I am usually a cynical person, but a lot of the gaming press has gone a little overboard with their critiques of the Wii U.  That was why I was overjoyed to come across Jim Sterlings latest "Jimquisition" and how relatively positive it was about the Wii U.  I then read a couple of articles by Emily Rogers about the rising costs of games and the decline of Sony.  Both of these articles gave me a positive feeling about the future of Nintendo.


Both writers pointed to the lower production costs for the Wii U and how this could be a major plus for the Wii U's future.  (Of course it was pointed out this hadn't helped the Wii a whole lot)  The decline of Sony article didn't specifically discuss Nintendo, but when you see how mismanaged Sony has been over the passed several years it gives some credence to the way Nintendo has ran their business over the same period. (For the record I am not a Sony hater and don't want them to fail.)


To my mind blockbuster games that run into the 100s of millions of dollars to make are ridiculous as are systems like the PS3 and Vita that take years to recuperate their costs.  So while Nintendo has a lot of flaws, I am right with Andi (and Emily and Jim) in seeing silver linings in the upcoming Wii U release.  It is a shame so much of the industry can only see dark clouds.

In all honesty, I could care less about the TV app or online features. All I care about is, are the games fun to play?

I've been hearing people predicting the end of Nintendo since the N64 days; it's all become white noise to me.

While there are concerns about some untold details of the Wii U, I don't mind it. From the Gamecube to the 3DS, Nintendo has been improving their online services. Most impressive is their efforts with the 3DS, and it is from those efforts that I assume whatever infrastructure Wii U has it will be fine, though not without a few numb skull aspects. The improvements have been glacial compared to Nintendo's competitors, but I like to look at the silver lining that Nintendo isn't going backwards.


The general unenthusiastic talk I've heard over many video game podcasts is a bit worrying. Nintendo seems to have distanced it self from that particular audience and the Wii U has yet to win them back. The feelings will turn once Nintendo starts releasing interesting and beautiful games for the shiny and new Wii U.

But that's exactly why pretty much everyone in the gaming industry should be excited about the Wii U.


It's bringing the games. And not just Nintendo games. It has one of the most impressive launch line-ups I've seen. There's literally something for everyone.

I really want to play Nintendo Land, and I want to revisit Wuhu Island with even more sports to play via Wii Sports Resort U or something.

It's a "launch" lineup of games largely available on other platforms (including some available anywhere from months to a year earlier). "Hooray", but at least they're there for the relative minority who didn't already buy them or already planned to buy them for another console.

Well, I'll say this for this editorial: at least you're open that you're a total fanboy who will buy Nintendo products no matter what they do. I can respect that honesty, and I hope you enjoy your Wii U experience.  I really do.  However, I find the whole "It's all about the GAMES!" argument weak when "games" are exactly what Nintendo has failed to provide either in terms of quantity or (IMO) quality for several console generations in a row now.  :-\  This is the company that has been especially reluctant to release games over the past few years in NA, and judging by Reggie's recent remarks he doesn't seem to regret that in the slightest.

My thoughts on the Wii U have been fairly constant ever since they tried their first (of many unsuccessful) unveilings for the Wii U last year: it's quite late to the party, and Nintendo hasn't shown any must-buy 1st party software even within their rather generous 4 month "launch window".  People are calling this late current-generation system a "next-generation console", yet there's nothing about this console that shows it.  Nintendo could have announced or teased titles that will appear later on that really show what this console can do, but as usual Nintendo doesn't care.  They know people like the writer of this editorial will buy the game regardless, and the Wii years were all about succeeding through low expectations so it has been a strategy that worked well for them.

I know that I'm bitter, and you're damn right I'm being (and am going to be) especially critical this console.  Nintendo used to be a name that made me excited for the future of gaming.  When I think back to how eagerly I looked forward to every Nintendo system before the Wii (and especially how hard I looked for one for most of a year before I got one), it saddens me how bad the Wii years were (saved only by a handful of titles, several of which Nintendo didn't even want to release here).  So yeah, after how weak the Wii years were, I expect a lot more from the Wii U than Nintendo has shown.  I'm not going to give them a break just because many years ago they were an integral part of my daily entertainment.  Right now, there's just not a damn thing that excites me about this console (especially when it comes to that controller, which looks like just another overpriced gimmick so far), and that's on Nintendo.

