Nintendo has done it again, with Wii-U.

[frosty]

lol... you also need to remember we said that years ago. We're knocking on the door of the next generation now... too little too late.

And we've already seen PSP do similar functionality pretty damn well, so PS3/Vita shouldn't have any problem at all. Vita by itself can do a lot of what Wii U can (games where you move the controller around to see a different view of the world around you, for instance). Vita pretty much is a Wii U controller with a back touchpad and a heck of a lot more processing power. I don't doubt it could handle it. What I question is if they'll actually do it.

Even then, I saw potential for some cool gameplay types, but again Nintendo is banking on the controller selling the system and I just don't see that happening. It's a gimped PS3 (no blu-ray) with a gimped Vita for a controller...

It's not "fuck nintendo" at all, it's more "nintendo didn't sell me on this one with what they've shown so far".

[Crazybone126]

lol... you also need to remember we said that years ago. We're knocking on the door of the next generation now... too little too late.

And we've already seen PSP do similar functionality pretty damn well, so PS3/Vita shouldn't have any problem at all. Vita by itself can do a lot of what Wii U can (games where you move the controller around to see a different view of the world around you, for instance). Vita pretty much is a Wii U controller with a back touchpad and a heck of a lot more processing power. I don't doubt it could handle it. What I question is if they'll actually do it.

Even then, I saw potential for some cool gameplay types, but again Nintendo is banking on the controller selling the system and I just don't see that happening. It's a gimped PS3 (no blu-ray) with a gimped Vita for a controller...

It's not "fuck nintendo" at all, it's more "nintendo didn't sell me on this one with what they've shown so far".

This disc space for the Wii U is 25GB, the same as blu-ray.

[Viper]

This disc space for the Wii U is 25GB, the same as blu-ray.

He's calling it gimped because it won't have Blu-ray movie playback or dual layering.

[Crazybone126]

He's calling it gimped because it won't have Blu-ray movie playback or dual layering.

Well of course it won't, Nintendo doesn't want to pay their competition any royalties. Why would they?

[frosty]

Sony pays MS royalties for the use of the VC-1/WMV video codec and WMA audio. MS pays Sony royalties on DVD and SPDIF audio interface (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface). It happens all the time in the industry.

I'm not trying to hate on Nintendo for this new system, it will definitely make many a Wii owner very happy. It's got some great hardware by current gen standards. But for me, a PS3 owner, I see no reason to upgrade. It's almost all of what I've had for 4-5 years now with a fancy new controller that is very similar in functionality to the PS Vita.

That's why I don't see this system repeating Wii's success. They haven't sold those of us already owning current gen systems (some of us at least), and I don't think the controller will resonate with the casual market quite like the Wiimote did. Time will tell though.

[Viper]

Frosty, when PS Vita gets Battlefield 3 and Metro: last Light and such with PS3 connectivity, let me know.

Also, can you show me videos of Vita doing PS3 connectivity?

[frosty]

I can show you video of PSP doing it... For Vita to not be able to do the same (and then some) wouldn't make sense. Considering Vita has it's own on board processing capability, it wouldn't even need to send as much data to and from the console (such as for the cameras, touch pad, etc., that can all be handled on board). So while it has not been shown, there is nothing technically holding it back from happening. If Wii U's play style does take off, you bet your ass Vita will gain such functionality. And again, while some cool things were shown that the controller can do, it's just not enough to convince me to buy it at this point. When I see something PS3 or PS3<>Vita can't do, I'll pay attention.

[Diresu]

Having watched the conference and the sizzle reel videos of the Wii U...not for me. Seems even more of a gimmick than I thought it would be.

[frosty]

“It is very interesting the ways that Nintendo went with Wii U, and I was surprised it wasn’t exactly as it had been rumoured,” Yoshida told Develop at E3.

“Already people are starting to ask about linking Vita and PS3 to do something similar, in terms of using two screens, and having controls on the screen.

“That’s very interesting, and we will have to experiment,” he added, before suggesting that such work was already, to a certain extent, underway.

“Lots of the things that developers of Vita games are doing, as you may have seen, is experimenting with connectivities between Vita and PS3.

