"Why spend a major E3 reveal on a game controller and exclude its system? Answer: Because the controller's the exciting part. The console itself isn't." that's a good point.. for many people, (including myself) it wasn't clear that they were introducing a new console...

Yeah, I really don't get Nintendo's message here. If it's a brand new console, the thunder it can produce will be short lived until the moment Microsoft or Sony announce their next-gen consoles. If it's about displaying media over a device... hell, the PSP already has Remote Play with the PS3, and with Vita it's gonna be even better.

Sure, I would love to see a (proper) Metroid game in HD, but I once bought a Gamecube just to play Metroid Prime when it came out, and I'm not willing to repeat the mistake of paying hard-earned cash for a console I won't be playing for more than a few months.

Interesting article! I'm not sold on the Wii U concept and I fail to see a big audience for it. Another aspect that worries me is the first party support. This will be Nintendo's first HD console and their internal studios have no experience working on HD games. The transition from SD games to HD games is huge, especially if you look at the initial games released for the current HD platforms. So the big question for me is if Nintendo can deliver good looking games without an exaggerated amount of bloom, "shine" or motion blur. 

About the only good thing you can say about the Wii U is we'll finally be getting Mario, Zelda and Metroid in HD. I don't think the gimmick is strong enough to draw in casuals, and the hardcore gamers don't need another platform to buy 3rd party titles on. They've already got a PS3 or 360 (or both), and in a couple years when Sony and MS launch their next generation the Wii U won't be getting those ports anymore because the hardware will be a generation behind again.

I guess I'm the only one that can't wait to flick pictures of birds magically through the air onto my television set. Rus, Wii U B Hatin'? 

But seriously, you make some great points -- and some terrible puns. I'm excited about the potential of the controller. Since I do pretty much all of my gaming alone or online, being able to only use only one fancy controller won't be a problem for me. And I think you're right: the people who love the Wii won't be in any kind of hurry to purchase another system when the Wii does everything they want it to already.

Also, how much do you think a replacement controller would cost? 

It's a pity, because Nintendo took some big chances on the Wii and DS and they both sold like hotcakes. Now the next iterations of both devices are basic upgrades of what already exists. What happened to the innovation they were becoming known for? I really hope things will change as time goes on.

When Nintendo plays host to the next Heavy Rain, Alan Wake, or L.A. Noire, I'll give their console some consideration.

The Wii U's controller is kinda interesting. Unfortunately, that's all the console really has going for it. "Kinda interesting."

I don’t buy these complaints about the Wii U. Three-fourths of your players are stuck with the old controllers? Yes, if you’re playing group games, but most of the time you’ll be playing single-player games. That could be more accurately stated as, “1/100th of the time, you’ll have other players with the old controllers.” And no great third-party titles have been announced yet? Well of course not! The system doesn’t have a release date yet, and the hardware isn’t finalized! You’re not going to have developers pre-announcing brand-new games for a system that isn’t even final yet.

All of these complaints sound vaguely reminiscent of the response to the Nintendo DS, when people didn’t understand its control scheme or appeal. I believe that the Wii U will be the HD console for the rest of us, combined with a revolutionary controller and an iPad Junior. Oh, and being able to play your console titles on a portable screen when someone else is using the TV.

It doesn't seem fair to have "recycling last-gen controllers" as a complaint when Sony has basically had the same gamepad with incremental updates for 3 generations now. I do think it's a mistake to have the WiiU console itself so similar to the Wii's... People are so used to the DS(lite)(i)(iXL) iterations that I worry too many will think it's a redesign, like the other HD systems' slim designs, and not a brand-new piece of hardware. Personally I'm excited. But my Kool-Aid is practically running through an IV, so I'm not the most objective observer. 'Twill be interesting....

Yeah, these objections are fair objections for a system that is a month from releasing, but we're still a year or so from Wii U with an E3 between now and the system's release.  Nintendo has time to address all of the issues raised here.  The word of the day is "premature."

Andy and Jason, you guys seem to have read my mind completely lol.  Most of the complaints that Russ lists, are the type of thing you'd be worried about if say the Wii U were set to launch in Early January 2012.  But that's just not the case with the Wii U, as we don't have a confirmed release date as of yet, and most of its games are still in the development stages; Heck, most of the games are still WORKING TITLES (Zelda HD, Dirt, Assasin's Creed, etc.), which should be testament enough that the system isn't ready to go on sale in the wide world as of yet.

 

Andy, I have only one thing to say to you for your comment "Three-fourths of your players are stuck with the old controllers? Yes, if you’re playing group games, but most of the time you’ll be playing single-player games," AMEN!!  In all honesty, most players are not going to be playing party games non-stop with friends/family, multiplayer games are just a piece of the pie, whereas Single Player games contribute significantly more.  

