Reggie Explains Why Wii U Largest Built-In Storage Solution Is 32GB

[QUOTE="TheKingIAm"][QUOTE="MonsieurX"] Not as much as you :oops:MonsieurX

This is good move from Nintendo, why add a 120-250Gb harddrive that is not enouch for digital download users anyway. Now we get WiiU for lower price and dont need remove a low storage harddrive if we want get a big one :)

I had one of those 4gb or w/e Xbox slims once upon a time, and even then I never got close to using the full 4gb, not even close.

32gb is more than enough for someone like myself. I can't fathom why someone would need a 120gb console or something. I don't even think I have that much stuff stored on my laptop.

MLBknights58

You are the minority when it comes to gamers. Heck Nintendo's own update on day 1 took up 5GB of space. I don't see myself downloading a lot of DLC though for Nintendo IP's... unless NIntendo jumps on the DLC train this gen. So 32 GB might do me for the Wii U.

I do like the freedom to just slap my own Portable HDD to the machine though, if I need to.

It seems like people want free memory. because if Nintendo added $50 of memory, people would still be raging,bbkkristian

Nothing is "free". People simply expect more than 32GB out of modern consoles - you basically look at the $299 or $350 price and look at the features. Almost no spec of the Wii-U was really "next gen" relative to the consoles that have been $199 or $249. They obviously cut corners on the console while trying to focus on the tablet, but the sad thing is even the tablet comes off as cheap and inferior piece of electronics. LAST GEN consoles have moved on to 250GB and even 500GB as standard - how can anyone in thier right mind justify 8GB/32GB as reasonable amounts of storage??? Just another area Wii-U is weaker than last gen I guess... 

[QUOTE="MLBknights58"]

I had one of those 4gb or w/e Xbox slims once upon a time, and even then I never got close to using the full 4gb, not even close.

32gb is more than enough for someone like myself. I can't fathom why someone would need a 120gb console or something. I don't even think I have that much stuff stored on my laptop.

moistsandwich

You are the minority when it comes to gamers. Heck Nintendo's own update on day 1 took up 5GB of space. I don't see myself downloading a lot of DLC though for Nintendo IP's... unless NIntendo jumps on the DLC train this gen. So 32 GB might do me for the Wii U.

I do like the freedom to just slap my own Portable HDD to the machine though, if I need to.

I don't like having to trot out a USB hard drive at all. I only use that for backup storage for my PC. The idea of storing game content or game data on an external HDD is sort of rediculous to me. This isn't 1997. Everything should be stored internal on the console. I use external HDD backups for mass data storage, not for freiking game installs or saves. Don't forget that USB 2.0 is slow and inferior to the loading times of a blu-ray, which is itself slower than HDD...

Now, knowing that Nintendo pretty much doesn't do "game-installs" - the drive would mostly be used for DLC content, digital game purchases, saves, etc. You can probably get away with less on a Nintendo console considering they mostly force everything to run off the disc. But 8/32 is just way too little. It definitely should have been 32/128 at launch 32 for entry level, and 128GB for deluxe users. 

[QUOTE="GD1551"]

Ok so then why does the console cost 350? lmfao.

rjdofu

You can buy more powerful tablets that are full fledged tablets for a hell of a lot less. A google nexus 7 can be had for 200 and its far more powerful. For christs sake the wiiu tablet cant even do multi touch inputs. Its about 2 steps away from being a fischer price toy.

Its made out of cheap plastic. I refuse to believe it costs them a ton of money. The vita is a far more advanced piece of technology that is just as powerful and all in one small device half the size of the tablet and it costs 200 bucks.

And yet the console is still expensive, even with the measly 32gigs..

They've been saying this since launch. It's nothing new. 

Personally, I doubt I'll ever fill up the 32gb. I'm glad it's optional.  

trugs26

That doesn't really explain why they have 2 models with only a 24GB difference

"It's 2013, we know gamers (and the general consumer) are really into digital media given the success of Xbox Live, PSN, Steam and other PC distributors, smartphones, tablets, etc etc, so we'll fit out console with nowhere near enough memory for these consumers (which number in the hundreds of millions), and hope they hop on board and purchase extra accessories driving up the cost of entry for the Wii U"

They SHOULD have just put a standard HDD in there rather than an SDD. That way they could have put in 500gb for the same price as that 32gb.

That doesn't really explain why they have 2 models with only a 24GB difference

Sword-Demon

He's right. Nintendo's solution is really the best.

Time to go third party in the console space. Great Nintendo games, but no crappy Nintendo hardware. Sounds good to me.Zero5000X

32 is too low. give at least 80 gigs. thats like another thing we have to spend for if we want to enjoy the system

[QUOTE="MLBknights58"]

I had one of those 4gb or w/e Xbox slims once upon a time, and even then I never got close to using the full 4gb, not even close.

