Official Wii U Discussion Thread

I personally have to say I'm pretty happy with what will be available during the launch window. That's better than what we got at the launch of the 3DS.

But the difference is, if all that was shown will really be released during the launch window, what will come next?? The 3DS had massive announcements at the same time as the console which still need to come out (Kingdom Hearts and Paper Mario are among those). But the Wii U, while for me it'll have a decent launch window line-up, doesn't seem to have a lot to look forward to beyond these first "4 months" (that is, still, if what they said about all these titles being for the launch window, is to be believed).

One point that needs to be stressed though is that, obviously, the Wii U is pretty new, and more beefy tech means games won't come out at a tremendous rate like they could on previous consoles, so expecting even more games than on Wii might be a little idealistic. One of the reasons the Wii got so many titles over the course of it's 5 and a half years is that it costed less money and took less time to develop for it. If I consider this, I say that, for me, having quite a few games to look forward to in a 4 months time is quite an achievement.

I'm sold already on Aliens Colonial Marines, Rayman Legends and Pikmin 3. ZombiU, depsite its slightly subpar graphics had me almost sold ont he concept of survival alone. P-100 looks quite good too, although I'd like to know more before I make decision, and depending on reviews, because I know very little about the following, I might even buy Lego City Undercover, Trine 2 and Darksiders II.

That's 3 definite purchases for 4 months, with several other potentials. The same couldn't be said of the 3DS, which I love now despite that...

What worries me is "are they going to be able to keep up the pace beyond that ?", and when are we going to see those games which will come out after, and will I be interested. Sure we know we can expect them sooner or later, but the longer time it could take to develop them because Nintendo has now joined the realm of HD is still worrying. Announcing mere titles, without showing anything, would have been enough to reassure everyone, but they didn't, and that's sad.

( Edited 07.06.2012 09:55 by RudyC3 )

@Ross

The 2 controller statement was very deceptive, we now know the WiiU takes a 50% loss (min) in quality when it displays on two controllers. If the CPU-GPU combo cannot even handle two players in most hardcore games, gamers have good reason to be concerned about the future of the console. No hardcore gamer is going to see two player mini games as appealing.

Another big problem is battery consumption, I don't know about you, but my gameplay sessions can be a lot longer than 3 hrs. It's easy to imagine the fuss it will create - it's expected on handhelds, not on consoles.

( Edited 07.06.2012 12:02 by Linkyshinks )

Linkyshinks said:
@Ross

The 2 controller statement was very deceptive, we now know the WiiU takes a 50% loss (min) in quality when it displays on two controllers. If the CPU-GPU combo cannot even handle two players in most hardcore games, gamers have good reason to be concerned about the future of the console. No hardcore gamer is going to see two player mini games as appealing.

Another big problem is battery consumption, I don't know about you, but my gameplay sessions can be a lot longer than 3 hrs. It's easy to imagine the fuss that will create, it's expected on handhelds, not on consoles.

The controller is doing a lot of processing, itself. and the Controller, CAN be used during charging sessions.

Echoes221 said:

you all are expecting way too much

Are we?

Yes, you want everything to be shown in a 1 hour moment, when the system is still being worked on. we probably didn't get the ACTUAL tech specs, because they are probably still toying with it. They have less then half the year left (whole 2012 calender year) and less then a quater of a year (To it's actual launch).

Watch the E3 again, I picked up that Nintendo is really trying to show that they are backing down from being considered a hard company to develop for and I even found out, that Nintendo is publishing the Wii U version of Ninja Gaiden. They are working hard, and even at that they are also publishing other third party games.



( Edited 07.06.2012 10:27 by wolfy )

The framerate will surely be halved only if the full gameplay is streamed to two controllers at the same time, but not if two controllers are used at the same time to play on the big screen while both merely display a user interface. It's not every game that will require for the full gameplay to be displayed on two different controllers, AND on the TV at the same time. The other home consoles aren't even designed with multiple displays in mind, so it must already be very power consuming on the CPU/GPU of the console to not only render all that, but also most likely compress it for sending it the the controller(s).