As I said on NFR, though, I haven't sworn off the console for good just yet.  But Nintendo's going to have to put forth a much more impressive performance than they've shown so far, and that seems to be at least a year away.  So a year from now, we'll see if Nintendo has more than smoke and mirrors this time.  In the meantime, if you're getting a Wii U, I hope it works out for you.  Just don't expect the rest of the gaming community to pull their punches.

I don't know how to feel about this article. On one hand, I agree, that Nintendo has been very late in creating a media network within its loyal fans- but on the other, their approach is so drastically different and fun that I can't help but like it over the competitors' systems.  And that's what it always comes back to with Nintendo, at least to me- they're fun. They don't bog you down with gamer scores and achievements- only if you're really into that sort of thing. If you want to share information on a game or talk about how it made you feel, you're given the opportunity to- and that's something that the other consoles can't boast. With Nintendo, it's more about a communal enjoyment and not the individual's sense of competitiveness- and I think that they cater to a specific type of gamer, but that's just the thing- they're even more niche than Microsoft and Sony ,because those two have capitalized on this concept that games need to be casually accessible, but their definition of casual is "hyper-violent and based on brief experience," hence the online multiplayer, emphasis on graphics and "realism", and personal achievement. Nintendo approaches these concepts in a different manner- assistance being the most important aspect. You obtain better hats in Find Mii because you interact with people, often more than once. You benefit from player interaction instead of being pitted against them. And that's not to say that Nintendo doesn't have competitive mutliplayer- but even that isn't based on the record, it's based on the experience. And when it all comes down to it, that's what it's all about- the experience, and not the illusion of experience. You play the games Nintendo makes because you enjoy their gameplay, and I think that a majority of Nintendo games have gameplay that is very hard to achieve in an online sense, and because of that that, I applaud their efforts to have largely local-based-multiplayer. While some games benefit from it, some games do so even more because they're played within close proximity, and there's no feeling quite like the one where you work together in the same room. While some may argue that this is old-fashioned, I wonder why they wish to live in a world largely devoid of human interaction.

Nintendo's new Miiverse- the communication between players on an artistic level and discussion and assistance-based concept- is so very Nintendo, and it really brings me back to why I love the company in general. If you play a Wii for intimacy of motion-based control with friends or with the TV, you understand what I mean. Even friend codes, which go out of their way to make sure players have that sense of connectivity and that they are familiar with one another STILL adheres to this idea of personal, accessible gameplay. The connectivity that Nintendo boasts with both its person-to-game and person-to-person relationship is what they live by. I mean, I have no doubt that the Wii U will stick to these core qualities. If you do, then I feel as if you don't have a very positive mindset of how Nintendo functions, and you've lost touch with their style of gameplay.

Each company offers something drastically different, and people need to accept that first and foremost. But Nintendo's offers are so uniquely them, and I wish that the console market was a bit more varied, because we could have more than JUST Nintendo being this more niche, individualistic experience- that's why I lament the loss of Sega and have made it a mission to track down a Dreamcast- because they, too, offered something unique. What is kind of funny about the whole "Nintendo vs. Third Party Support and the world" debacle is that Nintendo has consistently paved the way in the genre of 3D platforming (and to some extent 2D platforming) and garners a lot of individualistic 3rd Party support in regards to gameplay and connectivity. Look at Monster Hunter- a game that focuses on co-operation in taking down massive monsters with a very optional head-to-head mode. Look at Muramasa, or Silent Hill: Shattered Dimensions. Games that artistically push the boundaries or the very genre they're supposed to emulate and attempt them in a new, drastically different manner. This is why we love Nintendo consoles, my friends, because they offer something different. What Playstation Move games have successfully attempted a gameplay innovation or even utilized motion controls in an enhanced, smooth manner? Kinect?

