I Wonder How Sony And Microsoft View The Wii U Launch

It's time like these when I really want to be a fly on the wall at various executive meetings at Sony and Microsoft.

While I'm certain they've got plenty on their own plate to consider, I'm also pretty sure that head honchos in the gaming divisions at Sony and Microsoft are watching the launch of the Nintendo Wii U quite closely.

...and I wonder what they're thinking at this point.

We've heard of a variety of problems associated with the launch, and just a general discontent echoing through the gaming community. But then again, isn't that the case with any new hardware launch? Admittedly, it's a little unexpected to see so many technical issues plaguing a new machine of Nintendo's; historically, that hasn't really happened much. Then you've got developers slamming the Wii U's supposedly under-powered architecture. At the same time, there do appear to be plenty of satisfied owners out there. That is also obvious.

So how do Sony and Microsoft view the situation? They likely don't consider the Wii U to be direct competition as their consoles will be targeting a different demographic and indeed, a different audience altogether. I'm not saying gamers won't want all three systems again, but both Sony and Microsoft have made it clear that they don't consider Nintendo to be a direct competitor. That being said, they still have to keep an eye on what Nintendo is doing...after all, didn't the other two sorta copy the Wii's advances in motion sensing to some extent? And what about the rise of social/multiplayer gaming that appeals to the formerly non-gaming masses?

I'd just like to know what the PlayStation and Xbox camps are thinking right about now. It'd be interesting to hear...

Tags: nintendo, wii u, sony, microsoft, next gen, next generation, next gen consoles

11/20/2012 9:55:46 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (48 posts)

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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 @ 10:40:43 PM
Reply

"Let's have better controllers"

1 up, 0 down

bruno_py
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 @ 10:41:17 PM
Reply

I don't really swallow that story that they don't really care about Nintendo's moves. People are already spending money on a new system, that has to affect Sony and Microsoft in some way. I just hope this forces them to release info about their new systems ASAP.

2 up, 4 down

firesoul453
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:41:23 AM

Who in the world said they don't care what nintendo does?

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 @ 11:55:32 PM
Reply

I couldn't believe how expensive the wii u was, who is buying these things anyway?

The cheapest bundle I've even seen for sale was more than an xbox or ps3.

8 up, 2 down

firesoul453
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:43:30 AM

Isn't it suppose to be just $300? Doesn't sound bad to me.
But I think demand (and little stock on nintendo's part (on purpose I guess)) forced the price up.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 1:44:43 AM

It's a new system with a tablet for a controller. They're selling it at a loss at the moment so $350 for the deluxe isn't too bad IMO.

1 up, 1 down

kraygen
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 1:59:22 PM

In all honesty, it seems to me more like a barely improved wii with a controller that is about as advanced as a leapfrog kids tablet. All of the tech in it is more than 5 years old.

I just don't see the appeal. When the wii came out it wasn't for me, but I understood why other people wanted it, this I just don't understand at all.

4 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 12:11:11 AM

It appeals to Nintendo fans like me. Nintendo first party games are more than enough to get me to buy any of their consoles regardless. Now that the Wii I has some third party support, that's just a bonus.

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:40:23 AM
Reply

I'm thinking they'll closely follow the sales numbers. That is, in the end, what matters.
If the WiiU consistently sells bucketloads it will make MS and Sony to make "WiiU-stuff" also for their consoles.

I'm none too happy about the Move and Wonderbooks and all that sh*it this gen, but who knows, maybe something good comes out of it next gen. *shrugs*

1 up, 1 down

Kiryu
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 2:26:40 AM
Reply

wii-u-has-a-horrible-slow-cpu-says-metro-last-light-dev

2 up, 1 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 10:31:41 AM

While that is concerning to an extent the Metro dev doesn't hold a very good reputation for making game engine's that appear to flex the architecture of given hardware with efficiency in mind.

I know this because Metro 2033 was touted to be a tech impressive game. And while it did offer a host of nice precision visual elements concerning shaders the game required ridiculous amounts of processing to get it to run half decently on higher detail settings. Even my Geforce 670 struggles significantly on higher settings where other BETTER looking games run silky smooth with settings maxed.

Basically, efficiency doesn't appear to be their forte.

