremes, they legitimately hate their fans. They're honestly right up there with the likes of Acti, EA, and Ubi, only difference is that they disguise themselves as being family friendly all the while being shady.

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