470°

What the new Wii U specs tell us about Nintendo

Digital Trends: Even though the Wii U is scheduled for release in roughly five weeks, we still know next to nothing about what Nintendo has put under the hood. Sure, we can make a few educated guesses based on what we’ve seen (and we can flood the world with plenty of uneducated guess as well), but we haven’t heard much in terms of technical specs. And by much, I mean anything at all. For all we know, the console could be so high-tech that it becomes self-aware. Then, not content to simply play Mario games with you, it will hack into NORAD and then ask if you want to play a game. When it then displays “Global Thermonuclear War,” feel free to sweat.

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Shok4202d ago

Just a heads-up, this isn't about the actual NUMBER specs (GFLOPS, RAM, GHz, etc.), it's about the hardware specifications, as in, fan size, heat sink, chip architectural, etc.

darthv724200d ago

over the generations to the point where we feel entitled to such information.

Many dont realize this but the reveal of specifics was meant to be a one up to the competition. Not the consumer.

Yeah I liked the days of specs on the genesis and snes, etc. But when it really comes down to the end of the day. All those numbers mean squat if the onscreen results do not meet expectations of the person playing.

My expectation is simple. i want a game that will entertain me for hours at a time. The graphics are just icing on the top but not an absolute requirement.

Seems the tech savvy people out there just wont settle for NOT knowing what they are getting. That is sad. The key to any platform is entertainment. If you feel you are getting that then it shouldnt matter where or how it gets there.

pangitkqb4200d ago

This was a fascinating article. I love Nintendo still after all these years.

decrypt4201d ago (Edited 4201d ago )

The specs just confirm that Nintendo knows:

Console gamers... dont care about graphics.

The few that do can easily be fooled by comments like:

"so and so game will use 100% of hardware" except on release of sequel they will say oh we really mean it this time. Those sort of statments from pr reps are enough to fool most of the console gamers.

Nintendo knows most console gamers have no clue about hardware hence it doesnt really matter what they sell to the kids.

telekineticmantis4201d ago

We all care about graphics, don't kid yourself.

HammadTheBeast4201d ago

PC gamers have no lives at all. Go play League and enjoy the hacks. Also, some people have real lives then to care about every specific thing. In the end, it's about fun.

Also, I apologize in advance to any real PC gamers who don't act like ****.

bothebo4201d ago (Edited 4201d ago )

@HammandTheOne

Yes it is about fun, but graphics help enhance that. Let's get one thing straight, if a Nintendo fanboy Cries "It's not about graphics or hardware" their argument just all legitimacy. Why? Maybe because they buy new hardware to play sequels? If Mario was fun in the 1980s why buy a Wii U or any other Nintendo system if you are already having "fun" (NOTICE: Sarcasm alert)? I'm just using your logic.

SirBradders4200d ago

Yea but raw power doesn't just enable better graphics it enables bigger and better experiences hence when the next gen Xbox and ps3 comes out imagine how huge and detailed open world games will be and the interactions that can be possible in them. Wii u is a no brainer for me I lost interest in Nintendo when my balls dropped.

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DeadlyFire4201d ago

Only thing this tells me is that the CPU is actually an APU with GPGPU embedded with the CPU on same chip.

Pillsbury14201d ago

Genesis does what nintendont.

optimus4200d ago

You mean like get out of the hardware business?? ...all i know is Nintendo is still Playing With Power... Sort of speak. ;p

Pillsbury14200d ago

@optimus

That was an old slogan used by sega stating it had more power than Nintendo. Nintendo still outsold sega because of one thing: fun factor. I believe the wii u will bring the fun factor along with the innovation, it doesn't need to be the most powerful. They have miyamoto instead, something no ultra super high end super computer can replicate.

Rated M for mature

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MNGamer-N4201d ago

Who cares. If the games are fun and enjoyable, that is what matters to me.

RubyToTheMax4201d ago

Well hardware does limit what a console can do. Even if the console has fun and enjoyable games, it wouldn't be satisfying if it can't product nice visuals and eye candy. Because we as consumers, want more and more. I'm not satisfied with playing or owning outdated consoles.

But who's to say the Wii U isn't lacking? For Nintendo, this is a big step up from the Wii.

The only question is... Is the Wii U ready for PS4/XBOX 720? Two consoles notorious for pumping out great hardware.

Stroke6664201d ago

nintendo is in a league all their own. there is no reason for them to compete or be ready for the next psbox. I've played many games that didnt have great graphics but were fun as hell and the graphics took nothing from gameplay. good graphics are like grated parmesan, if the spaghetti taste like shit w/o it then it'll taste like shit with parmesan with it lol. good graphics are nice to have but its not a selling point in my opinion.

deafdani4201d ago

I take it you're implying Sony and Microsoft are notorious for pumping out great hardware? By great, you mean "powerful"?

Because that wasn't the case with Sony at all, until the PS3. The PS1 was weaker than the N64 (although it had some clear advantages thanks to it using CDs instead of cartridges), and the PS2 was weaker than the GameCube.

Just something I found worth noting. I expect the next consoles from Sony and Microsoft to be more powerful than the Wii U, but to what extent? I don't know. Many people seem to take for granted that they will blow the Wii U out of the water, but here's the thing... we don't really have any way to know until they're actually announced.

legendoflex4200d ago

This is what "hardcore gamers" said about PC vs. NES.

cee7734200d ago (Edited 4200d ago )

@deafdani

you do realize the playstation launched 2years before n64 the playstation was powerful for its time even then ps1 had superior sound bigger games and longer games more exclusives its competition was originally the saturn same with ps2 its comp was the dreamcast we know how that went the rest is history

deafdani4200d ago

@cee773

What's your point? Nothing about what you said actually contradicts what I said. I didn't state that Sony's past consoles were the weakest of their respective gens, I stated they weren't the top dog when it comes to hardware until the PS3. Big difference.

