110°

This Week in the Business: 'The Public Isn't Aware the Wii U Exists."

What's happened in the business of video games this past week .

Sandmano4447d ago

The Casuals dont know but the hardcore do, theres your problem Nintendo...

Mustang300C20124447d ago

Even the so called hardcore are not buying it.

Sandmano4447d ago

Thats my point, the hardcore know but dont want it.

_-EDMIX-_4447d ago

I was in a Best Buy in February returning something and saw the Wii U boxes sitting in the middle of the Isles and completely forgot they existed.

I also think it has to do with the lack of buzz that's going around about it I don't think its just marketing.

SilentNegotiator4447d ago (Edited 4447d ago )

Why should the casuals want it, though? Most of its games are currently on cheaper systems and touchscreens no longer wow people.

That's the problem. It doesn't have a fundamental attraction for the casuals and lacks in what impresses the other end of the spectrum (the hardcore). What can you expect without the support of the masses OR the support of the group that spends the most (per individual)?

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4447d ago (Edited 4447d ago )

HEY!

I am not trying to Flamebait,
-but if you are a Nintendo Fan (& If you Don't Mind)-

Please post something about the WiiU.

Either use it as your Profile Pick on Non-Gamer Social Media or Tweet it or make it your status.

Get the word-out to the Casuals.

PS Spare me the "That's not my job! Nintendo should have done that!"-Talk.
-I said, "(& if you Don't Mind)".

Raccoon4447d ago

I do mind, That's not my job! Nintendo should have done that!

LOL_WUT4447d ago

Why does he need to do it or anyone for that matter? It's Nintendo's responsibility to get the message across. ;)

WildArmed4447d ago

I think it'll gain more track once the other two big HD consoles are out.

People will begin to realise there is a nintendo counterpart for the upcoming gen.

With time it'll happen, esp. when people start talking about the games Wii U offers (and you build a game catalog over time, so it'll get there).

Mustang300C20124447d ago (Edited 4447d ago )

This makes no sense. Honestly ths sounds just like the same excuses said about Vita. If people want a Wii U they would get the Wii U. No one knows or cares for the system. No commercials. No shelve space in Best Buy and 3rd party not taking a chance to invest. I am sure price drops will help but if you are relying on a price drop to help your brand new console move in less than a year than you already lost. Along with appeal for games in addition to negativity towards the tablet controller getting a gimmicky vibe. People can hype and talk about impressions but they are not translating into sales

Games alone are not the solution. The initial impressions and lack of consumer knowledge it even exist is the issue. Just like the Vita.

_-EDMIX-_4447d ago

agreed a price drop pretty much means your system is not worth the money you're trying to charge for it. mind you the Wii U is pretty cheap compared to what PlayStation 4 and Xbox are going to cost

at this rate it's only going to get much more worse.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4447d ago

LOL

I meant what I said.
But Raccoon and LOL_Wut still made me laugh.

@WildArmed I think you may be right.
But I am going to do my part still.
I just want to get this dumb branding crap-out of the way so that it does not dampen my future WiiU investment.

Sony makes great games with movie like sensibilities, Microsoft has great Online, But Nintendo Rules Gameplay- I need All of these companies for the Industry to go where I want it to go.

@Mustang & -EDMix
Slow your horses there brohams. Aren't you forgetting something?

A: The PS4 and the XB720 have no quantifiable sales data as of yet. Using your logic the WiiU is 3.5 Million Units in the lead,

But we will see if that remains or if either Microsoft or Sony has a ruff start.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4447d ago
BullyMangler4447d ago

nice im lovin this . the wiiU is so underground rite now . sweeet!

LOL_WUT4447d ago

And how is that a positive thing? ;)

BullyMangler4447d ago

because only a select few know about the wiiU, the rest will find out about its presence when it is time.

Hicken4447d ago

Anything to not acknowledge the negative, huh?

It's not like it's doomed or anything, but at least admit the damned thing needs a marketing push.

fairyblaster4447d ago

Why don't you understand what the mangler just said? Pay close attention to the words he uses.
Confused you are lol.

Jek_Porkins4447d ago

Hope it doesn't become to hipster to own one, eventually those types of people are going to own one and I'll have to distance myself...lol

Seriously though, if this is true, maybe it'd be better if they stop making the standard Wii altogether? I think they can do a better job at advertising the Wii U, maybe rebrand it or something?

Not sure how the Wii and Wii U are confusing, but Xbox/Xbox 360 and PS1, PS2 and PS3 aren't? I think those all might be confusing to some.

rainslacker4447d ago (Edited 4447d ago )

I mentioned before launch that the U really had no context to it being the next Nintendo system. New names made sense in the old days when it was just gamers who brought this stuff(Genesis, Saturn, etc). Sony's 1/2/3 is a natural incremental increase that is universally understood to be a way to denote successors, and 360 made sense because it had some standing within the nature of gaming(3D works in a 360 degree world).

Wii U just tacks a letter onto the Wii name(notice not the Nintendo name), using the same nomenclature of every Wii accessory released for it's predecessor(WiiMote, Wii Fit, etc). On top of that, no one knows what the U stands for at all. Just some random speculation, which unfortunately doesn't light up the masses interest like the name Wii did.

