310°

Wii U specs and performance matter, and Nintendo knows this

Kyo Sasaki:

There has been a heated debate back and forth regarding the Wii U’s performance. Is it more powerful than current gen consoles? How powerful? Nintendo never gets into those kinds of discussions, opting instead to point out the unique features of the Wii U. But in today’s gaming world, pretty graphics and high performance sells. To a point. Which begs the questions: 1) does it matter how powerful the Wii U is, and 2) how powerful is it? The short answers to those questions are, 1) Yes, it does matter how powerful the Wii U is, and 2) It’s powerful enough.

Read Full Story >>
wiiudaily.com
Shok4268d ago (Edited 4268d ago )

They matter, and any Nintendo fan who says specs DON'T MATTER is kidding themselves.

Specs DO matter. They're not EVERYTHING but strong specs certainly help out a lot.

But as the PS1 and PS2 and Wii have proven, nothing is more important than simply having a vast array of games that appeal to everyone, and features of a console can be as equally if not MORE important (CD and DVD capability, motion controls) than specs.

In the Wii U's case, specs are a big deal because it determines the console's third party support, pretty much. So it's more than just graphics, it's more about the support and longevity of a console's life cycle.

It's like having a good tasting dish, that looks unappetizing. Sure it may taste good but due to it's unappealing appearance most people will refuse to try it out. Sure graphics aren't everything but they DO matter in the end.

Puddlejumper754268d ago (Edited 4268d ago )

If specs matter so much how is the weakest console always the winner? How is it the Wii has the highest rated and highest selling game this gen when both the 360 and PS3 are vastly superior tech wise.

Yes being able to do more helps but its not required to be a success. If thats the case most people would have skipped the Wii and SMG wouldnt be better reviewed and have sold better than supposedly superior games.

I'm a PC gamer and the only console I am interested in is Wii U, because I know just like the Wii did, its not going to offer me an same games but inferior experience to the platform I already own. Its going to offer unique content.

rpd1234268d ago

Because the Wii appealed to the masses and survived off huge press and a gimmicky premise. How many Wii owners actually use their Wii on a weekly, or even monthly, basis? I haven't turned mine on in months. I do however frequently play my other consoles.

Shok4268d ago

All because specs don't determine the winner doesn't mean the DON'T matter.

Read my original post, I basically stated that while they matter, they're NOT the most important thing. I never said they were everything.

mamotte4268d ago

Wrong example, you're gonna get hate.

You should remember sony fans that the PS2 was the weakest of its generation. Buts casually forgotten, you know.

miyamoto4267d ago

... Because you clearly did not understand Shok's post.

Being the less graphically powerful console is not the absolute "winning formula" many ignorant people conclude it to be.

i.e. the SNES was superior in specs than the Genesis yet it prevailed over.

Its how the console system was managed & marketed to people by its company that makes it a success.

Gamers don't know what they want until its shown to them.

Lowest price point, the killer games line up are key but how can these games be made if specs are not good enough?

In the end its the quality of games that more people played on a console system that make it a success. Not some illogical formula that makes no sense.

Eyeco4267d ago (Edited 4267d ago )

Lets be realistic ,if it wasn't for the controller the wii would have bombed just like the GC

miyamoto4267d ago (Edited 4267d ago )

.... according to you but not to many of us

Look at these stats

Agree(9) | Disagree(26) | Report | Reply

That says a lot about your ignorant "weakest console win" conclusion.

If the weakest consoles win (according to your definition "win") then was the the SNES weaker than the Sega Genesis?
256 colors against 64?
Was the PlayStation weaker than to the Sega Saturn?
Was the PS2 weaker than the Sega Dreamcast?

"I SAID IF THEY DID SO MUCH WHY DOES THE WEAKEST WIN?"
You failed to comprehend how lame your question is.

"Why isnt everyone using the most powerful platform PC?"
How can you ask this question?
Have you been hiding under a rock all these years?

Don't you know there is more than 1.1 billion PCs sold in the world and that is not counting the bootleg PCs. And yes even if its not a dedicated gaming console people do play games on them and is used far more often than the Wii.

"Only a Sith deals with absolutes."

And yes hardware specs matter VERY MUCH.
Don't do not ever underestimate the power of hardware specs no matter how "weak" or powerful they are. They are just as important as the games they run.

thawind4267d ago

How about Gamecube last generation it definitely wasn't a winner.

the bastards4267d ago (Edited 4267d ago )

Comments about the future consoles.

Sony- jack Tretton ps4 "We've never been first. We've never been cheapest. It's about being the best"

Microsoft- on Xbox 3 or 720 (no comment officially)

generally speaking, vice president Phil Spencer "our ambition is to create an entertainment platform for everyone."

Nintendo- Iwata: Nintendo's basic strategy is to expand the gaming population and make people smile."

