Topic: Mark Rein (Epic VP): "I'd be shocked if Wii U doesn't do well"

[BlackNMild2k1]

Epic VP: "I'd be shocked if Wii U doesn't do well"
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-12-epic-vp-id-be-shocked-if-wii-u-doesnt-do-well?

Epic VP Mark Rein will be shocked if the Wii U isn't a hit for Nintendo when it launches later this year.

Sepaking to Eurogamer at GDC in San Francisco last week, Rein argued that parents are ready to upgrade their kid's Wii to Nintendo's new system.

"I like the Wii U. I think E3 will be a big eye-opener for people," he predicted.

"I played Batman: Arkham City on the Wii U and they are doing some really cool stuff with the controller.

"Do you remember the Zelda demo they had on it? Would you not buy a Wii U just to play that? Of course you would. That's what Nintendo is all about. Their hardware is the software delivery service for their great content. That Zelda demo was gorgeous and we can do even more than that with Unreal Engine 3. I think it will do great."

Rein added that Nintendo's brand recognition and beloved IP should see it fly off shelves, though he suggested that it might have been quicker off the mark with getting the machine to stores.

"It's a great brand that a lot of parents really trust and they're probably ready to buy their kids an HD Wii that does that much more than just being an HD Wii.

"I'd love it if they'd done it last year, but I'm excited for them to do it this year. I'd be shocked if it doesn't do well.

"Did you play that Battle Mii game? Two players would play with a Wii Remote and Nunchuk and one would play with the Wii U controller?

"I would buy a Wii U to play that game in a heartbeat. And I hope people make those kind of games with our technology. I think we've yet to really see what the Wii U can do and I think at E3 this year they're going to shock us."

Earlier this year Nintendo president Satoru Iwata suggested that, more than ever, the company will be looking to partner with third parties when developing high-spec core games that fall outside of its traditional comfort zone.

Might Epic step up to the plate with a new IP for the system, a la Gears of War on the Xbox 360?

"If I had 10 development teams I'd make a game for every single platform and make that the special game for that platform," replied Rein.

"If you're the special game on that platform you do really, really well. Gears was one of the special ones on Xbox 360. Infinity Blade is a special game on the iPhone and iPad. Shadow Complex was a special game on Xbox Live Arcade.

"But we don't have 10 development teams so it's just a matter of picking and choosing what we do and doing the best thing we can for the idea that we have."

It's sort of a compliment with not so hidden disses mixed in, but it's a major step up from their previous stance on Nintendo hardware. So we have to take what we can get.

[TJ Spyke]

A big change since I think it was not long ago that he had nothing positive to say about Nintendo hardware.

[Chozo Ghost]

When I read the thread title I was thinking finally here is an analyst that knows what he is talking about. But Mark Rein isn't an analyst.

[MysticGohan]

UE4? Yes, I believe so

[BlackNMild2k1]

It also seems that Michael Ancel is quite excited about Wii U too

http://www.glitch.cl/2012/03/glitch-entrevista-a-michel-ancel-creador-de-rayman/

Q: We realized that Ubisoft wants to give its strong support for the new Nintendo console. What do you think of the concept of U Wii?

Ancel: I am excited about the Wii U. They have great new features with the touchpad and NFC capabilities that can be very interesting to the gameplay - for example, the combination of using the pad and controls simultaneously. I think E3 will be a great opportunity to see how it all comes together.

[Kwolf]

Last year my excitement for the wii u was dropping a bit. Not on a games level, as I can always count on Nintendo to make games I want.   More on a technology level.    I was kinda afraid the hardware might be a bit more phoned in.

With all the hub bub being said the past few months, about how the new dev kits are more beefy. Also with all the positive impressions from people who are kinda..  Well.. I would say more neutral when it comes to Nintendo hype.  These have really helped alleviate those worries. 

Not that I was or am expecting the wii u to be some kinda monster hardware.  I'm just glad to hear some positive things coming from people who have experience working with hardware, and hearing good results of nintendo listening to feed back from developers.   Overall it just makes me feel a bit more comfortable.

[TJ Spyke]

Type, it's Michel Ancel (he's French, so it's understandable since it's a variation of Michael).

Not surprised Ancel likes it, but he is a good designer so I am glad he likes it.

[Caterkiller]

Why am I so slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??

