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

[Lil Frier]

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.

Ehh, there are plenty of PS4 owners complaining about the DS4 battery life and light bar, plus Xbox One owners complaining about the required Kinect purchase, so they all have their peripheral-based flaws.

 

[zerocool84]

Ehh, there are plenty of PS4 owners complaining about the DS4 battery life and light bar, plus Xbox One owners complaining about the required Kinect purchase, so they all have their peripheral-based flaws.

Yes but those don't hurt basic ability to play the game. Saying just buy another controller because the stock one sucks is not the same thing as buying one for better battery life.

 

[preslove]

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...

So, you just found them at goodwill and synced it like this? http://en-americas-support.nintendo...5/~/how-to-sync-the-wii-remote-(standard-mode)

 

[Ichinisan]

So, you just found them at goodwill and synced it like this? http://en-americas-support.nintendo...5/~/how-to-sync-the-wii-remote-(standard-mode)

That's right. Remove the battery cover and press the sync button there.

 

[CZroe]

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.

Hmm... I wonder if it's Heartbleed-related. :hmm: Their store.nintendo.com site still has the same glitches I remember from 2003 (can't navigate back and can't open in new tabs/windows).

 

[CZroe]

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.

I'm pretty sure that the reason you got the error was that the code *was* already used. Nintendo downloads are tied to the console and not the account, which is why you were able to find it available for being re-downloaded.

Basically, checking the download code is not the concern, though it's always possible that they used it elsewhere the first time. You need to set up the console and check online to know if it was used on it.

 

[preslove]

I'm pretty sure that the reason you got the error was that the code *was* already used. Nintendo downloads are tied to the console and not the account, which is why you were able to find it available for being re-downloaded.

Basically, checking the download code is not the concern, though it's always possible that they used it elsewhere the first time. You need to set up the console and check online to know if it was used on it.

The first time I put it in, it was accepted and set up the download. at the download screen is where the error was. Putting in the code again gave me an error saying that it had already been entered. The difference in the errors tells me that it wasn't used before. There were tons of questions about this error on google, asked by people who had bought it new.

 

[TheAdvocate]

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.

The tablet remote works fine. Not liking it is personal preference. Personally, I dont mind holding it, Id just rather play on the big screen than the little one. I do not care for that - but I dont get all pissy about it either.

I am going to use this opportunity to state what is painfully obvious - most of the people bitching about the Wii U are in the 21-34 range. Their real gripe is that they have aged out of Nintendo's key demographic which is kids and teens and parents of those kids (aka < 21 and 34-50). That' s why the system doesn't make sense to you. That's why the system is designed for group play in the same room. That's why the gameplay is front and center, and the graphics are cartoony and less violent. That's why there is a tablet controller. That's why it's NOT an xbone or a PS4 - those two were catered for older gamers who wanted different things. Yet, you're butthurt because you do want to play the classic Mario/DK/Zelda/etc titles. Thats the source of the negative campaign against Nintendo - lots of angsty 25 year old guys hoping the big N's hardware division will fail, as if that would cause them to automatically "get with the times" and port all of their library over to your console of choice.

That isn't happening. The wii was an enormous success, but also an unrealistic benchmark for the market demographic that they are chasing. You do not HAVE to be the top console to be "successful" if you are playing a niche - however you do have to make money. Nintendo/Wii U does have some challenges in that regard. But this fantasy that they ever had any interest in making a hardcore gaming PC in a console box, with a focus on gritty FPS and simulation sports games, that most of the angsty crowd had.... Pure fantasy. That was never what Nintendo wanted to be. They wanted to innovate, but in terms of peripheals and fun for all ages gameplay. They were never trying to be the muscle car king of the road. If you've moved beyond them, so be it. Just realize that its your perspective that has changed, not their mission.

 

[artemicion]

The first time I put it in, it was accepted and set up the download. at the download screen is where the error was. Putting in the code again gave me an error saying that it had already been entered. The difference in the errors tells me that it wasn't used before. There were tons of questions about this error on google, asked by people who had bought it new.

