Topic: The Wii U and next Gen: What can Nintendo do?

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm not sure Mario Kart will do that much. Have we seen numbers on the 3DS version? This one's likely to be rushed like MK7 was, so I wouldn't expect anything groundbreaking from it. Smash Bros. will sell hardware, but I can't see any way that's coming before the end of the fiscal year, and after that it would be too late if something else hadn't come earlier.

[TJ Spyke]

I'm not sure Mario Kart will do that much. Have we seen numbers on the 3DS version?

According to Nintendo, Mario Kart 7 has sold 8.08 million copies (which makes it the 2nd best selling 3DS game according to Wikipedia): http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/software/3ds.html

[NWR_insanolord]

Well then I guess it probably did do something for the hardware. Still, I hope they've got more than that to bring in the crowds. As amazing as EAD Tokyo's Mario games are, they haven't proven to be mass market hits the way the 2D games are.

[Kytim89]

What if Nintendo goes ahead and makes Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U and then does something similar to Super Luigi U where Nintendo releases the base Kart game and the makes a DLC game called "Smash Kart" that essentially Smash Brothers meets Mario Kart. It would have all of Nintendo and SEGA's IPs concentrated into one race, and perhaps Sumo Digital could develop it for Nintendo.

[NWR_insanolord]

I think Mario Kart 8/U/Whatever getting DLC in the form of new characters and tracks is pretty likely, though I wouldn't go as far as you're suggesting.

[pokepal148]

i think the system will need a price drop to compete with subsidy models of the xbone(and ps4)

[NWR_insanolord]

I really don't think we're going to see a price drop before the end of the fiscal year. I think Nintendo really regrets how quickly and sharply they dropped the 3DS price and are going to be very hesitant to bring down the Wii U's. I also can't see there being a huge market for the subsidized Xbox One.

[Adrock]

Wii U's main issue is its shortage of games rather than its value. It's already sold at a loss. The Wii U Deluxe Set is a good price for what's in the box. I could see Nintendo dropping the price of the Basic Set just to move those units or begin phasing it out now that they're readying a white Deluxe Set.

Many perceived 3DS as overpriced especially after Nintendo practically admitted to hiking up the price due to positive feedback at E3. That said, I still feel that 3DS needed a price drop though $80 was perhaps too steep of one. Worked out for me though.

[NWR_insanolord]

I think they needed to drop the 3DS price, but I think once the games were there it would have been fine to only bring it down to $200 instead of going all the way to $170. They overreacted when the main issue was lack of software, and I think that's what they're trying to avoid right now with the Wii U.

[Adrock]

I agree though I probably wouldn't have bought one at $200 even with the Ambassador Games so no complaints on my part.

If Nintendo does drop the price of Wii U, it definitely won't be $80.

[BranDonk Kong]

The Wii U 8GB version might be sold at a loss, but they make up for it with the overprices 32GB version. I bought one...but it definitely doesn't cost an extra $100 to upgrade 8GB flash to 32GB, print a disc, and throw in a charging stand.

[NWR_insanolord]

It was such a slim loss (buying even one game along with it made you a profitable customer to Nintendo) that they're probably already making money on them by this point.

[Adrock]

but it definitely doesn't cost an extra $100 to upgrade 8GB flash to 32GB, print a disc, and throw in a charging stand.

If the difference between the Basic and Deluxe Sets was $100, I would have strongly considered the Basic Set.

The Deluxe Set extras probably don't cost Nintendo $50. The cost of buying those separately is certainly more than $50 though.

[BranDonk Kong]

I thought it was $250/350...my bad.

[shingi_70]

Nintendo just needs to show off games and give people a reason to buy the system.
I'd disagree with insanolord about a subsidized Console not garnering that much marketshare.

[MagicCow64]

With that $240 Target sale, there was no way I was going to consider shelling out an extra $100 for the deluxe set. If they do anything with price cuts, I imagine it'll be putting the basic at $250 to run out the stock and then just have deluxe sets with maybe a few different pack-in game options.

[ThePerm]

as Shinji_70 says. All they need to do is have some games available for the system. If Wii taught us anything really, its that graphics don't matter. That being said I want games with good graphics. Nintendo should deliver though. Wind Waker remake looks great, and so did that Zelda Demo(2 years ago). Shadow of the Eternals looks great, and you folks should fund it(dont let bad business news get in the way of art) (see link in signature).
Whatever Retro is working on is probably amazing, just by the pedgree.

[shingi_70]

A price cut and a decent amount of new software will do the system well. The problem is that Nintendo put a ton of 3DS software into the pipeline while knowing the Wii U was probably going to suffer the same problem. It didn't help for various reasons launch windows software got pushed back for whatever reasons. So far to be released
New Super Luigi U June 20th
Game and Wario June 23rd
Wii Party U TBA summer
Wii Fit U TBA
Pikmin 3 August 4th
The Wonderful 101 September 15th
 
That's a good summer line up but a few of those game should have been out earlier. I think now they need to focus on the their titles on the fall and invest in more internal developed eshop games.
 
 
 

[pokepal148]

a good late summer lineup in fairness...

