Nintendo has done it again, with Wii-U.

[Fallax]

With Wii-U, or The U as I am going to call it for now (every time I say it out loud, it always comes out as The U ...), is another example of why Nintendo should continue to make hardware. The experiences will be unparallelled on the U compered to those on the 360 or PS3. The PS3 can come close using the PS Vita, but considering the price tag I doubt that will be used much, if at all. Just watch some of the Nintendo tech demo's and start dreaming of what will come.

Look at Zelda. Having the entire game without anything on the screen is one step closer to it being a true cinematic experience, that use to only happen during cut screen movies during the game. And also imagine a Final Fantasy, you can on the fly select your attacks on the touch screen while trying to deflect and dodge in coming attacks.

Imagine, if you will, Start Fax U and having a multiplayer game like in Star Fox 64 where you could play ship verses tank. You use the touch screen controller (U-Controller?) to control the ship and the Wiimote's to control the tank. And you have to shoot down the plane(s).

The possibilities here are endless. It truly is a moment where Microsoft and Sony are probably saying to themselves, "Damn, Nintendo has done it again."

Is it as great as Kinnect? I think it is far better. Because although Kinnect is being used for hardcore games, it's mostly not for the hardcore. Whereas the U-Controller is a hardcore device and will change every game Wii use it for.

[Viper]

Like I've been saying all day, nobody can ever accuse Nintendo of not being innovative.

The question becomes, "Will that potential be fully realized?" This is what actually has me most nervous. The Wii also had major potential and I feel it's been sorely underutilized for what it can do. I just hope the same fate does not befall Wii U.

On the bright side, 3rd parties already seem to be taking to it much better and faster than the Wii (if they took to it at all).

[Fallax]

Like I've been saying all day, nobody can ever accuse Nintendo of not being innovative.

The question becomes, "Will that potential be fully realized?" This is what actually has me most nervous. The Wii also had major potential and I feel it's been sorely underutilized for what it can do. I just hope the same fate does not befall Wii U.

On the bright side, 3rd parties already seem to be taking to it much better and faster than the Wii (if they took to it at all).

I think their were two big reasons for the Wii not being fully realized is very simple. One, no one thought the Wii would be successful. Surely, no developer did. Ubisoft, yes, but they didn't capitalize on the Red Steel franchise (if Red Steel 2 was Red Steel 1, it would have been different). But having really one developer isn't enough to fully realize the potential. And Nintendo was playing their cards to the casual market, forgetting us hardcore gamers often.

Second, power. The Wii lacked in power so no developer could create a straight port adding Wiimote controls. Not only did they have to spend more money developing a entirely different concept (something Ubisoft and other developers found out was harder then it looked) but they had to dedicate an entire different team to create a new engine for the Wii, and couldn't use the same graphics and art for the Wii as they did with 360/PS3.

However, developers are taking the Wii-U seriously from day one. Ubisoft is behind it again -- and I think this time they will make a good game(s) for the Wii-U, unlike Red Steel 1. THQ, Team Ninja, Sega and EA to name a few big developers being Wii-U. Look at the list: http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/wii-u-games/ . And I for one am looking forward to Assassins Creed U-Version because the possibilities there are endless.

In short, because Nintendo made the Wii and knew how to make it sell like hotcakes, developers are going to take Wii-U seriously. Because Nintendo made crazy money during the last five years on essentially ten year old hardware, they have some serious dough to crank out powerful, amazing hardware that developers can easily port and add amazing content to the U.

Welcome to the World of U.

---------- Post added at 04:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 AM ----------

And if you haven't all ready, visit this web site and watch this video. http://e3.nintendo.com/videos/#/all/HW_DI_Sizzle Talk about Third Party Support.

[Viper]

While those are valid reasons for a large portion of the lack of using the Wii to the full potential, it's not an entire excuse.

1. The PS2 was pushed far harder than the Wii was. Why couldn't a developer push the Wii the same way? Sure it would cost extra to port an HD game down to Wii but who said it had to be a port to begin with?

2. Even after initial learning curves with Wii were dealt with and the console was an obvious hit, they still failed to utilize Wii to the full potential. Even Nintendo has taken a long time to push it fully.

Certainly Wii U gives developers an easier option for porting and likely a GPU architecture they are familiar with. But Gamecube proved that even that doesn't fully matter as few 3rd parties truly pushed it.

My point is that this is as easy as it will get for developers to fully utilize the potential from a Nintendo home console. They better not blow it.

[Fallax]

While those are valid reasons for a large portion of the lack of using the Wii to the full potential, it's not an entire excuse.

1. The PS2 was pushed far harder than the Wii was. Why couldn't a developer push the Wii the same way? Sure it would cost extra to port an HD game down to Wii but who said it had to be a port to begin with?

2. Even after initial learning curves with Wii were dealt with and the console was an obvious hit, they still failed to utilize Wii to the full potential. Even Nintendo has taken a long time to push it fully.

