Does The Wii U Put Any Added Pressure On Sony Or Microsoft?
As most of the gaming world knows, the Wii U has been confirmed with a date and price (basic model price of $299, November 18 launch).
You can find the specs and projected software just about anywhere you look and, in addition to the recently revealed iPhone 5, these two items are the catalysts for thousands of discussions.
So here's the inevitable question: Is the Wii U considered "next-gen?" Or has Nintendo simply separated themselves from that rat race? Have they individualized themselves by refusing to compete in the same realm? And when I ask that, I'm not implying any inferiority; I'm simply saying Nintendo's position in the market has changed (of their own volition) and to some extent, it has worked. I say "to some extent" because the Wii stormed out of the gate, only to take a steep dive in the past couple of years. Which, by the way, I predicted, due to the almost complete lack of AAA cutting-edge software. Gimmicks have short life spans, if you hadn't noticed.
So let's just say for the sake of argument that the Wii U is more than a gimmick. I'm not sure it is, but let's just go with that. And let's say it sells extremely well as Sony and Microsoft prepare for the next generation of hardware. Will such success put any added pressure on the PlayStation and Xbox brands to launch sooner? Or do they simply recognize that they're no longer competing with Nintendo in the same way? Is it safe to assume both are just ignoring Nintendo? Or is that too short-sighted? After all, the Wii U is a video game console, is it not? And with the majority of the industry being casual in this day and age, the majority of consumers may lump the Wii U in with the PS4 and Xbox 720.
On top of which, it's a guarantee that both Sony and Microsoft's consoles will cost a good deal more than $300, and the Wii U will have the benefit of a big head start. But again, is the Wii U next-gen and will it compete directly with the PS4 and Xbox 720 when they arrive? It almost seems like Nintendo is distancing themselves by moving into a staggered hardware release schedule: As Sony and Microsoft continue to release at similar times, Nintendo might provide something new in the midst of the upcoming generation. After all, given the technology the PS4 and Xbox 720 supposedly boast, and the fact that the Wii U will already be "old" (at least by electronics standards) when the new consoles arrive, Nintendo might need another piece of hardware sooner.
These are all tough questions and ones I'm in no position to answer. Just thought I'd ask.
Tags: wii u, nintendo, sony, microsoft, next generation, next gen consoles
9/13/2012 12:01:06 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (55 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:55:22 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:58:11 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:59:43 PM
Doppel
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 4:56:03 PM
Fox hounder
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 4:59:07 PM
homura
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 6:42:21 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 8:31:15 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:22:03 PM
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Personally, my feelings towards Nintendo has softened up over the last few months. On the onset I had angst towards them because they weren't being more like how I wanted them. It was naive of me to think they'd somehow try and take on MS or Sony head on.
Right now, I'd like the idea of playing a Zelda, that while not BF3 or UE4 in graphics, will at least look sharp and pleasant on my HDTV and not a pixelated mess. I think several PS2 HD games look pretty nice, all due to res boosting, so I see myself returning to some favorite Nintendo franchises, like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. Those are my "Tri-Force" nintendo games. hehe Ima a GEEK!
Jawknee
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:09:18 PM
TheAgingHipster
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:51:50 PM
jugheadjones
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:48:30 PM
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Rogueagent01
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:49:05 PM
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I don't consider Nintendo part of the console wars anymore as they themselves have retreated from the battlefield. For what reason I don't know, they have the money and could easily stand with the other 2, but it seems like they want no part of it. It is a shame really because as a kid I loved Nintendo, but as I have got older I have considered them to be somewhat of a joke. I mean people(mainly critics) have picked on games like Final Fantasy, CoDs, or Sports Games for having too many installments, yet the Mario character is in well over 200 games, talk about milking a cow to death. If Nintendo would actually go back to making some new franchises I would consider picking up one of their systems, but it seems they just want to make the same games over and over, causing me to lose interest in them as a company.
wackazoa
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:49:08 PM
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But maybe they are going for the children more than the adults....
