340°

Retailers helped kill the Wii U - It could happen with the PS4 and Xbox One Too

From GamesReviews:

"ASDA have announced that they will no longer be stocking Wii U units in stores, nor will they stock games or accessories. To those of you who didn't buy a Wii U at launch, this might be news. To the rest of us, it's been a long, slow, predictable road with only one conclusion.

"And the worst thing? The complete lack of display, the mixed interest, even the amount of potential shelf space when compared with their more successful predecessors... it's already beginning to happen again with the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4."

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gamesreviews.com
Abash3920d ago

Last I checked the Wii U is still alive

matgrowcott3920d ago (Edited 3920d ago )

Yup. ASDA aren't going to stock it. Tesco hasn't really bothered stocking it since launch...

When you can only definitely buy a console, made by a major player in the gaming industry, from game-specific stores (of which there aren't many in the UK) or online, that's a sign that things are going well.

FateoftheGame3920d ago

It looks bad now, but I'm going to wait until the Mario stuff comes out before making a final judgment.

Cmk01213920d ago

If its not selling well why not make room for products that are selling well. Ps4/X1 are killing it in preorders and will be hard to keep in stock they won't turn away sales that's just plain stupid business

MWong3920d ago

Retail doesn't doom a console, the console does that themselves. If you lack the 3rd party development for 2 console cycles you have to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. If you don't and rest upon previous success you're dooming yourself.

jmc88883920d ago

@cmk0121

Actually what you said doesn't make any sense. Business principles is different from business practice.

Why would anyone need to 'clear space' for a product that isn't coming out for 4-5 months? 4-5 days...ok. Making last order a few weeks before...ok. But stopping 4-5 months before makes no sense.

Also you sort of betray your whole point when you talk about PS4/Xbox One being hard to keep in stock. Think about it. If it's hard to keep in stock, and you get small allotments per shipments, you don't need much space. With what the stores will get on average an end of an aisle is all they need.

Another thing to consider is that we're talking about a whole store. A store that sells many items and many of them don't turnover very often, and much more slowly then even the Wii U. So what is wrong with booting other items from the store.... after all just about every week or so companies are adding and dropping items from what they sell. So between now and 4-5 months there will probably be dozens, if not hundreds of products they'll stop stocking. Why not use THAT space for PS4/Xbox One.

Finally, usually when new iterations of consoles come out, they start shrinking the footprint of the previous gen. So why not use some of the PS3 space for PS4 stuff and some of the 360 space for Xbox One?

Plus generally stores have backroom space or a central warehouse for a metropolitan area as well.

ASDA is doing what they think is best obviously, but your idea that they need to cut Wii U space now for a product that doesn't come out for 4-5 months is absolutely laughable. This isn't the time in regards to this, and when we do get closer to launch there are other options they can try.

MacDonagh3920d ago (Edited 3920d ago )

I have an ASDA in my local area and they never stocked Wii U units at all.

My ASDA has also greatly reduced their software shelves. It's almost as if they are reducing their focus on their entertainment section because of poor sales figures or something.

Maybe they are making space for the new consoles that are going to arrive or they see the writing on the wall in terms of how physical media and consoles aren't selling as strongly as they did years ago? They aren't even doing pre-orders for the upcoming consoles.

I really don't know. I did ask a clerk how many Vitas they had in stock and she said that they have a lot that they can't shift. In fact; she said that no-one is buying much at all. DVDs, CDs, Blu-Ray, TVs, Tablets or any of the games/consoles they have in stock aren't selling in high numbers.

Perhaps my ASDA is a bit of an isolated case, but it'd be a bit more disturbing if they were doing it in all of their stores.

Hicken3920d ago

Retailers didn't help kill the Wii U at all. Poor interest, though, could.

Asda and whatever other companies stock or don't stock items based on consumer interest. If there isn't enough interest, why continue to have the product on the shelf?

Even then, the system isn't dead. When it's no longer in production, when there are no longer any games being made for it, then it'll be dead.

These two things are still going on, so guess what?

N4g_null3920d ago

Its sounds like asda entertainment section is dieing...

Prime_283920d ago

You clearly don't know anything about ASDA. People don't go to ASDA to buy consoles, they rarely stock them. People go there to buy food, clothes and utilities. Not games. ASDA not stocking Wii U is not a big deal.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3920d ago
Muerte24943920d ago

just because one retailer isn't selling it doesn't make it dead. Unless it's gamestop or amazon not selling it, then it won't die off anytime soon.

deafdani3920d ago

Amazon doesn't sell it, at least not directly. It's all third party sellers, at least in the US site.