Have you never purchased a digital video game before? There's nothing remarkable about your situation (other than the apparently minor connection error during download).

You redeem a code for a game. It works. Your game is now tied to your account (or console). If I got confirmation that the code redemption worked and later ran into an error during download, honestly, looking up the game on the store and re-downloading it would be my FIRST instinct, not trying to input the code again.

 

[Ichinisan]

Have you never purchased a digital video game before? There's nothing remarkable about your situation (other than the apparently minor connection error during download).

You redeem a code for a game. It works. Your game is now tied to your account (or console). If I got confirmation that the code redemption worked and later ran into an error during download, honestly, looking up the game on the store and re-downloading it would be my FIRST instinct, not trying to input the code again.

Well that was only one part of an overwhelmingly negative experience. I know exactly what he's complaining about. Nintendo has to do a lot of work to improve the overall experience.

Apparently, the most important feature of the Wii U is that it will power down automatically (Nintendo reminds you at every possible opportunity).

 

[preslove]

The tablet remote works fine. Not liking it is personal preference. Personally, I dont mind holding it, Id just rather play on the big screen than the little one. I do not care for that - but I dont get all pissy about it either.

I am going to use this opportunity to state what is painfully obvious - most of the people bitching about the Wii U are in the 21-34 range. Their real gripe is that they have aged out of Nintendo's key demographic which is kids and teens and parents of those kids (aka < 21 and 34-50). That' s why the system doesn't make sense to you. That's why the system is designed for group play in the same room. That's why the gameplay is front and center, and the graphics are cartoony and less violent. That's why there is a tablet controller. That's why it's NOT an xbone or a PS4 - those two were catered for older gamers who wanted different things. Yet, you're butthurt because you do want to play the classic Mario/DK/Zelda/etc titles. Thats the source of the negative campaign against Nintendo - lots of angsty 25 year old guys hoping the big N's hardware division will fail, as if that would cause them to automatically "get with the times" and port all of their library over to your console of choice.

That isn't happening. The wii was an enormous success, but also an unrealistic benchmark for the market demographic that they are chasing. You do not HAVE to be the top console to be "successful" if you are playing a niche - however you do have to make money. Nintendo/Wii U does have some challenges in that regard. But this fantasy that they ever had any interest in making a hardcore gaming PC in a console box, with a focus on gritty FPS and simulation sports games, that most of the angsty crowd had.... Pure fantasy. That was never what Nintendo wanted to be. They wanted to innovate, but in terms of peripheals and fun for all ages gameplay. They were never trying to be the muscle car king of the road. If you've moved beyond them, so be it. Just realize that its your perspective that has changed, not their mission.

1. Nintendo tried going for the 21-34 demo by getting CoD and other shooters on the platform. So their failure to get that demo is not a result of their no focusing on those customers.
2. Nintendo has not been selling enough Wii U's to turn a profit. Unless something changes, this gen will be total business failure for them.
3. There is no "negative campaign" against Nintendo. There is just an accurate discussion of the many bad management decisions that led to the the Wii U's sales disaster. I'm rooting for them to turn it around, but they really need to improve their decision making at the hardware level.

You sound like that guy in OT that's been defending blackberry forever.

Have you never purchased a digital video game before? There's nothing remarkable about your situation (other than the apparently minor connection error during download).

You redeem a code for a game. It works. Your game is now tied to your account (or console). If I got confirmation that the code redemption worked and later ran into an error during download, honestly, looking up the game on the store and re-downloading it would be my FIRST instinct, not trying to input the code again.

I've bought digital video games before. This is not what I bought. I bought a console & game bundle, which every console manufacturer not run by idiots includes with game discs, not download codes.

My first instinct was to look in the download queue, where the game was completely absent. That's terrible UI.

