Iwata: Nintendo won't be drawn into expensive tech race with Wii U

By Fred Dutton Published 30 January, 2012

Graphics aren't everything.

Nintendo is happy to avoid getting bogged down in an expensive tech race against its rivals with the Wii U, so says CEO Satoru Iwata.

Speaking during an investor Q&A last week, Iwata suggested that, although its new console will offer some titles featuring high-end visuals, the company plans to compete in other areas instead.

"As we will showcase the Wii U at E3 in June this year, the detailed announcements must wait until then, but we are aiming to make a system which shall not be forced into competing with the others where the contenders can fight only with massive developer resources and long development times as their weapons," he said.

Iwata added that Nintendo has always adopted a 'size isn't everything' approach to software development, and that will continue with the Wii U.

"Looking at the software for home console systems, there are certainly the software titles for which very rich graphics must be reproduced on HD displays and which demand a large number of developers to spend a very long time to develop.

"It is one of the truths that a certain number of such software titles must be prepared, or the consumers will not be satisfied. But we do not think that any and all the software must be created in that fashion.

"When you look at Nintendo's software, extraordinary rich graphics, massive gameplay volume and astonishing rendition effects are not necessarily the appealing point. It is, in fact, important for us that our games are appealing in other ways as well."

He offered Nintendo's quirky Rhythm Heaven series as an example, insisting that, "if we had adopted rich photo-realistic graphics, it would have lost much of its appeal."

"It is not necessary for us to deploy a huge number of people in order to develop such games," he continued, stating that, more than ever, Nintendo is bringing in third parties when it does need to develop more graphically complex titles.

"When we need massive power and have a lack of internal resources, we collaborate with outside resources and pour necessary resources to where they are needed. We are increasing the frequency of working with outside developers where Mr. Miyamoto and our internal developers alone used to develop.

"What's important here is not to narrow down what we can do," he added. "Rather, we have to create the dynamic range of appeals that the consumers can appreciate."

Iwata pointed to The Legend of Zelda series as one franchise that will certainly benefit from the the Wii U's additional horsepower.

"As I mentioned, it is true that, in some software areas, we need to be engaged in the power games," he reaffirmed.

"Take The Legend of Zelda franchise, for example, the fans must be looking for the graphic representations that they do not see as cheap at all when the title is released for the Wii U. When it is necessary, we do not hesitate to role out our resources."

As confirmed last week, the Wii U will be on shelves before the end of the year. Neither Microsoft or Sony has made any official comment as to when their new systems will hit the market.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (84) Latest comment 4 months ago

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  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #1 4 months ago

    What, couldn't he find a Frenchman to say that for him?

  • J0rdan_KZ #2 4 months ago

    I honestly doubt the WiiU will be less than £350 at launch. It's a powerful piece of hardware and a reasonably expensive tablet. Unless Nintendo decide to make a loss on hardware and put the price of their first party software up... *gulp*

  • TonyHarrison #3 4 months ago

    This seems to make sense to me. Not every game requires photo realism or whatever but it's nice to have the option to go that way if needed.

    The games that don't can do well with the right choice of art style anyway.

  • kingmancheng #4 4 months ago

    I think the lesson they should be learning isn't what tech they're using, they've proven their hardware sells but they need to deal with other areas like launch software (ref. 3DS).

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #5 4 months ago

    I honestly doubt the WiiU will be less than £350 at launch
    Representative costs:

    Low-powered, resistive screen tablet £60

    Xbox 360 equivalent home console £130


    Both of those systems are sold by their manufacturer at a profit. As such, I think it's quite likely that Wii U will be released at £200 or under.

  • abigsmurf #6 4 months ago

    @MENTAL1ST he did have one but unfortunately he went on strike.

    Back on topic, so many conflicting reports at the moment for console power. Ranging from 'slightly more powerful than a 360' to '20% less powerful than the 720' which is a pretty massive range.

    It's weird because the "almost as powerful as the Gamecube but with more shaders" predictions for the 3DS were pretty precise and ended up being spot on.

  • captain_Carl #7 4 months ago

    @MENTAL1ST Yeah but this is Nintendo. Double that to make Nintendo's profit margins.

  • darkmorgado #8 4 months ago

    The problem there is that he is making the false assumption that the only thing more advanced tech brings is more graphics. In reality, that extra computational power can be used to improve the actual gameplay as well, by making things possible which aren't on more primitive tech.

  • Baleoce #9 4 months ago

    The only thing I ask of the WiiU, besides an online network which they've now announced, is that it is appealing to big 3rd party developers. I don't want a console where I'm just waiting for a couple of 1st party Nintendo releases per year this time around.

