Topic: Nintendo Teabagged Once Again....

[MegaByte]

I thought OpenGL was one of Wii bullet points?
I could've sworn Wii had for support for it as I thought it was one of the things they changed from the GC days.

Nope.  That would be another one of Nintendo's different for different's sake snafus.  It's more understandable with the GC since 3D hardware systems weren't as standardized then, but with the Wii and how much money they allegedly spent on the development of the new processors, it doesn't make sense.  Especially since GX is modeled after OpenGL and other ATI designs have supported OpenGL since forever.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I did some gogle searching of it, and it seems that the GX is very OpenGL like and like you said, another case of Nintendo being different for different's sake.

[NWR_Lindy]

Epic doesn't want the Wii to fail.  They just couldn't care less if it succeeds.  They're a PC developer by nature, so it's no surprise they create games for 360 and don't even have the Wii on their radar.  As for the iPhone, it's the dominant mobile platform, so of course they'd port their engine to it.  And they ported their PC engine to 360 and PS3 because they could do so without having to rebuild it from scratch.

Nintendo HAS created an industry within itself, and that's exactly what they wanted.  Hardware that's willfully less powerful than anything else out there, a controller unlike anything else out there, mediocre online with goofy friend codes...Nintendo has done nothing but their own thing this generation.  You can't blame third parties, who just want to create games that will sell for as many platforms as they can while re-using assets, for not wanting to bother with Wii.  The Wii necessitates its own teams, and that's just not worth it for all but the largest developers.

[NWR_pap64]

Epic doesn't want the Wii to fail.  They just couldn't care less if it succeeds.  They're a PC developer by nature, so it's no surprise they create games for 360 and don't even have the Wii on their radar.  As for the iPhone, it's the dominant mobile platform, so of course they'd port their engine to it.  And they ported their PC engine to 360 and PS3 because they could do so without having to rebuild it from scratch.

Nintendo HAS created an industry within itself, and that's exactly what they wanted.  Hardware that's willfully less powerful than anything else out there, a controller unlike anything else out there, mediocre online with goofy friend codes...Nintendo has done nothing but their own thing this generation.  You can't blame third parties, who just want to create games that will sell for as many platforms as they can while re-using assets, for not wanting to bother with Wii.  The Wii necessitates its own teams, and that's just not worth it for all but the largest developers.

Now I wonder if Nintendo will use this exact, same strategy on the next console. Logic says that since this was EXTREMELY successful for them they will use it again. But it would mean alienating third parties once again with technology that is completely different from anything else on the market.

Then there's the fact that developers AND the consumers are beginning to feel disenchanted with the Wii in general, with sales dropping on occasion and less and less games being released with full use of motion controls.

[blackfootsteps]

And that's probably a good thing because it will ensure that Nintendo will not rest on their laurels. We all know what happens when overconfidence strikes, ala the PS3 and n64.

[Mop it up]

We all know what happens when overconfidence strikes, ala the PS3 and n64.

It's funny how a "mistake" gave birth to the greatest system ever in the Nintendo 64. I kind of want to see Nintendo fall again if it would mean the creation of the best games I've ever played.

[TJ Spyke]

Did you forget that N64 would go through periods where there wouldn't be games released for several weeks? At least Wii gets new games every week (even if it's sometimes just shovelware, shovelware is better than nothing). However, Nintendo had good reasons for sticking with cartridges with N64 (almost zero loading times and much harder to pirate). I think most third parties would have been more than happy to support it had it not been so much more expensive to make (something like $10 for a N64 cartridge vs. $0.50 for a PS1 CD-ROM).

As for Epic Games, people have already said they are basically just PC developers and it's well known that the Xbox 360 is little more than a PC in a console shell in terms of programming. As for the iPhone/iPod Touch, they see how many people are buying games for them. I doubt Epic themselves with make any games for it, they will just license out the engine to make money.

[Mop it up]

Of course I remember that. But I was just a kid so I didn't have money to buy games every month. And I don't mind waiting for games as good as the ones on the Nintendo 64.

