Topic: Nintendo Facing Wii U Development Issues?

[NWR_pap64]

From chip problems to issues with development teams, the Wii U may be creating a lot of headaches.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rumor/27583

Nintendo is currently facing issues with the development of the Wii U and its several components, a report by 01net informs based on an anonymous developer report.

According to the report, the Wii U controller's architecture has been rushed, creating many unwanted consequences. With just ten months until its rumored June 2012 release, the report states that Nintendo's low development cost policy may finally start to take a toll on them.

The chip set has been giving developers a lot of problems, causing wireless features to not function properly, and at times not at all. It has been described as being "too cheap", and there have been three hardware revisions, with a fourth one expected by the end of the month.

Game development houses are supposedly still working with a tethered controller, and software updates arrive daily. This is giving them a lot of problems, making it hard to complete work or properly target the system's new features.

As it was the case with 01net's 3DS redesign report, this is still considered to be a rumor. However, 01net were one of the first sources to fully detail the Wii U's existence before it was officially announced by Nintendo.

[Oblivion]

Now THIS is much more believable. And a good reason to wait six months before buying a Wii U.

[TurdFurgy]

Gee, I hope it all gets worked out.

[TJ Spyke]

Who said June 2012? I haven't heard any specific date.

Anyways, after their wacky "3DS getting a second analog stick" rumor, I am reluctant to believe anything they say. This one is at least plausible though. I am sure Nintendo will get it worked out if this is true though, even if it means launching on November (like GameCube and Wii did in North America).

[NWR_insanolord]

Nintendo knows the hardware has to work perfectly to pull off what they're doing, and they know they can't overcharge like they did with the 3DS, which leads me to believe the system won't hit the targeted launch and will be sold at a loss once it does get released.

Who said June 2012? I haven't heard any specific date.

That's allegedly from the same source that gave the site the information in this rumor.

[TJ Spyke]

I think it would be unusual to launch the system in June, especially since I think they will try and do a global launch like with the Wii, DS, and 3DS (3DS was close enough). As much as I would like the system as soon as possible, I want them to make sure the system runs perfectly fine and isn't missing features like the 3DS was (it's one thing to add features later on, like when Microsoft added avatars to Xbox 360, it's another to promise those features and then not have them at launch). My only concern would be how well games like Batman: Arkham City would sell. If the Wii U launched in November and Arkham City was the same as the 360/PS3 version, would anybody buy a game that is 13 months old just because it has a new controller?

[Chozo Ghost]

You might expect something like this from a company designing a console for the very first time like Microsoft when they came out with the Xbox, but Nintendo has been at this for how long? 25 years. So its just shocking that they are having these difficulties. Maybe it has something to do with Iwata and how has been running things ever since he took over from Yamauchi. Sure, Iwata's leadership has brought enormous success to the company, but it seems like there has been a lot of issues regarding the hardware and so on.

You can't make a PS4/720 killer using cheap hardware. It would be nice, sure, but its just not possible. Nintendo either needs to beef it up and unfortunately raise the cost, or they need to cheap it down which might make it appear weak compared to the competition. This is the dilemma that they face.

[Oblivion]

I think it would be unusual to launch the system in June, especially since I think they will try and do a global launch like with the Wii, DS, and 3DS (3DS was close enough). As much as I would like the system as soon as possible, I want them to make sure the system runs perfectly fine and isn't missing features like the 3DS was (it's one thing to add features later on, like when Microsoft added avatars to Xbox 360, it's another to promise those features and then not have them at launch). My only concern would be how well games like Batman: Arkham City would sell. If the Wii U launched in November and Arkham City was the same as the 360/PS3 version, would anybody buy a game that is 13 months old just because it has a new controller?

Some people who buy the Wii U may not have the other consoles.

[NWR_insanolord]

True, but I don't think there are enough of those people for the game not to sell like **** in that scenario.

[TJ Spyke]

True oblivion, I just think that most of the people buying Wii U at launch might own a Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 already. I will still get the game if the Wii U features are cool enough.