The article mentions that the only 2 succesful games to bridge the gap between casual and hardcore were Mario Kart Wii and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.  I for one, certainly think there's another game in there that's been left out: Super Smash Brothers Brawl.  Brawl was pretty much an instant success when released, and has succeeded in snagging a LOT of players, both casual and hardcore.

I've also read that a lot of people are thinking that when Microsoft and Sony announce their next consoles, Nintendo will be left in the dust, while that's a legitimate thing to worry about normally, it's not something to worry about with Wii U.  Based on what we know of the hardware running the Wii U, its safe to say that unless Microsoft and Sony introduce something so completely mind-bogglingly amazing as their next consoles, Wii U will still be in the running.  One of the ideas behind it is to enable it to compete with whatever Sony and Microsoft throw into the ring as well, and still have a GOOD chance.  

Also concerns over the Tablet controller...I direct your attention to exhibit A: the controller for the N64; first controller to incorporate the control stick we're now familiar with.  Control stick in the center, D Pad to the left, A and B buttons slightly to the right of the control stick, and then on the right we have the C Buttons.  How to hold it? I hold it with my left hand on the center area, and my right hand holding the right handle.  Easy to understand.

Exhibit B: The Game Cube controller.  Evolved from the N64 controller.  D-Pad is now located below the Control stick, which is STILL your primary means of control in games.  

The Wii U Tablet, essentially looks like a combination of the GameCube controller and the 3DS and Wiimote.  2 Control sticks (GC idea), Home button at the bottom of the controller (3DS and Wiimote), ABXY buttons (3DS and DS).  I can go on if you like.

Its WAY too early to start the hate flowing on the Wii U since we've only seen DEMO versions of it (in all honesty, do you really think that what you saw at E3 is 100% final? because if you do, please do wake up from your dream)

I have to respectfully disagree with the opinions expressed in this article, although it certainly begs for some discussion, and there has been quite a bit of it already!  In terms of your three main points why you assume no one will want to purchase a Wii U:

“It’s the Same Damn Thing”

At present, there is very little known about the system specs of the Wii U, therefore I am not entirely sure how you can presume so early that the system itself is uninteresting.  Also the article insinuates the Wii U is incapable of utilizing more than one tablet controller at a time.  I was under the impression that Nintendo has stated that the Wii U is technically capable of supporting and streaming to multiple tablet controllers, but at present they were unsure if the potential cost of the tablets would limit the appeal of having four of them in a household at a time.  The prohibitive cost is a problem, which is why I suspect they are keen to allow for backwards compatibility of previous Wii peripherals also easing the cost of upgrading from the Wii.  However, a cost issue is the not the same thing as the system being incapable of using more than one tablet at a time.

The assumption that developers will ignore the Wii U tablet features is also entirely speculative given that we haven’t seen an actual lineup of Wii U games yet.  I think this will be better judged once we have a clearer picture of the Wii U launch lineup and upcoming games.  Maybe some developers will read Shoe’s article and get some constructive ideas from Bitmobers.

“What Third Party Support”

You seem to be hung up on the exact games shown in the “sizzle” reel, but I think you missed one of the points of the presentation.  It’s not about the Wii U getting games that will be year old ports by the time the system launches, it was about demonstrating that Nintendo is serious about promoting more “mature/hardcore” releases from third party developers, and indicating which of those third parties have come aboard.  Again, it’s more than a little early to complain about the lack of third party support when we haven’t been given any strong details about upcoming software. 

While I agree it would be nice to see some new stuff at Gamescom, it has only been two months since the Wii U debuted in June, and it seems a little early to be signaling the alarm bells that third parties aren’t bringing anything new or interesting to the table.  Maybe we should give developers time to work on some quality software rather than rush them to give half-baked presentations that everyone will make knee-jerk reactions about.

“It has no clear purpose”

I have to disagree with this point as well.  The take home message I got from the Wii U E3 presentation was that they were trying to put more of the focus back on “U” so to speak; essentially saying the Wii U will be home to both hardcore and casual titles.  Whether this is a sound economic strategy, I don’t know.  But I do know that I have no problem with a console that has games that appeal to multiple demographics and audiences.  The question is, how would the Wii have performed if it had the same graphics capabilities as the PS3 and 360 from the start, making more direct ports possible?  I am not sure what the answer to that is, but maybe some of the alienated hardcore gamers would have been more pleased with simply owning a Wii and not going multi-system to enjoy the wider breadth of released games. 

In terms of getting “casuals” to upgrade, well that depends on Nintendo’s launch lineup doesn’t it.  If they build a killer lineup with a must have title that speaks to “casuals” like Wii Fit or Wii Sports, then they may have a hit on their hands.  People get on board with good software (a lesson they are hopefully learning from the 3DS launch), lets see what they come up with first.

