Wii U: A Sales Failure, but a Games Winner

The Nintendo Switch is set to launch worldwide on March 3rd, 2017. It is with a heavy heart that I, like so many have already stated, must say that the Wii U is officially dead.

With sales barely over 13 million, the system surpassed the Dreamcast's 9.13 million sold and has become Nintendo's least successful console. Even the GameCube, which was a commercial failure, sold more than the Wii U, closing out at over 21 million. The PS4 has already sold well over 50 million. Saying that the Wii U got the crap kicked out of it in sales is a tremendous understatement.

Sure, the Wii U sales figures are nothing to brag about, but neither are the Dreamcast and GCN's and both of those systems are remembered fondly and the reason for this can be summed up in one word: games. Nintendo may have gotten a lot of things wrong with the Wii U such as a poor name and the casual gamer was ill informed thanks to Nintendo's poor advertising, but one thing they did right by the Wii U was the games, the games, the games. If you're getting a Nintendo system, then you already know that the first party game is gonna be on point and man, was it ever strong on the Wii U.

Super Mario 3D World boasted some of the most fun and creative levels we'd seen in a Super Mario game since Super Mario Galaxy and the ability to play as not only Mario, but Luigi, Peach, Toad and Rosalina, all with different play styles and four player multiplayer, made for one of the grandest of Super Mario experiences.  

Splatoon treated players to a fresh shooter experience with vibrant colors to contrast the darkness that is often associated with many other titles in the genre. It further managed to distinguish itself from other titles by placing a priority on inking turf rather than killing opponents. Swimming and hiding in your own ink let you hide from your foes or ambush them. Splatoon was such a huge hit that a sequel is already set to release this summer for the Switch.

Super Mario Maker hands the level creating duties over to the player, allowing them to make their own levels and share them with others. I've seen people scoff saying "ROM hacks have been doing this for years." To these people I say, Super Mario Maker is legal, anyone can make levels with this game and the there's a lot you can do in Super Mario Maker that you cannot do in those ROM hacks. Between all the level creation tools and four different Super Mario tile sets, the only limit is your imagination.

The Wii U edition of Super Smash Bros. is one of my favorite entries in the Smash series. HD Smash looks and plays freaking great but the third party characters went beyond Sonic the Hedgehog. We got Mega Man, Pac-Man, Ryu, Bayonetta and Cloud.

The Wii U may not have had as plentiful of games or third party support as the PS4 but the games it did have made it worth owning. The fact that Nintendo supported the console for four years is pretty amazing. Sony dropped the PS Vita like a hot plate when it became clear that it wasn't raking in anywhere near as much dough as it should have. Yes, the Wii U was a sales disaster, but I have no regrets purchasing the system and if I could, I'd buy it all over again in a New York minute.

No Wii U at Launch for Me

When Nintendo divulged more info on the Wii U, the successor to the Wii, I, like many was thrilled. I planned to pick up a Deluxe Wii U set on launch day. The likes of Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U were two games I was very much looking forward. That's right, was. Sadly I won't be able to bask in the glory that will be Wii U launch day mania because I won't be picking the system up on day one.

So what gives? Why the change of heart? It isn't like I suddenly decided I didn't want one, though with everything I already have to play the thought of passing on the Wii U at launch crossed my mind several times. The simple face of the matter is, I didn't pre-order a Wii U when everyone started tacking pre-orders so now there's no way I'll be able to secure a console. I refuse to go from store to store, searching in vain for Nintendo's new console. And there's no way I'm gonna fork over some insane amount of cash to get one off eBay from someone that was fortunate enough to get one.

Am I disappointed that I won't be getting a Wii U? Certainly. There's nothing quite like taking part of a console's launch, being one of the gamers that owns the system on the first day. The last Nintendo console I bought at launch was the GameCube.I didn't have the GameCube pre-ordered, so I stood outside Toys before the store opened with a group of people and I still able to get a system. I picked it up with a memory card, Luigi's Mansion, Super Monkey Ball, and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II. It was very much a fun-filled Sunday afternoon, and I look back on that day with great fondness.

Much as I'd like to get a Wii U on November 18th, I just can't do it because I wasn't smart enough to pre-order one right away. The first few months of the Wii U could be the Wii all over again. Nintendo could never keep those things on the shelf. No matter what video game or electronic store I went to, the Wii was always sold out and this was when I wasn't even looking for one. Nintendo has always had name brand recognition on their side and in the six years that have followed, the Wii became a very popular house hold name. Who's to say the Wii U won't have the same smashing success?

So even though I won't be able to take part in the Wii U's launch, I still look forward to hearing stories and impressions on the games from my fellow gamers, even if reading about them may make me a bit bummed. I do hope the launch isn't crazy and people keep their cool, but desperation tends to bring out the worst in greedy folks so that may be wishful thinking. Everyone, be happy and safe on launch day. I may not be playing the Wii U but I'll still have something to keep me busy.

