670°

Nintendo Wii U has Already Won the Next Generation Console War

Tynan Muddle at Aussie-Gamer.com writes: "Like it or not, Nintendo's latest home console Wii U has already won the "next generation" of video game hardware.

It's no secret that the Wii U has had a rocky start. Fire up almost any video game website out there and you will come across hundreds of articles about how the console has "doomed" Nintendo forever, how the lack of video game releases is a bad omen, or how some developer has a problem with the hardware architecture.

But those issues are all but behind the biggest video game publisher in the world. The future looks bright for both Nintendo and Wii U, even with new consoles from Sony and Microsoft breathing down its neck.

Here's why I feel Nintendo Wii U is not only out of the woods, but has cemented its spot as number one console for the next generation."

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aussie-gamer.com
majiebeast4041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

Wow this is some delusional shit right here.

Lets face the facts, the WiiU is selling much less then the Gamecube ever did and tracking far below the ps3 and 360 1 of those at a price tag of 600$. The wiiU would be lucky if it sell 20million in 4 years at the pace its going. Last month it sold 66K and that was 5 weeks, thats less then February if you count per week and that with 2 big releases.

People know it exists just nobody cares. Retailers would rather take a hit on price here in Europe, then have it take up warehouse and shelf space i havent seen that happen with 360 or ps3 or even the vita and 3DS.

Third party devs are just shunning it completely. Criterion has said they will not be making anymore NFS games on WiiU and that it was a waste of resources. Even Fifa seems to be skipping the WiiU i have never seen a console/handheld not get a fifa game.

BullyMangler4041d ago ShowReplies(11)
AKR4041d ago

The Wii U only appears to be struggling behind the PS3/360, when looking at weekly sales. But if you take a look at lifetime sales, for the time period of the first 5 months, the Wii U is selling at the same pace as the 360/PS3.

2.) Nobody seemed to care about the 3DS either when it was released. But after MK7, Super Mario 3D Land, and Resident Evil: Revelations, the system took off and now it can't stop topping the charts. Wii U can have a similiar rebound once N brings out the big guns.

3.) When did Criterion EVER say ANY of what you just spouted? Please, show me the article. Alex Ward just said he and the team want to work on something other than racing games. That goes for ALL the systems they're developing for.

3.) Ignored by third-party devs? Not entirely. Let's see who's supporting Wii U right now: Activision, Ubisoft, Crytek, SEGA, Atlus, Criterion, WB Games, TT Games, just to name a few off the top of my head . . . .

The only delusional one here is you. Wii U has much of a chance as winning as the PS4 or 720. Nobody can tell the future, so I'm not going to say the author is down-right correct. But even so, all consoles go through the pains of infancy, especially the first console for a new generation. Look at PS3, for example. Although it was the second to release, it was still considered to be more doomed than the X360 (and a little less than the Wii).

It was considered DoA. Now look at it? It took about 2-3 years to really wakeup, but it did. But according to all the articles at the beginning of it's lifetime, it wasn't supposed to be where it is now.

HammadTheBeast4040d ago

People cared about the 3DS after its MASSIVE price drop. Wii U only makes a profit if a customer buys a game as well. It can't afford the massive price drop.

And as of now, it's the sole competitor on the next Gen race, and just think of the massacre once the other consoles release.

Anon19744040d ago

Actually, I agree with his first point. The Wii-U is selling about on par with what the PS3/360 managed in their first six months. Of course, the PS3 wasn't available worldwide in those first two quarters reported, but still. I see what you're saying.

I think it's far too early to count the Wii-U out yet, but the fact that it'll have to face off against two brand new consoles in another few months doesn't bode well.

Ausbo4040d ago

I think the only games that will really move A LOT of consoles is the next zelda and big mario game. Where are they Nintendo?

specialagent45324040d ago

Ubisoft and Sega are the only ones. Were is Crysis 3 for the wii u, Bioshock infinite, tomb raider, dishonored, etc. No third party game developers no longer want to work with propetiary architecture they want to work with x86 architecture. Nintendo has not released a game yet except for Super Mario brothers u. The PS4 is not only a powerful upcoming console, is also easy to develop for and is coming with an improved online gaming service. Is getting the indie support. Man at the moment the PS4 is the one most likely to outperform it's competition. I am not sure about the 720 but I will wait for E3. Nintendo needs to step it's game up.

cee7734040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

extremeazure
"The Wii U only appears to be struggling behind the PS3/360, when looking at weekly sales. But if you take a look at lifetime sales, for the time period of the first 5 months, the Wii U is selling at the same pace as the 360/PS3"

As time goes by this excuse about selling on par with ps3 becomes invalid.

http://www.roughlydrafted.c...

