Wii U details - Infographic

[~Johnny]

Yeah but Nintendo posted their first annual loss of $460million. The Wii is losing steam and the Wii U is going to cost at least $250, I think Nintendo are in real trouble by 2013 the next-gen consoles will be announced and it leaves the Wii U looking relative to how the Wii looked compared to PS3/360.

First loss in 30 years... which means they have plenty in the bank still then saved up for rainy years like this :p But the 3DS has healthy sales now and is alone expected to keep Nintendo in the green for the first half of the year - let alone when the WiiU comes out where they'll be the first to the market with a new console, and selling it a profit (was the Wii also not sold at $250?). And that's going to be considerably cheaper AND easier to develop for than anything Microsoft or Sony are going to come up with when they do bring their machines to the market, which isn't looking too likely for making Christmas next year.

Also, it has the Wii name, uses the Wii controllers, can actually play Wii games, and costs the same was the Wii did when it launched. There's a lot of value to that in the market.

[dead.cell]

I have no interest in the Wii. But it's far from a business flop. Nintendo sold lot of it and it's damn cheap to make unlike the XBox 360 and PS3. Nintendo still sells lot of first party titles.

Didn't say it was, what the hell... My point was that they aren't going to die anytime soon, in regards to the comment being made about this being the "final nail in the coffin".

[migo]

Another underpowered Nintendo console. The problem this time around is that the Wii U just hasn't got the same accessibility that made the Wii a huge success. It was fun trying to convince parents and grandparents to try out Wii Bowling - even then it was sometimes a challenge trying to teach them. I just can't imagine older parents or grandparents wanting to try out the Wii U.

Everything depends upon the price. However, while I'm sure it will be popular with young children I just don't see it being a credible alternative to the likes of Microsoft or Sony.

Being underpowered could be an advantage. While some devs are fed up with the limitations of the PS3 and 360, others are aprehensive about working on the next gen ones. Development costs are already pretty insane, as are development times. I guess we'll see what DX11/12 and whatever Sony has in mind provides, along with engines like UE4 to make that easier on devs, but the Wii U is a known quantity.

[The Teej]

Another underpowered Nintendo console. The problem this time around is that the Wii U just hasn't got the same accessibility that made the Wii a huge success. It was fun trying to convince parents and grandparents to try out Wii Bowling - even then it was sometimes a challenge trying to teach them. I just can't imagine older parents or grandparents wanting to try out the Wii U.

Everything depends upon the price. However, while I'm sure it will be popular with young children I just don't see it being a credible alternative to the likes of Microsoft or Sony.

Actually I think that's the issue - it's being setup as a credible alternative to the likes of MS and Sony and can actually do pretty well as that, it is actually a pretty credible hardcore gamers' console. The problem arises when the hardcore gamers will adopt the other next-gen consoles in 2014 and Nintendo is left with "last-gen graphics", as the supposed hardcore (read: silly kids playing cod) gamers say. Then the depressingly large majority of "hardcore" (read: silly kids) gamers will move on to those consoles and it only leaves the actual proper hardcore gamers (the ones who have been gaming for 15/20+ years) and a small handful of kids who love playing Mario. The casual crowd Nintendo got with the Wii will need a hard-sell on the Wii U I predict. Given Tegra 5 will be out by 2014 and probably putting out graphics on par with the Wii U (contrary to what the media says, Tegra 3 doesn't cut the mustard compared to this generation of consoles, which in turn the Wii U outperforms), and reasonable-priced tablets that can do very similar Wii U-type games (after all, it won't be hard to connect a tablet to an HDTV and just put out Wii U games) it's going to be tough for Nintendo in 2014.

I'll probably be there buying (or already bought more likely) a Wii U by that point because I'm a massive sucker for Nintendo franchises, but it still makes me wonder about the true longevity of the Wii U - and I can see the tablet/mobile SoC market being a bigger problem for Nintendo then Sony/MS.

[xendrome]

So how does the motion work, you have to fling that 10 inch tablet all over the place or what?

[Solid Knight]

Wait, you can't buy a replacement WiiPad? So when that pad is out of commission then you just toss your console and get a new one? Screw that.

