Topic: Why I'm Excited For The Wii U

[famicomplicated]

After some initial confusion, I'm beginning to get excited. Here are 8 reasons why. 

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/27340

I'll be able to play HD games (and more) in my hand without having to buy a separate handheld system.

I mostly play portable games on my bed or sofa. The thought of playing a game like Assassins Creed, Batman or Zelda HD on my Wii U controller with regular buttons and sticks, is very exciting. With the Wii U, I can have a tablet device with video calls and small touch-controlled games, a HD handheld system that plays retail games and full on 'next-gen' console experience all in one. All of this for much less than those would cost separately (as long as I don't leave the house!).

I can potentially check if my friends are online, browse the web and many other things without even turning the TV on.

Miyamoto has stated that one of the ideas behind the Wii U was using the system without the TV on; it's why people didn't really get into things like the weather channel as they require turning on the TV, Wii and loading up the software. I totally agree, I never did that. Having full operability on the controller is, in essence, having a picture-in-picture feature for your TV. If Nintendo allow all major functions of the system to be made on the controller, I'll be able to buy downloadable games on the store, check what my Wii U friends are up to, browse the web and then jump into a game once the TV becomes available.

Meet up, chat and jump into a game.

Portable and tablet-style games are no longer restricted to small screens.

The uDraw GameTablet had some great ideas, while several games have been released for it since it launched, the fact is it requires yet another accessory for your Wii. The Wii U now has a drawing tablet built in, so all of those games could easily be converted for the new console. The same goes for all the touch games of the iPad, iPhone and even the DS; some games work better with touch or stylus control and it would be great to play these with a big touch screen and a HD TV. A good example is that many people prefer the stylus controls of Trauma Center DS, but like the visuals of the Wii version - now you can have both! Of course, if the controller had a capacitive multi-touch interface, even more games would be playable.

Wii U 3rd party games will be (potentially) the best looking versions.

After years of 'Wiimakes' and downgraded ports, the Nintendo system will be the most powerful on the market, and games will be on par, if not better looking than on the other systems. Couple that with a unique and (hopefully) advantageous control system, my game library could be a lot bigger than they were for previous systems. People may argue that the PS4 and Xbox 460 will have vastly improved graphics over the Wii U in a few years time, but if you consider that they won't be out until about 2013 at the earliest, then factor in the systems will be very expensive with very few full potential games at the start, you could add another year or so onto that.

Third party games are starting in the 2nd or 3rd generation of graphical finesse.

Compare Genji to Uncharted 3 or Perfect Dark Zero to Gears of War 3; HD games have come a long way in 5 years, and the Wii U will be starting it's life at the best time, skipping ahead of the learning curve entirely. This means we don't have to play half-baked testbed games that don't push the system that much, the Wii U will be starting with some of the best looking games out there. The only unknown quantity at this point is whether Nintendo themselves can catch up quickly!

Make your living room into a 1970's bar

A great way to play Virtual Console games.

One of the reasons why classic 8-bit and 16-bit games look best on the Wii VC is due to its standard definition and unsmooth pixel-perfect emulation under which it presents them. With the Wii U controller's screen, we could see the same retro accuracy displayed on it, with the added benefit of having it be (semi) portable. Virtual Console Arcade games would work great too; I can't wait to play Space Invaders on my coffee table and pretend that I have a cocktail table version. Also, all those fan-made portable Super NES, N64 and GameCube machines are now an official accessory by the very function of the Wii U! I just hope the way of browsing and selecting games is done in a more intuitive way. (iPad style bookshelf option please!)

Finally: Play Wind Waker on the (downstairs) toilet

I won't have to buy batteries anymore.

A controller with a dock - finally! I also hope they make third iterations of the Wii Remote and Classic Controller with rechargeable batteries included too.

I can play Pacman Versus without any additional accessories.

That's it. I can potentially play a HD Pacman Versus without a single wire in sight.