I'm sure negative word of mouth has killed wii u sales. Like I said before, If I'd spent full price, $400+ tax, and then had to go through everything I had to go through to set that machine up before my family could play that game, I'd be seriously pissed and would tell my friends to avoid it.

 

[TheAdvocate]

1. Nintendo tried going for the 21-34 demo by getting CoD and other shooters on the platform. So their failure to get that demo is not a result of their no focusing on those customers.

Huh?

They got CoD on their console. I haven't played those versions, but wouldn't be surprised to hear that they are poorly executed ports. Nintendo wasn't going to turn their back on that audience completely, but its not a priority. Their focus is pushing their own titles and a few indepedent developers with similar themes and motivations. If they get the EA type games, icing on cake.

I already said they need to make money. Not really sure what you're arguing there. They can do so as a niche provider provided they execute properly. They've made some mistakes. But their mission is a perfectly valid business model. Tons of companies exist in niche realms once they perfect their execution/delivery. A little tougher in an industry which requires frequent re-invention, but it is still possible.

And I'm absolutely right about my main point. I know because I lived it. Plaed Atari 2600 and 5200 and NES as a kid. Fast forward and I broke down and bought a first gen Xbox 360 (2006) that I have barely ever played because I aged out of the demo almost immediately. It took me having kids to finally buy another console (Wii U). My story isnt uncommon. In between, when I did game, I was definitely a PC fan, and wouldn't touch a console for anything other than the occassional madden game.

If you go back and read the negative posts about Wii U on this and other forums, there is a common theme of the poster wanting/waiting for the Wii U to fail so Nintendo will hurry up and release SuperZeldaKartBros on their PSBoxOne. Short of a last ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy (they are sitting on a mountain of liquidity, don't hold your breath), Nintendo is never going to do that. It doesn't suit their gaming philosophy, an experience that they insist on tightly controlling (as most niche companies rightly do).

 

[cmdrdredd]

Apparently, the most important feature of the Wii U is that it will power down automatically (Nintendo reminds you at every possible opportunity).

I've also noticed that in many Nintendo games, even on my 3DS they tell you bluntly to "take a break" When you save in Zelda: Link Between Worlds they tell you how to stop the game for a break, in animal crossing characters say you look tired and need a break. This is when I've only been playing for an hour. I don't need to be told how much time to spend playing a game. That is very annoying IMO. I don't know whether they think we aren't adult enough to decide how much time to spend playing games, or they think only kids are playing these games and need to be told what to do.


Nintendo's problem isn't that they didn't have CoD it is that the online play is vastly inferior to the competition. The demographics that spend the most money on gaming do quite a bit of online play and Nintendo is without a real infrastructure to support it heavily. It's a problem among many that Nintendo is facing but there is an argument that it might be one of the main ones for them.

If you go back and read the negative posts about Wii U on this and other forums, there is a common theme of the poster wanting/waiting for the Wii U to fail so Nintendo will hurry up and release SuperZeldaKartBros on their PSBoxOne. Short of a last ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy (they are sitting on a mountain of liquidity, don't hold your breath), Nintendo is never going to do that. It doesn't suit their gaming philosophy, an experience that they insist on tightly controlling (as most niche companies rightly do).

That's because Nintendo for the past two cycles has failed at a couple things. First the hardware is vastly underpowered, and second the 3rd party games either are terrible compared to what you can get on a competing platform or just don't exist. People are tired of buying an entire console for the 5 Nintendo games that are worth playing while the system gathers dust for years in between. Nintendo isn't competitive with their competition anymore. When they do get a game from a 3rd party that isn't some sort of exclusive, it's vastly inferior to what can be played on a system from Sony or Microsoft. So the only real reason people even bother with them for the most part is their first party titles. Unfortunately for them I think people are over buying the system for one game and waiting for the next first party game to trickle in. I think some people will wait until all the games are available and buy it cheap and play them all at once.