XBox smartglass makes me laugh already. The console is already now in a position of the least powerful hardware out of the 360/PS3/WiiU bunch, and they expect to compete with the WiiU with that? How can a piece of hardware that wasn't designed with that in mind do as good, let alone even better?

wolfy said:

The controller is doing a lot of processing, itself. and the Controller, CAN be used during charging sessions.

What are you talking about, it does no processing at all. It streams video from the Wiiu only.

The WiiU controller isn't some expensive and complicated device, it will be easy and cheap to manufacture, the fact is Nintendo already use most of it's components in Wii, DS and 3DS.

I don't want to return to wired gaming, this controller seems to force it now.

( Edited 07.06.2012 11:06 by Linkyshinks )

@ linkyshinks

No, but sorry wrong wording.

What I meant, is for power-wise, it's using a lot of power. There's no way in a way for something to take energy from something else, without being attached to it.

It's running energy for; NFC, touch screen, sound, screen brightness, bluetooth, infra-red, camera, sensor strip, buttons, the chip inside to use it as a remote control for the tv, and maybe even more things.

That might require a lot of energy.

And all that to be on a bio safe battery might be quite a run on the system's battery.

( Edited 07.06.2012 10:39 by wolfy )

If the gamepad is so cheap, get yourself a bigger third party battery that'll last you 3 or 4 times what the original gives you... The downside is that a longer lasting battery means it takes equally as long to charge... (My 3DS battery that lasts me 15 hours with everything set to the max takes about 10 hours to charge...)

Wolfy is right, all these features consume a lot of energy, this can't really be helped.

And no, the controller MUST have some processing power to decode the video stream that comes to it, even if it's not a powerhouse, it's impossible for it to decode or encode anything (namely the camera video stream going back to the console) without requiring some processing power.

( Edited 07.06.2012 10:49 by RudyC3 )

RudyC3 said:
The framerate will surely be halved only if the full gameplay is streamed to two controllers at the same time, but not if two controllers are used at the same time to play on the big screen while both merely display a user interface. It's not every game that will require for the full gameplay to be displayed on two different controllers, AND on the TV at the same time. The other home consoles aren't even designed with multiple displays in mind, so it must already be very power consuming on the CPU/GPU of the console to not only render all that, but also most likely compress it for sending it the the controller(s).

XBox smartglass makes me laugh already. The console is already now in a position of the least powerful hardware out of the 360/PS3/WiiU bunch, and they expect to compete with the WiiU with that? How can a piece of hardware that wasn't designed with that in mind do as good, let alone even better?

You can be certain Microsoft's next console will support multiple screens, not just handheld ones via SmartGlass. "MultiScreen" on 360 shows their intention to support multiple screen gaming in future, because they're obvious advantages, both in gameplay mechanics and gameplay immersion. Today, two screen gameplay display is perfectly possible using the latest GPU's and CPU's.

Nintendo made some big thing about not being able to play your console on a TV when someone else was using it. The odd thing for me is that I know various family homes that have multiple TV displays, even kids as young as ten have their own TV's.

We do not know the specs of the WiiU. What GPU is it using exactly?. Why is it that we still don't know, what do Nintendo have to hide?. I imagine the answer to these question don't look good for Nintendo, they must know gamers are concerned about the "long game", after Wii.

( Edited 07.06.2012 12:06 by Linkyshinks )

( Edited 07.06.2012 12:50 by Linkyshinks )

Here's all the details Iwata was willing to give on the subject of Miiverse comment filtering.

- three levels of security
- first level is software-based content filtering for bad words
- second level includes newly hired people who will police the Miiverse
- this filtering will be done before the posts are published
- the time it takes for a message to post depends on how many people are posting and how many staffers Nintendo has working on the project
- Iwata looking for feedback at launch for how long is an acceptable time to wait for sending a post to the Miiverse to actually publishing
- Iwata feels that 30 minutes from post sent in to being published on the Miiverse is acceptable
- third level of security involves gamers themselves, since they can flag questionable posts

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/06/06/e3-miiverse-and-nintendos-plan-for-keeping-it-clean/

I was a little dissapointed with the press conference although I think they demonstrated the WiiU better this time.