Last edited by Temjin001 on 11/21/2012 10:32:13 AM

0 up, 0 down

Jed
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 1:15:08 PM

Stop talking like a robot!

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 3:38:06 AM
Reply

im sure there thinking they think there going to compete with THAT!?
reading the technical specs online, really disappoints me.
the memory is FAR slower than current generation, and now 4A studios are complaining of a slow low spec CPU which is why metro last light is in doubt for wiiu.
starting to look like ninty had produced the perfect console....... for 2007!

9 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:40:42 AM

Unreal!!!! I will have to look up these specs! I had heard of the WiiU being just a tad more powerful than the current gen. But what you just posted shocks me! Also, I just read that Metro Last Light is an actual no go. What a missed opportunity by Nintendo! I am also reading that if you buy the console it will only take one purchased game to make it profitable!
Edit - Good post by the way

Last edited by CrusaderForever on 11/21/2012 11:41:32 AM

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:40:53 PM

Question is, does the WiiU console even have the CPU/GPU to outpace a Vita?

7 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 2:00:31 PM

Highlander, I think the answer you're looking for is, no.

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 12:17:59 AM

The answer is no for obvious reasons. The Wii u is at least as powerful if not slightly more than the PS3. Now since the Vita isn't a PS3 in the palm of your hand it's obvious the Vita is the weaker of the two systems.

1 up, 1 down

Highlander
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 4:01:09 AM

we don't actually know how powerful WiiU is, all we know is that it's system memory bandwidth is half that of the PS3, so it's not really gonna be that close to the power of the PS3.

Let's not forget the Vita has a quad core CPU each core is dual issue and runs at 1GHz or better with dynamic clocking and dynamic allocation of execution units. That Vita GPU is a quad core unit as well with multiple execution units per core. I'd love to stack the actual hardware in the WiiU against Vita and see exactly how close they really are. PS3 vs Vita is easy, PS3 has 7 cores all dual issue all running at more than 3GHz, so it has more cores and more than triple the clock, no comparison. But Wii was not a processing powerhouse, and WiiU promises to disappoint there too. It would not surprise me if it was a dual core PPC derived from the Power 7 architecture running at 1.5GHz. Even with the greatest will in the world, that's really not hugely more powerful than the quad core ARM in the Vita. Though the GPU would make a difference...

0 up, 0 down

___________
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 7:51:33 AM

its not half, ps3 is 23 if i remember right and wiiu i think was 17.
thats not including the eDRAM so that might change things down the line, no one knows how much the wiiu has and how that will help things.
the GPU may be significantly more powerful than current systems too, so that will help things.
but thats really pointless, your just spending extra on other things to compensate its a waste.
really worries me too because the things that next gen are all about, AI, larger areas, lighting effects, advanced physics, environmental damage, scale, is all heavily reliant on the GPU.
we really did not need much more powerful GPUs, we needed more powerful CPUs and ninty has done the opposite.
who knows, maybe the speeds are inaccurate and devs are shooting out of their a$$.
maybe the embedded RAM will make all the difference, and the GPU more than makes up for it.
but its not looking good for ninty.

its funny all the rumors are saying its the exact same CPU as in the wii, just with more cores and slightly up clocked.
i find that a little hard to believe, ninty are tight and they have never been cutting edge tech.
but come on, based off the wii CPU!?
im still getting one simply because i have to play all their games, especially waiting for a new mario galaxy 3 and zelda.
but the whole point of the wiiu was to bring ninty into the 21st century, and sadly it looks like its failed its sole purpose!

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 5:16:31 PM

The fact that many of the launch games on the Wii U look and perform just as good if not better as their PS3 and Xbox counter parts is a good indication that the console is not less powerful than the current systems. AC3 would not have been possible as a launch game on either Xbox or PS3. I'm also reading stuff about Blop2 being smoother and with better graphics than the other systems. Now of course COD isn't a asset heavy game but considering the PS3 is usually plagued with shoddy ports when it comes to COD, the Wii U version out performing the PS3 in this instance gives me confidence the system will hold its own in the years to come.

