All worthy things to be excited for.


I'm concerned as to how the technical power wars will work out. Will Nintendo put effort in relationships to have the Wii U be the lead platform even in the face of the Playstation 4 and Xbox 3? Will the cost of the next technically impressive games reach a point where significantly fewer developers and publishers are able to afford it and thus reducing the power advantage? Or will Nintendo, between now and launch, decide to give the Wii U a power boost?


Interesting times are ahead of us!

Half of your reasons are "Potential". And they aren't very good as a whole. Notice you have no software to mention was reasons why. Now think to the problem with the 3DS right now.

I'm not saying don't be excited for Wii U, but right now, there isn't anything to be excited about except a lot of pipe dreams that may not happen.

And 6" screen is still uber small compared to a 50" TV.

Hopefully the system will be such that when they are making there ports or new development its just so easy to up some of the different graphical touches that it becomes a why not situation.

@xcwarrior- Wait, 6" isn't as large as 50"? STOP THE PRESSES!

The ability to play a console game if a tv is being used by someone else is not only super convenient, but it's never been done before. I don't understand how you can honestly find fault in that. "Only 6"? This is bullshit!" That's ridiculous. You know what a 6" screen is better than? NOTHING which is what you got before.

Seriously, some people...

It's funny cuz I'm excited for the Wii U for almost entirely different reasons!

I am "on vacation" so I don't have much time to post but I will say ...

A) I don't know how much certain big third party games like Assassin's Creed are going to squish themselves onto the small screen.  I know it can stream the video but would third parties put in the effort to alter the controls to acomodate that feature??

B) Rechargeable controller is good! I've had to buy one of those third party charging stations - which is lame... but muuuuuch better than carelessly guzzling batteries or relying on rechargeable batteries that are usually not very powerful.

C) Item inventory/maps on the small screen had me at hello!

When we have actual screens and videos of Wii U games in action, then I might do a list of games I'm looking forward to.
This is a hardware-focussed list, what I'm excited the Wii U could potentially do.
Potentially, because there are so many unanswered questions still!


Also, this time next year we will probably be playing on our Wii U's, excite GET!

Why would they have to alter the controls? All they would need to do is disable any Umote screen options from being usable simultaneously while the game is being played (obviously... It would simply revert back to the PS360 controls instead of the Umote enhanced version). All the basic controls should still be the same.


I'm hoping Iwata & Miyamoto see the potential in a Universal remote function with TV guide/Cable box controls.
Everyone would LOVE to have one, but no one wants to pay $100-$200+ for a fancy remote that still wouldn't have the same capabilities as the WiiUmote. Technically the iPad/phone & Android phones can also do this, but that's all the more reason why Nintendo should do it too. Gives everyone one more reason to not only keep the WiiUmote on display infront of the main TV, or to even put one infront of every TV, but it gives you another reason to pick that controller up every single day.

Nintendo has to move beyond the thought of solely a videogame box, but give us reasons beyond games to own and use the box, but also have the option of playing the latest games too.
Sitting upright on a dock, the Umote could do
-internet videochat
-weather / news updates
-email / chat
-music player (CDs, MP3s, etc etc)
-remote video screen (Netflix/TV on the kitchen table for everyone to see)
-charge the battery

and those are just off the top of my head. There is so much potential for this device outside of the usual gaming stuff, that I will be disappointed if Nintendo doesn't make serious efforts to realize most, if not all, of them.

Indeed. All the neat non-gaming extras in the 3DS and Wii give me hope that Nintendo is much more open to having non-gaming functions for the Wii U. I don't expect a Nintendo Wii U application store (though that would be neat), but I do hope for some features that make it worthwhile to turn on the system even if I don't feel like playing a video game at the moment.

It's funny.  About ten years ago I was all for non-gaming applications.  I thought the PS2 being a DVD player was REALLY cool and the Gamecube's "games only" design seemed restrictive and kind of juvenile.

But now I find I'm the exact opposite.  I couldn't give two shits about these extras and would rather full attention be made towards videogame functionality.  I think part of it is that now that when I was 19 I didn't own very much stuff.  The idea of having extra doodads in my videogame system was a bargain.  At 29 I already own all this stuff and have more money so there is less value to it.  I also think that over time I've realized that Nintendo sucks at pretty much everything except game design so they should concentrate on their strengths.  I figure a Nintendo universal remote would be a restrictive and borderline useless hunk of shit.