  • WarwickFiddlesticks #10 4 months ago

    So what they are actually saying is "Although we have much better hardware to develop on most of our games will remain to have crappy graphics, no voice acting, and midi music". And I was looking forward to seeing all the Nintendo franchises in slick HD with voice acting and full orchestral bombastic scores :(

  • supermaniacs #11 4 months ago

    You can not build an underpowered console on the basis that "graphics isn't everything"!! There are far more advantages to have from a souped up Console than just shiny graphics!!

  • The-Bodybuilder #12 4 months ago

    Iwata added that Nintendo has always adopted a 'size isn't everything' approach
    Well he would say that...those japanese lads aren't known for their big wangs.

    HIGH-OOOOOOH!

  • Slamhound #13 4 months ago

    Well, if you're happy with the hardware you got, then at the very least make damn sure that the console's software architecture is with the modern age, unlike the rather ancient mess the Wii was.

  • jetsetwillie #14 4 months ago

    so 4 NGC duck tape together then this time

  • Nikator #15 4 months ago

    For me Nintendo always suffers from non-first party games- which are generally poor ports due the lacking tech. Perhaps if Nintendo put more into a community type feature similar to XBLA, indie or other games this could be remedied. My Wii has gathered dust but if I could have gotten my Bastion, Limbo and surely many other fixes before I finally invested in an Xbox it would have kept me playing.

    EDIT: I think Baleoce made my point better than I did, and sooner.
    Edited by Nikator at 30/01/12 @ 16:51

  • The-Bodybuilder #16 4 months ago

    where the contenders can fight only with massive developer resources and long development times as their weapons,"
    Seriously though, tell that to the hardcore who keep demanding "MOOOOAAARRR PAWWWWAAAAAARRRR", whilst dev companies drop like flies left right and centre due to the high risk and cost of game development these days.

  • Toothball #17 4 months ago

    I'm always more interested to see what comes out of the box rather than what they put in it. Some very nice things came out of the Wii despite the numbers, although a few more of them would have been nice.

  • cloudskipa #18 4 months ago

    The funny thing is this will no doubt upset the alleged "Hardcore gamers" yet in my book hardcore gamers don't obsess about graphics and technical stats, they just care about great games.

    It's the casuals and mainstream gamers that will be most upset by this news, and will probably help make some of these people lose interest immediately. Good.

  • Street89 #19 4 months ago

    No shit

  • robbiejc85 #20 4 months ago

    @darkmorgado Absolutely agree.

    I love(d) my Wii, but there were many MANY times while I was playing a Wii title and thought 'the physics / AI / framerate in game X, Y and Z is rubbish compared to so many of my original Xbox games.'

    Not being able to afford a 360 back in 2006, I jumped from Xbox to the Wii because I heard it was still twice the power of the gamecube, and my thinking was 'well it's not HD but I don't have an HD TV anyway and imagine a title with the quality of Half-Life 2 or Halo with those new motion controller thing-a-me-jigs'

    In reality, I was introduced to many Nintendo core franchises for the first time - which, while brilliant (Galaxy and Skyward - YES YEs YES) - I still missed some more traditional genre blockbusters - the dirth of better-than-functional FPSs and ambitious open world games was a massive disappointment when they had been achieved on older consoles in 2001-4.

    It'll be REALLY interesting to see what Nintendo does when it's Zelda team realises HD means its going to need to spend 5 years on every single nook and cranny in Hyrule rather than just dropping the odd SD texture in! ;)

  • Dave #21 4 months ago

    Recently I dusted off my Wii for the new Zelda. I had played PC and PS3 games in the meantime so when I booted up Zelda for the first time I was startled. This game is ugly. I fiddled with the Wii's graphic settings, but I could only get it a bit sharper. Since I was spoiled by the PC and PS3 graphics I really had to look beyond the graphics.

    I'm glad I did though, cause the game is really excellent. But when Iwata says graphics aren't everything, I do agree with him somewhat, but nice graphics can really make the worlds more immersive.

    And ofcourse the cynic in me reads, we're going to keep on releasing games with crappy Wii Fit graphics and low production values so we can make more profit...

  • wez_316 #22 4 months ago

    This has nothing to do with hardware if you read it properly. He mentions it being the software that will not be lead by graphics. Zelda will use all the tech it can but others will not because it may hurt the experience. Nothing to see here...

  • RoOhDaMite #23 4 months ago

    Photorealistic Shenmue 3 on Wii U please!

  • CallousB #24 4 months ago

    @MENTAL1ST

    No chance it'll have an RRP of under £200. They won't launch for less than Vita/3DS did. So that's a £229 rrp minimum..and £249 - £299 is more likely.

    Having said that... I don't expect a high profit margin this time around. You can probably expect a bunch of stuff bundled.

