E3

[EmpReb]

Just go buy an external HDD from Newegg when they are on sale. I have a 1TB already that I picked up for about $60 (pre Thailand floods) after rebate. Seriously you call you self a gamer and your not ready to pay for other stuff YOU WILL have to get along with a console to play. I am sorry but I see why us PC gamers look down on console only gamers. You guys do not do your home work.

[Apothem]

I'll save my criticism for next month when we'll hopefully know the definitive specs of the system. Until then all I can say is that I'm totally apathetic towards it. I simply just don't care. Nintendo continuously proves themselves to be the curmudgeonly old man, oblivious to the changing standards of their own business, failing to understand that a console is a multimedia device, not solely a personal arcade cabinet.

[Chris]

Just go buy an external HDD from Newegg when they are on sale. I have a 1TB already that I picked up for about $60 (pre Thailand floods) after rebate. Seriously you call you self a gamer and your not ready to pay for other stuff YOU WILL have to get along with a console to play. I am sorry but I see why us PC gamers look down on console only gamers. You guys do not do your home work.

Considering they are now planning downloadable titles, which would be in the region of 10-20gb each, it makes little sense to not ship with a reasonably sized hard drive for those of us who don't want external devices clogging up the place. I'm not going to pay extra for something that they should have in place from the start, just like a 2nd circle pad on the 3DS.

I'm PC gamer also.

I'll save my criticism for next month when we'll hopefully know the definitive specs of the system. Until then all I can say is that I'm totally apathetic towards it. I simply just don't care. Nintendo continuously proves themselves to be the curmudgeonly old man, oblivious to the changing standards of their own business, failing to understand that a console is a multimedia device, not solely a personal arcade cabinet.

I feel a bit the same these days though I'm not all that bothered about the multimedia aspect of game consoles as I have my PC for that stuff but see what you mean though, it's expected now by many others out there, just because I don't personally need that stuff doesn't mean I think they shouldn't aim for that in same way just because some folk already have external drives doesn't mean they shouldn't include an internal one.

I'm getting fed up with gaming in general though not just with Nintendo.

[Naner]

I'll save my criticism for next month when we'll hopefully know the definitive specs of the system. Until then all I can say is that I'm totally apathetic towards it. I simply just don't care. Nintendo continuously proves themselves to be the curmudgeonly old man, oblivious to the changing standards of their own business, failing to understand that a console is a multimedia device, not solely a personal arcade cabinet.

Yet they are the only ones who don't do their best to screw their fans over with on-disc DLC, stupid DLC, online passes, shitty multiplayer for the sake of shitty multiplayer, yearly releases of everything, and all that shit we have to take from the other publishers. It's neat to have a console as a multimedia center, but many of us already have at least three other devices that can do that - even the TVs themselves are now media centers. I say focus on the games. And that Nintendo does like no other.

Considering they are now planning downloadable titles, which would be in the region of 10-20gb each, it makes little sense to not ship with a reasonably sized hard drive for those of us who don't want external devices clogging up the place. I'm not going to pay extra for something that they should have in place from the start, just like a 2nd circle pad on the 3DS.

If the drive came built into the system, you'd have to pay extra anyway. You can get a 1TB drive for little more than $100, and that's probably more than you'll need for a long time...

I'll just use the 320GB drive I used to USB-load Wii games.

[Chris]

If the drive came built into the system, you'd have to pay extra anyway. You can get a 1TB drive for little more than $100, and that's probably more than you'll need for a long time...

It should be cheaper if it's included though? (the cost of the drive not console) By all means still allow external ones but something sizable already in there would be nice.

[Naner]

We don't even know how large the internal flash memory is. If it's 32GB or 64GB (unlikely but hopefully possible), it's sizable enough for most users.

[Chris]

We don't even know how large the internal flash memory is. If it's 32GB or 64GB (unlikely but hopefully possible), it's sizable enough for most users.

Yeah that should be enough for stuff like patches and some DLC.

[Naner]

Yeah. The priority is having space for saves, patches, DLC, demos, videos and smaller download-only titles. For that, 32GB or 64GB does the job. Then, if you're really interested in downloading larger titles, you can get an external HDD. If you're the type of person who doesn't have a problem with deleting games after playing them (I do), you can do with nothing but the internal memory for quite a while.

And, considering 32GB SD cards cost around 30 bucks, it's pretty possible. The system will probably also come with a bundled 2 or 4GB SD card like the 3DS does.