I'm not one who thinks that the N64 using cartridges was a "mistake" as it makes a lot of sense when you look at it from the perspective of that time period. It was Nintendo's creative vision which lead to the use of cartridges and if they had used CDs instead then the games would have been completely different. Would they have been as good? I doubt it, but we'll never know. It of course wasn't a decision made with third-parties in mind, but even if the N64 used CDs they would have been turned away by Nintendo's high royalty fees anyway.

[Luigi Dude]

Then there's the fact that developers AND the consumers are beginning to feel disenchanted with the Wii in general, with sales dropping on occasion and less and less games being released with full use of motion controls.

There's no evidence of this at all.  2008 was called a record breaking year for a REASON.  The Wii shattered almost every single monthly sales record last year by so much that this year it was almost impossible for Nintendo to repeat the same success.  If you look at 2009 as a whole, the sales of the Wii while down from last year, are still tracking about the same as the PS2 was doing monthly at this point in it's lifespan.

To say that consumers are feeling disenchanted with the Wii right now would be like saying they were feeling disenchanted with the PS2 back in 2003.  The actual sales data shows the complete opposite.  If only developers would realize this because they are pretty much ignoring a goldmine.

[NWR_Lindy]

As for the iPhone/iPod Touch, they see how many people are buying games for them. I doubt Epic themselves with make any games for it, they will just license out the engine to make money.

Totally agree.  Heck, I'd even argue that Gears of War 1 & 2 are more meant to be showpieces for what can be done with Epic's engine than standalone games (even though I think they are both excellent).

[BlackNMild2k1]

As for the iPhone/iPod Touch, they see how many people are buying games for them. I doubt Epic themselves with make any games for it, they will just license out the engine to make money.

The same could be said about the Wii.
3 years and counting Wii has been selling the most(or a close 2nd) in hardware and software, 1st and 3rd party, and all EPIC had to do was scale down the engine for Wii and sell it. 3rd parties would use it for the familiar tools and the easier porting since it's essentially the same engine as their HD games.

Taking the time to port it to iPod is a very blatant slap to the face of Nintendo.

[TJ Spyke]

Agreed, the president of Epic Games just doesn't like the Wii. I think he has publically come out against the system before (or at least said he had no interest in releasing a game on it), and they refuse to adapt the engine for the Wii. His excuse that other developers can license the engine and then adapt it for the Wii themselves is not acceptable either. I wish Nintendo would do something like publically encourage publishers to use a rival engine like id Tech. What do they have to lose? Epic Games has made it clear they have no intention of developing games for the Wii, so Nintendo won't lose anything (in fact, they might get some more support from the maker of whatever game engine they endorse).

[BlackNMild2k1]

Ubisoft Putting Emphasis on Xbox 360 & PS3

Capcom and Sega seem to be scaling back their Wii efforts, and now it would appear that Ubisoft is reexamining its approach to Nintendo platforms as well. The French publisher announced a downward revision to its fiscal outlook today, partially blaming the DS market and slow sales of several non-casual Wii titles. The company is now refocusing its attention on platforms that it feels will experience more growth, and those platforms it believes are the Xbox 360 and PS3. It seems that Ubisoft and other third parties are catching up with the trend that core gamers are actually driving the market.

"The fiscal year 2010-11 line-up will be more focused on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the consoles which are expected to experience sustained sales growth in games for gamers in calendar 2010," Ubisoft noted.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot commented, "Ubisoft has already demonstrated its capacity for success in the high-end games market thanks to Assassin’s Creed II, with sales 40 percent higher than for the first title. The 2010-11 line-up – which is stronger in franchises for Xbox360 and PS3 – reflects our refocused efforts and should enable us to both win market share and enhance our profitability.�

So, all we'll be experiencing from here on out is
Imagine: Crying Fanboyz 3?

[broodwars]

Ubisoft Putting Emphasis on Xbox 360 & PS3

Capcom and Sega seem to be scaling back their Wii efforts, and now it would appear that Ubisoft is reexamining its approach to Nintendo platforms as well. The French publisher announced a downward revision to its fiscal outlook today, partially blaming the DS market and slow sales of several non-casual Wii titles. The company is now refocusing its attention on platforms that it feels will experience more growth, and those platforms it believes are the Xbox 360 and PS3. It seems that Ubisoft and other third parties are catching up with the trend that core gamers are actually driving the market.