[BlackNMild2k1]

I didn't want to be the one to tell you that you somehow missed a whole thread for that story you posted. I figured you would discover it all on your own.... so I just sat back and waited

[Caterkiller]

I just jump straight to certain topics and figure if it wasn't said there then it was said no where. Now I learned my lesson, for real this time.

I'm enjoying all these good things said about the Wii U. Remember how pissed everyone was about the guy saying the Wii is just 2 gamecubes duct taped together? Then how everyone got all angry at him? Well he wasn't off by any means and now no one denies it. At least now aside form some loser analyst, the developers seem to have had nothing but good things to say. More importantly though the games are speaking for them. The real not-spin off-bootleg-versions!

[Morari]

Mark Rein has to pretend to be excited... how else is he going to sell all of those Unreal Engine licenses?

I'd be shocked if the Wii U does do well.

[NWR_insanolord]

Mark Rein has to pretend to be excited... how else is he going to sell all of those Unreal Engine licenses?

That, by the way, is the reason he hated on the Wii the way he did: I doubt he personally had anything against it, but it was a very successful system that wasn't capable of running the engine he was trying to sell people.

[Louieturkey]

Hype train!!!

[TJ Spyke]

I'd be shocked if the Wii U does do well.

Why? It's got powerful hardware, is expected to be priced reasonably, and already is getting a ton of software support. There doesn't seem to be any signs it won't do well.

[Kairon]

I'd be shocked if the Wii U did as well as the Wii.

[Mop it up]

I'd be shocked if the Wii U did as well as the Wii.

It wouldn't be unprecedented though, as the PS2 did as well as the PS1.

[Lithium]

I'd be shocked if the Wii U did as well as the Wii.

It wouldn't be unprecedented though, as the PS2 did as well as the PS1.

yes but back then the term "casual gamers" referred to people who only played Madden and Halo, not only is the market completely different Nintendo's demographic that made the bulk of Wii purchases is a completely different beast.

[Sarail]

I'd be shocked if the Wii U did as well as the Wii.

It wouldn't be unprecedented though, as the PS2 did as well as the PS1.

yes but back then the term "casual gamers" referred to people who only played Madden and Halo, not only is the market completely different Nintendo's demographic that made the bulk of Wii purchases is a completely different beast.

I still refer to people who only play Halo, GTA, and Madden as "casual gamers." The people who make up the majority of the Wii's user base are known as "non-gamers" as far as I'm concerned. They won't touch any sort of real video game - one containing detailed gameplay, an engaging story, or complex controls - with a ten-foot pole. So, that's what they are to me... non-gamers.

[TJ Spyke]

I think there is a difference between a casual gamer and someone who plays casual games. A casual gamer is someone who just doesn't play a lot of video games. You can be a casual gamer and only play something like Final Fantasy. Just like you can be a hardcore gamer and play something like Wii Sports/

[Mop it up]

The circumstances may be different, but the point is that success is success, and it can be replicated.

"Casual" and "hardcore" are gaming moods. Games can be labeled with these terms if they are intended to be played casually or hardcore, but it doesn't mean the person playing them must fall into one of the two groups.

"Non-games" was a bad term coined by Nintendo, but it's been made even worse by being used as a label for games a person doesn't like, as the example above shows.

[Pikawil]

I still refer to people who only play Halo, GTA, and Madden as "casual gamers."

I dunno about that one.

*insert obligatory comment about COD ursurping Halo in the domain of casual FPS games here.*

[ShyGuy]

I predict a new sub genre of gamer will emerge this coming generation. Social Gamer? Minute Gamer? Collectable Gamer?

[Kairon]

I am an ALL-Gamer. It's easier to count the genres I DON'T play than to count the ones I do.

[Lithium]

the point of my comment wasn't to drag back the tired old "casual gamer" argument, i'm just pointing out the massive demographic change between to two generations, in addition the blue ocean is now red with Microsoft and Sony having competitor products of their own, it the ps2's success just isn't analogous to whether or not the WiiU can be a runaway success like the Wii since they targeted different consumers. The people we used to call "casual gamers" last gen are/will be buying a ps3 or a 360 to play madden and call of duty on, and given Nintendo's track record with third parties i would be surprised if we see Nintendo as the market leader in the upcoming generation.

[NWR_insanolord]

Nintendo has gotten a lot better with third party relations, and basically every developer has good things to say about how Nintendo designed the Wii U. That and the head start they'll have gives them a shot at being on top this generation. The system that launches first has historically had an advantage, unless you're Sega.