160°

Has the Wii U had a better launch than the 360 did?

Nintendo has taken a lot of heat from gamers and the gaming press for the Wii U's lack of software after launch. Comparing it against this generations top console, the Xbox 360, the Wii U actually measures up quite well.

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gamertheory.com
Zodiac4096d ago

I think so. Some high quality games were ports, but the they were still higher quality games than the ones that launched for the xbox in 2005.

Forget if they are ports or just enhanced versions. Just look at the games themselves and you will see that the Wii U had a high quality launch.

Thatguy-3104096d ago

It does but wii u won't have the legs the 360 had in the long run.

Deku-Johnny4096d ago

Nintendo's consoles always have legs to stand on because of their 1st part titles. They pretty much carried the Wii by themselves and if they have to they'll carry the Wii U that's how they've managed to keep going all these years they're the only ones who could have a successful console with next to no third party support.

mcstorm4096d ago

I think the Wiiu will have legs. I think next generation will be closer between all 3 this time around as they will all offer similar experiences where this gem the 360 and ps3 were similar and the Wii was different so the people who got a ps3 did not get a 360 and vice versa where alto that got a ps3 or 360 got a Wii. Plus Nintendo managed to grab the big market in terms of the none core.

This time round Sony Microsoft and Nintendo will be going after both markets from day one rather than part way through the gen.

Ju4096d ago (Edited 4096d ago )

That's hardly comparable. First the 360 had a slow start, no doubt about it. But the PS3 wasn't the end it all console as many had hoped. So, eventually the decision wasn't so clear why to actually wait that long for a console you can have today.

This time I am quite certain that both PS4 and 720 (or whatever they will be called) will be quite a step up from what Nintendo has to offer.

Sure, we haven't yet seen what the WiiU can do, and I expect better looking games than ports. But I am quite certain it won't match neither 720 nor 360 level. Depends on the additional features (like the tablet controller, Kinect or w/e Sony is cooking up) what is the distinguishing factor between the three.

I am not sure if I want all these gimicks; I just want pretty games which play like what we have. But maybe that's just me. I am in no rush to change everything - how we play games. Maybe I'm just too old fashioned.

blackbeld4096d ago

My predictions for next ten.

1 PS4
2 WiiU
3 720 xbox

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4096d ago
xursz4096d ago

It had a good enough launch line up but I can't ignore the fact that nothing they have has topped the games that are releasing on current generation systems.

In other words when are they going to surpass ps3 and xbox360.

Deku-Johnny4096d ago

When PS3 and 360 released they had nothing that topped the games being released on PS2/Xbox/Gamecube, what's your point?

lilbroRx4096d ago (Edited 4096d ago )

When are they going to top the last gen consoles that have been on the market for 7 years?

I'd image when a similar amount of time has passed, or did I miss the console that achieved a 70 million a user install base and peek performance in 2 months?

xursz4096d ago

New consoles are supposed to be better and perform better than old consoles. I guess you can chalk it up to lazy porting but third party games have actually been worse on WiiU.

Resistance Fall of Man was leaps and bounds better than Black. So yes I expect next gen games to be better than current consoles, otherwise what's the point in "upgrading" to a new system.

Imalwaysright4096d ago (Edited 4096d ago )

"When PS3 and 360 released they had nothing that topped the games being released on PS2/Xbox/Gamecube, what's your point?"

I purchased my PS3 a few months after it launched here in Europe and it came with 2 games (starter pack) : Motorstorm and RFoM. Motorstorm absolutely destroyed what had been done on the previous gen graphically speaking. I know that you want to defend the Wii U and I will purchase one soon as Zelda gets released but there is no need for you to lie. BTW Motorstorm was released just one month after the PS3 launched in Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Deku-Johnny4095d ago

@Imalwaysright, I wasn't speaking graphically. I meant the games weren't much better than what was already available on the other consoles in terms of how good the games were rather than how good they looked.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4095d ago
Starfox174096d ago

I think so and with MH Utimate and LegoCity in a month ? very good

corrus4096d ago

I think that on Wii U the luck runs out your luck runs out hehe awesome song

GalacticEmpire4096d ago

Unless we see a WiiU RROD, I'd say yes.

Seriously though, there are some quality games out already and with the promise of HD Mario Kart and Zelda I'm tempted to buy one myself.

KnightRobby4096d ago

My question is: Can it sustain itself for the next year with 2 major next-generation consoles releasing?

I believe that it can to a degree because of its first-party titles. If they keep pushing their first-party content, this would be the reason to purchase the Wii U. And it looks to have a lot of good upcoming games.

Then again, so does the PS4 and Xbox 720 - and many of the first-party titles haven't even been unveiled from Sony or Microsoft. And they're going to look a lot more appealing to anyone ready for next-gen consoles...

lilbroRx4096d ago (Edited 4096d ago )

The Wii did that and more. Why can't the Wii U?

Ju4096d ago (Edited 4096d ago )

Different markets. Wii was cheap and focused on family oriented markets. While the WiiU is not. Wii sold in a complementary market, WiiU sells in to a competitive market. Currently it doesn't look so good that the WiiU actually sells half of the other current gen consoles sell. I would be more optimistic if it would at least sell in the same range. But it doesn't. Wii as a competitor only plays a smaller role here; the sales tanked. But it might be enough to cut Nintendo's own margin in the family market (which doesn't matter for Nintendo right now - because they can't care less where their money is coming from).

Hicken4095d ago

The Wii U is not the Wii. That;s obvious enough to those of us who frequent sites such as this: we should all be well aware of the differences in the two systems, who they're aimed at, and so on.

The fact that the people OUTSIDE of core gamers don't really know that is what will wind up hurting the Wii U. Since many of them see little more than an add-on to the Wii(which is mostly Nintendo's fault), the market that previously bought the Wii won't have as much interest. And that market is far larger than the one the Wii U targets: the core.

It's not impossible, but I don't think the Wii U will have anywhere like the runaway success that was the Wii.

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260°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv721d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle11h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18818h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio8h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning773h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga10h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21839h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga8h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan4h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

romulus233h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv723h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
purple10113h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos13h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-2h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac12h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10111h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic9h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead3h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 20h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 18h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 15h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 8h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 10h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 6h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 18h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d 4h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d 3h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

blacktiger55m ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 20h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 19h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 16h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 19h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 17h ago (Edited 1d 17h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 18h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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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."