Do you see wii u selling 6 million by June?

kneon4040d ago

"The Wii U only appears to be struggling behind the PS3/360, when looking at weekly sales. But if you take a look at lifetime sales, for the time period of the first 5 months, the Wii U is selling at the same pace as the 360/PS3."

That statement actually points out how bad the situation is right now. It did good numbers up front because of the pent up demand from Nintendo fans and then after that it went off a cliff. The average person doesn't seem to care about the Wii U and I don't see anything coming that will change that.

If things don't change then the Wii U is going to be a console just for the dedicated Nintendo fan. And there aren't enough of them for a successful console business.

lizard812884040d ago

I think third parties are binding their times they have with the current gen, since they have a bigger install base. As soon as it comes to the PS4, 720 and Wiiu, the wiiu should have a bigger install base, and those talking s*** about it (EA & Acti) will be all up in the Wiiu's business saying how great and truly next gen it is, just like they did when it was first announced....Maybe not EA, they still seem buthurt about no Origins.

Skip_Bayless4040d ago

Few reasons why its not:
1. There's generally no hype for the WiiU
2. Market Share is not there
3. Wii U is a current generation system so compare that to 75 million 360s and 75 million PS3s.

Wii is last gen and Wii U is current gen for the last time! Why do I need to keep saying this over and over again!?

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4040d ago
EcoSos34041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

If this is a "delusional shit" then why are you approving it?

portal_24040d ago

Opinion pieces are allowed on N4G, doesn't change the fact that some peoples opinions are delusional.

MEGANE4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

What? nintendo launch a next gen console already? I thought the WIIU was just a new controller for the wii.... oh my!

dedicatedtogamers4041d ago

The "lifetime sales" bit is ignorant. WiiU sold incredibly well for the first two months then dropped off a cliff. That was partially due to people remembering the Wii and not wanting to be left out in case it was sold out. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and while it rocketed out the gates at first, WiiU is crawling on its belly right now, both in terms of sales and software support. There's no value in calling the WiiU doomed, but there's also no value in ignoring red flags, and right now we're beyond "red flags" territory and into "burning school bus screaming down the highway with children jumping from the windows" territory.

Amphion4040d ago

Guys, the author is joking. Don't you all get it?

UnholyLight4040d ago Show
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

Don't care for much 75% kid games. Nintendo has nothing to rival the last of us.

zelda will be good.

again.

Can't play dark souls 2, gta5, bf4, farcry 3, new bethesda horror game, metro last light, drive club, moster hunter online(lol pc only :p), rome 2 etc.

Mario galaxy is awsome but nintendo won't try hader than that.

But hey at least it's finally luigi's year!

As far as hardcore gaoming goes wiiU is dead.

ps4 7gb gddr5 ram for games = game over for any 1gb ddr3 wiiU port.

If u only want nintendo AAA (always cartoon style for some reason)games then wiiU is awsome!

Hope to see Level 5 and Naughty Dog at e3!!

from the beach4040d ago

As far as hardcore gaming goes, Bayonetta 2 and Smash Bros. ;)

Irishguy954040d ago

The WiiU is starting out like the Ps3's first 2 years - Ie: it has no games and it sucks

Eyeco4040d ago

Actually the PS3 had games, in the PS3's first year up to 100 games were released look it up, all of which averaging to 2-3 games a week on average off-course compared to the Wii-U which is averaging 2-3 games a month.

It makes no sense as to why people are comparing to the Wii-U to PS3, there in two different boats, the PS3 wasn't an underpowered system, the PS3 wasn't lacking in 3rd party support, the PS3 wasn't the only next gen system on the market, the PS3 wasn't released on an affordable price.

And even if the 2 consoles were on the same boat, that's a fail on Nintendo's behalf that rather than learn of the mistakes made by another company 6 years prior, they follow suit on that same companies mistakes.

