Nintendo's Pre-E3 Brief

[zerocool84]

Looks like Nintendo didn't want to wait for its proper E3 press conference to spill some Wii U details early -- it just used its preview event to show the finished version of the Wii U controller, called the Gamepad, as well as a TV remote app. The Gamepad is decidedly wider than what we saw a year ago, with comfort clearly the top priority in other areas: the analog sticks have been moved further outwards, and the back grip has been tweaked in the process. There's also no doubt as to where to interact with NFC gadgets, either, as a dedicated spot below the directional pad will take all your device-to-device taps. As for the remote, it looks to be a straightforward number pad navigator with a programming guide. Between this and the Wii U Pro Controller, though, it's clear Nintendo hasn't been sitting still in the past year, and has some home theater ambitions in the process. We're curious as to what Nintendo is saving up for its bigger gala on Tuesday.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/03/nintendo-shows-final-wii-u-gamepad-tv-remote-app/

Aside from officially detailing tweaks to its Wii U Gamepad today, Nintendo has announced a secondary controller for those who'd prefer a more traditional control method. Dubbed as the Pro Controller, the wireless peripheral has a remarkably similar shape and button layout to what comes standard with the Xbox 360 -- albeit with a duo a of joysticks. You'll also notice that it's the first Wii U accessory to be colored black, rather the the white we've become accustomed to. It doesn't stop there either. While showing more video of how the Gamepad functions, it and the Wii U were also shown in the murdered-out hue for the first time -- eye pleasing to say the least. There's not word on pricing for the Pro Controller or whether the system will be released in both black and white just yet, but we'll be sure to bring you more details from the show floor at E3 when we have them.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/03/nintendo-teases-wii-u-pro-controller/

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced Miiverse today, a "Mii universe" for Wii U, during the company's Nintendo Direct pre-E3 livestream. Miiverse is an online system planned for the company's upcoming system that displays a Mii plaza on the Wii U GamePad – it's looking like a much expanded version of the Wii's Mii Plaza feature.

The plaza will show Mii characters gathering around game icons and feature a messaging system for players to connect with players they both do and do not know, as well as a variety of other asynchronous functionality.

Miiverse will also inhabit the 3DS and mobile devices (Android, iOS) in the future, though it will not be available immediately at launch.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/03/miiverse-announced-for-wii-u/

One of the biggest open questions in Nintendo's Wii U strategy has been its online component. The company has wasted no time in outlining some key aspects of its connected feature set in a pre-E3 presentation, including a community messaging system and a (presumably HTML5-powered) web app. A pre-recorded video demonstration centered around a player struggling to progress through a game. He turned to his Wii U Gamepad and took to a community section of the console's network to ask for assistance (if anyone saw the Super Guide feature in New Super Mario Bros Wii, this looks very similar.) A mobile web app that integrates with the Wii U was also briefly revealed.

The preview also highlighted the console's ability to throw web content from the Gamepad to a TV screen, and users will be able to take advantage of a virtual "curtain" enabling them to make a dramatic reveal to friends. Yes, really.

Miis are set to offer expanded functionality in Nintendo's next-generation hardware, with the company collectively referring to players creations as the "Miiverse." There's additionally a social networking component when you turn on the Wii U and see a huge gathering of Miis — something that CEO Satoru Iwata said the developers have taken to call "Mii Wara Wara," from the Japanese word "warawara" (loosely translated to mean the general noise created by such a crowd). It's admittedly not all clear at this point, but Nintendo still has its official press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning, just before the doors open for E3 — we should have more information as the week continues.

Update: We originally reported that the network would be able to be accessed through an iOS app, but it looks like it will be a platform-agnostic webapp.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/3/3061382/nintendo-wii-u-online-gaming-ios-app-community-messaging

Well I guess we'll have to wait until E3 to see some games. I'm very meh about this but if the games at E3 look great then that could sway me. I sold my Wii because after I initially got it when it came out, good games were far and few between and I got sick of the motion gaming after a while.

 

[Rage187]

It reminds me of the Vita, it looks like it is going to fail.

 

[mmntech]

It reminds me of the Vita, it looks like it is going to fail.

Things aren't so hot for Nintendo right now. The fact that big 1st party titles are still being released for the DS is telling. Sadly my 3DS has been collecting dust for want of a good game beyond Mario and n64 remakes. My parents have a Wii, which I got them for Christmas, but they don't play it anymore. I should really pick up Skyward Sword for it.

 

[fr]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...1-000-yen-in-tokyo-trading-as-yen-surges.html

Sony is doing poorly as well.

