Why did you skip out on the Wii U?

It's no secret that the Wii U isn't meeting sales expectations and, with that, I wanted to understand what turned off those people that didn't buy one.

For me, I don't trust Nintendo with their home consoles anymore. I was influenced by the rarity and the word of mouth of the Wii to purchase one and I had fun with the three or four games I have for it but then the support seemingly stopped. Nintendo couldn't garner interest for third parties to develop compelling and innovative titles and publishers flocked to the competition despite the Wii holding the lead in sales. Additionally, it's no secret that Nintendo has shown difficulty working with third party companies in the past.

When the Wii U released, I wanted to see how it would fare. Would third parties support it? Would Nintendo continue to support it or would it flounder with a sprinkle of first party titles and then eventually have nothing but shovelware? In the end, the Wii U wasn't supported as Nintendo promised it would be. Yes, they have had, arguably, some of the highest quality first party titles released but they also have zero support from third party developers. Also, with the rumblings of a new console, I can foresee the sales of the Wii U taking an even bigger hit. Why purchase the Wii U now when something bigger and better is on the horizon?

With that said, what were your reasons for not purchasing the Wii U? Do you regret not purchasing and supporting Nintendo's console and will Nintendo's handling of the Wii and Wii U affect your decision to purchase the NX?

I actually purchased a pre-owned system with couple of games. I played the games for a week and never touched the system since. Not saying its a bad console, im sure people got a lot of playing time on it. Maybe its just not for me.

I didn't, I'm not some corporate slog who cares how well something is selling or how it's perceived, if it's got stuff I want to play I'm buying it.

The irony of this fallacious logic that people hold being that the console which has the highest sales this generation is bringing me the least satisfaction out of anything.

I just spent $250 on a Virtual Boy to play Wario Land, the Wii U is the least of my concerns.

This and my Wii U actually has a lot more playtime than my ps4, which only has a couple of games.

I didn't, I bought it, and I actually greatly enjoyed my time with its games.

That said, the system itself is terrible, and Nintendo needs to design a far better console if they want to stay in the market.

@nyadc: I fail to see how sales of an item that dictates how well it's supported is a fallacious argument. It's not consumers that give that argument weight it's the companies that own said products. Just because you don't care doesn't mean that's the bottom line.

Lastly, you're one to talk about fallacious statements. Lol.

@charizard1605: But that leads directly back to my main point. How can they convince people to purchase their next product when it seems as though they lost the faith of their fans?

Would you buy the NX with the way the Wii and Wii U have been handled? Day 1?

@legendofsense: I agree with you. I truly feel like I dodged a bullet even though I'd like to play Xenoblade ...

@howmakewood: Different strokes I guess. Don't you feel even the slightest bit cheated though? The Wii U was released in 2012 and already they want to release a new console? There's no third party support now for the Wii U. Are you really ready to stand firmly behind a console, and support the next console, that may only have a lifespan of four years or maybe years? With how the console gaming generations have played out, I'd like to see a little more return on my investment.

Doesn't have the kind of games I like, or at least not enough of them.

My purchase of the NX is contingent on only one thing- it having games I want to play (the same as any other game system, really). So, let's imagine, in an ideal world, the NX were to launch with Metroid Prime 4, Zelda, and Mario Galaxy 3 on day one. Would I buy it day one? Hell fucking yeah, I want to play those games, and I'll get the system because I do.

Now, as is more likely, let's imagine the NX gets those games over the next few years- then I will buy the NX when those games are all out.

What I want to remind you is that things do not stick in this industry, for good or for bad- Nintendo has the chance to reinvent themselves with savvy marketing and branding, and get another shot with the NX. If they handle it right, they'll get people to buy. If they don't, then they won't (the same as happened with the Wii U). As for me, and most other people in the end, it would be about the games. The day the NX has enough games I want to play, I will buy it. If that happens to be day one? So be it.

@jbc7343: As you said: depends on the person. For me the cost isn't that big of a deal and I have already gotten to play numerous exclusives on the Wii U that I could not have played on my main platform so it has already been worth it for me. But I can understand it's not the same for others.

I use this all the time and it never stops holding weight, Avatar was the highest grossing movie of all time, was it also the best?

Of course not... Not even close...

Sales don't generally dictate anything meaningful, they mostly dictate hype, they're a product of word of mouth, marketing, the failure of a competing offering, PR, deception and god knows what else. The last thing I give a shit about is how much a bunch of other people are buying something, idiots buy a lot of things en-mass not worth their weight.

That's the bottom line, that's why things like Call of Duty still exist, because idiots who buy it still exist...

I wouldn't exactly consider the general consumer population well educated....

@charizard1605: You make a fair point. However, what if the situation plays out like the Wii did? Wouldn't you feel the least big scorned? Sure, you may get Metroid Prime or the next Mario Galaxy but what if that's all you get? I wouldn't feel exactly good about purchasing a new console only to get the the 3 or 4 games I wanted and then due to industry circumstances support is dropped.