So you need to accept something- that either Nintendo will be successful because they create something so niche that it allows specific, dare I say, even casual gamers, an accessible jumping point to enter or mature within the gaming realm, or that they will create something so niche that it appeals to a very dedicated, core population of gamers. Personally, I think the Wii U will do both, and I don't think I'm optimistic in assuming that. With a mixture of casually appealing games like Nintendoland and NSMBU, with Nintendoland innately appealing to our love of local, party multiplayer, and more hardcore, yet experimental and individualistic titles like Zombi U and Bayonetta, as well as hardcore, co-operative experiences like Monster Hunter and a little bit of catering to the non-Nintendo crowd with Black Ops, I think Nintendo has set up a very telling lineup of games for the life of their console- they'll of course attempt a reconnect with the "core" gamer, that is, the gamer that has become westernized because of the birth of so many independent developers that ascribe to that casual western approach to gaming, but they will continue to do what makes them so beloved by many gamers around the world- their unique approach to gaming, and the titles, franchises, and genres they attract because of that.

I suppose i rambled a bit, but I just want to affirm that I understand your article. Nintendo's approach does seem a bit old-fashioned, even base, in comparison to the pre-established methods of its competitors. But if there's one thing I like about Nintendo, it's that they do take their time to acknowledge the benefits of something like online networking and play- the fact that they're coming out with the Wii U so late means that they acknowledge that online networking and play has stood the test of time- it may be a little late , but at least it's a confirmation. Now they will take that concept and spin it in their own way.

In a sense, I feel that even the 3DS is an evolution and confirmation that Nintendo believes portable accessibility is possible- With the 3DS, they have mostly minimized online functionality to digital downloads, communication between friends, and competitive multiplayer, but the most important, and exciting, functions of the 3DS occur when one streetpasses or spotpasses. Again, it focuses on player co-operation.

But when it all comes down to it, that is all inconsequential when we compare the experience of the console to the experience of the games. And that's why we play games, right? For the experiences they bring, not the console itself. We want the types of games Nintendo publishes, because they're just cool. They appeal to us in a way that some may call childish, but we see them as imaginative, accessible, and plain fun. That's why you can't judge a console until the end of its life-span. Because we need to see all of those games that make a console memorable- and sure, some games might take a while to release, but in the end, the full package- and the full experience, is what matters.

With the Wii U off to such a strong start, I hope for nothing but the best for the console in the future. Great article, by the way- very thought provoking. Clearly.

Batman, Darksiders II, ME3, and Ninja Gaiden.


That's only 4 games that are already available on other consoles.


Then there's ACIII, which comes out so close that anyone buying a Wii U would wait for the Wii U version.


Not to mention that those 4 games are getting some pretty interesting upgrades (not enough to warrant a second purchase, but more than enough to make them stand out as good launch games).


Then there's the giant list of other games coming out for the Wii U that are diverse, numerous, and for the most part, look good.


Aliens: Colonial Marines
Black Ops 2
Epic Mickey 2
FIFA '13
Lego City
Madden '13
Monster Hunter
NSMBU
NintendoLand
Pikmin 3
Rayman Legends
Scribblenauts Unlimited
ZombiU


Add on all the downloadable games and you have yourself an incredibly solid list. If people can't already see at least one or two games on that list that they want... well then their taste in games isn't very diverse. So then, I wouldn't really care about their opinion on what is and is not a good launch.

Oh, there's games on the list I want to at least try (and as for the downloadable titles, btw, I already bought Trine 2 last year).  I just don't need a Wii U to play them (I have a PS3 and 360), and Wii U's exclusives just aren't enticing right now (especially Nintendo's own 1st party titles).  Rayman's pretty much the only exclusive I want to play, and that'll probably be on the other consoles soon enough.

Knocking a video game console for its looks, for not providing free services, for not advancing the way games are downloaded(?), for having a subpar tv tuner or multimedia capabilities. I would say that I've officially heard it all, but we already heard this crap 10 years ago about the Gamecube. It appears that decades and decades of video gaming really does kill brain cells.

