tapedeck

Yeah, they must have known about this earlier then.

Nintendo should just pay Ubi to release it early and thus cover such costs. I know there's an argument for them not doing this but it is probably worth the investment. Especially if the game is finished. Perhaps they decided to add NFC functionality or know that the next consoles from MS/SONY are backwards compatible?

Well...that's a shame *cancels pre-order*. The worst thing is that it'll probably get swamped by other stronger IP's nearer Christmas like its predecessor did last time. 3D Mario/Mario Kart VS Rayman 2D. Seems like Ubisoft are the idiots!

Deeelighted. Love AC3 and it should come to Wii U for definite!

Deeelighted. Love AC3 and it should come to Wii U for definite!

Deeelighted. Love AC3 and it should come to Wii U for definite!

Fludd! EDIT: just seen 'other' thread: GENIUS! Interesting read. Shame NST are heavily involved. Shouldn't they have them making Wave Race/1080 games?! Also: great how they passed the baton and the Japanese teams worked while the American team slept and vice versa. That's what should happen to make them complete games quicker! Get Miyamoto and co. to start developing Wave Race tracks and NST to add elements when Shigs and co. are asleep. Then when Miyamoto wakes up he goes mental at the breakfast table and changes it all. Then when NST wake up the next day it's a totally different game! That would be a good Iwata asks!

Off-TV functionality? Selling point. Flexibility for gamers (the very core of this system it seems). Instantly shows Wii U functionality. Because I want it (and every Wii U game should have it!)

I believe there will be a few touch screen elements as well as some motion control again. Maybe just for first person viewing. But if Nintendo want their first party games to all have off-TV functionality perhaps this will be dumbed down slightly? I honestly have no idea what Nintendo will do with the 3D Mario games from one to the next. That's what makes it so exciting!

Looks like a Saturday morning cartoon...when I was eight yr old! Brill!

I ended up really hating AC 1 & 2 and rented revelations before thinking: sod it. Got this for Christmas and it just sat there. When I finally sat down to it I couldn't tear myself away from it. The range of settings makes it infinitely more interesting rather than just being in another town/city. I also like the fact that it's not...well, boring. When you are running through a vast mountainous forest only to stumble upon a small farming village in the middle of nowhere which is set apart from the ever-expanding 1700 New York it just hits you how things were back then. Ubi nailed this setting. You can get lost in it for days. The other games in the series seemed to rely too much on their mechanics and backdrops forgetting that fun is what makes a game. You would just climb another non-descript building after another too, escaping the 'GTA' alike Police radar. I found this too stressful when wanting to explore the history/rich backdrop elements of the game. Yet AC3 brings the fun like no other game in the series in my opinion. I think it's because you are given room to breathe in the context of the games setup which strangely makes it feel even more vast. For those who haven't played it on other systems a £20/£25 price point is superb for such an amazing game. If you don't like this as an action adventure I have no idea what you would like. It has a bit of everything in it.

This is win-win in my opinion. Console gaming now needs to meet people's busier lifestyles and should be portable. Portable gaming has continued to evolve to where we see games that would have been console experiences only a few years back. (luigi's Mansion could be a recent example). The 'smaller' games on portables also have a home as a console game due to their built in shops and the quick-burst nature of portable games can find audiences on any platform. I don't see the problem. Infact, it makes total sense as Nitnendo aren't getting massive third party support so need to leverage what they develop. If I could sit down and play Kid Icarus on Wii U or play New Super Mario bros. U on my 3DS when at lunch at work - that's great. It's still Nintendo gaming and it's probably going to result in more games for both platforms.

I personally think Wii Sports 2 would turn this whole sales thing around. Where's the tech demo they used when they first showed the Wii U? Make it online, integrate Miiverse and add to the depth with motion plus and multiplayer using the Gamepad and you are on to a winner sales wise. Nintendo built a new consumer base using Wii Sports. They would be stupid not to put a direct sequel on Wii U. Some of you may be thinking the casuals wont buy it 'again'. But just look at the 'casual' gamers who buy consoles for the latest FIFA etc. And the value for money Wii Sports has had to those casual gamers will play upon their minds. Either way, Wii Sports is a HUGE selling point and one worth exploring due to the insane popularity of it. At least they are bringing Wii Fit (and I'm hyped for that!)...it's a start.