If people should compare the Wii-U to one console, compare it to the 360 in the sense that the Wii-U is the antithesis to what the 360 was in it's first year.

wolokowoh4040d ago

The difference is developers had a steep learning curve with PS3 and a big jump between PS2 and PS3. Wii U has the benefit of having experienced 360 and PS3 developers who are adept at learning a new platform and no one has announced anything. Then Nintendo won't hurry up with Pikmin 3 would should have been a launch game. Nintendo should have had they're crap together after their 3DS launch and instead they do far worse with the Wii U than the 3DS. At 3DS had Ocarina of Time and some other notable exclusives within the first six months. The Wii U has been stagnant since launch for first and third party, not even fighting games. Nintendo needs to get their third party support in order because they can't support Wii U alone like they did Wii because Wii U requires longer more expensive development cycles.

OmegaSlayer4040d ago

I want the same drugs Tynan Muddle uses.
It must open the gates to a different new World no one else has seen before.
Magic

CaptainCamper4040d ago

Wii sold more units than Xbox 360 and PS3..Fact.

illustratedDEO4040d ago

Wii sold more shovel-ware than Xbox360 and PS3...FACT

jairusmonillas4040d ago

Considering Wii wasn't even competing with PS3 and 360 by releasing a weak system with a gimmick controller, It failed to outsell PS2 and not to mention PS2 outsold Wii by ATLEAST 50M. FACT.

Gamer Muzz4040d ago

I'm inclined to disagree. You call them facts, but I think you're spreading a little misinformation. Internationally the Wii U is right on par with the PS3/360 and actually sold more than either of them in their first 4 weeks respectively.
The 360 sold 940,000 in it's first four weeks.
The PS3 sold 540,000 in it's first four weeks
The Wii U sold 1.8 million in it's first four weeks.
That means it had a better launch month than either the PS3 or the 360 worldwide.
And yes, the Wii U sales have dropped off since January, But The Wii U is only about 10% behind the cumulative US sales numbers put up by the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 five months into their life cycles

You said they sold only 66K units last month? How is that possible when The NPD reports that the Wii U sold 67,000 units in the US alone from March 3 through April 6?

So yes, sales are lower, I'm not saying otherwise, but your numbers seem to be a little off and it's not nearly the doom and gloom you're making it out to be.

As for 3rd party development. Didn't the PS3 have the same issue for it's first year? Let me answer that for you. Yes, it most certainly did.
hell, it's first 2 years were pretty slim on 3rd party support as I recall.
In time, Nintendo will release more of their own outstanding franchise titles (and lets face it folks, like Nintendo or not, their first party games are always good.)sell more consoles, and get more 3rd party support.

specialagent45324040d ago

But most of third party games did came to the PS3. The problem wasn't lack of third party support it was third party game developers not taking advantage of the PS3 hardware. Most third party games were just 360 ports. Only Bioshock and Mass Effect did. not make it to PS3 that year. It offered next generation exclusives early on like motorstorm plus resistance fall of man. Motorstorm insane visuals at that time with the availability to see every single part of the vehicle while it crashed, mud caking on the cars or trucks. Able to have races with a semi truck, atv, offroad car, bike racing in the same race. Resistance fall of man first console game to have 40 player online feature, first fps to have the main character become the enemy. I mean the only sameness between PS3 and wii u is the constant updates, slow servers, and a barren digital store front. I sad that Nintendo did not learned the mistakes from their competitors made six years ago. Stop making excuses and feeling sorry for Nintendo. Is the corporation fault not yours for being lazy and telling you to wait and wait till they are ready to compete by then is going to be late.

Gamer Muzz4040d ago

@specialagent4532
I don't feel the least bit sorry for Nintendo. Nor am I defending them. I'm just saying whats what.
The sales figures majiebeast eluded to were flat out wrong. I was correcting his mistake. I don't think spewing misinformation while saying it's a fact is very responsible.

I should have said 3rd party exclusives. (instead of support)
yes, they did get a lot of multiplatform titles. My problem was that the only exclusive content I was getting for the first year was In house. A lot of those titles didn't do it for me. I wasn't a fan of resistance and Hate racing games so Motorstorm means nothing to me at all.

Bobby Kotex4040d ago

Wow, so this is turning into a daily thing on N4G. Make a ridiculous headline on some crappy gaming blog, and receive tons of hits from N4G. This exact headline was on some other site last week and N4G sheep fell for the bait.

stage884040d ago

I came here to laugh at the title. I'm done now. Goodbye.

GamerToons4040d ago

"Nintendo Wii U has Already Won the Next Generation Console War"

..says the site that wants flamebait hits...

Ddouble4040d ago

Not saying I don't believe you but do you have a link for Criterion saying NFS was a waste.

