The Video Game Critic

There was a report a couple days ago from a guy who apparently knows some people because he's broke news on some special editions or compilations of games before they were made public:

http://wiiudaily.com/2015/07/rumor-nint ... -of-power/

Honestly I didn't expect anything else here. With the previous reports that supply chain partners are gearing up for the NX for NEXT year there's no way that this could be some sort of massive restructuring of architecture:

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150702PD204.html

The problem is, the Wii U actually uses PowerPC750 architecture, and Nintendo has basically been using this line since the Gamecube. It's actually deprecated and IBM no longer even has public plans or future model to continue this line, Wii U itself was a custom procesor made by IBM:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC_7xx#Future

I'm not sure if Nintendo continues down this line to contract IBM to make yet another custom design based off this deprecated architecture or tries to move up the line to something like a custom POWER7 processor:

My best bet is Nintendo will attempt to make the NX what the Wii was to the Gamecube. A reused architecture with more RAM, and I think they will try to make sure it's something that is scalable and can be reduced significantly in size so the next handheld shares as much hardware as it can with the console. The Gamepad will be jettisoned saving a ton on costs so Nintendo can once again be a true cost leader in the marketplace and launch around $220-$250.

If this is true, then I don't know if Nintendo can ever catch up to Sony and Microsoft, the Gamepad was just one of the problems people had with the Wii-U, if the NX is not dramatically different, I don't see it being able to compete with the PS4/Xbox One.

Vexer6 wrote:If this is true, then I don't know if Nintendo can ever catch up to Sony and Microsoft, the Gamepad was just one of the problems people had with the Wii-U, if the NX is not dramatically different, I don't see it being able to compete with the PS4/Xbox One.

There's a thousand different reasons people give about the Wii U not succeeding but I think there are two main reason why the Wii succeeded when the Wii U was a total disaster.

The first reason is cost. Wii launched at $250. Wii U launched at $350 with it's main SKU. Granted, it dropped to $300 a year later, but that's still a major different. I think there's a huge difference between under $300, under $200, etc. Which is why the 3DS didn't take off until the price was dropped from $249 to $179. Dropping the Gamepad alone should save a significant amount of the price.

The second reason is, Nintendo did not understand why the Wii was successful. The idea behind the Wii, which most hardcore gamers hated, was to take the focus off the idea of hitting buttons to control things. You can just look at the screen and wave your arms around, do some exercises, whatever - and things happen. It attracted non gamers because people are doing something besides sitting on a couch staring at the screen, and for non gamers using the typical dual shock esque standard controller is intimidating.

The Wii U strangely enough took the idea in the total OPPOSITE direction. The whole point of it is to constantly be staring at your Gamepad and doing tasks with it. Even dedicated gamers in most reviews found it cumbersome and instead of looking at the screen would have rather just hit a button to do it, or had an on screen HUD so they wouldn't have to constantly look down. If it's too much work for people who PLAY games, how would it feel to those who don't?

I get Nintendo's idea behind it. They wanted a compromise to bring over the benefits of what a handheld is, which they're the most successful company in history with handhelds, to a home console with the off TV play. In Japan, consoles are a dying business so it sounded like perfect sense to say 'hey its a console BUT you don't need a TV.' The problem is this setup is still more cumbersome to use than just pulling out a phone, an iPad, or even a 3DS to just play.

As far as going back to the power wars with Sony and Microsoft, I don't know what it will do at this point. Hypothetically, lets just say Nintendo dumped their huge warchest to try to match Sony and Microsoft specs and came out with a monster system, and had all the same versions of third party games at the same time as them. Why are gamers going to migrate from Live or PSN where all their friends are to get the Nintendo system?

All this will lead down the road that Nintendo would need their own IP's to match what Sony and Microsoft have that appeal to that demographic like Uncharted or Halo ... then Nintendo needs to match the media content like TV, ESPN, etc that the companies have on their system .. etc. It never ends, and it turns what they do into a commodity business. Nintendo could match everything on each checkbox with competitors and it still doesn't solve the riddle of why someone would get the system and abandon the online gaming services they've built a history with on other consoles.

NX17 wrote: There's a thousand different reasons people give about the Wii U not succeeding but I think there are two main reason why the Wii succeeded when the Wii U was a total disaster. The first reason is cost...The second reason is, Nintendo did not understand why the Wii was successful.

Solid argument.

I will say the Wii was successful in selling the console, but not necessarily selling software. This may have left Nintendo feeling the need to make a profit on the hardware alone. Also, the Wii was such a hot item it could have sold in its first two years at a higher price point.

Does anyone think that in a decade or two that the WiiU will be seen as underrated, or will be one of the consoles pointed at for years as what not to do.

I think you are correct about consoles are more than spec, more than libraries, they are ecosystems and networks. Nintendo would be hard pressed to compete there.

