(NOTE: Originally posted 06/2011 on MyIGN Blogs)
It hasn’t even been a full day, since Nintendo’s E3 press conference, and I am still shaking my head. Throughout the entire show I found myself extremely bored and thinking to myself, “Oh look, another Nintendo franchise game.” The 3DS still failed to impress me and I didn’t get excited for any of the games announced for it.
Seriously, how many Mario games were announced?
As the event dragged along it finally came to the segment where they would talk about Nintendo’s new console. I perked up at this because I was curious about the system and what they would name it. Yet, when Fils-Aime began his introduction I was filled with dread. When he emphasized the word “You,” in his intro speech, I started to shake my head in disbelief while thinking, “They can’t be stupid enough to call it the Nintendo U.”
I guess they are even stupider than I thought because they decided to call it the Wii U…
Now we all know that Nintendo has been saying that the Wii U is geared towards the hardcore gamer. It is, supposedly, the reason why they made it. Yet who are these hardcore gamers they are gearing their system towards?
While the Wii U’s specs will make it more powerful than the 360 and PS3 that doesn’t mean anything at this point. There is no point in releasing such a system, say it is geared towards hardcore gamers, and then just release all your flagship franchises and nothing else for it. Not to mention that most gamers are satisfied with their console of choice and will want to stay with it until their favorite company decides to release a new one.
Of course Nintendo did show a few games, such as Batman Arkham City and Battlefield 3, which is pretty cool except for one thing (by the way these videos weren’t from the Wii U but their competitors). By the time the Wii U comes out, I’m assuming it will be released Winter 2012, these games will have been out for a while. So who is going to buy these games when the Wii U comes out? It certainly won’t be the hardcore gamer because they will already have purchased those titles for the PC or console of their choice.
Yet it isn’t just the games shown that makes me question Nintendo’s talk of gearing the system towards the hardcore audience. I’ll even concede that it isn’t too valid a point since it is most likely that Nintendo will try and make sure that other such titles will be released for the Wii U for any game that has a multi-platform release. It is that while older, more mature, games will possibly be released for the Wii U there is no point if they come out for the systems the gamer already has. On top of that there is the matter of the controls.
The newest control is nothing more than a tablet with buttons. Nintendo may look at it as a great new innovation but, like motion controls, it is nothing more than a gimmick and will appeal mostly to the casual market despite it being innovative. Even with backwards compatibility many hardcore gamers aren’t into motion controls and still prefer a standard controller.
Then you have the ability to look down at the six-inch screen and back up to your TV for the same game. A feature that I find both distracting and debilitating to your game play. The last thing I need to do is start looking at the little screen while in the midst of a firefight or bossfight.
But on top of all that their new controller just makes me think of the Sega Dreamcast’s controller. It is nothing more than an evolved version of an old idea except it is wireless and has a much larger screen. The tablet controller itself is also rather large and need I remind Nintendo that hardcore gamers don’t like large controllers?
Remember the original Xbox controller?
Now I’m not sold on Nintendo’s tablet controller (as if you couldn’t tell). But factors such as product weight, price, and how it handles should, and will, be huge points for those who decide to buy into it. The product weight alone is something that I find giving mix signals as to who Nintendo is trying to target. Even if the tablet controller weighs around 1 pound that can still become rather heavy for people who play with it for hours at a time. For older gamers it won’t be as bad but then Nintendo will be alienating their younger audience who is, for all intents and purposes, their bread and butter.
In fact, I can’t imagine a ten-year old holding it up for a full hour without getting tired and putting it down. As for handling I’m pretty sure that same ten-year old might have some trouble with the controller as well. Granted, grabbing hold of it should be rather simple, unlike the original xbox controller which was a fat whale, but the placement of the buttons might be too far apart for a child but perfect for an adult (someone needs to test out this theory).
As for pricing I don’t even want to speculate about how much it would cost. After all this is a tablet, for all intents and purposes, and I will be shocked if it is under $200. But we will have to wait and see what Nintendo decides to charge us for it. I just hope that they don’t sell it with the Wii U. At the very least sell two different versions: with and without the tablet controller.
While Nintendo might offer hardcore fans some cool third-party games, it won’t mean anything unless they are exclusive to Nintendo. With that in mind I feel that Nintendo will try and release two types of games: the ones that appeal to casual gamers and those that appeal to hardcore gamers (be prepared for all the Wii shovelware). Their controller, while innovative, isn’t a big enough draw and will not entice many hardcore gamers but still appeal to their casual consumers yet, possibly, alienate the younger audience.
Price will also be a huge factor. Despite the Wii’s limitations it came out at the perfect time and at a great price. The recession made the Wii the best choice for gamers, and parents of young gamers, to buy. Yet, with the Wii U, what will the price be? Should the console be priced at around $400 who here would be willing to pay that much for a new console? Perhaps the older, hardcore gamers yes, but how many parents will buy it for their children? They would be more enticed to purchase a 360 or PS3 if their child doesn’t own one already.
Finally let’s talk about the console’s name itself. When the Wii was announced as the official name there was a media frenzy. This gave Nintendo a lot of free publicity which helped to turn it into a household name. Yet let’s be honest, it is still a stupid name and one that continues to be made fun of.
So what does Nintendo do?
They decide to name their new console, geared for the hardcore gamer, the Wii U. Another stupid sounding name that only a six-year old could come up with. The Wii name, in general, is one of the most horrible names for any console and I will question anyone’s sanity who thinks it is a cool name. So while it may be fine for children it sure isn’t fine for adults; especially hardcore gamers.
So while Nintendo promoted its budget-friendly console through the phrase “Wii would like to play” the jokes started to come and, let’s face it, nothing is more lame than going up to a cute female gamer and asking her, “Hey, want to come back to my place and play with my Wii” or “Why don’t you come back to my place? Just you and me and my Wii makes three tonight.”
Yeah…a real winner with that name. I’ll be making fun of it just as much as I made fun of the Wii itself.
Yet who is the Wii U geared towards? Contrary to what Nintendo says they seem to have no idea themselves and watching their press conference that was readily apparent. What they have is a system that, instead of appealing to one audience, is trying to appeal to two different types of gamers with mixed results.
But all of this is just my opinion. Who do you think Nintendo is trying to focus on with the Wii U and do you think I’m completely off-base with my assumptions?
Nintendo’s Console is in Another Castle
Off-topic:
Now follows all the Wii jokes I wanted to use in my post. Feel free to add your own in the comment section.
“So how often does your Wii get turned on?”
After going to a friend’s house: “I left my Wii at home. Should I have brought it with me?”
“Do you take good care of your Wii?”
“I’m playing on my Wii”
“My Wii is so much fun”
“I can’t wait to get my Wii!”
“My Wii is coming”
“Not tonight honey, I’m playing with my Wii”
“Kids! Leave my Wii alone!”
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