[Apothem]

Yet they are the only ones who don't do their best to screw their fans over with on-disc DLC, stupid DLC, online passes, shitty multiplayer for the sake of shitty multiplayer, yearly releases of everything, and all that shit we have to take from the other publishers. It's neat to have a console as a multimedia center, but many of us already have at least three other devices that can do that - even the TVs themselves are now media centers. I say focus on the games. And that Nintendo does like no other.

The market has moved away from the sensibilities of old and consumers now demand more from their technology. Not just improved graphics and hardware gimmickry but improved and expansive functionality. A pure console is a liability in the current market wherein everything does everything. You need to either stand out from the crowd, or with them and provide a better service. Previously, Nintendo stood out with their waggle controls, which was apparently new and exciting enough to sell consoles like hot cakes, but what is the company bringing to bear now?

Unless the tablet controller is a phenomenal hit with the casual market, Nintendo's now primary consumer base, then they're otherwise left to compete directly with Microsoft and Sony in the hardcore market with a system that will most probably be inferior in both capability and functionality. You need to diversify yourself in this industry. Phones are no longer just phones, TVs are rapidly becoming more than just TVs and computers have long since moved away from simple computational devices. A console cannot simply be a console anymore. That's not to say Nintendo won't make money. That is to say it will impact their business.

Nintendo needs to appeal to a broader market, again. They effectively created the console casual market with the Wii, but what use is the Wii U to people who barely understand what gaming is? If the system's lagging software sales are any indication than most people bought a Wii, maybe Wii Sports Resort and some shovelware, and than never bothered with it again. Most (not all) casual consumers wanted the Wii because it was "That bowling game!" not because they were interested in Nintendo or gaming in general. A lateral upgrade to such a system isn't something that consumer base is going to care about. You need to make them want it by allowing it to do more.

Nintendo can't quite rely on the hardcore market either. It's almost guaranteed that their first party titles, baring some unfortunate missteps, will be quality releases but the company's been sorely lacking in third party support for the last decade. The Wii U has such support, now, tenuously, but that's no guarantee support will, or can, be maintained. Hardcore gamers have either written off the Wii, and by proxy the Wii U, entirely as "That kiddy casual console." or are leery of the Wii U due to the general lack of overall support for the Wii.

Unless Nintendo hits one out of the ball park come E3 and completely proves me wrong, something still entirely possible which I'd actually welcome, then the present prevalent attitude of apathy towards the console isn't likely to change anytime soon.

[Naner]

The market has moved away from the sensibilities of old and consumers now demand more from their technology. Not just improved graphics and hardware gimmickry but improved and expansive functionality. A pure console is a liability in the current market wherein everything does everything. You need to either stand out from the crowd, or with them and provide a better service. Previously, Nintendo stood out with their waggle controls, which was apparently new and exciting enough to sell consoles like hot cakes, but what is the company bringing to bear now?

Unless the tablet controller is a phenomenal hit with the casual market, Nintendo's now primary consumer base, then they're otherwise left to compete directly with Microsoft and Sony in the hardcore market with a system that will most probably be inferior in both capability and functionality. You need to diversify yourself in this industry. Phones are no longer just phones, TVs are rapidly becoming more than just TVs and computers have long since moved away from simple computational devices. A console cannot simply be a console anymore. That's not to say Nintendo won't make money. That is to say it will impact their business.

Eh... I don't know. I still think there comes a time when having 10 different devices sharing many of the same features hooked up to the same TV becomes superfluous. Multimedia support helps, but it definitely doesn't make or break a system.

Nintendo needs to appeal to a broader market, again. They effectively created the console casual market with the Wii, but what use is the Wii U to people who barely understand what gaming is? If the system's lagging software sales are any indication than most people bought a Wii, maybe Wii Sports Resort and some shovelware, and than never bothered with it again. Most (not all) casual consumers wanted the Wii because it was "That bowling game!" not because they were interested in Nintendo or gaming in general. A lateral upgrade to such a system isn't something that consumer base is going to care about. You need to make them want it by allowing it to do more.

I agree that there's a challenge in making casuals buy a new system. But but does the more need to stray that much from gaming? The 3DS can play music and both it and Wii can play videos from Netflix and Hulu. Support for other services like Amazon Instant is more than likely, and we already know Wii U will feature a drawing and video chat app, and it'll certainly have more along those lines. And I think they should try to focus on Twitter and Facebook support, but we'll have to wait to know about that. Those are all things that appeal to non-gamers. They'll need a big marketing strategy, but they can pull it off.

Nintendo can't quite rely on the hardcore market either. It's almost guaranteed that their first party titles, baring some unfortunate missteps, will be quality releases but the company's been sorely lacking in third party support for the last decade. The Wii U has such support, now, tenuously, but that's no guarantee support will, or can, be maintained. Hardcore gamers have either written off the Wii, and by proxy the Wii U, entirely as "That kiddy casual console." or are leery of the Wii U due to the general lack of overall support for the Wii.