In terms of best statements I rank

1. Nintendo, reason being, that's what's always been all about since they started.

2. Microsoft, (aside from being the mystery box of this next generation) the reason being is everyone should be able to game and not just the hard core gamers.

And lastly 3. Sony, the reason being is "We've never been cheapest"

It's that thinking alone that's going to put them into bankruptcy and be the last in terms of console sales. Ps2 wasn't cheap nor was it expensive, nor was it first, and nor was it last.

It was in between, and that's why it was top gamer's choice among from having a streak of blockbuster hits. If sony wants in on being the the ps2 of this next gen they should rethink a new Strategy.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4267d ago
TABSF4268d ago

I agree with Puddlejumper75

Almost every game that comes to PS3 and 360 I can get on PC so they're never a consideration.

Of course there is exclusives like MGS, Uncharted, GT, Halo, Forza and Fable. But 95% of the games are 3rd party so PC is always first option.

Now with Nintendo they make games that play completely differently, sure I got bored of the waggle control and the terrible visuals. However, WiiU provides a complete new aspect of gaming with visuals guaranteed to be better than PS3/360.

miyamoto4267d ago

How can you agree with puddlejumper75?

... Because you clearly did not understand Shok's post.

Being the less graphically powerful console is not the absolute "winning formula" many ignorant people conclude it to be.

i.e. the SNES was more powerful in specs than the Genesis yet it prevailed

Its how well the console system was managed & marketed to people that makes it a success.

Gamers don't know what they want until its shown to them.

Lowest price point, the killer games line up are key. But how can these games be made if specs are not good enough?

Even NES,Gameboy,PS1,PS2 games looked inferior graphically to its contemporary rival console's power, as long as the hardware specs is capable of making the games work & enjoyable experiences,.... then specs matters.

In the end its the quality of games that more people played on a console system that make it a success not some illogical formula that makes no sense.

ConstipatedGorilla4268d ago

The matter of course, but only to a point. I think at this stage, there not quite as important as they once were.

ziggurcat4268d ago

i've said it before, and i'll say it again:

if you have a powerful system, it simply allows for a much more diverse game library. you can have the highly-rendered titles as well as your marios/zeldas/etc...

if you're going to sit there and argue (not you personally, shok, i mean "you're" in the general sense!) that gameplay is all that matters, you're fooling yourself.

FinalomegaS4268d ago

Well said Shok but but the uniqueness that can hook also. The team at Nintendo HQ will hope that the 2nd screen ala tablet will do it for the casual that like stuff like that. The power to run the 3rd party games for the core is the other half.

The core would like to have the specs so they can confirm it is actually a next gen systems or just a minor upgrade.

specs matter to me, I should say rough specs. I know it has a hd gpu, imb powerpc cpu tricore (was this confirmed? )the hd media disc holding 25gigs... SO from that I'm pretty good. If you need to know how many Gflops, terabytes, cycles,maximum sharers and so on it can run during real time performance you are a developer, hardcore pc fanboys, crazy about who's got the best HW,or a no lifer that likes to brag about who's got what.

N4g_null4267d ago

I think gamers know what they want axel.

"It's like having a good tasting dish, that looks unappetizing. Sure it may taste good but due to it's unappealing appearance most people will refuse to try it out. Sure graphics aren't everything but they DO matter in the end."

This is the single reason why the vita was skipped and many got a wii. The wii looked horrible like your favorite chilli but you are hooked when you try it lol.

If you where looking for hd gaming last gen consoles sure did not taste well once you tried them. 12-20 frames with screen tears every where. Choppy game play which was some how ok now?

Specs don't matter standards do... Nintendo just ignored the shader standard last gen and they are the first console maker to do hd well in hd instead of up scaling... So if specs did matter you would get a pc and you wouldn't have put up with the bad frame rates and poor textures of a so called hd game.

Nintendo pretty much has all the standards down now. They are even introducing new ones. Yet the one standard they always need is replay ability. This is ignored by most of the industry and online play is thrown at gamers.

Also price matters... The ps3s price was only good because you though you got a good price on a blu ray player which was artificially high. If they try that crap again expect ea and activision to go into rape mode. It is all perceived value.

Knight_Crawler4267d ago (Edited 4267d ago )

@SHOCK - Really is that why Mario Galaxy 2, Zelda Twilight Princes and SSBB out score Resistance 3, Alan Wake, Heavy Rain, Too Human and Haze.

Mario Galaxy 2 - 97
Zelda Twilight Princess - 95
Super Smash Brothers Brawl - 93

Resistance 3 - 83
Alan Wake - 83
Killzone 3 - 84

Power is better but whats the point of having purty graphics when the gameplay is blan,boring and has 3 hrs worth of cut scenes.

Give me those fun and entering Wii games nay day compared to those boring games on your high powered consoles.

chad22hkd4267d ago

Of course they matter, graphics gameplay story, it all matters, if you have the best of all those then that makes an amazing game

Though graphics are emphasized over gameplay often which sucks.

