When Only 42 People Are Playing Madden on the Wii U, It’s Not a Sports Console

Kotaku: "While the Wii was probably the worst console of all time for sports video game development, I don't see much in the Wii U's current offerings—all of three simulation sports—that makes its high-definition successor any more of a full partner in the same landscape."

[-Mika-]

Great read. I think Nintendo is in alot of trouble. Why should developers port their games to this system? All of the third parties titles that launched on WiiU flopped. The only title that hanging in there is ZombiU but that isn't even a smashing success.

Developers aren't going to want to waste millions porting their game and then optimizing it because of the WiiU slow cpu speed. Then on top of that, they have to add useless gimmicks to their games that not going to add much or if anything to the experience.

Nintendo better get it together because If they don't. Vita is going to be taking all their ports since it cheaper and easier to port games to that system. Just look at TecmoKoei.

[PopRocks359]

Because Madden reflects the launch as a whole. /sarcasm

[PopRocks359]

I love how a fanatic is accusing people who like this console of being fanatics. Oh the irony.

[bothebo]

No I think poor launch sales and no games until February reflect the launch as a whole as well as delayed games and 3rd parties who are deciding to skip over it.

People keep claiming it's sold out but we all know it is not. Reggie also lied on national television about the product which tells you something else.

Keep trying! Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while!

[PopRocks359]

@bothebo

Please keep the misinformation coming. The Wii U and first party games have sold moderately well. Some places sold the Wii U out but stocks were kept up.

Reggie is a PR person. The PR folks at Sony lied when they said the trailer for Eight Days was actual gameplay.

Just own up and admit that you desperately WANT the Wii U to fail, eh?

[chadboban]

@Miku

You getting a Wii U? Seriously YOU getting a Wii U? This is the funniest thing I've read all day.

The way you act towards Nintendo, you had me thinking you wouldn't touch a Nintendo console even if someone payed you to. Oh and 80% cheaper? The Wii has been out 6 years and it's not even near 80% cheaper as yet.

I don't play companies, I play games. But I guess fanboys will never change.

[bothebo]

Yes I do want the Wii U to fail. Why? Because I'm sick of stupid Ninny fanboys who think being fed shit is acceptable. How can you even buy their consoles anymore after being sold out to the casuals? You Ninny fanboys try to deny this by saying it's not about hardware even though you buy SEQUELS on more modern consoles. You're all a joke. Nintendo sold all of you out and you know it, but are unwilling to accept it.

I love how you refer to the glory days of Nintendo and how the SNES and N64 were the greatest thing in the world. Reality check, it's 2012 almost 2013 and Nintendo has released a sub par console that will STRUGGLE to compete with the 720 and PS4, one of which will be reasonably priced, probably the 720. They have STRUGGLED to get 3rd party developers other than multiplats on theirs systems.

I love how you say Nintendo has good first party titles even though they've milked them about as badly as COD. I love how you say Nintendo has the best first party titles when metacritic scores suggest otherwise. Now all of their intellectual property is being developed by second party developers.

You all say Nintendo innovates. How? By supplying you with weak hardware that can barely compete? Yeah that's innovation right there. Well done. On top of that, why don't we just light a fire in front of us and praise Nintendo. Innovation, is using new and better hardware to push the limits of what we can do. Developers, consider the Wii U a burden. How are they supposed to integrate a gamepad into their game?

Do me a favor PopRocks, shut up and realize what Nintendo has become.

[PopRocks359]

@bothebo

tl;dr

I really hope you get bent and take a trip outside, man. Sounds like you need it.

[SilentNegotiator]

None of the other HD systems had even remotely this much trouble getting an online community in its first few months.

They're going to miss out on the big bucks like DLC.

People need to stop trivializing this issue.

[PopRocks359]

@SilentNegotiator

Wow, really? You mean to seriously tell me that the PS3 didn't have a hard time pushing its online infrastructure early on? Aside from Resistance, how many big games were online on the PS3? Or had DLC for that matter? And we all know how well PS Home worked out when it launched.

Honestly, if people here are going to label me a fanboy for defending Nintendo with this platform then you tell me how you're not to be labelled a fanboy for suggesting that Sony didn't start off sluggishly with the PS3.

[SilentNegotiator]

"Wow, really? You mean to seriously tell me that the PS3 didn't have a hard time pushing its online infrastructure early on? Aside from Resistance, how many big games were online on the PS3? Or had DLC for that matter? And we all know how well PS Home worked out when it launched"

1) It's not 2006 anymore. DLC is exponentially bigger today.

