Wii U Catch-All

shoptroll wrote:

Odd that they would cut out the Internet capabilities. Netflix was touting the Wii was the preferred streaming device for their service by a large margin. I wouldn't be surprised if that came out in the US next year since I think some retailers were talking about selling standard Wiis around the $99 for this holiday. Once the US stock is depleted, the mini will probably show up.

I dunno, of everyone I know "in real life" who has a Wii, myself and Stylez are the only two people who ever put them online. I'd wager the vast majority of Wiis have never seen the Internet. And if this is largely aimed at cost-conscious families with kids, they probably just want a box to put a game in and play, they probably aren't concerned with streaming video or the like. I think this product is aimed at a very particular market segment, one none of us fit into.

ianunderhill wrote:

"Nintendo, I have no idea what your strategy is now."

Except they do this all the time. NES top load design came after the SNES. SNES was redesigned after the N64 launch. Game Boy Micro was about a year after the DS. Game Boy Advance SP saw a new model with an improved backlight around the same time of the Game Boy Micro.

EDIT: It's not just Nintendo, Sony has done several revisions to the slim PS2 model since the PS3 launch.

I think the strategy is to continue selling Wii's in the low cost market. I don't care about internet connectivity on the Wii. In our household it is a console for the kids. I play the 360/PC (and occassionally the PS3). I only play the Wii with the kids. I've never really cared for most Nintendo games (especially Mario). The Wii U is interesting to me because of ZombiU and that interest has faded over the past several days. I may be more excited about the new cheap Wii since it will drive down used prices even more and will cost me that much less to replace our Wii when it dies. I would also assume that the Wii has at least another year of development for it as the PS2 did.

On the one hand, I have a top loader NES and I love it. On the other, this machine presents no advantage to the consumer, who can buy a regular Wii for approximately the same price and get more features while the console still lacks a big physical footprint. I understand companies do this, but I don't know what the deal is this time out, and think it may result in further confusion about what that new console is and how it's different.

As someone who loves the heck out of his Wii U so far (even if I haven't gotten to play as much of it as I'd like just yet), let me be the first to say, "Nintendo, I have no idea what your strategy is now with this Wii Mini thing."

Really. Launching a new console and a reworking of your previous console when you've stopped developing games for that previous console and should be dumping resources into selling that new console...I don't get it. Retailers are already selling existing Wii console stock at that price point, aren't they? Get rid of what you've got, get all the Wii U compatible first party accessories in new packaging, and focus on making the new gadget a success. This shouldn't be this hard, and yet...

EDIT: And sure, maybe the profit margin is better due to the removed features and likely absent bits of hardware (no Internet capabilities, no GameCube compatibility), but I don't know who the market is, and suspect this makes it harder to identify that new console as something more than "the expensive Wii" for the non-enthusiast prospective customer.

EvilHomer3K: do you think your kids will still be interested enough in the Wii to warrant purchasing a replacement by the time it dies? Sure, tomorrow would be one thing. Is two years out a different story, assuming this is available then?

EvilHomer3k wrote:

I would also assume that the Wii has at least another year of development for it as the PS2 did.

Maybe. Nintendo already stated they're done with the Wii. At this point I'd only expect shovelware ports from the major publishers and niche titles from XSeed or Atlus.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:
shoptroll wrote:

Odd that they would cut out the Internet capabilities. Netflix was touting the Wii was the preferred streaming device for their service by a large margin. I wouldn't be surprised if that came out in the US next year since I think some retailers were talking about selling standard Wiis around the $99 for this holiday. Once the US stock is depleted, the mini will probably show up.

I dunno, of everyone I know "in real life" who has a Wii, myself and Stylez are the only two people who ever put them online. I'd wager the vast majority of Wiis have never seen the Internet. And if this is largely aimed at cost-conscious families with kids, they probably just want a box to put a game in and play, they probably aren't concerned with streaming video or the like. I think this product is aimed at a very particular market segment, one none of us fit into.

While I agree that almost nobody I've met "in real life" has taken their Wii online to PLAY games, almost all of them have went online for Netflix. Could this be a difference in Netflix penetration in Canada vs. the US?

When the price of the Wii dropped to $149 early last year, I know of at least three families that bought one as a "Netflix box that also plays that dance game (Just Dance)." Around the same time, Netflix and Nintendo had cross promotional advertising on Netflix's mailed disc wrappers advertising "The most popular netflix streaming device now only $149- Try Netflix streaming now." This was around the time they split the cost structure of Streaming and disc mail services and seemed like part of the campaign to push people to the streaming only service.

