Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: Ian Sane on October 08, 2015, 04:12:10 PM
Title: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on October 08, 2015, 04:12:10 PM
Sony just lowered the price of the PS4 to $350. https://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/151008_e.html (https://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/151008_e.html)
So that puts it only $50 more than the Wii U's $300 price tag. This price covers bundles too. I look at Best Buy's site and the Uncharted bundle is at $350 so both Sony and Nintendo are offering pack-in games.
So does Nintendo cut the Wii U price now? Of course we don't know if they actually can without taking a loss. I also figure that "will they" and "should they" are different questions.
I want them to and I haven't shut up about that over the last several months. They cut the price and I'll buy it. Now that Sony has cut the price, and seemingly out of nowhere as I don't feel they needed to, I don't see how Nintendo can get away with not doing so. It just seems like misplaced arrogance to keep the price up now, unless they really are facing serious losses if they do so.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ClexYoshi on October 08, 2015, 04:25:46 PM
of course they won't. I'm pretty sure if they could have afforded to do it, they probably would have hit that prince cut at Splatoon or at the Super Mario Maker bundle. I think they're staying the course because I don't think they want to bleed money on hardware that no ammount of price cut is going to move it in a significant manner.
I think hardware revision is in order before price cut is.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: broodwars on October 08, 2015, 05:18:49 PM
"Should they?" Yes. The Wii U has been ridiculously overpriced since launch, and it's especially comical now that 2 vastly superior competing devices are only $50 more. "Will they?" Of course not. Nintendo lives in their own delusional little world where no other competing companies exist.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Mop it up on October 08, 2015, 06:04:25 PM
You're right, "should they" and "will they" are two different questions. Should they? Yes. Will they? Doubtful.
I find it kind of hard to believe that the Wii U costs so much to manufacture that they can't sell it at $249.99 or even $199.99 without taking a loss on it. Not that I know anything about what the components cost, but it just doesn't seem like anything in it should be that much. That screen can't be that much.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 08, 2015, 06:21:18 PM
What's the new Mario Kart and Splatoon bundle priced at? Two games being bundled in for around 300 would essentially prove the system can be sold at a lower price, but that doesn't matter. I think Nintendo is happy screwing you out of their system, Ian, and as long as you won't buy it, then it won't be dealt the critical blow of you obliterating Nintendo's reputation by reviewing their latest slew of titles. So it's a safety measure.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 08, 2015, 07:49:10 PM
I think Nintendo could afford to sell it for less without taking a loss, they just don't believe a price drop would result in enough new sales to make up for the lower profit per unit.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Enner on October 08, 2015, 08:01:07 PM
Now that Sony has cut the price, and seemingly out of nowhere as I don't feel they needed to,...
The PlayStation 4 price cut is parity to the price cut in Japan. Also, the Xbox One has practically had a similar price cut since last year's holiday season. This PS4 price cut is Sony making efforts to keep their lead.
"Will they?" Of course not. Nintendo lives in their own delusional little world where no other competing companies exist.
Hey, it's unfair and mean to make assumptions on a company's mental fortitude! It is quite possible that the company is cognizant of market realities, even if they don't react in expected or desired ways! /joking :p
I find it kind of hard to believe that the Wii U costs so much to manufacture that they can't sell it at $249.99 or even $199.99 without taking a loss on it. Not that I know anything about what the components cost, but it just doesn't seem like anything in it should be that much. That screen can't be that much.
When the Wii U Pro Controller, Xbox One Controller, or PlayStation 4 Controller cost $50+ to maintain a certain level of quality and make a profit, I don't think it too much of a leap to imagine that the Wii U at $299 might be at cost or a slim profit.
Perhaps the resistive touch screen, plastic, radio, and other parts don't cost much on their own, but whatever logistics solution Nintendo has set up is setting the GamePad's cost at ~$80-100. Also, there's however much money Nintendo put in to research & development. Then there's the system itself which is probably not cheap to make.
As for the would/should question, what difference would it make at this point? Instead of finishing 2015 with 11-12 million Wii U systems sold, it would be 12-13 million? Maybe 14 million if Nintendo is lucky? It's nice that Ian Sane would get a system if the price was cut $50+, but Nintendo has to calculate how many Ian Sanes in the world are on that fence. I just don't think there's enough people to capitalize on a price cut.
It's just not going to happen this year. But I can definitely see it happening next year along side a Zelda U bundle. Give the beleaguered system one loud, last gasp.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: MagicCow64 on October 08, 2015, 08:21:16 PM
From what I've read they're still sitting on console stock from the original run, which they can't make cheaper retroactively.
I also wonder how much they could drive down the cost of new units given the small scale and the pariah status of PowerPC for consumer electronics at this point.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Shaymin on October 08, 2015, 08:29:10 PM
What's the new Mario Kart and Splatoon bundle priced at?
Since it's Europe only, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 08, 2015, 08:54:33 PM
Here's an idea, drop the WII U Gamepad? Spaltoon can easily be patched with a mini-pad same with the main OS. So far Nintendo hasn't made a compelling case for a REASON to have to overpriced gamepad so it's long overdue they drop the damn thing. MS dropped the Kinect 2.0 like rotten fish, Sony dropped VITA, yet Nintendo refuses to make any change with their home console?
They could have easily dropped the WII U price to $200, 2 years ago, and wouldn't be in this sorry state that they are in now.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on October 08, 2015, 09:07:56 PM
I think the story is that they still haven't gone through their initial product run on the Wii U.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 08, 2015, 09:11:36 PM
Here's an idea, drop the WII U Gamepad? Spaltoon can easily be patched with a mini-pad same with the main OS. So far Nintendo hasn't made a compelling case for a REASON to have to overpriced gamepad so it's long overdue they drop the damn thing. MS dropped the Kinect 2.0 like rotten fish, Sony dropped VITA, yet Nintendo refuses to make any change with their home console?
They could have easily dropped the WII U price to $200, 2 years ago, and wouldn't be in this sorry state that they are in now.
Dropping the GamePad was never a real option, and it certainly isn't now. The system is dead, there's nothing they can do to turn around its fortunes, and the last thing they should be doing right now is making drastic changes that would require significant effort on their part and have virtually no chance of ever recouping their costs, let alone of making it more profitable.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: BranDonk Kong on October 08, 2015, 09:34:53 PM
There's no reason to drop the price because it probably won't help sales at all, at least not enough to make up for the price difference. Wii U is not suddenly going to catch on.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 08, 2015, 09:38:46 PM
There's no reason to drop the price because it probably won't help sales at all, at least not enough to make up for the price difference. Wii U is not suddenly going to catch on.
Exactly this. It's not that they can't drop the price, they've just decided it's not worth it.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 08, 2015, 10:00:35 PM
As I said, 2 years ago, you know when they still had the lead and yes I would require Nintendo to put in some sort of "effort". It's the totally opposite of what they did for the 3DS. When the 3DS was failing, they went for an price cut and boom--sale spike.
Can't be done, please. Games can be patched easy enough, most games wouldn't even need to.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 08, 2015, 10:08:36 PM
This is a completely different situation from the 3DS, in virtually every respect.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 08, 2015, 10:23:36 PM
Hmm. In what ways? I mean, the 3DS was on the cusp of a huge library boost (something the Wii U is only NOW actually going to have), but it wasn't doing well.
And sweet jebas, Nintendo is STILL selling from their initial production run? They made 10 million Wii Us and thought they would be snapped up? That's just cockiness.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 08, 2015, 10:34:27 PM
The 3DS was earlier in its life, with far more realizable potential. The 3DS was coming from more of a position of strength. The 3DS had no real competition to speak of at the time. The 3DS's "hook" was considerably more marketable.
If they wanted to really go after it and make an aggressive play to improve things for the Wii U, they're about three and a half years too late.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Stratos on October 08, 2015, 10:38:51 PM
Nintendo does notoriously well during the holiday season. If they are willing to do a price drop I wouldn't expect it until after they pass through their strong season.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Soren on October 08, 2015, 11:04:55 PM
Price cut? No! Drop the GamePad? No!
What's next, Nintendo should just get out of the console business all together? The ultimate price cut!
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 08, 2015, 11:26:55 PM
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Luigi Dude on October 09, 2015, 01:01:52 AM
The Gamecube was down to $100 by now in it's life, had much better third party support and didn't have nearly identical handheld versions for most of it's biggest games to steal attention from it, and yet it still only ended up selling 22 million lifetime total. The Wii U is currently at 10 million and still $300, and even without a price cut, considering this years sales are pretty similar to last years will probably end up around 12 by the end of this holiday.
If the Wii U was down to $200 by now it'd probably be closer to Gamecube levels but Gamecube level sales aren't really something Nintendo is going to be proud of either. So to Nintendo, it's not worth the money they'd lose to cut the price when they did this in the past with a system that had a stronger presence in the home console market at the time and it didn't really do that much better.
Especially when the Wii was able to do lightyears better then the Gamecube which I'd imagine Nintendo is expecting their next home console to just reset everything like the Wii did after the Gamecube. Yes we can argue about how hard that is but that won't stop Nintendo from trying, hence why losing money to sell more Wii U's isn't worth it to Nintendo when in their minds the next home console has just as good a chance of being a hit no matter how the Wii U performs in the end.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 09, 2015, 04:41:27 AM
"console has just as good a chance of being a hit no matter how the Wii U performs in the end."