1 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, November 23, 2012 @ 8:46:30 AM

they dont though thats the problem.
reviews have been complaining about frame rate issues and allot of pop in.
and the texture comparisons IGN did between the ps3/ 360 version of NG3 and the wiiu version, yea ill leave it at that.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Friday, November 23, 2012 @ 10:12:52 AM

Actually they do Mr. Credibility Zero.

0 up, 0 down

Knightzane
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 8:35:02 AM
Reply

MS: Wii U? You mean that thing that we tried to do with our own tablet glass?
Sony: Lets try and make our vita compete with the wii u controller functions.
Me: They'll just release another model next week.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:42:47 PM

Based on the sketchy spec for the WiiU, the vita might actually be as or more powerful than the entire WiiU console... ;)

Last edited by Highlander on 11/21/2012 12:43:05 PM

6 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 12:14:02 AM

That's a load of crap and you know it Highlander. If the Vita was more powerful than the Wii U than it wouldn't have gotten a toned down version of AC3 with frame rate issues ad weaker graphics. It would have gotten the same exact version the PS3 and Xbox got.

Last edited by Jawknee on 11/22/2012 12:16:18 AM

1 up, 2 down

Highlander
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 3:55:14 AM

maybe you should remember that there is a smiley on the end winking to tell you I'm only half serious?

0 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 10:22:09 PM

LOL dood Highlander that is asking for a lot of interpretation :P I mostly understood it the same way Jawk did lol.

0 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 10:38:25 AM
Reply

I think it's a pretty different angle for Nintendo. The Wii-motes were this real durable, rubber condom covered, interface designed for any idiot to use.

The Wii U has this real expensive, assuredly less durable, tablet controller that appears to demand much more from it's users in terms of thinking power. That is, it has traditional dual analog control AND also a touch screen interface to be used in tandom. It seems pretty complicated from an idiot's standpoint. I just don't think grandma's and little girls will take to it as much. And thinking about it some more, it doesn't seem very conducive of quality multiplayer play in the same room. Wii had this sort of "party machine" identity, being the system that was easy to entertain multiple players with easy controls and party style games. Wii U just seems to be different here. I wonder if that'll impact it's appeal as it travels through the years.

3 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:37:12 AM

Uhhhggg, the thought of someone playing NSMBU and fighting a boss they struggled to get to and then dying!! A little hit of the controller with their fist or slamming it down on their lap! Hopefully it's more durable and won't break during these instances.

0 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:45:03 AM

I cringed when I saw the Wii U golf demo where they placed the tablet on the ground, face up, in between their feet to setup the shot. I mean what the heck? That's just asking for a cracked screen or accidents.

Plantiff: my phone rang I ran to the table to get it but I tripped on THAT bulky tablet controller and broke my arm sniff-sniff

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 11:12:35 PM

The screen is made of the same material as the bottom screen on the 3DS. It's a softer material. It would take quite a bit of pressure to damage or detroy the screen.

0 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:10:11 AM
Reply

So far to me the system is overpriced and not worth it. Majority of the launch titles are old games with features that don't deserve another purchase. I also don't understand the small amount of memory. I have more memory on my phone.

Also does anybody now if the 5gb update took up 5gigs or did it somehow shrink down. It would suck if you bought a 8gb system and end up with only 3gb.

2 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:34:34 AM

I didn't read your post before posting mine! You are part of the minority I guess. Sorry to hear you aren't enjoying it. Hang in there, I am sure Mario and Zelda U will be amazing.

0 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 2:43:36 PM

Oh I haven't bought it. Don't plan on it either. Sorry if it sounded like that. I'm just talking by what I've seen and heard of the system so far.

Last edited by DazeOfWar on 11/21/2012 2:47:55 PM

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 12:12:16 AM

It's 5gb uncompressed. Compressed its only 1gb.

0 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 10:30:56 PM

You can hookup an external HDD to the WiiU for extra space. Same thing you can do with PS3. I bought the 32gig since I did not want to bother with an HDD for some time.

I know this is a PS3 website but I mostly thought of this crowd as a neutral one. That's y I like coming here. Lot's of free hate on the WiiU though lol. I don't really care for it's scpecs as long as it finally does great HD in true 1080P for ninty titles (Which it IS doing). That's why I bought it :D Great platform and VERY nice social integration. I really love that every game has it's own forum built-in.