Really looking forward to some of the games although I'm a bit dissapointed in the lack of first party games and the fact most of the third party are ports.

I want to see that Zelda demo made into a proper game also! If the next Zelda game doesn't look as good as that I'll be very dissapointed (I'll still buy it though, 'cause it's Zelda!).

I don't think it'll take much time for Sony to mimic the WiiU Gamepad using the Vita, but at least WiiU has the advantage of not having to buy something seperate from the console to do it like Playstation owners would have to do with Vita.

One thing that scares me a little is that bringing an underpowered (for the next gen) console to market a year or two before the competition bring out their's gives me flashbacks to the Dreamcast.

I'm sure WiiU will do well though.

Linkyshinks said:
Here's all the details Iwata was willing to give on the subject of Miiverse comment filtering.

- three levels of security
- first level is software-based content filtering for bad words
- second level includes newly hired people who will police the Miiverse
- this filtering will be done before the posts are published
- the time it takes for a message to post depends on how many people are posting and how many staffers Nintendo has working on the project
- Iwata looking for feedback at launch for how long is an acceptable time to wait for sending a post to the Miiverse to actually publishing
- Iwata feels that 30 minutes from post sent in to being published on the Miiverse is acceptable
- third level of security involves gamers themselves, since they can flag questionable posts

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/06/06/e3-miiverse-and-nintendos-plan-for-keeping-it-clean/

I suggest a different system: you can only see the comments by people you add as friends. And maybe their friends. If you don't like someone's comments, you can disable them.
Of course you can totally disable Wiiverse communication on an account. You can also protect your account with a password. That way you can make sure your kids can't see anything, while you can fully enjoy Wiiverse on your own account.

I've given up.

I'll buy a black console with Pikmin whenever it arrives. (I expect it will happen in two years)

I find it amusing how in the Nintendo Direct video, that dudes message went straight through to gramps within seconds, in order to get his game help, when in actual reality it will take 30 minutes, minimum. I can access Gamefaqs on my smartphone within seconds, but that aside, I can use numerous easy to use, instantaneous methods of contacting my gaming friends, in a normal unhindered manner, without any of this doodling BS.

Q: Will this message system appeal to core gamers who like to keep tight with their gaming pals via their console?. I think not.

( Edited 07.06.2012 18:46 by Linkyshinks )

It's for the whole MiiVerse, he said nothing about sending messages to friends. Plus, this is still only theoretical. The cost of hiring more people just so it takes less time just isn't worth it in that case.

On top of that, we don't actually know anything about how the account system and friends list messaging will work.

People overreacting to things never ceases to amaze me.

As for the people complaining about the lack of games, yes, maybe EA and Activision could've had more games shown for the Wii U on the sizzle reel, but not every single developer goes to E3, there's also a new Nintendo game being announced according to IGN's schedule today (tomorrow if going by EU time).

Also, there's a few games like Project C.A.R.S that have already been announced for the Wii U(falls under not at E3 at all), and a few developers said they won't show the Wii U version of the game at the show beforehand (like colonial marines, even though that was in the conference sizzle reel).

Also something to note, this is Nintendo of America's show, doesn't mean that everything that was in the show applies to the rest of the world. I personally hoped for there to be a lot more Japanese developed games.

( Edited 07.06.2012 17:40 by Stulaw )

“Most of the third party publishers we spoke to seemed to be lukewarm about the Wii U console and don’t seem to be developing games for it aggressively. That said, Nintendo has always had the ability to surprise everyone.”

- Sterne Agee analysts Arvind Bhatia and Brett Strauser

“Overall, we were disappointed with the Nintendo presentation, as many key questions about the Wii U remained unanswered, a year after the console’s official introduction, and less than seven month’s before its scheduled release. We would have liked additional information on Wii U’s technical specifications, release dates, and pricing. Also, it remains unclear at this point whether Nintendo will have the third-party support needed for Wii U to appeal to a wider audience of gamers.”

- Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter

All Nintendo's First Party Games Run in 720p

http://wiiudaily.com/2012/06/wii-u-games-run-in-720p/

( Edited 07.06.2012 17:47 by Linkyshinks )

Linkyshinks said:

Canyarion said:

Linkyshinks said:
Here's all the details Iwata was willing to give on the subject of Miiverse comment filtering.

- three levels of security
- first level is software-based content filtering for bad words
- second level includes newly hired people who will police the Miiverse
- this filtering will be done before the posts are published
- the time it takes for a message to post depends on how many people are posting and how many staffers Nintendo has working on the project
- Iwata looking for feedback at launch for how long is an acceptable time to wait for sending a post to the Miiverse to actually publishing
- Iwata feels that 30 minutes from post sent in to being published on the Miiverse is acceptable
- third level of security involves gamers themselves, since they can flag questionable posts

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/06/06/e3-miiverse-and-nintendos-plan-for-keeping-it-clean/

These guys are out of their friggin' minds. A 30 minute delay??? Imagine (just try) Facebook working like this. You post a question, you have to wait for 30 minutes... and then you get 20x the same answer. And after that all the comments on the comments.
In the end people aren't even going to bother posting because they don't want to post stuff that others already did.

I suggest a different system: you can only see the comments by people you add as friends. And maybe their friends. If you don't like someone's comments, you can disable them.
Of course you can totally disable Wiiverse communication on an account. You can also protect your account with a password. That way you can make sure your kids can't see anything, while you can fully enjoy Wiiverse on your own account.

I've given up.

I'll buy a black console with Pikmin whenever it arrives. (I expect it will happen in two years)

Well lets take a look at what we do know;

1) (From last years first revealing)
IBM was talking hugely of the Wii U console.

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/34683.wss#release

Never once done for either Sony nor Microsoft.
(I searched it up myself, besides a little partner ship announcement but never this big.)

2) it's a new architectural build of chips.
A lot of you even said it is.

3) They are all ready having exclusive games from third parties that do seem to be quite huge. and even Build from the ground up exclusives.

Ghost recon online, and arkham city.

4) we still have a few months for more information to be released, apparently Nintendo was busy considering this is the very first e3 that Iwata ever missed.

All I need to know is this - 1080p with controller gameplay streaming appears to be too taxing on the WiiU's humble ageing chips.

http://wiiudaily.com/2012/06/wii-u-games-run-in-720p/

I see very little hope for this console already, the other two seem destined to blow it away like it doesn't exist. Not many core gamers will stand for this crudity in the next gen.

I now know why I wasn't blown away by Pikmin 3's visuals, Initially I thought it was because the game started off as a Wii game designed for 480p display, but now I can see there's more to it. Great looking game, but not a good as I thought it would look in this generation of games. It deserves 1080P.

"Publishers [are] excited about PS4 and Xbox 720. Publishers seem to be a lot more excited about the potential for the next consoles from Microsoft and Sony than they are about Nintendo Wii U."�

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-06-07-next-gen-consoles-for-sony-microsoft-out-late-2013-says-analysts

I can see why, the more that's revealed about this console, the more I'm put off.

( Edited 07.06.2012 19:51 by Linkyshinks )

Linkyshinks said:
All I need to know is this - 1080p with controller gameplay streaming appears to be too taxing on the WiiU's humble ageing chips.

http://wiiudaily.com/2012/06/wii-u-games-run-in-720p/

I see very little hope for this console already, the other two seem destined to blow it away like it doesn't exist. Not many core gamers will stand for this crudity in the next gen.

First generation of games; and the developer of Darksiders II said it was no problem to bring it over to Wii U, and PS3 and 360, can barely even scratch the surface of 1080P.

it's a first step, give it time. it's only e3 lets wait and see there's still (Roughly) 90 to 150 days/ 5 months 2000+ hours till the launch of the Wii U, just wait and see what happens in that time.