 

[preslove]

I've also noticed that in many Nintendo games, even on my 3DS they tell you bluntly to "take a break" When you save in Zelda: Link Between Worlds they tell you how to stop the game for a break, in animal crossing characters say you look tired and need a break. This is when I've only been playing for an hour. I don't need to be told how much time to spend playing a game. That is very annoying IMO. I don't know whether they think we aren't adult enough to decide how much time to spend playing games, or they think only kids are playing these games and need to be told what to do.


Nintendo's problem isn't that they didn't have CoD it is that the online play is vastly inferior to the competition. The demographics that spend the most money on gaming do quite a bit of online play and Nintendo is without a real infrastructure to support it heavily. It's a problem among many that Nintendo is facing but there is an argument that it might be one of the main ones for them.



That's because Nintendo for the past two cycles has failed at a couple things. First the hardware is vastly underpowered, and second the 3rd party games either are terrible compared to what you can get on a competing platform or just don't exist. People are tired of buying an entire console for the 5 Nintendo games that are worth playing while the system gathers dust for years in between. Nintendo isn't competitive with their competition anymore. When they do get a game from a 3rd party that isn't some sort of exclusive, it's vastly inferior to what can be played on a system from Sony or Microsoft. So the only real reason people even bother with them for the most part is their first party titles. Unfortunately for them I think people are over buying the system for one game and waiting for the next first party game to trickle in. I think some people will wait until all the games are available and buy it cheap and play them all at once.

This is why ninendo needed a max price for their console that's about 50% of ps4 & xbox. That's one reason for the wii's success. It was in impulse buy territory.

This is why the tablet was a mistake. It added a whole lot of overhead, when they could have charged less and just included a pro controler and a wii mote and nunchuck combo, and it would have seemed like a great deal because you got 2 different sets of controllers.

I actually think nintendo should use their 1st party titles to drive sales, but just use a lower buy in price to entice customers.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This is why ninendo needed a max price for their console that's about 50% of ps4 & xbox. That's one reason for the wii's success. It was in impulse buy territory.

This is why the tablet was a mistake. It added a whole lot of overhead, when they could have charged less and just included a pro controler and a wii mote and nunchuck combo, and it would have seemed like a great deal because you got 2 different sets of controllers.

I actually think nintendo should use their 1st party titles to drive sales, but just use a lower buy in price to entice customers.

The wii had a gimmick attached to it that the WiiU doesn't have. That's one of the major differences that people forget. It wasn't the price so much as the idea that even grandma can play bowling.

 

[zerocool84]

Huh?

They got CoD on their console. I haven't played those versions, but wouldn't be surprised to hear that they are poorly executed ports. Nintendo wasn't going to turn their back on that audience completely, but its not a priority. Their focus is pushing their own titles and a few indepedent developers with similar themes and motivations. If they get the EA type games, icing on cake.

I already said they need to make money. Not really sure what you're arguing there. They can do so as a niche provider provided they execute properly. They've made some mistakes. But their mission is a perfectly valid business model. Tons of companies exist in niche realms once they perfect their execution/delivery. A little tougher in an industry which requires frequent re-invention, but it is still possible.

And I'm absolutely right about my main point. I know because I lived it. Plaed Atari 2600 and 5200 and NES as a kid. Fast forward and I broke down and bought a first gen Xbox 360 (2006) that I have barely ever played because I aged out of the demo almost immediately. It took me having kids to finally buy another console (Wii U). My story isnt uncommon. In between, when I did game, I was definitely a PC fan, and wouldn't touch a console for anything other than the occassional madden game.

If you go back and read the negative posts about Wii U on this and other forums, there is a common theme of the poster wanting/waiting for the Wii U to fail so Nintendo will hurry up and release SuperZeldaKartBros on their PSBoxOne. Short of a last ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy (they are sitting on a mountain of liquidity, don't hold your breath), Nintendo is never going to do that. It doesn't suit their gaming philosophy, an experience that they insist on tightly controlling (as most niche companies rightly do).