Wii U Games Priced at $60

A mist all the Wii U news on Thursday, I missed the details surrounding the price of games. Wii U games will cost $60, the same price of most new 360 and PS3 games. My reaction to this news is the same as that Goomba in New Super Mario Bros. U's box art.

$60 games seem to be a sticking point for a lot of gamers. The cost of development continues to rise, which is the reason we see so many $60 games. The Wii U is Nintendo's first HD console so it stands to reason that development cost is high, where as the cost of development for the Wii was rather low. Now we're back to the N64 days all over again, where games on a Nintendo console are once more $60. I don't like it, but it's just one of those things we're gonna have to deal with. One things for certain: whenever I buy a Wii U game, that will more than likely be the only game I buy until the next paycheck.

Is the Wii U Priced Too High?

Nintendo finally delivered two key bits of information gamers had been waiting for with their big announcement this past Thursday in regards to the Wii U: a launch date and a price. The Big N has gone on record saying that the Wii U "won't be cheap." Nintendo consoles and handhelds have always been affordable but those words had me concerned for a while. In an age of HD consoles and higher tech specs, at $250 the Wii was the most cost friendly system when compared to the PS3 and 360's $600 and $500 price tags. My guess was that Nintendo's definition of expensive would be between $300 and $350 and I'm happy to have been right on that. The Wii U Basic Set will sell for $299, while the Deluxe Set will set you back $349. I honestly don't think that's too high a price for Nintendo's new baby. But I could be in the minority since I'm hearing a lot of talk of the Wii U's price point being too high.

As I already mentioned above, Nintendo consoles have always been easily obtainable at least in terms of money. The big exception was the 3DS, which launched at the insane price of $250. Maybe Nintendo was getting cocky with the success of the original DS, but the decision to price the 3DS so high came back to bite them hard. The result was one of the fastest price drops in the company's history, but it helped move more 3DS units and the system is doing far better in that respect.

I think the reason some are seeing the Wii U price as a high one is because no Nintendo console has exceeded the $300 mark until now. The SNES was $200 at launch as was the N64. The only reason the Wii cost what it did was because retailers put pressure on Nintendo to price it a bit higher and even then, it still wound up being insanely cheap. Now I know $300 and $350 is a lot to spend on anything especially during this global economic recession but if you think Sony and Micrsoft's next systems are going to be around the same price as the Wii U, you're fooling yourself. If anything, they'll probably be around, if not greater than what their predecessors cost. The Wii U will easily be the most affordable out of the three next gen consoles, which will once again see Nintendo make money off these things rather quickly.

For $350, you may as well get the Deluxe Set since you get more storage space and the pack in game Nintendo Land, which is sounding like it will be far meatier than your average mini game compilation. Yeah, 32GB isn't much hard drive space and I'm guessing Nintendo will come out with bigger external drives to feed or storage space needs, making more money off of us in the process. But I'm getting off topic.

Bottom line? I think we're very fortunate to see a console cost $300-$350 and at launch no less. Some are already speculating a quick price drop within a year or so, but I'm not so sure. Waiting is always an option, but for the first time in a long time, I'm going to be getting a Nintendo console on launch day.

Wii U Launch Date, Price and Some Thoughts

Any self respecting Nintendo fan has no doubt been given the rundown on the Wii U release date and price via Nintendo's Nintendo Direct Wii U Preview. I was at work so I missed all the hubbub so forgive me if this is "old news" to you.

The Wii U's North American launch date is Nov. 18th. It's European launch will be Nov. 30, whole the Japanese launch is set for Dec. 8. The system will come in two different sets. Let's get the vanilla version out of the way first, or the Basic Set as Nintendo is calling it. What's it come with? For just $299.99, you get the system, the gamepad, 8GB internal storage space, all the hookup cables but no game.

The Deluxe set has a bit more to offer. For $349.99, you'll get the Wii U, the gamepad, 32GB internal storage, connection cables and Nintendo Land as a pack in game. At $50 extra, I see no reason to even go for the Basic Set, but it's nice to have options.

I'm quite pleased with the pricing of both sets. Nintendo said long ago that the Wii U wouldn't be cheap. Turns out their definition of "not cheap" is quite consumer friendly, which is a must in these tough economic times.

As for Nintendo Land, I'm not super stoked for the game, but the premise of a Nintendo style theme park interests me enough to where I want to check it out, which makes the Deluxe Set for me a no brainer. With New Super Mario Bros. U being a launch title, that's only $410 spent on one day. Not too shabby, I must say.

