Wii U General Discussion

[Dcubed]

I hope that they finally get the chance to work on something original. They have that golden touch that allows them to make anything into pure awesome and I'd love to see that put to use on something completely new.

 

They've proven that they can re-invent dormant series, but can they make something just as good that hasn't come from the past? I bet they can!

 

BTW: That interview also inadvertently confirms that the DKCTF delay was entirely strategic... as if that's a surprise to anyone here

Edited March 1, 2014 by Dcubed

[Serebii]

It'll clearly be Donkey Konga 4: Cranky's Grooves 'n' Moves.

 

Come on guys, you know this :p

[Ealdst]

I hope that they finally get the chance to work on something original. They have that golden touch that allows them to make anything into pure awesome and I'd love to see that put to use on something completely new.

 

They've proven that they can re-invent dormant series, but can they make something just as good that hasn't come from the past? I bet they can!

 

BTW: That interview also inadvertently confirms that the DKCTF delay was entirely strategic... as if that's a surprise to anyone here

 

Just gonna leave this here....

 

[Retro_Link]

It'll clearly be Donkey Konga 4: Cranky's Grooves 'n' Moves.

 

Come on guys, you know this :p

And introducing a new female companion, Biddy Kong! Edited March 1, 2014 by Retro_Link

[Grazza]

Just gonna leave this here....

 

 

Yep, I would like Retro Studios to develop this (hope you don't mind me embedding it):

 

 

I think Retro Studios are most useful when providing a certain type of game. Either:

 

a) Metroid Prime

b) an "Adult Link" sort of Zelda series/spin-off

c) Raven Blade (which could take the place of the above)

[-Dem0-]

"Since the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, Nintendo has been offering the world unique and original entertainment products under the development concept of hardware and software integration. In the field of home entertainment, the video game industry is one of the few industries established in Japan that spread around the world, and Nintendo has established itself as a well-known brand truly representing video game culture throughout the world.

 

With the belief that the raison d'etre of entertainment is to put smiles on people's faces around the world through products and services, what we have focused on for the last decade is our basic strategy of expanding the gaming population by offering products which can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age, gender or gaming experience. In addition, as the business environment around us has shifted with the times, we have decided to redefine entertainment as something that improves people's quality of life ("QOL") in enjoyable ways and expand our business areas. What Nintendo will try to achieve in the next 10 years is a platform business that improves people's QOL in enjoyable ways.

 

We believe that we can capitalize the most on our strengths through a hardware-software integrated platform business, and therefore this type of dedicated video game platforms will remain our core focus. We will continue to value the spirit of originality described in our motto "The True Value of Entertainment Lies in Individuality," and will continue to provide products and services which pleasantly surprise people.

 

With a platform business that improves people's QOL in enjoyable ways, we will attempt to establish a new business area apart from our dedicated video game business. We have set "health" as the theme for our first step and we will try to use our strength as an entertainment company to create unique approaches that expand this business. Through our new endeavors with the QOL-improving platform, we strive to further promote our existing strategy of expanding our user base, create an environment in which more people are conscious about their health and in turn expand Nintendo's overall user base.

 

After Nintendo started the manufacture and sale of Hanafuda (traditional Japanese playing cards) 125 years ago, it has innovated itself from a playing card company to a toy company, a toy company to an electronic toy company and finally from an electronic toy company to a company developing video game platforms. Nintendo has continued to try new things, and with a history of experiencing many failures and small successes, we managed to pioneer the home video game market. What has remained the same from the past is that we have always tried to create something new from materials and technologies available at that time, to position entertainment as our core business and to improve people's QOL in enjoyable ways. We will continue to value self-innovation in line with the times and aim for growth.

 

Nintendo intends to make progress with the support and encouragement of its shareholders and investors."

 

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/management/message.html

[Hero-of-Time]

 

 

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/management/message.html

 

Reading that really bummed me out.

[dazzybee]

Porting a good game to the Wii U requires compromises (due to the hardware amongst other things) that can result in weaker products and yeah, most are shit because developers don't try.

