Wii U - General Discussion Thread

[quote name='Corvin']And that is a perfect analogy. You're fine with DVD because that's what you're used to. Own a BD player & get an HD signal for a few months and you won't want to go back.[/QUOTE]

Um... Ok.
 
[quote name='Corvin']And that is a perfect analogy. You're fine with DVD because that's what you're used to. Own a BD player & get an HD signal for a few months and you won't want to go back.[/QUOTE]

I have both, and on a 55 inch TV in our living room too. In most cases, DVDs are just fine to watch. True, HD channels vs. the analog cable equivalents are night and day, but the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray not so much.

However, there is definitely a bigger difference between Wii and 360/PS3 (than DVD vs Blu-Ray). That still doesn't mean that a game like Xenoblade Chronicles can't look pretty good (and be my favorite game of this gen so far).

Anyway, I guess my first chance to see the WiiU will be at PAX. Hopefully they have a big enough presence there that I can get some time on one.
 
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[quote name='TheLongshot']...
Personally, I still think the PS2 is good enough for most games. When I bought a PS3, it was really only for a relatively small selection of games. The main selling point for me was to have a bluray player and to stream media to my TV....[/QUOTE]

Completely agree! The PS2 was awesome! Perfect. Games, looked like games still. Developers weren't trying to make things look realistic. No patches, games were less buggy and polished, backwards compatible, reliable (my launch lasted up until I got a PS3 and then some). The Slims are even better in terms of reliability. A few refinements to conform to more modern day TV's is all Sony needed. Sigh, PS3 all it did was get me early access to Blu-ray for $599.99. I have like 3-4 PS3 games and I played 1 or 2, lol.

I love my Gamecube almost as much and I think the graphics are just one step up from PS2 in terms of polish and smoothness. I hated this generation except for Wii. Next generation, I'm a 1 console consumer: Wii U and a 3DS for my portable needs. Save me some money.
 
The thing about PS2 was that the overwhelming majority of games were developed with it as the lead platform. The question is whether or not Wii U will get the same treatment, even if it has a strong start out of the gate. I'm guessing no, but only because so many game companies today are terrible at managing their money and development teams.

I'll probably have a write-up of this event on Monday, since it's down today, back tomorrow because of the distance. I also plan on bringing my 3DS with me for Street Passes.
 
I have both, and on a 55 inch TV in our living room too. In most cases, DVDs are just fine to watch. True, HD channels vs. the analog cable equivalents are night and day, but the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray not so much.
Click to expand...

Not sure what Blu-Rays you're watching but on a 55 inch set, I can't imagine you can't see a difference between true 1080p and upscaled standard-def DVD. It ought to be even more night and day than 1080i broadcast and analog cable equivalents.
 
[quote name='phantomfriar2002']Not sure what Blu-Rays you're watching but on a 55 inch set, I can't imagine you can't see a difference between true 1080p and upscaled standard-def DVD. It ought to be even more night and day than 1080i broadcast and analog cable equivalents.[/QUOTE]

Any blu-ray. I never said there wasn't a difference - I just said it didn't compare to the analog cable vs HD channel difference. There is a difference, sure, but not enough to make me want to buy blu-rays on a regular basis, or even get them from the cases when the kids just want to watch something (like Toy Story 3) - would much rather use the tried and true (and beat up) DVD's instead of the pristine blu-rays ;).

But I'm sorry, analog cable to HD channel is about 10x the difference from DVD to blu-ray. There's no arguing that - at least in our setup. Analog cable channels (at least here), in addition to being SD, are grainy and noisy. DVD's, at least, are solid/clear pictures so the only difference is the resolution. Note that we have the TV up on the mantle and sit about 10-12 feet from it, too. So we aren't right in front staring at the pixels ;). But the sharpness of the HD digital cable blows away the noisy analog signal. We can compare directly by going back and forth - like with the Olympics we can watch regular NBC vs. HD NBC and it is night and day. My wife and kids, meanwhile, don't seem to notice when I play blu-rays vs the regular DVD versions - the difference is slight enough that they can't be 100% sure which it is (though I can tell as I'm more into that sort of thing).

Anyway, like I said, it is a bigger difference with games simply because of the jaggies on Wii (or PS2/GC) games vs. the 360/PS3. DVDs don't have that problem (they just appear smoother/more blurry/slightly less sharp). So, yeah, to bring this back around, I'm looking forward to the HD on the Wii U, but whether it renders in native 1080p or 720p is pretty irrelevant - it will still look a whole lot better than the Wii, and, conversely, probably not that far off whatever next gen systems Sony and MS put out.
 