2) I recall a vibrant Resistance community as well as other games on ps3 at launch. It definitely had more than 42 people playing (and more than Wii U Blops 2 had....which is pathetic with how much more popular COD is).

3) PS Home has made millions in DLC. Who cares if software that was clearly only testing the waters had a rocky start?

[darthv72]

"None of the other HD systems had even remotely this much trouble getting an online community in its first few months."

" It's not 2006 anymore. DLC is exponentially bigger today."

Your 2nd part is right. It isnt 2006 anymore but that points to your first part. sony DID have trouble getting its online all squared away. MS essentially carried over the live community from xbox to the 360 while at the same time improving on that structure.

Sony knew they couldnt very well charge for their service because there wasnt any substance like live had. How do you get customers? You get them by trying to undercut the competition. While the idea of the online play was free, that was the only thing PSN really could counter live with.

It took them time to build the video relations with netflix and hulu. it took time to build the store to be more unified. it took time to build home into a social platform. All of which took longer than "first few months" as you proclaim.

Looking at PSN now vs then we can see Sony made many mistakes but also worked their ass off to rectify those mistakes and build PSN into what it is. nintendo gave online an afterthought on the wii. Very similar to sony and their view of it on the PS2. so naturally both companies had to start somewhere.

We poke fun at nintendo when we really dont know what kinds of strides they will make in the coming future or how long it will take. People who believed strongly in sony building a solid online system should give nintendo the same optimistic POV.

Even if some dont care for nintendo as a whole, they are wanting to follow in the footsteps of greatness which in and of itself is very respectable.

[360ICE]

Kids, kids. Stop fighting.
Not a single one of the comments above actually dealt in facts or numbers. They were all like "Well, Wii U has totally flopped saleswise" (without refering to sales and sales expectations) and then someone would go "No, it hasn't. You just want it to fail" (again, without references)

You might as well not talk, because it's just word against word. You don't deal in facts, you deal in intuition.
How you feel the things are going means nothing.

EDIT:
Ok, I'll admit a few of the comments closer to the bottom weren't that bad.

[JasonKCK]

maybe the people who own a wii u dont like madden. i know i dont.

[SilentNegotiator]

@darth
PS3 had a large online community with Resistance:FOM.

@Jason
I guess they don't like any games that go online, then....

[BeAGamer]

mika, you should chill out a bit

[EddieNX]

Is it just me or did the wii definitely have it's sporting moments? Love it or hate it wii sports was absoloutly unbelievable the first time you played that and turned your living room into a temporary bowling alley , Golf course , Baseball pitch , tennis court etc. Wii sports Resort was awesome aswell. And yes I know it's casual , but it's still a sports game lol.

What About PES on the wiiu ? that was terrific.
Tiger woods on wiiu was amazing.
Mario strikers , etc etc etc.

The wii had its sports moments definitely.

[animegamingnerd]

kotaku goood read? LAMO only trolls, fanboys, or complete idiots takes what kotaku say seriously

[ConstipatedGorilla]

Mika is a known troll. He/she shows up on every Nintendo article just to bash it.

[auragenz]

It's an unfair comparison. Everyone knows that no self-respecting Madden player would be caught playing on the Wii U.

It's like saying only 42 players are on Live playing Rainbow Dash's Magical Princess Quest right now, xbox must = Doom.

[sdozzo]

"alot" ..... a lot

[aquamala]

And Madden is a smashing success on the vita?

[HammadTheBeast]

It's sold a good 200 k. Not too bad for a simple port on a handheld.

[dark-hollow]

If you are a madden fan, why in the hell would you wait SIX years to buy a Wii u to play madden? Chances are 99% you already own a 360 or ps3 for it.

[lilbroRx]

That argument doesn't even make sense.

This is madden "2013". How could someone wait six years to buy it when its only been out for a few months?

Even more sad is that you had all agrees for this statement.

[TheoreticalParticle]

I think you're missing his argument, lilbro. It's that if you're a Madden fan, you likely already have consoles you are currently playing Madden on.

Why, then, would you jump ship to a brand new control scheme when you already have the one you're comfortable with?

However, a counterpoint would be, "Doesn't this indicate that Nintendo's going to have an exceedingly difficult time capturing any of the sports audience?"

[bigfish]

Where did the Vita come from?? lol

[Tetsujin]

Figures coming from kotaku...

