130°

WiiU and Why the Power Game Should Have Mattered to Nintendo

Nintendo has struggled with third party developers for many years. Unfortunately what the Big N doesn’t realize that in order to obtain third party support, they need to create a comfortable environment for developers to work with. This includes hardware as much as it includes developers relations. The most recent successful development environment seems to have been achieved by Sony with the PS4.

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_QQ_3931d ago (Edited 3931d ago )

If games were much stronger on pc last gen, porting games to a weaker system(obviously downgraded), shouldn't be a problem,considering how close consoles are to pc architecture now,Most third party games will have a lowishmid setting available for the PC version which would be equal to a wiiu version,while the highish mid setting equal to the ps4/Xone versions. The problem isn't the specs.

Devs don't want to bring games to wiiu because they think it won't sell well on wiiu because a low install base and they know they would be competeing with mario,zelda,smash, DK,and other nintendo ip's for sales.

sephx223930d ago

I see most of the 3rd party developers use realistic graphics as a hook to draw consumers to their product (and it works). Since nintendo doesn't care about console specs 3rd party developers don't have this lure to use when making a game for nintendo consoles. And on top of that they have to compete with nintendo IPs. yeah the sales wouldn't be to good. The Wii U isn't made to compliment 3rd party developers way of makings games.

Parapraxis3930d ago

"And on top of that they have to compete with nintendo IPs."
At the moment, there aren't even Nintendo IPs to compete with.
It's pretty simple why 3rd parties aren't interested in spending money on porting to WiiU, the install base is too small, and they are more focused on Xbox One/PS4 development.

It's just, at the moment, not financially wise to develop for WiiU.

_QQ_3930d ago

If the Money was there, Porting downscaled "nextgen"games to the wiiu wouldn't be a problem,especially considering how all consoles share a very PC architecture.But the money simply isn't there, not yet.

Dunban673930d ago

I sure wish Nintendo had told us that the Wii u would not be complimentary to 3rd party games before launch- In fact, they said just the opposite- they made a big sales push that they would make the effort and be successful n attracting many 3rd party games and greatly improve on their 3rd part track record-

The reality is, they needed 3rd party games more than ever to launch the wii U because they had almost no games for launch of their own- Despite their great need for 3rd party software they did a miserable job of attracting it and defending the console-

IMO if Nintendo is not willing to do what t takes to attract and keep quality 3rd party software as badly as they needed it over the last 8 months, then I can t imagine what it would take for them to do so in the future-

For those who say the Wii u is not conducive to 3rd party software you are correct- but "please understand" many of us that are making issue of it are doing so based on what Nintendo promised/committed to before and during the Wii u launch-

iamnsuperman3930d ago

"Devs don't want to bring games to wiiu because they think it won't sell well on wiiu because a low install base"

That is the reason. It isn't worth the cost of the port in third party developer's eyes.

starfox793930d ago

All this immature power talk,look Iwata's words wiiu is powerful and very much nextgen.

WiiU went with a dx11 gpgpu and a low system RAM but huge chip eDRAM ie cpu/gpu,the smaller system RAM is purposely done,like Sony said if we went with edram we could hit 1TB of bandwidth RAM which would make it more powerful but less accessible ??? wiiu has gone with that exact design..?? work it out...

BATRA3930d ago ShowReplies(3)
Theyellowflash303930d ago

Power has nothing to do with the Wii U issues right now with 3rd parties. A lot of current gen games that could easily come to Wii U are not.

LOL_WUT3930d ago

Oh no but it is that's why no games developed with the Frostbite 3 engine aren't coming to the Wii U.

Theyellowflash303930d ago

LOL WUT - Frostbite runs on the PS3 and Xbox 360. And EA even said Frostbite 3 could be on Wii U if they wanted to.

EA just doesn't want to port Frostbite 3 to the Wii U.

Murad3930d ago

@YellowFlash
Personally, I think it's because Nintendo isn't paying EA enough for them to port it over or something, or that the tablet for the Wii U must be hard to program simultaneously, or something along those lines.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW3930d ago (Edited 3930d ago )

@Murad "Helpful" Bubble-up vote.

---I agree with your 1st statement-
Nintendo does not pay 3rd Parties- and that is a trend lately.

---The 2ND statement I disagree with because "Vigil Games", former developers of Darksiders 1&2, said that it only took 1 line of code to get the tablet working.

I am sure he was not talking about deep Tablet specific functions but at least the off (TV) screen play.

No one is demanding that 3rd Parties have to do something revolutionary with the WiiU Gamepad.

deadeyes3930d ago (Edited 3930d ago )

Frostbite could work on Wii U if EA wanted it too...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3930d ago
AzureskyZ3930d ago

I wouldnt say thats entirely correct-- 3rd party could invest to make games for wii u but with ps4 and xbox far ahead, would it be prudent to continue to invest in legacy tech? Ubisoft and activision both invested into wii u and didnt get a return on their investment-- its a shame really cause the wii u certainly have potential, i wonder if they put too much funds into a tablet controller rather than upping their specs alittle. But its nintendos way of doing business, but it might not be favorable to them this gen.

starfox793930d ago

It's a little strange how EA ect will support 2 consoles fully with zero sales yet the wiiu has 4 million headstart and gets no support makes no sense and just says Peter Moore is a Nintendo hater period....

AzureskyZ3930d ago

@starfox79 its not they didnt support it out of the gate-- mass effect did come out for launch --- supposedly their was some major disagreement between EA and nintendo-- i guess we will never know. As far as Ps4 and xbox one-- they have a strong community for their games --- it make sense for them to pursue-- games like bf and madden will sell on the consoles much better than wii. That doesnt mean they shouldnt make game for wii u, but finding the right kind of games and market is gonna be tricky-- I think it might be up to fans to vocal their opinion on what titles they want from each vender-- Give them a little push-- cause 3rd party sales has been abysmal.

Parapraxis3930d ago (Edited 3930d ago )

They are having more than just 3rd party issues.
Nintendo was totally un-prepared for the development time demands of going HD and don't even have their OWN software sorted out.

Their management is being pig-headed, and there is poor advertising and a lot of brand confusion.

There are other factors as well such as much more powerful consoles releasing and the price being too high for the tech it contains.

3930d ago Replies(1)
PigPen3930d ago

What I find amusing is must developers aren't cash strapped for the next generation. The PS3/Xbox360 are still getting games that should of moved over to the next gen consoles. EA is laying off left and right, but is supporting the next gen. To make it in todays economy, developers will have to go multi platform. Developers want to be supportive of the new consoles, but next gen AAA games will slow after the novelty is done warn down. Aside from first party games, most games will look the same across platforms. So instead of developers taken full advantage of the PS4 hardware, it'll keep pace with the Xbox One and maybe even the Wii U. The Xbox360/PS3 is still the sweet spot with developers that is budgeting with its massive install base. When I look at it like that, the Wii U will be fine.

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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."

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?"

purple1015d 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 ☝️

Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde5d 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.

PhillyDonJawn5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

MrBaskerville5d 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.

shinoff21834d 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.

Profchaos4d 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 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref5d 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.

MrNinosan5d ago

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

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

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

Einhander19725d 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.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

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

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde5d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Zeref5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Chevalier5d 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.

Tacoboto5d 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.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto4d 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 4d ago
Hofstaderman5d 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?

crazyCoconuts5d 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.

Xeofate5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

crazyCoconuts4d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic4d 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."

XiNatsuDragnel12d ago

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

banger8811d 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.

Jingsing11d ago

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

PRIMORDUS10d 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.

mastershredder10d 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.

shinoff218310d 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.