A couple of quick things:

Gamepad Pro
- Seriously, the thing is awesome. Really comfortable. A smidge tricky for the first minute or so.
- Clickable Sticks, in case anyone asks

Great Games
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Rayman Legends

Okay Games
- Project P-100
- Nintendoland (Animal Crossing was great, Zelda was...)
- Game & Wario

Burn in a Fire Games
- Ninja Gaiden 3

Dead Batteries so I can't play Games
- Pikmin 3
 
How was the wonky analog/ABXY button placement? And for reference where do you fall on the DualShock v. 360 analog placement debate?
 
[quote name='KingBroly']A couple of quick things:

Gamepad Pro
- Seriously, the thing is awesome. Really comfortable. A smidge tricky for the first minute or so.
- Clickable Sticks, in case anyone asks

Great Games
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Rayman Legends

Okay Games
- Project P-100
- Nintendoland (Animal Crossing was great, Zelda was...)
- Game & Wario

Burn in a Fire Games
- Ninja Gaiden 3

Dead Batteries so I can't play Games
- Pikmin 3[/QUOTE]

I'm sensing a connection here (both sidescrolling platformers), I still haven't seen a system seller (to me) so right now I'm still on the far side of wait and see.
 
[quote name='Corvin']How was the wonky analog/ABXY button placement? And for reference where do you fall on the DualShock v. 360 analog placement debate?[/QUOTE]

Not really an issue. Besides the Stick/Button Placement, it is 100% an Xbox 360 controller with a superior d-pad. The only issue is learning the controls for various games. This is why I sorta docked P-100, since I had a limited time to play it, and the controls are bit...strange. You have to draw on the tablet the form you want then hit A to lock into it. Otherwise you lose it until you try again. You can also do the same with the right analog stick. It feels like Pikmin combined with Mad World and Viewtiful Joe.

"Assist" Mode in NuSMB is amazing, taking New Super Asshole Bros. Wii to the next level. If it had online play, it'd either be the Best Mode Ever or the Worst Mode Ever, depending on how you look at it.

While Rayman's Assist Mode is better, you can only really help, and it seems like it's an individual set of levels. I can't see how that Mode (if it's a Mode and not the game) can be done on any other console out there. It is probably the most unique thing shown for Wii U.

For Nintendo Land, I got to play the Zelda game and the Animal Crossing game. While playing as the Archer in Zelda is fine, not being able to control your movement does suck, since it caused me to die, leaving me wondering what happened.

The Animal Crossing mini-game however...wow...that was awesomely weird. You have 2 guards, each controlled by a different analog stick on the tablet. So it's sort of hard to control both, but still ridiculously fun. You have to catch 3 people before they get 50 candy (you can catch them multiple times too). Everyone loved playing and looking at it.

Game and Wario was meh. It's not quite Wario Ware, and it's not quite a mini-game from Mario Party. So I dunno about it.

Ninja Gaiden 3 was absolutely terrible. I was seriously the only person there to beat it. Every one else sorta quit in disgust in the first 5 minutes or so. Framerate was fine plus no screen tearing, but it's still a band-aid on a pile of awful.
 
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One of my trusted GameStop confidant was pretty adamant that the Wii U system base price will be $249.99 with an official announcement coming soon in a few wks so that pre-orders can commence. Is he delusional or ... received an inside scoop from GS marketing?
 
[quote name='FatBoyInside']One of my trusted GameStop confidant was pretty adamant that the Wii U system base price will be $249.99 with an official announcement coming soon in a few wks so that pre-orders can commence. Is he delusional or ... received an inside scoop from GS marketing?[/QUOTE]

I think that sounds about right. The Wii's launch price was $249.99 and September is only a couple of weeks away.
 
[quote name='Strell']To those who went to a Wii U Experience: is there any cool swag to be had?[/QUOTE]

At SDCC, they had Pokemon Conquest posters and bookmarks, and a crappy NSMB2 shirt.
 
[quote name='Strell']To those who went to a Wii U Experience: is there any cool swag to be had?[/QUOTE]

To be honest, I wasn't paying that much attention. They were running contests with various games and there were probably giveaways with that, and they gave away some stuff at the end, but I really wasn't in a position to get any of it. I think there were t-shirts, hats and minifigures.

I know my son got a Mario chocolate mustache on a stick, which tickled him very much.
 
[quote name='TheLongshot']I know my son got a Mario chocolate mustache on a stick, which tickled him very much.[/QUOTE]

This is awesome. This might be worth it alone.
 
Phbhbt I wish I had that kind of sway. I already solved their system naming a bit ago but I see no evidence of change.
 
They should pack-in cake pops. Because, you know, people are gonna need that sprinkles accessory eventually.