Doubt it, how many gamers are going lineup for the next system? The WII was the only exception during the what 30+ years of console history. Atari, Sega, ect.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ClexYoshi on October 09, 2015, 06:14:48 AM
As I said, 2 years ago, you know when they still had the lead and yes I would require Nintendo to put in some sort of "effort". It's the totally opposite of what they did for the 3DS. When the 3DS was failing, they went for an price cut and boom--sale spike.
Can't be done, please. Games can be patched easy enough, most games wouldn't even need to.
Nixing the gamepad first and foremost throws all DS Virtual Console under the bus. Miiverse would be severely hampered by the lack of being able to draw or quickly keypad in posts at all... and then there's games that do use the gamepad in a very significant way, such as the art academy stuff, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Nintendoland, ZombiU (which Ubisoft sure as well aren't gonna put the time and money into patching), Splatoon (again, that's a game that loses a BIG part of it's gameplay with losing all the super jump and gyro aiming, which is REALLY good, by the way. the local multiplayer in that game is garbage because of the lack of gyro due to fairness.), and Super Mario maker would need heavy overhauls and would not be as fun as a result. some stuff like the Smash bros. stage editor and a few other things would just have to be gated off alltogether.
So, we're on a multitude of effort here and just ripping out a ton of infistructure... but you know what comes at even MORE of a cost? the lost of the Gamepad's NFC reader. now we're talking about either having to bundle an NFC reader in with the console, or losing what HAS been working for them sales wise, which is Amiibo. there's at least 3 or 4 games out there entirely anchored on Amiibo (Mario Party 10, which would also lose the Bowser Party mode that even makes the game woth a damn without a gamepad, Animal Crossing Amiibo Party, Let's Tap! Amiibo...).
this isn't even mentioning tossing out the window things like the quick-boot, the gamepad's ability to give you notifications on events, and just... so many little UI fixes that would have to go into the sort of massive overhaul in order to not split the userbase... and for what?
an underpowered Nintendo-box? The indie stuff is nice, but there's no longer off-TV play to promote you from getting it on a Nintendo console Vs. Steam or another console. It's still saddled with being shackled to all the Wii infastructure, needing the technology therein to pair with Wii remotes Via Bluetooth and have a have pointers. That, by the way, is the only way to play certain games STILL is with leftover bits and bobs from your Wii. Do they drop that too? do they alienate even more of the fanbase and put out a cheapy, chinsey product that is such a barren desert of a library that we're now competing with the Ouya? Wii U pro controllers aren't much differetn from the Ouya controller at this point, and poeple buy those things to shove Munpen64 onto and then have more N64 game access on it then the Wii U currently offers with their N64 virtual console offerings.
I admire the sheer balls on Nintendo for not bieng wishy-washy on the Gamepad. maybe the idea was half-baked ands they turned out to not have as great of ideas with it as one would hope... Unlike the Kinect, the gamepad isn't actively hurting the experiences that it's involved with. I can't point to a game and go "this game sucks and it's the fault of the technology inside the gamepad" like I can with something like say... The Fighter Within.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Shaymin on October 09, 2015, 06:28:06 AM
If there's going to be any sort of price movement, I would expect it on or around the 28th of this month.
And any chance of removing the GamePad went out the window when Splatoon and Super Mario Maker sold like chocolate-covered crack (well, in Wii U terms).
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Enner on October 09, 2015, 07:09:36 AM
"console has just as good a chance of being a hit no matter how the Wii U performs in the end."
Doubt it, how many gamers are going lineup for the next system? The WII was the only exception during the what 30+ years of console history. Atari, Sega, ect.
If the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PS3's 599 US dollars, and Xbox One's DRM are proof of anything, it's that marketing and audience perception can swing loyalties wildly.
Granted, a scenario that has such interest swing in Nintendo's favor would require a caliber and combination of products, services, and advertising that Nintendo yet to achieve in recent years. Something beyond my most hopeful dreams for the NX.
But hey! I want to believe, if only a little, that time is due for some happy surprises with regards to Nintendo hardware. Hopefully all the good mojo wasn't spent on the success of amiibo, Splatoon, and Super Mario Maker.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Caterkiller on October 09, 2015, 07:44:27 AM
HahahahahahahHahJJjajJjhahaha! Why is ShyGuy the only one thinking outside the box?!
I can't remember a time where one of Shyguys posts didn't make me laugh. I was actually laughing out loud, hard too!
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 08:01:41 AM
Will they? I sincerely doubt it.
Should they? The obvious answer for someone whose waiting for a price cut to buy one is an obvious "yes!". But for Nintendo themselves? I'm guessing nothing's putting them over the threshold to justify a price drop.
I know comparing to the other consoles is the easy way to suggest it needs to be done, but Nintendo as a company can't make decisions based solely on what their competition is doing. $50 isn't a small amount of money, and they have to assume that if they lose that extra cash flow per unit, that the overall sales will increase to a degree where it'll not only offset the cost of losing that extra $50/system, but will result in a net sales $ increase.
This coupled with the anemic release schedule that we know of, and I'd be more inclined to guess they'll hold onto this price until sometime 6 months before NX's release to try & move aging stock off their inventory.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 08:03:52 AM
So, we're on a multitude of effort here and just ripping out a ton of infistructure... but you know what comes at even MORE of a cost? the lost of the Gamepad's NFC reader. now we're talking about either having to bundle an NFC reader in with the console, or losing what HAS been working for them sales wise, which is Amiibo. there's at least 3 or 4 games out there entirely anchored on Amiibo (Mario Party 10, which would also lose the Bowser Party mode that even makes the game woth a damn without a gamepad, Animal Crossing Amiibo Party, Let's Tap! Amiibo...).
This is the most accurate statement of why Nintendo will never remove the gamepad from Wii U.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 09, 2015, 08:25:43 AM
A few facts:
Zombi is already on the xbox/ps4/pc without a gamepad so YES, I'm pretty sure it's very EASY for ubisoft to patch the WII U version. Fook that's a no brainer.
Splatoon's superjump can only be easy be mapped to a button since there's only FOUR possibilities (you're three-squad mates locations or home).
====================================== As for Enner's post.
Sony didn't stick with the $600 price tag for long. Dropped to $300 within a year. Sony made the adjustments as soon as it saw sales drop. Hell they even took a $100+ per console hit just to increase it's userbase. Nintendo continues to sell the WII U at A PROFIT nearly two years later? It was profitable at 2nd quarter of 2013. Sony made the choice to save the PS3, which for the most part it did (80 million units); vs Nintendo who hasn't done much to turn around the WII U.
========================================
As for Amiibo, you do realize most people are buying these damn things just to collect them right? I guess if you really needed to play them, Nintendo could release their own "portal" device which still way cheaper than an overpriced gamepad? $100 gamepad vs, $4 NFC reader.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Spak-Spang on October 09, 2015, 08:26:21 AM
I think there are several people that would buy a Wii U for the game library it has for 199.99. But the question is can Nintendo afford that price for the hardware? See giving away free games in package deals allows for a higher value to the consumer and allows the hardware to still sell at a profit. I think a two game pack in at the retail price of 299.99 is fair. But Nintendo Land can't be one of those games. It is old and people don't see it as a full retail game. Personally, I would go with a pack in game and a free digital code for any ONE Nintendo published game in the eshop. This would help Nintendo find which games people find valuable and will buy. Even if people use it get a game like Smash or Mario Kart, Nintendo could make more money of the DLC purchases...in fact...that sounds like a PERFECT packin. Wii U Smash and Mario Kart Bundle. You get 2 of the highest rated games. You have Splatoon and Mario as games people may want to buy with the system, and the games that come with the system had DLC that gamers will probably spend money on helping Nintendo get more funds.
Nintendo that is what you should do.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Spak-Spang on October 09, 2015, 08:37:37 AM
Gamepad is a must for the Wii U...it does differentiate the system.
1) DS V.C. 2) Many games do use the second screen. 3) Super Mario Maker basically requires it. 4) Splatoon makes great use of it. 5) Developers that are willing to make games for Wii U are making games with the understanding the Gamepad is the controller going back on that is the worst thing Nintendo can do. 6) Price cuts into lost profits per units sold is definitely not the answer.
Giving consumers extra value is what is important. If you have games you know people are wanting to play on your system, you give those games as the pack in. Tell the consumer it is OK to buy a Wii U, we will give you the games you want to play most. Smash and Kart is a $100.00 value. And then people can instantly play what they want and buy DLC for it... $12.00 for the Mario Kart DLC and over $28.00 for Smash Bros to be earned. Plus both of those games have local play for additional controller purchases.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 09, 2015, 08:58:29 AM
1. Is losing DS support really that big of a deal since you can play them on multiple systems as it is? You can find DS systems for $20 locally or you can get an 3DS for under an $100.
2. LOL? Many games? Most, I do mean the majority, like 80%, barely use the WII U as a secondary map at best and I played just about all the major hits so far (minus Yoshi's Yarn and Xenoblade X since they aren't released yet).