Are you excited about the potential of Wii U? Sound off below!

[Enner]

All worthy things to be excited for.


I'm concerned as to how the technical power wars will work out. Will Nintendo put effort in relationships to have the Wii U be the lead platform even in the face of the Playstation 4 and Xbox 3? Will the cost of the next technically impressive games reach a point where significantly fewer developers and publishers are able to afford it and thus reducing the power advantage? Or will Nintendo, between now and launch, decide to give the Wii U a power boost?


Interesting times are ahead of us!

[xcwarrior]

Half of your reasons are "Potential". And they aren't very good as a whole. Notice you have no software to mention was reasons why. Now think to the problem with the 3DS right now.

I'm not saying don't be excited for Wii U, but right now, there isn't anything to be excited about except a lot of pipe dreams that may not happen.

And 6" screen is still uber small compared to a 50" TV.

[Ceric]

All worthy things to be excited for.


I'm concerned as to how the technical power wars will work out. Will Nintendo put effort in relationships to have the Wii U be the lead platform even in the face of the Playstation 4 and Xbox 3? Will the cost of the next technically impressive games reach a point where significantly fewer developers and publishers are able to afford it and thus reducing the power advantage? Or will Nintendo, between now and launch, decide to give the Wii U a power boost?


Interesting times are ahead of us!

Hopefully the system will be such that when they are making there ports or new development its just so easy to up some of the different graphical touches that it becomes a why not situation.

[Adrock]

@xcwarrior- Wait, 6" isn't as large as 50"? STOP THE PRESSES!

The ability to play a console game if a tv is being used by someone else is not only super convenient, but it's never been done before. I don't understand how you can honestly find fault in that. "Only 6"? This is bullshit!" That's ridiculous. You know what a 6" screen is better than? NOTHING which is what you got before.

Seriously, some people...

[Chocobo_Rider]

It's funny cuz I'm excited for the Wii U for almost entirely different reasons!

I am "on vacation" so I don't have much time to post but I will say ...

A) I don't know how much certain big third party games like Assassin's Creed are going to squish themselves onto the small screen.  I know it can stream the video but would third parties put in the effort to alter the controls to acomodate that feature??

B) Rechargeable controller is good! I've had to buy one of those third party charging stations - which is lame... but muuuuuch better than carelessly guzzling batteries or relying on rechargeable batteries that are usually not very powerful.

C) Item inventory/maps on the small screen had me at hello!

[famicomplicated]

When we have actual screens and videos of Wii U games in action, then I might do a list of games I'm looking forward to.
This is a hardware-focussed list, what I'm excited the Wii U could potentially do.
Potentially, because there are so many unanswered questions still!


Also, this time next year we will probably be playing on our Wii U's, excite GET!

[BlackNMild2k1]

A) I don't know how much certain big third party games like Assassin's Creed are going to squish themselves onto the small screen.  I know it can stream the video but would third parties put in the effort to alter the controls to acomodate that feature??

Why would they have to alter the controls? All they would need to do is disable any Umote screen options from being usable simultaneously while the game is being played (obviously... It would simply revert back to the PS360 controls instead of the Umote enhanced version). All the basic controls should still be the same.


I'm hoping Iwata & Miyamoto see the potential in a Universal remote function with TV guide/Cable box controls.
Everyone would LOVE to have one, but no one wants to pay $100-$200+ for a fancy remote that still wouldn't have the same capabilities as the WiiUmote. Technically the iPad/phone & Android phones can also do this, but that's all the more reason why Nintendo should do it too. Gives everyone one more reason to not only keep the WiiUmote on display infront of the main TV, or to even put one infront of every TV, but it gives you another reason to pick that controller up every single day.

