Argle Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Wasn't "Wii U" a temporary name that they just never found a replacement for? I either heard that somewhere or am completely imagining it. Either way I think it's the worst console name yet, although Ouya gives it a run for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Rex Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 although Ouya gives it a run for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Williamson Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Wasn't "Wii U" a temporary name that they just never found a replacement for? I either heard that somewhere or am completely imagining it. Either way I think it's the worst console name yet, although Ouya gives it a run for the money. Xbox One was a pretty awful name to give the third console in the series. Can't lie though, Wii U is a crap name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleck Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 The GamePad thing is a fine idea, but it should have been 3DS INTEGRATION, not a separate, useless gamepad specifically for the console. yeah let's force developers to make games with features that are only accessible with a separate 250$ device that's a genius idea somebody get this man a cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Man Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Well, to be fair, that is kinda whats going on with the PS4/Vita. And to a lesser extent, XBO/SmartGlass. And GameCube/GBA back then. The GamePad is costing Nintendo too much. I like it don't get me wrong, its just not enough of a selling point to warrant all the extra cost at this point. Integration with 3DS and/or Mobile Apps (which is what Nintendo is looking at now anyways) would of been more preferred than a higher cost and a device that is not really even portable. Also would of helped if they didn't drop the ball everywhere else. If they did everything else right, then the GamePad would of been a cool idea on top of it. Instead they focused completely on it, dropped the ball everywhere else, and now its the biggest liability. Edited January 23, 2014 by Crowbar Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirby Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Just because it's happening elsewhere doesn't mean it's a good idea. Yeah, 3DS integration with Wii U would be cool but... it shouldn't be mandatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Man Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) I'm not sure why it would be mandatory. The GamePad isn't even mandatory in most games. It would be just an option. Like SmartGlass/Vita/GBA/etc Edited January 23, 2014 by Crowbar Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirby Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 What I meant is that the idea that the GamePad shouldn't be a thing and that the 3DS should take its place entirely is a bad idea. Which was what was initially suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Man Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 All I saw mentioned was 3DS integration (like Vita has integration with PS4), not mandatory requirement, but maybe I read it wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Strader Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'm not sure why it would be mandatory. The GamePad isn't even mandatory in most games. It would be just an option. Like SmartGlass/Vita/GBA/etc All I saw mentioned was 3DS integration (like Vita has integration with PS4), not mandatory requirement, but maybe I read it wrong. You're right man. Thanks for reading it properly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnWake Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The only problem is that they built the whole OS based on the GamePad. And it's pretty clear by now that Nintendo isn't that good in making OS so I don't see them dropping the GamePad soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Man Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) I can start and operate my Wii U with just a GamePad Pro, Wii Remote, etc. its fully functional without the GamePad About the only things that stop working and need the GamePad are the eShop (amd maybe Browser?), which is not really the OS and could be simply updated. Mii creation is put to the Pad, but you could do that without a Pad last gen so Miiverse wouldn't be as interesting without some sort of touch interface to draw though (but again... 3DS (which now has Miiverse), smart device (which already works with Web app I believe, but read/post only no drawing), etc) Edited January 23, 2014 by Crowbar Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirby Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Funny, Nintendo made the 3DS's OS and that's a pretty damn good OS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramaniscence Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Funny, Nintendo made the 3DS's OS and that's a pretty damn good OS. I wouldn't say that Nintendo has ever really made a "good" operating system. They make simple operating systems, but pretty bad ones regardless. For instance: 3DS has MiiVerse, Street Pass, Swapnote, Message Notifications, and friends. These should all be integrated, and cross referencing, but they're not. They're all separate applications. I have a bunch of icons on my screen, but no real titles to them. No grouping available. Nothing. It's laid out like iOS version 1. PS3's UI aren't great either, and their store was atrocious until the update they made at the end of it's lifespan. Only Microsoft has a good, consistent, usable UI, which is probably what made them think they could get away with the same thing on Desktop PCs...but it didn't translate. As it stands though, Japanese culture has a hard time with usability, and that can be seen quite a bit in Nintendo's interfaces both physical and digital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirby Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Yeah, I realized I misspoke. It's a good operating system, and it does pretty good to prevent piracy (which is a reasonable concern considering how rampant it was on the DS and especially the PSP). In that regard it's good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Strader Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 As it stands though, Japanese culture has a hard time with usability, and that can be seen quite a bit in Nintendo's interfaces both physical and digital. Does Japanese culture have a hard time with usability, or does America have a hard time understanding Japan's usability? I'm no rocket scientist but I would assume at least that they know what they're doing.. I mean look at PlayStation 4, that UI is insanely good, on all levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 For what it's worth, I think any problems with the WiiU can be forgiven if it has a killer library of exclusive games. Things like the console UI, or 3DS integration, or marketing, or anything else aren't nearly as relevant as the (relative) lack of compelling exclusive games. Unfortunately, it seems like Nintendo has made it difficult for 3rd party developers. Forget the low market share - the article by a AAA dev who worked on a WiiU launch title was damning evidence that Nintendo did not have the support for said