“The Wipeout [2048] team came up with their cross play ideas, and the other Vita teams have come up with ways of playing with two systems. It’s just a matter of time, as we provide the SDKs to developers so they can make use of both PS3 and Vita, and they might come up with something interesting.”

Sony is already toying with it. And he was even kind enough to give them credit for the idea and calling it very interesting. No "we've been working on that for years." as you'd typically expect a competitor to say.

[Viper]

Sony is already toying with it. And he was even kind enough to give them credit for the idea and calling it very interesting. No "we've been working on that for years." as you'd typically expect a competitor to say.

Which is exactly my point. You're talking as if Wii U isn't doing something new and it is. Vita may be capable but just how much effort into it do you think it would have if Wii U didn't make it center stage?

NGP/PSP2/Vita was unveiled back in January. How much PS3 connectivity was talked about then and up until E3? Practically none. Now that Nintendo throws it out, suddenly it's, Oh, we'll look into that now.

Now you state that the Wii U doesn't do anything that makes you want to buy one. Flip that around and I don't see any reason to buy a PS3 and Vita to do the same thing a Wii U will do.

[frosty]

Actually, you're wrong about that. They have been talking about connectivity with PS3 since day 1. Remote play on any game, transferring game saves, using Vita as an extra screen... all of that has been talked about before Wii U ever came about.

As for your last argument, sure, but there are 50 million PS3's out there already, and not a single Wii U. For those 50 million, it'll be cheaper (and better in many ways) to get a Vita. That's the disadvantage Wii U faces.

[Viper]

Actually, you're wrong about that. They have been talking about connectivity with PS3 since day 1. Remote play on any game, transferring game saves, using Vita as an extra screen... all of that has been talked about before Wii U ever came about.

As for your last argument, sure, but there are 50 million PS3's out there already, and not a single Wii U. For those 50 million, it'll be cheaper (and better in many ways) to get a Vita. That's the disadvantage Wii U faces.

I've heard talk remote play but that's it. But no demos of anything, not official "this game with do this" talk, etc...

As for the last part, the disadvantage is equally on all of us. Some will have to buys a PS3, some will have to buy a PS Vita, some will have to buy a PS3 and a PS Vita and some will have to buy a Wii U.

[Fallax]

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.

Maybe you didn't watch the videos Nintendo released but they did show what the potential for game play is. And here is the video I am talking about: http://e3.nintendo.com/videos/#/wii-u/HW_demo

Also, here is an extended look into the minds of several developers who talk about their excitement for Wii U: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2011-wii-u/715493

Furthermore, going back to the first video, imagine if you will ... Super Smash Bros. U. Instead of having the normal one stage, you could have an entire level of smashing. With four people on screen, all searching for the fifth player who has the U-Controller. Once you find him/her, you can start the battle!

Don't like Super Smash Bros. do you? OK imagine a shooting game. Imagine if you will, having four of your friends using Wiimotes trying to hunt you down! You have the advantage of not being seen on the big screen and hide. You now can sneak up on your friends and kill them before they can get you!

Man, don't like shooting your friends? Imagine this, then. Imagine co-oping in a RPG of some sort. One of your friends is going doing his own thing. You can, using the controller, literally go and complete other objectives and divide and conquer. This can not happen without split screen on a traditional platform (not locally, of course online it can). But it add's more and more possibilities.

Thats what a-symetrical gaming is. Sure, you can do that with the Vita. Problem is just like the Move, it's not standard. Developers generally don't do something unless they know it's going to sell. There is only 23 games from last year that use the Move controller. To compare, Microsoft was able to get 36 games with it's Kinect motion control system in one years time and Nintendo in one year from Wii was able to get 16 motion control games by launch. So, do you really expect me to believe Sony is going to be able to get developers to support yet another controller when they can't even get their other controller off the ground, especially since Move is far cheaper to buy then the Vita? I am sorry, I doubt that. However I fully expect the PS4 to be released with a Dual Shock 4 controller that will have some sort of screen on it. Mark my words, it will happen. (That is all Sony does with their controls, copies Nintendo. Everything from the button layout, to rumble, to joysticks, to motion controls.)