"The fiscal year 2010-11 line-up will be more focused on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the consoles which are expected to experience sustained sales growth in games for gamers in calendar 2010," Ubisoft noted.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot commented, "Ubisoft has already demonstrated its capacity for success in the high-end games market thanks to Assassin’s Creed II, with sales 40 percent higher than for the first title. The 2010-11 line-up – which is stronger in franchises for Xbox360 and PS3 – reflects our refocused efforts and should enable us to both win market share and enhance our profitability.�

Outside that TMNT Smash Bros. clone, did Ubisoft even release a non-casual Wii game last year?  I'm drawing a blank on that, unless they had some movie cash-in games I'm forgetting.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Rabbids Go Home (which is fun and funny, but meant to be played in increments and not marathons)

[broodwars]

Rabbids Go Home (which is fun and funny, but meant to be played in increments and not marathons)

Last time I checked, isn't that considered a casual game?

In any case, this news just formally announces what we've seen for the past 3 years: Ubisoft's focusing on the HD consoles.  There are 3rd parties I can excuse shifting away from Wii due to lack of sales, but Ubisoft is not among them.  They haven't even tried since the Wii launched.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Rabbids Go Home (which is fun and funny, but meant to be played in increments and not marathons)

Last time I checked, isn't that considered a casual game?

In any case, this news just formally announces what we've seen for the past 3 years: Ubisoft's focusing on the HD consoles.  There are 3rd parties I can excuse shifting away from Wii due to lack of sales, but Ubisoft is not among them.  They haven't even tried since the Wii launched.

If Mario/Sonic platforming is casual, then Rabbids Go Home is casual.  It's a "vehicle" platformer.

Ubi published Acquire/From Software's Tenchu4 approximately one year ago, so they basically acted like XSEED/Ignition and just plucked a Japanese game and released it with no backing.  Localization must've been really cheap to bother with.

[BranDonk Kong]

I think "focusing on Xbox 360 and PS3" really means "finally finishing Splinter Cell Conviction after delaying it 40 times."

[Chozo Ghost]

It looks bad when a 3rd party like Ubisoft says they are going to "scale back" Wii support, but if they've never really supported the Wii in the first place then even though it looks bad, it really doesn't mean anything. You can't scale back something that was never really there to begin with.

Now, if the Wii had been given Assassin's Creed and similar games, then them saying they would scale back support would actually mean something. But instead, all we've gotten from them is ****ty rabbids. So they're going to scale that back? Okay, good. We're not losing anything of value.

[Peachylala]

It could also mean "praying BG&E2 doesn't flop".

Good job Ubi, Nintendo helps you a bit with Red Steel 2, and you do this. Hope karma isn't a real bitch if your HD products underperform.

[Dirk Temporo]

They're a PC developer by nature

lol you think Epic is still a PC developer. That's adorable.

[ShyGuy]

PC gamers don't hold Epic in high regard.

[Mop it up]

Oh how naive I would be if I believed this meant less games from them with "z" in the titlez...

[SixthAngel]

I think this means they send Red Steel 2 out to die  I expect no marketing and a stealth release because if it did well it would make the guys at the company look like idiots.

Ubisoft Putting Emphasis on Xbox 360 & PS3

"The fiscal year 2010-11 line-up will be more focused on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the consoles which are expected to experience sustained sales growth in games for gamers in calendar 2010," Ubisoft noted.

I also think "games for gamers" is hilarious.  It is like making "food for eaters."  I suppose when someone says gamer now they really mean teh hardkorez though.

[Peachylala]

I think this means they send Red Steel 2 out to die  I expect no marketing and a stealth release because if it did well it would make the guys at the company look like idiots.

Ubi already look like idiots, and the Nintendo fanbase hold them in no regard whatsoever. Red Steel 2 is the game that will make or break them with us. It will also piss off Nintendo since Retro helped the development team with learning how to properly us the M+.
 
Karma is such a bitch.