I maybe in the minority here but I don't want Nintendo to compete with playstation or Microsoft. I want Nintendo to do what it does best, fun family friendly games on a console that is reasonably priced and not complicated to use. Know your roots Nintendo.
Last month I spent two days on the phone and online with playstation trying to figure out why we kept getting servers lost on our screen. Do you know that I had to contact my internet company to change some numbers through my ip address, a hassle beyond belief, all for a stupid downloaded game. Then I was informed that because we are not a member of psn network, not free by the way, some parts of the game can not be accessed. So I am not a big fan of so called clever technology, what happened to simplicity.

Tina wrote:I maybe in the minority here but I don't want Nintendo to compete with playstation or Microsoft. I want Nintendo to do what it does best, fun family friendly games on a console that is reasonably priced and not complicated to use. Know your roots Nintendo.
Last month I spent two days on the phone and online with playstation trying to figure out why we kept getting servers lost on our screen. Do you know that I had to contact my internet company to change some numbers through my ip address, a hassle beyond belief, all for a stupid downloaded game. Then I was informed that because we are not a member of psn network, not free by the way, some parts of the game can not be accessed. So I am not a big fan of so called clever technology, what happened to simplicity.

Agreed, but Nintendo has abandoned their simple philosophy as well I believe. Working in electronics a few years ago, it was a pain trying to explain to people what a Wii U Gamepad had, and what they needed to play Mario Kart Wii on it needed. Gamepad, Wii U controller, Wii Mote, Wii classic controller plus, regular classic controller, Wii Motion Plus, Gamecube controller .. it's just RIDICULOUS. You need a a 10 column grid to show all the possible options to play with a controller on Wii U.I hope the new console is scalable and they take in consideration the future and that all games need some sort of standard control option on the four shoulder, four button, two stick, one d-pad standard model that can be carried over to future generations.

What Nintendo really needs is new IPs, they can't keep relying on the same ones time and time again, there's only so long you can do that before people start to get weary of it.

I don't see why Nintendo shouldn't try and compete with Microsoft and Sony at this point, they directly competed with Sega and came out on top, doing their own thing may have worked once with the Wii, but I don't expect lightning to strike twice for them if the NX is little more then an updated version of the Wii U(basically Nintendo's version of a Sega-CD/32X). Nintendo really seems stuck in a rut at this point, and IMO they have to do something dramatically different if they want any chance at all of sales improving.

NX17 wrote: ... Nintendo has abandoned their simple philosophy...I hope the new console is scalable and they take in consideration the future and that all games need some sort of standard control option on the four shoulder, four button, two stick, one d-pad standard model that can be carried over to future generations.

Nintendo seems to have abandoned a lot we praised them for, but if they didn't, we'd probably criticize them for being staid. The partnership with Dena may change many practices, we'll see.

Lots of gamers dislike mobile gaming since the touchscreen is not well suited to many genres, but at least good mobile games are designed for a touch screen.

The Wii U pro controller seems like a solid bedrock controller on which to build, but the successful portables, especially the DS, have used far simpler controls. Could you build a console on a much simpler controller?

Vexer6 wrote:What Nintendo really needs is new IPs, they can't keep relying on the same ones time and time again, there's only so long you can do that before people start to get weary of it.

I don't see why Nintendo shouldn't try and compete with Microsoft and Sony at this point, they directly competed with Sega and came out on top, doing their own thing may have worked once with the Wii, but I don't expect lightning to strike twice for them if the NX is little more then an updated version of the Wii U(basically Nintendo's version of a Sega-CD/32X). Nintendo really seems stuck in a rut at this point, and IMO they have to do something dramatically different if they want any chance at all of sales improving.

Nintendo can try to compete, but I don't think they should do it in the same method. They need a partner, like Valve, who seems to have similar philosophies. The Source engine is old, but extremely scalable and well designed. They have long support cycles for existing games, similar to what Nintendo has started with DLC for Smash and Mario Kart and their philosophy with 'evergreen' titles. Just trying to make the next Halo or Call of Duty will likely lead Nintendo down a bad path. You can't just go from what you do well to make something like that and expect to attract consumers. Other Japanese companies have tried and failed.

Sega attempted this sort of thing with games like Binary Domain and Yakuza, to little or no success. They abandoned Bayonetta franchise which Nintendo picked up, but didn't sell well despite critical acclaim. Sega's basically become a developer focused on a very small amount of franchises and digital titles. Same with Capcom they're now focusing on digital remakes and Street Fighter IV. Konami bailed out of the Silent Hills project and wants to focus on mobile.

Nintendo should focus on new IPs but it should be from the independent side and try to bring aboard promising developers who may have the next hit and find a partner like Valve where there's a scalable type of platform and game engine.

I agree w/ your points NX & Tina. I do think,however, a major downfall of the Wii U was that it was underpowered. The Wii got away w/ it due to motion controls. A tablet controller doesn't have the same appeal. I recall being turned off when I foun out that the Wii U was "on par w/ the current generation". I think many gamers were as well.

Isn't the NX supposed to be heavily Internet reliant? Wouldn't that take away the simplicity that so many people love Nintendo for?