Nintendo has to move beyond the thought of solely a videogame box, but give us reasons beyond games to own and use the box, but also have the option of playing the latest games too.
Sitting upright on a dock, the Umote could do
-internet videochat
-weather / news updates
-email / chat
-music player (CDs, MP3s, etc etc)
-remote video screen (Netflix/TV on the kitchen table for everyone to see)
-charge the battery

and those are just off the top of my head. There is so much potential for this device outside of the usual gaming stuff, that I will be disappointed if Nintendo doesn't make serious efforts to realize most, if not all, of them.

[Enner]

There is so much potential for this device outside of the usual gaming stuff, that I will be disappointed if Nintendo doesn't make serious efforts to realize most, if not all, of them.

Indeed. All the neat non-gaming extras in the 3DS and Wii give me hope that Nintendo is much more open to having non-gaming functions for the Wii U. I don't expect a Nintendo Wii U application store (though that would be neat), but I do hope for some features that make it worthwhile to turn on the system even if I don't feel like playing a video game at the moment.

[Ian Sane]

It's funny.  About ten years ago I was all for non-gaming applications.  I thought the PS2 being a DVD player was REALLY cool and the Gamecube's "games only" design seemed restrictive and kind of juvenile.

But now I find I'm the exact opposite.  I couldn't give two shits about these extras and would rather full attention be made towards videogame functionality.  I think part of it is that now that when I was 19 I didn't own very much stuff.  The idea of having extra doodads in my videogame system was a bargain.  At 29 I already own all this stuff and have more money so there is less value to it.  I also think that over time I've realized that Nintendo sucks at pretty much everything except game design so they should concentrate on their strengths.  I figure a Nintendo universal remote would be a restrictive and borderline useless hunk of ****.

And some of it I think is just about control.  I don't like the idea of picking up the controller every day.  I'll pick it up whenever the **** I want to, whether that is five times that day or not at all for two weeks.  Nintendo's (and Sony and MS do this as well) attempts to "infiltrate" my living room and get daily usage out of me doesn't sound inviting or friendly.  It comes across to me like a big corporation that wants my money trying to make me dependent on them.  I sounds like it serves their interests more than mine.  I just want a videogame system that I play when I want and don't play when I don't.  I only want the Wii U controller to be used when I'm playing Wii U videogames.

The extra functionality is like a salesman saying "while we're here how about..." only he already included the extra stuff you didn't want and charged you for it.

[BlackNMild2k1]

The beauty of technology today is that we have the power to add and subtract features through software and without having to leave the house.

So while  the WiiU may be taken out the box and hooked up in your livingroom while only having a major gaming focus, over time, you may find that since it is already hooked up there, that you wish it could do more, with out having to go out and buy more hardware. Now that we have the option to expand the functionality to our choosing by customizing the software we use, the only thing that would be restrictive would be Nintendo not planning ahead for such expansive use and therefore crippling the growth of the system.

p.s. Nintendo doesn't have to make all the software applications. They just need to make the hardware capable and the OS adaptable.
Logitech could make the Universal Remote app and sell it on the eShop for $20

[Stogi]

You forgot reason number 9.

Hackers are going to have a ball with it.

[MaryJane]

You forgot reason number 9.

Hackers are going to have a ball with it.

Nintendo has come a long way from their rigid Japanese philosophy only days, but embracing hackers...

Depends if they like the Kinect stuff going on.

[Stogi]

uh...they don't need to embrace hackers..

[MaryJane]

Yeah, but that puts it off limits to most people. But, I see that wasn't your point, so point taken.

It would be pretty cool if Nintendo open sourced the controller. Like you couldn't mess with the system itself, but they could make a channel that streams controller hacks. It wouldn't affect the main game, or whatever else is taking place on the screen, just play on the controller, or have like a 'pop-up video' like app for the TV show you're watching.

Also, can the system stream Netflix to the TV and a game to controller? Or is it one at a time? Could it possibly play a Wii game (or Wii U game that uses Wiimotes only) and a controller game at the same time?