3. SMM, as I already stated, sure it makes it easier to make levels with but you can still do the same same thing with a controller as I pointed out Sony's Creation games like Little Big Planet.
5. What developers? 3rd party developers have all but fled the wii u so unless you know something I don't?
6. Why not? It's worked in the past, Sony's a good example both the PS1 or ps3; also nintendo's 3DS, so why couldn't the same be for the WII U? Higher user base = higher software sales = same revenue at the end.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ClexYoshi on October 09, 2015, 09:19:35 AM
Ymmeegod, we also have squid beacons to consider, not to mention the real time updating map, which I think would do a great disservice if you had that cluttering the screen and adding those extra button presses to defensive super jumps.
I know that ubisoft ported ZombiU about, but they STILL have no reason to patch the game considering it's age and how abysmal their products go on Wii U. the trifle of money that it'd cost to make this happen probably doesn't justify the means, because I got news; the people who'd buy a gamepad-less Wii U are not the same people who are going to be going out and buying a Wii U to play the game when they likely have other hardware that can play it.
Also, I'm pretty confident that Nintendo is trying to sell the toys with the NFC chips in them to also sell hardware and software along side them. the idea for Amiibo was to tie it back into their video games line, and so they will continue to want to support the NFC reader, which again, with the FREQUENCY of use with the titles I mentioned (amiibo must be scanned on EVERY turn of a game of amiibo party or animal crossing:Amiibo festival), you would not want this thing wired, and it'd be nice if it was also tied in with the controller that you're going to have to use to control the game.
For better or for worse, the Gamepad and the Wii U are inextricably linked. When you can answer for me why people should buy a... let's say $200 (Because let's face it; if they're packing in Pro controllers, those things are $40 a pop. they also aren't going to sell the console cheaper than the handheld.) underpowered system with barely enough internal storage for 2 digital retail games, a pathetic third party showing, and pool of first party stuff that just literally iterates on first and second party offerings they passed up on on the cheapy Wii, then you can tell me that a complete 180 is what Nintendo needs.
Quite franky, I don't even know what they need. The avenues I would have suggested have been tried and are dying a slow and horrible death out on the market just as the Wii U is.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 09, 2015, 09:29:35 AM
"Ymmeegod, we also have squid beacons to consider"
You can only place 3 of them. There's SEVEN unused buttons (9 if you count the analog ones) in Splatoon. As for "cluttering the screen" you can pop up a map or use a mini map. Either way you have to glance away from one screen to use the Gamepad which is about the same amount of time it takes to toggle a map on or off the main screen.
And you really missed the point about an NFC costing only a few dollars to make right?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ClexYoshi on October 09, 2015, 09:59:59 AM
"Ymmeegod, we also have squid beacons to consider"
You can only place 3 of them. There's SEVEN unused buttons (9 if you count the analog ones) in Splatoon. As for "cluttering the screen" you can pop up a map or use a mini map. Either way you have to glance away from one screen to use the Gamepad which is about the same amount of time it takes to toggle a map on or off the main screen.
And you really missed the point about an NFC costing only a few dollars to make right?
yeah, but... it's a conveninece matter. do they put an NFC reader in the future Wii U Pro controllers? they certainly wouldn't teather the thing to the console via USB, so... bluetooth? that's gotta jack up the price of making an NFC reader a little bit...?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 11:18:00 AM
I think there are several people that would buy a Wii U for the game library it has for 199.99. But the question is can Nintendo afford that price for the hardware? See giving away free games in package deals allows for a higher value to the consumer and allows the hardware to still sell at a profit. I think a two game pack in at the retail price of 299.99 is fair. But Nintendo Land can't be one of those games. It is old and people don't see it as a full retail game. Personally, I would go with a pack in game and a free digital code for any ONE Nintendo published game in the eshop. This would help Nintendo find which games people find valuable and will buy. Even if people use it get a game like Smash or Mario Kart, Nintendo could make more money of the DLC purchases...in fact...that sounds like a PERFECT packin. Wii U Smash and Mario Kart Bundle. You get 2 of the highest rated games. You have Splatoon and Mario as games people may want to buy with the system, and the games that come with the system had DLC that gamers will probably spend money on helping Nintendo get more funds.
Nintendo that is what you should do.
This is most likely the closest thing to a price cut people will get. Bundle with digital copies of Nintendo games. It costs Nintendo a lot less to entice people to buy this way than with a price cut, and they can advertise it as a value of the consumer saving the equivalent of a price cut.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 12:21:48 PM
Ymeegod, you're speaking from the standpoint of the consumer, which is fine. But as someone who works in a business that produces & sells consumer products, your statements are gross oversimplifications of not only how easy it'd be for a company like Nintendo to make these changes, but also how it would affect the usability of the Wii U in general and how they're perceived by consumers who DO like & use those features.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on October 09, 2015, 01:21:56 PM
Getting rid of the Gamepad makes no sense so soon after releasing Super Mario Maker, which is probably the best implementation of the Gamepad to date.
Nintendo should cut the price because the Wii U is not very enticing as a primary console because it has practically no third party support at all. All it has going for it are Nintendo's own games. People are okay with buying a Nintendo-only machine as a second console and that was actually part of the Wii's success. But this current price point is too high for that. Nintendo has to suck it up and admit the Wii U is what it is. For a discounted price it is worth it as a companion to the other consoles. At $300 it is too expensive for that role and it has too thin of a lineup to work as the main console for anyone but a devoted Nintendo nut - and they've already bought the damn thing. The Wii U isn't going to make a comeback but they've got some great games that I think would be enticing at a lower entry price.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 09, 2015, 01:27:44 PM
Someone is overly aggressive.
Consider Hex Heroes, an RTS where the Gamepad player has an overview of the world while four people play on the TV. That game was Kickstarted for Wii U and PC because the developers thought the Gampead was the only way to make the concept work.
Sure, someone COULD map the extend blocks from 3D World to a Wii remote. Sure, they could make the Gunship or the Arrow shots work with a Wii U remote. And yes, maybe if you wanted to jump to someone's Swuid Beacon without having a precise idea of its location, you could map those things to button presses. But to patch a vast amount of Wii U games that do have Gamepad controls would be an absurd notion, especially at this point in the console's life. Hell, it would have changed a majority of the Wii U library and we might not have the games we see on the system now. But to back away from that idea would show a weakness of potential, and that's not Nintendo's thing. It took them the entirety of the Wii's lifespan to make Skyward Sword (when other games did it sooner and arguably better), but they stuck through with the idea.
And do you collect Amiibo, Ymee? Because as someone who went from begrudgingly enjoying them to liking them a lot because of their technical use and compatibility with more and more games, and the fact that Nintendo is making some exclusively for certain franchises and even for certain games, I think there's a good amount of people who like actually being able to use them in a game.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 02:32:38 PM
The Wii U isn't going to make a comeback but they've got some great games that I think would be enticing at a lower entry price.
I'd wager this is exactly the reason why we won't get a price cut until end-of-life. This isn't going to influence sales in a meaningful way, why cut into their own profits then?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 09, 2015, 04:02:37 PM
Don't own an Amiibo at this point, Yarn Yoshi will be the my first but I do follow what they "unlock". So far they only things that I'm missing are a few weapons in Spaltoon and Hyrule Warriors but the cosmetic stuff I don't bother with anyhow. Besides missing out of Party mode in Mario Party X, which really didn't matter to me since there's no online play anyhow. Not a fan of disc-locked content. --------------------------------------------------------------------- You're really not cutting into profits when you factor in the increase in software revenue. Considering that most software that's sold on the WIIU is mostly published by Nintendo themselves, it would only have to sell 4 titles/console to remake an $100 loss. The WII U attached ratio's at 6/console so having more units out the door would actually net you about $50 more revenue /unit that you didn't have before.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ThePerm on October 09, 2015, 04:16:20 PM
Either lower the price or increase the amount of pack ins. That increases the value of the system without creating a real loss.
When Sega Saturn was failing Sega added a three game pack ins. It was daytona usa, virtua fighter, and virtua cop.
If Nintendo included Splatoon, Mario Kart 8, and Super Mario Maker well then sales would jump insane.
300 - $180 = $120
Hell they could sell it for $249.99 and add a 4th game. or a 5th game(nintendo land)
https://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/buynow/ They are already packing these games in.
$350- $240 = $110
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: lolmonade on October 09, 2015, 04:23:15 PM
You're really not cutting into profits when you factor in the increase in software revenue. Considering that most software that's sold on the WIIU is mostly published by Nintendo themselves, it would only have to sell 4 titles/console to remake an $100 loss. The WII U attached ratio's at 6/console so having more units out the door would actually net you about $50 more revenue /unit that you didn't have before.
I'll take your number above as fact for the time being - The Wii U's attach rate is currently 6 games per console, and let's assume they need a minimum of 4 new games sold to recoup their losses/eke a small gain.
