Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will not have off-TV play on Wii U

Capcom confirmed that the Wii U version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will not feature off-TV play, one of the Wii U's biggest features.

[GribbleGrunger]

I've got to say that this isn't a good start considering that Nintendo's first advert promoted the fact that you could play the game on the controller while your parents watched TV. Surely the whole point of getting the controller with the console was to guarantee that ALL games used the features?

[dedicatedtogamers]

This.

One of Nintendo's biggest "features" of the WiiU was being able to play on the screen, and they originally said all games will be playable on just the screen.

I guess not. Heck, you can't even play some (or all? I'm not sure) of your Virtual Console games on the screen.

Lame.

[PopRocks359]

So first we go from "I don't want to play on that tiny screen" to "Not EVERY SINGLE game has this optional feature?!"

It was actually announced early on that not every game would have this feature. Same as how not EVERY killer app DS game made proper use of its touch screen.

Honestly, chill out. Is it disappointing? Yeah. But this is a choice made by Capcom. You know, the developer. And Nintendo provided the freedom of choice for that.

[GribbleGrunger]

'So first we go from "I don't want to play on that tiny screen" to "Not EVERY SINGLE game has this optional feature?!"'

Are you sure you haven't just made that up? I don't think Nintendo fans would say that because they play on the 3DS and I highly doubt PS3 fans would have said that because they also play on the PSP or the Vita. In fact many (myself included) have said that the PS3/Vita combo could do similar things... So it's certainly not me or people with the same view that said that.

Let me just point out that I'm all for Nintendo bringing this console out and I'm also one that has said it's going to be very successful. I just don't think this is the best start when the recent advert suggested it would be one of the main features. You could actually make a case for false advertising.

And if Nintendo hasn't enforced the use of this feature, doesn't that open the door for other developers to ignore other features too. What if developers start using the screen for menus only? Smartglass and the Vita could do that easily. I'm going to hold out though. There may have been a mistake made here, and I'm definitely interested in buying one at some point.

[PopRocks359]

Uh, no. I didn't make that up. There have been a number of occasions where commenters have downplayed the off-screen feature. Now that we have a game that is confirmed to not use it, I'm annoyed that the constant complaining doesn't cease. You just can't please everyone anymore.

It's a main feature that is supported by Nintendo with NSMBU as well as by third parties with Mass Effect 3 and Darksiders II. Beyond that I really haven't heard which games have the feature. It's an AWESOME feature and I hope more games have it as well, but I'm not going to cry foul when they don't since, well, I was already aware that this was coming.

If developers do that then so be it; I don't agree with forcing anything on a developer if they don't agree with that design choice. Force-feeding such things on people led to constant waggle games on the Wii or 3D on 3DS games that don't really make good use of the enhanced depth.

The Wii U's greatest strength and appeal with developers from what I've seen is freedom. Freedom of achievements, freedom of control options and freedom of these primary features. It worked with the DS, I don't see why it can't work now.

[GribbleGrunger]

Well, fair enough, but I thought it was going to be one of the main features.

[ronin4life]

But that's just it: it has always been impossible to please everyone^.^;;

And I believe I have come across a few people that have said the things pop is talking about too. It really does seem that there are some people just looking for "negatives" in order to justify a pre decided disdain for something they will never (let themselves) like.

[lilbroRx]

Why does everything a developer does with a Nintendo's system automatically become Nintendos fault?

I do no understand how this affects Nintendo's start at all. This is dev choice. It just shows that Nintendo isn't being tyrannical with how devs want their games to play on the console.

This also means that we will likely see games that can use 100% of the Wii U's resources strictly for gaming since instead of dividing them between games.

[mi_titan27]

my take on this, for this game only, is if you want to play it with TV off, use your 3ds, thats probably Capcom and nintendo trying to cash in on more purchases of the game.

[Shok]

Wtf? Nintendo should make it a requirement for games to support this feature. This is what the Wii U is mainly about, they shouldn't give devs the OPTION to not include this.

[Dr_Salvitor]

Well i kinda agree with you there it is its Main feature, but forcing developers to use it could push some away and we don't want that. epic Micky 2 wont use the game pad screen at all which is ridiculous considering they said it only takes 2 lines of code to make it display on the game pad.

For monster hunter i think (I'll link it when i find it) they said they are using the 3ds version as a base for the Wii U version. So the bottom screen may be being used for other stuff and pulling up all the inventory in the game will take up to much of the game-pad screen if your play on just that. Plus with Tri( don't know with the 3ds) the game did not pause when bringing up you inventory you wont be able to see whats going on on the small screen while your ruffling around in your bag.

[GribbleGrunger]

Where did you read that? Are you suggesting that Epic Mickey 2 will only use the controller as a controller, because I find that hard to believe.

[Dr_Salvitor]

Well right here is where i found it.

http://n4g.com/news/1100094...

[Dr_Salvitor]

Well they just put up the 3ds base for the Wii U one
http://n4g.com/news/1108308...

[GribbleGrunger]

It will still use the controller for other features though, surely? However, that's another game that proves the advert wrong. Perhaps these games will get a patch at a later date. I was going to wait a while anyway, so fingers crossed.

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

Hmm, I guess I'm the only that realizes or remembers Nintendo stated that they're not forcing devs to provide off screen play. It stung when I read about it but that's been a few months ago. After that I've been surprised by the announcements of games that would provide this feature. I guess since their doing the whole thing with the 3DS version plus this one, they've ran out of resources or time. I gotta let this slide since both the 3DS and the Wii U will have cross play.

[Jadedz]

Can't say I'm pleased about this bit of information.

[mrbojingles]

Well, technically the 3DS doesn't HAVE to use 3D as Nintendo says, but look at how few games don't have 3D on it. Fluidity is the only one I can think of (and that's because it has motion controls)

I'm sure there will not be a long list of games missing this feature

[Instigator]

I find this weird because the game is confirmed to work with the pro controller, which means there aren't any gameplay features that desperately needs the second screen. If you can play with only the TV screen, then why not give you the option to play with only the Pad's screen?

[ronin4life]

They just don't want to(put the work in) it seems.

But I could have sworn that local MP was confirmed utilizing the gamepad as a second players screen... guess I was mistaken.

[FLOWCity]

Well I'm mixed on this, if it uses the screen in a way where off screen would hamper gameplay then I agree with their decision but if not...The fux up with that capcom!

[ronin4life]

Could the portable 3ds one have something to do with this perhaps?

Suspicious... suspicious indeed...

[PygmelionHunter]

I could have taken an intense dump while playing this in the bathroom, shame...

Seriously now, It's not a deal-breaker for me but Nintendo should make this mandatory, since that's one of the main features from the Wii U.

[DivineAssault]

It wouldnt matter if the feature was scrapped all together to some ppl

[Nevers0ft]

It's pretty much based on the 3DS game, which is designed around dual screens. It even shares data with it - so this could just as easily be a design decision. If you're playing WITH 3DS players, surely you need a dual screen setup otherwise you're pausing and dipping in and out of the game?

It's likely to be the same with other selected Wii U games, ones that rely on dual screen use for the core game. I'm fine with that.

[stragomccloud]

That's stupid. I was really looking forward to doing some of the more mundane gathering tasks on the gamepad while watching movies. ...well, at least I'll be getting this for 3DS as well, so I'll be able to use that.