[Ian Sane]

Regarding hackers, Nintendo should probably be tight about the important stuff like piracy and be slack on the fun harmless stuff like alternate uses for the controller and region locking and stuff like that.  Hackers are going to show up no matter what.  If you're a super tight ass about everything they're going to pick on you like they did with Sony.  But if you're slack about the minor stuff, they have less reason to regard you as an enemy.  Also if the workarounds for simple stuff like region locking are simple, they can be done without serious stuff like piracy going hand in hand.

The Gamecube region mod involved installing a switch.  It was easy to figure out and no one had to open the door for piracy to do it.  It was enough to keep out the average user but simple enough that anyone savy to it could make the mod without causing serious damage.  People are going to try to figure this stuff out anyway.  Keep the average users out and keep the good natured hackers from doing the dirty work for the pirates.

[TJ Spyke]

I don't like hackers, and I suspect many PS3 owners don't anymore either after hackers cause PlayStation Network to be down for so long. I don't think Nintendo should embrace or encourage hackers in any form. At most I would want Nintendo to just leave alone the people who do stuff like letting you watch DVDs on your Wii, since those people are not harming Nintendo or anyone else.

[UltimatePartyBear]

p.s. Nintendo doesn't have to make all the software applications. They just need to make the hardware capable and the OS adaptable.
Logitech could make the Universal Remote app and sell it on the eShop for $20

At a bare minimum, the tablet needs to be able to send out IR signals.  It would be a dream come true if there was an HDMI input on the console, but that's something I'm certain will never happen.  You just know Sony's going to do it when they copy Nintendo this time, though.  That's a company that would happily integrate itself into an entertainment center, and probably with a multitouch screen, too.  I hope Nintendo sees the threat and beats them to the punch.  If Nintendo gets there first, it'll still be a blue ocean when they do.

[Adrock]

I'm pretty sure Wii U supports HDMI.

[UltimatePartyBear]

input.  So, for example, I can carry the controller around the house with me watching TV.

[Adrock]

You said console, not controller.

EDIT: I think I get what you mean now. Wouldn't it need like a coaxial input? On second thought, maybe I'm still confused.

[UltimatePartyBear]

It doesn't need to be tethered to receive any of the other signals sent to it by the console.  I don't get the confusion.  If the console had A/V input, that signal could be streamed wirelessly to the controller.  It would mean someone could watch the news on the TV while someone else watched a DVD on the controller in the next room, and it wouldn't matter that the Wii U couldn't play DVDs because it would only be transmitting a signal from a device that does.  With that input, someone, hacker or otherwise, would be able to do many cool things.

Nintendo might use it to let you draw on the people on TV or distort the picture in amusing ways.  I actually do expect that to be possible, but only with video files stored on an SD card.  I doubt what I was talking about up there is going to happen, probably because of possible legal repercussions I can scarcely imagine, being a reasonable person and all.  I'm just getting a head start lamenting it, I guess. 

Edit: Oh hey, you edited while I was replying.  Just about any modern A/V receiver is going to have an HDMI output meant for routing all your video game consoles and media players and cable boxes to your TV.  I'm not sure if having a second output is common, at least not a second HDMI one (one for the TV and one for the Wii U in this scenario, if I'm being unclear).  Having both HDMI and component video and three different audio outputs is common enough.  I just said HDMI because it's pretty much the standard for now.

[Adrock]

Ahh, I get it now.

That'd be cool though maybe a bit superfluous. I'm pretty happy with the ability to continue playing if someone wants to use the TV. I can definitely see the benefits of what you're suggesting. If I was sitting outside but still close enough for the console to send the signal, that's certainly very convenient. It'd be even more interesting if the controller could send TV signals to the controller while someone was playing a Wii U game with a different controller.

[Stogi]

If the Wii U browser supports flash, it makes it even more superfluous.

[Kytim89]

I would be even more excited for the Wii U if Nintendo allowed it to upres older Wii games. Is this a technical limitation for the Wii U or is it something on Nintendo's part?