Can we also agree Nintendo's current install base is mostly people who are enthusiastic about or are at least inclined to purchase several video games for a system? I'd additionally argue that while yes, the goal is to get a larger install base to push future software sales, racing to the bottom in cost also means getting eventually to the consumer buying the system for a select few games they want to play, then being done with it more or less. This means as more casual/non-Nintendo obsessed fans start buying this system, their assumed low attach rate that'll be closer to 1-3 games for their console will bring down that average.
Yes, those people exist. In fact, those people are the ones who buy things like video game consoles when they're low enough to be an impulse buy, play their one 2D Mario & Mariokart game, then are content with what they have out of it.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on October 09, 2015, 04:30:28 PM
The Wii U isn't going to make a comeback but they've got some great games that I think would be enticing at a lower entry price.
I'd wager this is exactly the reason why we won't get a price cut until end-of-life. This isn't going to influence sales in a meaningful way, why cut into their own profits then?
I was thinking "comeback" more in the sense of the Wii U suddenly becoming a very successful product that competes toe-to-toe with the competition. That is never happening. But I think a price cut would help them maximize the sales potential the Wii U does have. More Wii U's sold also increases the potential sales for all of the first party games.
In regards to cutting the Gamepad, as someone who works in software development, the idea of patching the existing games to work without them really sounds nutty this far in. Nintendo has to pay someone's salary for them to update their games to work without the Gamepad. Not just "someone" but multiple developers, likely from multiple teams since different teams worked on different games and an outsider working with the code would be more inefficient. And they have to test this stuff as well and that's more paid salary time. Are Wii U sales going to improve enough to make up the costs of that? Getting your employees to spend time doing something is usually the most expensive cost for a company.
And what about third party games? I know there aren't many but third parties would have to either have their game become incompatible with newer model Wii U's or they have to spend the development costs to patch it. They're already pretty peeved at Nintendo over the Wii U's poor performance and Nintendo needs them for the successor. How would they react to Nintendo plopping that in their laps?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 09, 2015, 07:00:27 PM
Let's face it, Nintendo may have stepped up their game with Splatoon, but the only way the Wii U will ever stand toe-to-toe with its competitors is if Nintendo went for the obvious current cash cows, the super hard dungeon crawler or the open-world, open-ended action adventure, which they're only getting with XCX and Zelda. And those are coming at the end of the console's life cycle.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on October 09, 2015, 07:11:23 PM
Let's face it, Nintendo may have stepped up their game with Splatoon, but the onl way the Wii U will ever stand toe-to-toe with its competitors is if Nintendo went for the obvious current cash cows, the super hard dungeon crawler or the open-world, open-ended action adventure, which they're only getting with XCX and Zelda. And those are comin at the end of thei console's life cycle.
The only way it could stand toe-to-toe would be if Nintendo somehow released a new Wii U game that is such a must-own killer app that it completely negates all of the Wii U's shortcomings in the minds of consumers.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 09, 2015, 07:42:49 PM
Oh, right. Yes, that is true as of right now. But the truth is, Nintendo is made up of a bunch of developers get like to make iterative 2D platformers more than anything else, which is likely the reason no one finds them relevant.
What would that game be for you, Ian? Just out of curiosity.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Mop it up on October 09, 2015, 08:39:48 PM
I don't think a drop to $249.99 is enough to make a difference, but I do think a $199.99 price point could have an impact, if it's feasible. The increase in game sales should more than make up for it, which have higher profit margins than hardware anyway.
It is a risky call though, because it's tough to predict what could happen.
And yeah, dropping the GamePad is a bad idea, especially at this point. For better or worse, it's the only real thing that makes the system more than just another Xbox 360/PS3. So I don't think its absence would help sales, even if it allowed for a drastic price decrease.
When the Wii U Pro Controller, Xbox One Controller, or PlayStation 4 Controller cost $50+ to maintain a certain level of quality and make a profit, I don't think it too much of a leap to imagine that the Wii U at $299 might be at cost or a slim profit.
I'm fairly certain that those controllers have huge markups. They can get away with that because they're somewhat of a necessity. Besides, Nintendo used to sell the Classic Controller for $20, and the main difference between that and the Wii U Pro is the battery. I can't imagine a battery costing an extra $30.
The Wii U is ancient technology at a premium price. If it's really that expensive to manufacture, something's gone screwy...
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Luigi Dude on October 10, 2015, 12:16:25 AM
Oh, right. Yes, that is true as of right now. But the truth is, Nintendo is made up of a bunch of developers get like to make iterative 2D platformers more than anything else, which is likely the reason no one finds them relevant.
Number of Nintendo 3DS million sellers - 25
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Number of Nintendo Wii U games that are million sellers - 11
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Yep Nintendo is making nothing but 2D platformers alright. ::)
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ThePerm on October 10, 2015, 12:34:19 AM
Oh, right. Yes, that is true as of right now. But the truth is, Nintendo is made up of a bunch of developers get like to make iterative 2D platformers more than anything else, which is likely the reason no one finds them relevant.
Number of Nintendo 3DS million sellers - 25
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Number of Nintendo Wii U games that are million sellers - 11
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Yep Nintendo is making nothing but 2D platformers alright. ::)
that's almost like a political burn. Someone says something wrong, and then someone else just shows statistics.
to answer other peoples questions about how Nintendo can't get all manufacturing costs down on wii u and Sony and MS can. Its because Nintendo are fucked over by manufacturers. They go to the same companies, but Nintendo gets the shaft.
The controller doesn't help though either.
Again, I think the best way to counteract the value of the other systems is to include a volume of pack-ins. This creates some reason for people to buy the system without screwing with the profit margin. It should of course only include games that have already sold a million. Why not buy the system if you get 4 games with it? That would be a no brainer.
of course they should sell a console version without the pack-ins just to outline the difference and to create that psychological effect. False choice. $250 no pack in. $300 1 pack in. $350 5 pack ins.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: broodwars on October 10, 2015, 01:37:55 AM
Oh, right. Yes, that is true as of right now. But the truth is, Nintendo is made up of a bunch of developers get like to make iterative 2D platformers more than anything else, which is likely the reason no one finds them relevant.
Number of Nintendo 3DS million sellers - 25
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Number of Nintendo Wii U games that are million sellers - 11
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Yep Nintendo is making nothing but 2D platformers alright. ::)
You showed statistics on games that sold over a million copies relative to how many of those are 2D platformers. That does not refute the claim that Nintendo makes mainly 2D platformers.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 10, 2015, 01:40:25 AM
And you don't need to drop the Gamepad entirely, you can just sell it separately for those that actually want to use it. Went down the top 200 WII U titles and counted about 10 games that rely heavily on gamepad support, most of the top 10 games don't.
What's a better value to a customer? The option to chose a $200 console and whatever games he/she wants or sold a packaged deal with a gamepad with games that he/she might not play or care for? Look at MS with the Kinect option. ------------------------------------------- Reality is you can BUY an USED WII U with gamepad for $200 straight from Nintendo but most shoppers (95%) don't know that.
========================
I snagged an used WII U for $130 that came with Super Smash Brothers WII U and a few VC titles. Gamepad was a bit scratched up but my buddy is never going use the damn thing for the games that he wanted to play, SSB, MK8, Bayonetta 1 and 2, and SML3DWorld. Managed to snag MK8 and SML3D for $30 new but nearly paid retail for Bayonetta ($45). Overall with taxes I was around $225.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 10, 2015, 02:00:10 AM
Dropping the GamePad was never a practical option, and it's certainly not one now given how little potential there is for any meaningful turnaround and the fact that both major releases for the system this year use it in major ways. You never want to segment your market, and that would be the mother of all segmentations. It's not something Nintendo would ever want to do, and it's especially not worth it at this point in the system's life.
Nintendo isn't going to make any major moves to try to sell more Wii U systems, and that's because they've given up. They're riding the system out until they have a replacement ready, and releasing the stuff they already had in the works to not piss off their core fans who they need on board with that. This is the correct and rational response to the situation they're in right now, and honestly I'm fairly surprised they weren't stubborn enough to keep fighting a lost cause out of some misplaced sense of pride.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Enner on October 10, 2015, 03:56:10 AM
When the Wii U Pro Controller, Xbox One Controller, or PlayStation 4 Controller cost $50+ to maintain a certain level of quality and make a profit, I don't think it too much of a leap to imagine that the Wii U at $299 might be at cost or a slim profit.
I'm fairly certain that those controllers have huge markups. They can get away with that because they're somewhat of a necessity. Besides, Nintendo used to sell the Classic Controller for $20, and the main difference between that and the Wii U Pro is the battery. I can't imagine a battery costing an extra $30.
The Wii U is ancient technology at a premium price. If it's really that expensive to manufacture, something's gone screwy...
Radio chips are expensive. Thinking back, a Gamecube controller costed $29.99 while a Wavebird was $39.99. Then you have Wii Remotes at $39.99 and Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 controllers at $49.99.
I don't see the Wii U as "ancient technology at a premium price." I see the gap as something smaller. Then again, this could be a personal view of electronics as I'm mulling over a high-performance Netgear Nighthawk router (~$200) or a TP-Link router (<$100). And the Nighthawk I have in mind isn't even the highest tier available.
