The Wii U is dead in its current form, admits Nintendo. But what now?

[Ichinisan]

So, I bought the Wii U. Man, unless Nintendo completely cleared out it's console division, they aren't going to be around much longer. There are design fails at every level.

1. Instead of including a disk for Windwaker HD in the Windwaker HD bundle, they included a single use code. Thankfully, the dude I bought it from didn't use it. However, I did get an error when it downloaded and couldn't figure out how to get it back. I had to google the problem to discover that I could just look it up in the store and download it. This error, judging by all the forum posts about, is pretty common. Oh, and what do I do if I want to resell it? So, if you're looking at a bundle off of craigslist ask about whether the game is a disk or a code...

2. Whoever approved the tablet controller is an abject idiot. It's a terrible controller to hold, it obviously takes a ton of energy to use, has bad battery life, and it doesn't actually add anything to the gaming experience. I ended up putting the charging cradle inside my media console because I have a kitten who likes to knock things over. I can't imagine keeping this thing from breaking if I had little kids. You know, the consumers nintendo is trying to cultivate...

3. After setting up my account & getting the error, I restarted it. It then asked me for my user account's password (!). Well those idiots put a resistive touchscreen in the thing! I had to try 3 times before it would accept the password (and then find where to turn the passwords off...). Who the hell puts resistive screens on tablets in 2014?

4. Setting the thing up took forever, with all these little usability issues. Navigating around the home screen is slow slow slow. I can't imagine what I'd feel like if I'd bought the thing at full price for kids and tried setting it up on christmas day. I'd tell all of my friends to avoid it, lol.

I like Mario 3d world and am looking forward to Zelda (never played windwaker), but it's obvious that there is something seriously wrong with Nintendo's management. Nintendo needs to completely gut their console management, because there are so many bad decisions in this thing, it's crazy.

I'm glad I only spent ~$255 ($230 for the console bundle & 3d world, and ~$25 for a good 3rd party controller). If I had spent $400+ tax on the bundle, 3d world, and a pro controller, I'd be pretty pissed. I'm glad I bought it (especially at the price I got it ), but I understand why it isn't selling well. And, I 'm sure that word of mouth is killing it.

Haven't read the whole post, but yeah...the system UI is full of fail. I've said the same thing about Wii and DS/DSi/3DS.

Did you find the stylus in the controller? You're expected to use that for most of the system menu. I suspect that most games will have large icons that are easy to press without it.

My brother used the Pro Controller for most of Wind Waker. Sometimes it helped to use the tablet...but the battery life was a limiting factor for sure.

[edit]
...and the download code thing is strange. My brother's bundle came with an actual disc for New Super Mario Bros U and New Super Luigi U (one disc with both titles). Originally, NSLU was released as a downloadable game. I'm surprised it wasn't a download code in this bundle.

 

[Aikouka]

...and the download code thing is strange. My brother's bundle came with an actual disc for New Super Mario Bros U and New Super Luigi U (one disc with both titles). Originally, NSLU was released as a downloadable game. I'm surprised it wasn't a download code in this bundle.

The Mario bundle comes with a disc that has both New Super Mario Bros U and New Super Luigi U on it, but the Zelda bundle has a code to download the game. It's one of the reasons why I didn't want the Zelda bundle as I normally prefer physical games for resale capability.

 

[purbeast0]

preslove, #1 is 100% your fault. it's been known for ages that it was a download version. it's nobody elses fault you didn't do your own research.

but as far as the other ones ... yeah, there is a reason the wii-u is dying.

 

[ViRGE]

So, I bought the Wii U. Man, unless Nintendo completely cleared out it's console division, they aren't going to be around much longer. There are design fails at every level.

1. Instead of including a disk for Windwaker HD in the Windwaker HD bundle, they included a single use code. Thankfully, the dude I bought it from didn't use it. However, I did get an error when it downloaded and couldn't figure out how to get it back. I had to google the problem to discover that I could just look it up in the store and download it. This error, judging by all the forum posts about, is pretty common. Oh, and what do I do if I want to resell it? So, if you're looking at a bundle off of craigslist ask about whether the game is a disk or a code...