( Edited 07.06.2012 18:26 by wolfy )

It's probably just a matter of bandwidth. It's no mean feat to push an HD resolution to the TV and an SD stream to the controller.

Some people are saying that this is only because its the first wave of games. But you have to remember that this system was designed with a familiar architecture to make development as easy as possible. Every system has its quirks, but this thing isn't using a super complicated Cell-like setup. There shouldn't be a huge learning curve here. I hate to paint a grim picture, but I wouldn't expect things to improve too much, visually, for this system.

Which isn't the end of the world -- games coming out for consoles these days still manage to impress. It just may have a very hard time standing up to what Sony and MS come out with, on a visual level. And it certainly won't hold a candle to even mid-range PCs.

I don't think it will be as disastrously behind the next generation systems as the Wii was though, and it's at least equipped with a modern architecture this time around. It'll hopefully get ports of the next generation games, just in a sort of "Low" visual setting, so to speak.

Jacob4000 said:
It's probably just a matter of bandwidth. It's no mean feat to push an HD resolution to the TV and an SD stream to the controller.

Some people are saying that this is only because its the first wave of games. But you have to remember that this system was designed with a familiar architecture to make development as easy as possible. Every system has its quirks, but this thing isn't using a super complicated Cell-like setup. There shouldn't be a huge learning curve here. I hate to paint a grim picture, but I wouldn't expect things to improve too much, visually, for this system.

Which isn't the end of the world -- games coming out for consoles these days still manage to impress. It just may have a very hard time standing up to what Sony and MS come out with, on a visual level. And it certainly won't hold a candle to even mid-range PCs.

I don't think it will be as disastrously behind the next generation systems as the Wii was though, and it's at least equipped with a modern architecture this time around. It'll hopefully get ports of the next generation games, just in a sort of "Low" visual setting, so to speak.

There will be no new cell architect

http://www.psuni.com/ibm-cancels-cell-processor-development-1295/

Jacob4000 said:
It's probably just a matter of bandwidth. It's no mean feat to push an HD resolution to the TV and an SD stream to the controller.

Some people are saying that this is only because its the first wave of games. But you have to remember that this system was designed with a familiar architecture to make development as easy as possible. Every system has its quirks, but this thing isn't using a super complicated Cell-like setup. There shouldn't be a huge learning curve here. I hate to paint a grim picture, but I wouldn't expect things to improve too much, visually, for this system.

Which isn't the end of the world -- games coming out for consoles these days still manage to impress. It just may have a very hard time standing up to what Sony and MS come out with, on a visual level. And it certainly won't hold a candle to even mid-range PCs.

I don't think it will be as disastrously behind the next generation systems as the Wii was though, and it's at least equipped with a modern architecture this time around. It'll hopefully get ports of the next generation games, just in a sort of "Low" visual setting, so to speak.

The console already has a problem doing this simple task:
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/06/e3-2012-using-two-gamepads-will-effect-performance-developers-say

Linkyshinks said:

The console already has a problem doing this simple task:
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/06/e3-2012-using-two-gamepads-will-effect-performance-developers-say

that will only be on the WiiU Gamepads. not the TV.

Also article was removed.

Like I said before, there's still time till launch so... most likely Nintendo is working on that issue still.



( Edited 07.06.2012 19:17 by Azuardo )

That is no simple task LinkyShinks, Asymetric Gameplay on 3 screens will be hard for the Wii U to do, ofcourse, there are ways round the problem, there won't necessarily be a drop in frame rate, developers can lower the effects for multiplayer for instance.

Oh and the TBA game on IGN turned out to be Pikmin 3.

edit: what's happened above?

( Edited 07.06.2012 19:09 by Stulaw )

This is enough to make me buy a Wii U.

Actually, Rayman Legends, Scribblenauts, Lego City and Pikmin 3 sort of make me want to get one, but I'm not sure about getting it at launch though, but we'll just have to wait and see.