 

The best selling and top rated games are primarily designed for the console (http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/index.html and http://www.vgchartz.com/platform/47/wii-u/). I don't see why it's so difficult to understand. Yeah, it was a polite way of saying "we don't see the business value of porting games", but there's some truth in the matter.

 

And I think anyone that uses bursts of caps locks shouldn't be calling others mad

 

Haha, I use caps for emphasis

 

The ports over to the wii u of third part games haven't resulted in any compromises, need for speed was deemed the best version, Batman, the assassins creeds are on par. These games don't become weaker moving to the wii u.

 

But yeah, it's just an excuse anyway.... It's the generation of the indies anyway, and hopefully Nintendo will be good in this area!

[drahkon]

Reading that really bummed me out.

 

Yup, shows what aspect of gaming they focus on.

 

Let's hope there's still some left for good old - as people like to call it - hardcore gaming.

[dazzybee]

They did say it is separate from the video games business so it's not changing. But it's still resources doing something different.

 

Though the health sector relies on absolutely modern, state of the art hardware and software in todays market, nintendo's old tech ideology won't work at all. The Wii Fit meter is a frightening insight into what they could do...

[drahkon]

They did say it is separate from the video games business so it's not changing.

 

Ah, didn't know that. Doesn't make it any better, though.

[Hero-of-Time]

BTW: That interview also inadvertently confirms that the DKCTF delay was entirely strategic... as if that's a surprise to anyone here

 

Yup. It was blatantly obvious to most of us on here. I won't say all of us because someone was adamant that it was done for polish and to make the game better....

 

It was also posted on Gaf that the game got rated back in September and no other version was submitted after that, so it was done and dusted back then.

 

They did say it is separate from the video games business so it's not changing. But it's still resources doing something different.

 

Though the health sector relies on absolutely modern, state of the art hardware and software in todays market, nintendo's old tech ideology won't work at all. The Wii Fit meter is a frightening insight into what they could do...

 

My main issue is that if they can't get the audience they need to continue in the gaming sector and they do become successful in the QOL sector, then what's stopping them from bailing out on the industry where they aren't finding success?

[Josh64]

I hope this QOL thing isn't their 'third pillar' because the DS was third pillar to GBA and GC and look what happened there, as soon as it gained traction, the classic GameBoy brand was dead in the water.

[RedShell]

Though the health sector relies on absolutely modern, state of the art hardware and software in todays market, nintendo's old tech ideology won't work at all. The Wii Fit meter is a frightening insight into what they could do...

Eh? You think the Fit Meter is old tech?

Well if so, you don't want to be blaming Nintendo but Panasonic, as they're the ones that made it.

[dazzybee]

I hope this QOL thing isn't their 'third pillar' because the DS was third pillar to GBA and GC and look what happened there, as soon as it gained traction, the classic GameBoy brand was dead in the water.

 

Completely different though, the DS was third pillar in case it failed and they could go back. This is a completely different product/service altogether.

 

It is a shame about the at the extra resources and such we've heard, and it's probably all for this and not to expand/improve on this... It is a potential worry!

 

Eh? You think the Fit Meter is old tech?

Well if so, you don't want to be blaming Nintendo but Panasonic, as they're the ones that made it.

 

You don't think it is?! Have you seen the health tech that's available now, it's light years from that

[RedShell]

You don't think it is?! Have you seen the health tech that's available now, it's light years from that

Nope. Can you give me an example?

[dazzybee]

Nope. Can you give me an example?

 

I guess it's just more the form factor and internet integration. Watches this year will be able to do amazing things and not have to clip it to your belt. All the physical activity stuff, sleep monitoring, check your pulse/heart rate, but it being connected online which could may connects with other services etc

 

Maybe light years is a little exaggeration, but I love a bit of hyperbole!!!

[RedShell]

I guess it's just more the form factor and internet integration. Watches this year will be able to do amazing things and not have to clip it to your belt. All the physical activity stuff, sleep monitoring, check your pulse/heart rate, but it being connected online which could may connects with other services etc

 

Maybe light years is a little exaggeration, but I love a bit of hyperbole!!!