Last edited by wackazoa on 9/13/2012 12:50:01 PM
Fabi
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:49:15 PM
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People are also comparing the price point to the PS3 and 360 when they came out... but to me there is a difference. Those systems were actually cutting edge when they came out. The Wii U is almost the same tech as those were 6 years ago. And when you bought a PS3, you knew you were gonna have a cutting edge machine for years to come. The Wii U will look outdated in a year when the other two systems come out. So yeah, it's not a horrible price tag for a new system, but it all depends on what you expect from a new system. To me, it's just a weaker version of the PS3 and 360.
It really is hard to predict what's going to happen. I think the Wii threw a curve ball at everyone's expectations on what could succeed in this industry. But I will say this... the Wii succeeded because it was something new, the Wii U is no longer something that feels new. But who knows, maybe casual gamers will go nuts for it again.
Jawknee
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:00:31 PM
Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 6:16:03 PM
The original price they charge for it is totally unjustified if you compare it to other games at 59.99 (Nearly no script, no real voice acting or any acting at all, no R&D like some game makers actually pay their team to go to some crazy locations to get actual references heck I wouldn't be surprised if the team handling it wasn't over a dozen people :P )
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 9/13/2012 6:20:06 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 7:03:03 PM
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/13/2012 7:09:00 PM
Fabi
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 8:36:00 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:59:08 PM
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I just got a Wii for my nieces and I can't believe that thing is such a big deal. You can't sit or stand and aim up or down at the TV, you have to be perfectly level. How am I supposed to shoot anything? If I aim at the corner of the screen it says I'm out of bounds. A light gun was way better.
Rogueagent01
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:18:39 PM
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:25:41 PM
Genesis DOES what Ninten-DON'T !
Gotta love their ads, though ;)
Blast Processing
I'm a Sega fan for sure. I've purchased Shinobi PS2, Revenge of Shinobi, Sonic CD, VF5: FS, Sega Rally Arcade over the past several months alone. I'm eyeing JSR as well, but I really preffered it's sequel, JSRF. No time limits rule.
Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:37:54 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:48:10 PM
mehrab2603
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:18:28 PM
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Condemnedsoul23
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:37:08 PM
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thedaini
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:46:23 PM
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Their console may be underpowered by comparison, but the lower price point is an easier sell to the general public. Hardcore gamers may put their nose up at that, but they're not Nintendo's market. The general public (including parents and kids) are a much bigger market, and much easier to sell to at a lower price point. It may not hit the numbers the Wii did, but I think Nintendo will probably continue to find success in their market.
daus26
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 4:33:27 PM
Id00urmomma
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 1:58:47 PM
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They need to make it cheap, the cheapest, not the most expensive. This may be the death of Nintendo, or maybe they will finally reorganize their company to be more cutting edge and less cheezy...
daus26
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 4:35:31 PM
BikerSaint
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:05:15 PM
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The Wii, no matter how many they sold, just isn't in the League of the Big Boys, & Ninty knows it, but could care less.
FYI, I hate my Wii, sitting there in it's now-cocky all-black shell just staring back at me, while just collecting dust, all because I've never, never, ever, ever, ever, been able to dial in the Wimote Plus'es sensitivity enough to not have the game's screen continuously spin around & around, no matter what the heck I did to the settings.
I even went as far as to buy a Wii gamepad controller so I didn't have to play "Merry-go-round" with my Wimote anymore.
But to my shock & chagrin, all 12 of the Wii games I have WON'T let let use it, so it's either the Wimote+, or nothing.
So for me now, it's a "nothing".
BTW, I think Platinum just shot themselves in both feet by making B2 exclusive to the Wii=U.
They're going to lose out big-time on any possible sales to well over 100 million PS3 & 360 gamers.
And plus not to mention any additional sales they might've gotten if they also made it for the Vita too.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/13/2012 2:13:15 PM
Coffeya
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:38:43 PM
Nintendo just saved B2 and I'm still shocked it is going to be on the wii u, let alone a exclusive. I heard someone say on a forum that it would eventually go to the other systems. GL with that, seeing nintendo is behind the reins. Just save up for a wii u, this system honestly doesn't seem that bad at all. Thats like saying gow is going multi.
If wii u flops or the b2 does. Then maybe others who don't like being multiple system owners will see b3 on their system.
