Casuals don't care about hardware

When I was a kid and got my Super NES, I didn't give a crap about more powerful systems on the market. I didn't care about early 32-bit systems and PCs, I only cared about how cool Donkey Kong Country looked.

Likewise, many people didn't care that the Wii hasn't got comparable graphics to the HD twins. They only cared about the cool new controller.

So tell me, why wouldn't the same people see the Wii-U as a cool new thing with a cool new controller and cool-looking games with cool HD graphics?

Even if PS4 and the next Xbox will obliterate it in hardware specs that won't tell much to the casuals.

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Kinect is the cool new controller.

If it doesn't get optimization for multiplats, then it might just be seen as just another 360/PS3 until Nintendo rolls out their 1st-party lineup, which could take years.

---

Let me tell ya, many people cared about the hardware in the Genesis vs SNES era. Same with N64 and PSX. In fact, the PS2's biggest selling-points were DVD, PSX BC, and "66 million polygons/sec".

NES and Wii were the only times hardware didn't matter. NES for obvious reasons in NA.

I think all of us, at some point in our gaming time, didn't care and/or really understand hardware. Actually, casuals probably enjoy gaming more, as they aren't hung up on the hardware specs.TheMoreYouOwn

To tell the truth I don't quite understand how the PC mentality (no offense) of comparing hardware specs really became such a big thing in recent times. Perhaps due to so many FPS games on the market?

People generally go for what's flashy.

You're right that most people didn't go to the HD consoles originally, but they did go towards this "awesome, new, totally revolutionary controller" that everyone was talking about.

If people didn't care for hardware there'd be no progress. HDTVs wouldnt' be the norm, we'd still be playing Ataris, etc.

When I was a kid and got my Super NES, I didn't give a crap about more powerful systems on the market. I didn't care about early 32-bit systems and PCs, I only cared about how cool Donkey Kong Country looked.

Likewise, many people didn't care that the Wii hasn't got comparable graphics to the HD twins. They only cared about the cool new controller.

So tell me, why wouldn't the same people see the Wii-U as a cool new thing with a cool new controller and cool-looking games with cool HD graphics?

Even if PS4 and the next Xbox will obliterate it in hardware specs that won't tell much to the casuals.

nameless12345

How cool is the Wii U controller, really? It's essentially a normal controller with a screen on it (I am oversimplifying, of course). I don't think the controller design will have the same impact of the Wiimote, Wii Fit, and the rise of casual gaming that came with it.

People spent a holy cow of cash on a single video card just to play at 1920x1080 and Anti-aliasing at 16x.

With a card 1/5 the price I can play the same game at 1440x900 and Anti-aliasing at 4x. But some claims that like this is "ugly". Well, go figure.

I still don't really care about most of that stuff anyways.

Casuals care. The market is different. The Modern Warfare crowd IS the new casual crowd. They want their games to look as realistic as possible.

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Scythes777

no duh.

I don't care what casuals care about though. :P

casuals not only dont care they have no idea how things work. you may as well say it runs on pixy dust.

[QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]I think all of us, at some point in our gaming time, didn't care and/or really understand hardware. Actually, casuals probably enjoy gaming more, as they aren't hung up on the hardware specs.nameless12345

To tell the truth I don't quite understand how the PC mentality (no offense) of comparing hardware specs really became such a big thing in recent times. Perhaps due to so many FPS games on the market?

When I was a kid and got my Super NES, I didn't give a crap about more powerful systems on the market. I didn't care about early 32-bit systems and PCs, I only cared about how cool Donkey Kong Country looked.

Likewise, many people didn't care that the Wii hasn't got comparable graphics to the HD twins. They only cared about the cool new controller.

So tell me, why wouldn't the same people see the Wii-U as a cool new thing with a cool new controller and cool-looking games with cool HD graphics?

Even if PS4 and the next Xbox will obliterate it in hardware specs that won't tell much to the casuals.

nameless12345

The Wii offered a simpler interface which removed the intimidation factor from controllers. The Kinect followed in the footsteps of the Wiimote by simplifying the interface even further.

Somewhat counterintuitively, as the interface simplified it became more important. Nintendo Wii commercials tend to show happy people twisting, gesturing and jumping. Kinect commercials do exactly the same thing.

Based on the commercials, my conversations with some of them and the nature of the motion based games that sell, much of the appeal of the Wii and the Kinect for casuals is based in the exaggerated motions one has to made (the fact that the Wiimote and Kinect are imprecise is besides the point for casuals).

Its highly unlikely that sitting in a chair pressing buttons or moving their fingers across a screen is going to be a big draw of the sorts of casuals that made the Wii and the Kinect so popular.

Nintendo has done enough market research to know whether 3D or tablets are appealing devices so it's pointless to try and argue if it will sell because it will. It just depends on the software and what the competitors do.

Wii U Pictionary, holiday 2013.

Now, who here doesn't have the intuition to say that this game couldn't possibly top the sales of Wii Fit? Please let me know!

the fact that theWiimote and Kinect are imprecise

CarnageHeart

Well there goes your credibility.

[QUOTE="Scythes777"]

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Doolz2024

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Scythes777

Quite the paradox ;)

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

the fact that theWiimote and Kinect are imprecise

SuperFlakeman

Well there goes your credibility.

Regardless of what else this person has claimed, this particular quote seems to keep his/her integrity quite intact.

[QUOTE="Scythes777"]

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Filthybastrd

Quite the paradox ;)

Why yes, yes it it.