Yes, people make money on their niche products but that's because they make money on every niche product they sell. Those niche products are not sold at loss like the WiiU is so they don't have to worry about selling millions upon millions like Nintendo needs to sell with the WiiU. Aiming for second place never gets you second place and that's what Nintendo is doing by their cramps 3rd party support.

 

[Ichinisan]

I've also noticed that in many Nintendo games, even on my 3DS they tell you bluntly to "take a break" When you save in Zelda: Link Between Worlds they tell you how to stop the game for a break, in animal crossing characters say you look tired and need a break. This is when I've only been playing for an hour. I don't need to be told how much time to spend playing a game. That is very annoying IMO. I don't know whether they think we aren't adult enough to decide how much time to spend playing games, or they think only kids are playing these games and need to be told what to do.

You know why, right? It's because Nintendo is worried about affecting the development of stereo vision in young people. They took the same precautions in every single Virtual Boy game (the in-game reminder could usually be turned-off). With VirtualBoy, it came back to bite Nintendo. The system was awkward and uncomfortable to play. People remember this discomfort and read "facts" online that claim it caused excruciating headaches -- and they develop false memories of the headaches. It's hysteria.

 

[preslove]

The wii had a gimmick attached to it that the WiiU doesn't have. That's one of the major differences that people forget. It wasn't the price so much as the idea that even grandma can play bowling.

The gimmick would have been "the Wii in HD," plus a nice, normal controller the wii pro. They could have also kept motion gaming around, as well as the wii fit, and also more normal games.

last holdiday season, if they had sold a bundle of mario 3d world, a wii pro controller, and nunchuck/wiimote combo for $300, they would have been flying off the shelves.

 

[CZroe]

The gimmick would have been "the Wii in HD," plus a nice, normal controller the wii pro. They could have also kept motion gaming around, as well as the wii fit, and also more normal games.

last holdiday season, if they had sold a bundle of mario 3d world, a wii pro controller, and nunchuck/wiimote combo for $300, they would have been flying off the shelves.

There is a Wii Fit U and they did "keep motion gaming around" (it does still work with Wii and Motion Plus Remotes). What they didn't do was include the Wii Remote so it can never be the standard and even Nintendo is neglecting it (Zelda Wind Waker HD doesn't support it).

 

[shortylickens]

I think the gimmick here is a tablet that is both a controller and also a display for playing when you cant use the TV, or dont want to.

And frankly its not that impressive.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I think the gimmick here is a tablet that is both a controller and also a display for playing when you cant use the TV, or dont want to.

And frankly its not that impressive.

Exactly right. It isn't very well executed but I can see some cool ideas to be had with it, but the limited resolution and lack of capacitive screen hinder it.

 

[Narse]

Well I absolutely love the Wii U my wife got me about a month ago. My PS4 is sitting there collecting dust but I play the Wii U almost every night. I also love being able to play on the gamepad. Its super nice to just press a button on the controller and swap to the gamepad when my wife wants to watch TV.

 

[CZroe]

Well I absolutely love the Wii U my wife got me about a month ago. My PS4 is sitting there collecting dust but I play the Wii U almost every night. I also love being able to play on the gamepad. Its super nice to just press a button on the controller and swap to the gamepad when my wife wants to watch TV.

What games have you been playing on it?

 

[shortylickens]

NEED HELP!


How do I use my gamepad pro on the Wii U to play mario kart Wii?

 

[ViRGE]

NEED HELP!


How do I use my gamepad pro on the Wii U to play mario kart Wii?

Sorry, but you can't.🙁 Wii U accessories cannot be used in Wii mode. Only the Wiimote and its attachments work there.

Which to be honest surprises me a bit. Wii U mode still uses Bluetooth, so I'm not sure why Nintendo couldn't patch in support for the Wii U Pro Controller, other than the fact that it didn't exist as the time MKWii was released. You'd think they could emulate a Classic Controller at the IOS level...