  • threemoh #25 4 months ago

    @Baleoce Wii had plenty of game from major third parties, it's just that they were all Just Dance.

  • Cappy #26 4 months ago

    It's a pity Nintendo never scale down the price of their games to reflect the lower scale budgets a lot of their titles are produced on.

    They've happily charged full price for everything, even GBA ports which had absolutely identical graphics to the GBA original scaled up without finesse onto the Gamecube.
    Edited by Cappy at 30/01/12 @ 17:47

  • FenderMaster #27 4 months ago

    It's not just about the pretty graphics. More powerful machines also allow for larger, more complex worlds, better AI, more NPCs and more players simultaneously in multiplayer.

  • CloudXIV #28 4 months ago

    I agree that graphics aren't everything, but we don't want to play last gen games forever. I've got enough oldschool consoles and oldschool games I haven't played or can replay over and over again to satisfy my "graphics aren't everything" needs. When I'm buying a new system I want it to be NEW, to deliver new possibilities and cutting edge graphics. I don't think Nintendo can keep me interested with a response to ps3 and 360 that is 5 years overdue. A gimmicky(and uncomfortable) controller and a new wave of Mario and Zelda games that I don't want to play anymore (every new Mario just makes me want to play Super Mario Bros 3 again) aren't enough. Just meh...

  • Progguitarist #29 4 months ago

    ecosse will not be happy...

  • wizbob #30 4 months ago

    @supermaniacs I think he's really just talking about the GPU. Nintendo really do spend some time on algorithms, if you look closely at Windwaker, Galaxy or Skyward Sword. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to see where many other developers work on tech, other than throwing some third-party physics at their games.

  • Cean #31 4 months ago

    So Nintendo don't have the resources to use a high powered console themselves. So they'll develop a console to suit them. Then they'll wonder why 3rd parties dont want to develop for it.

  • DAN.E.B #32 4 months ago

    @Dave

    Ive heard the component lead helps improve the Wii,s jaggie problems

  • michaelius #33 4 months ago

    So they are going with past gen hardware for current gen prices again ? ;)

  • TazerFan #34 4 months ago

    If I were in Nintendo's marketing and PR department I would be having the biggest meltdown over these comments. Even if they are true, this kind of talk does not sell systems! Shut up shut up shut up!

  • xandaca #35 4 months ago

    They only really need the console powerful enough to take ports from the next Xbox and PS without looking significantly worse. Given how most modern PC games on full settings don't look or run vastly better than what is possibly on home consoles (Battlefield 3 / Crysis with all the texture mods applied being the only examples springing immediately to mind), I don't expect that will be too difficult or exceedingly expensive. Of course, it will be more difficult for Nintendo to capture the mainstream gamer market than just having a suitably well-equipped console, but it's the essential first step.
    Edited by xandaca at 30/01/12 @ 18:45

  • md99 #36 4 months ago

    I think it was blatantly obvious from the shit looking demo's at last years E3 that the WiiU was always going to be an underpowered pile of crap.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #37 4 months ago

    Just some arguable points after reading replies.
    There's more to the cost of a console than the price of parts.
    The Xbox 360 is only making profit as the huge development costs are now paid off. Or do people think the last few years development of the Xbox 720 has been by volunteers? Nintendo also have a different attitude to price point than the other two. The Wii was designed by eboneezer scrouge (no DVD support and miniscule RAM and Flash memory to save pennies), they also wanted the machine to be small and quiet. It should never had been compared to the heavily subsidised bigger noisier 360 and PS3. Looking at the size of the Wii U, it certainly isn't power hungry.
    Maybe Sony and MS go for a smaller form factor too?

    This is a very risky generation. The sheep all want Apple products. Kids are now into smart phones. Casual gamers have become graphics whores (read resolution whores, as they don't understand actual grahical effetcs), the wow factor freaks have now gone back to the PC, hungry again for max settings.

    It's anyones guess how the 3DS, Vita and Wii U sales will pan out.
    I think it's going to be wow factor and innovation this time. Nintendo are the true innovators but can they wow?

    Many gamers are also extremely finicky over launch prices of consoles, when in the past we've seen prices more than double on auction as supply gets low.
    The £350 already quoted above for the Wii U, really isn't that bad compared to iphones, ipads and basic laptops, tech that is far more popular with kids today than it ever has been.

    My guess for the Wii U, is £249, then the usual price drop to £199 a christmas or two away.

    For the constant bashers of the Wii, you really should emualte the Wii on your PC and enjoy some quality gaming moments before the next gen arrive.
    You get that all important higher res, AA and better rendering and the all important superiority complex of gaming at a desk.