Jasonofindy wrote:

"The most popular netflix streaming device now only $149- Try Netflix streaming now."

I've also found the Wii Netflix app to be a lot more reliable than the one in my Samsung TV. We've had numerous occasions where the TV app just dies (and logs me out of my account) while trying to do the initial buffer. Never ever had that trouble with the Wii app.

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

Certis wrote:

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

Wasn't the 360's backwards compatibility with the original incredibly flaky at launch? Seems like a good enough reason, system popularity aside.

ZombiU enjoyment has increased 15% by learning you can just aim the scanner with the right stick. You know, rather than standing...like a goon.

Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

I think the confusing thing to me is why a new SKU? If Nintendo sold the current Wii for $80 I'd consider buying one again for The Last Story and some other games I missed. But it's an ultimate luxury purchase at this point.

DSGamer wrote:
Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

I think the confusing thing to me is why a new SKU? If Nintendo sold the current Wii for $80 I'd consider buying one again for The Last Story and some other games I missed. But it's an ultimate luxury purchase at this point.

That's likely not financially reasonably. Isn't the Wii already $150 which is crazy cheap for a home console that's had great games released in the last year. Removing the online components is probably how they can drop the price even more.

Desram wrote:

ZombiU enjoyment has increased 15% by learning you can just aim the scanner with the right stick. You know, rather than standing...like a goon.

Desram wrote:

ZombiU enjoyment has increased 15% by learning you can just aim the scanner with the right stick. You know, rather than standing...like a goon.

Yep found that out the other evening. You can also close your inventory by pressing up on the left analog stick, I didn't like having to reach to close it as sometimes I wouldn't press hard enough.

EU launch is this friday. Seems like Nintendo is delivering about 2 basic packs for each 1 premium pack here. Wonder if they will try and keep this ratio up until Christmas and after.

Found a shop that wasn't drowning in preorders and decided to get the ZombiU bundle which also has a Pro Controller.

Apart from ZombiU I am looking for something very casual that will be fun to play with a friend who so far only pretty much only would pick up a Wii remote or racing wheel for gaming.

Are any of the Nintendoland games fun with only two players?

Is Mario fun with only two players?

Anyone here had a look at Rabbids Lands? Might be what I'm looking for since it's mostly one on one.

MEATER wrote:

Are any of the Nintendoland games fun with only two players?

Yes, but some of the games feel like they're balanced for more than 2 players.

Is Mario fun with only two players?

YES. If you've played NSMB Wii it'll be about the same sort of experience with two. Plenty of jumping off each other and generally getting in each other's way

shoptroll wrote:
MEATER wrote:

Are any of the Nintendoland games fun with only two players?

Yes, but some of the games feel like they're balanced for more than 2 players.

Can you be more specific? I'd go and try and find some vids of those mini-games.

shoptroll wrote:
Is Mario fun with only two players?

YES. If you've played NSMB Wii it'll be about the same sort of experience with two. Plenty of jumping off each other and generally getting in each other's way :)

Been looking into it some more and I guess what would be most intersting for me and my friend would be Boost Mode where I play and he puts up platforms with the touch pad. Any insights on that?

DSGamer wrote:
Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

I think the confusing thing to me is why a new SKU? If Nintendo sold the current Wii for $80 I'd consider buying one again for The Last Story and some other games I missed. But it's an ultimate luxury purchase at this point.

It's pretty simple why the new sku: It's cheaper to produce.

I have no problem with the $99 Wii. We're not going to see it and it's not meant for any of us. It's going to be sold in Farm and Fleet and not really in GameStop.

I just picked up my WiiU tonight at Target along with the new Batman game. I'm going to save the other games I want for people to get me for Christmas.

TheGameguru wrote:

I still think its odd that Nintendo is clearly the leader in Videogames but behaves like they are in third place.. both in how they market as well as design their systems. As a company that essentially exists for VideoGames and videogames only..continuing to protect their IP's and maintain them #1 in their customers and the general public's mind is priority number one. I find the Wii U to have been a confusing mess in terms of how the hardware is designed and marketed. "Everyone" shouting how well Nintendo is doing and how everything will be ok may be right..but as an outsider all I can see is that Nintendo traditionally is a company that used to print money..but the last two years they are a company that bleeds money. Thats all that matters. I'm told the 3DS is a monster success.. yet the company is still losing money.. so something must change.. I know smart people will tell me its all because of the Yen.. which I'm sure is correct..but I can't expect a company to do nothing to fix it.. especially as a shareholder.

