Wii U - 11/18 @ $300/350

[dbdynsty25]

Just got home from the Blue Man Group. Awesome!

Interesting. My wife and i just saw them last week and were less than impressed. Glad you dug it though.

** Back to your regularly scheduled Wii-U discussion **

Wait, people were talking about the Wii-U? Blue Man Group is more interesting.

[sportdan30]

Hilarious!

http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/5tiy ... a-lifetime

[Sudz]

Anyone still using their wiiu?

I've seen quite a few in the last few days still on shelves...

[pk500]

Anyone still using their wiiu?

I've seen quite a few in the last few days still on shelves...

Did more than five DSP guys buy one?

[TCrouch]

Just opened ours for the Christmas weekend and think it's actually pretty incredible. They can do some things with the Gamepad that they can incorporate into games I like...using it as the map, inventory, etc.

[Rodster]

The only thing about the WiiU that has piqued my interest is being able to play games on the gamepad without a TV. That's pretty cool but it's only for a select number of games and it appears it's only Nintendo games that are using this feature.

[sportdan30]

All in all, it's a pretty cool little console. I'd say if you're in to the Nintendo first party games, it's really a nice system. That said, there's not a whole lot of games that warrant the purchase just yet. Nintendoland is great fun and best when played multiplayer. Mario is great in HD, but it's pretty much Mario. Zombie U is a pretty good game that takes advantage of the game pad very well.

Miiverse is better than anything I've experienced with regards to the online environment. It really feels alive and has many great benefits.

The third party games are nothing earth shattering. NBA 2K13 and Madden 13 both suffer terrible frame rate problems, and the graphics are definitely a step down compared to the PS3 and 360.

[sportdan30]

The only thing about the WiiU that has piqued my interest is being able to play games on the gamepad without a TV. That's pretty cool but it's only for a select number of games and it appears it's only Nintendo games that are using this feature.

I found Mario to be a little difficult playing solely on the gamepad. I have large hands, but it just feels awkward compared to a regular handheld. I much preferred using the Wiimote to play that particular game. I guess it may vary with individual games.

[Pete1210]

We got the Wii U for Christmas. My son loves it. I haven't had much time with it yet, just played some Madden with the Gamepad. After just one game I do not want to go back to a normal controller. It just "works" calling plays, then making hot routes or changing defensive assignments by tracing a line with a finger, on the touchscreen. I am looking forward to seeing how they implement the gamepad in other games, especially sports. Between the gamepad and the step up to HD, I'm sure the Wii U will get much more use than the Wii.
I also like how the Gamepad doubles as a remote for the TV and cable box. Checked out WiiTV for a few minutes and that looks cool too. I don't use my consoles for video other than Netflix, but the Wii U may change that.

[wco81]

We got the Wii U for Christmas. My son loves it. I haven't had much time with it yet, just played some Madden with the Gamepad. After just one game I do not want to go back to a normal controller. It just "works" calling plays, then making hot routes or changing defensive assignments by tracing a line with a finger, on the touchscreen. I am looking forward to seeing how they implement the gamepad in other games, especially sports. Between the gamepad and the step up to HD, I'm sure the Wii U will get much more use than the Wii.
I also like how the Gamepad doubles as a remote for the TV and cable box. Checked out WiiTV for a few minutes and that looks cool too. I don't use my consoles for video other than Netflix, but the Wii U may change that.

If developers come up with some new ideas for the touchscreen, that might be this console's greatest contribution. That is if they try to utilize the features.

Then they can transfer that over to their mobile versions, rather than try to replicate a control pad on a touch screen.

EA isn't using enough swipe gestures on FIFA for iOS, for instance.

