So E3 2012 has come and gone and following Nintendo failing to set the world on fire, this will take a look back at the good things they showed. As you can tell by the title I don't believe Wii U will be a repeat of the Wii. Neither in success or support. But what do I mean by "support"? Read on to find out.
Time and time again in markets assumptions are made. The biggest assumption being 'if it happened last time its sure to happen this time'. But is that the right way to see things? Lets assume things will be an exact repeat of last time. So Nintendo rakes in cash, Microsoft show up with a console that wows the hardcore and Sony coming last to market with a monster that seems misunderstood in it's early days. Hang on a minute.... thats not what happened before this generation.
Rewind back to the PS2 era and that was the console to own. Make note of this point because I will get back to this later, you've all forgotten to make one large note of. I am talking about Nintendo and their third party support. Here are reasons why I think it will not only be a lot better than last time, but STAY with them this time. Ready? Lets begin =
1. It was a different time and neither was perfect
What a lot of people who say "lol Nintendo don't have third party support" tend to forget is that the Gamecube was not as lacking in third party support as you assume. It had many of Capcom's big releases, several RPGs and then many multiplatform releases as well. Gamecube was bigger on Japanese support and Xbox was better on Western support. Both had Metal Gear Solid games. Problem is BOTH were lacking in third party support compared to the best selling PS2. Thing is back then it was cheaper and developers didn't need to port games to gamecube or xbox. Don't forget that xbox wasn't the brand it is today and Microsoft had to do a lot of fighting for that kind of third party support. A lot.
Another thing to note is that yes, gamecube did have greater Japanese support. The only major publisher that supported xbox from Japan was Tecmo. That was because Itagaki wanted the most powerful system. Where did Capcom, Namco and Sega jump towards besides PS2? Gamecube. You never know, maybe Microsoft would be in danger of losing their Japanese support again. I mean if 720 is this major powerful system it would be more expensive to develop for. Why would they jump ship on something that isn't even popular in their turf?
2. The head start
Nintendo, the year is yours. Its pretty diabolical you never took advantage of what you were given at E3 but supposedly your launch lineup has more than you admit to. Madden and Splinter Cell have been about as unofficially confirmed as you get. There is still a lot of time before launch so time to turn it around I guess. Just how you screwed up like that is baffling.
3. MAYBE next gen isn't as powerful as you think
The big one. Granted this is as baseless as anything else but its something to consider. Truthfully, we know absolutely NOTHING about the next xbox or PS4. So how can we claim to know that when they come out third parties will automatically jump ship and leave Wii U? There are several flaws in that theory. The first being you forget the head start and the impact it can have. By the time they launch Wii U will have a bigger install base, a wider game selection, and (if the theory they will be monsters is true) a cheaper price. Not only that but we are in a recession. And then we have Microsoft's unclear path. Just because 360 started hardcore doesn't mean 720 will. I predict Kinectimals 2, Kinect sports, Kinect fun 4 all and Kinect book (a game which reads your lips as you read a book) will all be launch titles. The casual focus is a big part of MS new direction and don't think they will abandon it with 720.
So to sum up the things we need to consider before we assume third party support will just drop =
1. Xbox has little relevance in Japan and Japanese publishers like NIS are going to be in no big rush to leave something for a new system which isn't even relevant in their turf. Heck they have more experience in HD game development now. Might as well make use of it.
2. The head start is sometimes all one needs to be the big one. By the time the next two come out Wii U may already be in a position similar PS2 and 360 this gen. I.E = publishers can't ignore it.
3. We know nothing about the next two consoles. If you want that kind of power boost be expected to pay for it. That already puts the next two at a disadvantage and gamers don't just jump at graphics. They jump where the games are.
A detailed guide that covers all the weapons in Helldivers 2, definitive tier list that details how effective they are.
The new Escape from Tarkov Unheard Edition has the community in an outrage after promising exclusive access to the new PvE mode for $250 USD.
$250? Do they not know all the other games that already exist or will be made in the future that can do similar?
Gary Green said: We’re finding ourselves in a similar position with the Pixel Remaster edition of Final Fantasy IV as we were with Final Fantasy III since, once again, we’ve received a slightly upscaled, more vibrant port of the original game when there’s already an expanded 3D remake available. As such, we’re playing a game which, even after its long-awaited release, still lives very much in the shadow of its remake.
If only they didn't screw ps4 owners over with a physical release. I'd have ran through this in a heartbeat.
The first one I played, it was the one that made me fall in love with JRPGs and is still my favorite to this day. A masterpiece
The Wii came in at half the price of the Xbox and PS3 on release and picking one one in the first few months of was next to impossible.
Nintendo already have the fanbase of Wii owners, as long as they get the price right I expect it will do well. The hardware itself in terms to its graphical prowess over existing or next-gen consoles is pretty much irrelevent.
Look at Wii sports, it looked like sh*t but that didn't stop the masses from thinking it was the best thing since cheese slices.
Either way, I never would have considered the Wii U to be a repeat of the Wii--it seems to offer quite a different experience. It's like the Xbox and the Xbox 360, as well as the Playstation 2 and Playstation 3 - not repeats, but steps forward in terms of innovation and whatnot.
I don't even necessarily think WiiU needs amazing third party support.
Hear me out, unless developers really take the time to use the new WiiU controller in creative and innovative ways, do we really need the same game available on three different platforms?
While you can get away with just having a 360 or just having a PS3 this generation, I don't think the WiiU could ever be someone's sole console unless Nintendo proves it can cater to the hardcore internet gamer. Keep in mind, MS has pretty much perfected social online gaming this generation after getting experienced with it with the original Box. Sony has gone through their growing pains with PSN this generation and will learn from their mistakes with the next generation of PSN. Nintendo is in their first true go-around with a network and it could be messy at times.
Thus, even though the WiiU is going to sell, and almost everyone who had a Wii is going to have a WiiU, it is almost a niche product in a sense. A complimentary console to your PS/XBox consoles. Its going to have the nostalgia with Mario and company, and have the party games to play with your casual gamer friends, but I don't think it can be anyone's sole console of choice at this point.