2. Whoever approved the tablet controller is an abject idiot. It's a terrible controller to hold, it obviously takes a ton of energy to use, has bad battery life, and it doesn't actually add anything to the gaming experience. I ended up putting the charging cradle inside my media console because I have a kitten who likes to knock things over. I can't imagine keeping this thing from breaking if I had little kids. You know, the consumers nintendo is trying to cultivate...

3. After setting up my account & getting the error, I restarted it. It then asked me for my user account's password (!). Well those idiots put a resistive touchscreen in the thing! I had to try 3 times before it would accept the password (and then find where to turn the passwords off...). Who the hell puts resistive screens on tablets in 2014?

4. Setting the thing up took forever, with all these little usability issues. Navigating around the home screen is slow slow slow. I can't imagine what I'd feel like if I'd bought the thing at full price for kids and tried setting it up on christmas day. I'd tell all of my friends to avoid it, lol.

I like Mario 3d world and am looking forward to Zelda (never played windwaker), but it's obvious that there is something seriously wrong with Nintendo's management. Nintendo needs to completely gut their console management, because there are so many bad decisions in this thing, it's crazy.

I'm glad I only spent ~$255 ($230 for the console bundle & 3d world, and ~$25 for a good 3rd party controller). If I had spent $400+ tax on the bundle, 3d world, and a pro controller, I'd be pretty pissed. I'm glad I bought it (especially at the price I got it ), but I understand why it isn't selling well. And, I 'm sure that word of mouth is killing it.

3) As someone else already mentioned, it's designed to be used with a stylus. Nintendo is daft, but they don't intend for you to actually touch the screen. It's just like the DS/3DS in that regard. As for why they did it, cost is no doubt a factor. A good capacitive touchscreen of that size would easily add $25 to the console's price (remember, this was 2012).

4) Agreed. The home screen is fairly slow to navigate. I wish it was faster to load games and to switch between a game/application and the home menu.

 

[sxr7171]

You don't have to. The nunchuck attachment + Wii remote is surprisingly just as good as any controller.

Every Wii included those.

I don't think so the nunchuck was $20.

 

[Ichinisan]

I'm talking about the latest console iteration, Mario Kart Wii. None of the above happens.

I honestly never played that one since the controls were motion based, was there a way to turn that off?

Yes. Use a Classic Controller or a GameCube controller. The motion controls are only in play when you use the Wiimote.

no wonder...

See, you shouldn't have to buy something else to play it normally.

You don't have to. The nunchuck attachment + Wii remote is surprisingly just as good as any controller.

Every Wii included those.

I don't think so the nunchuck was $20.

Every Wii included both a Wii remote and a nunchuck.

Not the Wii U though.

 

[CZroe]

3) As someone else already mentioned, it's designed to be used with a stylus. Nintendo is daft, but they don't intend for you to actually touch the screen. It's just like the DS/3DS in that regard. As for why they did it, cost is no doubt a factor. A good capacitive touchscreen of that size would easily add $25 to the console's price (remember, this was 2012).

Yep: cost.
They weren't going to use a blunt capacitive stylus so a capacitive screen would have also required an active digitizer and stylus like Wacom.

 

[shortylickens]

Every Wii included both a Wii remote and a nunchuck.

Not the Wii U though.

No, they included a clunky tablet and NO controller of real use.

 

[preslove]

preslove, #1 is 100% your fault. it's been known for ages that it was a download version. it's nobody elses fault you didn't do your own research.

but as far as the other ones ... yeah, there is a reason the wii-u is dying.

Customers shouldn't have to research something like this. The simple fact that they chose an error prone download code over including a disk, especially for a branded device(there's zelda crap all over controller), shows how dumb ninendo management is.

I'm not all that pissed, I'm going to keep the thing and play through all the Wii mario games, since I never owned a wii.

So, can I use the tablet controller for wii games?

 

[ViRGE]

So, can I use the tablet controller for wii games?

No. You'll need a Wiimote for Wii games.

 

[preslove]

No. You'll need a Wiimote for Wii games.

. I was hoping I'd just need to buy one wiimote to play coop games with my gf. Oh well.

 

[mmntech]

After long being an armchair athlete in the Wii U debate, I finally played with one at Best Buy a couple weeks ago. Yep, the controller sucks. It's really, really clunky. It's a good concept but I think it works better on paper than it does in the real world. Much like the Vita's dual touch pads.