So you're just imagining this stuff then, or what?

 

No, I get what you're saying. But the fact is Nintendo always strike a really good balance between functionality and affordability.

Sure there are (or will be) cooler devices compared to the Fit Meter for example, but chances are they're gonna cost a shit load more than 20 quid.

[dazzybee]

So you're just imagining this stuff then, or what?

 

No, I get what you're saying. But the fact is Nintendo always strike a really good balance between functionality and affordability.

Sure there are (or will be) cooler devices compared to the Fit Meter for example, but chances are they're gonna cost a shit load more than 20 quid.

 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-gear-fit_Gadget_review

 

Is an example.

 

The thing is, no one will buy stuff like the fit meter however cheap it is. It's so archaic. I bet it sold abysmally, and 95% (if not 100%) only bought it because it was pretty much free with the offer.

 

Anyway. Didn't they say it wasn't wearable tech??

 

I'm interested to see what they'll do, but just have a feeling it'll be 10 year old thinking and huge groans and forehead slapping decisions... I just can't see what they'll do in this area.

[Dcubed]

It was also posted on Gaf that the game got rated back in September and no other version was submitted after that, so it was done and dusted back

 

That doesn't mean that the game was finished in September, just that it was "content complete" (AKA, it was a final Alpha - meaning that all of the game's content was in place and it was fully playable, however rough, from start to finish). The remaining development time would've not have been spent on adding content (which would obviously require re-rating) but rather it would've been spent on squashing bugs and general polish. The fact that they finished it in November also tells me that it wouldn't really have been ready for an Xmas release as it would take time for them to press the discs/manufacture the case & leaflets and distribute the game; you'd normally have a longer lead time than that... Zelda ALBW was supposedly finished in late Sepember/early October, according to what Aonuma said in an interview at the time, for instance...)

 

Michael Kelbaugh (Retro's CEO) did mention that the game was "almost complete" before the delay and that the extra time allowed them to perform an extra "polish pass" and add extra little touches that "weren't related to gameplay": I have no reason to believe that he's lying here; it's perfectly possible that he didn't make the decision to delay the game, but rather it came as a request from Iwata, after it became clear that Mario Kart 8 wouldn't make it in time for March, in order to spread out the release schedule.

 

So the game was "ready" to be released but the strategic decision to delay the game was taken and the Retro staff took a bit of extra time to polish the game a little more.

 

I hope this QOL thing isn't their 'third pillar' because the DS was third pillar to GBA and GC and look what happened there, as soon as it gained traction, the classic GameBoy brand was dead in the water.

 

This QOL platform is definately their Third Pillar, no doubt about it... The difference however this time around is that Iwata actually means it.

 

They used the "third pillar" concept as a safety net before, in case the DS failed, so that they could fall back on the Gameboy brand if necessary; but the intention for it to replace the Gameboy was always clear. It rendered the GBA completely redundant in terms of functionality and was heavily pushed as the sole future of Nintendo (remember Yamauchi's comment about "If we succeed, we will rise to heaven, but if we fail we will sink to hell"?).

 

This however is being pushed as a side business for them as they Iwata consistently states that their video game business will remain as their "core business". It's essentially a way of separating their Touch Generations games from their video game consoles and allowing them to utilise specialist hardware/smartphones on their own - without being confined to Nintendo's consoles/handhelds only.

 

They also have a clear future with their consoles/handhelds that they're sticking to. They've already outlined their plans with the unified architecture that they're using with their next gen handheld and console (both based on the Wii U hardware architecture) and they're expanding their videogame production; hiring more staff and restructuring their game division (consolidating all of their non Retro Studios/Monolith Soft staff into the one building that they just spent $500 million building).

 

They're not planning on walking away from video games until the bitter end and they're clearly not planning on getting the likes of Retro Studios to start making health products They're expanding themselves to reach different kinds of audiences.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Dcubed

[Hero-of-Time]

Yeah, no doubt it came from the higher ups to delay the game. All the signs were there that it was done and dusted, or pretty much there. As for if they added polish or not is up for debate. They aren't actually going to come outright and say "Yeah, it was done but we sat on it and started our new project" it just wouldn't go down well.