3920d ago
avengers19783919d ago

Last numbers I saw had WII U sales up, and they have games coming out every month from now till at least to the end of the year.
They do have a hard way to go with the launch of XB1 and PS4 coming soon, and they still need to market the wii u better.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3919d ago
Shok3920d ago

Didn't know it was dead.........the way I see it it hasn't really even started living yet.

Campy da Camper3920d ago

Agreed. Anyone writing off WiiU is crazy. Mario Kart alone (antigravity!) Is going to be a huge system seller. Nintendo are masters at family oriented bundles and I suspect there are going to be some good ones come Xmas.

HurtfulTimez3920d ago

nintendo are killing there own system by marketing it as a kids console with all there cutesy mario zelda and donkey kong games that are heavily rehashed. where are the exclusive games that make a 28 yr old like me want to rush out and buy a wii u?

mario and zelda are good games but i want something more adult based. the 3ds should cater for the younger generation and prioritise the wii u as a more adult console like xb1 and ps4.

Lucreto3920d ago

I never bought a Wii but I am still planning on getting a Wii U. I am hoping for a Wind Waker HD pack. I plan to get a bunch of Wii games like Mario Galaxy and the few other AAA games that appeared on the Wii. They are cheap now and for me worth getting.

PSN-JeRzYzFyNeSt3920d ago

how about ppl like me that were never interested in a Wii U? maybe it has to do with nintendos poor online and lack of features

clouds53920d ago (Edited 3920d ago )

What is so bad about nintendo online? I love it. It's free and works very good with wii u. What's the problem in your opinion? The miiverse integration with resident evil revelations was simply amazing. Soo much fun :-)
Also wiiu is extremely feature packed compared to ps4/xb1. In terms of gaming! It has amazing controller options, backwards compatibility, off TV gameplay. Yeah on xb1 you can watch some TV stuff and voice chat with your guys. But that does not improve my games...
In terms of gaming those consoles are exactly the same thing as ps3/360, with slightly updated graphics. 0 innovation.

Also I'm not a fan boy or anything I'm mainly a pcgamer iI'm just stating my experiences with wiiu.

thezeldadoth3920d ago (Edited 3920d ago )

people say they want their console to be about games not tv, then when they get one, they complain that it doesnt have enough extra tv features. even though it has an unobtrusive netflix, amazon instant video, hulu plus. Even the Tvii feature is pretty awesome.

i'm primarily a PC player and I love the wii u.

BlueTemplar3920d ago

@thezeldadoth

The problem is, it really doesnt have much in the way of games either - for a really long time, the best game I could find for mine was zombiu and... it really isnt that good.

They should have had at least one or two killer first party titles (zelda, mario, metroid) ready for launch but all the quality stuff has been developed for 3ds instead.

LonDonE3920d ago (Edited 3920d ago )

@clouds5
what is poor with nintendo online? where do i begin? for starters the damn wii u don't even come with a Ethernet port!!?? WTF were they thinking? any serious online gamer knows you have to be wired in via Ethernet to get the most stable connection, yet wii u has no other option apart from wi fi! or you have to buy a usb Ethernet adapter! how much more would have cost nintendo to have one included?

And then there's the digital content being tied to the system instead of your nintendo network i.d, that is such a backwards way of doing things, its one of the main reasons why i refuse to buy full retail releases digitally via the eshop! why cant they make the nintendo network i.d unified across 3ds and wii u? and why cant the digital purchases be tied to the same account? or how about using the club nintendo account? anything is better then being tied to the hardware!!

And what about the fact they couldn't be bothered to put a decent hard drive in their console, its 2013 for petes sake! any PS3 or 360 or PC gamer knows today's games require constant patches, then theirs dlc,etc all of this takes up lots of storage space, i just don't understand why nintendo even bothers to allow full retail games digitally,when anyone who wants to buy said games online will have to go out and buy a external hard drive,and what makes that option a nightmare,is that for instance in my case, i have a external 1tb hard drive, i use it on my pc,my 2 PS3 systems, my wii back ups,my music collection, my movies collection, back ups of my 2 PS3 systems,back ups of my pc, you get the picture, i use it FOR EVERYTHING!!! but if i chose to use it on the wii u, i have no option but to format it,and LOSE EVERYTHING!