[notuptome2004]

Actually I think that's the issue - it's being setup as a credible alternative to the likes of MS and Sony and can actually do pretty well as that, it is actually a pretty credible hardcore gamers' console. The problem arises when the hardcore gamers will adopt the other next-gen consoles in 2014 and Nintendo is left with "last-gen graphics", as the supposed hardcore (read: silly kids playing cod) gamers say. Then the depressingly large majority of "hardcore" (read: silly kids) gamers will move on to those consoles and it only leaves the actual proper hardcore gamers (the ones who have been gaming for 15/20+ years) and a small handful of kids who love playing Mario. The casual crowd Nintendo got with the Wii will need a hard-sell on the Wii U I predict. Given Tegra 5 will be out by 2014 and probably putting out graphics on par with the Wii U (contrary to what the media says, Tegra 3 doesn't cut the mustard compared to this generation of consoles, which in turn the Wii U outperforms), and reasonable-priced tablets that can do very similar Wii U-type games (after all, it won't be hard to connect a tablet to an HDTV and just put out Wii U games) it's going to be tough for Nintendo in 2014.

I'll probably be there buying (or already bought more likely) a Wii U by that point because I'm a massive sucker for Nintendo franchises, but it still makes me wonder about the true longevity of the Wii U - and I can see the tablet/mobile SoC market being a bigger problem for Nintendo then Sony/MS.

First the Wii U gamepad is just part of the Wii U console the Wii U GP does not connect to the TV at all it is wireless to the Console itself the GP does not havea CPU or GPU in it the Wii U console does all the work to send different separate signals to the big screen or the GP screen

So how does the motion work, you have to fling that 10 inch tablet all over the place or what?

The GP has motion in it but works differantly as the games do when using the Wii U GP

Wait, you can't buy a replacement WiiPad? So when that pad is out of commission then you just toss your console and get a new one? Screw that.

No you cant buy a RP unit right now cause no launch window game uses 2 GPs but if it does break down you can send it in to nintendo for a replacement or to get fixed

[Solid Knight]

No you cant buy a RP unit right now cause no launch window game uses 2 GPs but if it does break down you can send it in to nintendo for a replacement or to get fixed

Mail it in? Screw that.

[~Johnny]

Mail it in? Screw that.

Well, that is how most repairs work... You'll be able to buy additional Gamepads in due course, though I take it you have no actual interest in buying the Wii U anyway.

[Solid Knight]

Well, that is how most repairs work... You'll be able to buy additional Gamepads in due course, though I take it you have no actual interest in buying the Wii U anyway.

I'm skeptical of it. I've owned all of the other Nintendo consoles except for the N64 (I had unlimited access to one). I'm just not excited for this one. It could be interesting or it could end up like the Wii where all the games are designed around the input device which lead to so rather boring games. It seems like this might be a repeat of that.

[notuptome2004]

I'm skeptical of it. I've owned all of the other Nintendo consoles except for the N64 (I had unlimited access to one). I'm just not excited for this one. It could be interesting or it could end up like the Wii where all the games are designed around the input device which lead to so rather boring games. It seems like this might be a repeat of that.

Tell me how this would be or could be Bad

Wii U? GamePad

The Wii U GamePad controller removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world.

It also offers a new way for viewers to engage with their favorite entertainment. The GamePad incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio LCD touch screen, as well as traditional button controls and two analog sticks. Inputs include a +Control Pad, L/R sticks, L/R stick buttons, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons, ZL/ZR buttons, Power button, HOME button, -/SELECT button, +/START button, and TV CONTROL button.

The GamePad also includes motion control (powered by an accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor), a front-facing camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, rumble features, a sensor bar, an included stylus and support for Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality.

It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs approximately 1.1 pounds (500 g).

on a similar note here is interview on the Wii U hardware design with the design team

http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/console/0/0

[migo]

Wait, you can't buy a replacement WiiPad? So when that pad is out of commission then you just toss your console and get a new one? Screw that.

Yes you can, you'll just have to go to Nintendo directly for it until they make games that make use of two of them.

[Solid Knight]

Tell me how this would be or could be Bad

* Controller being ignored and thus nothing more than a really large controller with slapped on we-used-feature-X controls.

* Games being built around the controller for the sake of we-used-all-features

* Games forcing controller gimmicks that get real old real quick

The later one annoyed me in Skyward Sword where they opted for tilt sensor movement for certain things that could have just been handled by the joystick.

I'm just concerned that it'll end up like the Wii where people either totally ignore the device or feel the need to center their entire game around the controller itself. Neither one is good. Nintendo is even guilty of it. They're going to make things difficult for multi-platform releases.

[notuptome2004]

* Controller being ignored and thus nothing more than a really large controller with slapped on we-used-feature-X controls.

* Games being built around the controller for the sake of we-used-all-features

* Games forcing controller gimmicks that get real old real quick

The later one annoyed me in Skyward Sword where they opted for tilt sensor movement for certain things that could have just been handled by the joystick.

I'm just concerned that it'll end up like the Wii where people either totally ignore the device or feel the need to center their entire game around the controller itself. Neither one is good. Nintendo is even guilty of it. They're going to make things difficult for multi-platform releases.