It's hard to go beyond the gut when we can only guess the cost-of-goods and have no clue as to how Nintendo's logistics, contracts, and research & development pan out. Maybe this is me being too enamored by the Wii U GamePad's streaming performance, but perhaps the effort spent by Nintendo and Broadcom in developing the hardware and software for the GamePad streaming wasn't a cheap thing for Nintendo. Perhaps the proprietary or low-volume stuff in the Wii U is whats keeping the costs up. Or maybe Nintendo didn't or couldn't cut a good deal with manufacturers. Lastly, Nintendo could have a bunch of old stock sitting around.
Of course, there's always the possibility a Wii U only costs Nintendo $150-170 to make and ship. So now they are daring to squeeze as much profit as they can this year.
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Wii+U+Teardown/11796 If anyone wants something to help draw conclusions with, you can look at all the chips in this tear down.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Spak-Spang on October 10, 2015, 04:47:29 AM
Super Mario Maker as the launch game would have made Wii U sell.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Spak-Spang on October 10, 2015, 04:51:22 AM
I think If the rumors are true Nintendo needs to be pulling all unreleased software for NX 2016. If NX is 2017, then Nintendo has some time, but I would go pretty crazy and have a launch number of games that just demands attention. Even if the are just HD versions of classics. Add something new into it. Repackage it...along with some generally new games. But as for the Wii U just stay where you are now and just ride this out.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: NWR_insanolord on October 10, 2015, 05:09:16 AM
Number of Nintendo Wii U games that are million sellers - 11
Number that were 2D platformers - 3
Yep Nintendo is making nothing but 2D platformers alright. ::)
That is the most biased list I could possibly think of. It's like saying:
List of Nintendo Published Games for the Wii U: 47 Number of Games that contain 2D Platforming Elements: 19
Considering the imbalance of other genres, I'd say that's pretty upsetting.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on October 10, 2015, 01:29:47 PM
Hyrule Warriors is a 3rd party title that sold a million copies and was developed and published by Koei Tecmo at least in Japan, albeit with a borrowed IP. You could argue either way since 1st/3rd party is applied arbitrarily.
Don't know about you but I count 13 3rd party 3DS million sellers; Bravely Default, SF 4, Lego City, DQ 7, Yokai Watch 1, Yokai Watch 2, Yokai Watch 2-2, Yokai Watch Busters, Puzzle and Dragons, Monster Hunter 3U, Monster Hunter 4, Monster Hunter 4U, and Kingdom Hearts.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: BranDonk Kong on October 10, 2015, 02:28:00 PM
Hyrule Warriors is a Nintendo-published game that is completely based on a Nintendo-owned IP. It's not a 3rd party game, in that case A Link to the Past on GameBoy Advance is a 3rd party game.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on October 10, 2015, 02:57:06 PM
Hyrule Warriors is published by Koei Tecmo (at least in Japan) and is a Koei Tecmo game. They do their own marketing and it is the reason you see a game like Legends at Tokyo Game Show, but a game like Genei Ibun Roku #FE is not since Nintendo is the publisher and they don't go to TGS, despite the game being developed by ATLUS who does go to TGS. If Hyrule Warriors is first party then by that same logic so is Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Nile Boogie Returns on October 10, 2015, 03:02:53 PM
OF course they wont. It wouldn't make a difference since the "idea of Wii U is dead" not so much the system. Good software is still to be released and enjoyed. 3 years in to this Gen and Wii U can compete...software wise. At this point the 2.5million console gap between the Wii U and XboxOne wouldn't be closed by a price drop. IF Zelda was coming this Christmas... maybe a price drop would do something. Nintendo has no worthy enough holiday title to even consider a price cut or mega bundle.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Luigi Dude on October 10, 2015, 03:39:45 PM
That is the most biased list I could possibly think of. It's like saying:
List of Nintendo Published Games for the Wii U: 47 Number of Games that contain 2D Platforming Elements: 19
Considering the imbalance of other genres, I'd say that's pretty upsetting.
Where in the hell do you even get close to 19? Are you seriously considering things like Smash Bros or the min game in Splatoon as the same as full fledged 2D platformers that just ridicules.
There's only been 6 actual 2D platformers on the Wii U and even that's kind of stretching it since New Super Luigi which everyone loves to count as one of those games was low budget DLC made in a few months. Hell the majority of the 2D games Nintendo has released for the Wii U and 3DS are done by small teams on low budgets anyway.
Seriously, just say it, you're still butt hurt Retro made Tropical Freeze. Retro is the only major studio that has the actual manpower to have created the type of games you say Nintendo should be creating like a Dark Souls ripoff or an open world game but made a 2D platformer instead. Even the studio that makes the New Super Mario Bros games made Pikmin 3 and currently working on Pikmin 4 as well. Everyone else like HAL, Good Feel, Arzest are too damn small to make huge open world cinematic experiences. These studio's are best used to make 2D platformers since it fits their talents better and in the case of HAL and Good Feel, the employees actual love 2D gameplay and like making these games.
Of course we still don't even know what Retro's next game is so even complaints about Tropical Freeze are dumb at this point since it's been over 2.5 years. Oh no, Retro made an amazing 2D game instead of the dream whatever Western game they could have made in my head. Seriously, people, get the **** over it.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Mop it up on October 10, 2015, 05:59:09 PM
If Nintendo can't/won't lower the price, then the idea of including more games in the package is a good one. Digital games add nice value without having any meaningful impact on manufacturing. If they include SmUsh, Mario Kart VIII, and Mario Maker, that'd be a nice triple threat. Might as well toss in Nintendo Land too, it's nice to have around, but something that most people may not want to pay for.
Radio chips are expensive. Thinking back, a Gamecube controller costed $29.99 while a Wavebird was $39.99. Then you have Wii Remotes at $39.99 and Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 controllers at $49.99.
Again, controllers have huge markups. Not just this gen, but for a long time.
EDIT: Also, I'm fairly certain you're off about the GCN controller pricing, if you're talking USD. When the GameCube launched, its controllers were $34.99. The WaveBird also launched at $34.99, and then the corded ones dropped to $24.99 at that time, or maybe a little sooner.
That's a good point about the Wii U using proprietary parts, I hadn't thought about that. If the architecture is different from other systems/computers/devices, and its components are uncommon parts that newer devices doesn't use, it could actually be more expensive to manufacture older/weaker hardware. There's a tinge of irony to that, perhaps.
There are a lot of unknowns here though so I s'pose we can mostly speculate based on a few facts.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: pokepal148 on October 11, 2015, 12:00:57 AM
Zombi is already on the xbox/ps4/pc without a gamepad so YES, I'm pretty sure it's very EASY for ubisoft to patch the WII U version. Fook that's a no brainer.
You realize that you're referring to the same company that delayed Rayman Legends for 9 months yet STILL requires you to use the Gamepad in the Wii U version right?
Ignoring that small detail you honestly expect every single third party (even EA) to dig up their Wii U devkits from whatever closet they were buried under to patch gamepad-free modes for all their games? Heck Square Enix probably lit them up with gasoline as soon as they realized the Wii U isn't a mobile platform.
Oh and that's ignoring the fact that some of these developers/publishers are DEAD (THQ, Junction Point,) and I highly doubt you have a Tardis handy.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 01:19:27 AM
All EA games can be played with just the pro so they don't have to change anything, in fact most games can. Some games with have missing features like in MK8 where you can play pro only but you'll be missing out of the mini-map.
Rayman Legends would need a patch though, but the coding is already done so it's mostly copy&paste at that point. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 01:29:59 AM
Here's an list of all prosupported games already: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_U_games_that_use_the_Wii_U_Pro_Controller
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Evan_B on October 11, 2015, 02:20:27 AM
Where in the hell do you even get close to 19? Are you seriously considering things like Smash Bros or the min game in Splatoon as the same as full fledged 2D platformers that just ridicules.
Ah, ah, ah. If you can't take the ridiculous statistics heat, you shouldn't have given a ridiculous statistic, yourself. Which, yes, was what my whole post was riffing on. Since your statistic was ridiculous.
There's only been 6 actual 2D platformers on the Wii U and even that's kind of stretching it since New Super Luigi which everyone loves to count as one of those games was low budget DLC made in a few months. Hell the majority of the 2D games Nintendo has released for the Wii U and 3DS are done by small teams on low budgets anyway.
And that makes it okay for them to be 2D Platformers? Where's my eye roll emoticon?!
Seriously, just say it, you're still butt hurt Retro made Tropical Freeze. Retro is the only major studio that has the actual manpower to have created the type of games you say Nintendo should be creating like a Dark Souls ripoff or an open world game but made a 2D platformer instead. Even the studio that makes the New Super Mario Bros games made Pikmin 3 and currently working on Pikmin 4 as well. Everyone else like HAL, Good Feel, Arzest are too damn small to make huge open world cinematic experiences. These studio's are best used to make 2D platformers since it fits their talents better and in the case of HAL and Good Feel, the employees actual love 2D gameplay and like making these games.