[Bizzy_Fatso]

A price cut and a decent amount of new software will do the system well. The problem is that Nintendo put a ton of 3DS software into the pipeline while knowing the Wii U was probably going to suffer the same problem. It didn't help for various reasons launch windows software got pushed back for whatever reasons. So far to be released
New Super Luigi U June 20th
Game and Wario June 23rd
Wii Party U TBA summer
Wii Fit U TBA
Pikmin 3 August 4th
The Wonderful 101 September 15th
 
That's a good summer line up but a few of those game should have been out earlier. I think now they need to focus on the their titles on the fall and invest in more internal developed eshop games.
 

I don't see any of those titles driving hardware purchases, and once Fall hits no one is going to pay attention to the Wii U.  Nintendo better hope both Sony and Microsoft have terrible launch lineups and/or hardware shortages this holiday season...

[shingi_70]

They might not drive hardware but they'll keep the core Nintendo fan sated until Nintendo can soft reboot the console this fall.  A big problem the 3DS had in its first year was dire support for the first summer it launched. Now the next step is getting content out along with a price drop ready for the fall.
The only game that's been a truly missed opportunity at launch has been Wii Fit U being delayed when it would have done much better at launch or earlier this year.
I think Nintendo's marketing really has to go through an overall and maybe the bundles they offer. They should advertise their online systems much more and even incentive the bundles a bit more to enforce the Wii U being able to go online.
I was talking too a buddy last week about next gen and the new consoles and he brought up the fact that the One and PS4 can share video and screenshots. He was pretty surprised when told him that the Wii U was already capable of sharing screenshots.
Nintendo has a lot of features on the Wii U that they don't advertise and Microsoft and Sony will push the hell out of their similar features.

I mean the above screenshot is just a boring version of Wara Wara plaza and probably doesn't display as much information. (not sure if the one supports live tiles)

[Drizzt]

      When I went to Kmart yesterday I discovered a new Wii U marketing campaign. On the counter in the electronics department was a box that said free take one. Inside the box was a 31 page illustrated book that explains what the Wii U is, what it does, the services it provides, the games (descriptions of the games are given as well) , the differences between the two models, a comparison chart between the Wii U and the Wii and a list of FAQs.

This has to be pretty current since Lego City Undercover and Wii Street U are listed as available now.

It's nice to see Nintendo trying to inform potential customers.

[smallsharkbigbite]

I think they needed to drop the 3DS price, but I think once the games were there it would have been fine to only bring it down to $200 instead of going all the way to $170. They overreacted when the main issue was lack of software, and I think that's what they're trying to avoid right now with the Wii U.

I think they needed to get the base unit to $170 so the XL could be under $200.  I think that is the key point for consumers and that the XL sells better.  I know if a sub $200 XL didn't exist I wouldn't own a 3ds.

With that $240 Target sale, there was no way I was going to consider shelling out an extra $100 for the deluxe set. If they do anything with price cuts, I imagine it'll be putting the basic at $250 to run out the stock and then just have deluxe sets with maybe a few different pack-in game options.

I know I'm the old now and out of touch.... but I don't see how you can use the basic without buying a $70 external hard drive.  I'm buying all retail discs and downloading only VC and Wii U Ware titles and I expect the 32 gig to hold up for the life of the unit.  We'll see how much dlc gets released, maybe I'm too optimistic.  To me the extra space is worth $70.  Then you have the other add-ons which aren't too bad. 

[Oblivion]

      When I went to Kmart yesterday I discovered a new Wii U marketing campaign. On the counter in the electronics department was a box that said free take one. Inside the box was a 31 page illustrated book that explains what the Wii U is, what it does, the services it provides, the games (descriptions of the games are given as well) , the differences between the two models, a comparison chart between the Wii U and the Wii and a list of FAQs.

This has to be pretty current since Lego City Undercover and Wii Street U are listed as available now.

It's nice to see Nintendo trying to inform potential customers.

Wait, what? My store doesn't have these.

[MagicCow64]

I think they needed to drop the 3DS price, but I think once the games were there it would have been fine to only bring it down to $200 instead of going all the way to $170. They overreacted when the main issue was lack of software, and I think that's what they're trying to avoid right now with the Wii U.

I think they needed to get the base unit to $170 so the XL could be under $200.  I think that is the key point for consumers and that the XL sells better.  I know if a sub $200 XL didn't exist I wouldn't own a 3ds.

With that $240 Target sale, there was no way I was going to consider shelling out an extra $100 for the deluxe set. If they do anything with price cuts, I imagine it'll be putting the basic at $250 to run out the stock and then just have deluxe sets with maybe a few different pack-in game options.

I know I'm the old now and out of touch.... but I don't see how you can use the basic without buying a $70 external hard drive.  I'm buying all retail discs and downloading only VC and Wii U Ware titles and I expect the 32 gig to hold up for the life of the unit.  We'll see how much dlc gets released, maybe I'm too optimistic.  To me the extra space is worth $70.  Then you have the other add-ons which aren't too bad. 

Eh, I don't plan to download retail games and I'm pretty constitutionally opposed to DLC. If I fill up the existing space with eShop games or something I can just get a cheapo external to pad it out a bit. Although 8 gigs is a joke, so is 32 gigs at this point.