You're right, though, that the industry is constantly changing and evolving. But why hasn't Nintendo caught on with the industry standards set currently? They still are behind in terms of online functionality, which to me, isn't all that important but is still a valid point.

Maybe I expect too much? Surely, as a consumer that's not a bad thing.

No good exclusives that I am really interested in. Just more of the same stuff with less quality. Where are the big Zelda and Mario titles? Where are the new AAA IPs? Nintendo just isn't as good as they used to be. The hardware is last-gen and gimmicky as well, which doesn't help. I could easily buy a Wii U if I wanted to, but I have no desire. GameCube was the last Nintendo console I bought.

@nyadc: Holy shit! Finally! Something we agree on.

With that said, please don't mistaken my OP. I wasn't trying to insinuate that sales are the bottom line. I was only using sales as a basis for support which does hold some weight.

I want to support the NX. I'm just cautious. I want another console from Nintendo with the same level of support and development as the GameCube.

Also, how goes Wario Land? I remember playing that game years ago, and the headache it gave me from the Virtual Boy.

I can only speak for myself, but my purchases are validated if I get back what I paid for. Basically, if I get enough usage and utility from my purchase, then it's already a good purchase for me. The Wii U has about 8-10 games maybe that I like playing, and only 3-5 that I really return to all the time, but it's still a great purchase for me, as I would not have liked to go through this generation without getting to play Smash, Kart, or Splatoon, as an example.

On a larger level, it would definitely suck if these Nintendo games is all the NX gets- the same as the Wii and Wii U. But if that were to happen, then the NX would become just another Wii and Wii U, and I think in that case, if Nintendo are driven out of the hardware market, they will deserve it- they will have made the same mistake three times. Personally, I like to think that they are smart enough to recognize where they went wrong with the Wii U, and that they will try to avoid repeating that, but we can't know either way.

And about online, Nintendo has hired a company specializing in network infrastructure to design and develop the network for the NX- so there is hope on that front.

Expecting too much as a consumer is never a bad thing. We should demand more for our money. Paying $300 to play Smash, Kart, and Splatoon is all great, but it would have been greater if I had paid $300 for Smash, Kart, Splatoon, and multiple third party games such as Witcher, Fallout, Persona, Metal Gear, and so on.

@BassMan: The GameCube was god-tier. I would so buy another console like that that had similar titles and success.

@charizard1605: Your last paragraph really drives it home and it's the thing that's kept me from purchasing the Wii U. Granted, I can get the third party titles on the PC or a competitior's console, having that option is key.

I suppose I play the waiting game. I would love a new Mario and Zelda on the NX but I would also want more to jusify purchase.

I won't get it until like next week, it's all being shipped out to me, I have very good memories of it and a lot of people still say it's one of the best games in the Mario universe.

It kind of amazes me that Nintendo never made that into a 3DS game with full color, I imagine it would be pretty easy to do.

@nyadc: You'll have to keep me updated on your progress. I never beat it myself.

A lot of what Nintendo confuses me, too. Lol.

Hardware and features doesn't justify the price. Also, not enough games aimed at my personal tastes.

I got it for $259 two years ago, I think financially it was worth it then, if someone paid that now they're crazy.

I didn't, it's actually my most played console so far this gen. Depending on how things go, it may remain that way. Shit, I still haven't played some of the WiiUs best titles.

OP, I do get where you're coming from about 3rd party support, but I already own two boxes that get all those games. I only look to consoles for exclusives and the WiiU has them.

1. The hardware was too similar to 360/PS3's

2. Lack of third party support

3. I don't support gimmicks. All i want in a console is the ability to play with a good old and confortable controller in my hands.

I love Nintendo, but it's exclusives alone are not reason enough to buy another console.

I'd say that they released 3 big exclusives this year. All of which are unique and experiences you don't really find anywhere else. Mario Maker, Splatoon and Xenoblade Chronicles X came out this year, and they're some of the best games I've ever played in my entire life. So there are your "new AAA IPs".

I didn't. I have a Wii U and I've had great fun with it.

Mario Maker is more of a mod kit than a game. Splatoon is cool, but not AAA and not a game I would play on a regular basis. Xenoblade Chronicles X is not my type of game. Way too Japanese for me. Most Nintendo games don't appeal to me or are just the same games they have been recycling for years.

Sure it's a mod kit, but it feels like playing a game. I don't do modding. Ever. I don't really enjoy it. But Mario Maker does it in such a way that it feels fun and it does feel like a game of "can I make something fun? how many stars can I get for this level? etc." Then there's the whole part of playing other peoples levels. So I wouldn't say it's more of a mod kit than a game, since the mod kit is gamified.

Fair enough for your other points.

The whole thing is disappointing.

The hardware, OS, and the online infrastructure. So poor and so family-friendly for its own good.