[TheDivine]

So you think Nintendo should give up on the wii-u but Sony shouldnt drop the Vita? The wii-u is a month old and selling very well. The Vita is a year old and only at 3 million.

I would think the wii-u is in a perfect position to recieve 3rd party games as its comparable to other hd systems, easy to code for, Nin doesnt charge for patches, and its a new system so games sell very well considering the library is smaller. Also alot of dev's might decide to make wii-u/360/ps3 games instead of ps4/720 games because its cheaper and theres 200 million more sold when new consoles launch.

Wii-u is a guaranteed success as soon as Zelda, Metroid, exc hit. Couple that with the agressive 3rd party partnering Nin is doing and i think people will be shocked in a good way. All these recent gamers dont remember before the wii when Nin=core and was the king. Im patiantly waiting for them to return. Hell the 3ds is still new and ive already gooten star fox, zelda, paper mario, re, kid icarus, tales, mh, 2d mario, scribblenauts, prof layton, animal crossing, harvest moon, 3d mario, and mario kart. They brought that shit and wii-u will be no different.

[metroidfusion2]

Thank you someone knows what they are talking about and the 3ds is coming with a lot of rpgs and jrpgs and the wii u will get ports from the ps3 and 360 and ps4 and 720 and the wii u will have a lot of 3rd party titles and surprises and more new ips and of course there 1st party titles which ssell millions and I'm sure there will be 1st party surprises but dumbass people don't give nintendo a chance and just automatically assume things then when nintendo does everyrhing and more nintendo still doesn't get any credit and I will play my wii u today but the hate will keep coming and nintemdo will keep being successful

[dragonyght]

lol why the vita is coming into a console discussion. It a handheld the factors that hindering its success do not apply to the Wiiu. and also vita is 9 month old

[WiigotU]

Mika and hatsumi or whatever the name is are one in the same I swear there funny.

[TheoreticalParticle]

"one AND the same".

[vallencer]

It wouldn't be a Nintendo article without the Nintendo bashing love birds in the comments section. Seriously Mika and hatsune-miku you guys should get a room with your sony products and just make sony babies. And also please stay away from Nintendo articles while you're at it that would be an added bonus.

[SuperShyGuy]

"Great read"?

While this article is talking about sports games that were released on PS3 and 360 three months ago not having the same amount of people online as one less than a month old. You go off on an off topic rant.

Vita? Just mentioning that you of all people shouldn't want to judge any console since you a begging for people to give Vita a chance.

[MegaLagann]

We get it, you hate anything Nintendo does because...Nintendo and Sony is the last bastion of true gaming. Do you really need to comment on every Nintendo article despite you obviously not liking Nintendo.

[Nicolee]

Mika. you never sleep ? i wonder everytime i read nintendo articles and you always the first comment.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

This is not good. Hopefully wiiU will start making more progress.

not getting one (while I wait for ps4) but I wish ninty the best.

Doesn't make it any better than the primary controller is different from the other 2 or now maybe 3 consoles.

Devs will make 2 console version and a tacked on wiiU feature. not good to deviate to much imo. This is why most kinect and wii, move games were just shovel ware.

If you want the hardcore the pro controller should be the main thing.

But I must admit the tablet is interesting.

[callahan09]

Madden was not well regarded this year by fans of the sport, fans of the genre, or critics in the media. The Wii U version was a poor port of an already mediocre-at-best sports release. It also came out a couple of months late, with the season more than half over and most people interested in playing the game having already picked it up for one of the other consoles it came out on earlier in the year.

So you've got a mediocre port of a mediocre game released well after its peak of consumer interest, to a console that is just finding its feet as it just launched weeks ago.

If you think that's a recipe for success, you're crazy. That it became somewhat of a failure is in no way an indication to publishers that the console itself is a lost cause.

People need to keep in mind that this is a new system launch! That has an effect on these kinds of things. The library will grow, the user base will expand, and sales will increase as time goes on.

Some perspective is in order here.

[elpresador]

If anything, this shows how smart most Wii U owners are. They know Madden is the same damn game every year and know that it will NEVER change as it has not in like a decade so if hardly anyone buys it, EA wont make any more on the system and I doubt that most Wii U owners would shed a tear loosing madden.

Well played Wii U, well played :-
)

[UnwanteDreamz]

Look up the definition of "same".

