220°

Activision Disappointed with Wii U Launch

Activision is not ecstatic about the Wii U launch. In a post-earnings financial call today, company CEO Robert Kotick said Activision is "somewhat disappointed" with the platform's launch. The console has sold 3 million units worldwide to date.

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gamespot.com
Jadedz4087d ago

It isn't happening, so Nintendo needs to release the software that'll drive in a bigger consumer base (Mario Kart U, Wii Fit U, Mario Universe, LOZ: Wind Waker, X).

-Mika-4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

First party games doesn't automatically make the console sell. Look at the Gamecube. Nintendo games usually sell the same amount of copies as sony and MS exclusives. Look up the numbers.

With PS4 and the 720 around the corner. What does the WiiU offer? Gamers will just buy third party games on the ps3/360 or Tthe ps4/720. There honestly is no incentive in owning this system and third party games will continue to sell horrible on it. I seriously don't think you and some of the other users on this site aren't thinking about the WiiU in the long term. Exclusives Is honestly not going to make this system sell 60 million units. Third party games do and people are not going to buy third party games on a system with no achievements and inferior gameplay.

Jadedz4087d ago

Here they are:

http://images.nintendolife....

http://www.theaveragegamer....

There are core fans who enjoy Nintendo exclusives. It's foolish to think of Nintendo as a ''depleted'' company. The top selling games (of all time) are Nintendo related, so I really don't understand what you're trying to state.

And the Wii made a fair amount of 3rd party developers happy (Activision, Junction Point, Ubisoft, Take 2, Sega, High Voltage Software, etc.). There's no denying that Nintendo needs to convey a better message about their Wii U hardware (and sell more units), but it's a bit harsh to predict that the system is already ill-fated by labelling it, ''DOA'' (which you surmised in your own colourful words).

Gr814087d ago

'First party games doesn't automatically make the console sell. Look at the Gamecube.'

Or you could have added the Vita to prove that point as well..seeing as it will probably sell less than Gamecube, Dreamcast, and possibly the Game Gear as well.

BlackWolf4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

Why do we have to suffer your constant rant?

Blastoise4087d ago

The first party Gamecube games were by far the best selling on the console.
Honestly you'll have trouble finding a game with Mario in the title that sold less than a million on the Gamecube.

mcstorm4087d ago

What people are forgetting is the WiiU has sold more in its 1st 3 months than the 360 and PS3 did. Also the Wiiu is the 1st next gen console so people are waiting to see what Sony and Microsoft offer. Also we have just had a big finish to the year with games like FarCry 3, Halo 4, CODBO2 and others. People will buy theses games on the consoles they own and wont buy a console to play the game that is out for there already owned console.

Once the next PlayStation and Xbox are out then sales of the WiiU will pickup as there will be people knowing that every one has a next gen console and games for the current gen will start slowing down.

I don't think there will be a market leader the way we have seen over the last 3 gens with this next gen as Sony Microsoft and Nintendo will all be going for the core and none core market so I expect there to only be a few million between the leading console and the lowest selling console next gen.

Cupid_Viper_34086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

@ McStorm

I dont' really care about Activision's or Bobby Kotic's disappointments to be honest, I think they're full of it.

But first of all, the PS3 launched at $600.00 (compared to Wii U's $350.00 for the top sku) and didn't launch in Europe until Late March 2007.
But even then it sold 3.6 million between November 2006 to March 2007.
http://vgsales.wikia.com/wi...

I think Nintendo and the Wii U are going to be just fine to honest. But at the same time, I've said many times that I don't that Nintendo will repeat the successes of the Wii. I'm of the opinion that the Wii U is caught in between trying to be both casual and hardcore at the same time, thus excelling at neither really.

If you take the current sales of the Wii into account, it should tell you that the Wii market is indeed saturated and will come to an abrupt stop pretty soon. And this is the first problem for Nintendo and Wii U. The Wii U doesn't have the "ultra casual" appeal of the Wii meaning that grandma's and grangpa's and retirement centers are not buying them in drones like they did with the Wii.

Now the second problem for Nintendo, is that the Wii U is not being seen as a very powerful next gen console either. Meaning that, even at the base price of $250.00, people rather sit on the fence and see what the other Big 2 have up their sleeves. And that is very discomforting to be honest, because now the Wii U is destined to be seen as the weaker, older console for this entire new generation.