My only worries if they will take away some of the sexual flare associated with it ;S. Even though I have this odd feeling it was eventually going to happen with this whole strike against beautiful women in video games.
Last edited by Coffeya on 9/13/2012 2:43:31 PM
BikerSaint
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:32:45 PM
I do want B2 and I'd even be satisfied if it would've been a multi-plat title.
I'm just miffed that it's only going to the WiiU, is all.
BTW, as a gaming collector, I'm constantly searching the net for all things gaming related & so far, I've heard nothing about B2 just being a timed exclusive, and then going multi-plat later on.
But I hope I'm wrong.
telly
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 2:25:20 PM
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$350 is not a bad price for the high end package. If you asked me yesterday, i would have been 100 certain I was sitting out Nintendo's next system (at least until the cost came way down.) Today, I'm kinda liking the sound of picking up one of these over the holidays...
Coffeya
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:00:48 PM
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To answer the title question yes and no. I think it is pretty much set in stone that all dedicated fans are going to stick with their system no matter what games are released. They are only trying to grab people who are indecisive or willing to have multiple systems. The indecisive obviously being the younger crowd which is huge for the future of gaming and people who really couldn't get into it in the first place. The lateral helping the wii out a lot.
Last edited by Coffeya on 9/13/2012 3:01:29 PM
BTNwarrior
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:22:57 PM
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Knightzane
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:37:32 PM
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Gamer46
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:49:41 PM
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jimmyhandsome
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:52:17 PM
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I don't think MS or Sony has too much to worry about though. Nintendo established last generation that they have their own segment of the market and can still be wildly sucessful. If anything, the Wii-U attempting to appeal to more "hardcore" gamers with various ports and the like, could turn off some of the Nintendo followers. Especially if MS next Xbox comes with Kinect 2.0. MS seems content going after those types of gamers.
PharaohJR
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 6:38:10 PM
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Temjin001
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 7:05:56 PM
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;)
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/13/2012 7:06:22 PM
BikerSaint
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 7:34:18 PM
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xnonsuchx
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 2:32:33 AM
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Then again, I know a few people that get a look of awe and giddiness in their faces anytime Nintendo is mentioned, so it'll probably be a hit regardless of performance.
___________
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 7:02:45 AM
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problem is ninty is releasing a new system that really is not that new!
it will cause problems for the ps3 and 360, allot of people will switch over to it.
but when ps4 and the next xbox release people will switch back over to that once they can afford too.
might affect them in the short term, but in the long term it wont.
exactly like the wii ninty is going on a totally separate path to what $ony and M$ are.
Ather
Sunday, September 16, 2012 @ 7:21:51 PM
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The price is much,m but with the price of th competiton being higher, it's understandbale. problem is, if succesful, Sony and Microsoft will probably think they cna charge even more sicne Nintendo is traditionally way less. Consdiering the price hurt PS3 intiially, this is a bad idea all around. Handhelds are nw going for consul prices, and consoles are edging up to 1K. And with the desire to next gen eevry 5 years (regardles sof this gen), the Big 3 ar egoing to wipe themselves out of exitence by overharging. Then whining about all the "value" they give that not only justifies, but is a bargain.
Overtim3
Sunday, September 16, 2012 @ 8:24:20 PM
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ChadWSmith
Sunday, September 16, 2012 @ 10:24:56 PM
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I think the PS4 and the Next Xbox will have to compete with the Wii U on price - not meaning they will have to be the same price - but they will have to be close. With the Wii U being HD and online and having a more standard controller available, there won't be anything keeping Third-Party AAA-titles from being released on all 3 consoles.
I really think the Wii U is going to have a bigger impact on the next gen consoles than most realize. It will level the playing field between the consoles. It may still look kiddie and still have the wands and whatnot - but it can and hopefully will be used just like any other console.
PHOENIXZERO
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 12:14:35 AM
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On the bright side the WiiU probably will see better multi-platform support compared to the Wii. The main reason to own a Nintendo console will remain the same as it's been since the N64 days, first/second party games.
Last edited by PHOENIXZERO on 9/17/2012 12:16:04 AM

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Condemnedsoul23
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Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 12:15:52 PM