It doesn't change much but it changes. I'm not a fan of Madden or exaggeration.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

You're mistaken. Nintendo in alot of trouble? That's not the smartest thing I've read recently. They just finished the seventh generation in first place! With two GCN's duct taped together! Nintendo is starting the eighth generation of video games while Microsoft and Sony still battle it out for last place stuck in the last generation! Plus what's going to be the better game? Madden this quickie port or the Madden that comes out next year built from the ground up custom made for the WiiU! Hmmm? Don't you think gamers understand this?
Vita? I just can't take you seriously. Here's something dead serious, what do you think is going to happen when Nintendo starts releasing the triple AAA's
that no self respecting gamer can do without? In hd. Brand new online plan. New and incredible ways to play. I'll give you a hint, "The good guys win again!" Nobody in this industry can touch Nintendo when it comes to software design, imagination and just plain 'ole fun. Microsoft and Sony better luck next time and always remember, "There's nothing wrong with silver!" Lol!

[UnwanteDreamz]

Ahhhh BS.

Nintendo has casual moms and grandmas to thank for first place. You think they care to buy another dust magnet? GTFO

I loved Nintendo when I was 10yo. Be truthful if you don't have a gaming PC, Xbox, or PS3 to go with that Wii you are the one missing out.

[soundslike]

"something isn't therefore that something should never be"

Pretty much the definition of being close-minded.

I don't care about the Wii-U and especially not sports games, but the lack of logic here is astounding.

[SpiralTear]

"While the Wii was probably the worst console of all time for sports video game development..."

You have got to be kidding me.

[chillhomie]

Sometimes I think gaming "journalism" can't get any worse, but there are always surprises lol. The lack of professionalism is astounding but I guess you don't need that in gaming journalism. Idk I know I'm done with these kinda sites tho, they're getting ridiculous. Ill stick to miiverse where its positive, fun, creative and most importantly, is all about the games and not politics and other nonsense.

[WildArmed]

Lol... Kotaku has been on a WiiU hating spree.

They need to realize the console just released, not every game is going to have 1 mil players.. the user base isn't that big yet.

[EddieNX]

Not only that , but madden sucks lol! So does fifa 13 (kinda) on wiiu. Nobody wants those rushed launch ports. We will wait for proper games.

[cleft5]

Yeah they are doing it to just get clicks on their shit site.

[DaPrintz]

Hah, are you saying there's a game in WiiU that has 1 million players?

[chillhomie]

Keep in mind many long-time Madden fans were disappointed with the changes to the franchise mode (such as myself) and the overall direction of the series. Add that to the fact Madden 13 was already half baked on 360/PS3 and was simply a lazy port of Madden 12 for Wii U (lacking physics engine) then you have a recipe for failure, good job EA!

[N4g_null]

Yeah as soon as they give us a real madden I think I'll buy it. Otherwise I'll get it from 2k.

[Ben_Grimm]

Also keep in mind that this console was JUST released!

[chillhomie]

Exactly, it will get there in time but its gonna have to take devs actually putting forth effort and not phoning it in.

[GraveLord]

Yes, and only Nintendo games are selling. This is the point. No one expects hundreds of thousands of people playing a game online, but only 42? That's a flop.

[chukamachine]

Wii u will not get anywhere near wii sales.

40million.

[EddieNX]

Let us know what it's like to have false future sight when the wiiu is leading the hardware sales of the 8th generation.... thanks.

[BuryYourHead707]

You're also implying you have some sort of time machine.

"... when the wiiu is leading the hardware sales of the 8th generation."

Hypocritical idiot. :)

Stick with current-gen or a high-end PC until all three manufacturers have shown their offerings. That's the ONLY way to determine what suits you, unless you like to blindly hate things.

[SuperShyGuy]

It's obvious Wii U will never get near original Wii but then again PS3 will never get near PS2 do we consider PS3 a failure?

Both PS2 and Wii were the right product at the right time.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Damn man you making too much sense on here. That's forbidden on N4G. Just kidding lol. Well said BTW.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

Wrong again!

[from the beach]

'Sports console' wtf?

[Picture_Dancer]

Yeah, a console with lots of good sport games? Do you get it now?

[from the beach]

Nope!

[Jagsrock]

A sports game port that most gamers already own is not really top priority for someone buying a new console. Its an expensive process getting a new console and people usually buy only a couple titles, Madden 13 is simply Not worth on owning two consoles.

[josephayal]

WII U Community still growing daily

[animegamingnerd]

thinking that games not selling well on a console that is a few weeks old and that the game has been out for months means that the console failed

kotaku logic

[admiralvic]

Sadly... this is becoming a more common mentality, since it gets hits / people like to hate random things. I'll wait for Rayman Legends to come out and do well, then see whos still talking out their ***.