If the big 2, but more specifically Sony, breaks tradition and go for cost effective hardware, then Nintendo will certainly stand a chance. But if they stay the course and pump out hardware and cater to the hardcores, then I believe Nintendo will be in trouble.

See it's always easier to cater to casuals if you already have powerful, versatile hardware. But it's not that easy to do cater to the hardcore with weaker hardware.

It's easy to take a Corvette and cruise down your block, do groceries, pick up your son or daughter from school, etc....But a quick change of tires and you're track ready. But you try and take your fully loaded Minivan with built-in TVs, and folding 3rd row seating, and sliding doors on both side, to the track and try to keep up with the other cars.

jmc88884086d ago

If they want the best graphics they'll buy it on PC.

Sorry PS4/720 won't be equal to PC high settings.

So if you want graphics you'll buy PC.
If you want a particular flavor, you'll buy that version. Maybe it's the gamepad. Maybe it's the free Sony online. Who knows.

But for you to think 'people will just by the PS4/720 version' because why? It's so much better?

Ha. The PS4 will be at most 3x better than a Wii U, 720 2x. In other words, all the games will play games that look pretty similar. You might think each system is a one notch PC graphics settings higher.

So what exactly is the reason to buy PS4/720?

Because it's not power.

There are plenty of reasons, but 'ps4/720' being the best, really isn't one of them.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4086d ago
Kevlar0094087d ago

Don't forget Rayman Legends...

Too soon?

Starfox174087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

It sold 3 million by the end of dec ? and Sonic all stars racing transformed sold 260,000 on wiiu contributing to over 25% of total sales ??? so even with just 3 million it sold more than the 147 million consoles in the ps3 and 360,now shouldnt sega be saying how upset they are with the ps3 and 360 sales on that game ?

Jadedz4086d ago

The media's ''Scapegoat.''

Cupid_Viper_34086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

replied to the wrong post. My apologies.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4086d ago

Can't release software that you don't currently have-
Let them Games cook before you serve them Raw and Undone.

Plus, People who thought that the WiiU was going to sell as much as the Wii, should be more disappointed in themselves than Nintendo- because Iwata warned them long before release.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4086d ago
Benjaminkno4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

Well, I suppose we can count on third-party sales to remain lackluster on Nintendo's home console. I'm not sure how this curse got started (N64), but to be honest, is anybody really surprised? I mean, even Skylanders aimed at youngsters couldn't muster any meaningful results. With WiiU in such an infant stage, it's hard to see how anything can get off the ground for this system. The more third party games that slip away, the more they stop taking Nintendo seriously. But doesn't there have to be a breaking point?

How is Nintendo going to become mainstream again when Nintendo games are all that sell? I just don't see it happening.

When next-gen rolls around, Sony or Microsoft would be happy with sales resembling Nintendo's, just saying.
However, third party developers know that their games aren't competing against first party games.

Worse case scenario? I can see WiiU owners trading in their consoles for next gen systems just as easily as I can see it going the other way around. I think Sony and Microsoft competing against each other at the same time this year is a recipe for disaster.

Maybe Nintendo has more room to afford to do things the way they've been doing them. However, they may be forever branded "high risk" to develop for.

It's just a shame that the curse just keeps trudging right along.

Reborn4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

Why would they? COD probably isn't doing as well as they would like/expect. However, it's a recent launch. Give it some time for the base to grow even further.

Hopefully, Nintendo has some good stuff in the works.

LOL_WUT4087d ago

I'm more disappointed with Activisons inability to create something new instead of relying on the same CoD game year after year.

With that said I don't think anyone was expecting the Wii U to be as successful as the Wii with the exception of a few people.

Ezz20134087d ago

well, they are making
The Walking dead: Call of duty edition

stuntman_mike4086d ago

I honestly don't think any console will sell like the Wii did, especially in the same time frame.

moegooner884087d ago

Screw Activision, when the PS3 was struggling, they threatened to drop support for both PS3, and PSP, and now they are complaining about the Wii U launch sales, even though their support for both was minimal at best. Their priorities are obvious, sales, then sales, then sales, then gamers.

Show all comments (36)
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.

mkis0073d ago (Edited 3d 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
4d 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.

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.

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.

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.