Nintendo not planning Wii U price drop

Speaking earlier this week with GamesBeat, Nintendo marketing exec Scott Moffitt says the company has no plans to drop the price of the struggling Wii U console.

Many had expected a price drop at E3, but it never came.

Says the exec: "We have no plans to change the price of Wii U. The Wii U is a great value. With great content coming, that will drive the hardware installed base. We've gone from being the highest-priced console on the market to now being a great value with the announcements from our competitors. The perception of our price has changed, but what's also changed is that people now see what great content is coming. They'll see the value in those games. They'll be able to enjoy a Wii U in their household for a lot less than a competing console."

The games Moffitt is talking about are the upcoming first-party guaranteed hits, Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda and Mario Kart 8.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Jun 2013 21:13

DarthMopar

Little kid games won't sway gamers to the Nintendo camp. No offense to Nintendo, but they have painted themselves into a corner where their name is synonymous with family fun-time. Not a bad thing by any means, but the Wii-U is a niche product for G & PG games that the COD/BF crowd aren't really interested in. $250 is a lot of coin to play Zelda. Nintendo WILL drop their price eventually if they wanna move more consoles. And it's gonna have to be a big price drop, IMO.

17.6.2013 21:29 #1

Mysttic

Your games cost $60, the competitions cost $60. Your accessories cost more than their accessories, your console is $50 less than the competitors at twice the power or greater. Your titles currently are crap, talk is cheap, produce it, then talk about it. Last, there are currently more games on PS3 my entire family (even my 3yo) want to play than on Wii or Wii U.

17.6.2013 22:41 #2

DarthMopar

My 3 year old Wii has so much dust on it, I don't even know if it still works. My kids have zero interest in it, OR the Wii U. I told them we're getting a PS4 and they nearly started crying because I said no new XBox. THEN they found out their friends are all getting PS4s, too...now all is right in the world.

17.6.2013 23:06 #3

deucezulu22

Some much trash talk as always. Nintendo will be fine.

18.6.2013 15:07 #4

SProdigy

Originally posted by deucezulu22: Some much trash talk as always. Nintendo will be fine. Amen!

How many early adopters buy every system at launch? Almost everyone waits for price drops and holiday bundles. My guess is we won't see a spike in Wii U sales until at least Christmas time this year, when there's more incentives.

Similarly, launch PS4's and Xbox One's will fly off the shelves only because it's the shiny new object.

Until they come down from the clouds, I won't be getting any of these consoles. I held off for the 3DS drop and couldn't be happier. I'll do the same with the rest.

18.6.2013 15:51 #5

Mysttic

I not trying to trash talk Nintendo but stated facts. I own every nintendo console but the SNES CD prototype that never made it out. The fact is though, Nintendo is banking that families will keep families playing Nintendo. Kids age, all kids, and as generations pass by, younger kids get more mature quicker than the previous gen. Mario and Pokemon can't save them forever, and there hasn't been a good Pokemon console game since the N64 and that's even a stretch. So it's not really trash talk when it's Nintendo's failings. They need to either keep innovating new IPs, sell Mario on Xbox/PS platforms, or introduce more cross-platform play with 3DS to Wii-U. Then they can speak of value for $350: right now the same Mario game in a different suit, same Donkey Kong on Wii-U will not make sales for Wii-U.

Their 3DS line-up on the other hand has me sold. I already own 2 3DS's and there's at least 5-10 must have titles I have yet to buy and my 3DS library is not short. I have value in my 3DS, I do not see value in Wii-U, sorry I do not: I wish I could.

18.6.2013 15:59 #6

SProdigy

I agree with you about no value in the Wii U yet. But as far as selling Mario on Xbox/PS4, that would essentially put Nintendo out of business, because there would be no reason for anyone to be their consoles. (What would be their first party offerings?)

And with originality, that's a moot point. How many of the same game are we going to continue buying? How big of a difference is there in each Gran Turismo, Madden, God of War, Halo, etc. It's essentially the same thing in a shiny new wrapper, maybe not played out to the tune of Army Men or Tony Hawk was, but still the same thing rehashed over and over.

