This year, the Wii U is scheduled to bring Nintendo into the HD era, but analyst Michael "Love Curdle" Pachter practically guarantees that it will fail to get developers on board. He also urges the company to stop living in the past.
"Nintendo has to simply stop living in the past in 2012," he said. "They had a great deal of success since 1985 by making proprietary hardware and supporting it with proprietary software. They attracted third party support based upon the large installed base they generated for their hardware. They appear to me to be confident that 'if they build it, third parties will support it', but I don’t think that is the case for Wii U.
"By trying to be 'different' with the tablet controller, they have complicated game design for developers, who can’t figure out if the Wii U will ultimately support only one or multiple controllers. Nintendo made the device sufficiently different that they are all but assured of limited third party launch support, which ultimately will lead to modest hardware sales.
"They should stop relying upon the strategy that got them here, as it appears to no longer be working. I think their resolution should be to look outside of Nintendo for leadership in the areas of digital downloads, a user-friendly online interface and multiplayer gaming."
The Wii U is definitely in a very weird position, and it's certainly going to be interesting to see what kind of impact it eventually makes (in other words, Nintendo is DOOOOOMED).
Wii U 'All But Assured' of Poor Support, says Pachter [Industry Gamers]
Contest:
12:45 PM on 01.06.2012 | 
I knew it!
Back to playing cards then!
Its an unlimited user interface, if developers can't grasp how liberating that is, that's their major malfunction.
Nintendo has made it pretty clear with DS, Wii and Wii U - they don't want straight half-assed ports. They want fully-realized games for their hardware, not the mass market cut-and-paste effort developers seem to want.
Michael "Drippy Dinkus" Patcher
Michael "Don't Put It In There" Patcher
Michael "Slippery Bullet" Patcher
Michael "They Were Slaughtered In The Thousands" Patcher
Michael "Was Angry At Jim For A Bit" Patcher
Michael "Drippy Sausage" Patcher
Michael "Balls of Oatmeal " Patcher
Michael "Power Bottoms" Patcher
Michael "Dreamy Torso" Patcher
Michael "Toilet Ghost" Patcher
Michael "Pulsing Veins" Patcher
Michael "Slit Testes" Patcher
Michael "Liquid Silk" Patcher
Michael "Spider Pants" Patcher
Michael "Stinkerbell" Patcher
Welcome to the new year, Patch!
They've had 1st party software keeping they're systems alive awhile now amid the deluge of shovel ware crap. I think people's have learned the lesson, Nintendo isn't about games, it's about gimmicks.
Here's an idea, Nintendo, stop being in the business of selling gimmicks. Actually sell fucking game machines. Stop bullshiting around with control inputs and give me something I want to play.
Oh, and if you could come out with a nice powerful game boy, which they said DS wasn't supposed to replace, I'd appreciate it cause I'm tired of having to deal with the half hearted bullshit most developers, including Nintendo themselves, toss on the stupid fucking second screen simply because it's there and they have to have something on it.
What does that mean? That means that console owners are already committed to purchasing a PS4 or an Xbox 720. For all of these people, Wii U will be a secondary console that they purchase after the fact to supplement their core/multi-platform gaming with unique Wii U content. If Nintendo just offers the exact same thing, no one will need to get it.
Nintendo is using the correct strategy here. Release a cheap system that offers unique exclusives, that people can pick up cheaply as a secondary system and that Nintendo does not lose money on. That's the winning strategy, regardless of whether or not it takes off in the numbers that the Wii did. The only real question is ... is the tablet and Wii U going to UNIQUE ENOUGH. It's not whether or not it's too unique. Pachter is totally wrong, as usual.
What does that mean? That means that console owners are already committed to purchasing a PS4 or an Xbox 720. For all of these people, Wii U will be a secondary console that they purchase after the fact to supplement their core/multi-platform gaming with unique Wii U content. If Nintendo just offers the exact same thing, no one will need to get it.
Nintendo is using the correct strategy here. Release a cheap system that offers unique exclusives, that people can pick up cheaply as a secondary system and that Nintendo does not lose money on. That's the winning strategy, regardless of whether or not it takes off in the numbers that the Wii did. The only real question is ... is the tablet and Wii U going to be UNIQUE ENOUGH. It's not whether or not it's too unique. Pachter is totally wrong, as usual.
Still, as much as I've enjoyed the prestige that comes with being an Ambassador for the 3DS, I think I'm gonna wait and see what happens with the Wii U.
Awesome. "Power Bottoms" has always been my favorite.
Certainly at least they can improve their online features without appearing to be an also-ran.
Also, DOOOOOOOMMMED.
Nintendo will unveil the final version of the product at E3 this year. If they can find a comfortable balance between traditional controls, as well as motion sensitive and tablet controls, developers can see not only opportunity (as they did with the Wii) but options as well.
If Nintendo does not force any type of new controls (as they unfortunately had to with the Wii) then the WiiU and its third support can survive.
As far as I'm concerned, Nintendo needs three things.
-A strong core lineup AS WELL as focus on casual title
-A strong online system which (as demonstrated by recent developments for the 3DS) is more than possible
-A controller that can double as a tablet and a comfortable classic controller.
If they can do these things, then I think Pach's analysis will be proven incorrect.
Haha, it should be "Power Bottom", but my typing skills are lacking, as well as my ability to proofread. I agree though, its my favorite too.
Nintendo have always been inside of their own little bubble and whilst it means they're behind in some aspects, they manage to stand out against the PS360s and make obscene profits as a result. The lack of 3rd party support means very little to most casual gamers.
Making profit on hardware is crucial for their business model I imagine.
First off, it creates an uneven multiplayer experience in the home. If a game uses the tablet controller in a truly remarkable way, face-to-face multiplayer suffers tremendously because the tablet user either gets all the advantages or more of the fun.
Second, and this is the big one, the single controller causes a shift in focus and practically to ONLINE multiplayer, which is possibly Nintendo's worst area. Several single-tablet gamers could play each other online and each have the best possible experience... if the online infrastructure doesn't get in the way.
So basically, if Nintendo doesn't take a GIANT step in the right direction for their online service, then they're really limiting the potential of the device altogether.
What they do no longer seems innovative, but gimmicky rather.
Mario and Zelda sell Nintendo sells consoles, not control scheme gimmicks... how much better could Mario and Zelda be if they were coupled on a machine with great graphics, online play options and an interface that didn't make you want to tear your eyeballs out?
Oh, and if you could come out with a nice powerful game boy, which they said DS wasn't supposed to replace, I'd appreciate it cause I'm tired of having to deal with the half hearted bullshit most developers, including Nintendo themselves, toss on the stupid fucking second screen simply because it's there and they have to have something on it."
Wowwwwww.... I support your comment..that is also my point of view on Nintendo. I will also add... We need new IPs.. I love Mario, Zelda, Metroid but man that shit is getting old..
While Patcher is right in that it will complicate things for 3rd parties (or at least, prevent cashing in on slapdash ports) I don't think Nintendo is doomed. Nintendo is and I believe, always will be a household name. People will buy a Nintendo console for Nintendo games.
That said, Nintendo better start to innovate a little more and think about creating some new IPs. From reading reactions all over the internet, it really appears that many longtime fans are becoming apathetic towards Nintendo. They've been playing it a little TOO safe for too long. If they don't attempt to break the mould with the Wii U then I foresee the Wii U being Nintendo's last major console.
If not, I'll wait.
So when he said the Wii U will suffer from a lack of third party support it somehow was different than you saying the Wii U will suffer from a lack of third party support?
That being said however, all of this talk about whether the Wii U will fail or will become moot the minute they announce an HD Mario and/or Zelda.