  • super_monty #38 4 months ago

    I totally agree graphics aren't everything good games are so fucking make some. The Wii was so lacking I refuse to call it a 'games console'

  • Ernest_Spires #39 4 months ago

    Considering the fine quality of gameplay and art design in many Wii games, I still think that the only really necessary upgrade is the shift to HD, given the issues with picture clarity and input lag with SD games on HDTVs.

    That the WiiU won't be much more powerful than a 360 hardly matters. Consoles will never keep up with PC hardware. Console gaming isn't PC gaming - we can have both and enjoy them for different reasons!

  • darth_paul #40 4 months ago

    substance over style FTW! as long as the games are great, dont care if they look worse than the PS4/X420

  • HerrQwerty #41 4 months ago

    @The-Bodybuilder The -edit- No Need to Use racist terms - /end-edit lads probably werent expecting you to pull their pants down and inspect their carriers.....
    Hope dick-measuring pervs like you dont live near me. If you do, leave the ruler and bring a tape measure.
    Edited by HerrQwerty at 30/01/12 @ 19:15

  • ronecvan_is_here #42 4 months ago

    @CloudSkipa, wow you're here to bash another console that isn't made by microsoft, what a suprise!

  • Daeltaja #43 4 months ago

    I agree, but Nintendo, it's all about the software, so please, make sure this doesn't turn into another Wii.

  • vert1go #44 4 months ago

    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    Repeat until concept sinks in.

  • benfresh76 #45 4 months ago

    Such a level headed sensible approach...Admirable stuff. Having just finished Skyward sword and moved straight onto Uncharted 3, I absolutely agree that horsepower isn't everything...Having said that the thought of that horse power contributing to a lavish, HD Zelda is the stuff! of dreams!

  • Ernest_Spires #46 4 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x

    I can't tell if you were agreeing with me or not.

    Just in case: PCs are relevant because this is a topic about hardware. My point was that consoles can't be as powerful as the latest PCs, but don't need to be.

    I am primarily a console gamer. In fact I've only just got a current-gen console and that is the Wii!

    I've played and enjoyed HD console games on friend's and family's PS3s and 360s, but I'm still happy to work through the large pile of Mega Drive, PS1, PS2, Gamecube, Wii, PSP, GBA, and DS games I'd still like to finish and replay, not to mention a few PC games that run on my 5 year old non-gaming laptop!

    I'll be happy to move onto HD when I'm ready, or when my dear old laptop gives up the ghost...
    Edited by Ernest_Spires at 30/01/12 @ 20:02

  • man.the.king #47 4 months ago

    His comments are fine, but if you are going to release a next-gen console with slightly-better-than-current-gen capabilities (my assumption), then you have to have something to differentiate yourself from your competitors. The Wii had that for a while, in the form of the Wiimote. The Wii U tablet - not sure how well that will do.

    And of course, in a scenario where two of the next-gen consoles are more powerful tech-wise as compared to the third one, the only games that will benefit from Wii U will be Wii U exclusives. Multiplatform games - what incentive would there be to buy a game with (comparatively) less accomplished visuals (especially if the Tablet does not prove to be a big draw)?
    Edited by man.the.king at 30/01/12 @ 19:57

  • cloudskipa #48 4 months ago

    @ronecvan_is_here What am I bashing exactly? I'm hyped for the Wii U

  • jabberwoky #49 4 months ago

    I agree with him, and if he can make brilliant games for it thats what will influence me, rather than cutting edge graphics. The Wii just didn't make games that I liked, so if he can address that issue too, we could be going somewhere.

  • man.the.king #50 4 months ago

    @vert1go

    It's not a tablet. It's a touchscreen controller.
    Repeat until concept sinks in.

    It's a touchscreen controller.

    One that looks very much like a tablet. :)

  • darkmorgado #51 4 months ago

    @man.the.king

    A tablet with joypad buttons.

  • ajaxpliskin #52 4 months ago

    I like their approach. I am a big believer in content and gameplay over graphics.

  • SavageEvil #53 4 months ago

    People come here to complain about Nintendo not going the powerhouse route? Seriously where have you been all these years? Nintendo has never gone the powerhouse route, their game systems are usually unique and always come with their unique brand of gaming. What did everyone all of a sudden get amnesia? Power isn't everything as the load of pretty but utterly crap games all over the supposed HD gaming we are having this generation. Why should Nintendo have a me too system? PS3 and 360 do just fine with damn near equal specs only thing to differentiate the two was exclusives. Bar the NES, every Nintendo system has had a different controller interface and notice that they never come with the same control scheme next gen.