You're right, though. Nintendo didn't actually show anything impressive. And I haven't even gotten to the Zelda HD tech demo yet ...

[frosty]

Maybe you didn't watch the videos Nintendo released but they did show what the potential for game play is. And here is the video I am talking about: http://e3.nintendo.com/videos/#/wii-u/HW_demo

There is nothing in this demo the 3DS and Wii couldn't do, much less PS3 and Vita. Nothing in any of your other examples either. That's what I'm getting at... why do I have to buy a new console to do this when the current crop already can? We have all the hardware out needed to have done this already, and PS3 with Vita will be very well equipped to do the exact same thing. This is why I haven't, as of now, seen a reason I personally care to purchase this system. I've seen the others showcase the capability to do it already, and honestly playing hide and seek with a few friends doesn't seem as appealing to me. There are some cool things you can do with this, I do not deny that, but I personally already have a PS3, and being that Sony is exploring doing this same thing with Vita, I can just buy one of those for $250 and get the same thing plus all the added media center functionality PS3 has.

Wii U has a market to thrive in, but for the 50 million PS3 owners out there, it just seems like a better idea to wait and see what Sony cooks up with Vita before we consider a Wii U. I also don't think the casuals will like this one as much as Wii, but that too remains to be seen.

[Theo]

I get what you're saying frosty and I will have to agree on a personal level, judging from what we have seen so far (which is not much, so we still have to wait and see). WiiU does not seem to intrest me as much as I would have hoped for... The problem you are stating will be faced again with PS4 and 720 as well though. Considering next gen, only thing left to improve in great levels is pretty much graphics. Even if some new stuff comes along it could probably be argued being able to be done with ps3 already. With that said I'm quite happy where gaming seems to be going next gen and even though I hoped for more, I'm far more interested in WiiU than I ever was for Wii. I'll just have to wait and see how much they will force the new controller to be used in their games, but at least you can play sitting comfortably in your sofa instead having to jump and wave around like a maniac, which is very, very nice for a change IMO.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that Japanese garden tech demo. That looked very nice. If they can get graphics of that level running at 1080p native in game, it would be quite awesome actually.

[Fallax]

There is nothing in this demo the 3DS and Wii couldn't do, much less PS3 and Vita. Nothing in any of your other examples either. That's what I'm getting at... why do I have to buy a new console to do this when the current crop already can? We have all the hardware out needed to have done this already, and PS3 with Vita will be very well equipped to do the exact same thing. This is why I haven't, as of now, seen a reason I personally care to purchase this system. I've seen the others showcase the capability to do it already, and honestly playing hide and seek with a few friends doesn't seem as appealing to me. There are some cool things you can do with this, I do not deny that, but I personally already have a PS3, and being that Sony is exploring doing this same thing with Vita, I can just buy one of those for $250 and get the same thing plus all the added media center functionality PS3 has.

Wii U has a market to thrive in, but for the 50 million PS3 owners out there, it just seems like a better idea to wait and see what Sony cooks up with Vita before we consider a Wii U. I also don't think the casuals will like this one as much as Wii, but that too remains to be seen.

Why should you have to buy a new console to experience this? It looks like you all ready think you have to buy a new console to experience this type of functionality. Why should I have to buy a 3DS to experience this with my Wii? Why can't the functionality be built in? In the case of the Wii U, it is all ready built in. You don't have to buy anything extra, just the new console.

And why should you buy a new console? We ask ourselves that question every 5 or so years, my friend. Why should have I bought my GCN? I was happy with my N64. Why should I buy a Wii when the GCN had the ability to do everything my Wii did (literally, originally the Wiimote was going to be an add on -- but the GCN didn't have the market share they wanted, so they decided to make Wii). And with the next consoles, why should you buy a PS4? I mean, assuming they choose the same PS3 controller -- which is likely -- I doubt the graphics are going to be much of an improvement. Why should you buy any new console? Just keep the one you have, my friend. Don't ever buy a new one ...

