Wii U General Discussion

[Mokong]

I'm gonna call it now... whenever the next Direct is they'll surprise us with "Nintendo TVii available in Europe after this Direct"

 

EDIT

 

Just a thought, but if they did release it here eventually... would there be any point in keeping a seperating App for Netfilx?

Edited January 14, 2014 by Mokong
Automerged Doublepost

[Helmsly]

I was reading the BBC blog and someone asked about the the iPlayer coming to Wii U in the comments section in December last year. He got a reply from the technical Product manager:

 

@srendle, @Don, @_Ewan_ - We follow a clear process so that we can get iPlayer onto devices in a scalable and maintainable way. We worked with Sony in this way for the PlayStation 4. We are working to bring BBC iPlayer to both Xbox One and Nintendo Wii U in the future, but we have no further details to share at this time. We have no immediate plans to bring BBC iPlayer to Apple TV or the PS Vita.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/posts/BBC-iPlayer-comes-to-the-Sony-PlayStation-4

Edited January 14, 2014 by Helmsly

[Serebii]

Incidentally, a load of developers have come out of the woodwork and have said that the Eurogamer article is inaccurate.

[Goron_3]

Was the Eurogamer article one the same as the Digital Foundry one?

 

Because the one we discussed on this website a few days ago actually praised the Wii U hardware a lot; it just mentioned that Nintendo were really far behind schedule before launch.

 

As far as what the other developers are saying, most of them seem to be saying that the Wii U isn't hard to develop for, but the digital foundry article didn't state that at all. It just said that Wii U ports required much more work than expected due to the weak-CPU/strong GPU combo (which we've seen, given that almost all multi-platform titles seem to run worse on Wii U). The 'anonymous source' never said that normal games were difficult to make at all.

[Hero-of-Time]

Incidentally, a load of developers have come out of the woodwork and have said that the Eurogamer article is inaccurate.

 

The article is accurate in the sense that it did happen back then. The developers speaking out are mostly referring to how it's not like that now. At least in terms of the dev kits.

 

Nintendolife have actually ran an article about despite certain developers saying things have changed it doesn't change the fact that the damage is done.

 

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/talking_point_claims_of_wii_u_third_party_development_troubles_shouldnt_be_dismissed_lightly

 

I was talking to a guy a work with today. I've known him a few years as he goes to my church but he got hired late last year with our company as a programmer/software technician. He used to work for Ubisoft and has worked for places like Codemasters as well. Working with him has allowed me to spend more time with him and get to know him a little better.

 

I gave him a lift home today and asked if had worked on the Wii U while at Ubisoft but he never got the chance to. He did say that Nintendo were a bit of a nightmare to work with though, both at Ubisoft and Codemasters. Especially Codemasters after the whole Game Genie fiasco.

 

He was saying that Sony and Microsoft gave them a set of terms and rules of things you can and can't do and other aims, whereas Nintendos documentation was always very vague which left them a massive amount of wiggle room to turn your product down. He stated this happened on numerous occasions and a lot of the time he never got a real answer back as to why it got rejected.

 

He has mates in the industry still who have said and discussed the same things with him before.

[dazzybee]

I'm gonna call it now... whenever the next Direct is they'll surprise us with "Nintendo TVii available in Europe after this Direct"

 

EDIT

 

Just a thought, but if they did release it here eventually... would there be any point in keeping a seperating App for Netfilx?

 

I don't think it quit works like that, I think it;s more of an elaborate tv guide covering everything and all the social features. When you search for something on netflix and open it, I think it will just open the netflix app!

[Dcubed]

Nintendo's lotcheck requirements can't be that vague; even I know a few ones that are definitely set in stone, like the capitalisation of the names of their consoles and controllers (accidentally type "wii" in the manual and your game fails lotcheck!), error handling requirements for saving while pulling out memory cards/SD Cards/USB storage, style guides on how button icons are supposed to look (Pantone colours, shapes etc - I've even heard of some indie devs getting button icon art assets being supplied by Nintendo themselves for their game!) limits on how many saves can be made in a minute long period etc, error handling (with set, standard terminology that must be used) for controller switching in games that support multiple controllers etc...

 

They can be a pain to deal with, but this kind of thing is standard fare with all consoles. Sometimes these difficulties are why some games just eschew certain things like multi-controller support (the three Two Tribes Classics games on Wii U do not support anything other than the Gamepad for this reason - they also have super basic instruction manuals, in order to make their games more likely to get through lotcheck with minimal fuss; after all, they were just cheap quickie re-releases)

[Hero-of-Time]

Nintendo's lotcheck requirements can't be that vague; even I know a few ones that are definitely set in stone, like the capitalisation of the names of their consoles and controllers (accidentally type "wii" in the manual and your game fails lotcheck!), error handling requirements for saving while pulling out memory cards/SD Cards/USB storage, style guides on how button icons are supposed to look (Pantone colours, shapes etc - I've even heard of some indie devs getting button icon art assets being supplied by Nintendo themselves for their game!) limits on how many saves can be made in a minute long period etc, error handling (with set, standard terminology that must be used) for controller switching in games that support multiple controllers etc...

 

They can be a pain to deal with, but this kind of thing is standard fare with all consoles. Sometimes these difficulties are why some games just eschew certain things like multi-controller support (the three Two Tribes Classics games on Wii U do not support anything other than the Gamepad for this reason - they also have super basic instruction manuals, in order to make their games more likely to get through lotcheck with minimal fuss; after all, they were just cheap quickie re-releases)

 

Hey, it's just what he was saying. It's his personal experience when dealing with Nintendo. He has no affiliation to any company and doesn't even game any more to due marriage, kids and other life commitments, so why would he lie? It may be different for others in the industry but from his own personal experience, and his friends who still work in the industry, Microsoft and Sony are easier to work with than Nintendo.