Other than that, I do think people know about the Wii U, and know that it isn't the Wii. I've seen people I wouldn't consider gamers be able to talk about it. Realistically though looking at it now it just seems to be something that not many want. If it becomes hipster, then at least it can gain a better install base...for better or worse. I'm sure it'll find it's legs at some point in the future, but the waiting for games is become rather frustrating.

Jek_Porkins4447d ago

The thing that gets me is that Nintendo never focused on the console itself, it really isn't a console with a lot of personality in my opinion.

Nintendo focused on the tablet controller and that is all well and good, but when you unveil a new console, you should show the console! That would probably help people to understand that it is a new console, the Wii U looks like a slightly bigger Wii, but uses blocks to stand up, the Wii was actually much more aesthetically pleasing.

rainslacker4447d ago

Honestly other than the Wii being bigger, they look almost exactly the same outside of some of the angles used.

One thing that I think struck a chord with the consumer on the Wii was that they showed it being used in a family setting where everyone was having fun. Even the name "Wii" implied a group of people.

Wii U is simply negating that group feeling that drew in the casual crowd of the Wii. Showing that one lone person off in their own little world while others are having fun seems to make the whole notion of a tablet counter-intuitive to what made the Wii so successful.

On top of that, there is nothing about the tech itself which is really exciting. Motion controls were exciting(for many) on the Wii's launch as controllers were a barrier to many in gaming. Tablets have been around long enough and are so commonplace, it does nothing to really boost the appeal of the system.

I don't mind the tablet myself, I see potential in it, but it seems Nintendo would be better off making some must have games for the casual and hardcore to get it to sell. Stop worrying about the gimmick and leave that up to the devs to figure out, and instead push the system as a game machine instead of trying to make it into the next fad that was the Wii.

Grimhammer004447d ago

I think many casuals know that Nintendo does something for that system they bought before tablets and cell phones really took off.

They realize that other system that was so hot really had no games worth a damn. Maybe a dozen in its entire marketed lifespan?

This new system that Ninny is not really trying to sell...isn't much of anything to really be excited for. Old ips rehashed ad nauseum. (Yes that applies to the other consoles too. )

If Ninny wants to get attention...lets see some modern ips that aren't family oriented.

Basicly....lets see Nintendo grow up. Even if only a little.

Show all comments (25)
300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils2d ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent751d 10h ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils1d 2h ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

3d ago Replies(1)
isarai3d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning773d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher2d ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor2d ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde2d ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z1d 18h ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey861d 13h ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

2d ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (63)
90°

The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative is close to its final deadline

Ross Scott—also known as Accursed Farms on YouTube—has been fighting tooth and nail for almost a full year to help spearhead game preservation. Starting after it was announced that Ubisoft's The Crew would be shutting down, permanently ending support for the game, Scott launched the "Stop Killing Games" initiative.

That makes a twofold deadline for the Stop Killing Games initiative. Or, at least, one headed up by Scott: The UK petition, which ends July 14, and the EU Citizens' Initiative, which ends July 3.

M3talDiamond6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

If you live in the EU then Please sign this or our game ownership rights and game preservation is
at stake. I know there isnt much time left but please consider signing the petition

-Foxtrot5d ago

I never knew Ross Scott was doing this

I love Freemans Mind

Inverno5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

People whine and in the end don't do a thing. Then whine more when they get screwed some more smh. If this makes it then it'll be monumental for consumers. That Pirate software guy was no help either smh.

GazCBG4d ago

The EU Date is the 31st July not the 3rd

Show all comments (6)
170°

Xbox June Update: Copilot for Gaming Available on Mobile, Aggregated Gaming Library, and More

There are many exciting updates this month for Xbox. Copilot for Gaming is available now for early preview on mobile and will be coming to PC soon. Xbox PC app introduces a wave of new updates: Aggregated gaming library gives players quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass, and other leading PC storefronts, and with publisher channels players can browse their favorite franchises. Updates for the Xbox Console includes customization for Most Recently Used, free-to-play benefits, Game Hubs, and dialog improvements for game saves.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
darthv727d ago

"Players can now hide system apps, pin favorites to the list, and reduce the number of tiles displayed. This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to feedback."

This is welcomed, i like a less cluttered home screen.

Profchaos7d ago

Not everything needs co pilot ms

1Victor6d ago

Gotta be a slow news day when a 18 hours and 3 comments (now 4)makes it to the front page🤷🏿
.
Well anything that adds and help gamers is a good thing even if some don’t need it there’ll be more that will use it.

darthv726d ago

Well its MS news... those are usually pretty dry, unless it has something to do with another game being ported to PS. then its top of the pops.

Obscure_Observer6d ago

"Well its MS news... those are usually pretty dry, unless it has something to do with another game being ported to PS. then its top of the pops."

Oh look no further than the "Upcoming layoffs at MS" topic. It will easily top the Hottest of the week.

Special guests like Mr. Dead might also show up. You just watch.