I was LAUGHING at the fanboys, when they were damage-controlling after the launch day.. Good times.

Everything about the system is lazy. Most of the games are just the same old thing.

Splatoon is decent but very overrated, it's not as good as people make it out to be. Garden Warfare is a superior game.

The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 are also very overrated and the only reason they are "popular" are because they are on a system with not a lot of games.

They expected to be successful with what little they had to offer and it backfired, NX will probably be the last console if it performs like the Wii U has.

There's not even a real Animal Crossing game on the Wii U.

I could try to write something clever but this covers it for me as well.

Assuming that the next Nintendo console was more powerful than PS4 and Xbox One, and had third party support, would you still buy it if it had a 'gimmicky' controller?

I was a Nintendoboy my whole life. Had all the Nintendo consoles.

For me, the Wii was a noticeable regression from the Gamecube. While there were still some incredible games- Mario Galxies, Metroid Prime Trilogy, RE4, Zelda, Wii Sports, etc. They just weren't as good as what the Gamecube had offered- mostly because of the waggle and pointer controls.

I got a WiiU for Christmas right after it came out. I had a diverse library of games for it- Arkham City, AssCreed 3, Nintendoland, ZombiU, Black ops 2, RE Revalations, NSBU and Luigi U, 3D World, and Kart. But I was just not happy with what was coming, or those games I had. There was hardly any online community, except for Kart. 3D World was a ton of fun, great game. But I was expecting better from Nintendo. Also Nintendoland and ZombiU used the gamepad in such a cool way, and then it was never utilized well in the other games.

I sold it and jumped to Xbox One. Very happy there.

I did not and I feel sorry for the people that did skip it. While the hardware and online service for it sucks, it has delivered a fantastic library of exclusive games that you can not play anywhere else. I think many of the best games of this generation are exclusive to the Wii U and I feel sorry for everyone that has had to miss out on those amazing games.

Hopefully I won't if i can find the time to be able to play one.

I barely have time to play what I have now.

I just didn't like how it was a "last gen" system, but they were always charging $50-150 too much for it compared to what the other last gen systems were going for.

If they had given it a better price drop, I might have bought it. But I didn't feel like getting ripped off. The $50 doesn't really mean anything to me (I spend thousands on gaming and entertainment) - but it's more the principal of the thing. I also don't like how Nintendo tries to keep prices on their older games inflated. It's just... not cool. I didn't buy Wii-U for the same reason I dont' buy season passes or very many DLC's - and that's because I see them as a ripoff - a cheap way to cash in. There's countless avenues for me to spend my entertainment dollar, anyone that wants my money have to EARN it. Nintendo has not earned anything this gen. I agree with the guy above that calls them 'lazy" - that's exactly what they've been this gen. Yes, there are a couple of genuinely great games I am missing, but I don't buy consoles for "a couple" of games.

Not a big fan of console gaming

32GB.....

@trugs26: all those points you made about mario maker are features you get in littlebigplanet....a franchise that's been around for like 8 years. And that part was connected to the main LBP games. I don't understand how nintendo sold a mario level maker stand alone for 60 bucks.

There was no real reason for me to buy one unless I can't live without playing Nintendo titles

I didn't, I bought Wii U a year later after release when Nintendo was offering Mario Kart 8+Wii U bundle that got me into buying it but other then that, my Wii U is a paperweight and the 3DS is were it's at. 3DS does it way better when it comes to exclusive games.

If it was at least 2 or 3 times more powerful than current gen consoles, got full third party support and it's controller, despite being 'gimmicky', still had the standard layout, yes, but only in 2 or 3 years.

LBP is a poor mans Mario Maker.

that's kind of a hard point to make, considering LBP was around for years before Mario Maker. If anything, MM is the knock off here.

@jcrame10: Im just saying, compared to Mario Maker, its not even close.

why? they more or less offer the exact same features. it really all comes down to franchise preference.

Sure, but Mario Maker is definitively better, that's a fact.

I never purchased a Wii U because there are not enough games that interest me. If I bought one I'd only be playing Mario Kart, Smash, Mario Maker, and possibly Splatoon. That's not enough to warrant the price tag imo. If there was 3rd party support who knows. The Gamecube was the last good system.

Because it is the worst system with the worst games. It's exclusives are terrible.

The only people who enjoy nintendo's exclusives are nintendo fanboys. I am not a nintendo fanboy and I can rate their games fairly. Nintendo makes garbage games that the average person does NOT want to play.

If people actually liked nintendos games, they would buy the system. The fact is people DON'T like nintendos games because they are mediocre.

I know you fanboys can't see that because you are delusional, but it is the truth. When millions of gamers including myself look at the wii u gameshelf at walmart, bestbuy or ebgames all we see is garbage games that don't appeal to us.

The wii u failed and I didn't buy one because it has NO games. Simple as that.