 

[Rage187]

And that pro controller looks like the 360 controller bent over the PS3 gamepad.

 

[gorcorps]

And that pro controller looks like the 360 controller bent over the PS3 gamepad.

So much like a 360 controller that I'm wondering if there'll be any legal battles.

Anyway, apart from the built in TV control app I still don't see the appeal of this stupid tablet/controller thing.

 

[mmntech]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...1-000-yen-in-tokyo-trading-as-yen-surges.html

Sony is doing poorly as well.

That goes without saying. The evolution of a Sony product is to create a fantastic piece of hardware, charge too much for it, then spend the rest of its life progressively alienating its fanbase. I think Sony has a tickle trunk full of dick moves. Written on coloured balls perhaps that say things like "add mandatory proprietary accessory" or "remove an advertised feature".

 

[borisvodofsky]

Kids are growing up too fast, they're all buying condoms and booze with their lunch money. It's this over-sexualized environment, too much is too much.

 

[dizzie]

That goes without saying. The evolution of a Sony product is to create a fantastic piece of hardware, charge too much for it, then spend the rest of its life progressively alienating its fanbase. I think Sony has a tickle trunk full of dick moves. Written on coloured balls perhaps that say things like "add mandatory proprietary accessory" or "remove an advertised feature".

LOL! You just made my night, thanks.

 

[007ELmO]

Rage187, as stupid as Wii-U may be to some. Please remember, Nintendo is the revolution of successful game controller modifications. I may be missing some here, too...

First controller with more than 1 face button (NES).
First controller with shoulder buttons (SNES)
First controller with analog stick (N64)
First wireless controller (wavebird).
First controller with rumble (rumble pak).
First mainstream gyroscopic controller (wii).

Nintendo has failed in some of it's ideas, but they are the creative ones. If you remember one of the E3s that Wii was initially being introduced, Sony scrambled together 6-axis motion control on their PS3 - with a helicopter game/demo. The responsiveness was laggy, and the guy was constantly crashing the helicopter. It was an obvious copy-cat attempt at the wii controller, failed miserably, and people were actually laughing in the crowd audio of that video.

-ELmO

 

[JackBurton]

Nintendo had a surprise hit with the Wii, and don't think they will be that fortunate this time around. This has FAIL written all over it.

 

[007ELmO]

Nintendo had a surprise hit with the Wii, and don't think they will be that fortunate this time around. This has FAIL written all over it.

I won't agree or disagree with that statement, but the Wiimote had FAIL all over it by 90% of "us" when we saw it at E3.

A remote?

Then you get PS3 move and Kinect.

 

[Sulaco]

What always ends up killing Nintendo consoles, and has really for the last 3 generations, is 3rd party support.

They launch, there's a new gimmick, usually awesome first party Nintendo games released and in the works, everyone gets excited, and a smattering of decent 3rd party games.

Then a couple of years go by, many of the 3rd party games start drying up, then the AAA Nintendo games start disappearing, and before long, the system is collecting dust.

Until that changes, and I can really be excited about a Nintendo console game that doesn't have "Mario", "Zelda", or "Metroid" in the title, nothing will change.

 

[007ELmO]

Nintendo survives on its handhelds. Although I personally think 3DS is a total flop and POS, the DS-Lite kills everything, but I will always buy Nintendo consoles just for Mario, Zelda, and Metroid (alas).

 

[ader098]

I was hoping the big N would mention something about the hardware specs in their brief but that is not their style and I doubt that they will mention anything at E3 either.

Hopefully we'll be able to guesstimate the capabilities of the WiiU based on the software shown on the show floor.

I can't help but feel the success of the WiiU with the core gamer solely depends on the hardware capabilities of the WiiU.
Slightly more powerful than the PS360 and the core gamer will wait and see what Sony and Microsoft have next year.
Whereas more capable hardware will push the desperate for next-gen hardware, core gamer into picking one up (assuming software makes use of the hardware).

Nintendo can still have a successful console if they build up enough hype to attract the the Wii fan base and the casual gamer into upgrading/buying a WiiU.
I just feel like the tablet/controller is not revolutionary enough to give Nintendo the same success the Wii had.:\

Even though my last Nintendo system was the N64 I consider myself a Nintendo fan boy and will still pick up a WiiU sooner or later I just hope Nintendo has enough common sense not to gimp the WiiU hardware wise (cpu/gpu/ram).

