Wii-U thoughts so far

[BoringSupreez]

At some point every company decides that developing games for a system is a cost risk that outweighs the anticipated return, and I am wondering how close Nintendo is to that point.

I think it is far too early for Nintendo to bow out of the console market. Not only are they coming off massive success with the original Wii, but the 3DS is very strong. Wii-U sales slumped because of poor marketing decisions and what I would consider an inferior launch line-up/lack of first-party games, but I firmly believe that the market can support AAA Nintendo titles. I really hope that the inclusion of Mega Man in Smash is a sign that maybe Capcom is considering a return to the character for Nintendo.

I seriously doubt that Mega Man in Smash means any more than Snake did. I don't know how anyone could look at Capcom's record over the past few years and be expecting anything good from them.

[Retrogamer0001]

At some point every company decides that developing games for a system is a cost risk that outweighs the anticipated return, and I am wondering how close Nintendo is to that point.

I think it is far too early for Nintendo to bow out of the console market. Not only are they coming off massive success with the original Wii, but the 3DS is very strong. Wii-U sales slumped because of poor marketing decisions and what I would consider an inferior launch line-up/lack of first-party games, but I firmly believe that the market can support AAA Nintendo titles. I really hope that the inclusion of Mega Man in Smash is a sign that maybe Capcom is considering a return to the character for Nintendo.

I seriously doubt that Mega Man in Smash means any more than Snake did. I don't know how anyone could look at Capcom's record over the past few years and be expecting anything good from them.

Hope springs eternal.

[pepharytheworm]

I doubt he really cares. He can't wait 'till it fails so he can get a good deal and add it to his complete collection of "failure" consoles (32x and 7800). I mean what kinda question is "Why would Nintendo continue to develop games for the Wii U?" Realisticly I am sure he knows the answer. What responses does one hope to get from statements and questions he poses? Hiding behind I am asking legitmate questions but says them in a way that he already has his answers or to make others question their own thoughts.

I'm not hiding. Right here, pep.

The question I asked is one of "what would it take for Nintendo to stop spending resources on developing games for the console?" or "At what point do sales have to be low enough for long enough for them to decide, internally first, that it is time to move on?". These are legitimate questions.

I agree those are legitimate questions, but you didn't ask that originally. I am also sure the responses to your original post will be very different than to responses to the above questions.

[darsparx]

The thing is we are still waiting on a "Zelda HD"(and I'm not referring to wind waker hd). So i think nintendo is trying to at least push that one out(if they can), then they move on to the next system. For all we know they may already have one coming or at least a update to the hardware(which we all know will probably remove wii functionality or might not since they are one in the same line)

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I too, wonder how long Nintendo will ride the Wii U out. I'd expect a new console holiday 2016 personally. I think they'll give it the solid 4 years it deserves. This year certainly looks packed with the heavy hitting games. Hyrule Warriors and Bayonetta 2 have Summer '14 release dates in Japan so the US versions will probably follow pretty closely, on top of Smash in Winter and Mario Kart 8 in a few weeks. I'd imagine Zelda U is also further along than we might expect.

However, third party support beyond indie developers is long gone and while I don't expect a price drop I don't blame anybody for holding off on the system. It has many great exclusive games considering how relatively new it is but you just wont find much else beyond those exclusive to play on the system.

I play mine almost every day and I love it. Yet, I look on my shelf and realize that it really is just an out of place system like the original Wii, but doesn't have the sheer numbers-sold power to bring more games to the system. It suffers from what I call Dreamcast syndrome. I didn't own a Dreamcast while new so I can't really say to how it felt then. Yet when I owned a Dreamcast a few years ago I got the exact same feeling looking at the shelf. Look at these few, really just god-tier games and then all the stuff that is simply not there. It's that combined feeling of longing for something it wasn't and wont ever be along with the remorse that I've invested so much into what will go down in history as a colossal flop.

Now then, back to Wonderful 101 and Wii Sports Club Golf. . .

[Exhuminator]

Man even Time magazine is all poopin' on the Wii U now: http://time.com/90801/nintendo-wii-u/

I'll buy one one day as a Wii backup player... along with a choice handful of games. Primarily X because how can you not buy that.

[AppleQueso]

The thing is we are still waiting on a "Zelda HD"(and I'm not referring to wind waker hd). So i think nintendo is trying to at least push that one out(if they can), then they move on to the next system. For all we know they may already have one coming or at least a update to the hardware(which we all know will probably remove wii functionality or might not since they are one in the same line)

They've been working on Zelda U for a while (heck some of the Wii U's features were probably made with it in mind), and they were going to show it at e3 last year, but backed out for whatever reason. Guarantee you'll see it at e3.

[darsparx]

They've been working on Zelda U for a while (heck some of the Wii U's features were probably made with it in mind), and they were going to show it at e3 last year, but backed out for whatever reason. Guarantee you'll see it at e3.

They better....it's not the "must-have" I've been holding out on getting a wii u for, it's just that I was drawn in by the trailer(which may or may not be accurate of the actual game), and they made it seem more like vapor ware than the retroN5 felt(I know that it's not vaporware but I stick by the comparison). I've probably got a decent list of games and probably more if I looked at the upcoming games list. Not to mention there's mario kart 8(which I will probably double buy and put on 3ds as well).

[RCBH928]

I think we will have to wait until Nintendo releases the usual high sellers like Zelda and Kart to give a final judgement on the console but they have to do it this year. I do not know of any console that had a difficult time with sales, waited for 3 years then released a good game and turned out to be successful. Usually hard-core guys buy the console in first year release, and by second year the good games start rolling making people adapt the new system and it only gets better and better.

If Nintendo waits for another 2 years then who knows whats going to be available on the XboxOne and PS4 as an alternative to Nintendo games. The upcoming years are probably the hardest years to make it in videogames as the number of successful platforms are just too many: iPhones, Androids, iPads, PS4. XboxOne, Steam, with honourable mention of GOG and Humble Bundle cheap and fun games. We still didn't mention upcoming streaming services like PS4 now.

[AppleQueso]

No the Wii U is fucked, best they can hope for is to keep it afloat at maybe Gamecube levels. It's "successful" in the sense that as far as I'm aware the system is still profitable, though performing WAY below expectations. Other than that... yeah.

I really like my Wii U too