    Nintendo hit it big with the casuals and they won't leave them. Casuals like new toys and things they think are interesting. Let's see here, what is the most popular thing right now? iPad, hmm interestingly the Wii U has an iPad looking interface you think that is coincidence? Now the custom controller sports physical controls, and dual cameras and can swap video between the tv and the control in real time. The system is also supposed to give 1080p@60fps no easy feat considering PS3 and 360 can't do that in 99% of their games. Complaining about Wii U being left behind is nothing more than conjecture as the Wii was visually underwhelming yet casuals could care less. Nintendo is building off the Wii, notice Wii U is a night and day visual leap from the Wii and casuals will notice that first along with that interesting controller. Possibilities which MS noticed that Nintendo tapped into the casual market hence MS trumpeting Kinect all damn day. It's still a long way off from being practical but MS understands that Nintendo was definitely correct in their targeting. Nintendo can now appease the old die hards with HD visuals along with innovative controls.

    Complain all you want, Nintendo will be Nintendo. Always marching to the beat of their own drum. I remembered all the doom sayers claiming Nintendo was going the way of Sega. Nintendo's is an all gaming company, since they tend to historically sell their systems and make a profit from the outset, they are much more profitable than either Sony or MS gaming divisions. Shareholders are happy and believe in these guys, so why are you guys out here preaching nonsense about souped up CPU's and GPU's as if that means the most when sales and profits speak for themselves?

  • dorkacle #54 4 months ago

    I can just see the majority of Wii U games been something gimmicky that may seem fresh and 'revolutionary' at first, but quickly becomes boring, repetitive and rehashed by every other developer. Wii sports anyone.........

    I'll stick to my traditional consoles thanks.

  • figaro7 #55 4 months ago

    The 3 way similar power debat is an interesting one, it didnt quite work last gen, but then again the ps2 was at a massive advantage. I am hoping that nintendo have enough power to get some 3rd party software as owning 2 consoles this gen well, is bloody costly!

    Most of all, i want software, great 3rd party support and i want more than just zelda, mario and metroid for the next gen. The gamecube had some outstanding new ips and excellent sequels from nintendos inhouse studio's, i want that.

    The wii suffered because nintendo made a force change to focus on the wii experience, fortunately for them it paid off bigtime, unfortunely for even the nintendo faithful, we missed out on the core experience.

    But you know what, im sticking with nintendo, if they can bring there re engergised franchises such as the galaxy, kirby and donkey kong games, along with some fresh sequels to pikmin, f-zero, starfox, paper mario, mario kart, metroid and smash bro all in HD glory or on a tablet, the wii U will be an outstanding console. Heres hoping aye!

  • TheEnforcer000 #56 4 months ago

    Never been a fan of Nintendo or their franchises. With that being said, I'm sure they will sell a zillion of these consoles. I'll wait for the more mature video game systems to be released. I didn't like kiddie games when I was a kid, let alone now.

  • Rajin #57 4 months ago

    Well the controller concept seems to have a reverse effect on me though. I just can't see any real interesting concepts besides some gimmicks(jee the tablet is a the map for a rpg, or let's stuff the full HUD on the tablet)

    I just bought a wii 2 1/2 months ago and i immensly enjoy it(thanks to 5 years worth of first party and about 4 3rd party titels)

    I can see myself repeating that cycle for the Wii U, buy it after a few years instead of launch.

  • Baleoce #58 4 months ago

    The biggest problem at the minute now, is that major 3rd party developers love making multi-platform games, to reach the widest audience. Many relatively new, and even old and cherished I.P's have prospered due to this on the PS3 and 360.

    The developers don't want to be having to re-skin and re-design a game because the machine is technically limited. I'm not saying that it's not possible to have grade A games on a console that isn't at the forefront of current technology. But just that, you *will* miss out on the multi-platform games that release on PS and Xbox, and a very large and profitable amount of people want to play those games, regardless of your systems "direction".

    It's one thing having a presentation saying that "x, y and z 3rd party developers will be on board with the machine" (last years E3), but it's a completely different thing putting that into practice. It's no good getting them on board for a single year, then having all those developers spring back to the 720 and PS4 to make the new tier of multi-platform games as soon as they become available. You need to see it through for the machines complete life-cycle. It's a case of both feet in, or none at all.

  • Snake_2011 #59 4 months ago

    after the last dust collector they sold me they can keep it.

  • Stratix #60 4 months ago

    Nintendo's first party games are unquestionably fantastic. I love their art style, and the Wii can ALMOST cope with them, but having the advantage of HD, and a decent level of anti alias will make them perfect in my mind. WiiU will without a doubt have enough power to run some absolutley brilliant games.

    I am really looking forward to it, and I hope this will be a console I will play a lot more than I have my Wii, which only seems to get pulled out around Christmas.