Wait, that never happens. I remember now. Yea, the reason I bought the GCN was because I wanted to play Lugi's Mansion. Oh yea! And Eternal Darkness!! I wanted to play that game! OOOH GOODNESS!! The new Zelda (that was never made, ironically!) I wanted to play THAT! Why did I buy the Wii? For Metroid Prime 3. For Zelda (again). For Wii Sports. And why do I want a Wii U? Actually, Killer Freaks from Outer Space sounds pretty good to me. I would like to play Assassins Creed with the new controller, as well. Can I get that functionality on the PS3? Assuming they port the last Assassins Creed to Wii U, no actually, you can't. Not with that game.

And again frosty, you seem to love the PSP Vite/PS3 combo -- and I do not assume developers won't try it -- but Nintendo learned back in the GCN days people don't like handles and home consoles working together. So I highly doubt that your amazing idea (and Sony saying "we are experimenting with the idea") will be as popular as the Wii U controller. Again, look at how well Sony has got developers to develop for the PS3 Move. 23 games only. That sad, when both Nintendo and Microsoft was able to do better. And it's not like Kinect has lost any steam. It's like a rebirth of the 360. With the PS3 Move, people have for the most part forgotten it. It's been made into a gimmick instead of something that actually changed gaming for the PS3.

And when we learn of what exclusives are for the Wii U, it be easier to answer why you should buy one. Because no body buys a new console (or most people don't) based on tech demo's or controllers or graphics or blu-ray players. They buy a new console because there is a game they want for it and can't get on their current console. Thats why I bought a 360. Thats why I want to buy a PS3 (there are some games I can't get on a 360 that I want). And thats why I want a Wii U. I want to play Killer Freaks. Sounds kinda funny. I want to play Assassin's Creed with the Wii U-Controller. And as more games get announced, and it becomes clear what exclusives will be there, then it will become even more clear why I and others will want to play Wii U.

[OmniStalgic]

Lotta hate going on..lol Here's a leveled headed post

1) Everyone borrows from the competition, especially when something is successful. Sony is always got this wrap of being "Copiers" of Nintendo. When the fact is, they started as the same company, are both Japanese giants, and share many of the same philosophies. Sony usually "improves" on something Nintendo accomplishes as well, and not blatantly just "copies" ala MS with avatars on 360. The industry is better because of Sony and Nintendo--period.

2) Why is there so much technicalities when it comes to Wii-U? Sure not a lot was shown, and Ninty definitely rushed it. but we aren't even sure about how much more powerful it is. If everything can look like that Zelda demo, that's a pretty nice step up from PS3/Xbox especially considering the controller is likely expensive and Nintendo won't sell an expensive console and may even bleed out Wii-U for a while. There's a ton of potential here, its something new, it's crazy early, and really, where else are games going to go? Virtual Reality, 3D? all these techs aren't really there yet to push, and I think the controller being an extension of the game now was definitely a future leap for the industry. Just let it sink in...

PS3/Vita are separate entities, it won't be supported like Wii-U unless Sony makes a push for that and bundles the consoles.

[venomv]

It will come down to one thing, as always, which system(s) have the game you want to play.

Nintendo has their fanbase, which has likely grown larger since the Wii came out. So the only real two questions I see are will it get good exclusive third party support and will the casual audience they grabbed with the Wii feel any need to upgrade?

They seem to have gotten the third parties' attention (launching first helps in that regard) but time will have to tell with that.

But on the casual front, Nintendo seem to think that traditional controllers where too complex for the casual audience so they made the Wii-Mote, but now they come out with that monster of a controller and to me that seems to have gone the other way. It has all the buttons Sony's and MS's controllers have (I think), a touch screen and motion sensors, it's very cool from a gamers perspective (though I am still worried about the price tag) but if Nintendo was right in the first place, the casual audience may have to look elsewhere.

[SadPanda]

So far they have said that the WiiU will only support one of those tablet controllers. Supposedly they are working on making it work with two or more but currently only one.

So my question is: When that tablet thing breaks where do i get a replacement? Is "Bob's Big Box Mart" really going to stock these if nobody ever needs to by a second expect on the rare case when the controller breaks?

[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.

gameplay footage