Certainly Wii U gives developers an easier option for porting and likely a GPU architecture they are familiar with. But Gamecube proved that even that doesn't fully matter as few 3rd parties truly pushed it.

My point is that this is as easy as it will get for developers to fully utilize the potential from a Nintendo home console. They better not blow it.

I understand those points, however I don't remember the GCN having major 3rd Party support from Day One (I mean, seriously, a Tekken on a Nintendo console? That hasn't happened in 16 years ...), nor do I remember the Wii ever having that type of support from Day One -- and that one is more clearer to me considering I was in college then rather then middle school (I was in MS in 2001) and I only was able to read magazines and not having the internet for gaming news.

And even that, I still see possible ways for Nintendo to fail. You also have to consider most 3rd Party games didn't sell well on the Wii. Red Steel 2 didn't sell to well. Conduit didn't sell too well. And those games were actual hardcore games that actually was worth playing. And I think the interview with Capcom really shows light into the minds of the developers. Here is the link ( http://wii.ign.com/articles/117/1172319p1.html ). I am not going to do any actual quotes, not sure if I can, but it's not a long read and even shorter to find the comments about the Wii and what Capcom wishes they could have done differently. I think that should tell you from right there, developers are going to do their best to support this out of the gate -- which is important. They need a huge, amazing 3rd Party Launch list with one or two Nintendo titles -- and absolutely no casual games. Not for at least 3 - 6 months after the release of Wii-U. The casual market is not going to buy it out of the gate, it's going to be a casual thing for them. It's the hardcore Nintendo needs to focus on, and games will sell the console (especially if they show the unique gameplay in the commercials).

[AC!D]

Dont you guys think you are jumping the gun a bit? Sony and MS havent even announced their next gen consoles yet.

Also i finally found something other than a tech demo to watch. Not much but after that piss poor first party performance at the conference showcasing hardly any new exclusive games for the Wii U this will have to do. Killer Freaks from Ubi a Wii U exclusive.

[frosty]

I agree, you also forget 50 million people already own PS3's, so the price of entry for them would actually be cheaper than getting a Wii U, Vita only costs $250. And you bet your ass that if a third party dev makes a Wii U game, they'll port that functionality over to PS3/Vita to make an extra buck. They already went through the trouble for Wii U, and PSP is even more capable than Wii U's controller, so there is no reason why they wouldn't port those games over. And you know Sony will capitalize on the capability with their first party offerings. Don't be so quick to write it off.

On top of that, we don't even know what they're going to do with it. The demos I saw were unimpressive. The only one that looked remotely cool was the placing the controller on the ground to hit a golf ball. The rest (slinging throwing stars?) I wasn't that impressed with. Not to say I don't like the console, I do definitely have my eye on it, but as I said before... It's going to take a lot more than a PS3.5 with a fancy controller to sell me on it.

[AC!D]

The announcement for Wii U was definitely rushed. They had hardly anything to show. Apparently the devs for Mario Bros are saying the game shouldnt have even been announced because they havent started yet. It seems like Nintendo for whatever reason decided to rush the announcement and throw a few popular names like Mario and tech demos and we are supposed to be salivating.

With Vita Sony had tons to show us in proper full games using every feature the Vita is capable of. Thats the way you announce a new console. I have no doubt im going to love Wii U infinitely more than the disappointing Wii but lets get the brakes on and think before we "OMG its incredible" Nintendo's new baby.

[Segitz]

"OMG its incredible" Nintendo's new baby.

That's what the press is about, though. It's the same with Apple... no matter what they do, it's godlike.

[frosty]

The announcement for Wii U was definitely rushed. They had hardly anything to show. Apparently the devs for Mario Bros are saying the game shouldnt have even been announced because they havent started yet. It seems like Nintendo for whatever reason decided to rush the announcement and throw a few popular names like Mario and tech demos and we are supposed to be salivating.

Sounds all too familiar... Company coming off of one of their most successful generations ever, rushing a new product to market hoping to capitalize on that success even more, only having a handful of brief game demos and a couple of tech demos to show...



I think Wii U will do well, but I am willing to bet they won't repeat Wii's success with this one.

[TEEDA]

Dont you guys think you are jumping the gun a bit? Sony and MS havent even announced their next gen consoles yet.

Also i finally found something other than a tech demo to watch. Not much but after that piss poor first party performance at the conference showcasing hardly any new exclusive games for the Wii U this will have to do. Killer Freaks from Ubi a Wii U exclusive.

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[PSXBatou]

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It can do what the PS3 did in 2006... yay?!? Actually, its not even quite to that level from what little I've seen out of E3.

I agree with Acid, its too early to be screaming, jumping up and down like Tom Cruise on Oprah's couch, and proclaiming this as the second coming. From what I've seen its really nothing innovative, if anything it seems like it alienates the Wii crowd a bit. It really hasn't received the best of publicity from the media, as well their stock dropped when this was announced based on the fact that it really isn't so innovative as much as a regurgitation of the Wii and a over-sized and probably overpriced controller.

