Wii-U

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14518

Cant see a thread for the Wii-U but release date and price for Japan announced today and an announcement this afternoon for the rest of the world

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19583826

Quote:

Nintendo has revealed it will launch two versions of its Wii U console in Japan on 8 December.

The basic edition will cost 26,250 yen ($337; £210) and a premium version 31,500 yen ($405; £251).

Details of the international release will be discussed in New York later.

Nintendo's stock has fallen 29% since March on fears casual gamers will instead opt for tablet computers while hardcore players will wait for a new PlayStation or Xbox .

The difference between the two versions of the Wii U is that the basic model features 8GB of storage, while the premium version has 32GB and additional stands for the games machine and its touchscreen controller.
Touchscreen technology

Consumers wishing to buy an additional GamePad controller will have to pay 13,000 yen ($167; £104).

The device features a touchscreen offering players to ability to carry out in-game tasks, such as checking their inventory or setting an explosive, while the main action continues on their television. Gamers can also continue to play a title using the device when they do not have access to their main screen.

Nintendo has claimed it would help "revolutionise" gaming.

However, the gadget has been criticised for lacking multitouch - the ability to recognise different fingers on a hand.
Wii U game pad The Wii U can be controlled by a new touchscreen game pad that can also run games on its own

It also faces a challenge from both Sony and Microsoft who have introduced similar facilities for their existing consoles: the PlayStation 3 can be controlled by the firm's Vita handheld, while the Xbox 360 can be connected to existing tablet computers via software called SmartGlass.

Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, highlighted the fact that the Wii U would launch alongside New Super Mario Bros U - the first time a title in the series's release date had coincided with a new console in 16 years.

One games journalist said the relatively low price of the equipment could help its chances.

"We were all expecting a price point around the £250 mark so it's good that they've gone for this - it will help," Keza MacDonald, UK games editor at IGN, told the BBC.

"Most people expect that the new Xbox and PlayStation will be released at the end of next year and will cost more - so some people may prefer to save up.

"But many of the consumers that Nintendo is targeting may not be actually be the same audience as for those Microsoft and Sony's machines - so the issue is whether it can convince the casual, family gamers who bought the original Wii, to upgrade."

Nintendo will host a press event with more details in New York at 10:00 local time (15:00 BST).

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:46

Even though I haven't played my Wii in ages, and I don't have much time to play games these days.. I'm STILL tempted to get a WiiU on the release day.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:47

There must be a thread about it as Djhonny was frothing at the gash about it.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:53

I think that was the "next generation speculation" thread.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

There must be a thread about it as Djhonny was frothing at the gash about it.

I don't think there's been a dedicated thread, just lots of chat about it in Next Generation (TM) - speculation, hype and whinging thread.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:11

Over a hundred quid for a second controller?

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:13

Curiosity wrote:

Over a hundred quid for a second controller?

I won't pay £100 for a friend

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Curiosity wrote:

Over a hundred quid for a second controller?

Well, not really. As far as I understand it you can only have one touch-screen controller connected to the Wii-U at a time because that's how it's designed and the supplementary controllers are all just Wiimotes. So it's £100 for a replacement primary controller if you broke the original, but it's not like you'd need to shell out £100 just so you can play local multiplayer games or whatever. It's still a wedge of cash obviously, and if I was a parent of younger kids I'd probably think twice about getting a Wii-U because of the risk, but it's much more complex and fully featured device than a Dualshock pad or whatever so it's fair enough that it costs more.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Hmm, actually it seems I'm wrong there because, according to Wikipedia, "During Nintendo's E3 2012 presentation, it was confirmed that the console will support up to two Wii U GamePads simultaneously." but I suspect that the number of games which require/support this will be very small because people are unlikely to shell out for a second GamePad.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Relatedly, it's just as well for Nintendo that Microsoft's vagina isn't as sandy as Apple's because seriously:

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

It does look fairly similar to the 360 pad, but where do you think Microsoft got all their ideas for controller design from in the first place?

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:27

Bamba wrote:

Relatedly, it's just as well for Nintendo that Microsoft's vagina isn't as sandy as Samsung's because seriously:

Fix.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14417

Sony?

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Fix.

Heh, I totally predicted before I opened the thread that you'd be the one to rise to that.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:30

Re: Pads. Sega surely? The first Xbox pad was pretty close to the Dreamcast pad wasn't it?

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:31

Bamba wrote:

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Fix.

Heh, I totally predicted before I opened the thread that you'd be the one to rise to that.

