Cross Play: Cell Phones and Wii U; Nintendo Embracing Casual Gamer Label and Going to the Next Level

VG Republic Writes: The Wii U has a dismal library of games to this point, but according to a report by the Japanese Times, it is about to get a little bit bigger in the near future, but not in the way that many gamers will be excited about. Attempting to recover from a couple of horrid years for the company in which they posted consecutive losses for the first time in company history, Nintendo has been scratching their head to push out the Wii U which has not sold well by any means. With the exception of giving gamers first party titles, the sell to third party developers has been difficult as many just don’t see where the profitability will come from in releasing a title. So Nintendo has a dilemma, how do you boost sales with no games that gamers are interested in? Enter the cell phone.

[gamer42]

That's one way to look at it.

[lilbroRx]

Its the most negative and insulting way to look at it.

Nintendo's target has always been "everyone" but people refused to validate their success over others from recent years, writing off the entirety of Nintendo's customers as "newfound", moms, grandpas and children. That it where this whole casual thing originated. It was basically a huge industry wide concession of moving the goal post.

Devs have changed graphical settings from low to casual and difficulty setting from easy to casual to reinforce the stigma. So, now, if you don't play in the main they like, then they classify you as not really a gamer.

The term casual is just an insult to dismiss the large and original class of people who buy gaming devices. There is nothing newfound about them. They are the same people who bought Nintendo products in the 80s and 90s. The original gamers. People who just want to have fun.

[Retroman]

IF Nintendo really wanted to make serious cash they have portfolio of old SNES re-make games to break lose on. i could name a few:Metroid,Contra,Street fighter, Gradius,R-type,Battle toads,Centerpede,Galager...
all those game able to save wii-U

[deafdani]

Contra, Street Fighter, Gradius, Battletoads...

What? Those aren't Nintendo properties, dude. Neither is Centipede nor R-Type, and I don't even know what Galager is.

That leaves Metroid... which saw Metroid Prime 3, Metroid Other M and the Metroid Prime Trilogy all released for the Wii.

So, either you're brilliantly trolling, or incredibly ignorant.

[herbs]

Who the fuck wants to spend $300+ on a console and then use it for shitty mobile games. Nintendo is becoming more out of touch with the industry they saved back in the day on a daily basis :(

[DivineAssault]

Its not current gen, its not nx gen, its not a tablet, so what is it? ooohh, its a nintendo wii u.. Duuuh

[R00bot]

Could be cool. I hope it works out for them, they need everything they can get right now.

[MasterCornholio]

Sounds cool but how will this persuade casuals with devices that support apps to buy a Wii U?

Motorola RAZR i

[joeorc]

Sony with the release of Playstation Mobile software is already, getting indie and Smartphone Type Gaming on the PSVita and PS3. and The PS4 will also be getting this function. Microsoft along with Sony and also now Nintendo all see where what was an untapped development Market for Game console's is now being Tapped.

The issue with this idea that Nintendo is going to side step both Microsoft and Sony this time again like they did with the Wii is not so certain in my opinion.

for example:

"This is for a couple of reasons, and actually isn’t a bad ploy to boost sales for the struggling system. First and foremost, is the tablet functionalities on the Wii U. Casual users will find the touch pad much more user friendly when playing these titles at home, versus a controller that, to many has too many buttons and functionalities. If you can see it, and mimic the actions that are to be done it make more sense to the demographic that Nintendo is attempting to re-invigorate. Secondly, it is for the simple fact that the Wii branding has been more recognizable with the casual market."

this would make sense is "IF" the screen that the Game pad the Nintendo WiiU used is a:

capacitive touch with Multi-touch point's like 5 or more, but the WiiU's touch pad screen is not capacitive.

Its instead a resistive touchscreen.

Not many Game are being designed for resistive touchscreens IN SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS IN TODAYS MARKET.

If you were converting a smartphone game from say 9 to 10 years ago than maybe because the vast majority of games being made for smartphone's than were made for resistive touchscreen with Window's CE, Windows Mobile 5.0 all the way upto Windows Mobile 6.5, and the Palm OS 3.0 all the way upto Palm OS 5.0.

with
capacitive SCREEN'S BEING THE STANDARD and not resistive anymore this may be a problem for the idea that smartphone gaming being outright ported to Nintendo's platform.

They would have to start recoding for a screen imput for their game that's resistive instead of capacitive i just do not see many 3rd party developer's doing this when both Microsoft and Sony's mobile offering's are already capacitive screen based.

[madjedi]

So buy a $300+ wii u to play the same games that you already can on your phone, i really hope nintendo isn't counting on it to work.

Really you nintendo guys gave him 5 disagrees for that post. Sheesh and people are always complaining that sony fanboys are the worst of the worst.

That is alot better than most posts i read discussing the wii u. Oh well it's not like you have reasonable discussions on n4g with fanboys anyway.

But given this example is it any wonder most people don't even bother replying anymore, i wouldn't.