Nintendo is in a little bit of a pickle. Clearly from the Nintendo Direct Video and the E3 Press Conference there is many forms of entertainment the Wii U is going to offer. How all this fits together is the puzzling challenge for us to figure out. Consoles today need to do a lot more than just gaming in today's techy world. The Regginator Fils-Aime even stated that there is way more to Wii U than what they could fit into their one hour presentation. The conference was dedicated to games as it should be. This is where some of my concerns about Wii U rise from their grave.
Nintendo in fact did show a lot of their first party games for Wii U. Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros U, and Nintendo Land all seem like they will be great fun and will be worthy of your time. Nintendo Land includes all of Nintendo's mascot in one party game that helps showcase the new gamepads potential to new users with 12 mini games. I get Nitnendo's strategy here, I really do. It started with the Wii and it is continuing on Wii U. Nintendo wants people to play games together in the living room and now in Miiverse. For sure I would have an amazing time getting torqued with friends while playing Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros U. But all of these first party games feel safe and not all that exciting. I'm looking for something to speak to me, to let me know that money is no object. I want to feel like I can't live without this new gamepad in my hands.
Third parties were also given a lot of face time this year. Which is something Nintendo is really trying to drive home. Warner Bros and Ubisoft both took the stage to talk about what games they had coming Wii U's way. Batman Arkham City Armored Edition, Scribblenauts, Rayman Legends, Assassins Creed 3, Darksiders II, Mass Effect 3, Trine 2, Aliens Colonial Marines and ZombiU to name a few. Mainly the problem here is that a good percentage of these games were already released on other consoles. Granted Assassins Creed 3, Aliens Colonial Marines and Scribblenauts are new unreleased games on the horizon for Nintendo's new baby, but these games will appear on other consoles. I feel like a few more big announcements from third parties such as a Call of Duty game or even BioShock would charge up the excitement level a bit.
But I don't think these third parties games are the real issue for me. What's nagging at me on the inside is that there is only one original IP or no huge first party game such as a new Metroid Prime game or a real Mario Galaxy style sequel for the systems launch. There needs to be a system seller in the mix that Nintendo needs to sweeten the pot with. With the Wii, the Wiimote motion controls were new and exciting. The Wii U's Gamepad just doesn't have the same appeal or freshness to it. We've all seen touch screens and controllers before. The controller just isn't enough and even with all other other features the Wii U has, most people won't bother to care about them until they get the system home into their living rooms.
I have to give it to Ubisoft however for bringing an original game as well as Assassins Creed III to the Wii U line up that actually has gotten my attention. ZombiU is the only new IP that is a full game coming to Wii U that has been announced so far. The games concept and gameplay trailer has got me quite intrigued. The idea is that you can only get bitten once and you die seems interesting as well as the different uses of the Wii U gamepad. You'll have to manage and use items from the Wii U gamepad screen in real time. Causing you to quickly look back and forth from the TV and gamepad. Combine that with the one bite zombie death mechanic and it seems like you may have a very intense gaming experience.
It's entirely possible we'll see a few more game announcements in the next few days and I'll have to write a new article praising Nintendo and bask in it's glory. But after watching the conference, I'm still just not sure about the Wii U. Yes, you could call me intrigued. But will you see me standing in line for a Wii U? Currently my answer is no.
At this point in the game, is the Wii U speaking to you? What do you think about Nintendo's E3 Press Conference? What's got you excited or uninterested in Wii U?
"ZombieU is the only new IP that is a full game coming to Wii U that has been announced so far. The games concept and gameplay trailer has got me quite intrigued."
ReplyDeleteSame here. It is the only game in the conference that I would purchase day one, if I am to get the system...and that remains to be determined by A LOT of unknowns (price, do I really trust Nintendo now, price, online features, price, 3rd Party Support, and price to name a new).
Pikmin 3? Wii port.
Wii Fit U? Why show it, just run tv ads for the casuals and get it on Oprah. Not E3.
Nintendo Land? Carnival Games/Wii Play with Miis skinned in Nintendo Characters.
Seriously? NSMBU...no details. How about online multiplayer? Nothing on that? Why not?
"The Regginator Fils-Aime even stated that there is way more to Wii U than what they could fit into their one hour presentation."
If they had removed Wii Fit U, and the 3rd Party non-exclusives, or just done a trailer for Batman (releasing a year after the other console versions? and wanting $60? YIKES!), perhaps they could have said one sentence in the conference like, "Not only is Wii U compatible with your Wii Remotes and Nunchuks for some games, but rest assured, all your WiiWare/Virtual Console purchases will transfer over. NO FRIEND CODES."
How about that? No? We can't get that in the conference and have to wait until an obscure ABC News interview for it?