18.6.2013 16:49 #7

bobiroc

Originally posted by DarthMopar: THEN they found out their friends are all getting PS4s, too...now all is right in the world. Oh so they are followers then.... Of course in this case the XBOX One is horrible.

I just get sick of the Nintendo is for kiddies and the attitude that if you play games rated "E" that you play kiddie games. I know it is not cool to the self proclaimed hard core gamers that only play rated M FPS but Nintendo makes games for everyone. Aside from the 1st party Nintendo titles many of the same rated E games come on the other consoles too. So you can knock the latest Mario games and Mario Kart, Smash Bros. etc... Then you can make fun of their next Zelda release and Metroid and their other titles but just like it has always been those titles will top the charts in reviews and feedback from the gaming websites/magazines and from the players themselves.

Oh and to answer your question if your 3 year old Wii still works the answer is yes. Nintendo also makes some of the most reliable hardware in the business

Originally posted by Mystic: Your games cost $60, the competitions cost $60. Your accessories cost more than their accessories, your console is $50 less than the competitors at twice the power or greater. I really do not understand this statement... The games are the same price because that is what it costs for an HD Game in this market As far as the power goes that is an assumption. Nintendo never really released the specs of their console so no one really knows for sure. We do know the specs of the PS4/XB One and the AMD Jaguar processor used is compared to an Intel Atom. Hardly a power house and definitely not twice the power of the PowerPC chip. Then onto the video. Sure the video power is a higher than the Wii U but not necessarily twice as powerful. All three consoles in this generation are very GPU driven and it may be that the PS4 and XB ONE will have an edge in that department but if you look to graphics and power first then you are not a real gamer. You are all about the eye candy. Graphics play an important role but it is a lot lower on the list compared to a game that has a great story and/or great gameplay. Both areas Nintendo has consistently outclassed games by many other developers.

So while I can appreciate that Nintendo may not be right for you or your family there is no reason to make up false information based on your bias. Nintendo dropped the ball a little in this console launch but there is no reason claim that the console is crap. Also the console alone is $100 less than the PS4 because the $350 version includes a $60 game. Then if you want to add up the accessories truthfully I think you will find that both the PS3/4 and XBOX 360/One have accessories and controllers just as expensive and in some cases more.

Take a look at some of the games coming out soon like Bayonetta or X and watch the videos of these unfinished games in HD and tell me that the Wii U does not have enough power to run today's HD games.

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18.6.2013 18:33 #8

DarthMopar

Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by DarthMopar: THEN they found out their friends are all getting PS4s, too...now all is right in the world. Oh so they are followers then....
Not sure if this was sarcasm, but I'm going to assume it's not. The simple fact is that kids want to play with their friends online. If there is a mass exodus from X Box Live (which is starting to look likely), the logical jumping off point is the PS4. Believe it or not, I'm not biased against the Wii..I rarely play games these days due to military obligations and being a full time student. -But I know what my kids like to play, and I know what their friends like to play. And since none of them have any interest in Nintendo's offerings (excluding 3DS...my youngest loves his) My hard earned dollars will going to Sony simply so that I get the biggest "bang for my buck". I won't waste any money on a Wii U, no matter how "reliable" it is if it's just going to be shoved in the back of a closet.

18.6.2013 18:51 #9

bobiroc

Originally posted by DarthMopar: Not sure if this was sarcasm, but I'm going to assume it's not. The simple fact is that kids want to play with their friends online. If there is a mass exodus from X Box Live (which is starting to look likely), the logical jumping off point is the PS4. Believe it or not, I'm not biased against the Wii..I rarely play games these days due to military obligations and being a full time student. -But I know what my kids like to play, and I know what their friends like to play. And since none of them have any interest in Nintendo's offerings (excluding 3DS...my youngest loves his) My hard earned dollars will going to Sony simply so that I get the biggest "bang for my buck". I won't waste any money on a Wii U, no matter how "reliable" it is if it's just going to be shoved in the back of a closet. That is perfectly fine and I can respect that. But you state your personal opinion as facts for everyone. I find it odd that your child loves the 3DS but not the Wii or Wii U seeing as the title offerings are very similar just like Playstation and Vita. MS has no handheld to compare to. No one knows how well the PS4 is going to do but based on the released information I suspect it to do better than the XB One. The 360 and PS3 had rough starts as well and in reality sold just about as many consoles as the Wii U has in the first 6-8 months of their life.