[dbdynsty25]

I think the guy is a pompous a-hole who really doesn't know all that much about tech even though he thinks he does (and his readers apparently agree given how fast he's expanded his site and made a name for himself), but Boy Genius and I agree one something. He destroys the U.

http://bgr.com/2012/12/28/nintendo-wii- ... sm-272039/

[TCrouch]

I'm stunned at how much people hate the Wii U. I'm absolutely enjoying it, and it's the first Nintendo console since the SNES that I've played for several days straight. Some multiplayer ZombiU with a buddy (went out and picked up a pro controller, because he sucked with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck setup), Batman is a blast with the touchpad for your map and gadgets. Scribblenauts had the whole family sitting around guessing things to try to solve puzzles, and we've had a few hours of hilarious matches with Nintendoland.

People can hate on it all they want, but it's not a bad console. No reason to "destroy" it, IMO. It's up to developers to find clever ways to use that gamepad that people seem to love or hate (personally, I love it...a lot better than any controller Nintendo has ever produced. Dual analog sticks, and even though the triggers aren't analog, it feels more like a Dreamcast controller than anything else to me).

[fanatic]

I only unwrapped Zombie U last night, so I couldn't say how well they've implemented the gamepad specific features. Additionally, I haven't really paid much attention to the limited gamepad features of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (amazing game by the way - available on every console) and Super Mario.

That being said, the ability to play certain games (i.e. Mario/Sonic) on the gamepad only has been a HUGE feature for me. It has really turned the Wii U into something like a Wii-DS combo. Obviously I can't go very far from the console if I want to play on the pad, but it's a joy to use in the house when somebody is watching tv, or I just want to hang out on the couch for a few minutes and play. I actually had to move my family out of the house because of renos last week and we ended up staying with family that didn't have a tv in the main room - wasn't a problem because I could plug in my Wii U wherever and use the gamepad as the main play screen. Nice!

Otherwise, Miiverse has been surprisingly cool. I've really enjoyed exchanging tips, etc...with people all across the world. It's done in a nice, integrated fashion - pause the game, share something, resume playing. Works extremely well.

I don't think the Wii U is for everyone, but if you really like Nintendo's first party stuff or are looking for a unique family style console, I think it's a great fit.

[wco81]

Since they launched last month, sales numbers should have been in the November NPD?

[Dave]

They were, it sold 425k.

I'm with Terry, it has been a very fun system so far. I do think it is going to end up in a third party development no-man's land in the next year or so since it won't have the power of the next Xbox or PlayStation, but I bet Ubisoft at a minimum will continue to develop unique experiences for it--I'm really looking forward to Rayman. In the end, though I hope third parties bring great software to the table, I bought it mostly to play Nintendo games so no worries.

[Inuyasha]

You guys still like wii u? My kids wants one for bday but I've been reading sites and ppl are saying its a dead system. WAs going to get the black one with the game but $400 is a lot if the system doesn't have a future.

Saw the white one on sale at target for $275 but 2 games make it round 400 anyway.

So worth getting?

[Rodster]

I would say no it's not worth buying right now. I would wait because there is a chance Nintendo could lower the price to boost sales like they did with the 3DS. Nintendo made many mistakes with this launch and news about the PS4 and the Next Xbox isn't helping their situation.

The only way I would recommend one is if you or your kids only care about Nintendo 1st party games.

[pigpen81]

They sold only 57,000 units in January.

That is a catastrophe for them. A price drop better come soon.

Heck, the OUYA has over 160,000 pre-orders already so that may be competition as well and with the PS4 presser this week

....uh oh Nintendo

[DivotMaker]

They sold only 57,000 units in January.

That is a catastrophe for them. A price drop better come soon.

Heck, the OUYA has over 160,000 pre-orders already so that may be competition as well and with the PS4 presser this week

....uh oh Nintendo

They could price the thing to $100.00 and I would not touch it especially if EA is not bringing Tiger to the platform.

[wco81]

If they price it at $100 and it sells well -- the Nintendo first-party stalwarts would help drive sales -- then I'm sure EA will bring all their games, including Tiger, to the platform.

You know it's not just the Wii U which is having problems. The last 3 launches have been failures -- 3DS, Vita and now WiiU.