 

There's far too much BS in this industry and Nintendo aren't an exception to this. It makes it hard to trust what any of these developers say.

 

I'm not bothered either way really though. I had other games on the other consoles to play during December and it was nice to play something to play in Feb when things died down on all fronts. It worked out nicely.

[Oxigen_Waste]

My main issue is that if they can't get the audience they need to continue in the gaming sector and they do become successful in the QOL sector, then what's stopping them from bailing out on the industry where they aren't finding success?

 

Let's hope that if it comes to that they'll go third party. I doubt they'd have problems selling their games.

[Rummy]

No, I get what you're saying. But the fact is Nintendo always strike a really good balance between functionality and affordability.

 

You realise you're posting in a thread about the Wii U, right?

[david.dakota]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-gear-fit_Gadget_review

 

Is an example.

 

The thing is, no one will buy stuff like the fit meter however cheap it is. It's so archaic. I bet it sold abysmally, and 95% (if not 100%) only bought it because it was pretty much free with the offer.

 

Anyway. Didn't they say it wasn't wearable tech??

 

I'm interested to see what they'll do, but just have a feeling it'll be 10 year old thinking and huge groans and forehead slapping decisions... I just can't see what they'll do in this area.

 

There's lots and lots of fitness stuff around; I've had a periphery interest in fitness tech for a while and the Gear Fit, Nike Fuel Band, FitBit and Jawbone are excellent examples of how far modern fitness tech has come and truly, they are leagues ahead of the Fit Meter on every level. They are awesome. But @RedShell is spot on when he says they come at a considerable cost over the Fit Meter. Part of Nintendo's brief would have been to include cheap technology and often that's where Nintendo plays best; the meter has an objective which it meets pretty well. The biggest problem with the meter is that it's build quality is incredibly cheap - it creaks, it pops off - its just terribly designed and looks like it fell out of a cereal packet. That's a problem; we're in an age where people actually care what their gadgets look like.

 

There's also a more crucial aspect than price and quality though - and it's the crux of the matter for me - the Gear Fits and Nike Fuel Bands are just monitors, they really don't inspire you, they don't teach you and lead you through a routine - you've still got to have an idea on how to exercise and I'd say that's actually a pretty big hurdle for plenty of people. WiiFit remains a comprehensive and approachable fitness package which is unrivalled in the consumer fitness market. This fact is unjustly overlooked by the tech press currently masturbating themselves into a frenzy over these devices.

 

Lets not forget that WiiFit U is still a pricey package, but it does offer much more than these £100+ smartwatches which require a smartphone of a not-insignificant price. Even to a new user the £300 for a WiiU, WiiFitU bundle should be seen as a viable option.

 

On the subject of Nintendo Quality of Life I'm confident this will be either a microconsole or, less likely, a set of licensed specifications and software. I remain curious by this leapfrog strategy though, wearables are looking promising (and WiiFit with a stylist wristband accessory would be an amazing thing), but "leap frogging" implies that Nintendo has an idea ahead of that, they're not just rebranding Touch Generations and WiiFit into a single platform. Maybe Iwata is just spinning an epic yarn but could Nintendo be looking at ingestible tech to monitor wellbeing (which isn't as daft as it sounds - Lloyd Pharmacy are about to trial such devices); its expensive at the moment but mass production consumer version would see prices tumble.

 

Or what about a device that senses brainwaves. I recall seeing a video of a brain controlled game where the idea was to clear a sky of clouds by relaxing and calming your mind.

 

Actually, I would not be surprised if QoL brings a bunch of peripherals with it actually; different peripherals for mind control games, fitness and wellbeing, learning and education...

 

... and back down to earth. Its a balance board with glowing blue lights beneath.

[Hero-of-Time]

I guess we can now cross Warner Bros. off the list of developers who will support the Wii U. The new Batman game got announced for XBOne/PS4/PC. It looks like outside of Lego games, or any other game that can be easily ported from a 360/PS3 version of a game, they aren't going to bother.