  • Badassbab #61 4 months ago

    @SavageEvil

    It's incorrect to say Nintendo have never gone the powerhouse route. NES, SNES, N64 and the Gamecube were all pretty powerful for their time. Gamecube I guess you could say was technically inferior to the earlier released Xbox but Wii is the first console they've released which is significantly underpowered compared to the competition.

    So what was that about amnesia?

  • fillip2k #62 4 months ago

    I really hope they nail the precision of the motion controls as well as the HD, this isn't only aimed at Ninty I suppose as all of them will be integrating motion control from the word go next gen.

    I recently re-bought a Wii to play Zelda, firstly it was a massive shock how awful it looked, not just the games graphics but the actual menu of the wii is awful. Secondly and most detrimental to my enjoyment of the game has been the complete lack of any kind of precision to the control even with wii motion plus built it. I just really hope if even Sony and Microsoft are going to make motion control central to their next machines they have a much better system.

  • matty_matt_mattmatt #63 4 months ago

    I don't play wii games because the graphics and controls suck, the wii made me lose my love for Nintendo and I believe this lost love will continue with the wii u

  • Matthew_Hornet #64 4 months ago

    A lot of people here got the point. If you think a more powerful console only helps with the eye candy, you're naive. Ask the devs for Skyrim on PS3 whether that stupid slowdown could have been avoided if the PS3 had more memory; because it could have. Why do you think there's no GTA ports on the Wii? Because Nintendo hates money?

    Sometimes you just need a big CPU and a shitload of memory for the game to work.

    So you go and buy a PC ;-) But seriously, Uncharted couldn't work on the Wii, no matter how ugly they made it - that platform animation system is too heavy-duty. The setpieces wouldn't work. Same goes for many many other games.

  • WAusJackBauer #65 4 months ago

    Would kinda suck if this means all Wii U games are rendered in 720 and not 1080. I guess it's still fine, just look at PS3 and 360 games.

  • Snake_2011 #66 4 months ago

    JAGUARCD32x because you never start the shit throwing do you lol.

  • Pulsar_t #67 4 months ago

    WTF is it with all these essays on here?

  • Ashcroft #68 4 months ago

    I hope everyone likes 360 ports with a menu on the tablet.

    Because there are going to be hundreds.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #69 4 months ago

    "Just in case: PCs are relevant because this is a topic about hardware. My point was that consoles can't be as powerful as the latest PCs, but don't need to be."
    ______________________

    Traditionally a console's (and the 'Home Computers' back in the day) custom design was better for gaming than a PC on launch and sometimes for a year or two afterwards. Consoles are a much more efficient computing platform for games but are eventually overtaken by more power,memory and storage thrown at quite a heavy architecture. At a comparitively huge cost.
    There were games on the SNES and the Playstation that the PC just couldn't do or did horribly. Racers, fighting games, 2d platformers to name a few.
    How about stripping our PCs back to the Xbox 360's puny 512MB of RAM? Or the Wii's miniscule 64MB RAM?

    Also with the PC traditionally having higher resolution. Many PC gamers refered to this as 'better grahpics'. As they did with the 360 v the Wii. For years consoles were crippled by the CRT TV and it was actually Sega 5 years before the HD hype kicked in, who bought us 'Higher' Definition graphics with their excellent VGA support.

    A lot of PC enthusiasts also wrongly claim consoles are becoming more like PCs, but yet it was the PC that originally needed custom sound and graphics boards adding to them, to come anywhere near the Amiga, SNES or Playstation for anything but simulations or tech demos. Anyone remember playing Doom and Duke Nukem with a squeeky case speaker?

    The Xbox 360 certainly blew my PC away on launch and I doubt anyone but the rich can claim there PC was a better gaming device at that time.
    The other classic, is the keyboard and mouse warriors looking for the speed, accuracy and clinical killing that is actually far removed from real life.
    Guns are heavy and can be awkward and clumsy in some peoples hands, a gun in the hands is certainly not as clinical as a computer mouse. I've never had an issue with picking up a chunky control pad to simulate firing a gun in the first person perspective. And as much as people slate the Wiimote and Nunchuck in FPS games, I actually enjoy the clumsyness to a point, the Wii can be quite a laugh for FPS if you don't mind the dated look on the screen.


    By the way :) with the Xbox 360 and PS3 often touted as ideal media centers during their time (a softmodded Wii isn't bad in that area either) is anyone else looking forward to the £25 Rasberry Pi computer shaking things up now that it runs XBMC? And it's officially for kids! Watch out Nintendo ;)


    http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/571

    It's also going to be fantastic if they can bring manufacture back to the UK.