I haven't made my thoughts on Tropical Freeze very public, but I will say that I absolutely love it and am in no way "butthurt" about it. However, of Retro has the manpower to make a larger game, then they should be working on something big instead of an iterative concept. Nintendo having a bunch of smaller studios under their belt who make the same things across consoles (I mean, if we got into all of the 2D platforming games on both 3DS and Wii U it would be an even sadder statistic) is precisely why they don't have an impressive software lineup for their system. It's also why I can barely recommend the Wii U as a good secondary system. What I am disappointed in is Nintendo's insistence on their safest IPs as fodder for half-baked design concepts. I get that they need to be reused a lot for brand recognition but they recycle mechanics and gameplay styles too quickly and it's getting old.
Oh, and the Wii U is overpriced, too. And Ymee, I think it all comes down to the fact that you're asking Nintendo to back down from the concept that tey marketed the console with- that's a fight you are not going to win. I own a PSTV and as nice as it is to have some of the Vita library to play on the big screen, it's infuriating that a number of games aren't compatible because of minor control aspects of a normal Vita
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 06:58:28 AM
Thanks man! I've been wanting to play Gravity Rush and Memories of Celcetta for so long!
Just don't update your Vita TV, because the latest update kills this exploit.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Shaymin on October 11, 2015, 10:17:46 AM
Someone asked for a fact check about the PS3 price stuff from upthread:
- The PS3 launched at a dramatic loss: some models $300+ (http://www.pcworld.com/article/127906/article.html) because of the cost of the Cell and the BR diodes - They dropped all models to $499 at E3 2007, then introduced a no-PS2 back-compat PS3 with a smaller hard drive for $400 that October - They sold the two systems until Gamescom 2009, when the Slim was introduced at $300 and replaced everything
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 02:05:55 PM
A few facts were a bit off. Sony launched with two configurations at fall of 06' (20GB for $500 and $600 for 60GB), in 07' it launched the $400 (40GB non-bc) and by 08' you can find the 40GB version for $300 while they had another 80GB $400 version which came with the dual shock 3, which replaced the sixaxis controller.
Some games had to be patched because they had "motion" control elements, some game were never patched but most of PS3 games were playable with dual shock 3 by 09'. Recall Lair and Heavenly Sword needed patches in order to play.
But this more or less confirms what I've been saying. Just because you started with something doesn't mean you can't change it. That's why I believe Nintendo should release an non-gamepad WII U option. Reduce the price of the WIIU and if people wanted the Gamepad they can just buy in separate. ---------------- I recall buying the PS3 (40GB) at $300 in winter of 08'. Very shocked when I learned it only had two usb ports instead of 4 like in the 20/60GB BC versions.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Soren on October 11, 2015, 02:30:24 PM
Nintendo is throwing the least amount of money possible at the Wii U in preparation for the NX. I still don't understand how those arguing for a Gamepad-less Wii U SKU can make their case considering that.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 05:08:42 PM
You're one of those that still believe the NX is going be a home console. Launching a new system COSTS a lot more than simply supporting an old one? That's like telling Sony to make the PSP3. :().
Better off for Nintendo to stay out of the home console market for the time being and focus on the next handheld system which I believe the NX to be. --------------------------- By 2016-2017 Sony's going control way to much of the market (40+ million) and it's going be hard for Nintendo to gain any 3rd party support at that point. Launching a new system just on first party games is what led to the failure of the WII U and I doubt Nintendo's looking forward to a repeat.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: nickmitch on October 11, 2015, 05:22:29 PM
I'm in the camp that Nintendo is trying to let the Wii U die gracefully (whatever that means), but not cutting the price is ridiculous at this point. Almost as much as a Gamepad less SKU. The last two major releases depend on it. Plus all their releases are giving Amiibo support which you'd have to make a separate device for just for those systems.
I think Nintendo could've tried the Sony route and just supported their console with a ton of up ports from last gen, but I think the time and money investment was too great. I think a few more HD GC ports could've really helped the system, but it would've been too late by the time they figured that part out.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Enner on October 11, 2015, 09:50:43 PM
You're one of those that still believe the NX is going be a home console. Launching a new system COSTS a lot more than simply supporting an old one? That's like telling Sony to make the PSP3. :().
Better off for Nintendo to stay out of the home console market for the time being and focus on the next handheld system which I believe the NX to be. --------------------------- By 2016-2017 Sony's going control way to much of the market (40+ million) and it's going be hard for Nintendo to gain any 3rd party support at that point. Launching a new system just on first party games is what led to the failure of the WII U and I doubt Nintendo's looking forward to a repeat.
I have doubts of the sales potential of a new Nintendo PS4-level (or less) home console in 2017. I just don't know who would buy the thing or even care to pay attention to it. However, Nintendo exiting the home console market sounds like a more disastrous move. Granted, anything can happen if Nintendo can craft a superb public message, but I can only imagine the message of "Nintendo gives up! Nintendo is dead to (home console) gamers!" to soundly subdue all attempts of Nintendo's comeback in this hypothetical.
Also, the launch of the Wii U in 2012 only saw Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U at launch. It would well in to 2013 until the likes of Lego City Undercover and Game & Wario. If anything, the launch window of the Wii U desperately needed more first party games. The promise or presence of first party games at the Wii U's launch period isn't what led the system to failure. I'd argue it was the most prominent thing keeping it alive.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 11, 2015, 10:40:46 PM
I didn't say exit but wait it out. Namely wait until PS5 is ready to launch or at least until the PS4 sales begin to decline. So 2019 or 2020. Longer wait for Nintendo means a much stronger lineup.
----------------------------------
The WII U actually had a successful launch but delays hurt them and what actually killed them was the Sony's hype train. Super Mario 3D World won/contender for GOTY in 2013 yet the WII U sales faltered and poor Wonderful 101 bombed.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Enner on October 11, 2015, 11:43:09 PM
I didn't say exit but wait it out. Namely wait until PS5 is ready to launch or at least until the PS4 sales begin to decline. So 2019 or 2020. Longer wait for Nintendo means a much stronger lineup.
I don't think Nintendo would be afforded the luxury of a "waiting out" period when any sort of cessation of Wii U software development and release and no new home console in the near future will be interpreted as an exit from the home console space.
Then again, maybe I'm giving the press and punditry of the enthusiast video game audience too much credit and importance.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 12, 2015, 03:03:47 AM
" any sort of cessation of Wii U software development"
I never stated that neither. They need continue supporting the console until the next one but I would make 3/4 titles per year and continue to make DLC for existing titles like SM3DL, Smash, Splatoon, Kart, basicailly anything that's still alive.
Nintendo's hasn't had a strong "console" finish since the N64 (which was largely due to Rare)--they need to change that because people have started to notice it's an trend with Nintendo's home systems. -------------------------------------------
Also, since third parties have dropped support, maybe Nintendo should/try to get publishers to allow Nintendo themselves to "port" over 3rd party titles. Sure you might not bank any money doing that but it would help software drought/diversity. I wouldn't bother with small fry titles, but aim at the notable ones like COD BOIII, ect. Cheaper to port a game than create a new title.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Caterkiller on October 12, 2015, 09:46:58 PM
I think Nintendo sitting with the Wii U until the next rotation of everyone else's systems would just put Nintendo in a worse position. The NX will most likely come in 2 form factors. I'm thinking they will arrive at the exact same time sharing the same library for the most part. There is no way to catch up to the PS4 but at least they can potentially drum up more interest and support than what they have now and have hopefully comparable hardware.
2019 or 2020 is a heck of a long time away. That's almost a full generation in and of itself. if this gen runs long like the last one by the time the PS4 runs its course, the NX's successor may be ready. Though I think the NX is the start of something completely different than what we are used to. Like iPhone upgrades or DSi/New3Ds style upgrades but with newer games still scalable to fit the older hardware.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 12, 2015, 11:30:09 PM
Can't be worse than losing 90% of your userbase. Sega's history shows what happens if you simply launch a new console after a failure. Sony could have easily abandon the PS3 but they instead bunked down and made a nice comeback (to bad they didn't do that for the PSVita).
----------------- "sharing the same library for the most part." Vita says hello. Lynx, Game Gear, ect. While that idea sounds great in theory it's never helped in the past so why would that change for the future? Usually what happens is people ask "why" would I need a ____ when I can already play it on _____.
Namely I would just buy an handheld NX and skip over the home console. If anything Nintendo would lose money (unless the start charging same prices between handheld/console versions).
Take SSB WII U/3DS. Overall the combined numbers will most likely match SSB Brawl but Nintendo actually loses a bit of money because SSB 3DS sold at a lesser amount. The overall fanbase didn't grow.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Stratos on October 13, 2015, 12:38:56 AM
So Nintendo failed to capture the "buy two copies of a game" crowd like they did with Pokemon? I figured that the double dippers would have given a better boost to the games overall.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 13, 2015, 12:58:20 AM
Well to be honest with you that % of dual owners is pretty damn low. I think GI had a poll of how many people who owned a pokemon title bought both titles and it wasn't even 5%. With Wifi nowadays it's somewhat pointless to buy both versions unless there's an reason or just an collector.