I just find it funny that people will drool over the latest EA [insert sports game here] or the latest CoD or Halo but say all Nintendo does is recycle titles. The facts are those games are just copies off their predecessors and often use the same game engines and models and features of their previous games but yet it is perfectly acceptable to charge the same premium price. I find this to be fitting with the sports games from year to year or the CoD titles that seem to come out every 6-8 months. Very little innovation or changes that I can see but yet they can be played online. I hope your children are of age to play these games online as I would find it disturbing if you allowed children under the age of 15 to play a rated M game online. Maybe your children are different but IMO I do not think kids under the age of 15 should play those games at all let alone online because in my experience they make the experience horrible with their immaturity and belligerent attitudes. I used to love playing the Halo series on my XBOX and my 360 but stopped because the campaigns got old and repetitive and the online experience was a turn off because of the players.

Maybe that is why Nintendo still sees values in promoting to the family experience instead of playing with strangers online. I, for one, have a more enjoyable experience playing locally and online with family and people I know in a game that can be enjoyed by a wider age group.

The same goes to Mystic who is being very contradictory by saying every Mario game is the same with a different suit. I find that very amusing. I guess to each is own but every war based FPS I see are all the same to me but hey the next CoD has a dog... such innovation there. My point is every game developer/publisher has a handful of IPs they stick with but every once in a while you get a new game out of them. If you think they are any different you are wrong. So you may not like the games from Nintendo (which I find funny since you praise the 3DS) but they consistently are higher rated and revered as some of the best games in history over and over.

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18.6.2013 19:15 #10

Mysttic

Quote:The same goes to Mystic who is being very contradictory by saying every Mario game is the same with a different suit. I find that very amusing. I guess to each is own but every war based FPS I see are all the same to me but hey the next CoD has a dog... such innovation there. My point is every game developer/publisher has a handful of IPs they stick with but every once in a while you get a new game out of them. If you think they are any different you are wrong. So you may not like the games from Nintendo (which I find funny since you praise the 3DS) but they consistently are higher rated and revered as some of the best games in history over and over. You can find it amusing/funny all you want. NSMB was the same Mario that it began with and then didn't adapt at all for NSMB-U. Then take the Mario Kart line, which is rehashed just with better graphics. Also then take Mario RPG line (After-Squaresoft). Paper Mario is still Paper Mario, and Mario&Luigi's series is still the same that way, with very little to evolve. They milk it, which is fine: all I am saying is, new IPs that aren't Mario wouldn't hurt. So that's said, I didn't claim I hate or dislike Mario games, but they are the same shit different generation over and over. At least lately. Mario 64 revolutionized Mario, Sunshine not quite so; then Galaxy came out for Wii, which was meh, but Galaxy 2 was enjoyable. But it was still the same 3D Mario, save the princess, lah-dee-dah. Even Zelda failed to get past the same gameplay mechanics all the way up to Skyward Sword. So the last time Zelda got a true evolution was N64 again...
(It's still not to say they are not enjoyable, but there's only so long they going to keep selling out). Pokemon is the PRIME example of this. Every time they try to do something different with it, it fails: oddly stick it back to 2D RPG sprites, and it works amazing. The 3DS looks to be the first time the base series is actually going to be evolving, which is why I praise it. Nintendo is clearly focusing developement on their handhelds than they do their consoles, which makes me wonder, why make consoles at all?

