Wii U 'isn't going to work' says Pachter

@ZippyDSMLee

I know this is a late reply, but I just now read your comment. Anyway, I would say that it shouldn't be too hard to get current Wii owners to buy a new console IF it's priced under $300 (ideally $250, but even $275 would be an almost-impulse price point) considering that it's full HD and has drastically improved graphics. What I would love to see is if Nintendo could someone get those casual gamers to join in on the more hardcore games, but I'm not sure that'll happen so easily. They have to be very easy to play, so that will be up to the developers.

As far as the "they already have the Wii" thing goes, Nintendo actually has a huge advantage over the other two consoles precisely because their last console wasn't nearly as powerful as the other two. The people who ONLY bought a Wii haven't been enjoying 360- or PS3-quality graphics, so the Wii U will be a huge upgrade in that department. Also, if they're currently fans of Nintendo games, then there's only one place they can get them...

@rarson Wow wall of text 0-o, anyway I do have a question do you see any problems for the WIIU? The biggest one as far as I can see is getting people to buy it when they already have a WII , as the WII will be good enough for most people for a few more years, least till they run out of games. LOL

@ZippyDSMLee

"Sorry but nin is always a generation behind."

*Sigh*... I'm so tired of reading comments like this.

The first generation that Nintendo competed in was the third generation. This generation mostly consisted of the NES, Sega Master System, and Atari 7800. While some may argue technical superiority for the Master System, looking at actual games it's clear that the NES had the best graphics.

The fourth generation consisted of the SNES, the Genesis, the TurboGraphX-16, and the Neo Geo. The Neo Geo doesn't really count because it was ridiculously expensive and extremely niche. The TurboGraphX-16 was an 8-bit console with a 16-bit GPU... admirable graphics, but obviously third out of the three. The SNES was not only graphically superior to the Genesis, it had VASTLY better audio. As much as I love the Genesis, the one thing I cannot stand is putting up with the sub-par audio in many of the games (some games utilized the hardware rather effectively). I'd argue that even with the 32X, the Genesis couldn't really compete technologically. So Nintendo wins again.

The fifth generation consisted of the Playstation, Saturn, N64, and a bunch of other systems that most people either never heard of or couldn't afford. Of those three, the N64 clearly had the best graphics hardware, though it did suffer from rather blurry textures and the limitations of the cartridge medium (not to mention they were expensive). The PSX couldn't even do perspective-correct textures, and polygon tearing PLAGUED both Saturn and PSX games. So again, Nintendo leads in hardware.

Sixth generation: Xbox, Gamecube, Dreamcast, PS2. In that order. So while Nintendo wasn't at the top, they were close and they sure as hell weren't "a generation behind."

So yeah, in the seventh generation, Nintendo's hardware wasn't nearly as powerful as the cutting edge, loss-inducing Xbox 360 and PS3 hardware. But of course it wasn't, because it wasn't anywhere near as expensive, and Nintendo was the only company actually making money on selling hardware.

In summary, the statement that "Nintendo is always a generation behind" is not only absurd, it's incorrect.

@ZippyDSMLee

"Yes the lack of multiple touchscreen multiplayer is an issue as they are noting useing base hardware fully."

That's just nonsense. The whole point of the second screen is to use it to interact with the main screen. Obviously multiple people can't do that with only one TV. For multiplayer, the screen won't be necessary (though it will offer the ability to create unique multiplayer experiences, which Nintendo has already demonstrated).

"Yes I have a game Cube I am tried of having to hook it up when I want to play a GC game."

Boo hoo. You want to play your decade-old system, but you don't want to hook it up? Get a switch box.

"Mediocre specs are mediocre unless $ony and M$ go cheap on their new systems, the specs are barely on the PS360 level its an issue because the indutry shafted the WII on games."

Completely wrong. The specs are conservative, not mediocre, and well beyond the hardware that is in the current consoles. And by the way, Sony and MS WILL be going cheap(er) on their hardware this time around, so there's not going to be a huge graphical leap over the current consoles, even from them.

"Would like GC support and DS/3DS digital game support."

And I bet you'd like it to cost less than $200 as well. The fact of the matter is that Nintendo can't give you everything you want at a price you can afford. Neither can anyone else. All of that shit costs money.

"Would like a competent online service."

I would agree that Nintendo's online service thus far has been unwieldy at best, and I, too, would like to see them improve it. They seem to be claiming that they have, and while I don't doubt it could be better than the Wii, that's not really saying much and I doubt it'll be as rich or as easy to use as Live, which is unfortunate. Live IS the gold standard, though, so there's a lot to live up to, and it's also not free, either.

Nintendo's problem with the Wii is that it was significantly graphically inferior to the other two consoles, the motion controllers were non-standard (and didn't even offer a standard controller equivalent... forcing people to buy another accessory which plugs into the Wiimote doesn't really count), and from what I've read, neither Nintendo nor Sony could match Microsoft with developer tools. I think Nintendo is going out of their way to address these issues with the Wii U while still trying to bring a unique gaming experience to consumers at an affordable price.

@Gazz64 From what I have seen of the specs its more a 360 with better graphics hardware. Sorry but nin is always a generation behind. But they seem to do more with less at times. But there again I want the best system they can make so that the damn industry will support it.

@ZippyDSMLee

The specs of the WiiU are far superior to the PS3 and 360, what you have quoted are put downs from naysayers. The WiiU's CPU for instance is a multicore power PC clocked at almost twice the PS3s crippled and cumbersum cell processor. Even the grahpics processor is more than twice the speed of the PS3s. Even still Nintendo haven't said exactly whats in there so this is based and lower end equivalents of what has been confirmed.

@rarson Yes the lack of multiple touchscreen multiplayer is an issue as they are noting useing base hardware fully.

Yes I have a game Cube I am tried of having to hook it up when I want to play a GC game.

Mediocre specs are mediocre unless $ony and M$ go cheap on their new systems, the specs are barely on the PS360 level its an issue because the indutry shafted the WII on games.

Would like GC support and DS/3DS digital game support. Would like a competent online service. Would like the base hardware to be fully utilized so the industry dose not ignore it.

Hell even with that said I doubt $ony and M$ will offer any kind of BWC, still Nin has the worst time with industry support and zelda and mario arn't cutting it anymore since they are making them piss easy.... and don't get me started on another M.... *shudders*

@ZippyDSMLee

What are you talking about? Are you implying that the lack of multiple touchscreen controllers means that there is no meaningful multiplayer? In that case, the 360 and PS3 have no meaningful multiplayer, nor will their successors. That makes no sense.

No Gamecube support? Do you have a Gamecube? Or a Wii? No? THEN YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ANY GAMECUBE GAMES.

Mediocre specs? Just wait until you see the graphics of the next Xbox and Playstation. You won't notice any huge differences over the Wii U.

And everything that you bought for the Wii (games included) still work with the Wii U. WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT?

@rarson Not by enough to make it threw another generation of gaming.

No meaningful multi player for the WIIU controller, crap online options, no game cube support, mediocre specs and it coming off the WIIs strong sales yet you have to buy another one...it just all adds up to troubling.

But there again apple hardware revisions sale like hotcakes the craptactual 3DS sold well so I guess the WIIU should sale well. But I am skeptical, will I get one...probably LOL

@ZippyDSMLee

You must be touched in the head. The Wii U is far more powerful than the Wii. Have you bothered to actually watch any of the game videos?

@stu-us111

Or I can? I dunno, my first comment wasn't accepted until I deleted the part about Youtube.