The Wii U's Biggest Problem Is The 3DS

Kotaku - Analyzing a company's position and their marketing strategy with consoles is often of little interest to me: I'm not an investor, and sometimes the conversations feel like a slightly more sophisticated version of people arguing about the CONSOLE WARS™ on forums. Bleh. And yet I walked out of a Nintendo preview event yesterday with one thought on my mind: why would someone buy a Wii U when they can just buy a 3DS?

[PopRocks359]

"why would someone buy a Wii U when they can just buy a 3DS?"

Well for starters they can't ever get the new Mario Kart, X, Bayonetta 2 on the 3DS. Or the Wii U version of Smash Bros. (the supposedly online, more competitive version) for that matter. At least we know those games are hitting Wii U at some point.

[AdvanceWarsSgt]

X and Bayonetta 2 you have a point. 3DS owners won't be missing out on much in terms of Mario Kart and SSB though, even if the 3DS versions may be "inferior" games (which isn't a foregone conclusion since MKDS mopped the floor with MKWii).

Also, Monolith is working on a 3DS title, so while 3DS owners may not get X, they may get some other quality title.

[MikeMyers]

This article could also apply to the PlayStation Vita. Different experiences (like the ability to play on a large screen with higher resolution) and they each have exclusive titles not found on the other.

[Relientk77]

I agree with this, I don't understand why Nintendo is doing this. Yeah, let's release all the games people want on the 3DS while the Wii U sits there and starves.

[kirbyu]

L is real 2401.

[Root]

If Luigis Mansion 2 was a Wii U Launch title or an upcoming game I would of bought it at launch

Animal Crossing Wii U could be massive.....even bigger then the new 3DS one coming up. You could turn your village into anything you wanted....even a town with skyscrapers and the lot would be fantastic. It would take you a lot of gameplay time to get your town to that stage.

[computeSci]

Nintendo is not stupid. The 3DS had a bad start too. They proved themselves with the 3DS and I have no reason to worry about the Wii U. E3 is where the Wii U will shine.

[guitarded77]

Hopefully we'll see the Wii U get the first party support the 3DS has/is getting. I could go for some new games for the damn thing.

[arbitor365]

this last nintendo direct proved this. nintendo is focusing all their attention on the 3DS while leaving wii u owners high and dry

just look at mario party and mario golf on the 3DS. those are party games and they belong on a home console much more so than a handheld.

if nintendo is really that apathetic about supporting the wii u, they should just stick to handhelds

[supremacy]

See, on the flip side this is Sony's issue with the vita and ps3. So much effort goes into their console, and yet the same couldn't exactly be said for their handheld.

Well they have admitted to this before, but all these cross releases isn't on the same scale of what Nintendo is doing with the 3DS.

While this article points out the obvious, its also difficult to manage two seperate platforms.

Now, to me, Nintendo's biggest issue is their designs and how that for the most part isnt much benifit to game devs outside them(Nintendo).

If they were to make platforms aligne with the rest of the pack, then support will most likely be better than what it is. As for the innovation part, that they can take care of with their game designs like they always have.

But they believe in being different for better or worst, their handhelds have kept them afloat, so one cant blame them for supporting the 3DS the way tbey do.

[AntsPai]

Lol Kotaku

[arbitor365]

Iawata
"our internal development resources alone are not enough to make attractive enough commodities for the customers."

in other words, the first party devs at nintendo do not have the resources to single-handedly give proper support to both a handheld and a console at the same time.

This is why third party support is needed. otherwise, once again, there will be massive game droughts on the wii u.

[grassyknoll]

I would like Nintendo to do some cross platform games between the WiiU & 3DS. Perhaps that new Link to the Past...

[pop-voxuli]

Oh its got some problems, but the 3DS ain't one of em.

[Theyellowflash30]

Yeah, the 3DS isn't Nintendo's biggest problem. It's the media overblowing the first four months of a consoles life like it's the end of the world.

The games are coming, E3 is right around the corner.

[skyrimer]

Well it's more like 6 months already since it launched in November. Worst thing is that summer months are traditionally slow so the game drought will probably continue for several months more.

[Theyellowflash30]

It didn't launch in November in every region. And even so, 6 months isn't a long time to begin with.

Games just came out in March, like Lego City, Need for Speed, Runner 2, Toki Tori 2, and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

It's not like nothing has released for the system since launch. So I do not know this "game drought" you are talking about.

I think that's the media that's getting in your ear a bit. There is plenty to play on Wii U right now.

The Wonderful 101 and Game and Wario are Slated for June. Deus Ex and Resident Evil in May, and Pikmin 3 for August.

It's no where near as bad as the media is making it out to be.

[tubers]

A few months later into the market, when the PS4/720 prices have been revealed (more or less $ 499.99)..

..Nintendo could slash the Elite Wii U bundle significantly in order to be more attractive (around $ 249.99).

Smells parallel to what happened with the 3DS and VITA
($ 169.99 vs $ 249.99).

I wouldn't worry much about the Wii U unless it would still keep bombing about 2 years from launch.

[DarkHeroZX]

The thing is that $80 price cut hurt the 3DS and Nintendo didn't make profit until the xl came out. Nintendo shouldn't have to slash their prices to compete with Sony and MS if they know they are bringing quality to their products.

[profgerbik]

Exactly.

[Nicaragua]

No the WiiU's problem is its total lack of games or release dates for the few games they have announced.

[skyrimer]

I also think that 3ds early price cut may have hurt WiiU a lot, now gamers know that Nintendo will cut the price early if they get desperate, so they are fine playing the waiting game.

[lovegames718]

resp. yellowflash

Being your a lame and blocked me after i told u the truth ill respond here lol

What games im talking about? lol the games that were suppose to be system sellers off the bat for you guys according to many Wiiu faithfuls on here which include Lego game, Mediocre Zombi u and Monster Hunter. Monster Hunter sold well in Japan but is not pullin in Monster Hunter numbers and the other games sold atrocious.

Then u go on to make a list of your supposed big boy titles lol which include Bayonetta 2 and ill throw in Pikmin 3 lol both games that have sold #hit through their lifetimes lol Bayonetta 2 sold 1 million bwteen Xbox and ps3 with install bases in the millions and well Pikmin in its lifetime has sold atrocious on wii and barely over a million on game cube lol Keep waiting for those system sellers.
Your the troll here and get butthurt like #itch everytime someone shuts you up with facts. Give it up already and take Nintendos #$nis out your mouth lol