Many gaming media are focusing on the non-game features because that's what Nintendo focused on at the recent press event in NYC. If Nintendo had spent twenty minutes on their awesome new Mario game showing off why it totally reinvents the series and adds tons of insane new crap, people would be talking about that. Instead, they centered the announcements on non-game features, which primarily serves to make us wonder about all the features that weren't discussed (online).

I totally agree with everything that Evan_B said.
I have always liked nintendo because of that. Everything is about the experience. You can just pick up anyone and play with them, because nintendo's games are designed to bring fun to everyone. I can play easily with my mom, with my dad, with my 7 years old sister, with my girlfriend or with all them together and have fun.
That's something I can't do with any console, neither with iOS, neither with android, neither with pc. Even if there's the chance to do that, it's not the same. I can go and play call of duty online with friends, but it is competitive, you might get even angry sometimes, as well as games like world of warcraft where everything is about cooperative gameplay. It's just not the same. I hope to see that local multiplayer experience while playing online with the wii u now.


I think nintendo doesn't even need to approach the "core" gamer. I mean, if you own a gaming pc or an xbox or a ps3, you can go and pick up any "core" game, play online and do all that stuff that nintendo doesn't do that well (most of nintendo console owners also owns a ps3 or an xbox). But now, with the wii u, all the audience that nintendo aims for will have the chance to also pick up those "core" games without the need to buy a ps3 or an xbox. I own a wii and a nintendo 3ds, but for example, and I'm looking forward to play darksiders II. Maybe I'll be picking up call of duty to play co-op with my dad, maybe we will be trying that online. But that's the thing, now i don't have to own any other console to play those games, and maybe they are going to be easier to play with the touch controls or with the wiiremote. (I now call of duty has been out on the wii, but it's a game that needs hd graphics to bring you it's experience)


Well, that's pretty much it, I love nintendo because of that, because of their easy to play games, because I can safely let my little sister play it, because I can bring friends that have never touched a nintendo console before and play with them and because every game is about the experience. And now I will be able to try more third party titles and single player games I wasn't able to play before (though if you own any other console that's not that "new", but you'll be getting that experience "the nintendo way")


sorry if I wrote something wrong, this is not my native language
have a nice day

I just nodded in agreement to Andy's editorial. Though I believe one of the Polygon folks from the Besties was on 8-4 Play's TGS episode. He complained how the Wii U GamePad/Pro Controller had the A button in a different spot than the Xbox 360 controller, and that Nintendo should fix that because they haven't done that in a controller ever. Then other people said that Nintendo did that with the Classic Controller, 3DS, DS, etc.

That pretty much sums up where I'm at with with mainstream press. You're not playing games the way I play them, and you're usually not up to date with the games I play.

What a great piece! I really enjoyed reading this. I won't be getting a Wii U at launch but I KNOW that given time and a proper Mario/Zelda/Star fox/F Zero game I will be there. Despite the lousy the eshop and online may or may not be.

Jonny is right.  People talk about what Nintendo talks about.  And Nintendo has been talking about a media center and a mini-game collection.  (Even if it's great, it looks like a mini-game collection)

And I don't love when other press hates on Nintendo and can't figure out that it's Xbox that put the A button in the wrong spot way too long after the original NES showed the world where it properly goes. 

But of course, those of us who love Nintendo... hate away!  We wouldn't be mad if we didn't love Nintendo.

I look forward to changing my mind about the Wii U and like Drew says, all it will take will be ... Games!

"I am a Nintendo fan, and I always will be, through every questionable decision, and every botched system launch... I play Nintendo games because if I don’t hear the Zelda chime at least once a week, I will lose my mind."

It sounds as if you've already lost your mind, lol. No company deserves unconditional loyalty. The way I look at it is that Nintendo are a huge company, they don't need me to defend them. My being a fan of Nintendo has always been conditional upon them offering the sorts of experiences that I'm interested in. Looking back I can say that the Wii does have a fantastic catalogue of games, but everything from the ad hoc release schedule, botching of virtual console, lack of basic online services, and drought of third party support has meant that I have as much bitter memories as I do fond ones. The Zelda chime is great and all, but it's no substitute for new experiences and exciting hardware. Of which I've seen little of from Nintendo recently.