LOL, insanolord beta me to it.

[broodwars]

You might expect something like this from a company designing a console for the very first time like Microsoft when they came out with the Xbox, but Nintendo has been at this for how long? 25 years. So its just shocking that they are having these difficulties. Maybe it has something to do with Iwata and how has been running things ever since he took over from Yamauchi. Sure, Iwata's leadership has brought enormous success to the company, but it seems like there has been a lot of issues regarding the hardware and so on.

I think it has more to do with Nintendo having spent the last 10 years making 2001 hardware (GameCube, Wii), and they're suddenly scrambling to attempt to manufacture hardware on par with mid-to-high PC hardware.  Nintendo's slacked off for so long on hardware that they're simply not used to planning around and producing more modern components.

[stevey]

June 2012

01net is just trolling news site now... Why the hell are you even bothering to post this crap as news? 13 year olds can make up more interesting rumors than this. I would believe Nintendo half assing their OS but they are usually very careful with their hardware development. If wireless was that much of a problem then they would just hard-wire it to the WiiU from the beginning.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Seems like a lot of assumptions are being made that all of this is factual, if I recall the source has been hit or miss. Rumors are just that, rumors unless substantiated, so stating one way or another that any of this is true is kind of ridiculous.  Really I don't see the system being released in June anyway, fall seems far more likely, that is usually the tradition with most console launches, handhelds are the ones that tend to break this mold.

We'll see though, but really if there is one thing Nintendo knows how to do is build good hardware, maybe not the most powerful hardware graphically, but when it comes to the components functioning correctly they are near the top. I don't see this changing with the Wii U. Say what you want about the Wii, it is a well built machine. In fact it is companies like MS who are known for shoddy hardware, at least at launch. Besides one thing that makes me question this is the fact we have heard that developers have found the hardware easy to work with.

[MaryJane]

Three things I see:
1. So what? The release is still far from today, of course they're going to have wrinkles to iron out, and of course they trying to be cost efficient. I would be more surprised if the news was that they got the controller right on the first try and weren't going to make any adjustments to it after testing.

2. The controllers worked at E3 didn't they?

3. It says develop houses are having problems with wireless features not working, then says they're using tethered controllers. Isn't the tether in replacement of the wireless function? I can understand the radio not working, but isn't the programming the same regardless of the radio as long as you know what radio will be used? I don't know so that's a serious question.

[NWR_pap64]

June 2012

01net is just trolling news site now... Why the hell are you even bothering to post this crap as news? 13 year olds can make up more interesting rumors than this. I would believe Nintendo half assing their OS but they are usually very careful with their hardware development. If wireless was that much of a problem then they would just hard-wire it to the WiiU from the beginning.

True, except this isn't labeled as news but RUMORS. I am just stating what THEY claim is happening at Nintendo based on an ANONYMOUS source. Hence why I put that statement near the end, no matter the claims and the source, it is all a rumor until an official confirmation is made. Take that as you will.

In my case, I don't fully believe this either. EVERY company has issues developing new hardware. Microsoft had them, Nintendo had them and Sony had them. Everyone had at one point or another. So considering that the Wii U is so ambitious and inspired it comes as no surprise that they are having issues getting it to fully work. Hell, I predict that a lot of the announced features will be dropped if it means they will have problems with it.

The June 2012 thing I find it very hard to swallow. June 2012 is when E3 happens. Logic says that this is where Nintendo wows the world with the system and shows REAL games running on finalized hardware. To have it released at that time and still have it running perfectly would be beyond stupid.

[Mop it up]

Say what you want about the Wii, it is a well built machine.

I'd disagree with that. Sure, it is more durable than an XBox 360 or PS3, but it is a lot weaker than a GameCube despite using a lot of the same components and being produced five years later. It isn't as durable as it could or should be.

[NWR_pap64]

Say what you want about the Wii, it is a well built machine.

