Topic: Shigeru Miyamoto asks the gaming public and media to give the Wii U some time

[Phil]

A new CNN interview with the Mario and Zelda creator shines some light on his thoughts of Nintendo's struggling system:


http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/tech/gaming-gadgets/nintendo-miyamoto-wii-u/index.html


Interesting read.

[Caterkiller]

It's all we can do and all we ever did.

[broodwars]

Miyamoto & Co. have been asking us to give the Wii U "some time" for going on 2 years now, because "people just don't understand the Wii U yet" or some such excuse. It's getting old, especially in light of how much Nintendo's competitors seem to have their act together right now.  At some point, they're going to have to hold up their end of the bargain and release some games for the thing, as well as ensuring that other companies release games for the thing. So far that hasn't been the case, but we'll see what comes of E3.

Right now, my Wii U isn't even hooked up right now and I never have a reason to even consider thinking about it in light of all the games the other consoles and handhelds are getting right now.  The longer Nintendo takes to release worthwhile software on the thing, the harder it will be to convince a multiconsole owner like myself to care about the next "big" thing coming out for Wii U.  Time isn't something Nintendo has the luxury of begging for, so E3 had better be ****ing amazing this year.

[Phil]

I'd say the one-two punch of LEGO City and Monster Hunter are well worth hooking it back up, unless you have no interest in those genres/series.


I know with LEGO City I've had 55 hours with it, and soon I'll be getting MH3U to enjoy. Sorry you're not finding the system as enjoyable. :/

[broodwars]

I'd say the one-two punch of LEGO City and Monster Hunter are well worth hooking it back up, unless you have no interest in those genres/series.

Well, don't get me started on Monster Hunter.  I've mocked that series enough elsewhere, & I feel I've said all I need to say about it.  I don't generally have an interest in the LEGO games, but I do have LEGO City and it's...ok. I found the open world rather weak and progression oddly grind-based.  As a result, I haven't felt compelled to go back to it in a while, especially in light of better games elsewhere, but it's a solid "B" title (much like the rest of the "better" titles on Wii U).  However, Nintendo needs big name, system-selling "A" titles right now and so far all they'll say on that is "we need time!" Translation: "We diverted all our teams away from Wii U titles to save the 3DS and now we have nothing ready!"

[Pixelated Pixies]

There are two consoles launching later this year. So unfortunately, I don't think Nintendo have a lot of time to work with here. I think we're rapidly reaching an inflection point where those people who have not yet bought a Wii U, but were open to the prospect of buying one, are now beginning to look at what Nintendo's system offers in comparison to it's soon to be competitors. Honestly? It's not a flattering comparison.
 
The Wii U doesn't need more time. It needs a shot in the arm. It needs a Mario Kart.
 
 

[ShyGuy]

Miyamoto has a different concept of punctuality than some.

[Luigi Dude]

There are two consoles launching later this year. So unfortunately, I don't think Nintendo have a lot of time to work with here. I think we're rapidly reaching an inflection point where those people who have not yet bought a Wii U, but were open to the prospect of buying one, are now beginning to look at what Nintendo's system offers in comparison to it's soon to be competitors. Honestly? It's not a flattering comparison.

Until they find out the next Xbox won't play used games and the PS4 is over $500.  Then suddenly the Wii U looks a whole lot better.

[Shorty McNostril]

I never thought I would say this, but Nintendo has pretty much lost me as a customer. At least one who is willing to pay anything over a budget price for their products. I find it sad to say that pretty much anything available on Wii U is (or will be at some point) is also available on 360 or PC.

And to rub more salt into the wound, looks and performs just as well on a 7 (?) year old system. What possible reason do I have to pay Nintendo money for a system that does not give me any useful functionality that I don't already have? The only possible reason I can think of is first party titles.

[NWR_insanolord]

First party titles have been the primary reason to own Nintendo hardware (consoles, at least) for almost twenty years now. I'm not sure how you're only realizing that now.