I'm open to the possibility that Wii U could be great. Based on current information, however, I'm pretty pessimistic.

I recognize that's true for most people.  I'm not sure it's true for me anymore.  That's why I wrote this editorial.

"through all the questionable decisions and botched system launches..."

Yep, you're right.  They're not really selling this thing particularly well.  Luckily for them, they don't really need to do ANYTHING to sell it to me, because I made up my mind a long time ago that I'm buying new Nintendo systems as soon as I can.

That's fair. In that case, chime on brother. Chime on. Me? I'm ready to dance to a different tune.

Well said!

True. Well, it is called the mainstream press for a reason. Let's be honest, there is very little about the way that we as a community consume video games that could be described as mainstream. Even among gamers, the so-called 'hardcore' Nintendo fan has become decidely niche. At a certain point you have to ask yourself why that is. No doubt alot of it has to do with members of the media simply not making the effort to inform themselves, but the fact that much of mainstream press are ambivalent when it comes to Nintendo platforms must also say something about Nintendo as a company.

This is a great piece, glad to have read it.
    In Nintendo's defense, what I've seen of Nintendo TVii crushes the multimedia aspects of the XBox360; everything about that machine feels clunky and unintuitive to me. I've had one for three years, and it still feels uncomfortable. I can't say much of anything about the PS3, but in my experience this gen, the Wii's UI is far better. I think it's a good example of how once Nintendo gets something, they really get it, and present it in their own way.
  Speaking on the Wii U, it is definitely about the games, then the new experiences; and I can't wait. They aren't likely to change the way they express their games, their art in that blissfully-unaware-of-the-way-the-rest-of-the-world works Nintendo way... and I can't wait.

Allow me - the PS3 is a mammoth media machine.  Of course, CD, DVD and BluRay support, as well as supporting a variety of video formats and MP3s from USB or directly on the internal hard drive.  It's a Netflix and Amazon player as well as Sony's movie store (before Amazon, it was mildly useful for new releases).  It streams music and video from my media server/DVR.  And it supports NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB, and NHL apps. 

I guess I just love good video games too much to care about Nintendo's "7-year-old" non-gaming features.

Plus, when Nintendo adds features, it doesn't also try to add its $@*$ up my $*#.  So, I appreciate that!

I do not like all the bad hype the wii u line up is getting honestly. I have a ps3 and xbox 360 bought 3 xbox because they died. I have no problems purchasing old games i own already on other consoles. I have mass effect 2 on both x360 and ps3, and the ps3 version came out a year after i already purchased and beat it on my 360.


Honestly numbers don't lie. the Xbox 360 had 8 launch titles that were available on the more popular ps2. Not to mention some games came out on yes windows xp first then hit the 360 November launch. It has nothing to do with the games. Its just that its Nintendo. Nintendo is doing what every other company does, and is make their own waves.  Nintendo understand their fans. Why do u think we get spoiled on our handhelds and still complain.


I believe the only way Nintendo can get everyone to love them uncontrollably is by making a partnership with apple. maybe iTunes on the wii u or something bigger. (thought i doubt it would happen) It could be amazing if apples decides not to enter the console race, and partner up with Nintendo. The greatest minds of the blue ocean techniques together. (I can dream cant I )


Do not forget Sony says Wii U is basically a ps3 and vita. however Nintendo has the gba and gc communicating back in the ps2 era. and that was with less technology then whats currently on the market today. The haters are going to hate, because Nintendo is still making consoles and not developing Mario Kart and Mario Party with cross play for Sony or better with kinect for xbox. If Nintendo stopped making consoles and went 3rd or 2nd or whatever they wanted the fan boys of that console would be so happy.

Remember the rumor back in the day of Bill Gates saying he would love to buy Nintendo? I didn't hear the X fans complain. and though Sony and micro throw a lot of jabs towards Nintendo its what you have to expect when your sitting on pills of cash, and your two main competitors are just barely making profit on there awesomely powerful machines. (No sarcasm. PS3 is more next gen then x360 and they share a lot of the same games in their respective game library, but both are still very powerful)

Nintendo could probably come out with a GB or DS type of handled and make the games all NFC chips so you can still buy them in the store, and i bet it will sell like hot cakes.