  • MichaelDark #70 4 months ago

    Wii sucks. It's an old XBOX with a motion controler. Most of its games are lame. But it managed to beat both X360 and PS3 just because our world is full of casual gamers. Why would Nintendo change tactics? I don't give a damn for Wii U (worst console name ever!) I will stick to my PC, I want quality games not motion-controler trash for kids and girls. Can you play Skyrim on Wii? Assassin's Creed? Dark Souls? Witcher 2? Diablo 3? No. If Wii U (plz change the name) goes the same way I'll pass.

  • RoOhDaMite #71 4 months ago

    @MichaelDark
    If you appreciate good Jump 'n Runs and JRPGs you shouldn't discredit the wii though. One of the reasons these games are flourishing on the wii, is because developpers didn't have to focus so much on graphics engines but instead were able to pour resources into good gamedesign and artstyle.

    Who knows, maybe you will be able to play Diablo 3 on Wii U. The Touchscreen would suit its point and click gamemechanics rather well.
    Edited by RoOhDaMite at 31/01/12 @ 03:51

  • smelly #72 4 months ago

    @MichaelDork - can you play zelda skyward sword or mario galaxy on a xbox?

  • SavageEvil #73 4 months ago

    @Badassbab Wrong, NES went up against the Sega Master System, both were like for like. Snes up against the Genesis, almost a match for one another Genesis had the edge in processing speed Snes had better color palette. N64 was a nice piece of kit but it's visual capabilities were marred and nothing looked crisp all blurry and cartridge format made it worse. Gamecube we already know that story... Nintendo never goes the power route they always stayed on par or just below it. Wii was well below it but it kicked all the power mongers asses even launching damn near dead last.

    Wii U will be powerful enough to do plenty of justice to your HD television. You really don't get the idea of diminishing returns do you? How many insanely pretty games on 360 and PS3 are actually compelling piece of programming? They are far and few between. Not about power, it's what you do with it. Nintendo have time and time again shown that they have some of the best devs in the world surrounding them.

    Just remember the economical climate we are in, super powered expensive systems aren't going to make shareholders happy if they think it's not going to pan out. Watch the leap is going to be rather tiny in visuals from the two HD systems to their successors, then what will you say then? You power obsessed people are breed unto your own, don't call yourselves a hard core gamer you know nothing about hardcore. Super R type, Gradius, Legend of Zelda LTTP, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World...the list goes on. Games are about gameplay and fun, high powered CPU supposedly means better Ai...right why is it no AI has yet to play an ingenious and sneaky as original Halo's on Xbox? Just wasting processing power is what they are, newest shiny toy and first thing they do is try to make things look so damn pretty that little else is left for actual ingenuity and gameplay...FFXIII-2 anyone, there is a warehouse load of more HD garbage.

  • Conker_The_King #74 4 months ago

    Iwata pointed to The Legend of Zelda series as one franchise that will certainly benefit from the the Wii U's additional horsepower.

    "As I mentioned, it is true that, in some software areas, we need to be engaged in the power games," he reaffirmed.

    "Take The Legend of Zelda franchise, for example, the fans must be looking for the graphic representations that they do not see as cheap at all when the title is released for the Wii U. When it is necessary, we do not hesitate to role out our resources."
    __________________________________________________________________


    am i the only one that reads RETRO STUDIOS?

  • megurushi Verified Consultant, 2e2 #75 4 months ago

    @smelly You can play them on a PC running a Wii emulator though. Sorry my PC elitism sneaking out there! By the sounds of it, if the controller is bluetooth, my PC could emulate the Wii U to. I'll still buy one, like I have done every other Nintendo console.

  • TheLastProphet #76 4 months ago

    Why can't we have both? Why does Nintendo deem it impossible to have a console which is both technically impressive whilst also delivering new and innovative gameplay experiences?

  • cjs #77 4 months ago

    Actually, having more power makes development cheaper, because you spend less time trying to work around the limitations of the system. If Nintendo has an ounce of sense, they'll make it a good 30% faster than the Xbox 360 or PS3, with about twice the memory. That will help get them to parity with the early multi-platform games, when the developers don't know the hardware so well, and in general always make it reasonably easy to make the Wii look and play just as good or a bit better than the competition.

  • Hindle #78 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 23:04:43 04-04-2012

  • figaro7 #79 4 months ago

    Cmon, who could forget the awesomeness of mode 7! The sound chip in the snes was bliss, hell i cranked up the snes through my TV a while ago through AV cabling and it sounded just as good as ever, this was donkey kong country mind you, bloody awesome soundtrack. Music just isnt the same as it used to be in video games.

    I think the graphical leap will lead to diminishing returns come next gen, but theres no denying the additional power that helps with AI, framerate, larger more lively worlds, etc. I know nintendo is all about stylistic graphics, but if they can pump out mario galaxy and retro studios can pump out metroid, donkey kong country returns on 10 year old tech, i have no doubt they will pump out some fanastic looking games in HD.