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

the fact that theWiimote and Kinect are imprecise

SuperFlakeman

Well there goes your credibility.

:P Mine and Nintendo's both. If Nintendo didn't believe there wasn't a problem, they wouldn't have rolled out the Wiimote Plus.

[QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

the fact that theWiimote and Kinect are imprecise

CarnageHeart

Well there goes your credibility.

:P Mine and Nintendo's both. If Nintendo didn't believe there wasn't a problem, they wouldn't have rolled out the Wiimote Plus.

So what? WM+ is a gyro sensor which has nothing to do with the built in accelerometer or IR pointer.

It's not meant to 'improve' the Wiimote, it's rather an addition that expands the amount of gameplay possibilities. Gyro doesn't replace accelerometer and if you've noticed only two Nintendo games use WM+

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

[QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

Well there goes your credibility.

SuperFlakeman

:P Mine and Nintendo's both. If Nintendo didn't believe there wasn't a problem, they wouldn't have rolled out the Wiimote Plus.

So what? WM+ is a gyro sensor which has nothing to do with the built in accelerometer or IR pointer.

It's not meant to 'improve' the Wiimote, it's rather an addition that expands the amount of gameplay possibilities. Gyro doesn't replace accelerometer and if you've noticed only two Nintendo games use WM+

I just wish the Wii mote plus was ready at launch.

I just wish the Wii mote plus was ready at launch.

theuncharted34

Same here, but that doesn't make the regular Wiimote imprecise.

I was completely happy with the SNES too and didn't see a need for newer systems. But then again, I thought the SNES tech was great. After all, Nintendo could just add an FX chip or some other upgrade to the cartridge and the games played like they were on better systems. SNES was the apex of great 2D gaming for me. I eventually moved on though. (I prefer nice, crisp 2D graphics to ugly polygonal games from the early PS1 era.)

Casuals don't care about hardware? They sure love their ipads and smartphones, that is for sure--enough so to warrant almost yearly purchases, in fact.

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Scythes777

[QUOTE="Scythes777"]

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

93BlackHawk93

Casual care about hardware

Hardcore don't care about hardware

casuals and bro gamers care about hardware and graphics...thats all they talk about when it comes to BF3

[QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]I think all of us, at some point in our gaming time, didn't care and/or really understand hardware. Actually, casuals probably enjoy gaming more, as they aren't hung up on the hardware specs.nameless12345

To tell the truth I don't quite understand how the PC mentality (no offense) of comparing hardware specs really became such a big thing in recent times. Perhaps due to so many FPS games on the market?

My next door neighbor builds cars for a hobby. I build computers and benchmark them and tweak them. I'm sure he doesnt want to hear about my new video card as i dont care to listen to his story about his new trasmission. See? Different hobbies, different tastes.

There are many CoD casuals that obsess over graphics. Same goes for Halo too

Scythes777

And most of them dont even realize that there are graphicly greener pastures of pc...

I was a hardcore gamer from 1981 till 2007..I didnt care about hardware at all. I cared about the games and if the controller I was using was what I liked. Hardware is useless without the games to play.

I'm not causal so I don't care. They are the same people who buy shovel ware and crappy games like Just Dance.

Casuals don't care about hardware? They sure love their ipads and smartphones, that is for sure--enough so to warrant almost yearly purchases, in fact.

Heirren

See, even more reason why they'll grab up the Wii-U. Tablets are the new trend. I can also see more grown-ups getting interested in core games with the Wii-U (especially if they'll have a mature appeal. And I'm not even talking about Halo or Call of Duty clones.).

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

Casuals don't care about hardware? They sure love their ipads and smartphones, that is for sure--enough so to warrant almost yearly purchases, in fact.

nameless12345

See, even more reason why they'll grab up the Wii-U. Tablets are the new trend. I can also see more grown-ups getting interested in core games with the Wii-U (especially if they'll have a mature appeal. And I'm not even talking about Halo or Call of Duty clones.).

The Wii U has a dummy tablet, that can't operate on the go, only has one real use, is single touch and has physical buttons all over it.

If the Wii didn't get "grownups" to play Call of Duty (which was on the Wii), with the much simpler and easier to understand Wiimote, why would the Wii U accomplish it?

It depends but this is a tricky subject.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

Casuals don't care about hardware? They sure love their ipads and smartphones, that is for sure--enough so to warrant almost yearly purchases, in fact.

SakusEnvoy

If the Wii didn't get "grownups" to play Call of Duty (which was on the Wii), with the much simpler and easier to understand Wiimote, why would the Wii U accomplish it?

I was talking about possible new IPs in the vein of Heavy Rain on the PS3, just more intuitive to control.

[QUOTE="SakusEnvoy"]

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

Casuals don't care about hardware? They sure love their ipads and smartphones, that is for sure--enough so to warrant almost yearly purchases, in fact.

nameless12345

If the Wii didn't get "grownups" to play Call of Duty (which was on the Wii), with the much simpler and easier to understand Wiimote, why would the Wii U accomplish it?

I was talking about possible new IPs in the vein of Heavy Rain on the PS3, just more intuitive to control.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="SakusEnvoy"]

If the Wii didn't get "grownups" to play Call of Duty (which was on the Wii), with the much simpler and easier to understand Wiimote, why would the Wii U accomplish it?

SakusEnvoy

I was talking about possible new IPs in the vein of Heavy Rain on the PS3, just more intuitive to control.

Well they did say they'll invest in new IPs with the Wii-U. I think the Wii-U may develop a more serious image than the predecessor.

The controller isn´t cool.