Anyway stop dissing that nice little platform. At least try it. I think they managed to do a great job on this system.

Now I really can't wait to see Sony and MS's new offerings :D.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 11:00:37 PM

Neo, what is your nintendo ID?

0 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Friday, November 23, 2012 @ 2:38:40 AM

@Neo: I understand that I can hook up an extrenal HDD but I shouldn't have to do that. I don't have to do that with the PS3 or 360. Why would I want to spend $300 on a WiiU and than another $50 or more for a extra HDD for space. I can buy a PS3 with 250gb drive games, and it plays movies (something the WiiU still doesn't do), for $30 less. Plus I can get a bunch of the launch titles for cheaper on the PS3.

It may be a new system but in a year or 2 it'll be outdated and forgotten just like the Wii was with most people. I'm glad you enjoy your WiiU but I most likely will never buy one cause I just don't see the value in the system.

Last edited by DazeOfWar on 11/23/2012 2:41:30 AM

0 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 11:33:12 AM
Reply

People that spend $350 as a majority will say the $350 product they just bought RULES!!! The only way honesty comes into play is when they are on the couch by themselves talking out loud about what pisses them off about said product.

5 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:18:29 PM

true dat

2 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 1:03:44 PM

Yeah very true. All in the name of defending their own investment.

2 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 10:41:18 PM

Same goes for you that bought a PS3... Same goes for 360 fanboys who diss other systems because they paid for theirs....

Same goes for the PLANET...

At some point we still have to consider some opinions and not think that everyone is a sellout lol. Also the people who actually bought it are much better to tell you about it than some people who just read crap on the internet XD

I can tell you the WiiU is a great product overall so far. I own them all. I can also seriously say I HATED my Wii. I said it all along. Even fought with Jawk about it lol. But the WiiU works great. It feels very different in a good way. Has a few flaws but it is early in it's life. It looks promising and has some pretty neat features. Might not have the graphics advantage for long since Sony and MS will probably release monsters but at least this system was thought and designed to handle true HD and have much better 3rd party support.

Anyway to me you sound just like those WiiU guys that try to defend their system... Only from the PS3 side lol. So I think you are what you say they are. Maybe you should stop listening to yourself O_O lol :P

0 up, 0 down

Jed
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 1:28:17 PM
Reply

If things are really as bad as they sound with the WiiU I imagine MS and Sony would go after Nintendo's target audience more aggressively than ever. MS with Kinect and Smart Glass. Sony with Move, and maybe some sort of Vita second screen setup.

Even with all the doom and gloom talk about the WiiU going around I still have this feeling that Ninty will find a way to deal with it all and have a decent run this gen.

5 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 1:41:40 PM

Jed,

Vita already offers crossplay and cross controller compatibility. the cross controller compatibilty mimics the controller element of the WiiU and the cross play takes the WiiU's second screen and pushes it further by running the game on the Vita, not simply slaving the display to the main console.

5 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 12:15:26 AM

The Vita doesn't remote play PS3 games like the Wii U does. The Vita and PS3 are both great but their connectivity sucks at the moment.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 3:56:34 AM

actually, all knowing person, it can, and will do better. But the point I was making with cross play and cross controller is that there is nothing unique or different in this el-cheapo hand held slave screen controller of Nintendo's.

0 up, 0 down

Jed
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 1:09:19 PM

I know about cross controller and cross play, but like Jawknee said it's not really the same type of interaction. I'm saying that Sony would have to come out and make it clear to consumers that the Vita can do what the Wii U controller does.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 5:06:49 PM

"it can, and will do better"

Aaaaaah, but you see..."can" and "will" doesn't mean it does. At the moment the Vita is barely better at remote play than the PSP is. There's still a significant reduction in image quality and imput lag. That simply doesn't happen on the Wii U. For the time being the PS3/Vita connectivity pales in comparison to the Wii U understandably so since the gamepad is the dedicated controller for the Wii U where as the Vita is a stand alone device. But for some one like me who is seeing great things being done with the Wii U and not with the Vita and PS3 despite your claims and Sony's claims...it's easy to see which is the better combo when it comes to remote play functions.

As far as being all knowing, ummm....pot meet kettle? I'm not the one making bold claims about devices I don't own.

1 up, 0 down

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