Quote:I really do not understand this statement... The games are the same price because that is what it costs for an HD Game in this market As far as the power goes that is an assumption. Nintendo never really released the specs of their console so no one really knows for sure. We do know the specs of the PS4/XB One and the AMD Jaguar processor used is compared to an Intel Atom. Hardly a power house and definitely not twice the power of the PowerPC chip. Then onto the video. Sure the video power is a higher than the Wii U but not necessarily twice as powerful. All three consoles in this generation are very GPU driven and it may be that the PS4 and XB ONE will have an edge in that department but if you look to graphics and power first then you are not a real gamer. You are all about the eye candy. Graphics play an important role but it is a lot lower on the list compared to a game that has a great story and/or great gameplay. Both areas Nintendo has consistently outclassed games by many other developers. I'll give you a point here, we do not know the exact specs of the Wii-U. So it's not fair to compare by saying double the power. I also didn't compare console hardware to PC either, my PC outpowers them all. I am not a power junky, I own ever console ever launched except the Wii-U and a Turbo Duo. My point is, I getting sick of playing the same rehashed game at a $60 price point, and even when the Mario games are fun, and lets face it, over half of them are only decent: there's nothing wrong with wanting to see something different. Nintendo is claiming they are bringing value (to Wii-U), I simply don't see it. I do see Value in 3DS, and why you think that is strange, I don't know why: considering they have a much larger library of games, and more so that are fun to play.

18.6.2013 20:08 #11

bobiroc

Originally posted by Mysttic: Quote:The same goes to Mystic who is being very contradictory by saying every Mario game is the same with a different suit. I find that very amusing. I guess to each is own but every war based FPS I see are all the same to me but hey the next CoD has a dog... such innovation there. My point is every game developer/publisher has a handful of IPs they stick with but every once in a while you get a new game out of them. If you think they are any different you are wrong. So you may not like the games from Nintendo (which I find funny since you praise the 3DS) but they consistently are higher rated and revered as some of the best games in history over and over. You can find it amusing/funny all you want. NSMB was the same Mario that it began with and then didn't adapt at all for NSMB-U. Then take the Mario Kart line, which is rehashed just with better graphics. Also then take Mario RPG line (After-Squaresoft). Paper Mario is still Paper Mario, and Mario&Luigi's series is still the same that way, with very little to evolve. They milk it, which is fine: all I am saying is, new IPs that aren't Mario wouldn't hurt. So that's said, I didn't claim I hate or dislike Mario games, but they are the same shit different generation over and over. At least lately. Mario 64 revolutionized Mario, Sunshine not quite so; then Galaxy came out for Wii, which was meh, but Galaxy 2 was enjoyable. But it was still the same 3D Mario, save the princess, lah-dee-dah. Even Zelda failed to get past the same gameplay mechanics all the way up to Skyward Sword. So the last time Zelda got a true evolution was N64 again...
(It's still not to say they are not enjoyable, but there's only so long they going to keep selling out). Pokemon is the PRIME example of this. Every time they try to do something different with it, it fails: oddly stick it back to 2D RPG sprites, and it works amazing. The 3DS looks to be the first time the base series is actually going to be evolving, which is why I praise it. Nintendo is clearly focusing developement on their handhelds than they do their consoles, which makes me wonder, why make consoles at all?

Quote:I really do not understand this statement... The games are the same price because that is what it costs for an HD Game in this market As far as the power goes that is an assumption. Nintendo never really released the specs of their console so no one really knows for sure. We do know the specs of the PS4/XB One and the AMD Jaguar processor used is compared to an Intel Atom. Hardly a power house and definitely not twice the power of the PowerPC chip. Then onto the video. Sure the video power is a higher than the Wii U but not necessarily twice as powerful. All three consoles in this generation are very GPU driven and it may be that the PS4 and XB ONE will have an edge in that department but if you look to graphics and power first then you are not a real gamer. You are all about the eye candy. Graphics play an important role but it is a lot lower on the list compared to a game that has a great story and/or great gameplay. Both areas Nintendo has consistently outclassed games by many other developers. I'll give you a point here, we do not know the exact specs of the Wii-U. So it's not fair to compare by saying double the power. I also didn't compare console hardware to PC either, my PC outpowers them all. I am not a power junky, I own ever console ever launched except the Wii-U and a Turbo Duo. My point is, I getting sick of playing the same rehashed game at a $60 price point, and even when the Mario games are fun, and lets face it, over half of them are only decent: there's nothing wrong with wanting to see something different. Nintendo is claiming they are bringing value (to Wii-U), I simply don't see it. I do see Value in 3DS, and why you think that is strange, I don't know why: considering they have a much larger library of games, and more so that are fun to play. Then what do you play?? Companies like EA release sports, racing, and FPS games that are very similar to their predecessors, same with the CoD line and Halo lines. In fact the same goes for just about every game developer and publisher out there. It all comes down to the games you like to play I suppose. I enjoy a good racing game and play a variety of them and my brother does not get it which is why he gave me his free game code for Grid 2. On the same note I do not get his infatuation with online MMO's and strategy games he plays. To each is own.