developers. Ultimately, the question is this: if they're not going to put the resources into 3rd party dev support, why invest so heavily into a new console? Why not just develop software for other consoles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Man Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Ultimately, the question is this: if they're not going to put the resources into 3rd party dev support, why invest so heavily into a new console? Why not just develop software for other consoles? Well, they don't NEED 3rd party support like their competition. So it isn't a big focus for them... however, they really need to get out of that habit. If they could make a system to capture both worlds, great 1st party support and great 3rd party support, they'd probably be king of the market again. Hopefully this round will be a wake up call for them. And as for why not develop for other consoles: Pride, Control, Profit, and healthy competition in the marketplace (for us). For Nintendo, there is very little reason to give up the hardware side of things. A few setbacks is hardly reason for them to dump a successful business they've been running for decades. After all, they've never bled money and operated in the red like Sony/MS's game divisions, and Sega. They made lots of money every generation. They just aren't making as much as they'd like this generation I'd really prefer that Sony/MS not be the only big guys in the market anyways. Edited January 23, 2014 by Crowbar Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Strader Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Why not just develop software for other consoles? Do you think Nintendo COULD do that? Up to now they have really only had experience developing for their own system and their own engine *shrug* It would probably take some serious downtime so they could become acquainted with the different technology of developing for PC / etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelCityOutlaw Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 It would probably take some serious downtime so they could become acquainted with the different technology of developing for PC / etc... I highly doubt that, personally. Just because they don't develop for those platforms doesn't mean the developers have no knowledge, skill or past experience developing for it outside of Nintendo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramaniscence Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Does Japanese culture have a hard time with usability, or does America have a hard time understanding Japan's usability? I'm no rocket scientist but I would assume at least that they know what they're doing.. I mean look at PlayStation 4, that UI is insanely good, on all levels. It's not an United States idea of Usability. It's a worldwide community understanding and it's something that goes beyond electronics, etc. Japanese culture in general has a huge problem with change, and that permeates into their interfaces. Both the PS4 and the XBone have come strides as far as usability. PS3/PSP weren't so bad in their own right, but the PlayStation store had lots of problems. It eventually got fixed but it took a long time. Sony is an international company. They make phones and all kinds of other electronics. They have a lot of investment in Japan, but ultimately they have a larger international brand so they've moved away from tradition Japan more so. If you look at Nintendo's designs and interfaces it's clear that they have not. What looks like "Fisher Price" and childish to us, is perfectly acceptable in Japan. They are simply unwilling to modernize, which is just a reflection of the entire culture. * * (At the same rate as the rest of the world on many things beyond robotics, etc). Edited January 23, 2014 by Ramaniscence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirby Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Nintendo put up the official Japanese website for DKC: Tropical Freeze, and with it comes some soundtrack samples. And as we already know, Dave Wise is doing the entire soundtrack for this. You can either check out or listen individually below:Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4 (holy crap!) Track 5 I think he still has it; these are amazing. I knew I was right to be excitebike about the soundtrack :3 Edited January 24, 2014 by Mirby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devyn Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Nintendo need to inject themselves back into the gamer subconscious through pop culture. When I was a kid, there were cartoons like Captain N, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, The Adventures of Mario 3. There was even a cereal. Nintendo need to just go ape-shit on advertising. Make one of those commercials like the 80's where everything is extreme and in your face. And forget the friendly, happy-family advertising. That worked in 2006. Times are dark now. Everyone is pissed off and cynical because the economy and our collective lives have diminished in quality. They don't want something cute and whimsy. They want their faces rocked off. They want bang for the buck, and I think the Wii U has that. They just need to let people know. Nintendo could turn this ship around so fast that it's ridiculous. Bring in some RPG's. Localize Dragon Quest 10. Take Star Fox off the back-burner. There's a few million more units right there. And frikking bring back Nintendo Power, guys. Oh, and don't lie low on E3. Oh and please advertise Bayonetta 2. It's time to dispel the belief that Nintendo only makes kiddy consoles. I know it's going to sound sexist, but show that woman in some closeups and make a bundle. BAM. There's your chest-beating, 16-year-old doritos crowd right there. Hyrule Warriors? Good idea Nintendo. That one will sell. I'm buying that one on day one. Ninty have everything they need to remain a major tour de force in console gaming. Either they just don't know it or they're holding back to E3, which isn't to say that I'm not exited about the 2014 lineup so far. There. Just figured I would bring some optimism into this sad little thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Strader Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 And forget the friendly, happy-family advertising. That worked in 2006. Times are dark now. Everyone is pissed off and cynical because the economy and our collective lives have diminished in quality. They don't want something cute and whimsy. They want their faces rocked off. They want bang for the buck This is a really great description of current times and what Nintendo can do to improve, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Williamson Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 And forget the friendly, happy-family advertising. That worked in 2006. Times are dark now. Everyone is pissed off and cynical because the economy and our collective lives have diminished in quality. They don't want something cute and whimsy. They want their faces rocked off. They want bang for the buck, and I think the Wii U has that. They just need to let people know. I like to try and stay happy and forget our government is down the toilet and in the sewer, thanks. I'll stick with my Mario games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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