[Dcubed]

Hey, it's just what he was saying. It's his personal experience when dealing with Nintendo. He has no affiliation to any company and doesn't even game any more to due marriage, kids and other life commitments, so why would he lie? It may be different for others in the industry but from his own personal experience, and his friends who still work in the industry, Microsoft and Sony are easier to work with than Nintendo.

 

I never said he was lying, I just think it's strange how he said that the lotcheck requirements were very vague when I was under the impression that they were very much known, but just very strict. Seems to contradict what I've heard over the years... (Though I do remember hearing about strained relations with Codemasters ever since the Game Genie days, so that seems to gel with what I've read over time...)

[Rummy]

He was saying that Sony and Microsoft gave them a set of terms and rules of things you can and can't do and other aims, whereas Nintendos documentation was always very vague which left them a massive amount of wiggle room to turn your product down. He stated this happened on numerous occasions and a lot of the time he never got a real answer back as to why it got rejected.

 

He has mates in the industry still who have said and discussed the same things with him before.

 

The problem with that if true is that it messes with people. How do you work without defined limits? How do you keep morale if you keep trying to get it right, then get it wrong, and don't even know why? It's a terrible way to deal with people, as if you've gotten detached from the frontlines and forgotten how it is on the ground.

 

Somewhat ironically I was having a very similar conversation about a completely different field just yesterday.

[Josh64]

I'm getting a hard drive for my Wii U today finally! I had to delete loads of VC and a couple of eShop titles (like Runner 2) because of lack of space, I'm gonna have fun re-filling my hard drive this evening!

 

I may even re-download that terrible Rabbids game I regretfully purchased when drunk... maybe. I'm not sure I'd want to waste my unlimited internet on that shit though.

[Jamba]

I never said he was lying, I just think it's strange how he said that the lotcheck requirements were very vague when I was under the impression that they were very much known, but just very strict. Seems to contradict what I've heard over the years... (Though I do remember hearing about strained relations with Codemasters ever since the Game Genie days, so that seems to gel with what I've read over time...)

 

No I'd concur with H-o-T's friend. They are strict and there are MANY peculiar standards that someone would have to meet (some of which are almost pointless). From my experience I've seen them be massively inconsistent with their submission and assessment process and I remember them (not permanently) rejecting a submission based on a vague guideline.

 

Some of their stuff is neurotic and specific and the other bits feel... well badly translated really and when a company blows 10,000 or more on a submission then how do you think they feel?

 

And when we talk standards, Nintendo doesn't give that much of a crap. They let this get in:

 

[Josh64]

I'd have to argue that that safari game looks badass.

[Ramar]

He was saying that Sony and Microsoft gave them a set of terms and rules of things you can and can't do and other aims, whereas Nintendos documentation was always very vague which left them a massive amount of wiggle room to turn your product down. He stated this happened on numerous occasions and a lot of the time he never got a real answer back as to why it got rejected.

 

He has mates in the industry still who have said and discussed the same things with him before.

 

I've heard similar from a guy who worked on Xbox Arcade games. The submission process for Nintendo was a lot more hassle than with Microsoft.

[Fused King]

So what/where/when is this 'Strategic meeting' Iwata has created?

[Serebii]

I've heard similar from a guy who worked on Xbox Arcade games. The submission process for Nintendo was a lot more hassle than with Microsoft.

All signs have pointed to that having changed now though.

 

We should not dwell on the past

 

So what/where/when is this 'Strategic meeting' Iwata has created?

That's just what he's calling the meeting for the Q3 results. Jan 30th

[Rummy]

All signs have pointed to that having changed now though.

 

We should not dwell on the past

 

When one of the most asked questions is where are all the 3rd parties and behaviour like this may well have irreparably damaged relations with said 3rd parties and left lasting effects, I think it's most important to remember the past so that the future might be different.

[Andyliini]

What does it mean when the eShop-icon is flashing on the main menu? It was flashing for me once, but there was nothing different about the place.

[Agent Gibbs]

What does it mean when the eShop-icon is flashing on the main menu? It was flashing for me once, but there was nothing different about the place.

 

subliminal messaging to buy something?

 

 

 

it flashed for me before when there was news updates on there, but it did it recent;y and there was no change so no idea

[Fused King]

Pics or it didn't happen.

I love me some gadget porn.

 

 

There you go.

 

*Courtesy of the 3DS's camera.

[Aneres11]

Lol thanks Fused... dat spectacular 3ds camera.

[tapedeck]

I'd have to argue that that safari game looks badass.

 

T'was a fun review for N-Europe.

[Jimbob]

 

There you go.

 

*Courtesy of the 3DS's camera.

 

Lol thanks Fused... dat spectacular 3ds camera.

 

Remember when porn USED to look like that in the early internet days.

 

But yeah, back onto the topic in-hand (sorry)

[Ashley]

I'm not posting this to cause controversy or to try and get people to start fighting or something, but it is important.

 

Nintendo cut net profit predictions for fiscal year from 55 billion yen profit, to 25 billion yen net loss.

 

Wii U hardware expectations has been cut from 9 million units to 2.8 million units.

[Andyliini]

Let the trolling begin on various websites in 3...2...1...