 

[ViRGE]

The Pro controller seems odd, but without trying it out it's hard to say anything definitive. The nice thing about the 360 controller is that the location of the sticks means it's cross-stabilized - most of the time you have a thumb near the top and a thumb near the bottom so that they aren't applying pressure uncomfortably to one half of the controller. Now the overall design of the Pro controller is better than the old Classic Controller Pro for sure, so its really only a question of the above.

As for the Miiverse, it'll be interesting to see what exactly Nintendo has in mind. Friend Codes sucked, but specifically making it hard for your kids to communicate with strangers certainly carved out a useful niche.

 

[SithSolo1]

I was hoping the big N would mention something about the hardware specs in their brief but that is not their style and I doubt that they will mention anything at E3 either.

Hopefully we'll be able to guesstimate the capabilities of the WiiU based on the software shown on the show floor.

I can't help but feel the success of the WiiU with the core gamer solely depends on the hardware capabilities of the WiiU.
Slightly more powerful than the PS360 and the core gamer will wait and see what Sony and Microsoft have next year.
Whereas more capable hardware will push the desperate for next-gen hardware, core gamer into picking one up (assuming software makes use of the hardware).

Nintendo can still have a successful console if they build up enough hype to attract the the Wii fan base and the casual gamer into upgrading/buying a WiiU.
I just feel like the tablet/controller is not revolutionary enough to give Nintendo the same success the Wii had.:\

Even though my last Nintendo system was the N64 I consider myself a Nintendo fan boy and will still pick up a WiiU sooner or later I just hope Nintendo has enough common sense not to gimp the WiiU hardware wise (cpu/gpu/ram).

As much as I would like it to be powerful I have my doubts that it will be anything worth writing home about.

 

[dagamer34]

I won't agree or disagree with that statement, but the Wiimote had FAIL all over it by 90% of "us" when we saw it at E3.

A remote?

Then you get PS3 move and Kinect.

The Wii got a ton of console sales, but I wonder how many games it sold per console... But I don't think Nintendo can play the "innovative" console card twice. All of the "hardcore" gamers have left for the 360 or PS3.

 

[Soleron]

The Wii got a ton of console sales, but I wonder how many games it sold per console... But I don't think Nintendo can play the "innovative" console card twice. All of the "hardcore" gamers have left for the 360 or PS3.

Attach rates

Xbox 360 - 9.5
PS3 - 8.5
Wii - 8.2

And Wii has sold 1.5x the consoles

 

[DaveSimmons]

Attach rates on the 360 would be even higher if people hadn't needed to buy 2-3 of them

 

[HeXen]

The idea of simplicity seems a bit backwards comapred to original Wii. From motion sensor, more simple button layout back to more complicated sticks and many buttons?
Almost as if their unsure of what direction to go and what target audience to target.

So we now have an xbox 360 that plays Mario and adds a tablet onto the gamepad with some tv related gimmicks?
Why don't they just do what Sega did and forget hardware and put their mario's and zelda's on multi platform so everyone can be happy? they can make money off other hardware like peripherals and of course the gameboys.

 

[reallyscrued]

I want games.

Games and specs.

 

[mmntech]

Rage187, as stupid as Wii-U may be to some. Please remember, Nintendo is the revolution of successful game controller modifications. I may be missing some here, too...

First controller with more than 1 face button (NES).
First controller with shoulder buttons (SNES)
First controller with analog stick (N64)
First wireless controller (wavebird).
First controller with rumble (rumble pak).
First mainstream gyroscopic controller (wii).

Nintendo has failed in some of it's ideas, but they are the creative ones. If you remember one of the E3s that Wii was initially being introduced, Sony scrambled together 6-axis motion control on their PS3 - with a helicopter game/demo. The responsiveness was laggy, and the guy was constantly crashing the helicopter. It was an obvious copy-cat attempt at the wii controller, failed miserably, and people were actually laughing in the crowd audio of that video.

-ELmO

Not quite. Analogue sticks and wireless controllers predate those by a long shot. The Atari 2600 had both 19 years before the N64 came out.

 

[dagamer34]

Not quite. Analogue sticks and wireless controllers predate those by a long shot. The Atari 2600 had both 19 years before the N64 came out.

The Atari 2600 had a digital joystick (up, down, left, right is all it registered) and the Wavebird was the first official wireless controller. This is important because 3rd party wireless controllers often had horrible battery life.

 

[BD2003]

Not quite. Analogue sticks and wireless controllers predate those by a long shot. The Atari 2600 had both 19 years before the N64 came out.

Every single thing on that list is adapted from something that came first on the PC or another console, with the possible exception of the rumble pak. They get way too much credit for innovation...all they have ever done is popularize good ideas.