Microsoft may be many things but I'm pretty sure that when Microsoft launches the Xbox 720 it will be designed and marketed in a way that will scream to all consumers.. "Your old busted Xbox 360 is a piece of junk compared to this.. immediately scrap it all and buy all this new stuff all over again..because it kicks ass" If I can't convince my entire user base to upgrade as well as convince everyone else on the fence then I've failed.

I think Nintendo missed a golden opportunity not having a similar approach..

I agree with you. I completely agree that Nintendo doesn't act like they are the market leader in hardware and the largest game publisher in the world. One major franchise game for the Wii or DS generates more than ALL the revenue that all the games on iOS generate. It's huge how big Nintendo is and they don't act like it.

The advertising campaign for the WiiU doesn't make any sense to me. It's the new way "Wii" will play. Great. That's it? It isn't clear. Too many people are going to think it's a new way to play the Wii and not a new platform. They should have shot the Wii in the head and buried it out back.

Is anyone else having a problem with the WiiU and I'm not sure what the term is but on my TV, the screen seems like it is zoomed in with pieces of the UI off screen, it's like it isn't formatted correctly for my TV even though it's 720p. Is it called oversampling? I don't know. Should I be running it at 1080i?

That's just a thing it does so you can read more Miiverse stuff, if you want the full view of the UI at all times, switch the display to the Gamepad (top right of the Gamepad screen or X button), hit select to zoom it out, then switch it back to the TV. It seems like you should be able to zoom like that when it's on the screen but you can't. Broken system, unfinished Nintendo junk, etc etc.

Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

While I agree with your point, I have to think that your first sentence being true is entirely the result of the supply side of the equation. I haven't seen Wii Us in stock anywhere around here.

Are people listing Friend ID's here? Mine is Ulairi if anyone wants to add me.

Minarchist wrote:
Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

While I agree with your point, I have to think that your first sentence being true is entirely the result of the supply side of the equation. I haven't seen Wii Us in stock anywhere around here.

You're not looking very hard.

Go to target.com or walmart.com and put in Nashville. I was looking at maybe getting one a few days ago myself...they're everywhere.

Huh. Maybe it's just Cool Springs that's dry.

Gumbie wrote:
Minarchist wrote:
Certis wrote:

Wii outsold the Wii U on the week of Black Friday. Just like the PS2, no reason not to maintain a long tail on your old console when the new one is coming out. Totally different markets there.

The only console I can think of that didn't do that was Microsoft. They shuffled the Xbox off the moment the 360 came out.

While I agree with your point, I have to think that your first sentence being true is entirely the result of the supply side of the equation. I haven't seen Wii Us in stock anywhere around here.

You're not looking very hard.

Go to target.com or walmart.com and put in Nashville. I was looking at maybe getting one a few days ago myself...they're everywhere.

Be careful about that. I did target.com and they listed 4 stores in my area that had them, I called all 4 and they actually had none. There is some lag between the inventory being sold and the website being updated. I found one today at a Target because I called and they had 1 left (of the 4 they received today).

The moral of the story: They may not be just sitting there on the shelves but if you spend some time, it's not that difficult to pick one up. These are both good things.

I am not sure where we can go to find Nintendo Id's or how to add them but if anyone wants to add me, Mine is Lothars. Edit: I find out how and registered anyone that had already put into their profile but anyone that wants to add me please do

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/182294/persuasive_games_wii_cant_go_on_.php

This is utterly fascinating and I think it rings true a bit. Comparing the Wii U to the DS is a good comparison. Not sure of what to do with games other than create a canvas and say "go make stuff, developers".

Ulairi wrote:

Is anyone else having a problem with the WiiU and I'm not sure what the term is but on my TV, the screen seems like it is zoomed in with pieces of the UI off screen, it's like it isn't formatted correctly for my TV even though it's 720p. Is it called oversampling? I don't know. Should I be running it at 1080i?

I had the same problem. There is a setting that allows you to adjust the display. When I get home in eight hours I can give you more details on where to find it if you haven't found it yet.