#whoeverrunsNintendosmarketingdepartmentshouldbelookingforanewjobandyesthisisthelongesthashtagihaveeverdoneever
"Pikmin 3? Wii port."
DeleteHow is it a Wii Port---it's a new title...the last Pikmin to come out was Pikmin 2 on the Gamecube....Over 6 years ago.
They did rerelease Pikmin 1 for Wii to access its controls--and it looks like Pikmin 2 is looking to rerelease as well...in about 4 days.
@Coffee, well I may agree with Wii U Fit or Wii Fit U, whatever and Nintendo Land. Really not necessary to blow those games out when they can be explained it 10 seconds. But Pikmin 3 is a new game and built for Wii U. I sense your lack of enthusiasm due to the fact that these are not really that new of concepts.
DeleteEasily the Wii Fit stuff and those concept proving games could have been show on Ellen or morning shows to appeal to that market and really could have used that time more wisely. Like the 10 minute demo on how the Nintendo Land Luigi game works with the new controller. OMG it is so confusing... wait one person is the ghost and the others are the people? INNOVATION!
But honestly this stuff doesn't look bad at all. Just there isn't anything really that feels new and totally fresh gamewise.
I have only two conclusions. A: They just don't have the games ready and we'll be in the 3DS boat again. B: They wanted to give their third parties some love and Retro comes out swinging with Nintendo today or tomorrow.
I'm guessing A is the correct answer.
I'm going to play devil's advocate for a moment here.
DeleteThe Nintendo Land Luigi game is innovative. I don't think it needed so much explanation, but rather more gameplay to SHOW what was happening. It is innovative in the way that there has never been games like this. Yeah there has been 4 people playing against a NPC--but never 4 against 1 all players but 1 having a distinct advantage over all others.
As for WiiFitU--(aweful freaking title) but they used it to show off various functions of the WiiU--I don't think it was particularly just for the game..but they showed off the WiiU Gamepad being used at the same time as the TV, they had it transfer info from one smaller device(un-named) to the Gamepad, comparing info from one user to another.
I believe they used the whole conference as a build upon last years conference to further develop what WiiU CAN do, opposed to what will be available. We are still 7 Months out from holiday season--so I would expect that nintendo is going to use those 9 months to keep their hype train running...if they let it all go now they would lose steam only months from now.
I guarantee that they will trickle info out until about October, then you will start hearing about all the ever-green titles that are expected.
PS--They have innovated on Pikmin 3 and basically turned it into an RTS game with the use of the touch screen and various views that it can offer.
oh I'm sure there will be more news coming out up until release. But the face remains that they didn't even mention Metroid or some super hardcore game speaks volumes to me. I feel like it's more important that ever for Nintendo to get the install base quick. Square Enix showed there next gen concept video. So the industry is ripe for a change. I can't imaging Sony or Microsoft announcing and releasing a new console in the same year if they didn't even mention it in their shows this year. So maybe Nintendo has another 2 years to get its foot hold.
Delete@E.B. Geer and Brad:
ReplyDeleteE.B. Geer: "How is it a Wii Port---it's a new title...the last Pikmin to come out was Pikmin 2 on the Gamecube....Over 6 years ago."
Brad: "But Pikmin 3 is a new game and built for Wii U. I sense your lack of enthusiasm due to the fact that these are not really that new of concepts."
It's a Wii port because as you pointed out, they already ported the GameCube versions to Wii (Sunday is Pikmin 2), and Pikmin 3 was clearly started as a Wii game, which they confirmed because it uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk for controls.
Not saying it's bad, but it's a TERRIBLE way to market your new system that is supposedly about its controller, by showcasing a game that barely even uses it. How does it use the Wii U GamePad? An awesome map function. Wow?
As for, "We are still 7 Months out from holiday season--so I would expect that nintendo is going to use those 9 months to keep their hype train running...if they let it all go now they would lose steam only months from now."
Don't you have to have hype to get the train started? Nintendo failed to deliver on that at E3...so the train is still stuck and not moving it would seem.
They had confirmed Pikmin 3 in the past, apparently, as a Wii game. So, if it was started as a Wii game, uses the Wii's controllers for main game-play, but is on Wii U...it's simply a port over, and not "from the ground up" for the system.
Well we could be debating what the term "port" means and what constitutes a port or not. I personally would classify a port a finished released game that is then transferred over after the fact to be released.
DeleteMaybe Pikmin 3 was pretty much done for Wii then they went back and updated all the models and textures. But since it doesn't lead with the Wii Gamepad as the main control it's a little off. But it plays better with the WiiRemote+ then so be it. Either way it's a new Pikmin to be released!