I will admit that SMB U is very similar to SMB Wii but the game is fun and challenging. The same will go for the next Mario Kart. Sure it is similar to it's predecessors but it is more than updated graphics and the game will be fun to play locally and online. What you need to say is it all comes down to the games you are into but if you say you play the titles from other publishers that are just the same (in many cases more) to their predecessors and find them new and innovative then you are blinded by your gamestyle preference.

There are only so many genres of games but if you want new IPs from Nintendo then check out Bayonetta 2 and X. X was developed by a Nintendo studio and is unlike any of their other IPs and Bayonetta they funded the developer because Sony turned them down. One fact that you cannot deny is that Nintendo games over the generations are amongst the most sought after titles years after their release and are not traded or sold as often as the other games from competitors. If you do find them they are often more expensive than the original asking price and that has to account for something. Those are the facts.

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18.6.2013 20:19 #12

Mysttic

Quote:Then what do you play?? Everything buddy, everything. I have a massive RPG, Action, Platforming, even Kids game selection. FPS, very little sports mind you, I not much into sports, but once in a while I do like to pop EA sports games. Just today I bought Dora for my daughter, and we played the shit out of it for hours. Not just her, me too. So yea.. I think I nailed, I'm the hardcore gamer part.

Now as for Wii-U, I just find it hard to find value for $350 (that's how much it is where i live) on a system I can't count I want 10 games on. When I can't count up to 10 and still want the system, then the next part is, what else can the system offer me outside of that. Well I already have a DVR, I do like the Wii-U's dash board and admit it's sick using the control pad to navigate; but the Wii-U control pad did what I had done to my 360 with Xbox glass, or did with my Vita on PS3. So again, it's not really impressive. So then you look at power next, and sadly Sony's PS IV wins over everyone (except PC which I already have a top end gaming rig I upgrade every year).

Last you look at E3, and the upcoming games for fall. Wii U has under 10 titles I want. Bayonetta 2 is a definite must have. But because it's under 10 titles, that a) makes me scared for Wii-U's future. Is spending $350 (before Tax!) going to land me a value that = in 3DS launch price as after a year of release 3DS had more games than the Wii-U did.... Now the 3DS is taking off like the DS did which lets admit, surpassed the HELL out of Wii.

Taking that into consideration than I look at how the Wii did for me. Currently there is 30 titles I own for Wii: do you know how much I own for PS3? Last counted 76 with digital titles as well. What do i own for 360? 137 and thats with 0 digital titles cause frankly I don't see value in XBL.

That said, how the heck does Wii-U stack up to that above? It doesn't. The same Virtual boy didn't which is why I bought it later when it was dirt cheap, the same with the N64, the same with Atari Jaguar and the Atari Lynx. Same with Sega Saturn, and the same with the N-Gage. Now do you get where I am coming from?

I not saying those who are buying, will buy or already bought a Wii-U suck. If they saw value where I couldn't at the $350 price tag, good for them. But honestly, I feel, experts in multiple fields have felt the same, that the Wii-U should and does need a price drop. If you don't, then props to you brother, but make no mistake on one thing, that doesn't make you more of a gamer than I. Cause frankly show me how many dad's willing to play Dora, Disney Universe, and then go off to play CoD, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Mass Effect, Final Fantasys, Dragon Warrior/Quest, Tales of ??? series, along with all the Marios, Zeldas, Metroids, etc.

