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http://www.technologyguide.com/blog-nin ... of-gaming/
I was gonna write my own thoughts on the matter, but this is all that needs to be put. I know the platform's already 2 or so years old, and this is irrelevant. Though I'm sure someone's interested in reading this.

Wii-U any good then? I decided not to buy into Gimiktendo this gen.

The kids loved the Wii and I loved it for its homebrew scene and emulation but we lost interest in it pretty quickly.

Funny enough, the games I enjoyed most on the Wii were the ones that I could live without the motion controls. They were still primarily button mashing games. Shaking the controller or pointing at the screen was just an additional button or control stick. And for the more popular games that required motion controls, it wasn't very precise. In tennis, all you had to do was swing as hard as you could and the game took care of the rest. In golf, putting was like you were the hulk. In boxing, all you had to do was jiggle the controllers around to win.

Virtual reality is a gimmick too. I mean, it's wicked cool and shows us how much we can do with technology, but it wouldn't be something I'd use daily -- that will have to wait 'til your brain is literally plugged in.

Having a console that requires minimal setup, comes with a controller that fits your hand well, supports multi player, etc. is all people want and it's all people ever wanted. It's the alternative to PC gaming. But since each generation of console is essentially the same, why? Why release a "next generation" every 4-8 years? Is that enough time to have significantly updated specs? Or do the console manufactures just want more money?

As well, aren't companies supposed to forecast what people want? Did nintendo sit on their hands thinking that the Wii U would be as successful as the Wii? Maybe the reason the Wii U did poorly was because people were disappointed with the Wii.

One glimpse of hope is Super Mario Maker. 2D platforming mario games have forever suffered from un-replayability and this game solves that -- so long as the created levels are decent.

eah wrote:But since each generation of console is essentially the same, why? Why release a "next generation" every 4-8 years?

As opposed to the PC market where you need to replace your GFX card every 3-4 years, on average costing twice the amount of most consoles, if you want the cutting edge #PCMASTERBAIT lifestyle? Because lets face it, no one wants to play PC games with all the settings on low at 1024*768 do they.

eah wrote:2D platforming mario games have forever suffered from un-replayability

I strongly disagree with you there, trying to get/beat the high score or open up other routes on Super Mario World was always the main challenge over simply completing the game. I still play SMW & Yoshi's Island 20 years later, on the original cartridges too. But that was back when Ninty were "fun"


btw Super Mario Wii had a level designer that was actively supported for many years. I was even part of a group re-creating the original SM Bros levels for some time. So really Mario Maker is nothing new.


On another note, I'm really looking forward to PlaystationVR no matter how gimmicky it is. But more so for immersion on racing games or 1st person shooters. Who needs multi-monitors when you can just slap a can on your head!

I really can't be bothered proofreading this, so sorry for the bad flow and mistakes. I also didn't research anything, so I may be wrong in some stuff. Also I wrote this at 2 am so expect dodginess :^)

I actually own a wii u, and I play it more than my pc/other consoles. People say it doesn't have many games, and they're completely right; I pretty much play three games on it, smash bros, mario kart, and splatoon, but I play them a heap and they're great games.

The gamepad (controller thingo with the screen) is a gimmick, and I'd much rather have a normal controller, but it is kinda cool having things like a map or your items shown on your controlller, and it takes clutter off the main screen. Having the touch screen there for mini-games and stuff is also pretty neat, but, compared to a normal controller, the gamepad is not as comfortable (but not uncomfortable,) and slightly unwieldy.

Nintendo pretty much adds a new thing in to every console they make, all of their stuff has been different in some way or another: think of the ds' dual screens, the wii's motion controls, even the virtual boy's primitive and dodgy 3d. If these succeed, people call them 'innovations' while if they fail, they're labelled as 'gimmicks', and the wii u's gamepad is somewhere inbetween. I don't see gamepad type controllers becoming popular, but already, even the PS4's controller has a similar thing to the gamepad.

If you were deciding whether to get one, I'd say if you like nintendo style (relatively simple, easy-to-start-with-but-you-find-out-its-complicated-and-all-of-a-sudden-youve-put-200-hours-into-mario-kart, child-geared) games, and you want a light console on the side, go ahead. If, on the other hand you're looking for some serious, immersive, mature type games, give it a miss. Even if you don't play it on your own though, whenever people come over or you just want to play with someone else, nintendo games are the best for local multiplayer.

Overall, I think the wii u is a pretty neat console, with a few great games. It's gamepad is unique but nothing really groundbreaking, but this is nothing new to nintendo. If you want a party-type game console, get, if you want a story type game console, miss.

I highly enjoy the Wii U, having played on my brother's for awhile before he left for college. I was and am a huge fan of Splatoon and Smash Brothers, and actually entered a tournament for doubles in Smash Bros. (My brother was Captain Falcon, I was playing a mean Pikachu) and I would say I donated a good couple of hours to our online presence in Splatoon. We didn't and still don't own many games but even if just for the backwards compatibility and the ability to use old controllers, not to mention not even requiring a television to play, made it extremely attractive and I loved every second of it.

I use my WiiU all the time, mainly for the First-party games. It's what the Wii really should have been.

One of the big reasons it doesn't sell well is because of the lack of third party support, but hey, Smash 4 is great and I'm cool dying while playing it.

also mario maker.

How is the backwards compatibility on Wii-U?
Is it Wii level with Gamecube support and all those old gems on the virtual store or just play Wii games?

Also how is the homebrew scene these days? Is Wii-U a fully fledged media center with HDD support for loading emulators etc?

Bu1ld0g wrote:How is the backwards compatibility on Wii-U?
Is it Wii level with Gamecube support and all those old gems on the virtual store or just play Wii games?

I believe that it can only play Wii and Wii U game disks, however I am not positive. I know it can support the Gamecube controller with an adapter, which I sort of want to get for SSB4. Otherwise I believe anything pre-Wii can only be found on the virtual console, much like the Wii.