[Shorty McNostril]

Oh I realize that. But aside from the Wii, they have not been the ONLY reason.

Miyamoto says give them time. I think it's far past that already.

[smallsharkbigbite]

I get that Nintendo has done a poor job communicating that this is a different console.  They shouldn't have used the Wii name.  People at my work who have a Wii don't even know this console exists or how it is different than a standard Wii.

I get that it's disappointing that there hasn't been many games recently and Xbox/PS3 are getting exclusives. The next consoles from them are going to struggle as well.  Those systems will have game lulls up front as well.  And will probably struggle to get off the ground at the $400-$500 price points.  I know Wii U sales have been historically bad, but I'm not convinced this isn't the new norm. 

What I don't get is that Wii U, while not necessarily great support, has better 3rd party support than the Wii had.  Batman, Deus Ex, Assassins Creed, Ninja Gaiden?  These may be ports but they are great ports of great games.  When sales pick up, it'll be hard for 3rd parties to ignore the Wii U.  It's just the nature of the industry now that exclusives only come with moneyhats.

The Wii U has standard control scheme which was my big issue with the Wii.  NSMBU was 10x better than NSMB Wii just for the fact that I could play it without motion controls. 

Maybe I'm just older and have less time for video games, but I'm not that disappointed in the Wii U.  The games I've played for it are top notch.  It looks amazing.  I'm not sure if the PS4/Xbox720 will have better physics engine, but once you're at 1080p there isn't much to be had on a graphical level.  I won't own a 4k TV anytime soon so owning a 4k capable console isn't going to help me now.

It seems to me that the return of standard controls and HD Nintendo games are worth the price of admission to me. You know there will be more Mario 2D and 3D.  You know there will be Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart, other Nintendo games exclusive.  If you still are a Nintendo fan after all this time, it seems to me like you shouldn't have expected what the last few consoles have not produced.  That being the best 3rd party experience amongst the consoles.  The games will come, they just aren't there now.

The Gamecube is one of my favorite consoles of all-time.  The games were just fun on it.  Their were some great 3rd party exclusives and the Nintendo games were excellent.  It sold like crap, was a running jokeline, and missed most 3rd party games.  So what?  I just want to have fun and I can have that with the Wii U.  It's a video game system, it's not the cure for cancer. 

[Ceric]

Yeah Broodwars is a Monster Hunter hater just to be a hater of hater series.  Its hip of him like counterculture hippies with hats and Bongos at a coffee club.

[NWR_insanolord]

Oh I realize that. But aside from the Wii, they have not been the ONLY reason.

I would actually argue that the Wii was the system where it was the least of a problem. It had far more worthwhile third party exclusives than the N64 or GameCube. Granted, that's not saying all that much, but I'd argue with your singling it out.

[Caterkiller]

I know hardware wasn't finalized for sometime but with the huge drop off in titles from 2011 and 2012 I completely expected something more by now. At the moment my U is getting used like crazy with Monster Hunter and Lego. They are both very satisfying games so I'm content for now.

The jump to HD and trying to surpass the visuals of Sony's and Mincosofts last machines could be playing a huge role. It just seems like a lot of time has passed in the last 3 years with very few major home console releases. I really believed we'd be playing Pikmin by now. Now I'm upset somewhat about all that but when it comes down to it, if they don't think the games are ready then I'm personally more than happy to wait. In this world of instant everything that just doesn't fly after nearly 5 months of being released.

Of course if Rayman was released in February like it was supposed to would people be complaining of no games period or just switch it over completely to no Nintendo games?

[alegoicoe]

Nintendo just needs to release some games, the Wii U is a very nice system with a lot of potential, but without games is just another machine sitting in peoples houses. Also, Nintendo needs to have a kickass E3 and show early and future adopters reasons to hold on to their systems and not look towards other systems for gaming needs.

