Wii-U thoughts so far

[Violent By Design]

I dont get why people even care that much about the Wii-U not selling much.

I welcome that Nintendo isn't going to be the commercial whore that the Wii will be. I think it will be a Gamecube-esque console with a few games that make good use of its controller. It already has a much stronger library going into its 3rd year than the Wii did during the same time period.

It will get killed by the Playstation, and probably Microsoft as well bar an epic implosion, but it will make a profit and have its own market and audience.

People care because some, like me, bought it early on expecting it to be great and if it flops we just wasted our money. There's still only 4 or 5 games on the system that look good to me, which is sad considering it's entering the second year.

Well first off, that's a risk you will always take buying a system when it just came out. I don't even get why a retro gamer would do that, what about your backlogs?

I'm not even sure what the surprise is here. The Wii-U is an underpowered console, thats main software will be from Nintendo, and most of its 3rd party games will be niche games that no one really cares about even if they're quality - exactly like the Wii except without the commercial success. How can one buy the console without those expectations? (I don't mean this as an insult, but realistically, when you bought this console when it first came out, did you not go in expecting this?)

But I don't really understand what you mean by flop. The Wii-U isn't going to go under, if that is what you're suggesting.

Considering this was the first major year, 5 games is pretty good, though I think the Wii-U has a lot more than 5 good games for it. You've had more first hand experience with it, but I would be shocked if I couldn't find at least 10 games that are really good. Opinions will differ on this, but I honestly think the Wii-U has an impressive library.

[Zing]

No one has been paying $300+ for months now.

Um? MSRP for the Deluxe bundle is $300 + tax:

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp ... d=11902634

http://www.gamestop.com/browse/nintendo ... er+cs_wiiu

For someone that is spending so much time thinking about this system, you are not up to speed on pricing. As I said, you could buy the deluxe system for $250 or less literally any day of the week since late October. It has been on sale or part of a promotion constantly. Nintendo themselves sent out emails advertising the deals.

[Violent By Design]

I couldn't find any 250 Wii-U bundles last week, I know Gamestop had one with Windwaker but Walmart and Best Buy only had the 300 dollar Mario bros bundles.

[mjmjr25]

Really enjoying the Wii U. Have 5 games and they are all solid titles - and don't have any of the Nintendo stuff yet. 3 are exclusive and 2 games are not exclusive (Lego Marvel and Swap Force) but they are entirely different experiences w/the gamepad. In Lego Marvel, you can actually leave your partner and you each have your own screen - it's brilliant.

I never understand what people mean when they say something is "under powered" - seriously, what does this mean? Is it supposed to tow a boat? Or is it geek speak from other console fanboys to say look at our processor, it pisses up the flag pole further. Such silly stuff, at least to me.

I don't know how people can't find Wii U's under $250. I posted one on this site 3 weeks ago, advertised by Nintendo, $250 for the system AND 2 pack in games (physical, not digital: NintendoLand and Swap Force) and 3 skylanders figures. There were at least 3 other similar bundles at $250 at Walmart and Toysrus. Both sites offered free shipping.

[Aramonde]

Wow so many pages! lol

Okay so about Nintendo releasing a new console in 2015. That would be a HORRIBLE idea! All these customers who just bought a console in the last two years would feel burned and fucked over (i would). Not to mention the developers that are making games for the Wii U would feel burned and making more 3rd parties pissed at Nintendo. Nintendo have made there bed and have to lay in it for more a few years, at least till 2018 imo.

Now about the doom and gloom stuff. By looking into my crystal ball that i bought at the thrift store, i see Nintendo coming in 3rd place in console sales by the end of this generation but not by too much and i think Nintendo will be alright financially. Especially with the 3DS selling so good right now.

For me personally the Wii U isn't for me. I'm not into any of Nintendo's IP's anymore accept Metroid because i've never played any of the games and i want to try them out. But i haven't heard anything about a new Metroid game. Really the only game that has caught my eye is Hyrule Warriors. so i might pick one up years down the line when it's around $150 or so.

I think that lies the problem. There are not too many IPs that are exclusive anymore. The PC will (I think) always be the more powerful, so with that argument all multi-platform games should be played a PC. If you would rather a console it almost boils down to IPs in the end. Most hardcore gamers who care about power will have multiple consoles/PC.

Not all PC games are better than there console counterparts. And all console games don't immediately come out on PC. A lot of fighting games are starting to get ported over to PC but that's after the games had been out for a couple years so they were exclusive to consoles for that time frame.