E3 2012: Pikmin 3 Gameplay Demo

I was a huge fan of the original Pikmin and I'll finally be able to play Pikmin 2 on the Wii with improved controls thanks to the Nintendo Select line. Now, like the rest of you, I'll be waiting in anticipation for Pikmin 3 on the Wii U. Based off the demo that Shigeru Miyamoto helped demonstrate, it looks like it will be another enjoyable RTS title with everyone's favorite vegetable-like soldiers. New Pikmin types, new controls, new strategies. Bought!

E3 2012: Wii U Lineup Trailer

Nintendo Showed off the lineup of Wii U games that we'll have to look forward to. Some interesting games. Looks like there will be something for everyone. Have a look for yourself.

E3 2012: Rayman Legends Gameplay

E3 is well underway. Rather than post press conference videos (I really can't stand to watch those) I figured I'd just blog about the games that strike my fancy with screens, trailers, demos, etc.

The trailer for Rayman Legends was leaked in late April and fans have since been salivating over the leaked footage and 20 something screen-shots that hit the web. A portion of Ubisoft's press conference demonstrated Rayman Legends in action. The game can be played by five players at once! The fifth player uses the Wii U Game Pad while the other four play using Wii Remotes or Wii U Pro Controllers. Wii U Game Pad functionality is incorporated into the gameplay quite nicely. You really have to see it with your own eyes.

I'm currently playing through Rayman Origins and it's a superb platformer and one of my favorite games from this generation of gaming. After seeing this gameplay demo, Rayman Legends is a game I'll purchase the same day I pick up the Wii U.

How Will the Wii U Fare?

If you listen to ignorant fanboys harp on about how the Wii has no games and is killing gaming by catering to the casual gamer, you're probably unaware of all the good titles you're missing out on. Let's face it, hating Nintendo has become quite popular over the last three generations of gaming. For the first time in years, Nintendo has managed to reclaim the number one spot and still gamers spew bile. With the coming of the Wii U, it doesn't look like the nay-saying will cease anytime soon.

Nintendo unveiled the Wii U at 2011's E3. At first it was said that the Wii U was more powerful with the PlaySation 3 and Xbox 360. But just recently, some anonymous developers have said that it isn't as powerful as either of the aforementioned current gen rival platforms. Visually stunning powerhouses like Batman: Arkham City have already been announced for the Wii U so the system can't be that under powered. Still, assumptions and speculation are running rampant when in reality, we really don't know anything because one, Nintendo hasn't divulged all of the specs and two, and the system isn't even out yet. Of course this hasn't stopped pundits from saying that Nintendo is doomed.

Let's say the Wii U isn't as powerful as Sony and Microsoft's next systems. Would that really be such a bad thing? The Wii was the least powerful system this generation and it ended up mopping the floor with the PS3 and 360. And in the previous console generation, the PS2, the weakest of the three consoles ended up being the market leader. Having the highest range of specs under the hood doesn't automatically make you a winner. And let's not forget that the Wii was also developed to be cost-friendly. Yeah, its specs couldn't hold a candle to the competition, but because it was essentially two GameCubes under the hood, nearly anyone could afford it. The same could not be said for the 360 and PS3 when they launched. The HD gaming generation is also making the cost of development skyrocket, which is why we're seeing more expensive games, something the gaming populace has not kept quiet about.

Nintendo hardware tends to be on the affordable side, but the company has said that the system won't be cheap. I wonder. Just what does 'not cheap' mean to Nintendo? A friend and I were talking about this a while back and we got to discussing the price of the Wii when it first launched, which was at $250 in America because it came bundled with Wii Sports. Apparently, Nintendo wanted to sell the system for cheaper but due to pressure from retailers, it was launched at the $250 price that it was. So we got to talking and thought that $300-$350 sounds about right for the Wii U. Don't quote me on that, though. The 3DS launched at a price of $250 and this was a huge turn off for many gamers. True the launch lineup was sub par, but when the price was lowered to $170, buying the handheld a lot sooner for me became a no brainer. I think it's safe to say that even if the Wii U "won't be cheap" as Nintendo says, it will still be cheaper than what Sony or Microsoft serves up.

There's talk from Nintendo about winning back the hardcore gamer (even though a selection of hardcore titles was on the Wii, but haters were too busy hating to give notice) and Nintendo has already taken steps to get them back on the Wii with the North American releases of Xenoblade: Chronicles and The Last Story. If games like Arkham City, Assassins Creed III, and Tekken are in the works, I think Nintendo just may make good on their word.

So how will the Wii U Fare? It's way too early to tell. As I've already said, the system isn't even out for us to play yet. But I do know one thing: The Wii U will have games that can only be played on Nintendo's new baby. You will not be able to play Mario, Zelda, Kirby or Metroid on a Sony or Microsoft system. And who knows, there just may be a few killer exclusives that only hit the Wii U. You could end up kicking yourself for not having one. I still don't know about that tablet controller, but I've always been a supporter of Nintendo's consoles and handhelds. Nintendo has been in the game business for a long time and I doubt we can ever truly count them out.