PS. I can tell you my wife hates my collection at times when she can sit through it and realize if we sell it, it's a down payment on a house, or a new vehicle. I have a lot, and one day my kids will too and they'll appreciate the value that's there in the past and in the future for generations.

So man I get you are passionate about gaming, and I know I AM. Please don't think because I don't see value in Wii-U doesn't mean I don't want too. I want Bayonetta 2 freaking bad, I have the first one and love it as much if not more than DMC series. But its going to take a bit more than that, and a freaking Cat Suit in Mario to come back. Metroid it might have had me, but Samus is RIP.

18.6.2013 21:24 #13

bobiroc

Originally posted by Mysttic:

So man I get you are passionate about gaming, and I know I AM. Please don't think because I don't see value in Wii-U doesn't mean I don't want too. I want Bayonetta 2 freaking bad, I have the first one and love it as much if not more than DMC series. But its going to take a bit more than that, and a freaking Cat Suit in Mario to come back. Metroid it might have had me, but Samus is RIP. So what I take from this is since you do not see value in Nintendo it should be cut in price despite that it is nearly on the same level as it's competitor's consoles. The console and the gamepad is $300 so keep that in mind when you say $350 because the $350 version includes a game along with some other extras. I am very passionate about gaming and I will not say I have never been disappointed in a game Nintendo delivered but ultimately Nintendo has delivered many enjoyable games. Games that I can play with everyone from my Mom to my 10 year old nephew and then there are games I can play with my brothers as well. So I too play games of all types but have certain game types I prefer over others. So just because you do not see the value to not count the system out as despite these critics and so called experts that are quick to dismiss Nintendo they will be successful in the end as they always have. Nintendo's doom has been predicted since the 90s and they always seem to pull through and often come out on top especially with their own software. I suppose that is why so many game companies are quick to try and copy games and console features of Nintendo. Sometimes they put their own little spin on it and other times they directly copy it.

Now I am not dismissing the other consoles and platforms either. I play just as much on my PC and my 360 as well. I even have a 3DS. They all have their value to me otherwise I would not have bought them. The Wii U is the first console I got on day one and I only did because I knew it would play my existing Wii library and virtual console/digital library but since I have gotten it I have not touched my other platforms as much. I am disappointed by some of the game delays but I have no doubt that the games that are coming will deliver more value to the system to me and my family for their gaming needs. So you may feel personally it does not stack up but that is you and if you do not see value in it then wait for the price cut a year or two from now or don't get it at all. I plan to do the same for the PS4 if I ever get it all as while it looks to be an impressive system I do not see the value in a system that is not released yet that will not play games of an existing library. I guess that is why I chose to upgrade my PC instead so that way I do not have to sit on what may come out and I can play the games I have with Nintendo and PC until the new titles come out.

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18.6.2013 21:55 #14

Bozobub

Whether or not anyone feels Nintendo should cut their price for the Wii-U, mark my words, they're going to be forced to. EA already has half-abandoned them, for example, which only exacerbates the issue.

Note: I'm not denigrating the system at all; I don't know enough about the specs, nor have I tried any of its games. Their rather awful sales, however, are no secret, and when the developers are already *publicly* letting the public know their reservations � a rather rare occurrence � the writing is already on the wall.

Kudos to Sony, even though I personally despise the company. They correctly read the public's likely reaction to both Nintendo's and Microsoft's respective issues and have made much hay; if the other two don't step up their game AND address the problems with their systems, they're not going to be very competitive in this iteration of the console wars.

18.6.2013 22:56 #15

bobiroc

Originally posted by Bozobub: Whether or not anyone feels Nintendo should cut their price for the Wii-U, mark my words, they're going to be forced to. EA already has half-abandoned them, for example, which only exacerbates the issue.