  • Zomeguy #80 4 months ago

    The perfect gaming combo this gen is PC + Wii, and I doubt it will be any different next gen with Wii U.

  • Okamiwolf #81 4 months ago

    Mario isn't going to keep their head above water forever.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #82 4 months ago

    This is why I hope Wii U bombs, so that they'll learn the hard way. Nintendo's console business model is flawed in todays industry, to only favour themselves, and many will see that in time. Their view still seems to be about making money from day one and upgrading to HD, but they are forgetting or just plain ignoring the crucial and expected needs to lure gamers and devs alike, like hard drives, memory, DLC, demos and a decent online service. HD is but one slice of the pie, and without the others, its just two steps forward and fifty back again. But who cares, right? Nintendo would have still filled their money bin, and made cool games, so nothing else matters, right? Wrong.

    The recent announcement of Nintendo Network is a positive move, but I'm sure that Nintendo, being shit scared of the internet, will tie it up in some stupid buried bs, that makes no sense but to cover their own arses. In a similar way to PSN, it won't end up being anywhere near as good as Live.

    Recent news of 3DS RE:Revelations demo, only allowing play 30 times. I doubt this was Capcom's idea, since they are experienced in producing demos of the previous games, and it paints a worrying dumb picture of Nintendo's future actions with demos. For if they can't even get demos right in 2012, without fretting over giving the customer a free hit, I fear for them being around, as they seem to like the feel of their own blade gutting their stomach. I bet a year after WiiU comes out, after greasing Nintendo's palm, pubs/devs will just migrate back to MS and Sony formats.

    Like I skipped Wii, I'll probably be doing the same for Wii U too. The fanboys will wake up once its done well money wise, but tripped over itself along the way, and Nintendo have lost many more gamers. Yes, it was once just about the games, but not anymore.

    Jeez, I can hardly wait for E3, now. Hope Nintendo get booed (doubtful), because it might do them some good.

    @Savage Evil
    Sure, WiiU is going an iPad route, but isn't that overshooting the target when they can't even get their core base console arena stargegy against MS and Sony right? They should never run, before they can walk. On top of that, iPad/Pod aps and games are miles cheaper and well supported, with iPad 3 due in the next few months. Ask yourself, which do you think casuals will buy first? I'd bet Apple, anyday.

    Its cool that Nintendo make their money, but if their audience is dwindling, there's things wrong that still need addressing and they've had ample time to attend, and no matter how much you might deny them, laced in fanboyism blinkers or not, Nintendo are failing overall. Why can't their consoles and games all be great, for everyone? Is that too lofty a goal? Certainly not, but Nintendo think so and keep fighting change.

    Lastly, there's nothing wrong with mentioning other systems in this thread. The video games industry is heavily tech based, so regardless of what system you have, they all count, for comparisons sake etc. The picture painted by Nintendo's cheap tech, is a repeated one, and one that many developers don't share, and thus 3rd paties will unfortunately largely opt out of WiiU, like previous gens. Devs are smart cookies and can judge what possible on a system, just by going over system specs. Now you all know why Nintendo are always reluctant to release theirs, for their consoles.

    The Kinect is an evolution of Wii motion controls, and thus will soon grace more than just 360. Kinect moving onto PC is a frankly unheard of but positive move. Now, why didn't Nintendo think of that? Yep, we'll be close to Minority Report interface in a few years, with non gaming potential.

  • Badassbab #83 4 months ago

    @SavageEvil

    You need a history and technical lesson. NES was released a full 2 years earlier than the Master System and was more powerful than all other consoles on the market at the time. When the MS eventually released to replace the Sega SG-1000 that failed against the NES, it was the more powerful machine.

    The SNES was easily more capable than the MD (a two year release gap). Just compare Donkey Kong Country to say the later release Vectorman and you'll see what I mean or Mortal Kombat II.

    N64 gave us Zelda Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 which were far in advance of what the PSone or Saturn could offer.

    Gamecube was probably more powerful than the PS2 but less than the Xbox but it still gave us visually stunning games such as RE4, Zelda:TP, Zelda:WW, Star Fox Adventures and F-Zero.

  • Zomeguy #84 4 months ago

    he SNES was easily more capable than the MD
    Perhaps overall, but the MD was also 2 years older. Nevertheless, the MD had the faster CPU (less slowdown), more sprites on screen and almost all games were higher resolution. Action games were simply better on MD. Many games were technically not possible on SNES, like f.ex. Gunstar Heroes. And the 6 button turbo controller is one of the best controllers ever.
    So this comparison is not so clear-cut as you seem to suggest...