32gb is more than enough for someone like myself.  I can't fathom why someone would need a 120gb console or something.  I don't even think I have that much stuff stored on my laptop.

millerlight89

To play devils advocate, is 500 GB vs 32 GB really all that different when dealing with 20GB+ game downloads, with some games as large as 50GB? Because the Xbox One does not have a replacable hard-drive you will need an external hard-drive after so many downloads (Xbox One will store between 10 and 25 games, not including space used by the operating system, music, movies, game updates, or accounting that most hard-drive manufactures advertise 1 GB as 1000 MB when 1 GB is really 1024 MB). Nintendo figured they could include a hard-drive which would increase noise, heat, size, and price of the console and have consumers ultimately need to purchase a new hard-drive down the road to meet their storage requirements or they could offer enough for basic functions and some virtual console downloads and maybe a few digital Wii-U games and have a smaller, quieter, cooler, and less expensive unit and let the consumer choose which storage is better suited for them. Still the Playstation 4 handles this the best by offering 500 GB from the start with the option to replace the internal drive. I wish the Wii-U could use USB powered external hard-drives as they are often smaller than your typical desktop external hard-drive, and you do not have to waste an electrical plug.

EDIT: I do think the Wii-U should have came with more memory from the start. 64 GB would have been perfect as you could download two large Wii-U games without space concerns, and it would be an awesome reference.

[QUOTE="millerlight89"][QUOTE="MLBknights58"]

I had one of those 4gb or w/e Xbox slims once upon a time, and even then I never got close to using the full 4gb, not even close.

32gb is more than enough for someone like myself.  I can't fathom why someone would need a 120gb console or something.  I don't even think I have that much stuff stored on my laptop.

DarkGamer007

To play devils advocate, is 500 GB vs 32 GB really all that different when dealing with 20GB+ game downloads, with some games as large as 50GB? Because the Xbox One does not have a replacable hard-drive you will need an external hard-drive after so many downloads (Xbox One will store between 10 and 25 games, not including space used by the operating system, music, movies, game updates, or accounting that most hard-drive manufactures advertise 1 GB as 1000 MB when 1 GB is really 1024 MB). Nintendo figured they could include a hard-drive which would increase noise, heat, size, and price of the console and have consumers ultimately need to purchase a new hard-drive down the road to meet their storage requirements or they could offer enough for basic functions and some virtual console downloads and maybe a few digital Wii-U games and have a smaller, quieter, cooler, and less expensive unit and let the consumer choose which storage is better suited for them. Still the Playstation 4 handles this the best by offering 500 GB from the start with the option to replace the internal drive. I wish the Wii-U could use USB powered external hard-drives as they are often smaller than your typical desktop external hard-drive, and you do not have to waste an electrical plug.

EDIT: I do think the Wii-U should have came with more memory from the start. 64 GB would have been perfect as you could download two large Wii-U games without space concerns, and it would be an awesome reference.

:lol:

Yes. One is 15 times bigger than the other. 

The 32Gb is not adequate for anyone but the most casual, or ignorant player that basically doesn't download anything at all. 

Ummm, you don't lock them in Reggie. You give them ample amount of storage space in the beginning and then give them the option to upgrade their HDD when it runs out. 32GB's of storage space in 2013 is a joke. Around 500GB's of storage space is the standard these days.  Nintendo just is so out of touch these days. They are just the laughing stock of gaming these days. 

it's just a psychological thing.  Even though Nintendo's solutions to internal storage are best for the consumer, the fact that it requires extra components will always irritate people.   Would people be happy if Nintendo offered their own upgradeable proprietary storage options, right there next to the console in the store case like the 360 did?  It would sure cost a lot more.

The wiiu has small memory because they actually don't use a hard drive at all.  The wiiu uses expensive flash memory storage, because flash memory is more reliable long term.   Maybe Sony and MS consoles are meant to break down after 5-10 years, but Nintendo has traditionally aimed to make consoles that can survive 20 years or more.  I don't know exactly what flash vs. hard drive memory costs, but a quick reference told me the difference could be about 10x as much.  How much memory could the wiiu have had if they didn't use flash and used the same money on a standard hard drive?  Probably a lot more.

Having mass storage separated from the console improves the reliability.  The mass storage can be transferred before the hard drive breaks down by normal wear-down.  That's hard to do if it is built right into the console.  It's the same principle behind having a dvd player built right into your TV.  It's a bit more convenient, but isn't it a bit silly when the dvd player breaks down?  I prefer to have it separate, and I could see the same about the hard drive on my consoles for the same reasons.

It also reminds me of the Nintendo virtual console.  It was heavily criticized because the wii had hardly any storage at all, but that was because they had a system where you could erase games and re-download them at any time.  For small virtual console files, a re-download would take almost no time at all, so what was the big problem exactly?  The problem was psychological.   People just like having all their stuff installed and displayed.  It's a bit of a backwards attitude in a digital world.  