Note: I'm not denigrating the system at all; I don't know enough about the specs, nor have I tried any of its games. Their rather awful sales, however, are no secret, and when the developers are already *publicly* letting the public know their reservations � a rather rare occurrence � the writing is already on the wall.

Kudos to Sony, even though I personally despise the company. They correctly read the public's likely reaction to both Nintendo's and Microsoft's respective issues and have made much hay; if the other two don't step up their game AND address the problems with their systems, they're not going to be very competitive in this iteration of the console wars. Were the same criticisms made when Microsoft only sold about 4 million consoles in their 1st 6-8 months and the same with the PS3?? Sure the Wii U sales are slow but not the end of the world slow taking into account the state of the economy. So they are a few hundred thousand behind that. People make it sound like they have not sold any.

Granted there is cause for concern and the only concern is that Nintendo made a huge mistake and did not have a top IP at launch. Then more mistakes with game delays. I think they Wii U will go the way of the 3DS which also started out very rough and was marked dead and look at it now. Not only the top selling handheld system but the top overall selling system worldwide from week to week. Now that it looks like the initial pains of game development and delays are almost behind nintendo you will see a steady flow of their own popular titles released that will revive the system just as they did with the 3DS.

What we all should get from this is Nintendo is not perfect but they are a sleeping giant in the industry. I just find it odd that people forget history so fast as it was stated that Microsoft would NEVER succeed in the console industry and yet they were a force to be reckoned with for the life of the 360. Unfortunately it seems they forgotten that just as Sony did with the initial PS3 launch after the huge success of the PS1 and PS2. Sony appears to have learned from that a bit but their future is still undetermined. Who knows they may have a huge initial launch but drop off sales after the holiday season as people wait for games to come out just as it has happened in the past with most other consoles in their first year. This pattern is not new and while it fluctuates a little bit depending on all the factors it is a similar pattern that has been since the beginning. Massive sales at first holiday launch... sales drop off from the initial crowd and games get made and sales pick up again at peak buying time for presents for Christmas. If the games are there the sales eventually stabilize but spurts of sales will happen if a big game launches that a particular type of person wants to play.

This is my main point.. Most consoles see awful sales this time of year during the first year of their launch. Sometimes there is an exception like the original Wii and PS2 but most of the time the pattern is the same.

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18.6.2013 23:27 #16

DarthMopar

Originally posted by bobiroc:

That is perfectly fine and I can respect that. But you state your personal opinion as facts for everyone. I find it odd that your child loves the 3DS but not the Wii or Wii U seeing as the title offerings are very similar just like Playstation and Vita...

I hope your children are of age to play these games online as I would find it disturbing if you allowed children under the age of 15 to play a rated M game online....So you may not like the games from Nintendo (which I find funny since you praise the 3DS) but they consistently are higher rated and revered as some of the best games in history over and over. 1. Not sure exactly why he likes the 3DS, but he's a good kid, gets straight A's, and always does what is asked of him, so I try to get him what he wants.
2. What games my kids play is, quite frankly none of your business. They do not use foul language online, and they do not bully others. If they do any of these things, they know they will lose the privilege to play.
3. Exactly when did I praise the 3DS? -Only said my son liked it. As I previously stated, I'm not much of a gamer anymore. The only reason I said no X Box 1 was because of the DRM and that damn always on Kinect thing.

They don't like the Wii, and do not want a Wii U. If they wanted one instead of a PS4, I would have no problem with that. I stand by what I said in my original post; Nintendo caters to a younger crowd and family gaming. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that...but it won't sell as many consoles as Sony and (unfortunately) Microsoft.