And if you look at my post, I stated that the PS1 did in fact have some clear advantages over the N64 thanks to the CD format. By that I meant, yes, bigger games and superior sound and the other things you mentioned.

Also, the Wii U is going to be released a good year or two before Sony's and Microsoft's next consoles. So, it's not that different from the PS1 - N64 scenario in that regard, is it?

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LOGICWINS4201d ago

"Who cares. If the games are fun and enjoyable, that is what matters to me."

If thats all that matters to you, then I guess theres no reason for you to buy a Wii U. You can get a PS2 or a DS at a fraction of the cost of a Wii U and play hundreds of fun and enjoyable games.

Nerdmaster4201d ago

If one didn't play everything one wanted to play on the PS2 or on the DS already, then one can't be called a gamer.

PopRocks3594201d ago

You can't really get Pikmin 3 or Rayman Legends on a PS2. Just saying.

Bluenuts94201d ago

I couldn't agree more, too bad I can only agree once lol. Ps man I wasn't actually trying to put RE 6 down, I was just trying to say I think that Zombi u is going to be a bit better. ( for some reason I couldn't reply to you on that actual article lol. )

LOGICWINS4201d ago

@Bluenuts9- No prob man ;)

"You can't really get Pikmin 3 or Rayman Legends on a PS2."

MNGamer-N said nothing about Pikmin 3 and Rayman Legends...all he wanted was fun/enjoyable games. Fun/enjoyable games aren't limited to the Wii U or Nintendo consoles.

Imalwaysright4201d ago

So if someone wants to play and have fun with those exact games then what? I wanted to play MGS4 so i had buy a PS3. I didnt buy it because of its power. I bought it because of my love for the MGS franchise. If i wanted a platform for its power i would never consider buying a console, i would just stick with my PC. Besides, lets not kid ourselves here. Most console gamers care more about having fun than graphics. When was the last time that the most powerful console won a generation? SNES? I dont know! Even in the handeld market the DS crushed the PSP and the 3DS is currently stomping the Vita. Console gamers pretending to be graphics whores makes me laugh. If you want to be a graphics whore build yourself a PC.

Laxman4200d ago

So, just becuase fun and enjoyment matter to him, he cant have fun and enjoy NEW games?

For someone named LOGICWINS, you rarely seem to have use any logic.

LOGICWINS4200d ago (Edited 4200d ago )

"So, just becuase fun and enjoyment matter to him, he cant have fun and enjoy NEW games?"

Where in his comment did he mention anything about "NEW games"? Just curious.

"Console gamers pretending to be graphics whores makes me laugh."

Who said anything about being a "graphics whore"?

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mcstorm4201d ago

I agree its the games that make a console not its power. Look at the last 3 gens for example and the console with the least power has come out on top in terms of sales and number of top games sold.

The core marlet talk about power all the time but the wold is a differemt place now as games are played by everyone now not just the core. Just like smart phones are used by everyone not just office workers.

I have never gone off specs for anything i have bought i buy what i want and that fits my life the best.

I cant wait tl get my hands on the wiiu as it has some interesting games coming out for it and imo looks more like a console i will like to use day in day out where the wii for me lost its way for what i wamted out of my systems.

ninjabake4201d ago

I don't see how anyone who enjoys videogames could disagree with that comment.

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Burning_Finger4201d ago (Edited 4201d ago )

That Modern PC can emulate it easily. XD

..And Nintendo's are one cheap ass company that always relies on old technologies.

Bossman1124201d ago

Thats why we see them push something new each console instead of using the same only controller and just improving how a game looks

bothebo4201d ago

You mean using technology we've had for a while? Yeah they do innovate. People have been gaming with tablets way before the Wii U.

live2play4201d ago

...And Trolls are one cheap ass members that always relies on old tired arguments.

mr_magic_mike4201d ago (Edited 4201d ago )

I think that the WiiU Gamepad will make emulation much more difficult. Hell, Miiverse might make it damn near impossible.

FYI:

Anybody that has had any experience with emulators knows that we won't see one for the WiiU right away. Those things take years.

If you wanted to get the full Wii experience on the Dolphin Emulator then you had to "come out of pocket". It was not free, thanks to the Wii remote.

Emulating the WiiU won't be quick, easy, or free.

legendoflex4200d ago

I very much doubt a modern PC is optimized to use the GamePad without latency.

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metroid324201d ago

Nintendo keep saying wiiu equals graphics and online as the two main things it has over the competition.

4201d ago
AO1JMM4201d ago

Just another WiiU specs thread.

Show all comments (74)
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?"

purple1014d 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 ☝️

Zeref3d 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.

DarXyde3d 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.

PhillyDonJawn3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

MrBaskerville3d 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.

shinoff21833d 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.

Profchaos3d 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 3d ago
isarai4d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref3d 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.

MrNinosan3d ago

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

mkis0072d ago (Edited 2d ago )

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

Einhander19724d 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.

4d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19724d ago

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

4d ago
3d ago
Zeref3d 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.

DarXyde3d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

BehindTheRows3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Zeref3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Chevalier3d 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.

Tacoboto3d 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.

shinoff21833d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto3d 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 3d ago
Hofstaderman3d 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?

crazyCoconuts3d 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.

Xeofate3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

crazyCoconuts2d 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."

XiNatsuDragnel10d ago

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

banger889d 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.

Jingsing9d ago

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

PRIMORDUS9d 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.

shinoff21838d 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.