The GameCube had plenty of third-party support - it certainly wasn't far behind the other systems, if at all. Everything seems to indicate Wii U will feel more like a GameCube than a Wii. Third-parties are very obviously interested and even amazed by the system. Various developers have praised its power and simplicity. Since it's the first eight-gen system, it's very possible that the next Xbox and PlayStation will overcome it in terms of sheer processor power. But, unless Microsoft and Sony want to put a $600 price tag on their systems again, don't expect it to be anywhere near what happened this generation. Even if the games don't look their very best on the system, they will be on it.

Unless Nintendo hits one out of the ball park come E3 and completely proves me wrong, something still entirely possible which I'd actually welcome, then the present prevalent attitude of apathy towards the console isn't likely to change anytime soon.

I understand your skepticism, but I don't think we'll be disappointed. There are so many third-party games already confirmed for Wii U, and there are quite a few others that are almost certainly coming to it. And, to top it off, there are various Nintendo teams whose projects are unannounced so far. We know we'll see Pikmin 3 and New Super Mario Bros. Mii, but what about what Retro, Monolith and so many of their studios' next games? I don't think Sakamoto has been working just on Rhythm Heaven Fever since 2010.

Leave Luck To Heaven.

[Zynux]

I'll save my criticism for next month when we'll hopefully know the definitive specs of the system. Until then all I can say is that I'm totally apathetic towards it. I simply just don't care. Nintendo continuously proves themselves to be the curmudgeonly old man, oblivious to the changing standards of their own business, failing to understand that a console is a multimedia device, not solely a personal arcade cabinet.

Yet they are the only ones who don't do their best to screw their fans over with on-disc DLC, stupid DLC, online passes, shitty multiplayer for the sake of shitty multiplayer, yearly releases of everything, and all that shit we have to take from the other publishers. It's neat to have a console as a multimedia center, but many of us already have at least three other devices that can do that - even the TVs themselves are now media centers. I say focus on the games. And that Nintendo does like no other.

I give Nintendo some credit for not being complete assholes in that regard, but that's not to say their hands are clean. Nintendo is just as bad when it comes rehashing, remakes galore, and relying too much on nostalgia to sell a product instead of innovation. Also, it really is only a matter of time before Nintendo becomes an asshole publisher like everyone else and start shitting out Disc-Locked Content and the like.

Also, like Apothem said, just being a gaming console isn't good enough anymore. I full heartily agree that consoles don't need the extra garbage but at the same time if Nintendo wants to stay a competitor then it really needs to catch up.

[color=#FF0000]Nintendo needs to appeal to a broader market, again.

This a thousand times. I'm still convinced that Nintendo's casual route was a huge mistake that made me dislike the Gamecube's backwater philosophy and abhore the Wii. However, Nintendo won't stop: they made huge wads of Cash from the Wii because of awful waggle-controls and they will most likely do it again.

Unless Nintendo hits one out of the ball park come E3 and completely proves me wrong, something still entirely possible which I'd actually welcome, then the present prevalent attitude of apathy towards the console isn't likely to change anytime soon.

I personally have more of a cautious optimism for the Wii U; I feel that it might fix a lot of the problems that I had with the Wii and make it have a broader appeal. But only time will tell.

[doc O. Mire]

I will reserve all judgments until next month. Although, it seems nintendo is trying to go the direction of multimedia-platform everyone seems so worried about:

So voice chat, what seems to be picture creation and editing, internet surfing, hopefully netflix connection, etc. Seems like they'll meet those ridiculous requirements smartphones and Sony-soft have set for them.

My interest in the wii u right now is like the proverbial curious feline. Curiosity may kill the cat, but satisfaction could bring it back. Here's hoping nintendo's E3 leave me satisfied...

[Apothem]

So far, the most exciting bit of news to come Nintendo's pre-E3 wankery:



Truly, a thing of beauty.

Now don't get me wrong, the tablet's interesting and has potential, but it's nice to see Nintendo properly supporting the traditional control scheme as well, hopefully out of the gate. Always nice to have options, both for consumers and developers. It'll be important, moving forward, in securing more third-party cross-platform support by not forcing developers to use motion or touch screen gimmickry. It's almost assuredly not going to come with the console, so who knows how much use it'll get, but good that it's there all the same.

[Zynux]

Agreed. Hopefully it gets used a lot, since like you said, always nice to have options for gameplay and not just force them to use motion controls. Now it really comes down to whether the tablet will actually be comfortable or not.

[okey]

Hmmm...