It's also still really laggy as well when operating the home screen. That shouldn't be.

I agree that Nintendo should be bundling disc copies and not download codes. It assumes you have access to reliable and fast internet. Which a lot of people still don't. Especially if you live in a rural area.

 

[Lil Frier]

I have it a VERY brief try months ago at GameStop, and made my cousin do the tablet stuff while I played New Super Mario U (I think that's the long-winded name of it). My end of it felt no different than playing its predecessor on the Wii, while my cousin said that the tablet stuff wasn't anything great.

It really is a great idea on paper, and it could be a great real-world idea as well. However, IMO, making it good involves not making people use that garbage display and a stylus. What you'd ideally have is something that was a true remote play device, and it wouldn't even need special work from developers to support it (basically just make it like the Vita). Nintendo's last two consoles have been great at SUGGESTING good tech (motion-controlled gaming, remote play), but releasing crap examples of it.

 

[TheAdvocate]

. I was hoping I'd just need to buy one wiimote to play coop games with my gf. Oh well.

Get a used one, or get a remote plus & nunchuk from Nintendo directly (refurbed) for $20.

 

[TheAdvocate]

I have it a VERY brief try months ago at GameStop, and made my cousin do the tablet stuff while I played New Super Mario U (I think that's the long-winded name of it). My end of it felt no different than playing its predecessor on the Wii, while my cousin said that the tablet stuff wasn't anything great.

It really is a great idea on paper, and it could be a great real-world idea as well. However, IMO, making it good involves not making people use that garbage display and a stylus. What you'd ideally have is something that was a true remote play device, and it wouldn't even need special work from developers to support it (basically just make it like the Vita). Nintendo's last two consoles have been great at SUGGESTING good tech (motion-controlled gaming, remote play), but releasing crap examples of it.

So much bitching about the tablet by people that it wasnt aimed at.

Let's do this cliff notes style:

1) Get a Wii U pro remote. Problem solved.

2) The tablet is gimmicky, but aside from Rayman Legends and a couple of obligatory stages on SM3DW, it is unnecessary. HOWEVER - it is awesome for kids. They love playing with it. And it's a godsend when you want to boot your kids off the TV or dont wanna fire it up so they can game.

My kids take it in the play room - which is through a thick wall, and play while I watch TV. It's an indespensible part of the system to my family.

 

[shortylickens]

You need to buy an extra WiiMote and a nunchuck and a gamepad and a crapload of other things.

Fook.

Also, it wont run GameCube stuff but of course theres always alternatives to that.

http://www.amazon.com/Retro-GameCube.../dp/B00HS7LJ2G

 

[preslove]

So much bitching about the tablet by people that it wasnt aimed at.

Let's do this cliff notes style:

1) Get a Wii U pro remote. Problem solved.

2) The tablet is gimmicky, but aside from Rayman Legends and a couple of obligatory stages on SM3DW, it is unnecessary. HOWEVER - it is awesome for kids. They love playing with it. And it's a godsend when you want to boot your kids off the TV or dont wanna fire it up so they can game.

My kids take it in the play room - which is through a thick wall, and play while I watch TV. It's an indespensible part of the system to my family.

The tablet cost nintendo too much. If they had priced the wii u$50-100 less, included a wii pro controller and wii mote & nunchuck, they would be selling a lot more than they are now. Once they got Mario 3d world out, they should have started marketing it with mega add buys, showing families playing mario 3d world together with the wii pro, wiimote/nunchuck, and whatever mobile device they added. They should have just included some tech into the console for it, then put out a new(!) 3ds & 2ds line that could to remote play.

 

[Lil Frier]

So much bitching about the tablet by people that it wasnt aimed at.

Let's do this cliff notes style:

1) Get a Wii U pro remote. Problem solved.

2) The tablet is gimmicky, but aside from Rayman Legends and a couple of obligatory stages on SM3DW, it is unnecessary. HOWEVER - it is awesome for kids. They love playing with it. And it's a godsend when you want to boot your kids off the TV or dont wanna fire it up so they can game.

My kids take it in the play room - which is through a thick wall, and play while I watch TV. It's an indespensible part of the system to my family.