[dsheinem]

VG Chartz is a notoriously bad source that has been known to outright make numbers up.

It's bad enough that NeoGAF outright blocks linking to the site.

Really? News to me. Why?

In any case, the VG Chartz article was the one offering a glimmer of hope, so I guess all the dependable articles are the gloom and doom ones

[dsheinem]

As I said, you could buy the deluxe system for $250 or less literally any day of the week since late October. It has been on sale or part of a promotion constantly. Nintendo themselves sent out emails advertising the deals.

There may have been lots of promotions, but that doesn't mean that A) they stayed in stock or B) I had the interest in keeping up with the promotions. A quick check on Amazon, Target, Gamestop, Toys R Us, etc. right now all come up @ $300+.

I considered putting a $100 Target gift card towards one last week but all their decent bundles were $300+, so I didn't. In any case, I think I'll be able to hunt down a new or used one with a few games under $200 by summer.

Really enjoying the Wii U. Have 5 games and they are all solid titles - and don't have any of the Nintendo stuff yet. 3 are exclusive and 2 games are not exclusive (Lego Marvel and Swap Force) but they are entirely different experiences w/the gamepad. In Lego Marvel, you can actually leave your partner and you each have your own screen - it's brilliant.

I never understand what people mean when they say something is "under powered" - seriously, what does this mean? Is it supposed to tow a boat? Or is it geek speak from other console fanboys to say look at our processor, it pisses up the flag pole further. Such silly stuff, at least to me.

What 3 exclusives are you enjoying, Mike?

The "underpowered" concept is in reference to what the main standards are for new game development in the industry - which right now is something closer to the PS4/X1 specs. It isn't that the Wii U can't power its own games and run them well, it is that it lacks the horsepower to play the latest/greatest/prettiest games on the market and thus won't get them (or will get gimped versions). That impacts purchase decisions for what many people see as an investment (in that it will remain "relevant") for many years. This "power" issue isn't factoring into my own purchase decision, but it does for many.

Every time I come into this thread and try to explain why I and so many others haven't pulled the trigger on buying a Wii U everyone gets all up in arms. Jesus. At least I intend to get one at some point, but all signs keep pointing to "wait" as the system flounders with its current library at its current price.

[AppleQueso]

VG Chartz is a notoriously bad source that has been known to outright make numbers up.

It's bad enough that NeoGAF outright blocks linking to the site.

Really? News to me. Why?

In any case, the VG Chartz article was the one offering a glimmer of hope, so I guess all the dependable articles are the gloom and doom ones

Sales did increase during during December, but that's almost entirely attributable to typical holiday stuff.

In terms of library and all that, I'm very happy with my Wii U. I bought it going in knowing full well that we're going to see a library that consists largely of Nintendo's first party games and a small trickling of quality 3rd party exclusives. That's just the way it's been with Nintendo systems going all the way back to the N64. The Wii didn't really change this either, as developers and publishers didn't seem to know what to do with the huge family audience that the Wii brought in when it launched.

If Nintendo's first party offerings don't really compel you to want to own the system (at least at its current price), then I don't really blame you for not wanting to get it. After all, that's pretty much the meat of any modern Nintendo home console library.

[dsheinem]

VG Chartz is a notoriously bad source that has been known to outright make numbers up.

It's bad enough that NeoGAF outright blocks linking to the site.

Really? News to me. Why?

In any case, the VG Chartz article was the one offering a glimmer of hope, so I guess all the dependable articles are the gloom and doom ones

Sales did increase during during December, but that's almost entirely attributable to typical holiday stuff.

In terms of library and all that, I'm very happy with my Wii U. I bought it going in knowing full well that we're going to see a library that consists largely of Nintendo's first party games and a small trickling of quality 3rd party exclusives. That's just the way it's been with Nintendo systems going all the way back to the N64. The Wii didn't really change this either, as developers and publishers didn't seem to know what to do with the huge family audience that the Wii brought in when it launched.

If Nintendo's first party offerings don't really compel you to want to own the system (at least at its current price), then I don't really blame you for not wanting to get it. After all, that's pretty much the meat of any modern Nintendo home console library.

I have far more third party exclusives for the Wii and Gamecube than I do first party Nintendo stuff.

[AppleQueso]

I have far more third party exclusives for the Wii and Gamecube than I do first party Nintendo stuff.

Those are also effectively "dead" systems who's libraries have already ran their course. It's a lot easier to pick out the good third party gems after the system has ran on for a few years I think.