Before analysing and critiquing Nintendo’s latest console, it’s probably worth establishing exactly what a ‘hardcore’ gamer is. It would be easy of me to label those who have 10th Prestige on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and a K/D ratio akin to Rambo as ‘hardcore’, due to the amount of time and dedication these players spend on one game. However, to do so would be a disservice to all the other fantastic games and franchises that populate our planet.
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People tend to forget how powerful that franchise is.
7 yrs is too long.
WiiU day 1, hoping it doesn't disappoint too much in the long run.
Because the Wii U version MAY be the better version by a mile. Think of the difference between the PC/PS2 versions of Max Payne 2. The difference COULD be night and day given the Wii U's RAM and other technical advantages over current gen consoles.
Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3.
By the time the PS4/720 come out, the most expensive Wii U SKU will be $250-$300, making it the cheapest next-gen console.
It's not about what version is better with most gamers this gen it's about where your friends are so you can play with them on that system. Since GTAV will feature multiplayer like GTA4 and Red Dead I can see people sticking with the platform they got it on with the pervious installments and the ones there friends will get.
Unless all of them buy a Wii U...but I don't see that happening
I know it's a shame that most people today go where there friends are and not get the one where you'll get the best version but thats whats happened this gen
I agree however that what friends buy does have an effect on what you buy sometimes.
"Because the Wii U version MAY be the better version by a mile."
'May' eh? WiiUpgrade has no, or soon a low installed base. Low installed base consoles always get PORTS, they're not leading in development. Much like the PS3 got 360 ports because the 360 had a year head start. WiiUpgrade most likely gets a 360 port for the games that get announced for WiiUpgrade as the CPU's are similar. GTAV isn't announced for WiiUpgrade and probably won't, as Rockstar isn't interested in a console with no installed base while both 360 and PS3 are around 70 to 75 mln each...
"Think of the difference between the PC/PS2 versions of Max Payne 2. The difference COULD be night and day given the Wii U's RAM and other technical advantages over current gen consoles."
No, simply no. 'Could'? The CPU is lower clocked than the 360/PS3 in speed. The GPU might be a tad better. But a difference from PC and PS2? Never.
"Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3."
Ehr... Where is your crystal ball, you gotta show me that vision of yours. Maybe you want to clean and rub it better. Pretty sure Sony won't make the same mistake with PS4's pricing as they had with PS3. This time around BluRay isn't as expensive and high tech as in PS3. It'll be priced like a DVD player was this gen to put in a console. Be sure that Sony will launch at MAX 399 like the XBOX 8 will. Like how the PSVita launched at 250 while when it was announced everyone expected a price of 350, because the tech is much more advanced as the weak 3DS which was at 250 at that time too. PS4 will offer minimal advantage over PS3? Can you give me a link to the specs? Pretty sure Sony is trying to sell 4k reso TV's by then and some stuff leaked that they will get the PS4 to push and support 4k resolution. Much like they had PS3 push and support BluRay. If Sony showed anything lately, is that they still push the best tech possible for a reasonable price, aka again the stuff in PSVita compared to the low upgraded Nintendo DS with some gimmick 3D in it for the same launch price.
"By the time the PS4/720 come out, the most expensive Wii U SKU will be $250-$300, making it the cheapest next-gen console"
Errrrrrrrr pretty sure Nintendo kept the Wii for a long ass time on their launch price and they already said they will do the same with WiiUpgrade. Don't be so sure about the cheapest console. Oh and don't call it next gen, as the WiiUpgrade just about updates it to current gen 360/PS3. It ain't like 10x as powerful as current gen, so its not next gen. Thats about the steps that every real next gen gets, being 10 x as powerful as the last.
The WiiUpgrade being at 300 to 350 now makes it the most expensive CURRENT GEN console, with a new controller. That new controller ain't that impressive either, its just a blown up DS with a one touch panel, not even multitouch which every tablet, smartphone has nowadays, or a PSVita if you like.
Its the same thing they did selling the Wii, giving a non accurate weak Wiimote, and sell other gimmick hardware like WiiFits balance board or the Wiimote Plus addon to fix their own faulty inaccurate Wiimote.
360's basic model is the cheapest current gen console, even if you add Kinect as another control method its cheaper than the WiiUpgrade. PS3 superslim 12GB new model comes in at a recommended 230 bucks, but retailers are free in pricing it, which will lead to a 200 bucks pricelevel soon, being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than the WiiUpgrade too.