And some of it I think is just about control.  I don't like the idea of picking up the controller every day.  I'll pick it up whenever the fuck I want to, whether that is five times that day or not at all for two weeks.  Nintendo's (and Sony and MS do this as well) attempts to "infiltrate" my living room and get daily usage out of me doesn't sound inviting or friendly.  It comes across to me like a big corporation that wants my money trying to make me dependent on them.  I sounds like it serves their interests more than mine.  I just want a videogame system that I play when I want and don't play when I don't.  I only want the Wii U controller to be used when I'm playing Wii U videogames.

The extra functionality is like a salesman saying "while we're here how about..." only he already included the extra stuff you didn't want and charged you for it.

The beauty of technology today is that we have the power to add and subtract features through software and without having to leave the house.

So while  the WiiU may be taken out the box and hooked up in your livingroom while only having a major gaming focus, over time, you may find that since it is already hooked up there, that you wish it could do more, with out having to go out and buy more hardware. Now that we have the option to expand the functionality to our choosing by customizing the software we use, the only thing that would be restrictive would be Nintendo not planning ahead for such expansive use and therefore crippling the growth of the system.

p.s. Nintendo doesn't have to make all the software applications. They just need to make the hardware capable and the OS adaptable.
Logitech could make the Universal Remote app and sell it on the eShop for $20

You forgot reason number 9.

Hackers are going to have a ball with it.

Nintendo has come a long way from their rigid Japanese philosophy only days, but embracing hackers...

Depends if they like the Kinect stuff going on.

uh...they don't need to embrace hackers..

Yeah, but that puts it off limits to most people. But, I see that wasn't your point, so point taken.

It would be pretty cool if Nintendo open sourced the controller. Like you couldn't mess with the system itself, but they could make a channel that streams controller hacks. It wouldn't affect the main game, or whatever else is taking place on the screen, just play on the controller, or have like a 'pop-up video' like app for the TV show you're watching.

Also, can the system stream Netflix to the TV and a game to controller? Or is it one at a time? Could it possibly play a Wii game (or Wii U game that uses Wiimotes only) and a controller game at the same time?

Regarding hackers, Nintendo should probably be tight about the important stuff like piracy and be slack on the fun harmless stuff like alternate uses for the controller and region locking and stuff like that.  Hackers are going to show up no matter what.  If you're a super tight ass about everything they're going to pick on you like they did with Sony.  But if you're slack about the minor stuff, they have less reason to regard you as an enemy.  Also if the workarounds for simple stuff like region locking are simple, they can be done without serious stuff like piracy going hand in hand.

The Gamecube region mod involved installing a switch.  It was easy to figure out and no one had to open the door for piracy to do it.  It was enough to keep out the average user but simple enough that anyone savy to it could make the mod without causing serious damage.  People are going to try to figure this stuff out anyway.  Keep the average users out and keep the good natured hackers from doing the dirty work for the pirates.

I don't like hackers, and I suspect many PS3 owners don't anymore either after hackers cause PlayStation Network to be down for so long. I don't think Nintendo should embrace or encourage hackers in any form. At most I would want Nintendo to just leave alone the people who do stuff like letting you watch DVDs on your Wii, since those people are not harming Nintendo or anyone else.

At a bare minimum, the tablet needs to be able to send out IR signals.  It would be a dream come true if there was an HDMI input on the console, but that's something I'm certain will never happen.  You just know Sony's going to do it when they copy Nintendo this time, though.  That's a company that would happily integrate itself into an entertainment center, and probably with a multitouch screen, too.  I hope Nintendo sees the threat and beats them to the punch.  If Nintendo gets there first, it'll still be a blue ocean when they do.

I'm pretty sure Wii U supports HDMI.

input.  So, for example, I can carry the controller around the house with me watching TV.

You said console, not controller.

EDIT: I think I get what you mean now. Wouldn't it need like a coaxial input? On second thought, maybe I'm still confused.

It doesn't need to be tethered to receive any of the other signals sent to it by the console.  I don't get the confusion.  If the console had A/V input, that signal could be streamed wirelessly to the controller.  It would mean someone could watch the news on the TV while someone else watched a DVD on the controller in the next room, and it wouldn't matter that the Wii U couldn't play DVDs because it would only be transmitting a signal from a device that does.  With that input, someone, hacker or otherwise, would be able to do many cool things.

Nintendo might use it to let you draw on the people on TV or distort the picture in amusing ways.  I actually do expect that to be possible, but only with video files stored on an SD card.  I doubt what I was talking about up there is going to happen, probably because of possible legal repercussions I can scarcely imagine, being a reasonable person and all.  I'm just getting a head start lamenting it, I guess.  :)

Edit: Oh hey, you edited while I was replying.  Just about any modern A/V receiver is going to have an HDMI output meant for routing all your video game consoles and media players and cable boxes to your TV.  I'm not sure if having a second output is common, at least not a second HDMI one (one for the TV and one for the Wii U in this scenario, if I'm being unclear).  Having both HDMI and component video and three different audio outputs is common enough.  I just said HDMI because it's pretty much the standard for now.