I actually read somewhere the controller was not going to be sold on its own, how much truth there is to that only time will tell, but if it is true or if the controller is absorbingly expensive that alone could kill its chances.

Time will tell, its too early to predict.

[Crazybone126]

It can do what the PS3 did in 2006... yay?!? Actually, its not even quite to that level from what little I've seen out of E3.

I agree with Acid, its too early to be screaming, jumping up and down like Tom Cruise on Oprah's couch, and proclaiming this as the second coming. From what I've seen its really nothing innovative, if anything it seems like it alienates the Wii crowd a bit. It really hasn't received the best of publicity from the media, as well their stock dropped when this was announced based on the fact that it really isn't so innovative as much as a regurgitation of the Wii and a over-sized and probably overpriced controller.

I actually read somewhere the controller was not going to be sold on its own, how much truth there is to that only time will tell, but if it is true or if the controller is absorbingly expensive that alone could kill its chances.

Time will tell, its too early to predict.

This was a demo that was put together literally a week before E3. It's not even in Alpha stage. It's literally so early in development, it can barely be called a game.

[AC!D]

This was a demo that was put together literally a week before E3. It's not even in Alpha stage. It's literally so early in development, it can barely be called a game.

That in a nutshell is the problem. This console has no games to showcase. By the time it does MS's next console will be out. Nintendo's first party developers have to make the jump to developing HD games which costs more and requires way more time and resources. I mean they take so long to create SD games so just imagine how long its going to take them to get to grips with HD games development. They are announcing games that are quite far away while relying on third party games like Battlefield and Arkham City to fill up their lineup. Getting that loyal fanbase off Live and PSN for those third party multi plat games is not going to be easy. Showing absolutely nothing about the consoles online capabilities isnt going to help any either in changing their minds. I dunno guys the console looks great but by the time anything gets done with it MS and Sony's consoles will be out and again Nintendo will be left behind with nothing but first party games to make it sing. I might be wrong but thats why i havent been raving about the Nintendo conference like everyone else on E-mpire. Take Wii U out of that conference and its one of the worst IMHO.

[PUNK em 733]

That's what the press is about, though. It's the same with Apple... no matter what they do, it's godlike.

LOL! Exactly. It's Appleitis. To me it's funny that this thing will have graphics SLIGHTLY better if that, than consoles with 7-9 year old tech...in late 2012-2013. That's laughable.

[Viper]

Funny stuff fellas. You guys tell Nintendo that they need to start working on getting 3rd parties more on board and stop relying so much on their 1st party stuff. And to appeal more to the core crowd and not as much to the casual crowd....they do all that and you guys rip them for it.

Was it rushed? Yeah, I'll grant that one. But how many consoles have you ever seen 18 months away from launch have full games deep in development to showcase? None. This is E3 2005 for Sony and 2004 for MS. What did they show that far in advance? Hell, look how much the PS3 changed from E3 2005 to E3 2006? Boomerang controller? Gone. HDMI, ethernet, USB got reduced and more.

This E3 was just about showing potential to gamers and collecting support from 3rd parties. If you were expecting launch titles, final hardware and a few dozen pieces of software running, you're set yourself up for failure.

[frosty]

That's the problem, they didn't show any potential. They showed a system with a bulky controller that had some games that were up to current gen standards, but supposedly on a next gen system. All I'm saying is they showed way too little to even get me interested. I see a PS3 with a Vita attached to it. I've already got the PS3, plan on getting a Vita, so as of now Nintendo has zero interest from me. They gotta show more before I'll care. They won't even reveal this thing's specs, which doesn't look good for them.

From what they've shown, this is a system that should have come out years ago. Nothing I saw couldn't be done on other systems. It just came across as a half assed thrown together console unveiling. Half the shit they showed running on it could have been run on a Wii, which is why many in the crowd and watching online didn't even know if it was a new system or just a controller at first.

I was expecting a much stronger introduction. Something that told me exactly what this thing should be able to do. Instead I got a demo reel of a controller.

Nintendo is starting a new generation, but is just comes across as if they're playing catch up to the old one.

[Viper]

Didn't show potential? Finish toking up and go watch the conference and the Ghost Recon Online presentations again.

[frosty]

I'm talking about potential that no other device we've seen can do. I just didn't see enough of that to catch my interest.

[Viper]

I'm talking about potential that no other device we've seen can do. I just didn't see enough of that to catch my interest.

So is this going to be the metric used when the PS4 and X360 are first unveiled? The potential based on what they can do that nothing else can instead of for the unit itself?

With PS3/Vita, you need both consoles and who know how well it will interface together given they are not designed for this purpose from the ground up. If you want to get technical about it, the damn Wii and 3DS could do this. But not on this level, not this seamlessly, etc....

I remember when you guys used to say all Nintendo needed was a Wii in HD and all would be well in the world. Now they take a Wii, make it HD, graphically superior, add a solid online infrastructure and one of the most innovativbe control concepts ever devised on 1 unit and it's all fuck Nintendo all over again.