Why Wii U Is Next-Gen Whether You Like It Or Not

GR writes: "The next generation of consoles began exactly two weeks ago, and to a lot of people it’s been a difficult reality. Yes, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are now last-gen. No, that doesn’t mean you have to stop playing them. It has been a long time coming, but instead of many greeting the eighth generation with open arms, they’ve been quick to attack the Wii U for not raising the bar… or so they say. The truth is it certainly has, and here are a few reasons why it’s next-gen whether you like it or not."

[Sev]

The only reason why people are hating on the Wii U is because of the Wii. I understand why people would do that, but the Wii U is a completely different beast. For some reason, it feels to me like the SNES did when I first got that. I see so much potential.

[doctorstrange]

Plus people aren't happy that it's not exactly the most powerful machine out there

[jmc8888]

Lots of people are going to be upset with the power of this generation. They want what doesn't exist. Then want it before a PC. Utilizing less power and costing 1/10th as much as it will.

The tech has stalled, needing more cores, more graphics cards, and more power needed all at a time when we're at 1080p or above resolution.

People want the 720/PS4 to rival a 700-1500 watt PC with graphics cards as expensive as consoles and some twice as much, and some PC's have two of them.

Sorry ALL of these generation consoles are going to underwhelm people unless they flat out lie to themselves (which will happen). You see the same thing regarding PS3 vs 360 these past few years. The 360 was generally better, and usually had a few more FPS, but overall they were basically the same.

The brass tacks facts are that the PS4/720 will need to be around 200-300 watts. The 360 RROD was with a 315 or so watt system. So yeah, they COULD go over. But they also want reliability after paying out over a billion dollars just to sort of fix the RROD issue.

Again 315 watts at a time when most systems used 500-700.

Now they're going to go for less when most PC systems have 700-1500 watts.

Also people want them CHEAPER than last time, yet the dollar has devalued 75 percent since that last time.

Also there will be add-ons that cost money to produce. Wii U has gamepad. 720 has Kinect 2 + hand manipulatior. PS3 ????? Hard to think they won't have something, but we don't know.

Also they don't want to take a loss or much of one to start this generation. Unlike last time.

So overall you have money that is worth less (or worthless) trying to create a system that costs less yet has add-ins that the last console didn't have and has to be priced more to what it costs than last time.

Read between the lines. Those systems, aren't going to be beasts. They'll ALL be nice. But the constraints are real. Sony and MS don't invent the tech, they buy the tech from OTHERS who create it and they sign deals to provide it to them. Sony doesn't make the processor or GPU, they are a 3rd party. Just like Microsoft. Just like Nintendo.

[DwightOwen]

@jmc8888

Leave, and take your logic and common sense with you.

[JonnyBigBoss]

I agree 100%. If it weren't for the motion controls of the Wii it would have been another widely-loved console. Sure, the motion controls were unique, but most gamers who are into N4G and online gaming forums just want a standard controller.

Guess what? The Wii U has a standard controller, but it just has a massive screen on it. Games don't necessarily have to use it but it adds an option for developers to create unique experiences.

[sal77]

I agree with this article, if you play the Wii U you'll see its next gen and it's potential.

[insertcoin]

The Wii U is out now. So it's current-gen.

[Oaklnd]

It is pretty diverse.

[BitbyDeath]

I'm sure people would be a lot more impressed if we could see how that Zelda game is looking.

[decimalator]

I would say that the Wii U has some next gen gameplay opportunities, but as far as visuals it's not going to do anything beyond the PS3 or 360. If anything, the Wii U brings the Wii up to generation 7.5, which would be Xbox + Kinect and PS3 + Move.

But does it really matter?

What really matters is how developers make use of the capabilities of the hardware. If it's like the early days of the PS3 where 3rd party developers didn't really know how to take advantage of the Cell architecture, you're going to get some shitty ports for Wii U, or developers just won't put out a Wii U version, or the Wii U version will come out months or years later.

That is what is going to hinder the Wii U more than anything else. The early years will be a struggle -- it lacks the power to do really cutting edge stuff that developers have figured out how to do late in this generation for PS3 and 360. Cross-platform titles either won't support Wii U or will be watered down. Once the PS4 and NeXtBox release, developers will understand the Wii U a little more -- but it will be severely underpowered compared to the newer consoles.

Wii U will need first party and exclusive games that make good use of its capabilities.

[knifefight]

Wii-U is current gen, PS3 and 360 are last gen. This is just math.