19.6.2013 00:12 #17

bobiroc

Originally posted by DarthMopar:

They don't like the Wii, and do not want a Wii U. If they wanted one instead of a PS4, I would have no problem with that. I stand by what I said in my original post; Nintendo caters to a younger crowd and family gaming. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that...but it won't sell as many consoles as Sony and (unfortunately) Microsoft. Well then I stick with my primary point which is because your family does not like the Wii/Wii U then it should be cut in price and considered a failed system. Some people may think that $500 is too much coin to play Halo or $400 is too much just to play God of War or Killzone. To me Zelda is one of the best game series of all time and based on ratings and reviews it seems that many other people feel it is too. I just think you feel that the Wii U does not have the power to compete with Sony in terms of specs and that is just silly. As far as sales go that remains to be determined as the Wii was supposed to flop in terms of sales but it overtook both the 360 and PS3 which came out before it. Just do not make claims based on what your family does and does not like. That is the problem with these so called experts that have been mentioned. More often than not they have been wrong in their predictions of the gaming industry. The reason is they judge a console based on their specs and just like it seems you are doing and it all comes down to the games and how they are played. In the end maybe the Wii U will end up in 3rd or in 2nd in terms of sales but 8 months in going against two consoles not even released yet is way to early to predict it will be outsold by the competition.

I predict that the sales will be like they always have been for any console. Mad rush of pre-orders and early sales followed by a pretty steep decline after the holidays while the rest of the gamers wait for the game library to build up and then another rush around the holidays and if the games are there a pretty stable sales run.

That's how it has usually been with a few exceptions here and there. None of those factors justify the outcry that the Wii U needs to be cut in price to survive or that the console is crap just because Sony is showing off an 8 core based console. If all one cares about is specs when it comes to gaming then they are not a true gamer.

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19.6.2013 11:31 #18

DarthMopar

When did I mention specs? I never did. Because I don't care. Because I don't have enough time to play games these days. (Frequent trips to the middle east to train foreign soldiers how to fight makes playing COD remind me of work too much. lol) My boys don't want a Wii U, so I'm not buying one.

19.6.2013 12:49 #19

SProdigy

I'm not sure how you can compare an "evolution" of games. Mario going into 3-D is a completely different environment and game play. They could've put anything else but Mario on the box: it's a different game, much like Mario 2 and Zelda 2 were different games on the NES. Nintendo realized there are certain mechanics they should not tamper with.

They recognized that despite the clamor for fancy graphics, there's still a hardcore market for 2-D platform games. That's why they release 2-D and 3-D versions of their franchises. Mario, Zelda and Metroid have all been successful in both variations, and on standard and handheld consoles to boot!

I kind of doubt that Halo, Madden or Call of Duty could do the same. Maybe Madden could work as a throwback version with the pop-up passing windows, but could you imagine a faithful 2-D Halo?

As for releasing the "same thing" all of the time, it's no different than any other IP. They all add a new feature, whether it's a cat suit for Mario or a new gun in Halo, they all find a way to introduce something new and make it more than a tacked-on feature. That says alot about the devs when you look back at all of the titles released under one banner. Most of those games tend to be unique from one another.

When it comes down to it, some people will just hate on Nintendo because they've never been the hardcore/extreme console. Dating all the way back to Mortal Kombat, which released without blood and revised fatalities, the "family" label has been there. Most third party devs will release their crapware on all of the consoles, to squeeze the almighty dollar. Why Nintendo gets the flack is beyond me when Sony and MS are just as guilty for licensing the same crap.

Software and graphics hardware aside, I think the other hate factor against Nintendo are the controllers. PS has used the same familiar setup since the PS ONE, which was technically an offshoot of the SNES controller. Sony has moderately upgraded the DualShock over the years with minimal changes. Xbox climbed into that category after ditching the "Duke" for the "S" controller. Yet Nintendo feels the need to screw with our heads constantly, from the N64 to the Gamecube to the Wii and now Wii U. It's unfamiliar and awkward, even to someone like myself who has had almost every console launched since the Atari 2600. We're creatures of habit and want our analog sticks, D-Pad and buttons arranged in a way we're used to.

That said, when it comes down to a multi-console release, and the price is the same, I'm going to buy Madden for something other than the Wii. It's just that much easier to pickup and play, without worrying about flicking the controller, etc. That doesn't mean Nintendo or it's games suck. It's just my personal preference.

19.6.2013 13:11 #20

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