I do see that everyone wants Nintendo to copy and past Xbox live or PS+, but that's not what Nintend does. Sony didn't copy Micro, and Micro didn't copy apple with online infrastructure. Nintendo does not tell you not to buy a xbox or playstion product they only want to offer you a different gaming experience on there console. Go inside a house in america and tell me how many television sets are in the house. I guarantee its more then one. so being closed minded when it comes to different consoles is understandable since its the consumers money and no one can tell you how to spend it. I am sure Sony and Microsoft reps, engineers, bosses, president, or ceo's , have bought competitors systems and games.

BTW I love you NWR since PlanetGameCube thanks for the great articles and news you guys update constantly.

I think Nintendo would do themselves tons of favours if they were more up front with information at this point.  We don't even have individual release dates for the games and we're less than two months away.  I don't think we should have ANY questions left at this point.  Everything we need to know should be available to us.

I have noticed over time that it appears that Nintendo fanbase has become more and more unconditionally loyal with each gen.  The reason for it is simple.  Since the N64, Nintendo has pissed off a big enough chunk of their existing fans with each console that only the die-hards remain.  They lost me with the Wii and it just a boiling point after years and years of annoying stupid mistakes.  As they continue down this path the justification to tolerate such behaviour becomes increasingly irrational and thus there are less "conditional" Nintendo fans and more unconditional ones in the total Nintendo fanbase.  The ratio increases for the unconditional as time goes on.  There are fans that would buy the Wii U if it was literally an empty box.

While I like the honesty in the article, this sort of fan drives me nuts because it discourages Nintendo from improving.  My Nintendo experience over the last three generations has become increasingly worse because there is no financial incentive for Nintendo to do better.  It does not matter if they lose my business.  Being unconditionally loyal to ANYTHING is like an illness.  No one became a Nintendo fan merely because they're Nintendo.  There is some quality about them that attracted you in the first place and you should only stick around if that quality remains.

There is nothing wrong with being upset when the source of your fandom does something you don't like.  You're not disloyal in doing that.  Disloyal Nintendo fans followed the third parties to the Playstation 1.  Loyal fans gave Nintendo a chance to make up for mistakes.

I used to be a big fan of the WWF but have not been for many years.  It sucks that my fandom of Nintendo is following the same path.  The WWF started going in a direction I did like after WCW and ECW went under.  For years I kept watching even though I found myself being mostly angry and frustrated with the product.  There were two factors that made me stop watching for good:

1. The product ceased to resemble the product that had made me a fan in the first place.
2. I no longer had confidence that the product would turn itself around.

Nintendo is at that point for me.  I will not buy the Wii U at launch because I no longer have confidence that things will turn around.

Buy the Wii U if you are confident that you will enjoy that purchase in the long run and that it will be worth the money.  Do not buy it for any other reason.

Ian, I think there were a lot of incentives now for Nintendo to change.  They just posted their first ever annual loss.  That was huge for them.  Iwata took a huge pay cut because of it.  They had to admit they were wrong about the price of the 3DS and cut it big time.  They are changing for the better I think.  Obviously, you need a few more indications that it's not a temporary change.

You know, I agree with a lot of people in this thread. I agree that the Nintendo I loved isn't the Nintendo we now know. I agree that the quantity and quality of Nintendo's first party games has, as a whole, declined and they just don't take the risks or create the new franchises that they used to. I am not going to buy the Wii U at launch because even though I'm liking everything I've seen from NSMBU thus far, it's not enough. Pikmin 3... probably still not enough.



And yet.