With the slow economy around the world and the availability of free or cheap games and other entertainment on phones, tablets and set top boxes, which are selling in 10 times the number of consoles, I wouldn't automatically bet that the PS4 and Xbox 720 will automatically do as well as they did this generation.

More and more people are being conditioned to bypass $60 games, on a $400 dedicated gaming device.

They will still sell a lot of units but if you consider that the PS3 and Xbox 360 combined just matched the sales of the PS2, there could be a trend that indicates trouble for the gaming industry.

The decades-old business-model built around $50-60 games may be crumbling before our eyes.

[DivotMaker]

If they price it at $100 and it sells well -- the Nintendo first-party stalwarts would help drive sales -- then I'm sure EA will bring all their games, including Tiger, to the platform.

The WiiU will not achieve the $100.00 price point probably ever since the Wii is still $149 and it is 5 or so years old..

[Aristo]

You guys still like wii u? My kids wants one for bday but I've been reading sites and ppl are saying its a dead system. WAs going to get the black one with the game but $400 is a lot if the system doesn't have a future.

Saw the white one on sale at target for $275 but 2 games make it round 400 anyway.

So worth getting?

If there are some games your kids want, I think it is a safe purchase. Nintendo will roll out more of their core franchises over the next two years, so the system has life. I'll get one at some point, but it will probably be when a new Zelda, or even the HD remake of Wind Waker roll out. That's what will get my daughter invested.

Right now she is in full Assassin's Creed and Skyrim mode, so the 360 is all we need, and the Wii continues to collect dust (as does our Vita!) Nintendo completely failed to produce a console that could be my sole source of gaming. But I might still add the Wii U later. But then, I went with Xbox/Gamecube and 360/Wii. I think they compliment each other nicely if you have kids.

As much as I like Zelda and the Mario franchise games (and even Metroid and others), without a kid, I doubt I am owning Nintendo products. I much prefer to choose one system, but having a kid means taking into consideration a completely different set of needs.

[Rodster]

If they price it at $100 and it sells well -- the Nintendo first-party stalwarts would help drive sales -- then I'm sure EA will bring all their games, including Tiger, to the platform.

You know it's not just the Wii U which is having problems. The last 3 launches have been failures -- 3DS, Vita and now WiiU.

With the slow economy around the world and the availability of free or cheap games and other entertainment on phones, tablets and set top boxes, which are selling in 10 times the number of consoles, I wouldn't automatically bet that the PS4 and Xbox 720 will automatically do as well as they did this generation.

More and more people are being conditioned to bypass $60 games, on a $400 dedicated gaming device.

They will still sell a lot of units but if you consider that the PS3 and Xbox 360 combined just matched the sales of the PS2, there could be a trend that indicates trouble for the gaming industry.

The decades-old business-model built around $50-60 games may be crumbling before our eyes.

PlayStation 4 v Xbox 720: insiders discuss the future of consoles

What must Sony and Microsoft do to ensure the next generation of consoles is a success?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... e-consoles

[Inuyasha]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I'm going to end up getting it because my kids bday and they love nintendo games. And we have our Wii games we can play on Wii U.

I was taking apart my Wii hookup today to move it to another room and I got to say what a great piece of hardware. I've had it now 5-6 years and never had one thing go wrong with it. And the fun me and the family have had out of that thing is probably unmatched due to any other system.

I hope Wii U follows suit in the years to come as a successor to wii. But then again, if it wasn't for my kid's bday, I probably would have just been really happy with Wii as a family system.

btw.... very interesting about the new consoles. I sort of don't really need to be entertained by the next Madden or the next NBA $60 release anymore. I can find the same enjoyment thru some app game on my phone or another device for .99c and the most $10. So it'll be interesting how MS/ SONY will market these new systems. Maybe 5 years from now, OYUA or something else will be the winner.

[sportdan30]

Wii U basic is now 240 dollars at Target.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/wii-u-basi ... et-6408630