[jfinesse]

Worth mentioning. To gamers that purchase systems day one or the gaming press this may seem strange/bad. However the reality is that Christmas (which is when most of the sales will probably be given as gifts) hasn't occurred yet. People may have purchased systems and games but not have access to them yet. Just my thoughts

[hduce]

I totally agree.

[chillhomie]

That would apply to me as well. I bought the system day one but its still wrapped up until Christmas morning. I'm sure others are likely in the same boat.

[danny818]

To be fair, wii outsold wiiu at launch. And for it to come and the the Xbox 360 and the ps3 to be trailing it isn't tht good either. Its a new console not a handheld, ergo it should be selling like hot cakes. People know its over priced for what u can get with ur money nowadays

[Sgt_Slaughter]

It's not Nintendo's fault that some developers are lazy at porting over games.

[neogeo]

When PS3 came out it had NO GAMES! evryone said it was a big flop. 360 had RROD and also NO GAMES!

Now WiiU is out and people are ready to judge the whole life of the system in 2 weeks.

Lets talk about how WiiU has NO GAMES! in 4 years from now.

[UnwanteDreamz]

If it's anything like Wii by then they'll have millions of shovelware titles.

[dazzrazz]

I bet if they just renamed it MaddedU Sports it would fly of the shelves like cupcakes :P

[N4g_null]

You are the reason why people are closing down studios. We are tired of paying mouth breathers!

[Darukain]

Madden doesn't really scream day one buy.

[dani25pr]

Gun-sight mika find out before speaking one notices that you do not know anything of the first hardware that at all I have ps3 and xbox but buy the wii or, but I have to say to you that it is much better that ps3 and xbox 360 the games see very much polished more being a few port another thing the processor is tricore every processor traverses to 1.2ghz what is equivalent to 3.2ghz.card of video 2gb of ram ps3 and xbox alone is 512 of ram it is like a galaxy s compared to a galaxy says s3 hello....

[Theyellowflash30]

The Wii U version of Madden is bare bones. Its missing all sorts of features the Xbox 360 and PS3 Version have. If they make a game that has all the features then there would be more people playing it.

[cedaridge]

AGREE! MADDEN 14 wiil be a different story. psn: cedar4Thunder / xbl: cedar4Thunder

[quantae06]

Thats why I'm not buying it.

[MasterCratosKong66]

I agree. That's why I am waiting for Madden 14. 13 on Wii U has some gamepad uses that are good but can be refined and is missing the new physics that make it worth buying on other consoles. I'm sure the next one will be a better example.

[InTheLab]

who buys a Nintendo for anything but Mario?

[ExCest]

Zelda?

[InTheLab]

Mario as in Nintendo 1st party...

Mario
Zelda
Metroid
Pokemon

[Theyellowflash30]

Donkey Kong Country Returns as well, that game sole 6 million copies on the Wii

[AznGaara]

Waiting for Pikmin and Beyonetta 2 before I buy mine. Then of course it'll be a Zelda, Mario & Metroid machine afterwards lol

[Kos-Mos]

Who wanna be friends with you for anything but your ganja?

[aquamala]

Really, on a console that's been out a month, and a game that's a port that's released 2 months after the other platforms?

[Triggytrolls]

It's like a lot of the Wii U launch games, I already own them on my 360, so why would I want to buy them again.

[nerdkiller]

lets wait and see how many ppl play mario kart u online, i bet it will b in the millions

[YoungPlex]

Gamers like myself don't buy crappy ports of titles that were rushed on the Wii U. Games like Rayman Legends that run at Native 1080p/60fps, that started out as ports, are the type of games worth our money; Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 will also do good! It matters not because most launch titles on any console are, or will be bargain bin shovel-where at some point. Laugh it up because the tides will change when more quality titles become available... Until then, I will enjoy the slim pickens of NSMB: U, AC:III, & Trine:2, already picked up COD:BOII for $25. The game is good even though I don't really like shooters but there was no way in hell I would've paid full price for it when the 360 version was better! Either way I'm satisfied until more games come...

[SkullBlade169]

Who would buy a Wii-U to play Madden on it, seriously?

I'm not surprised that it doesn't have many players, considering Nintendo fans don't seem to really play games like that much.

[Dark5tar1]

Yes, Nintendo is SURELY in trouble because third party support. What's the best example of trying to get third parties on board? Lazy ports of shitty games. Wii U owners are going insane because they want Madden, FIFA, and Wipeout.