I would hate to disappoint you. I've put a nice link in for you now, though.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

LewieP wrote:

It does look fairly similar to the 360 pad, but where do you think Microsoft got all their ideas for controller design from in the first place?

You think the Xbox pad looks like something Nintendo did previously? Which controller are you thinking of?

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:32

Ahem...

TheVision wrote:

Re: Pads. Sega surely? The first Xbox pad was pretty close to the Dreamcast pad wasn't it?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Ian Fairies wrote:

Sony?

Well off the top of my head, Nintendo were the first to do:
Shoulder Buttons,
A cross of four lettered face buttons,
Analogue sticks,
Rumble,
Wireless controllers that weren't shit.

And probably quite a lot more.

Edit: Although obviously the original Xbox pad had a bit more in common with the DC controller and the old sidewinders than any Nintendo ones, at least aesthetically.

Edit2: And I bet the WiiU pro controller's dpad shits all over the Xbox ones.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Day one for me!

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Did we mention that white is the normal one and black is the premium? So if you're bothered about colour, your hand is forced.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:32

WTB wrote:

Did we mention that white is the normal one and black is the premium? So if you're bothered about colour, your hand is forced.

Another trick stolen from Microsoft! The innovators become the imitators!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Well they did that for the Wii too, but not at release.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:56

That makes sense that does. At least you'll be able to tell the difference at a glance unlike the iPhone for instance.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Perfect for schoolyard "Timmy only has the white one!" japes. And BEEX japes.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14417

WTB wrote:

Day one for me!

And me. If that zombie game is any good, that is.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11898

Standard comes with 8Gb? Really? I know Nintendo tend to be a bit lighter on space requirements than other people, but this just seems a stupidly small amount. I assume it allows USB external HDD and SD cards, etc?

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Yeah it allows all of those things.

It sort of makes sense really. Either put a HDD in or offer as much solid state storage as they can without breaking the bank. Proper HDDs aren't really future proof anymore. I guess.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11898

So installation of discs to external storage will be allowed?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Bobbyaro wrote:

So installation of discs to external storage will be allowed?

They've announced nothing on this, but is seems kind of un-Nintendo.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11898

Sorry, what seems un-Nintendo; allowing it, or not allowing?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Allowing people to rip/install games to a hard drive seems like something Nintendo would never do.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/new ... 47764.html

3PM - Live stream of the EU Nintendo Direct. So we'll find out prices and release dates for the UK. Hopefully...

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

They won't give out a UK rrp, because they got caught doing some price fixing in the UK in the past and got a slap on the wrist (significant fine).

Although you can probably expect many online retailers to go live with their pages for the console and games, and post their pricing, probably some time soon after.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Fuck's sake!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Whilst not knowing exactly when you'll be told pricing is a slight ballache, the upshot of this is that the price you'll be paying with probably be lower than it would otherwise be.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 15:16

US RRP.

Quote:

$300 for the white 8GB Basic set and $350 for a black 32GB deluxe version

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 15:17

Dimrill wrote:

US RRP.

Quote:

$300 for the white 8GB Basic set and $350 for a black 32GB deluxe version

That's a no-brainer then.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Amazon have the white one up for £199.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Wii-U- ... 494&sr=8-1

I've pre-ordered it anyway, just in case. I'll cancel and go for the black when that's available. Guessing £249.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Oh, and November 30th for us apparently. Yanks get it mid-November, and then finally in Japan in December. Strange!

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

And now it's "available from these sellers". Hmm.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 15:23

Now 404 more like.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 15:29

just tweeted that the WiiU is going to be the biggest flop ever.

Makes me want one even more.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 15:37

TheVision wrote:

:attitude: just tweeted that the WiiU is going to be the biggest flop ever.

Makes me want one even more.

He's just gutted there's no one left on his forum to get him a free one.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Hmm. It's £249.99 on Amazon now. With the black one at £284.99. However my pre-order is still there at £199.00. How long until they tell me I can't have it?

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

You probably can have it. Probably.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Wahoo! I don't actually want a white one though. But for £199...

Also:

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Just noticed something...

The black console has the "pre-order price guarantee" text under it. The white one doesn't. They're definitely not going to honour this.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Well you're looking at £280ish for the black one now. You're better off just getting an SD card/pen drive and then buying whatever game you're after. Unless it's the colour that bothers you.

Edit: They'll probably cancel it sooner rather than later if they are going to.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Genuinely hilarious new twist - ACT FAST:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... os_product

PREMIUM £199.00!!!

Just got a pre-order in for that as well. LOLs!

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