You're missing my point, and it's that the tablet isn't that intriguing in practice. If that's the case, what do I have beyond a new, more-expensive Wii? I mean, I held the same thing against Microsoft, that they included a peripheral I didn't want and had it inflate the price. If I could buy the Wii U without the tablet, I'd agree with you. With my One, Microsoft at least offered a nice bundle for $450 with Titanfall making it worth the money (because taking off $50 and giving my a $60 game made up for the Kinect price and more).

I don't really care to get a Wii U, just because I don't play a lot of Nintendo games anymore, and none or too compelling for me to play by myself. However, that said, if I considered getting one, I'd probably call $200 the buy-in price for me. $250 with a game might convince me, but it'd have to be a good game.

 

[ViRGE]

After long being an armchair athlete in the Wii U debate, I finally played with one at Best Buy a couple weeks ago. Yep, the controller sucks. It's really, really clunky. It's a good concept but I think it works better on paper than it does in the real world. Much like the Vita's dual touch pads.

Just curious, are you referring to the touchscreen, the gamepad elements, or both?

Maybe it's just me, but I really like the WiiU tablet as a gamepad. The larger size makes it more comfortable to hold over long periods of time.

 

[Ichinisan]

Just curious, are you referring to the touchscreen, the gamepad elements, or both?

Maybe it's just me, but I really like the WiiU tablet as a gamepad. The larger size makes is more comfortable to hold over long periods of time.

It is super comfortable, but I can't stand how often the shoulder buttons get pressed accidentally.

 

[artemicion]

I like the Wii U gamepad overall. I actually use it quite a bit to play Wii U games and virtual console games while my wife is using the TV for something else. I don't have any complaints about the ergonomics. The touch screen is under utilized and not quite as responsive as other touch screens (but probably on par with a DS).

IMO, Nintendo dropped the ball not necessarily in their design of the gamepad, but by their failure to capitalize on its potential. They should've waited a year or two so the base console hardware was powerful enough to push pixels to both the TV and the gamepad independently. 5 player mario kart (or 2 player mario kart with each player having their own screen), 2-5 player local co-op FPS games (Borderlands would have been PERFECT on Wii U for 2+ players), Diablo-type games where two players didn't have to be rubberbanded on the same screen, etc. If Nintendo released a SINGLE game that capitalized on the gamepad like this, the design decision would have been defensible.

 

[preslove]

Get a used one, or get a remote plus & nunchuk from Nintendo directly (refurbed) for $20.

Thanks for the tip, though they took their sight down until May 9th to upgrade their system. Hopefully, they will still offer it for $20.

 

[ViRGE]

In case anyone hasn't seen it yet, Nintendo has announced a new Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle. It's not a formal price cut, but they're throwing in more than ever before.

Deluxe WiiU
Red Wiimote Plus
Red WiiU Wheel
Mario Kart 8
Download code for an additional game: New Super Mario Bros. U, Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, or Wii Party U (limited time offer, until July 31st)

http://youtu.be/JbuJZP0_8iQ?t=32m12s

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks for the tip, though they took their sight down until May 9th to upgrade their system. Hopefully, they will still offer it for $20.

I've amassed lots and lots of Wii remotes that were new / never used.

With the original Wii, the included remote was paired from the factory (or the system prompted you to pair the first time). When people buy another remote or a game+remote bundle (like Wii Play), they assume the never-paired remote is defective because the lights don't blink at all when a button is pressed. Retailers allowed people to return games like Wii Play because it wasn't entirely software (and, sometimes, the game inside the box bundle was still sealed). Some local department store would donate them to the Goodwill thrift stores around here. I think it's because they can't return software like Wii Play to Nintendo, but I also got plenty of sealed remotes, nunchuks, and classic controllers too -- so I don't understand why they kept donating the merchandise. I got many of the remotes for just a few dollars. Averaged about $7 for each remote. I'm sure I've hoarded a box of them around here somewhere.

Time to do an inventory...

 

[zerocool84]

So much bitching about the tablet by people that it wasnt aimed at.

Let's do this cliff notes style:

1) Get a Wii U pro remote. Problem solved.

.

That's the thing, you shouldn't have to buy another controller because the stock one sucks to play games. You don't hear people buying another controller because the PS4 or Xbone controller sucks.