But if nintendo doesn't at least make the wii U run 1080p 30 fps, at the least, its going to look like a dinosaur whent the nextbox and ps4 hits.

I think they could still compete if at the very least if could pull of 1080p I wouldn't mind it so much then. I feel nintendo has lost their soul in gaming, no new ip, old gimmicky hardware, thats the appreciation they show their fans,

its all about the almighty dollar, just like blizzard with maybe the most loyal fans in the world, they will be another 5 years before they give us a new world of warcraft game, same with cod, blah blah blah blah game companies really suck sometimes!!!!

_-EDMIX-_4267d ago

Thats nice but the PS1 had a format that pretty much gave birth to those games to being with.

SNES had 8mb

PS1 had 700mb

Thats 87 times the space.

games like FFVII where NEVER going to be made on the N64's small 64mb format. (not like what it was on PS1 anyway)

Mind you FFVII launched on there with 3 disk. Just to show how massive the game was at the time.

Specs matter and they are the reason behind the scope of those games.

ie you can't have a technical marvel like GTA if there isn't even a format big enough for it to get made. It would just had never been made (not in the same way it was made for PS2 anyway)

So yes, specs do matter.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4267d ago
iamnsuperman4268d ago (Edited 4268d ago )

I like how the specs in this article are reported like they are confirmed. Apart from that Nintendo should now what they are doing. No company should be out of touch. I just hope there confidence in their PR department is well placed because time is ticking.

Shok4268d ago (Edited 4268d ago )

Lol yeah I noticed that too. I love how he took that rumor as fact, especially considering how obviously bogus it is.

"768 MB of DRAM “embedded” with the CPU, and shared between CPU and GPU"

Anyone who knows the basics of these kinds of things knows how retarded that sentence is lol.

ChunkyLover534268d ago

They matter in a fashion, but its rumored the Wii U is 3x as powerful as current HD consoles, its also rumored that the next Xbox and PlayStation are only going to be 5-6x as powerful as the current HD consoles, with simple math, we can see the possibility that the Wii U will only be slightly behind what Sony and Microsoft offer next generation. We probably wont even notice much on 3rd party games to be totally honest.

I'm dying to play some of those Nintendo IP's in HD, so the Wii U is a definite buy for me anyway. Little food for thought though, the strongest console has NEVER won a console generation.

awi59514268d ago (Edited 4268d ago )

I think im done with consoles for awhile. Pc gaming is so much more fun. And consoles are becoming more and more closed and microsoft is even trying to close off the pc with windows 8. I just dont trust these guys and DLC prices are gettting higher and higher.

ChunkyLover534268d ago

I don't even own a PC, I've been a console gamer since 1986. I don't see that ever changing, the industry has changed, but you just need to adapt.

awi59514268d ago

I dont have to accept anything. Just because your mommy and daddy pays for overpriced call of duty map packs for you doesnt mean i will. Pc is where its at right now console graphics look really dated 3 years ago. Ill take my mod support over DLC any day. For example console version of elder scroll skyrim is a total joke compared to PC. Do you guys have brand new armors, weapons, Character, and spells by the thousands. Do console have total graphic overhauls for the game no.

FinalomegaS4268d ago

I will agree with you on the DLC bit... This nonsense has to be looked into. These companies selling a game 70% to consumer with the 30% in DLC..wtf.

SO i try and get 1000 achievements points and stop there. Or just get the GOTY edition...

DeadlyFire4267d ago

I agree with awi5951.

Personally I believe this is why Sony has sided with an x86 CPU for PS4. To emulate more of a PC like experience for gamers.

What Microsoft is doing with Windows 8 is both good and bad if you look at it from a distance. On one hand they are enabling games to utilize 100% of your PC hardware backbone with a new API like design built into Windows 8. On the other the PC experience might be limited by Microsoft if a developer says I am going to use Xbox Live - PC edition instead of STEAM. Basically its games for Windows live 2, but they would rather call it Xbox Live. They believe Xbox created PC gaming apparently.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4267d ago
4268d ago Replies(1)
Blastoise4268d ago

Of course they matter, I need to know my system is gonna last me a while, and has some power behind it.

N4g_null4267d ago

Here we have developers claiming this gen lasted too long... The elephant in the room is those systems where to weak to last this long.

Sales are falling off yet people are buying $600 phones for gaming if you ask the press. I mean every one knows that the old he consoles where sd consoles trying to display he by upscaling. This will be the true he gen.

Show all comments (60)
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."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1015d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref4d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde4d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19724d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville4d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21834d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos4d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref4d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan4d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0073d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19725d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

5d ago
4d ago
Zeref4d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde4d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19724d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier4d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto4d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto4d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Hofstaderman4d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel11d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8810d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing10d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS10d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder9d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff21839d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.