Overall, I personally am not compelled to dismiss the Wii U, and I certainly have not made up my mind about whether I will purchase it or not based on the little we know so far.  I suspect by at least the end of the next E3 we will all have a much clearer picture of the Wii U.  I will reserve purchasing judgment until we all know a lot more about the system and its games, right now it just feels too early for all the negative speculation and sensationalism.

I have to disagree with some, but still agree with the majority of this article. I do think that the controller, if they can re-work the design so its a bit more comfortable and integrate some features beyond just playing games - social networking, web browser, app store - it could be a great thing. But that brings up a price question - will Nintendo be able to introduce a HD console AND a tablet-esque controller that sells for $299 or less combined?

And that brings up my biggest concern - that being, is this really enough of a departure from the 360 or PS3 to draw the attention of non-Nintendo gamers? Will loyal owners of the SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, etc., upgrade? Most likely. Will gamers that already own a 360 or PS3 (or both) make the purchase, knowing that true next gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft aren't that far off? Doubtful. That leaves casual gamers, and the issue here comes back to price. The Wii offered simple, fun group games for when you had friends over, and wasn't prohibitively expensive. A lot of non-gamers own a Wii, and a lot households with a 360 or PS3 added a Wii as well.

I think Nintendo would have been better off focusing on making games for the Wii that are actually good - truly good Wii titles are few and far between. The Wii U risks being Nintendo's new Gamecube when it got clobbered by the PS2 and XBox. Many PS3/360 owners either own a tablet computer, or will get one as competition drives prices down. PS3/PSP connectivity already exists. AAA 3rd party titles like Bioshock, Mass Effect, Fallout, COD, etc., are already ingrained as PS3/360 must plays. XBox Live is the gold standard of online play. We'll certainly have to wait and see, but if Nintendo is looking to bite into the HD market, it risks indifference from the 360/PS3 crowd, and it risks turning off the casual gamer that isn't interested in plunking down $300-400 for a Wii upgrade. My wife and I own a 360 and a Wii, but at this point I'd be more interested in adding a PS3 for the game line-up as opposed to a Wii U. And my wife, who loves Mario (we have an old refurbished NES and SNES), doubtful will have interest in a new Wii, since we hardly play the old one as is. We are the definition of a gamer and a casual gamer, and while the Wii U is interesting, we'd need to see a lot more to even consider one right now.

You came up with the same 3 reasons I did (I guessed them before the page loaded). Yeah, I don't want Nintendo to fail either. They've got plenty of time to fix this. I just hope, as Reggie said, they "do hear ya."

Hey guys, just thought I'd pop in and clear up a bit of a misconception folks seem to have here.  As of May 2011, we have SOME idea of the tech specs for the Wii U.  IGN has a whole area of their site for their Wii U Wiki.  Here's the link for the tech specs: http:// data-scayt_word="www.ign.com" data-scaytid="31">www.ign.com/wikis/wii-u/Wii_U_Tech_Specs

I'll summarize some of the major points for the lazy folks (yes i know you're out there lurking).  

CPU: IBM Power®-based multi-core microprocessor. IBM has said that the chip will be based on the same one used in the Watson supercomputer (the one that was on Jeopardy).  This will be roughly 50% more powerful than the PS3.

GPU (No idea what this is tbh): AMD Radeon-based High Definition GPU.  Based on RV770 architecture.  Supports DirectX 10.1.

Game Discs: 12-centimeter proprietary optical discs, each holds 25 Gigabytes (equivalent of a single layered blu-ray disc).  Also supports Wii Optical Discs.

Resolutions supported: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i

In the spirit of this article, let me provide a few more criticisms of the Wii U: 4. It doesn't have any launch titles. None. Seriously, has a console ever had NO launch titles?? This is an incredible oversight. If you could buy a Wii U today, you wouldn't find a single launch title. Which leads me to... 5. Wii U supply chain is seriously lagging. Want to buy a Wii U? Too bad, you can't. Walk into Best Buy, GameStop, or Target today, and you will find the Wii U out of stock everywhere. You can't even find them on Amazon or eBay! Bit you know what you can buy? A 360 or PS3. How does Nintendo expect people to buy the Wii U when they can't even find one? 6. No market presence. Even if you could find a Wii U in stores, where's the marketing? Where are the TV ads, the billboards? Nowhere. It's like Nintendo was completely unprepared for their new system. With this kind of lackluster marketing and distribution, maybe Nintendo should have waited until 2013 or 2013 to launch their new console.

"the face buttons live in a very strange place, just below the right stick. You've got to move your entire hand to hit them."

So you don't have to move your entire hand to reach the PS3 or Xbox 360 buttons? I'm pretty sure you're only moving your thumb and not your entire hand. In other words, it's only "very strange" because it's not in the same position as the Playstation or Xbox. It doesn't seem that radical to me, it's simply different than what you're used too.