[Retro Deckades]

There are two consoles launching later this year. So unfortunately, I don't think Nintendo have a lot of time to work with here. I think we're rapidly reaching an inflection point where those people who have not yet bought a Wii U, but were open to the prospect of buying one, are now beginning to look at what Nintendo's system offers in comparison to it's soon to be competitors. Honestly? It's not a flattering comparison.

Until they find out the next Xbox won't play used games and the PS4 is over $500.  Then suddenly the Wii U looks a whole lot better.

I agree, Luigi dude. So many people seem to be putting all of this faith into these future unreleased systems from Sony and Microsoft, when there is no telling how they will actually function or be priced. Neither Sony or Microsoft have spotless records, and it seems to me that people seem to forget that when discussing Nintendo's mistakes (and vice versa).


Personally, I won't have any problem waiting for new forthcoming games because there are many titles being released on the Wii U that I haven't played before. I'm currently playing through NFS: MWU, then I'm moving onto Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders II, and then Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I'm also someone who will play through a game until completion (usually 20 - 40 hours), so I don't find myself buying a new game every week. I hope that those who say they don't have enough games to play on the Wii U are at least giving different kinds of games a chance. However, if they are only waiting for Nintendo-developed games to play, then they shouldn't be surprised since Nintendo usually only releases one or two games per quarter on a given system anyway, no?

[Pixelated Pixies]

Sometimes I hate Nintendo fans so much.

[rlse9]

Nintendo can have all the time it wants to make the Wii U a great system with a great library of games.  Take all of the time they need.  But until they get to that point, I'm going to hold off on buying one.  And the problem is, I think that's how most people are looking at it.

[pokepal148]

There are two consoles launching later this year. So unfortunately, I don't think Nintendo have a lot of time to work with here. I think we're rapidly reaching an inflection point where those people who have not yet bought a Wii U, but were open to the prospect of buying one, are now beginning to look at what Nintendo's system offers in comparison to it's soon to be competitors. Honestly? It's not a flattering comparison.
 
The Wii U doesn't need more time. It needs a shot in the arm. It needs a Mario Kart.
 
 

what we know of the PS4's processor isn't that pretty either, an 8 core processor that, if it's as stock as we have been lead to believe, will get its ass kicked by an i5 from early 2009. the Wii U architecture(as stock) dates to 2008 i believe so the comparison isn't that big(and the Gamecube has shown us how much specs add to preformance(they don't)), the Wii U,(or the PS4,) may have some suprises for us, this next gen will be about running in native 1080p(at 30fps most likely), something the Wii U has proven itself with,
the deciding factor for the Wii U being next gen is a game like watchdogs, is it closer to the version launching with the PS4 or are we looking at the 360 version with a touch screen...

[RABicle]

When's Zelda coming out?

especially in light of how much Nintendo's competitors seem to have their act together right now.

HAHAHAHAHA. Man this is as funny as the time you said Sony should make a kickstarter for Lara Croft in Sony Allstars

[Adrock]

It's interesting that Miyamoto once again mentioned Wii U not needing to be the center of entertainment. I get it even if it's misguided. I haven't really been playing games on my PS3 either, but it's my DVD/Blu Ray player therefore it's always plugged in (and Netflix is better on PS3 because I can't turn off the GamePad when watching on my TV unless that has changed). That could have been the Wii U for the past few months. I'd be more inclined to dick around Miiverse or play some games if I was already using the console. Out of sight, out of mind.

And while I know Miyamoto is specifically talking about the GamePad here, I think people would be far more patient with Wii U if Nintendo didn't bungle almost everything about the console thus far. He talks about making the console "more stable" over the next few months. Why was that even a problem? The egregious updates, long load times, lack of TVii at launch are forgivable even if they should have been avoided to begin with. Nintendo is just getting around to fixing the first two some five to six months after launch. Continuing to tell people to pay $25 for a first party LAN adapter when building it into the console would have cost Nintendo a handful of lint makes me feel like they just don't get it at times.

