Wii U - 11/18 @ $300/350

[Pete1210]

I'll probably buy it, maybe for Christmas. I still like playing the Nintendo exclusives once in a while and my youngest son still loves them. I want to try the new controller. I like the full backwards compatibility. I hope MS and Sony follow with that.

[Spooky]

I can't seem to find this particular detail out...

Can you play the games solely on the controller? For example, if I wanna play the new Mario game in bed can I get the full experience on the controller screen? And will that be for every WiiU game? If so...I am a bit more intrigued...

EDIT: I think I found the answer from Wikipedia:

"...The screen can be used as a supplement to gameplay to provide additional functionality that can be controlled using the screen, or to stream gameplay from the console in lieu of a television display."

[Aristo]

I'll probably buy it, maybe for Christmas. I still like playing the Nintendo exclusives once in a while and my youngest son still loves them. I want to try the new controller. I like the full backwards compatibility. I hope MS and Sony follow with that.

This is where I'm at. It's worth having around for the Mario and Zelda stuff. My daughter is still a big Nintendo fan.

If it was just me, I'd probably just stick with one console, which would be the 360 right now. but with a kid, it's not hard to rationalize a second console.

I was wondering if Nintendo could up their game enough to become the one console I would own. To that end, they failed big time.

[wco81]

The better move may have been to write an app. for iOS or Android to stream the content to the hundreds of millions of mobile devices already out there, instead of making an overpriced tablet controller which doesn't even have a capacitive multitouch screen.

[sportdan30]

I walked by Gamestop today and they're of course taking pre-orders. You can trade in your Wii for $50 credit. I wonder if that means also the controller and sensor bar as well. Still not interested but that does bring the price down a bit for those interested.

[Pete1210]

I walked by Gamestop today and they're of course taking pre-orders. You can trade in your Wii for $50 credit. I wonder if that means also the controller and sensor bar as well. Still not interested but that does bring the price down a bit for those interested.

You will need to hold on to your Wii if you wasnt to transfer over any downloaded games.

[Slumberland]

hold on to your Wii

STILL FUNNY

[Teal]

I can't imagine why anyone would pay for this junk, just because Nintendo wants you to buy another Mario, just like the last one, just like the one before. Our Wii is an overpriced coaster, and has been for a LOOONG time. Shoulda called it the WiiFU. Will absolutely NOT be wasting money on it.

[Rodster]

I can't imagine why anyone would pay for this junk, just because Nintendo wants you to buy another Mario, just like the last one, just like the one before. Our Wii is an overpriced coaster, and has been for a LOOONG time. Shoulda called it the WiiFU. Will absolutely NOT be wasting money on it.

Gotta respectfully disagree. When the Wii launched, Nintendo introduced motion control. To this day Wii Sports is still a lot of fun and so is Grand Slam Tennis. Sure the novelty wore off because we are more interested in BIG budget titles.

The Wii caused Sony and Microsoft to introduce motion control and supposedly the Kinect 2 is suppose to take the technology to and even higher level. So there was some good in the Wii coming on the scene. It's not all bad and I still love my Mario games to this day.

[bulls23]

This is the Sega Saturn/Dreamcast all over again....although I loved the Dreamcast. Poor timing release (just ahead of PS2) paired with expensive add ons (VMUs) and only a few exclusive games (Sports, Crazy Taxi, Sonic, etc).

I predict a massive flop.

[toonarmy]

I went to Gamestop today to get Little Big Planet for the Vita since they broke the Sept 25 street date and are selling it early. The employee in there gave me an insane hard-sell on the Wii-U, letting me know I have no chance of getting one until next year unless I preorder by 9 pm tonight when they cut off preorders. I thought I was literally going to have to walk out of there without my game because he would not shut up trying to sell me on the preorder and I was getting annoyed with him. I asked him how many preorders he had so far after he blathered on forever and he told me 4. I had to laugh at that after all of his histrionics about how I needed to preorder. Man, I hate going to Gamestop, but I really wanted the game and they are the only one selling it early so far.

[ddtrane]

Uuuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now they've went added pearls and a nice blouse to the lipstick and makeup, no matter how you dress it up, it's still a pig.

[wco81]

Wii's success was due in large part to all these casual gamers getting it so that they could play Wii Sports (and often only Wii Sports) at parties.

The casuals have moved on to cheap or free smart phone and iPad games.

It won't be just the WiiU which will have problems matching sales from the last generation.

[Danimal]

Gotta respectfully disagree. When the Wii launched, Nintendo introduced motion control.

The Wii caused Sony and Microsoft to introduce motion control and supposedly the Kinect 2 is suppose to take the technology to and even higher level. So there was some good in the Wii coming on the scene. It's not all bad and I still love my Mario games to this day.

You know what I learned in the last few years. I don't want motion control. I get enough exercise. I run everyday, I swim, play golf, alternate between P90X and Insanity and oh yeah I have a 9 and 7 year old who constantly want to play.

When I play a video game like every other form of entertainment I want to sit my ass down. Could you imagine standing up through a whole movie?

Maybe if we ever get to the virtual level of a holodex I might be interested in that. I would love something that immersive but holding a 6 inch piece of white plastic to replicate my golf swing... sounds good on paper but is s*** in reality.