Ahh, I get it now.

That'd be cool though maybe a bit superfluous. I'm pretty happy with the ability to continue playing if someone wants to use the TV. I can definitely see the benefits of what you're suggesting. If I was sitting outside but still close enough for the console to send the signal, that's certainly very convenient. It'd be even more interesting if the controller could send TV signals to the controller while someone was playing a Wii U game with a different controller.

If the Wii U browser supports flash, it makes it even more superfluous.

I would be even more excited for the Wii U if Nintendo allowed it to upres older Wii games. Is this a technical limitation for the Wii U or is it something on Nintendo's part?

I'm sure they CAN, but they WON'T.

Am exited cause i can finally play HD games on a nintendo platform, so i can stop buying games for 360 or ps3, its not hating, i have enjoyed many games on those two platforms, its just that i rather play games on nintendo consoles, sadly with the Wii, many nintendo gamers who wanted to enjoy HD games had to go 360 or ps3 route. Plus the other main feature the new console offers, which is the controller, am exited to see what developers come up with.

About the lack of up-rezzing for Wii games on Wii U, yeah - very disappointing, especially considering what the Dolphin Emulator can do.
Even more worrying is the thought that Nintendo might not even support/allow HDMI use for old Wii games, as the original games didn't. Sounds ridiculous right?
Which is exactly why it might happen. Gulp.



Other things that emulators can do that Nintendo don't seem to be able to figure out:
*Super FX games. (I need Stunt Race FX!)
*Until recently, save states which allow saving/loading at any time. (3DS VC games are still one slot)
*Online, i.e virtual 2nd controller played over the internet. (6 years ago, I assumed this would be a Wii feature, heh)
*Configurable control schemes, AKA button mapping (ditto)


A guy in a basement can versus a multimillion dollar company with infinite resources....yeah.

Sometime thats what it takes.

Upscaling--you can but it's not the same as native 1080P. 

As for the dock?  Not sure where you read that from but it doesn't have a docking station, it comes with an detatable AC plug cord. 

Surprised to see Ian's post about non-gaming applications.  Would LOVE an Professional Cooking WII U edition.  Think about it--you can have your little helper (believe me I need all the help I can get) right inside the kitchen with you.  You can already do this with the DS but that game was lacking--only held 100 something reciepes where the WII U can have infinite number do to extra storage space and user inputs.

Also would kill for an Professional "fix-it" app.  There's alot of housework that I need done and I'm doing most of it myself to save cash but an interactive guide can help. 

Of course there's apps like those on those smart phones but I haven't gotten around to buying one yet. 

More apps the better.

"Dolphin Emulator "

Actually that's not the same.  That program is using user created textures that are 1080 so they are not native WII graphics to begin with. 

 

I'm not sure if you were talking about WiiU since you didn't quote anyone, but
Miyamoto mentioned the dock himself in an interview. I posted in the WiiU thread somewhere. maybe I'll edit in a link riiiight......

NWR's Worldwide Test Kitchen
It's not professional, but there are lots of step by step instructions and in some cases lots of pics to go with it too.

That would be nice.
I've always wondered why lots of companies didn't record themselves assembling one of their own products and post a (youtube) link to that on the paper instructions or include it on a DVD if it's a big project (like a 350 pc Entertainment Center or something like that).

Stop it.  You're scaring me.

It hasn't aged well.  Do yourself a favor and just wrap yourself up in your memories and never, ever play it again.

http://www.gamespot.com/special_feature/e32011-wiiu-controller/image-feature/index.html?image=7

Also GI stated the same thing is where I read it.

I'm really just excited because I get to play the Nintendo games I know and love in HD. I have been waiting for this for years. I am still unsure of the controller.

Actually that IS what it's called, and it uses the game's original assets. So raw polygons looks amazing, but sprites/pre-rendered stuff look the same. (bad)
It also does 3D!

I have played it recently, it's still awesome. I actually prefer it to Excitebots!
The handling, track design and music don't age. The graphics may be primitive, but have a nice retro polygonal feel now, like the original Starfox.

Yeah, but there are also many PS3 owners who are thankful for the hacking because of the free games and stuff they got out of the deal. In a way the hackers also did a favor by revealing major vulnerabilities in the system and forcing Sony to get off their ass and do what they should have already had done to begin with.