Why on earth would i need to use a 1tb hard drive solely on my wii u? why like normal companies allow, cant i make a partition on my hard drive, say for 150gb,and then let the wii u format this partition, and that way i can carry on using my hard drive for all of my devices?
But no nintendo has to be backwards,and give us no options, and so i am forced to have to buy another external hard drive just for the wiiu, all of this could have been avoided if nintendo were not so cheap, and just included a Ethernet port,and a hard drive in every console!

And then theirs the biggest problem of them all, the total lack of proper online features in nintendo first party games! super mario 3d world, no online co-op, only local, nintendo land, no online only local, zombie u, no online only local,pikmin no online only local,new super mario bros u, no online only local, u starting to see a trend yet???

Why on gods earth does nintendo not give us the options to play our nintendo games online? ok zombie u wasn't Nintendo's game, but obviously if nintendo is not bothering with online then most of the other developers wont either!
Just look at sniper elite v2, no co op, no online even though the PS3 and 360 versions had online, call of duty blops 2, no dlc add ons,injustice gods among us, which also had missing dlc until people moaned, and then they gave it.

What am getting at, is that nintendo forgets their are allot of core gamers like me who have been gaming over 30yrs,and so grew up on nintendo consoles and games, i have my own home,a wife and 2 kids, i don't have time to invite friends or family over, i want to be able to play with friends and family online!
in 2013 its ridiculous that nintendo is too lazy to implement proper online!!

Anyway sorry i went off on one, i love nintendo, and i am one of those lucky gamers who has always bought every platforms every generation, but i swear it, i am just fed up of nintendo and the deluded nintendo fans, not all, but most are, nintendo needs to be called out with all the B.S, or they will never change!

clouds53919d ago

@LonDonE: Well I see^^ So I guess we are looking for different things when it comes to online play. Its sad that they are not planning to implement online in all their games. But the important ones, Smash Bros and Mario Kart are going to have it for sure. There are singleplayer only (or local coop) games and i'm fine with that. Especially when they use the Gamepad and 2nd screen. So much fun!
And about the ethernet port, I think it was absolutely the right decision not to include it! It would have made the console bigger and more expensive and only a small percentage needs ethernet connection. In most cases wifi is just fine. And if you really need one 25$ is not the end of the world^^

I dont mind the external HD btw. I got the white wiiU, the cheaper one, and bought a cheap 500gb external. Works perfect.

All i expect from online on a console is that when a game supports it, i want to go into multiplayer and play. And that for free (because i already paid for the game). And WiiU does that.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3919d ago
guitarded773920d ago

This is the dumbest speculation article based on one person's over dramatic recollection.

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50°

Metaphor: ReFantazio — The King’s Trial Release Date Trailer

Let us speak of the old vulture’s last grasp for power.The tournament for the throne is set, Metaphor: ReFantazio is coming October 11th, 2024!

60°

How to recruit Lam in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Lam is among the 120 characters available for recruitment in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. While she is one of the many straightforward recruits, a known bug may prevent players from recruiting her if certain conditions are met. Despite developers’ assurances of fixing the bug, some early access players still encounter issues with recruiting Lam despite attempting the standard method.

Read Full Story >>
infinitestart.com
340°

Tomb Raider Remastered just quietly censored one in-game detail

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered players are ticked off by the game’s most recent patch, which censors in-game pin-up posters of Lara Croft.

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gamingbible.com
rlow113h ago

This is why gaming is screwed. When people change things to fit someone’s agenda, it’s a slippery slope downhill.

Christopher12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

Even if that agenda is of the developer? Way to remove developer rights.

***One player called it a “huge problem with modern games,” saying they can now be “ruined AFTER people buy them”.***

The level of drama. Yes, I recall sitting there for more hours than I did anything else in the game. These two pinups are the core of the game, after all!

coolbeans11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

rlow1's cringe catastrophizing aside, I do think developers *ought* to strive to maintain an original work to the best of their ability. The language of a "remaster" tacitly implies that - for good or ill - what's being resold is what fans remember but better.

Profchaos11h ago

Games can be ruined after purchasing them yeah we know this not from this but from GTA IV which had half it's radio content patched out due to licensing expirations and to me that was a huge deal.

This pin up poster is a bit of nonsense but the whole argument of modern games can be ruined post launch is Absol true.

DedicatedDark10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

It's not their work to censor. They are incharge of restoration & remastering the work, not overwriting it.

Barlos9h ago

It's not the agenda of the developer though, they're pandering and trying to increase their ESG score.