I'm not sure I'll ever be able to resist a top tier Mario, Zelda, or Metroid game. If nothing else, Nintendo can still make really awesome Mario and Zelda games. And at least Retro can make awesome Metroid games and I still think Sakaguchi has a few more awesome 2D Metroids in him even if he hasn't proved it in 8 years. These franchises at their best are always going to be among my favorites, in some cases of all time. And I know this. But I'm waiting for at least one of those games to come out before I buy a Wii U. Is it possible NSMBU is that game? Maybe, but I'm not banking on it.

Except Nintendo neither has Hard- nor Software. Didn't the garbage they released over the last ten years?

I agree. Weird, right? There's nothing to hide at this point. Maybe they're being careful with the release dates of games until they go gold. I can understand that. However, are Nintendo afraid that Sony and Microsoft will copy Miiverse or aspects of Nintendo Network? With Wii U launching in 2 months, how much time does that really buy them? Oh, that's right, 2 months. I suppose it doesn't really matter because everyone who wants a launch Wii U has planned accordingly by now or is trying to work something out. Nothing besides a big surprise game reveal is going to change anyone's mind at this point. What are the chances of that happening? I can see it both ways though I lean more towards the what-are-they-waiting-for camp.

That depends on who you're talking to, what their needs are. What sounds like unconditional loyalty may be indifference. Not everyone wants the same things. Point being, I know what type of gamer I am today. I don't have as much time to devote to gaming. I criticize Nintendo when I feel it's appropriate, but it's also circumstantial. Depending on what it is and how much it affects me, I criticize or shrug my shoulders. I won't go down the list. Right now, I'm pretty impressed by what I see with Wii U. Car insurance kind of Stone Cold Stunned my checking account, but if I can scrounge up the money, I'll probably end up using my pre-order.

"Microsoft has turned their Xbox into far more than a gaming console, it’s a multimedia center. Nintendo TVii is a good start, but it feels like a drop in the pond compared to what Microsoft has been doing for years."

I owned the original Xbox, and enjoyed gaming on it. I don't own a 360 though. It's the only "current gen" system I don't own. I'm don't really understand the "multimedia center" stuff when I hear it about the 360, and it's probably because I don't have one....but how much of that "stuff" requires and Xbox Live subscription?

Also, providing examples of what Microsoft "has been doing for years" might help me understand the comparison there, as I don't really have anything to base it off of.

The only thing I have seen critics be right on so far, is a lack of information...but even that is okay with me, as long as they address the remaining big issue(s) before launch. Online.

Coffe With Games, you magnificent SOB!

The only thing I truly want out of the Wii U are Nintendo franchises with HD graphics and current-gen online functionality.  Anything else to me will be an added bonus (including the tablet controller). 

I'm still completely satisfied with my Playstation 3, and haven't even scratched the surface of the games that are considered must-play. I can't see what I would want out of next-gen consoles from Sony & Microsoft, as a graphical upgrade is going to be mostly window dressing to me at this point, and I have no inherent need to upgrade without any reason other than a graphical improvement. 

Of course, I may be writing on these forums a year from now about how Sony or Microsoft included some incredible feature and asking why Nintendo didn't have the foresight to include it, but for the time being, an HD Nintendo system with online and mulimedia functionality with a cool tablet controller is more than enough to satisfy my need for a new home console.

Now someone just needs to tell Nintendo to make Kirby's Epic Yarn 2 for the Wii U (& 3DS!).

I've used my Xbox 360 as my DVD/Netflix/Hulu Plus/HBO Go hub for like 4 years. There are also movie rentals, ESPN3, and a whole cadre of other multimedia things lingering in that system. It might require Xbox Live Gold, but it's still far more than Nintendo had on the Wii. Hopefully the Wii U will claim that spot from my 360. The PS3 already tried and failed (Kinect voice control for system/Netflix/Hulu >>> almost anything else)

I like the idea behind this article, however I feel you could have come up with a better case for yourself. Then again, a person shouldn't have to defend their choice of entertainment. That's messed up.

As for me, Nintendo doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to. However, Sony and Microsoft's systems offer me even less. So I have no choice but to put up with Nintendo's poor decisions, as they still make the only systems that provide the most of what I want. Basically, they are the lessor of three evils. Now, I don't think they are evil, I just can't think of a better phrase to sum it up.