I know a few diehard SSB fans that ended up owning both versions. 95% of their playtime is on the WII U of course but having a portable versions comes in handy during those pesty midnight launches.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Luigi Dude on October 13, 2015, 01:10:09 AM
The 3DS version of Smash Bros is at 7 million while the Wii U version is at 3.8 million. Combined they've sold 10.8 million which is just 2 million less then Brawls lifetime total of 12.8 million. By the end of this year considering how well Nintendo systems do during the holiday and the legs Smash Bros has historically had, they'll have either surpassed Brawl or come pretty close.
By the time the next Smash Bros comes out both version combined should be a few million above Brawl so either Nintendo managed to increase the Smash Bros fanbase or quite a few people bought both versions in the end.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 13, 2015, 03:15:06 AM
2.5 million difference is still a long ways to go, unless Nintendo plans on releasing the "Select" version by this holiday I don't really see it gaining that much ground. An select version should add a million sales but will Nintendo even bother discounting the game? I wouldn't hold my breath for that to happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now just imagine how many sales could have happened if it was two separate games? How many on this forum own both versions of SSB vs owning both versions of the current Mario Karts 7 and 8.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Soren on October 13, 2015, 09:16:21 AM
I just don't understand. You want a discounted version of one of their best selling Wii U games just one year after it launched, but you also want Nintendo to ride the Wii U out until 2019-20?
This argument is moot though. Nintendo is not going to be releasing handheld and console versions of the same games.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on October 13, 2015, 09:52:55 AM
"discounted version of one of their best selling Wii U games just one year after it launched,"
You do realize that just about every publisher is doing it? I wouldn't mark it down to bargin bin levels but I can easily see them selling the SSB WII U version for $40 and maybe $30 for a BF special. The biggest customer for the holidays are usually casuals (parents) and all they do is look at the bottom line.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ClexYoshi on October 28, 2015, 07:51:55 AM
"discounted version of one of their best selling Wii U games just one year after it launched,"
You do realize that just about every publisher is doing it? I wouldn't mark it down to bargin bin levels but I can easily see them selling the SSB WII U version for $40 and maybe $30 for a BF special. The biggest customer for the holidays are usually casuals (parents) and all they do is look at the bottom line.
Nintendo are, for better or for worse, firm believers in the fact that their first party stuff should not lose market value until they do their greatest hits reprints or the game just does REALLY bad. I'm pretty sure I've seen copies of Pokemon X and Y out there that are still floating around their full retail value.
Now, if you wanted to include a pack-in that's lost a bit of shelf value, they should pack in Bayonetta 2. (/sarcasm)
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: famicomplicated on October 28, 2015, 08:08:21 AM
Just in case no one has said it yet, the answer is "yes". Yes in 2013 HELL YES in 2014 OH FOR CHRIST SAKE PLEASE NOW YES in 2015
I feel like a stuck record now, but they've needed a $250 bundle for so long it's beginning to physically hurt now. A $250 pre-loaded Splatoon or MK8 bundle would go down a treat.
I'll see you guys October 2016 where I'll copy/paste this exact same post again because they didn't do it this year.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Soren on October 28, 2015, 01:28:20 PM
Gamestop has an offer right now running where you get $100 credit towards the purchase of a PS4X1 if you trade in your last gen console. Depending on the bundle, it can be as cheap as $250 before taxes and other stuff. Nintendo needs a price cut desperately.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: michaelbaysuperfan616 on October 28, 2015, 03:59:26 PM
I am not sure the price drop would help at this point. It might have helped when Splatoon came out, or before that when Mario Kart or Smash but if they didn't drop the price for their big hits they sure as hell aren't going to do it for their 3rd tier crap that is coming out now. I would expect a bundle for Christmas/Black Friday and then it will quietly disappear with little fanfare right after NX launches.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on November 25, 2015, 12:55:53 PM
Well I bought a Wii U. No formal price drop obviously but there was a sale at Shoppers Drug Mart on the weekend. Because of the weak Canadian dollar the price actually went up at one point this year from $300 to $330. They were selling it for $250! $80 off? Yeah that might as well be a price cut and with no indication that the Smash/Splat bundle is getting released in Canada and what price point it would even come at if it did ($270 at some American locations; in Canada that would probably be a mere return to the $300 price point) I figured I wasn't going to get a better deal unless I waited for the NX to come out. The flyer advertised the Super Mario 3D World bundle but all they had left were the Mario Kart 8 one. I literally got the last Wii U at the store.
My thoughts? First of all Nintendo includes a pretty damn short HDMI cable. Better than no cable at all but I had to really rethink where to put the thing in relation to my TV. Set up took forever but that's not something only Nintendo is guilty of. Remember when you just plugged the thing into the wall and TV and it was ready to go? I imagine it must be brutal to get a game system for your kids for Christmas and have to **** around with updates and **** while they're impatiently waiting to play.
I was not thrilled at first about getting Mario Kart 8. I've gotten pretty tired of Mario Kart and this wasn't a game I was planning on getting (Pikmin 3, Mario Maker and Xenoblade are my trio of killer apps). It's actually totally great and I don't regret getting it! Getting the DLC with the bundle so I can race around with Link was pretty nice as well since I normally wouldn't bother with DLC. There is still the annoying part where I'm in first and get nothing but bananas and coins but I actually really like the anti-grav mechanic. Maybe I'm just missing F-Zero but this concept has allowed for a lot of really cool track designs and a certain freshness the Wii game lacked (it's big hook seemed to be motion controls, which I hate). Now I haven't played the 3DS Mario Kart so maybe some of the new ideas I'm seeing were introduced there (I know hang-gliding was). It's a lot of fun anyway and one of the best Mario Karts I've seen in a while.
And yesterday I was at my local used game store and found Pikmin 3! Haven't played it yet but I'm pretty happy to have found it so quickly.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on November 25, 2015, 01:19:08 PM
I own Mario Kart DS and pretty much hate it, but there is something about 8 that makes me love it. There is a sense of speed and the tracks feel alive with lots of movement and animation, whereas DS feels very static and just dull. I suppose I like 64 and Double Dash but mostly for the battle mode and co-op mode respectively.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: MagicCow64 on November 25, 2015, 02:00:24 PM
Hope you enjoy the console Iansane, I'm sure many folks here could give you recs up the wazoo.
I was in the same boat regarding Mario Kart 8. I've basically never liked the series, but I love 8. I don't know what exactly finally put it over the top for me, but it did. If it had a proper campaign it would finally dethrown Diddy Kong Racing as my favorite karter.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Phil on November 25, 2015, 03:21:05 PM
I own Mario Kart DS and pretty much hate it, but there is something about 8 that makes me love it. There is a sense of speed and the tracks feel alive with lots of movement and animation, whereas DS feels very static and just dull. I suppose I like 64 and Double Dash but mostly for the battle mode and co-op mode respectively.
I really liked a lot of MKDS's courses. I really wish Mission Mode would return with its boss battles and stuff. Made that version one of my favorites.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: nickmitch on November 25, 2015, 08:31:08 PM
Ian, will you be picking up Smash Bros or Splatoon? It seems like you may have been interested in that bundle.
Also, are there any eShop titles that pique your interests?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Khushrenada on November 26, 2015, 12:09:25 AM
Which bargain bin did you select it from?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on November 26, 2015, 12:23:32 PM
Ian, will you be picking up Smash Bros or Splatoon? It seems like you may have been interested in that bundle.
Also, are there any eShop titles that pique your interests?
Nothing on the eShop is specifically interesting me right now but I haven't really looked, just going by reputation. The bundle interested me since with two games that both look pretty good it seemed like the best deal. They're more games I'm sure I would enjoy if they came with the system but not titles I'm specifically interested in. They seem like impulse buys if I could find them cheap, which probably won't happen any time soon since they're first party titles.
Actually that's something else that hurts the Wii U a bit. If you go buy one of the other consoles it isn't hard to find tons of good titles in the cheap bin at Wal-Mart, some of which aren't even a year old. Nintendo's titles don't drop in price like that and they don't have enough third party support to help fill the bin. The cheap bin Wii U titles are like shovelware based on kids TV shows and stuff like that. I don't think "have more games in the cheap bin" is something to specifically aim for but it is just something that makes the console a little less enticing to consumers. It's like during the N64 years it was really favourable for the PlayStation to have these cheap bargain titles while N64 cartridges remained expensive. It's something that would fix itself if they improved third party support.
Oh and my Pikmin 3 disc isn't working. Gives some error about the disc being dirty, though it can tell that the disc is Pikmin 3. The store has a good policy about returning used games within 30 days so I'll get my money back. My concern is that since Mario Kart is pre-installed, this is the only physical Wii U disc I've tried on my console. For all I know my disc drive is defective. I have a Wii U owner friend coming by in about a week so I think I'll ask him to bring another disc so I can test.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on November 26, 2015, 12:40:08 PM
You could try a Wii disc if you have one of them lying around.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ThePerm on November 28, 2015, 09:25:46 PM
Ian, hope everything works out with the Wii U situation.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Nile Boogie Returns on November 29, 2015, 01:22:13 AM
This is truly a sign of the end times and the Wii U was the number one selling item on Black Friday @ Target (not a joke)
Honestly Ian, Welcome to the club. Mario Kart is damn near perfect. One of the systems MAJOR flaws is Disc Durability. Its not the bottom of the disc you have to worry about, its the top. Any game I have with the artwork scratched WILL NOT WORK. Check the Top of the disc for scratches if the screen gives you a "dirty" msg.