Way to support censorship...

victorMaje9h ago

It’s not the end of the world for sure, but I understand the hate towards this kind of change. I believe it’s also a matter of principle.

Imagine a Picasso painting being restored & the restorer deciding there aren’t enough strokes, or some lines aren’t straight enough or curved enough…not sure it would/should sit well with people.

Have all original devs signed off on this change? Even if it’s the case, are we saying older gamers are better mentally equipped to process what was there than current gamers, hence the change?

Enough time ago the case was made that games are an art form. We’re supposed to have won that case.
So which is it? Are games art or not?

Aphrodia1h ago

And what of the rights of the buyer? The ones that purchased this game with hard earned money? They bought a product that is now being changed into a different product. Surely you would stand up for them since you are about "rights"?

Christopher59m ago

***It's not their work to censor. ***

They own the IP. It's theirs too do with as they wish.

***It's not the agenda of the developer though, they're pandering and trying to increase their ESG score. ***

You got proof of this? And even if this were true, isn't it the developer right to want whatever an ESG score is?

***from GTA IV which had half it's radio content patched out due to licensing expirations and to me that was a huge deal. ***

Licensed music is always going to get changed unless they can afford to keep paying those fees sadly.

***Imagine a Picasso painting being restored & the restorer deciding there aren’t enough strokes, or some lines aren’t straight enough or curved enough…not sure it would/should sit well with people. ***

You do know in the original that the artwork is extremely pixelated so you can't even tell what it is, right? Shouldn't we then be arguing that they increased the detail of this artwork at all then? Why the remaster? Picasso got it right already with the original.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 59m ago
Eidolon9h ago

Hasn't this been happened for over a decade since remasters? I can't see that it's any worse now. Maybe if Sweet Baby starts getting their hands on remasters we will definitely have a problem.

Rebel_Scum12h ago

tbh I dont see something like this as censorship. Does anyone else not find it strange for someone to stick pin ups of themsleves in a locker room?

Now of it was a pin up of some half naked firefighters it might make sense as Lara might like that, and if they removed that I would cry censorship. But removing pin ups of the main character, yeah I get it.

Barlos9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

It's a game, and they were placed there for the audience. It's not real life. If it was, she wouldn't have fought a T-Rex now would she?

Yes, it's censorship but it's a bit less in your face. If they were in the original game, then they should have been in the remasters. It's bad enough that they have that ridiculous unnecessary warning at the start, but then they start removing things post launch. I don't care how small the change, they shouldn't be doing it. It's nothing but ESG pandering but in a subtle way.

Rebel_Scum7h ago

Look bro, if you have pictures of yourself naked on a bear skin rug up in your house let me tell you, its not normal.

jambola6h ago

I wasn't aware censorship was based on what made sense to you

Rebel_Scum6h ago

Likewise, what a stupid comment.

jambola6h agoShowReplies(1)
Aphrodia1h ago

And Lara Croft is also a mass murderer everywhere she goes. Why didn't they patch that out as well? See, anyone can spew pedantic BS.

CrimsonWing6952m ago

How is it not censorship? They are removing suggestive content due to not wanting to offend SJWs and woke people. They literally removed something already in the game that nobody even thought twice about just like a movie on cable television is edited for content… y’know, like literally removing scenes because of not wanting to offend a public audience? How is this different?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 52m ago
SimpleDad8h ago

By the year 2030, this remaster collection will totally be changed and censored. Probably will remove Lara as a playable character. It's ridiculous. Glad that my family didn't buy this.
I still have Tomb Raider 2 PS1 as a memory.

jambola6h ago

Those shorts are a little revealing
Should probably make them snow pants

6h ago
Christopher58m ago

Have fun falling off that cliff at the end of the slippery slope.

CobraKai8h ago

It’s mentioned in the article, and it’s a point i 100% agree with, it’s the fact that they can censor a game after you buy it. That’s total bullshit.

Christopher57m ago

Just FYI, every game has that right.

Killer2020UK7h ago

Whilst it's an overreaction to say this has "ruined" the game, it's still problematic that this has happened post launch and for many, post-purchase.

I don't want someone to change a product for the worse after I've bought it. The same goes for implementing micro transactions after reviews.

I wonder why they did this? Nobody was kicking up a fuss as far as I'm aware.

maykhausonninh7h ago

Nobody was kicking up a fuss as far as I'm aware.

Christopher57m ago

My thinking is that the original artworks might be community created.

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