I haven't being around lately but that sounds interesting

4040d ago
slapedurmomsace4040d ago

@bully...bravo, you have successfully trolled this like a sir.

g2gshow4040d ago

i told you along time ago nintendo not to f*** with me.

nintendo will be on track after this spanking next generation if there is one as we know it . software sale an ds will keep them on the go for now

UnholyLight4038d ago

If by Winning you mean underselling by vast amounts and an unhappy user base who do own Wii U that aren't getting enough new games...Then yes, the Wii U has won.

Logic

Not sure how this comment of mine gets labelled as "trolling" when I am purely presenting facts and the truth to what has been a rocky start for the Wii U. Who knows maybe when some of their big seller games come out in the next couple of months it will get better, but at this time, my comment holds true to the current predicament with the Wii U.

+ Show (16) more repliesLast reply 4038d ago
NYC_Gamer4041d ago

Wii U doesn't offer me anything gaming wise since i'm not into Nintendo first party software

BullyMangler4041d ago

(majibest)

you: None of the things you just listed are facts, instead they are biased opinions no facts listed. Except for father of modern gaming with the nes but you could argue that Atari was first.

ME: ummmmm hhoh! madworld on the wii . the bloodiest baths of blood to ever hit a video game. yep < fact madworld with its black and whites contrasted by red = bloodiest goriest game on earth (: then the commentators in madworld for the wii = the most mature rated audio in the history of man kind, exclusively for wii < fact ):

then the N64 with conkers bad fur day? uhh hmm.

Then gamecube with Resi 1 remake? uh huhh nuff said? orrr??

p.s. Atari having come before the NES does not mean it has better games than the NES < fact sony and microsoft compete over the meat like dogs, while Nintendo rides the sleigh. I sound like a total fanboy, but my proof here is just facts. < fact

GamersRulz4040d ago

uhhhh hmmmm orrr huhhh

^^ those were the most sensible things you posted.

jeeves864040d ago

Three games out of three console cycles? That's a bit of a stretch from "the most."

Qrphe4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

" I sound like a total fanboy"
Because you are a fanboy, plus immature. And this is unrelated to anything NYC_Gamer said.

If this is a reply to majiebeast then go reply to majiebeast. Bubble down

jcnba284040d ago

PS4 doesn't offer me anything gaming wise since i'm not into Sony first party software

zebramocha4040d ago

They will have other offerings other than first party stuff.

HammadTheBeast4040d ago

Yes, but at least it has the benefit of third party :)

_QQ_4040d ago

But not as good as pc third party games sowhats the point for him?

SilentNegotiator4040d ago

That comeback would only make sense if Nintendo's consoles' third party support was on par with Sony's consoles' third party support, and not terrible instead.

And Ps4 is looking to be a 3rd party powerhouse, with indie devs still grumbling about the way that MS handles things and ps4 using much more standard hardware that developers understand.

Ron_Danger4040d ago

@jcnba

So you don't like any genre of gaming?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4040d ago
truechainz4040d ago

Bubs up for always just giving your opinion in an unbiased manner, but I hope that you have tried all of the games more making a very generalized statement like that. Otherwise it would be like saying your not into Italian food when you have never tasted all that it can offer.

jc485734041d ago (Edited 4041d ago )

I haven't picked up one yet. I purchased the wii console later after its launch as I figured they probably had enough games for me to buy including the ones I missed out on the gamecube. My Wii library is small (about 30), but I'm glad it is cause sometimes it drives me nuts how much games I need to complete. i guess that's exactly what I'm doing right now as I'm waiting for more game announcements for the WiiU that are exclusive for that console with Bayonetta 2 being one of them. I need at least 10 good Wii U games before I head out and buy the console.

@NYC_Gamer

the problem is that the console doesn't really have a lot of first party games either, so it's kinda early for you to say that.

NastyLeftHook04041d ago

im buying a wii u but c'mon, really?

Show all comments (178)
80°

Game Developers Have Begun Confirming Nintendo Switch 2 Support

Game developers have already started to confirm that they will support the Nintendo Switch 2 with their future titles.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
80°

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

Hanzala from eXputer: "As Nintendo takes out 20 years' worth of stuff from Garry's Mod, I watch in shock, thinking why it continues to hurt and discourage its fans."

RiseNShine10d ago (Edited 10d 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_drake10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

Inverno10d 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.

80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."