Wii U

[Scapemage]

The controller's pads and buttons look exactly like those of a DS! Geesh, it's almost not even a console.

[Swamper]

It's not a console, it's a controller.

[jschild]

Looks very likely the Wii U might not be coming out as quick as hoped...

According to 01Net's report, the hardware powering the Wii U simply isn't up to scratch to do what Nintendo needs it to: Namely, run not just the console, but beam data to its fancy touch-screen controller as well. Apparently developers working on the console are having to use "tethers" to ensure serviceable communication between the Wii U and its controller, but even then things still aren't working that well, and progress is reportedly halted daily with repeated software updates for the pad.

The source spilling the beans--who, given the publication, sounds like it could be a European third-party developer--also says that these problems have caused a delay in the console's launch, an original June 2012 release now being pushed back to sometime around September.

[nyys]

So basically 2013 sometime.

[jschild]

Hopefully they won't make the same mistake as they did with the Wii (they had promised 1:1 controls, ala MotionPlus) but to meet release date rushed out controllers that didn't perform nearly as well as they had claimed.

[jschild]

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...R62XM9l_v5_bWg

Looks like developers are claiming it won't be as powerful as current gen machines, which is disappointing. I wasn't expecting them to blow them out of the way, but I was hoping they were planning on getting into the 3rd party game. Since PS4 and 720 will be out a year or 2 after, this means the Wii-U as a 3rd party platform will have a very short shelf life.

[lefton4ya]

Un-facebooked link: http://www.gamefly.com/news/article/.../#.T3sqIPC3N8E
Nintendo could be the next Sega if they don't step up, as really the system is more like Dreamcast with its VMU and it coming out shortly before the next Sony machine so people waited and did not buy it.

The next "next gen" system needs to bring back an idea long forgotten that was once the next big thing in video games: HOLOGRAMS!

[Aldin]

I think Nintendo mostly wants the family and kid market and is no longer interested in heavily pursuing the mainstream crowd. If they can create/nurture a market for the 6-12 year old there may be enough business there for them to be a niche company. Now they won't turn down some interest from the older crowd in Mario, Zelda, Metroid and various handheld stuff, but I just don't see them trying for the bleeding edge of hardware performance.

~Aldin, long since on other platforms for anything "serious"

[jschild]

No one is saying they should try for bleeding edge, but to release a new system that is weaker than the current gen that's about to phase out is silly. It's locking them out of the next gen. Couple that with a market that makes its money in the older market and I see rough times ahead for the console.

It's already the system with the least games bought per gamer, least hours played, etc.

I think it's quite telling that it started off the strongest by far of all the systems, yet it's the only one that is dying right now. Both the PS3 and 360 are performing very strongly, both in console sales, and more importantly, in game sales compared to the Wii. Couple that with yet another gimmick controller, no bluray or even DVD movie playback capabilities, and now confirmation from developers that it's weaker than a 360 spells long term problems for the system unless it's insanely cheap and all the evidence points to that being a short term plus but a long term negative.

Just would hate for Nintendo to have a system fail as they do bring some amazing 1st party games to the table.

[Aldin]

I dunno. I don't think they want to make computer-esque platforms for playing games. I think they still want to make the magic for the kiddo/non-gamer crowd. The thing that's gonna kill Nintendo in that regard is tablet gaming. If you think about it, the Wii U is a hybrid tablet/platform game system. Hmmm... I wonder if the Wii U controller will support being used the same way we use tablets in addition to interfacing with the game console? I think that's where the Nintendo compass is eventually pointing at any rate.

~Aldin, who would actually love having another tablet option at the house

[Lord Pyre]

I was perfectly fine with the Wii being underpowered comparatively, but this is pretty disappointing that the new one won't even be at the current gen's level. I was looking forward to seeing some pretty graphics this time around. Ah, well.

[johnny139]

They're porting Arkham City and Assassin's Creed III to it - if it's not up to PS3 strength, it's at least comparable, and that's fine by me.