» Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:50 pm Here is why I think that Wii U is going to flop.
At first when I started reading the rumors about Nintendo's new console I was excited. When I watched the first unveiling of the console I got puzzled,but for some reason I was still excited. Most people though thought that Nintendo wasn't showing off a new console,but a new controller peripheral for the already existing Wii console. Yet Nintendo said that they wouldn't tell us all the information that day,and that by the end of that year (2011) all info would be public about the system. Nintendo told as that they would release small pieces of new information frequently,up until the end of that year,where we would already know everything about that console.
One year and a few months later,we still know almost nothing about this console. Supposedly we are less than 3 months away from its release,and still we only know very few things about the console.
Lying to your costumers is one thing,but asking them to buy something with refusing to describe them what it is that you want to sell them ?
There are some questions here need answering:
1) When will it come out ?
2) What will its price be ?
3) How will online work ? (friendcodes?accounts?)
4) Will there be an online subscription fee ?
5) If there is an online subscription fee,how much will cost ?
6) What's its hardware,what's in it ? (no idea what its processor is,how much RAM it has,what Graphics card it has.)
7) From which publishers will this console be supported ? (I don't want to buy a console only to discover that some of my best favorite series won't come out for it and I have to buy yet another console to play them)
8) Why all the games you have shown us until now have PS1 quality of graphics ? (Is there a special reason behind it,or is it coincidence ?)
9) Will the console play movies ?
10) Will the console play songs ?
11) Will the console have a built-in web browser ?
12) Will the console feature any other multimedia application ?
13) Since Wiimotes will be needed for WiiU games,will you keep supplying retailers with Wiimotes and accessories ?
14) How much does a touch-screen controller cost alone ?
15) Will we finally be able to buy touch screen controllers separately ?
16) Is the number '2' final on how many touch controllers are supported on one WiiU ?
17) Does the console have any non-Nintendo developed exclusive AAA game ?
Wii U's unveiling was the unveiling that offered the less information about a new console ever. Nintendo is being marketing its controller like it's all that matters,but it isn't.
People are asking Nintendo to uncover a variety of different things including complete detailed hardware specs,yet Nintendo says what people want to know "Is not important". Well I guess for so many people asking,it actually important after all. I know at least myself wants to know.
I was unimpressed by watching the gameplay videos of the actual games in development in this year's E3,where the second unveiling of the console took place. Back when I saw the demonstration video of the tech demos in E3 2011 I was impressed,but now,after seeing how Nintendo's actual games use the new controller I'm unimpressed.
For example,some hours ago I watched the new video trailer of Balloon Trip, a game of the Balloon Fight franchise. This game is included on the "Nintendo World" collection of games,which is supposed to show off how the new controller will innovate gaming. And what I saw wasn't fresh at all. And wasn't good at all. MOVING THE PLAYER'S CHARACTER WITH A STYLUS ON A SCREEN ???? Am I supposed to be impressed ? Perhaps you guys at Nintendo forgot that that's exactly the thing you introduced us YEARS AGO in Nintendo DS. Some people say The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the worst Zelda game ever because of its touch screen & stylus controls,and seriously,you picked up this control scheme to show as off how your new controller will innovate gaming ?
Oh,and there you showed us the other innovation too,that now we can have 2 screens displaying the exact same image at the same time. I see my character and his surroundings on the controller,and the same exact Image I see on the TV. How is that going to enhance or is adding anything to the gameplay of this game ? I could understand each screen showing different things,but to make a trailer to show us that both screens show the same thing ?
I don't get it.
Of course I see the other things too in this video. Building personalities for your characters was never a power you had Nintendo,but to let that be the reason to scrap games's main characters and replace them with Miis ?
I wouldn't do that if I was a game developer. And of course the graphics look like they are from the PS1 era. As the new Mario game looks too. As the new Rayman game looks too.
Uhm... Why are you trying to convince people to buy a console in 2012 by showing them off 2D games Nintendo ? You know your hardware better than everyone else,so why not make use of it and show us something that will convince us of the console's capabilities Nintendo ?
My problem is that other than some additions where you have to do things other than pushing buttons,while you could easily assign that action on a button and make it more streamlined that way too,these games I've seen that you've shown us until now could just come out on the Wii too. In fact some of these games that I guess will be sold at retail and full price could have come out on the Playstation 1. What is wrong with you Nintendo ?
If that's the direction Nintendo as a developer will take for Wii U I doubt I'll buy this console. Why buy a console in 2012 and pay the money a new console would cost,if I am to play games that could be played on an older console too Nintendo ? I miss the point. Because the controls are different ? Well yes,but different doesn't equals good. And even if the new controls where unarguably better,still buying a new console for full price JUST for better controls doesn't worth it. It doesn't justifies you to sell us a new console if you could just release new controllers.
But I know what many might be costumers are thinking. "Perhaps later on there will be games that will somehow use the new controller in a crazy fun way,or the new games that will come out sometime will have amazing graphics".
I'm afraid there are high chances that that won't be the case. Launch titles are all 2D except from Pikmin and ZombiU. Pikmin is a Wii game that Nintendo delayed on purpose to give more reason to players to buy the Wii U,it's just a port. Which means that the only 3d game that makes use of the console's hardware is ZombiU. Just a single game. And it's not a known franchise,and it doesn't seems like a true AAA either. Just look at that name once again and think.
And of course there will be a 3rd unveiling of the console in the NY. Why does a console even need 3 unveilings ? And that event is scheduled at the same time Apple will be unveiling its iPhone 5... Which isn't the best thing if you think of it. But I think there is a pattern here. Wii U's first unveil was also the exact same day another iPhone product had its unveiling. Coincidence too ?
I really hope that Nintendo will surprise me positively at that day. I really wish that Nintendo will answer all my answers,and will show me new games,that will justify an investment on their new console. But Nintendo is Nintendo,and has proven that doesn't care at all what their costumers wish. They never act depending to their costumer's wishes,suggestions or will. They will always do their own thing ignoring every voice.
TL;DR ? Then read the sum:
I'd really like Nintendo to impress me but it doesn't, and I'm underwhelmed by WiiU.
There still aren't system seller games for it announced,we still don't know even half of the information we should know about the console's features and powers before buying it,we still don't know how much of third party support it will receive,Nintendo seems to go further empowering their bad points,and of course we still don't have a clue about the other 2 next consoles. Nintendo could have blown our minds and have us super-hyped right now,as it was the first company to start the next gen console race,and at least until the rest of the consoles showed up,Nintendo's console could be considered the true king. But the lack of important information,the uncertainity,and the very weak launch line-up which lacks AAA system sellers and 3d games,makes WiiU at least a 'meh' if not a disappointment. Of course things can change in the future,as they did for the 3ds,kinda. But how long will it take until good games will start coming at the Wii U? Until games that will be considered truly "next gen" will be available for that platform ? We don't know. Perhaps neither Nintendo knows.
I'm anxiously waiting for the NY event,the 3rd and hopefully last Unveiling of the console. I hope it will give me reasons to like Wii U and buy it. But that's all I got. Hope.