#apocalypse
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: BranDonk Kong on November 29, 2015, 08:08:41 AM
#1 selling item at target.com - that might actually be just the #1 selling console, or I guess iPads are listed individually and not lumped together. Because if target.com sold an iPad every second, and Wii U actually sold better than that, then that's over 86,4000 sales in one day, on one website, which is extremely unlikely for our 32GB friend.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Nile Boogie Returns on November 29, 2015, 12:33:51 PM
#1 selling item at target.com - that might actually be just the #1 selling console, or I guess iPads are listed individually and not lumped together. Because if target.com sold an iPad every second, and Wii U actually sold better than that, then that's over 86,4000 sales in one day, on one website, which is extremely unlikely for our 32GB friend.
But Ian just bought a Wii U, anything is possible now..and I'm only half way joking. If $250 was what everybody was waiting for ...I doubt it but who knows? America loves an underdog story.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on November 30, 2015, 11:13:25 AM
#1 selling item at target.com - that might actually be just the #1 selling console, or I guess iPads are listed individually and not lumped together. Because if target.com sold an iPad every second, and Wii U actually sold better than that, then that's over 86,4000 sales in one day, on one website, which is extremely unlikely for our 32GB friend.
But Ian just bought a Wii U, anything is possible now..and I'm only half way joking. If $250 was what everybody was waiting for ...I doubt it but who knows? America loves an underdog story.
The system has some awesome games, it just doesn't have enough of them because of the third party situation. It needs a more impulse-buy price point, where you don't mind having spent the money when you're only going to get a handful of games for the thing. I imagine I wasn't alone in waiting for a price cut so high black friday sales don't surprise me.
Oh and I tried a Wii disc and it worked fine. Friend is coming by with some Wii U games on Friday so I'll have tested for sure. Haven't tried the top of the disc yet, since that makes no sense and I wouldn't think to do such a thing unless someone specifically told me to. I don't even understand how the Wii U can't read the disc when it can detect that is Pikmin 3! Obviously it can read the damn thing if it could figure that information out!
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: michaelbaysuperfan616 on November 30, 2015, 02:21:07 PM
Great to know there is one more Wii U user in the world. As for games to recommend, I am not sure what your tastes are but I highly recommend Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Captain Toad, NES Remix 1 and 2, and of course Super Mario 3D World. As for eshop games I would suggest doing some research and watching some videos, there are so many games I heard were great that turned out to be lame.
Only eshop game I can recommend that I am certain is Wii U exclusive would be unEpic unless you already had it on Steam. I had it on Steam but still got it on Wii U because it's a great game and there is also Shovel Knight but I think that one might not be Wii U exclusive at all.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on November 30, 2015, 03:54:11 PM
Top of the Pikmin 3 disc has a big scratch. Bummer. That gives me more confidence though that it is the game and not the console.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: TOPHATANT123 on November 30, 2015, 04:06:44 PM
You may have already noticed but Nintendo's proprietary Wii U discs have curved rounded edges unlike a typical straight edge disc, it's weird.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Stratos on November 30, 2015, 05:00:06 PM
I actually love the curved edges on U discs. I hope it carries on to the next console. Just a nice little touch I wish they had been doing since they began using discs.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Nile Boogie Returns on November 30, 2015, 09:40:33 PM
I actually love the curved edges on U discs. I hope it carries on to the next console. Just a nice little touch I wish they had been doing since they began using discs.
But the Next System is Cartridge based.
Ian please buy Wonderful101 to fill your Pikmin3 void (I know its not the same game or even the same genre shhhh)
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Louieturkey on December 01, 2015, 06:58:04 PM
I actually love the curved edges on U discs. I hope it carries on to the next console. Just a nice little touch I wish they had been doing since they began using discs.
I'd rather they focus on the discs being durable. The PS3 and bluray discs are extremely durable. I wouldn't worry about a scratch on top or minor scratches on the bottom surface because of the protection layer. Sounds like that is not the case with the Wii U though.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on December 01, 2015, 07:56:51 PM
I don't really care what the media looks like as long as it:
1. Works consistently. 2. Doesn't raise the price of games. 3. Doesn't discourage third party developers from supporting the console.
The Wii U is the only disc based ANYTHING I've ever owned where I'm being told to beware of scratches on the TOP of the disc. If the curved edges are to blame, to hell with them. It's just the thing that holds the game program on it. It's a tool, so practicality should be the priority.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ymeegod on December 01, 2015, 08:47:49 PM
Actually any blu-disc has that issue. The top layer to the bottom record layer isn't very thick and what happens is "light" gets though making it hard for the laser to read correctly.
Had a few movies that my PS3/Ps4 couldn't read even though the disc was right out of the packaging. :( http://lis3353.wikispaces.com/file/view/Blue_ray_CD_DVD.jpg/30220078/Blue_ray_CD_DVD.jpg
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Adrock on December 01, 2015, 10:17:28 PM
The Wii U is the only disc based ANYTHING I've ever owned where I'm being told to beware of scratches on the TOP of the disc.
Every used game store I've been to (including but not limited to GameStop) refuses to accept any disc based media if there's a top scratch. It may play fine, but there's a good chance it won't so no surprise that second-hand shops wouldn't want to take that chance. This isn't a Wii U exclusive problem. It's just another disadvantage of discs. They're cheap to press, but you can't have it all.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: BranDonk Kong on December 01, 2015, 10:59:52 PM
Yes, that's how it's always been. It's not so much as the top scratch is actually damaging the data of the disc, it's more about the laser not being reflected back down properly.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: nickmitch on December 02, 2015, 10:55:54 AM
Yes, that's how it's always been. It's not so much as the top scratch is actually damaging the data of the disc, it's more about the laser not being reflected back down properly.
I learn so much from these forums.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Stratos on December 02, 2015, 04:15:14 PM
Brandogg is the man when it comes to game system repair issues.
Speaking of which: Brandogg, are you familiar with GBA SPs? My sound fades in and out on the speaker and pressing down on the speaker seems to get the sound back for a bit. I suspect something is loose and may have to open it up to fix it.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Ian Sane on December 02, 2015, 05:01:41 PM
The Wii U is the only disc based ANYTHING I've ever owned where I'm being told to beware of scratches on the TOP of the disc.
Every used game store I've been to (including but not limited to GameStop) refuses to accept any disc based media if there's a top scratch. It may play fine, but there's a good chance it won't so no surprise that second-hand shops wouldn't want to take that chance. This isn't a Wii U exclusive problem. It's just another disadvantage of discs. They're cheap to press, but you can't have it all.
Never heard of it being something to look for until now but if it affects other consoles then I'll give Nintendo a break on this.
I just a physical copy of Super Mario Maker for my birthday. Played it last night with no issues so it looks like my Wii U console is fine, thankfully.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: ThePerm on December 04, 2015, 03:16:11 PM
I would return the disc, but if for some reason that doesn't work...nail polish.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: UncleBob on December 04, 2015, 08:49:57 PM
Yeah, top-scratches have been a thing since CD & laserdiscs... :D
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: BranDonk Kong on December 05, 2015, 11:24:04 AM
Stratos - it sounds like a short in the wire connecting the speaker. Could possibly be the speaker itself, but much more likely just a bad solder joint. Any issues with headphones?
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Stratos on December 05, 2015, 02:26:38 PM
I'd try but the SPs need special Nintendo headphones which I never bought. Might be able to borrow one from a friend to test though. Thanks for the idea. I could always open it up and re-solder the wire.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: michaelbaysuperfan616 on December 08, 2015, 01:14:07 PM
So if rumors of shortages are true I doubt a price cut is likely to happen anytime soon.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Spak-Spang on December 08, 2015, 06:58:29 PM
If the rumors of shortages are true...then Nintendo isn't continuing manufacturing Wii Us, and that is a sign of the end...or a new model release.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: michaelbaysuperfan616 on December 10, 2015, 10:10:28 AM
I put my money on them phasing it out quietly shortly after they launch NX next summer. I am sort of on board with NX being two separate but connected pieces of hardware but I am almost positive they are lying about continuing to support Wii U into next year.
In fact I am at the point where I want to buy a Wind Waker special Wii U and then pray that Zelda U actually doesn't make it to Wii U at all and gets completely moved to NX when they realize it's not even doing Game Cube numbers so it's not worth the effort then the collectors edition consoles skyrocket in aftermarket value when it's discovered Wii U is the only Nintendo home console to never get a proper Zelda game released. That would be a good way to start of Iwata's successor's career.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: Mop it up on December 30, 2015, 07:27:59 PM
Wait wait wait, Ian Sane got a Wii U?! Man, I really gotta visit more often...
Pikmin 3 is a magical game. It can warm the heart of even the grinchiest of grinches.
Title: Re: Should/will Nintendo follow PS4 price cut
Post by: michaelbaysuperfan616 on January 18, 2016, 03:46:56 PM
I think it is safe to say they stuck to their guns and kept the price where it was. I wonder how much longer they can keep quite on releasing anything NX or QOL related.