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

[QUOTE="millerlight89"] Someone who downloads movies, digital games...It's not that hard to grasp. 2Chalupas

To play devils advocate, is 500 GB vs 32 GB really all that different when dealing with 20GB+ game downloads, with some games as large as 50GB? Because the Xbox One does not have a replacable hard-drive you will need an external hard-drive after so many downloads (Xbox One will store between 10 and 25 games, not including space used by the operating system, music, movies, game updates, or accounting that most hard-drive manufactures advertise 1 GB as 1000 MB when 1 GB is really 1024 MB). Nintendo figured they could include a hard-drive which would increase noise, heat, size, and price of the console and have consumers ultimately need to purchase a new hard-drive down the road to meet their storage requirements or they could offer enough for basic functions and some virtual console downloads and maybe a few digital Wii-U games and have a smaller, quieter, cooler, and less expensive unit and let the consumer choose which storage is better suited for them. Still the Playstation 4 handles this the best by offering 500 GB from the start with the option to replace the internal drive. I wish the Wii-U could use USB powered external hard-drives as they are often smaller than your typical desktop external hard-drive, and you do not have to waste an electrical plug.

EDIT: I do think the Wii-U should have came with more memory from the start. 64 GB would have been perfect as you could download two large Wii-U games without space concerns, and it would be an awesome reference.

:lol:

Yes. One is 15 times bigger than the other. 

The 32Gb is not adequate for anyone but the most casual, or ignorant player that basically doesn't download anything at all. 

I would like to have more internal space as Flash Memory is better and more efficient than External Hard Drives. Really, Hard Drives have higher failure rate than SSD.

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

[QUOTE="millerlight89"] Someone who downloads movies, digital games...It's not that hard to grasp. 2Chalupas

To play devils advocate, is 500 GB vs 32 GB really all that different when dealing with 20GB+ game downloads, with some games as large as 50GB? Because the Xbox One does not have a replacable hard-drive you will need an external hard-drive after so many downloads (Xbox One will store between 10 and 25 games, not including space used by the operating system, music, movies, game updates, or accounting that most hard-drive manufactures advertise 1 GB as 1000 MB when 1 GB is really 1024 MB). Nintendo figured they could include a hard-drive which would increase noise, heat, size, and price of the console and have consumers ultimately need to purchase a new hard-drive down the road to meet their storage requirements or they could offer enough for basic functions and some virtual console downloads and maybe a few digital Wii-U games and have a smaller, quieter, cooler, and less expensive unit and let the consumer choose which storage is better suited for them. Still the Playstation 4 handles this the best by offering 500 GB from the start with the option to replace the internal drive. I wish the Wii-U could use USB powered external hard-drives as they are often smaller than your typical desktop external hard-drive, and you do not have to waste an electrical plug.

EDIT: I do think the Wii-U should have came with more memory from the start. 64 GB would have been perfect as you could download two large Wii-U games without space concerns, and it would be an awesome reference.

:lol:

Yes. One is 15 times bigger than the other. 

The 32Gb is not adequate for anyone but the most casual, or ignorant player that basically doesn't download anything at all. 

You didn't understand my post did you? Yes, obviously 500 GB is larger than 32 GB, but considering both are not user replacable, you will need to replace both fairly quickly if you are into digital distribution. If you only download your Xbox One games and other content you are going will need to invest in an external hard-drive, just like you would if you have a Wii-U and want to download games, it is just with the Xbox One you can hold a few more titles. At this point 500 GB (Playstation 4 and Xbox One hard-drives are actually 488 GB before the operating system reserve, so the useable space is likely around 460 GB to 470 GB) isn't suitable for full digital distribution, on a system with Music, Movies, Video Games, and other downloads, and I would argue that anything less than 1 TB isn't suitable either. 

Nintendo wants you to spend more money on a feature that should have been a no brainer. I hope after the wii u flops they will pull their head out their behinds and join the 21st century.

Here at Nintendo, we prefer passing the cost onto the customer and appreciate the loyal fans who are dumb enough to defend a "deluxe" sku with 32GB of on-board storage in 2013. MFDOOM1983

I have the same about of memory in my cell phone as the wii u but nintendo thinks 32gb is okay for a console. Is it no wonder gamers are no looking at the wii u as a next gen console ??

I mean I'd be all over some Mario Kart 8 track dlc.. or SMBwiiu stages and outfits dlc.. but with 32 gbs.. 

Harddrive vs SD Card vs Solid State Drive Speeds

It seems like people want free memory. because if Nintendo added $50 of memory, people would still be raging,bbkkristian

Here at Nintendo, we prefer passing the cost onto the customer and appreciate the loyal fans who are dumb enough to defend a "deluxe" sku with 32GB of on-board storage in 2013. MFDOOM1983

ps4 is $100 dollars more and comes with 468gb morestereointegrity

[QUOTE="stereointegrity"]ps4 is $100 dollars more and comes with 468gb morerjdofu

[QUOTE="rjdofu"][QUOTE="stereointegrity"]ps4 is $100 dollars more and comes with 468gb morecampzor

Here at Nintendo, we prefer passing the cost onto the customer and appreciate the loyal fans who are dumb enough to defend a "deluxe" sku with 32GB of on-board storage in 2013. MFDOOM1983

This