[zpoc]

wow, kotaku logic strikes again. owen good is a dunce.

[WiigotU]

Know your doing something right when you constntly got people talking about you no matter if it's good or bad. There are under 3 million systems sold hell prob less than 2 mill and there are half assed games sold so what do you expect.

But I can tell you what will happen down the road Bayonetta, Pikman, wonderful 101, raymon, and that lego game will all sell millions over there lifetime. Once that happens I would love to see the true blue haters come out and do there chirping.

If anyone doubts my words put your money where your mouth is.

[Double_O_Revan]

Madden sales figures + any console that's Not the 360 = worthless. All the DudeManBros own 360's, not WiiUs

[tweet75]

the next year or 2 will determine nintendos success. I love arkham city but I already got 2 versions for ps3 why would I want to pay for another at full price even with extra features?

[MegaLagann]

"While the Wii was probably the worst console of all time for sports video game development"

Apparently opinions are facts over at Kotaku. And i'm not sports fan, minus NBA Jam. But when you say something is the worst at something, you're confusing opinions with facts. I would say Kotaku should know the difference, but the editors are probably too busy pooping in their diapers while trying to colors withing the line.

[dubal-e]

The truth is EA released a half-bred version of Madden this year in hopes of just getting a quick buck. Next years madden will be nice and as a Madden fan I'll buy it. I didnt buy this one because they admitted they did a quick port. I'm sure alot of other people that read up on games before they buy them did the same thing.

[Rhaigun]

I love how Nintendo fans make the exact same arguments every time. Wait until Zelda. Wait until Mario. Wait until...

They always tell us to wait and see, but nothing ever happens. Nintendo failed to cater to the core players last gen, and payed dearly for it.

Anyone who had one (that isn't jaded) sold theirs long ago. Mine collected dust for months before I called it quits. I've owned every Nintendo since the NES, and I'm done with them. I don't want a new controller. There's nothing wrong with the ones we already have.

The devs have been calling for more powerful hardware for a year now. They have been saying how imperative it is to create the new experiences they have in store for us. So why would Nintendo release a machine that's basically on par with what we already have? Two answers: quick cash grab before holiday season with minimal competition, and they really don't care what devs and core players want.

More proof? It only took them five years to admit HD and online is important to gamers. Really? Like we hadn't been screaming it at them the whole time. Also, we know how much the PS Move, Kinect and WiiMote Plus failed, so way make another gimmick controller to hamper devs with? They don't want it, and frankly, neither do gamers.

Nintendo is out of touch.

[younghavok]

The collected dust thing huh? You mustve chose to ignore alot of good games. Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, Prime Collection, Other M, Brawl, Shattered Memories, Goldeneye, Fire Emblem, Battalion Wars 2, Tenchu, Arc Rise, Xenoblade, Last Story, DK Returns? Just a few. And Kinect sold well beyond 10 million at over 100 dollars a pop. Motion+ the same. How were those failures? And developers calling for more power? Who, Epic? EA? Im sure more power wouldve saved Eurocom. Developers are closing left and right due to these high development costs. If you think current gen is going to cease anytime soon ur mistaken. PS3/360 will still be getting the major multiplats, probably designed around them, and the Wii will be the middle ground.

[Rhaigun]

Yes, Kinect sold a lot of units. I'm not talking about commercial failure. I'm talking about quality third party support. Where is it? Same with WiiMote Plus.

Other than the two Mario Galaxy games, none of those you listed were actually great commercial successes. Prime collection is just that. A collection of old games. That's like trying to say Sly Cooper collection is a system seller for PS3. Fire Emblem and Battalion Wars are too niche. Not enough people are craving Strategy games. Goldeneye is an ok reboot, but just that...ok. Tenchu hasn't been good since the PSOne era. And, Xenoblade and Last Story came out too late for anyone to have stuck around for them.

Like I said, collecting dust. You have that many quality games releasing in one holiday period on 360 or PS3. You don't have to wait a year in between quality releases.

The people calling for more power include Ubisoft, Crytek and CDProjectRed. Not just Epic and EA. The articles with devs have been aplenty here on N4G.

[Playstation4LyFe]

i hate sports games GOOD!!!!

[A7XEric]

So people are worried that not many people are playing a port of a game that came out nearly half a year ago on a system that just launched and has a low install base? Yea makes total sense.