I think Nintndo get a lot of flack because they are so synonymous with gaming. If they were a teeny gaming company the headlines wouldn't be there. The negative press comes with the popularity as the media outlets know it will pique reader interest. It's not about 'hating' Nintendo. It's just the way tabloid-esque press functions. There are numerous things wrong with the Wii U as all consoles at launch have. But they have done a lot of good stuff for the system that many of us are forgetting. The truth is: the days of Nintendo getting major third party support is far, far away due to the following: Nintendo first and foremost make their hardware to suit their software. This is in stark contrast to SONY and Microsoft who have different philosophies which cater more to third party developpers. Nintendo focus on 'fun' gameplay experiences first. Many third party games are based around concepts such as simulation, graphical fidelity, action, imitating certain mature genres like horror, stealth, violence, racing, competitive sports. When Nintendo show off a green cartoon dinosaur running around a stitched playground the philosophies clash and so they stick to the SONY and Microsoft boxes, which are positioned to appeal to an older gaming audience. As a creative house, Nintendo are difficult to predict and are very secretive. This doesn't fill third parties with confidence. Especially the bigger software houses like EA who like to be in control. Nintendo are predominantly a Japanese company and remain that way even with NOE and NOA. There are all kinds of sociological factors at play because of such an aspect. I think owning a Nintendo product can be frustrating for a hardcore gamer. Yet the products ultimately stay true to the hardware design and philosophies resulting in experiences that are usually not found on alternative systems. Them's the breaks but for me, but the experiences from this philosophy throughout the years have proven to be irresistible. Duck Hunt, StarFox, Donkey Kong Country, Mario64, OoT, Sunsine, Wind Waker, Smash Bros, Wii Sports and the rest...all worth the lack of third party games. You only have to look at the VC to see that Nintendo will be fine in their own as long as they don't change. And as for third parties, if they come along: great. If not: why not just buy another system for those other experiences?

EA have always been graphic whores but yeah, their Nintendo relationship seems more strained than usual, already. I think they were burned with the Wii as they couldn't put their AAA titles on the console and milk their annual titles. Ultimately their casual titles were hit and miss. It was if they couldn't find their feet on Wii. With Wii U Nintendo promised the core gamer would be a focus which appeals to EA. The whole 'origin' rumour seems to have turned things sour though.

I like the 1 long track idea seen in MK7. I think we'll see more of those in Mario Kart U as the casuals can then race around WuHu island firing blue shells aplenty. Also - I really enjoyed using the Wii Wheel and found the nuance of it surprisingly arcadey. I think it's a given that the wheel/motion control will return to appease those who experienced their first Mario Kart on Wii. Nintendo should just go all out and add a casual mode called rubber band mode! Here every racer is linked by un-snappable rubber bands and it all goes mental as the racers scramble for the finish line!

All of the classic tracks - or DLC at least. User created tracks. The 'mission' mode from the DS version. Ability to make own customised GP's. (Could just do a SNES/N64 tourney etc.) Ability to use the Wii U camera to put your face above your racer. Would be great in multiplayer to see the smile on someone's face when they drove past you having shelled you! 5 player mode like Sonic Tansformed with 1 player on the Gamepad, 4 on TV. Ability for a player to be Lakitu on the Gamepad and 'film' the race and share video's online. Ditch some of the stupid characters. Go back to the Super Mario Kart/64 character sets. Keep it all on land. Loved the MK7 variety but missed the classic 'race' experience. Other wishes: Amazing orchestrated intro like Smash Bros. Ability to choose music for tracks. Seperate bike mode. Toggles for weapons on/off. Coins on the track to collect which can be used like Nintendoland to unlock more content. (Evolution from MK7) Adventure mode (like DKR) set in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Now that Nintendo have announced Wind Waker HD - are there any other remakes that you would like to see them do? I think that Nintendo could offer some great experiences with both HD remakes and the Virtual Console available to their customers. Those that want the authentic experience can play that, and for those who want a new version of an old classic, they can play them on their console or portable. A great way of re-capturing a market who may have left the Nintendo fold too! Their back catalogue is vast and has been leveraged via the VC but when looking at sales of OoT 3D and how Nintendo put out another Galaxy game on the Wii, it could be construed that they are now looking to leverage existing ideas and content more than ever in order to meet the longer development times expected of today's software. They can also leverage not only graphical leaps but other advancements such as off-TV play and improved music, moving away from the basic music found in their older titles. The quality of Nintendo's back catalogue means they can bring old content back with confidence. (Kinda like Disney have done with re-releases of old films nd what Microsoft did with Rare). I believe Wind Waker is perhaps just the beginning... So what would you like to see? My shout: Mario64!

Sold/Traded: N/A Discs: Assassins Creed 3 Nintendoland FIFA 13 eShop: Little Inferno Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed Virtual Console N/A To Buy: Batman Arkham City Wii Fit U Rayman Origins Lego City Tekken Possible Purchases: Game & Wario Wind Waker HD Bayonetta 2 Wonderful 101 Pikmin 3 Super Metroid (VC)

Shiiiiiit...how good is this!!? Only Played the demo and felt like I could open up my own fashion boutique and run down the catwalk with my own designs impressing the world. Trouble is...I can't justify buying this...maybe, ever? Lol. Just wish I'd got it for free in the Jan offer!

Yes, yes it is

Hope the Minecraft-alike promises come off. The Wii U is crying out for some touch screen crafting and this could be great if done well. Track record suggests not but here's hoping!

Great price for this! The Wii U is becoming the ultimate backlog gaming console! :P

Had a look into this via UK Hot Deals and it's apparently £29 in store. I'm still a huge advocate of this game and surprised many of you didn't pick this up or plan on getting it in the long run. It's phenomenal.

Arkham City appears as a retail download as it drops to £18 online. Typical :-/