I saw a white Wii right next to a white Wii U for the first time on Saturday and I had to do a double take. I've had a Wii since December 2006 and a Wii U since launch and I still almost confused the two. I still maintain that this and the name won't be problems in the long-run, but again, they should have been avoided. It's like Nintendo saw a road full of potholes and said, "**** it," then slammed on the gas pedal. It's not that Nintendo is in a heap of trouble because once they start actually showing their games, most of us will have to wipe the drool from our chins. However, for Nintendo to ask everyone to be patient when they've done everything to make everyone skeptical about the console as a whole is, what's the word I'm looking for? Sad? Ridiculous? Bullshit? Pick one. They seem so unprepared and they really shouldn't be. I can buy that we haven't seen a fraction of the GamePad's potential, but for everything else, get your damn act together.

[broodwars]

Man this is as funny as the time you said Sony should make a kickstarter for Lara Croft in Sony Allstars

Yeah, you get back to me when you actually know what you're talking about. I'll know that Hell has frozen over.

I asked a hypothetical question on Twitter if people would be willing to fund some sort of Kickstarter effort to get some of those 3rd party characters into PSASBR (Cloud Strife, Crash Bandicoot, etc.), considering folks' main complaint w/ the game was those characters' exclusion. I didn't say Sony should do it. I didn't say they were going to do it. I didn't say the 3rd parties would agree to it.  I was just interested in gauging interest.

But hey, that's what happens when I try to talk calmly and logically to someone like you.  And that's why I blocked you on my Twitter feed after you spammed me with idiotic insults.  Pity I can't do the same with you here.

Now that that bit of derailment is DONE, I'll put up the on-topic reply...

[broodwars]

especially in light of how much Nintendo's competitors seem to have their act together right now.

HAHAHAHAHA.

Yeah, that's right. Sony has their act together. The PS3 continually sells at least double if not 3-4x what the Wii U sells every month, 3rd parties aren't reluctant to actually release software on the PS3, and there has been a great deal of positive buzz (especially among the Indie community) for the upcoming PS4.  And while the PS4's social features don't appeal to me and we had an entire NFR episode where I criticized the hell out of their February reveal (and their handling of the Vita), there does seem to be excitement for what the device offers.

Then there's Microsoft. The 360 is the best-selling console every month in recent memory (typically 4-5 times what the Wii U sells), and although the Kinect has only ever properly worked in the Dance Central games, it has maintained public interest in the 360.  Microsoft didn't "win" this last console generation in terms of console sales, but they sure seemed to win it in terms of software and public perception.  They are THE platform for the most popular series released every year in many people's eyes, especially if there's online multiplayer.  The rumors about the Durango aren't promising and Microsoft seems to be chasing the Indies away right now, but right now they have THE dominant games platform by a wide margin.

Then there's Nintendo. You all know how badly Nintendo has ****ed-up the Wii U so far: almost no 3rd party support, no big console-selling games since launch, no consumer confidence, and extremely poor console sales every single month this year.  As for the console itself, it barely works right now and is well-known for crashing, leading to two STILL-upcoming firmware updates this year to try to fix it.  The 3DS and Wii U are still largely separate entities, especially when it comes to their eShops.  We're going to be spoon-fed fee-locked updates to a portion of Virtual Console games we've already purchased, with Nintendo completely silent on their handling of new VC titles once the service officially launches.  There is next to no excitement for the thing, and no one wants to make new games for it right now outside of a handful of ports and LEGO City.

So yeah, I have said and I will say that Nintendo's competitors have their act together right now, and Nintendo does not in any way; shape; or form when it comes to the Wii U.

[Adrock]

I think Sony and Microsoft have their act more together than Nintendo currently as long as we're talking about PS3/360. None of them have gotten it right, just less wrong. The comparison also isn't especially fair considering how much longer both consoles have been on the market than Wii U. What Sony announced and Microsoft is rumored to be announcing soon makes me terribly skeptical of both PS4 and Durango. Even with Wii U's current issues, it's still (currently) the least shitty choice to me compared to PS4/Durango.