tapedeck

Appealing to the modern kids means: Mario Paintball Duty Peaches selfy adventure Yoshi's YOLO story Wario's ADHD Adventure Interesting what will come out of this. As good as their games are, titles like pikmin, W101 and Wii Party U won't compete with the 'cool' SONY and MS games. There are perception issues...again.

I think Off-TV play was a primary intention. Certainly if you read Sherry Turkle's book 'Alone Together: why we expect more from technology and less from each other' (which Iwata cited as an influence on the WiiU tablet decision), the way you can game beside family on the couch while they watch the main TV, there's your functionality. Sadly, it seems that the GamePad is a jack of all trades, master of none.

This is the problem with the ideology of the WiiU. If Nintendo DO use the GamePad, core gamers call it gimmicky and not needed. If they don't use it, it breeds concern from other sections of gamers. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't with this console. I'm not sure it will ever go away. I haven't missed the GamePad functionality at all - primarily enjoying the setup that the Pro controller allows (uber comfort). Must say though that the GamePad makes a stunning jukebox for this game though.

If you DO mean SMW3D... I'm sure I did it in the following order: Hisstocrat - get cat suit(s). Use the advice above (hit two at once) Rolling rock dude. Get. Hit in straight away. Square fence guy who falls face down. Run straight up to him, then hit him. Then stand in middle, then middle right square. Quick and easy. All the rest are pretty easy. Last one can take some time. Just go for the main boss. Ignore blobs. That's what worked for me...

I'm sure all models do. Mine isn't a PS2 capable machine and works with ps1 disks. Definitely great games. Thought they may appeal to your gaming sensibilities.

Looks the business, evoking an N64-era atmosphere for me. Have been keeping an eye on this. Thanks for reminding me.

Bit late but sure that's ok. I've been playing this lately as have bought a few GC games as I sold my console and games years ago when the Wii came out. I'm onto the port level. It's still a marmite game in the series to me. I really enjoy it when Mario has the FLUDD but without it he's really clippity cloppity and almost 'too sensitive' to control. That's what makes the block bonus worlds so hard too. I remember this being a flaw when I played it at launch and I never thought it controlled as well as Mario64, which is strange considering it was built on a foundation. Might be just me though... As others have mentioned, the blue coins irked. I didn't like the new swimming controls over Mario64’s and the way you had to get a specific star 90% of the time was a backward step over the freedom in 64. The EDGE review at the time said it was the second best platformer of all time. I think nintendo have bested it in subsequent outings but it still remains a brilliant platformer. The FLUDD adds a variety to the play and the water and atmosphere in general is lovely. I remember Miyamoto saying Mario would be more mature on the GC. This was definitely achieved via the setting of the game having character - a more 'real world' as opposed to the Mushroom Kingdom/outer space etc. the way the world was connected really made Isle Dolphino have character. Unfortunately I think the setting somewhat limited the games scope. I'm glad Nintendo added the various bonus sections for variety sake - and I'm glad they went back to the variety model in Galaxy/3D world seen in Mario64. A great curio in the Mario series. One where you really felt the winds of change blowing through Nintendo. They gave Mario a 'contraption' a real-world setting and for that it will always be a fascinating entry in the series. If we're giving ratings. I'd give the game 8/10 shine gets.

Got to the future. Chased some rats, tried to put a code in a machine...and ended up in a room 'far away' (hint). I remember that grinding was what I needed to do to progress. And I hate grinding :-( enjoyed what I played though. May finish it when I'm in an old folks home. The future sections will probably be eerily truthful by then. Had a beautiful atmosphere though. And the music was immense.

Yeah, I got it off eBay when the PS3 launched. Paid £15. Had original poster etc. worth every penny but just CANNOT get past the chicken cookery show stage. Seriously, have spent hours doing it over the past few years. Still love the game though I agree with god of War. Surprisingly found myself enjoying them. The PSP games in 3D look lovely too. @RedShell have you played Flower and journey?

Great to see a thread for this. Watched both films over the last week. What the hell was I waiting for? The story has just entranced me. It is in my mind constantly. I can't get enough, I now want to read the next book. But...kinda now think it may ruin the films. Hmmm. Undecided. Either way. Just sublime. So much depth to it all. It says so much about humanity and the themes running throughout are handled with care and intrigue. The ending of Catching Fire is up there with The Matrix (first one) for me. Brilliant films, story and the visuals were awesome too.

Nice to see this working on the WiiU browser...(cut the rope in HTML5) It's a third party game at least... http://ctr.clay.io/