Obviously these are just my opinions but I haven't met one motion game besides the dancing games on Kinect that have any life in my house.

[Teal]

We've got the Star Wars Kinect game (only for those who are superfreaks about SW, like my 12 year old), the Kinect Disneyland game (by far the most worthwhile Kinect game ever made), Wreckateer, Fruit Ninja, and the Sports titles. Those are all pleasant enough fun, but even then they get relatively little playing time, just in spurts. There's not going to come a day when the motion control thingy is going to replace or supplant the old couch and controller.

[ZXLT]

This is the Sega Saturn/Dreamcast all over again....although I loved the Dreamcast. Poor timing release (just ahead of PS2) paired with expensive add ons (VMUs) and only a few exclusive games (Sports, Crazy Taxi, Sonic, etc).

I predict a massive flop.

The Dreamcast had a ton of really good games, especially considering its short lifespan.

I wish I could say the same for the Wii.

[Aristo]

This is the Sega Saturn/Dreamcast all over again....although I loved the Dreamcast. Poor timing release (just ahead of PS2) paired with expensive add ons (VMUs) and only a few exclusive games (Sports, Crazy Taxi, Sonic, etc).

I predict a massive flop.

The Dreamcast had a ton of really good games, especially considering its short lifespan.

I wish I could say the same for the Wii.

The Wii had plenty of great games. It's just that waggling kind of sucks and made playing them less fun. I'd like to see a Nintendo platform that emphasizes standard controllers again.

We'll see how much the pad distracts from playing.

How much need will there be for this:



There never felt like a good reason to spend money on the Wii's standard controllers.

[Teal]

Motion control needs to be an option, a diversion...not the soul of the Console.

[toonarmy]

This is the Sega Saturn/Dreamcast all over again....although I loved the Dreamcast. Poor timing release (just ahead of PS2) paired with expensive add ons (VMUs) and only a few exclusive games (Sports, Crazy Taxi, Sonic, etc).

I predict a massive flop.

The Dreamcast had a ton of really good games, especially considering its short lifespan.

I wish I could say the same for the Wii.

The Wii had plenty of great games. It's just that waggling kind of sucks and made playing them less fun. I'd like to see a Nintendo platform that emphasizes standard controllers again.

We'll see how much the pad distracts from playing.

How much need will there be for this:



There never felt like a good reason to spend money on the Wii's standard controllers.

You are correct that the Wii had plenty of great games. All of the first party stuff, obviously, as well as some really good RPGs, Tiger Woods (better than the other consoles in some ways), etc. I enjoyed playing with the classic controller more than with the Wiimote. I'm thinking that with the WiiU having more standard games that will also be on the PS3/360 there will be a larger need for a standard controller for more traditional gamers. I guess they are giving people a wide choice of games and a wide choice of controllers.

Let me play devil's advocate and say that I think people are going to be surprised at how well this thing sells. Just wait until the media hype kicks in, Black Friday/holiday hoopla begins, and people scramble to get a WiiU because they are afraid of shortages. Nintendo seems to do well at marketing their products most of the time. I'm certainly not interested in this console at the moment, however there will be a lot of people who think they need one, regardless of whether or not their Wii has been collecting dust recently. The timing of the release is brilliant -- at the end of the life cycle of the PS3/360, right before holiday shopping season, and far enough away from the new Sony/MS consoles that people may still get one rather than wait another year or so for the new consoles.

[Teal]

Media hype, and the newness of the motion control stuff is what sold the Wii. Motion control isn't new anymore. I think the system is an example of jumping the shark. That overpriced, thick 'iPad' controller thingy looks like a Leapster. The Wii, really, was basically a Gamecube with motion controllers. This one is basically a PS3 or a 360 with a touch screen. Just don't understand that there's any hype at all.

[vader29]

Maybe if we ever get to the virtual level of a holodex I might be interested in that.

http://123kinect.com/microsoft-to-boldl ... ore/37967/

[Pete1210]

I got in on the second wave of "pre-orders" at Gamestop. It's not a day one guarantee. Instead I'm on a waiting list where I'll get an email and have 3 days to pick it up if I want one.

I like this article on the ZombieU games local multiplayer. Human player gets an FPS perspective on the TV, while Zombie player is using the Gamepad like an RTS game.

http://kotaku.com/5927823/zombius-multi ... -the-wii-u

[FifaInspected]

the best thing about the wii were the insane nights of bowling with our friends. By the end of the night our living room was covered with empty wine bottles, beer cans and usually a couple of wives giggling uncontrollably on the couch having a blast.

[sportdan30]

Game Stop had a kiosk of the Wii U in their store along with a demo of Rayman. Game looks nice but nothing earth shattering compared ton the 360 and PS3 graphics. Initial impressions is that the controller is too big. I imagine my kids would would feel the same. Wasn't overly impressed but its only one game.

[Sudz]

I got some hands on time with it at Best Buy yesterday.

Graphics look great. Even better than the ps3/xbox on both the TV and the controller.
"Controller" is a beast. The thing is wide and awkward. Not sure how comfortable it will be after playing for a few hours.
Going from the TV screen to the controller is kinda awkward. i wasn't sure where to look.