There will be no "By a mile" graphics leap for the Wii U compared to current gen. There will be minute differences just like you saw with Batman Arkham City.
How does anyone figure that the PS4 would have a minimal difference from PS3, yet the Wii U will surpass it by a mile? What planet does this guy live on?
There will be the odd franchise, but once PS4 gets released, it will leave the Wii U in the dust by miles. It won't even be close. It will be just like the current gen consoles. But it doesn't matter, because Nintendo doesn't care if it doesn't completely dominate in hardcore gamers. They will make a shallow attempt at it but nothing that will drive them further in the long run.
The "author" seems to spend forever trying to define a hardcore gamer as well. We already determined that casual gamers "ie. the Wii's audience" only buys a few games and that's it, there are very low software attachment rates in the casual audience. Hardcore is the opposite - high software attachment rates, someone who buys lots of games. That's it. It has nothing to do with your gamer score, or whether you play online or offline, or whether you collected every feather in Assassin's Creed. It has everything to do with how much money you spend - don't forget it, money is the measuring stick every company uses. They don't care if you beat their game on the hardest difficulty, they care that you bought it, and all the DLC they sold you afterwards.
And I never argued against that. What does that have to do with anything?
@Nutsack- Not reading that Berlin Wall of text..sorry.
They are mad, we shouldn't even bother trying to read all that text, seriously. I agree with you bro :)
"Also, when the PS4 launches(2014 or 2015), it will be at LEAST $399 for the cheapest SKU, and thats if it offers a MINIMAL advantage over the PS3."
It's clear you don't think it will have an advantage over PS3 yet the Wii U will suprass it by leaps and bounds. Try using better logic next time.
Bye!
With this economy I should eithe be extra rich or using all my money for videogames.
And if I would have 300$ to use, I think I would buy 5-6 new games, or much more if I decide to pick some title I missed at launch
"Hay your a fanboy" no, im happy with what ive got for now
So far everyone but sony has abandoned the hardcore this gen. But everyon has better marketing then sony for now.
In my opinion nintendo always makes innovative hardware but games? no.
I am satisfied with ps3 graphics until ps4.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
sure sony is making a smash bros but hey they have a great variety! I want this!
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
I still respect that nintendo raised bayonetta from the dead. That shows how serious they are. But until wiiU has a lot of games and it will probably be cheaper by the time I buy one I will play God of war.
I haven't loved nintendo since my Epic N64 so it's hard to just welcome them with a day 1 purchase. Especially when they market a next gen system with not even one next gen games.
I just wonder if every console will now have a screen?
Also I think the controller is not really innovative but a reaction to the tablet craze. Which also shows that they are eyeing the tablet/phone users. Everyone says it's innovative but really nintendo is just the first console maker to follow today's industry. I expect angry birds to be one of wiiU's biggest sellers.(not joking)
hardcore meaning? the thing 12 year olds like to call themselves to feel cool about playing call of duty, halo, gears, killszone, shooters etc?
or their hardcore fanbase?
because nintendo has certainly not abandoned its hardcore fanbase: smash bros, mario kart, 2 mario galaxies, donkey country returns, a 2D mario since the snes, kirby returns to dreamland, metoid corruption 3, and metroid trilogy
look you get the point, im gonna stop now.
"In my opinion nintendo always makes innovative hardware but games? no."
haha ok man, please tell me what is innovative? how many polygons a character is made up of? how many interactive cutscenes there are?
wiisports resort, mario galaxy, kirbys epic yarn are innovative to their genre
"Also I think the controller is not really innovative but a reaction to the tablet craze. "
OH REALLY???
oh here i thought nintendo was following the philosophy and design they used on the NINTENDO DS
you know with the camera, gyro sensors, two screens, touch screen so on
Excuses excuses....The only hardcore fans that Nintendo has are hardcore Super Mario fans and hardcore Zelda fans, thats pretty much it. And if the so called "pro controller" is as crappy as some game sites have said it is, then the only fanbase that the WiiU is going to attract are a bunch of little kids.
I think hardcore Nintendo fans will flock to this system and as rightfully they should. I think we all assume hardcore means PS3/Xbox uses yet I think Nintendo fans are some of the most hardcore gamers out there,
I think the Wii U has potential to attract some NEW hardcore gamers, as it has a very strong name due to the wii, and maybe it can attract some of the casual crowd.
I don't think it will steal away from the PS3 or Xbox 360 fanbase, but there are a lot of Wii owners who will get it off the name alone.