I'd disagree with that. Sure, it is more durable than an XBox 360 or PS3, but it is a lot weaker than a GameCube despite using a lot of the same components and being produced five years later. It isn't as durable as it could or should be.

I do agree to an extend about that. The controller cover on top of the Wii has broken off. But I got my Wii in around April of 2007. Since then, the system has...

- Been dropped several times thanks to either cats or clumsy old me
- Been invaded by ants
- Survived a couple of earthquakes
- Many power outages
- Always being in stand by mode

And it STILL works like when I first opened it in 2007.

[Ceric]

I got a launch Wii and had to Send it in almost immediate for a save issues.  They had sent me a replacement so technically I'm on my second Wii but its been good.

Nintendo tends to think through and develop its concepts.  Especially Console Hardware.  Cheaping out will do them no good.  Internally I can see the Hardware being Major Revision complete by enough time before E3 to at least make 10 WiiU's probably more.  At that point only minor changes should be made and then designing the manufacturing so it may be ready for mass production by the Holiday Season.

On the Programming side, at least API wise Developers shouldn't have to care whether the controller is tethered or not.  That should be handled by Nintendo.  To the developer it should look and feel the same.

[MegaByte]

This is certainly coming from a third-party... given the French source, I would guess Ubisoft. It seems that Nintendo released the hardware to devs earlier than usual to try to get more feedback. Probably all of these frustrations are the things that Nintendo usually deals with before shipping their hardware out. I remember talking to AI Live (the MotionPlus middleware devs) a couple years ago, and they had similar experiences with the frequent software and hardware updates.

The other problem is the embargoes. Beyond any hardware troubles (and perhaps partly because of them), third parties probably aren't able to even show what they're working on until Nintendo says it's okay, and that's probably frustrating to certain developers.

[NWR_insanolord]

Aaron's most likely right on this. It makes a lot more sense that way than it does any other. I'd applaud him for it if he hadn't rigged his score.

[Flipster]

Maybe this is Nintendo's way of avoiding saying they were wrong but giving many consumers what they want by having a more traditional console..? Not that the Wii U tablet being awesome isn't debatable or anything.

[SeaNet]

They could fix the issue by slapping in a single screen DS with two analog sticks and calling it a day... 

[broodwars]

They could fix the issue by slapping in a single screen DS with two analog sticks and calling it a day... 

They already did. It's called the Wii U Controller.

[Chozo Ghost]

They could fix the issue by slapping in a single screen DS with two analog sticks and calling it a day... 

They already did. It's called the Wii U Controller.

*rimshot*

[Kytim89]

Is it plausible that with all the hiccups that Nintendo has been having lately that Nintendo's investors might recoomend that Iwata step down? He has already taken a pay cut, but that was over the 3DS, so if the Wii U has any issues then is it possible that Nintendo"s investors might call for a president that has a more business mindset than one of an engineer?

[broodwars]

Is it plausible that with all the hiccups that Nintendo has been having lately that Nintendo's investors might recoomend that Iwata step down? He has already taken a pay cut, but that was over the 3DS, so if the Wii U has any issues then is it possible that Nintendo"s investors might call for a president that has a more business mindset than one of an engineer?

I don't see Yamauchi asking the guy he picked to replace him to stand down.

[TJ Spyke]

No, and I would personally beat any investor that asked him to. You don't ask the CEO to resign just because they had a down year. And he voluntarily took a paycut, no one asked him to.

[Ceric]

...I would personally beat any investor...

I agree with this statement oh, wait there is more isn't there.

[TJ Spyke]

LOL, true. It seems that most investors (especially the average person who owns even 1 share of stock but knows nothing about the business the company is in) don't seem to know what is best for the company. Them, and analysts.

[Ceric]

LOL, true. It seems that most investors (especially the average person who owns even 1 share of stock but knows nothing about the business the company is in) don't seem to know what is best for the company. Them, and analysts.

Yeah, my last company.  The higher ups where pulling the wool over the eyes of the investor so much.  Just a day down in the trenches with the developers and we could have easily given them the proper path to double or profits.