Well most of the Wii U games from what i know maby all of them not sure but i know Call of duty black ops 2 allows use of the GP the Pro controller or any Wii controller you may have but the issue is if you buya Wii U anda Wii U game your gonna want to use the Wii U GP because the game was built for it that is one of the whole points of the new system .

[migo]

* Controller being ignored and thus nothing more than a really large controller with slapped on we-used-feature-X controls.

* Games being built around the controller for the sake of we-used-all-features

* Games forcing controller gimmicks that get real old real quick

The later one annoyed me in Skyward Sword where they opted for tilt sensor movement for certain things that could have just been handled by the joystick.

I'm just concerned that it'll end up like the Wii where people either totally ignore the device or feel the need to center their entire game around the controller itself. Neither one is good. Nintendo is even guilty of it. They're going to make things difficult for multi-platform releases.

You can expect a lot of DS ports, so in that sense it's not so bad. If the gameplay on the DS was good, you'll get it with a graphical overhaul. As far as gimmicks go, it's actually a fairly safe bet. They just looked at the DS being the most successful handheld console ever, and figured they'd try that with a home console.

The Wii was something new, so it had novelty going for it, but that's really where the devs were confused. They won't be with the Wii U.

[The Teej]

First the Wii U gamepad is just part of the Wii U console the Wii U GP does not connect to the TV at all it is wireless to the Console itself the GP does not havea CPU or GPU in it the Wii U console does all the work to send different separate signals to the big screen or the GP screen

Thanks for just skimming my post.

I never said the GP connects to the TV - I am fully aware the Wii GP is just a controller which connects to the Wii U itself and it doesn't handle any processing (well, no significant processing power anyway).

My point being is that a Tegra 5-powered tablet connected to the TV could replicate what the Wii U offers pretty well. Whereas the Wii U handles the processing and the GP is just a screen, a tablet has the screen and does the processing at the same time. However, connected to a TV, a tablet could have dual displays, both the TV and the tablet screen itself, just like the Wii U.

[notuptome2004]

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/15/at-160-of-a-second-gamepad-latency-wont-ruin-the-wii-u

"It's crazy because [on the TV] the game is running in full HD, we are streaming another picture on the GamePad screen, and it's still 60 frames per second," Ancel said about the most recent build of Rayman Legends. "The latency on the controller is just 1/60 of a second, so it's one frame late. It's crazy, it's so fast. It's almost instant."

But as Ubisoft's Michel Ancel reportedly told Nintendo Power this month, the tiny amount of latency present should be practically unnoticeable.

[duddit2]

It looks ok, but I'll be holding out I think

[notuptome2004]

It looks ok, but I'll be holding out I think

what is making you hold out ot well waiting

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i put myself on Gamestop's wait list. i just cant get excited about the console yet. perhaps it's b/c, like most console launches, the games arent exciting. i'll probably take myself off the list, idk.

also worth mentioning that i never had a wii. there are a few games i'd like to play on that system, but never enough to get me to buy one.

[notuptome2004]

i put myself on Gamestop's wait list. i just cant get excited about the console yet. perhaps it's b/c, like most console launches, the games arent exciting. i'll probably take myself off the list, idk.

also worth mentioning that i never had a wii. there are a few games i'd like to play on that system, but never enough to get me to buy one.

Well we got 23 launch titles and 50 launch window titels i am sure 1 game will pop your fancy i know for me it will be Zombie U

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Well we got 23 launch titles and 50 launch window titels i am sure 1 game will pop your fancy i know for me it will be Zombie U

something for everyone right? is there a concise list of the 50 "launch window" titles?

here's my rundown of the launch titles:

Call of Duty: Black Ops II - i'll buy for PC

Skylanders Giants - not interested

Transformers Prime - not interested

Wipeout 3 - not interested

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two - not interested

FIFA Soccer 13 - not interested

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - not interested

New Super Mario Bros. U - already own for 3DS. is this Wii U version different?

Ninja Gaiden: Razor?s Edge - not interested

Nintendo Land - not interested

Sing Party - not interested

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - not interested

Warrios Orochi 3 Hyper - not interested

Darksiders II - not interested

Assassin?s Creed III - not interested

ESPN Sports Connection - not interested

Just Dance 4 - not interested

Rabbids Land - not interested

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013 - not interested

ZombiU - not interested

Scribblenauts Unlimited - not interested

Game Party Champions - not interested

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition - own for PC

(edit) here's a link to the 50 "launch window" titles, which include the 23 listed above.

of those not mentioned above, there's only 2 more that i'd be interested in: 007 Legends and Rayman Legends

[notuptome2004]

http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gamepad/0/0 The gamepad