Then you repackage the sprinkles accessory as the jimmies accessory.

Boom. itprintsmoney.jpg.
 
I'm sure I will. I have doubt it's enough to convince me to pick one up at launch. But we shall see. I do want to bust some heads as Officer Copper.
 
[quote name='Strell']I'm sure I will. I have doubt it's enough to convince me to pick one up at launch. But we shall see. I do want to bust some heads as Officer Copper.[/QUOTE]

Don't play Ninja Gaiden 3. Trust me.
 
I better get a chocolate mustache on a stick. I won't tell you guys what types of photos I'm going to take with it though.
 
[quote name='Strell']Going tomorrow now. Expectations are pretty low.[/QUOTE]

It's not going to blow you away, so don't expect that. The system will be pretty much what it looks like. Try out Rayman and Arkham, I enjoyed those two the most. Rayman had the Pro controller.
 
[quote name='pezmanmike']It's not going to blow you away, so don't expect that. The system will be pretty much what it looks like. Try out Rayman and Arkham, I enjoyed those two the most. Rayman had the Pro controller.[/QUOTE]

Also, New Super Mario Bros U is surprisingly fun.
 
I don't think anyone will be shocked if NSMBU is fun. It's probably an incredibly solid game. But as a launch title, a Mario title no less it should be something that really showcases the gamepad and it clearly doesn't. That's the feeling I get overall with the lineup-It's good but nothing that will sell me on the concept.
 
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Wii U covers are pretty
 
The Pro controller feels excellent.

The Gamepad is super light and also feels pretty excellent.

Luigi's Mansion was fun and I won.

The graphics are extremely clean, sharp, and vibrant. I don't get the complaints, but whatever.

I want one, but can wait.
 
[quote name='Strell']
I want one, but can wait.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, you can wait till it launches, but not a minute more!

But seriously, hopefully I can get some time with the Wii U at PAX in 2 weeks.
 
Playing it will definitely make you get it and feel better about most things. I think Nintendo just sucks at speaking for some reason.
 
[quote name='Strell']Luigi's Mansion was fun and I won.
[/QUOTE]
Whichever forum is most appropriate for a summary of your impressions of LM2, you need to go to that place and give them. The gnarly 3DS monster thread may be the place for it. Or you could do it here. Wherever it be, spill it.

It's still very odd to me that the follow-up to LM somehow didn't wind up on the Wii when the Wii controls made it a guaranteed lock. Just imagine if they did it and put the effort into the controls that they put into Skyward Sword.

Or not even LM2 -- save it for the "next console," however your strategy works -- I would've bought up an LM re-make for the Wii in a friggin heartbeat. No hesitation. They had time for both Pikmins, but Luigi got dicked. Again.
 
I concur with Longshot. Similar to LM ghost mansion, I think Namco should port pac-man versus to the WiiU as a digital title. Playing that on the Gamecube was a lot of fun...

When I went to the experience, it was on a Sunday, which was more of a family day, so they didn't have ZombiU. Did any of you guys try that one? what were your thoughts?
 
I didn't play it myself, but watched a number of people do so. Seems like a fairly neat idea, and will do well as a launch title if it ends up having a good single player component. There was a room set up for multiplayer where the Gamepad player got a bird's eye view of the map and got to drop stuff down on the survivors, which sounded like a lot of fun.

Speaking generically, I noticed that the multiplayer games maintained their framerates (for example, the Zelda Nintendoland game), which I hope is a continued trend since local multiplayer is going to be a focus. Just running Mario Kart Wii is painful with three or more players and watching the framerate drop, but I didn't see this happening with 5 player games.
 
[quote name='Strell']I didn't play it myself, but watched a number of people do so. Seems like a fairly neat idea, and will do well as a launch title if it ends up having a good single player component. There was a room set up for multiplayer where the Gamepad player got a bird's eye view of the map and got to drop stuff down on the survivors, which sounded like a lot of fun.[/QUOTE]
Though this is (somewhat) off topic, the idea of one player being the supply man for the teammates (which I'm assuming you are referring to ZombiU) totally reminded me of the Half-life mod, Natural Selection. If you haven't played that, it's basically a mixture of RTS and FPS (for the marines side that is), where one player plays the commander for the team of soldiers, who gets the bird's eye view to lay down structures to be built by the team, drops ammunition and health for his teammates, set's rally points, etc.

I would be very interested if the multiplayer component of ZombiU is fleshed out, or at least would be expecting an RTS/FPS combination game sometime in the near future for the Wii U.
 
Wii U could get a lot of 4/5-player downloadable titles if they played their cards right. Pac-Man Vs. on Wii U with online play would be pretty cool.
 
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