Iwata is a progressive, forward thinking CEO who has brought Nintendo out of their own shadows with Nintendo directs, Miiverse social integration and a sense of humour. He also greenlit the Wii and DS showing he has the bullet bills in his trousers to be of benefit to this industry. However, as a prior game designer I think he focuses on the internal games at Nintendo too much. You would think he would want to know what developers were up to and to expand his own horizons more by exploring gaming concepts and relationships with other companies as well. I feel like Nintendo as a whole are only starting to do this again with Lego/W101/Bayonetta2/Hyrule Warriors/Fire Emblem crossover. I also think they were burnt in the past with Namco's take on StarFox and Team Ninja's Metroid attempt. I believe historically, Nintendo were in the zone with Wii riding high on their fit/minigame/waggle concepts. This made Nintendo even more insular in regards to working with developers. Especially when few other big developers (certainly in the west) showed an interest in Wii. I can just imagine them messing about all day with motion control - sawing, shooting, riding bikes, lunging, fencing. Bet it was like warioware at times and then they forgot to put games out... I'd like to see Nintendo come out fighting and I think Iwata, as a developer will do this - albeit slowly. Sacking a CEO over one major blip is a western approach. Cut-throat. Focused on the bottom line. Focused on immediate financial returns. Not a Japanese 'culturally different' approach where work is arguably focused on honour, prestige and a team approach. I know that if you sack someone instantly over one poor performance, the rest of the staff become worried. It breeds instability. What next? Miyamoto makes a game that bombs and they sack him or stifle his creativity? That's not the Nintendo ethos. It should be applauded in an industry obsessed with 'the next big thing' all of the time. I just think he needs time. Nintendo turned the 3DS around and have invested a ton in staff and new development facilities -- which will bear fruit in time. They have used the Wii money wisely in my opinion, using it to grow internally at a slow rate sure, but nonetheless, with everything happening in Japan in relation to economics and the structure of their country - this was arguably a wise approach in the long term. But it HAS affected WiiU software, clearly. I look forward to a Nintendo that does move forward. Time will tell if that is the case, but as believe Iwata to be the man for the job. Please understand. :p

Obviously delighted at the result as a Sunderland fan...penners were poor. Looked like our players were dead on their feet. Was a superb semi final in the end. Will be off to the final and hope we can continue to be City's bogey team! Also: we're looking much better under Gus Poyet - who has worked wonders tbh. Just need a better striker. Dozy I'llnotscore is really struggling.

Just spent entire day listening to the tracks. Had them on in the car. Sooooo good.

The U in the logo is almost nondescript leaving it just looking like 'Wii'. As many have said, re-brand it like SONY did with the PS3. Also: get relevant games for the young generation if you are struggling to get mature content. (Any content!) A game like Minecraft should be a no-brainer with Nintendo's market/free online and touch screen. Seems too obvious.

Yep. You'd think they would have great pre-orders to attract some buzz. Great music on that last video though...

Quite like this article (ironically has a COD advert plastered in the middle...) http://www.nowgamer.com/features/2246174/nintendo_isnt_the_problem_you_are.html

Yeah, I agree. that Miiverse 'app' is frustratingly late too. It would give Nintendo 'window appeal' on an apple device as well as allow people to browse games people are playing on 3DS and WiiU. A Wii version would have been good too. No reason not to have a Miiverse channel just to browse WiiU/3DS games, but too late now. Like they did with Pokemon, a Nintendo app with the Mario/Zelda cartoon shows would have been a great use of their IP on the App Store. Even an app with 'the history of Mario' or some other ip would be good.

Here, here. I agree with this. There is a load of discussion about the WiiU being a bad product purely because people aren't buying it. I'm not sure sales define quality or what the market wants due to the power of Nintendo's opposition. There are two huge companies who have pursued a mature, Westernised approach to this industry and have thrown money at all and sundry until their approach has yielded results. This approach has commodified this once varied industry resulting in a segregation between the 'next best thing' and an 'indie' market - usually by using graphics as a barometer. Unfortunately, Nintendo are slated for using their best-selling franchises to keep their systems/heads in the game. Nintendo aren't perfect. Far from it. They are traditionalists, insular and take time to adapt to change. But their games are still a shining example of how fun this industry can be. I would hope that their unusual hardware and software will always keep them in the game.

A agree 100%. Name is still stupid. Wii was ok but to then add another letter after? Sounds more like the noise Mario a makes when he jumps. Re-brand, re-promote but more importantly, get the core franchises on the system that Wii missed. StarFox etc. Nintendo could set up an 'ask Iwata' page where you can poll for games to be developed. This would allow the consumer to say what they want and perhaps influence the decisions of what franchises to re-do at Nintendo. Trouble is they make games to fit mechanics. They need to start leveraging their content. With more sequels in a similar vein to what they did with SMG2. They also need EA (FIFA) support if they want the west back.

A music game wouldn't go amiss. Just a nice suite of tools that we could use to build/play with. Multi-touch means guitar strumming/piano chords would be hard, but a tool like the Korg Synth on the 3DS would be good. Share ditties (midis?) on a Miiverse page and (if they are brave), call it Wii U Music. Then @RedShell and me would be happy. An eShop release would be perfect. Nintendo need to bring unique content to the system but also content that sells. Target musicians, sports fans, racing fans and have games like New Star Soccer on the eShop and the Kairosoft 'Dev' games there too. Perfect little games that can be enjoyed in-depth or on the GamePad. Just get games on the shop!

T'was a fun review for N-Europe.

Wait...Allan is still alive? Thought he was a goner after the trauma of part one. Moral of the story: girls always come back when you call them by another name?

Nintendo sales talk is huge news to this industry as we're all concerned. Seems like click bait with the timing and I don't recall a similar article for the PS3/4 or 360/XBone. Maybe this represents a bias? When I visited IGN the other day I was greeted by a HUGE XBone advertisement covering their article. How can they be impartial with such representation all over their website? At least Euroganer went and researched a developer who has worked with WiiU. A better approach would have been to interview a current developer and then have presented one article arguing both sides of the story. This would have represented a broader approach and gained more respect. A lot of what is represented is only anecdotal evidence but, if true, represents an interesting insight into the internal workings of Nintendo at least.