Either way, it is good for the industry, as many games are underselling at the moment, so if there is a bolstered up hardcore fan-base, then that equates to more sales/more money for hard working devs.
Bayonetta 2 might just be a hit on the Wii U, who knows.
God knows the Wii had several games that appealed to the "core gamers," but thy certainly weren't enough. I don't see any reason to expect differently of the Wii U.
And it doesn't help that Nintendo has been the "casual" console for decades. Hell, "core gamers" really haven't had much to do with Nintendo since the SNES era. Sony totally stole that demographic.
im gunna wait for the playstation 4.
yes it IS a gimmick
not opinion
gimmick does NOT equal bad, it CAN but it doesnt always
i dont think you even know the true definition of the word and just spew the same thing you hear around the web
just like the words innovation, core, gimmick
its true meaning has been lost with this new generation
but still, i cant see any real benefit a second screen can bring beyond displaying a map or a menu, just seems like it will be a distraction rather than something that can enhance an experience, but thats just me...shortsighted, maybe. time will tell huh..
I was actually very skeptical about the Wii U, but after seeing the controller with the screen, I think Sony and Microsoft have no choice but to have one as well.
Imagine getting used to looking at a map or your inventory without the need to pause the game?
I think by the time gamers get used to that, they won't want to go back to a standard controller.
Or maybe have a normal controller for most games, but for RPG's use that controller. Either way, it suprised me and I can say Nintendo made a great move.
I might get a Wii U after some of its exclusives come out, as right now it seems it is only getting the multi-plats we already have at launch.
To me, it's a dead end unless used in very specific ways and, let's just say, I didn't buy an HDTV to look at a low resolution screen when playing games. I don't look at my controller when I'm playing now, why would I want to do it on new consoles where, theoretically, they should be taking advantage of my TV much more?
It's an odd situation to bring DS tech to a home console because, unlike the DS, where you can quickly flick between two screens, unless you're holding the Wii U controller out in front of you as Nintendo's marketing implies people do, it's actually worse than pausing for a map or inventory screen in terms of inconvenience.
I'm thinking of Darksiders 2 here. The console versions had slow inventory switching, and coincidentally, it is coming out for the Wii U, and yet again, they are using the screen for the inventory.
It would definitely help for RPG's, as it still has the analog sticks. I'm not rushing out to get one, but I was impressed.
What happens when Sony or M$ implement a touch screen in there controller for their next consoles? Does it cease to be a gimmick then?
There's a name for folks like you..Starts with F and ends with Y..or ends with ing..But it definitely starts with F
Well Mr Arius, your arguement is null since nobody knows what microsoft and sony plan to do with there next iteration of consoles. Dual screens may become standard, they may not, we dont know this as fact...
That said, what if microsoft and sony go for power next gen. can we guarantee the wii u wont be left behind again, works both ways...
Sooo till then, id rather wait and see. Unkayyy
Cute. But doesn't answer the question posed. If Sony and M$ go for the Wii U like control pad will you consider those consoles built around a 'gimmick' as you call it.
And depending on your answer you could be describe as either a Fanboy or a F***ing tart lol. But since you didn't answer we'll just have to reserve judgement until the next Nintendo News Post ; )
But as far as the Wii U attracting those kind of gamers Its up to the gamers themselves....to some it doesn't matter what Nintendo does, they're not interested and to others they may give it a shot. Me personally I plan on eventually getting one but I also owned a Wii, NES and N64 so I've been a Nintendo fan for sometime so I wouldn't fall under the 360/PS3 only gamers. Although I wouldn't fall under the Nintendo only gamer either considering I own all 3 and have more games on my 360 than for my Wii.
I say stick to what you like, if your interested in Wii U then pick it up. If not, wait for the nextbox or ps4. There's no need to be political about it. Nintendo knows what they need to do, its up to gamers(and consumers as a whole) to make their choice. Simple as that.
Some people like you sure take it personal, like it's your wife cheating with your best friend and no matter what, your never looking back. Get a grip man.
Positives: alot of fun casual gaming, download some old nintendo/N64 games, free online, xbox like controller, maybe something kinda cool from the tablet gamepad.
Negatives and maybes: all the pre-orders are sold out of the black model, Id like too see the specs be a good notch over 7 year old xbox/ps3 tech, third party support?, no blu-ray player, and games are wont be discounted for at least several months after release.
the way I see it right now, and based on news coming from multiple sources, Nintendo's still on the right track on this.
It already has