A lot of the early adopters for this machine also probably aren't the brotastic morons that just play CoD and Madden each year.

[donman1]

Soooo as a Wii U owner, I should buy a crappy port because I need to do so... so the same lazy developer will feel better and create more games for the Wii U. I dont think so. COD Black OP2 is a great example of developers making the effort and they did get my money. I have never played that franchise before and I am doing so now.

[Ulf]

The Wii U is selling very poorly, I'm sorry to say. Even the early adopter rush is already over. This is hardly a surprise -- bad branding, bad pricing, bad placement. Nintendo screwed up this time -- good thing the 3DS is still goin' strong.

I am VERY much looking to pick up a golden collector's Wii U with the next Zelda, however. Now Nintendo just needs to get on that.

[Ck1x]

Lol @ the WiiU selling poorly! Make sure you remember those words when it and the 3ds stay on top of the sales charts even after the holidays are over...

[ajax17]

The Wii U is a Mario-Machine; not a Madden-Machine. End of story.

[lilbroRx]

Will you people please stop responding to Mika? Mika is a troll. A trolls goal is to insight as many problems as possible.

Mika does not care what you say and all of those responses reaffirm his success for him.

Don't feed the troll. Ignore is and it will go away. It wants nothing more than for you to argue against it endlessly. When you argue against it you make you give credence to its statements.

[Main_Street_Saint]

Hmmm people still play Madden? And they say recycling doesn't pay off! :)

[MultiConsoleGamer]

Trolling for hits bullshit.

This sort of internent pollution is hurting the industry.

[lovecipher7]

Ok I see all the arguments in here and a lot of them make since. However i own all of these systems, yes even a WII U...lol but the vita is not a very good system and the only reason I say that is because it's not really gettingthe support it should. The Vita should have more muliti-player games and it doesn't thats what hurting it in my opinion. With the Wii U it just needs time a lot of people out there actually think the wii u is a handheld gaming system once Nintendo clears that up it will be fine. Casual gamers don't care about the best graphics they care about price and let's be honest gimmicks. As for the 720 and the PS4 they will destroy everything but still may come in second to Nintendo again. It's what the people want not the gamers they get into this business to make money and nothing else .

[H4all]

wow... what a nice story... good job wii u..

[lazyboyblue]

IMO most Wii-u consoles are still sat beneath xmas trees for the time being.

[kakashishinoda]

Sins when is this a sport ?

[Thepcz]

how can you judge its sports line up at this early point?

this isnt journalism, or even logical, its simply shit.

[younghavok]

Best launch line up of a console imo. I currently own Blops 2, AC3, ZombiU. All 3rd party, all great titles. And there are still more that I want. Nintendo is off to a great start software wise, and 2013 is still looking damn good. Monster Hunter, Rayman, Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, Pikmin 3, Aliens, Lego City Undercover? Pretty much all by spring. Not bad at all if you ask me. Already looking better than the 360 exclusive wise for the whole year. Hate on while I and over a million others enjoy gaming.

[CaptainN]

So a game that was released months ago on platforms that have over 70 million users is being compared to a systems that's been out less than a month with less than 1 miilion users as well as the fact the game is missing key features found in the other console versions and its supposed to be a shock that no one is playing online?

Here's advice to 3rd party developers to be succesfull on a Nintendo platform:

Step 1. Release your games at the same time as the other versions, not weeks or months later!

Step 2. Do not under any circumstance gimp the Nintendo versions, as Nintendo players find this to be an insult and won't purchase your product

Step 3. Actually include extra features in the Nintendo version to entice gamers to switch over and give the Nintendo version a try.

Step 4. Try actually marketing your games with commercials that actually show Wii-U gameplay/features and highlight the fact that's its on Wii-U.

Step 5. Make it known the online is FREE.

[Shnazzyone]

Of course, Wii U is Nintendo's hardcore gaming console and Sports games like madden are for casual gamers. Weather sports fans would like to hear that or not.

[axisofweevils]

All this proves is that Nintendo owners have more taste.
They don't want to waste money on sloppy EA ports, when they can buy decent games for the same price.

[Mikito11]

Someone with sense! Am I dreaming? lol

You are right!!

[stage88]

Wow, absolutely terrible. I know the Wii U is just starting out but 42!?

Something really needs to change if this thing is going to be successful in the long run.

[Mikito11]

Wii u owners have taste.. Who wants to play yearly released sports games? So dull IMO... I'll stick to playing Zombi U and trine 2 and other great titles

[dani25pr]

I what one is that the wii or it is a better console that ps3 and xbox360 in these moment the graphs since for example black ups 2 one sees to level of computer have it and brutal this one. It is necessary to have the wii or to be able to think about her at least to my me sorprended already when it should go out ps4 and xbox 720 we will see to seeing with that they come. I am a gamer hardcore always and played more to her ps3 and say to them that royal this brutal mind

[younghavok]

umm... what?

[wiiulee]

man these haters...its as if wiiu sold 60 million console right out the gate..people are just now purchasing the systems, some of which are not even unwrap....yet all these nonsense articles and its funny that the same websites that hated and gave madden wiiu a low score now are confuse over why more people are not playing it.....how silly is that..

[fredrikpedersen]

Consoles are just tools that allow you to play games. They all have their advantages and disadvantages-

[Legend_Killer]

If peeps wanted to play Madden or any other of those multiplats, they wouldn't have bought a WiiU because PS3 and X360 are even currently cheaper than the WiiU

And PLEASE!!! don't say 3rd party games aren't selling on WiiU. Just look at ZombiU, u can even check ur wara wara plaza. So it's these multiplats we dont care about

[Tzuno]

Nintendo is so childish these days with tons of ideas but please we only need games and take a look back at the Supernintendo library of games. That kind of games we need now, i am stuffed by 3d-shooters and racing games.

[LOL_WUT]

Thats pretty bad regardless if it's a new console or not.

[Schawk]

New console folks just released read below

NEW CONSOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

Mika go play and complete uncharted for the 40th time or go play little big planet or something on your vita

Wii u is great fun im loving mine its the only console out of the 3 i actually enjoy lifting the control of now , o yea and the gamepad is amazing totally love it its confortable as hell its the best control out there and if u havent got a wiiU then dont even comment back to me on this, who cares about madden not me i hate american football

[PurpHerbison]

My favorite type of comment section. Hold on let me grab my pen and pad so I can take down some notes. So many experts!

[nintendoland]

well only americans play american football game soo... I don't give a s*it

[jjank11]

I don't know how many copies of Madden WiiU have been sold, but it can't be that much. Maybe 5 to 10K. Most people buying the WiiU are most likely not big madden players. They have already purchased a PS3 or Xbox360 for their madden fix. Also, the numbers he is quoting would relate to 1.8% of madden people online for the xbox360.

Also, not that this means all that much but the WiiU sales are also about 1.8% of the Xbox360 at this point.

[Phil32]

Video game journalism, ladies and gentlemen.

[dok22]

Like I said before on another post before my comment magically disappeared ...Stop getting bent out of shape about these big third party developers who only care about money and politics ...the WiiU will shine with a huge library of second and Indie developers Making games for the system.. everybody seems to forget the deal that Nintendo made with UNITY. The same tools that these by developers have are easily becoming Available for young, talented, hungry indindies. The strong hold that these big developers have on the industry will become weaker as more tools become available. It happened so far in all other media industries.. the gaming industry is not exempt.
rated M: for. Mature audiences ...

[Apex13]

Clearly you cant please everyone. Launch with few games people moan, give them a wide choice people moan. It's a new system with loads of games cha! lol

It's not a COD console and now it's not a sports console, what next? it's not a platforming console???

[Ck1x]

Why am I remotely surprised that an article like this has over 100 comments in it! How come the article where the guy from 4A games comes out and admits that his views on the WiiU were based on very early Devkits and not final hardware? Now that's worthy news to post if any, not how many copies of Madden sold on a brand new console. Now if people here brought up how many copies of AC sold on the Vita, it would be a war of fandom defending how the sales are great and it just needs a chance... What a bunch of hypocrites I tell you!

[Schawk]

Vita what is that?
ahahah

[Yodagamer]

Of course no one bought it. It was a paired back version of a game that will be outdated in half a year. You figured ea would have learned from the 3ds version that cut most of the features out as well.

[dani25pr]

what vayase al carajo entendistes

[mamotte]

Because Madden is the reason a lot of people bought the WiiU.

Can we assume that it is new console, and there were A LOT of more interesting games in the store that were not Madden? Common sene? Hello?

[Nevers0ft]

The article is dumb to the point that I think it causes brain cells to atrophy. How does anybody expect a brand new console with a tiny userbase to have the same number of people online as a well established console?

I'd be more interested to see overall percentages... What percentage of 360 and Wii U owners are currently playing Madden? I suspect the result would be a hell of a lot different.