E3 2012: First Wii U 'problems' arise - Part 2

[garyopa]

A second batch of Nintendo/Wii U 'issues'



From the Wii U Game Pad Battery Life to Nintendo shares drop --
Take a look at the second part of issues/problems related to Wii U reported on this year E3 2012.

Probably you already saw the first batch of "issues" or problems related to Wii U, reported directly from this year E3.

Well, here are a few others:

1. Nintendo has officially reported that the Wii U GamePad battery will run for between three and five hours per sesion, and will take 2.5 hours to charge.

That puts it roughly in line with the Vita and 3DS and means that dedicated gamers will likely have to spend much of their game time tethered to their consoles while recharging.

Remember – the Wii U GamePad isn’t actually processing data, despite it displaying games on-screen. The computing is being handled by the Wii U console, with the information then streamed to Nintendo’s flashy new peripheral.

2. Nintendo confirmed to GameTrailers that the Wii U Game Pad screen isn't multitouch due to cost. They said the DS screen was/is sufficient enough...

The new screen is not multitouch. Well, with the DS certainly it's not multitouch and people have really enjoyed that interface and have found it sufficient for their needs for gaming. If you add something like multitouch you do up the cost, and so we're trying to strike the right balance between the robust set of features and capablilites for the hardware but also make it affordable to people.

3. The Wii U literally can’t Stand Up. Not exactly a "big issue", but yes, the console won't be able to sit vertically like every other console on the market.

The reasons, are pretty interesting. Take a look at Miyamoto explanation:

"I guess we could make a stand," Nintendo's senior game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, told me yesterday, laughing, "I think maybe it was because we didn't want people to think it was a Wii."

Just paint it another color then, I said, needling him.

His follow-up answer was more of a revelation: "It kind of goes back to our idea of the Wii U itself which is: ‘What is the role of the physical hardware?' And in this particular case we felt that the physical hardware is something that's becoming something that is less and less important from an identity perspective for a game machine.

"So, for example, with even something like Kinect you can have your hardware put away and out of sight and you can wave at the TV and maybe the game will come on or something.

"Similarly with Wii U, when we [considered the question] ‘What is the face of Wii U going to be?', for us the face of Wii U really isn't the console box itself. It's the controller; it's the Wii U GamePad. So just like a set top box is non-descript and tucked away, our feeling was that the Wii U hardware was something that could be tucked away and out of sight.

"The Wii U GamePad is really the face of the system, whereas, with the Wii system, we had really designed it so that that system itself really stood out when you looked at it."

4. And finally, looks like investors responded negatively to Wii U showing, as Nintendo shares dropped following "disappointing" E3 press conference.

The Japanese stock market has reacted badly to Nintendo’s E3 presentation, with stock in the company falling 2.68 per cent since trading opened today.

Nintendo’s conference has been widely criticised by the consumer press, with nearly all lamenting the lack of new games announcements – headline-worthy reveals were expected with the machine’s launch only around six months away.

It was also seen as Nintendo’s last chance to get a head start on Sony and Microsoft, who are both expected to reveal their new hardware at, or even before, E3 2013.

Investors were seemingly more impressed with Sony, with its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbing 2.14 per cent overnight. They performed even better in New York, gaining 3.21 per cent.

Interestingly, shares in Ubisoft – hailed by many as the ‘winner’ of this year’s E3 – have climbed nearly five per cent since its excellent E3 showcase.

So, it looks like Ubisoft's better show reflected on their shares climb.

Well, there you go. Stay tuned for more?

NEWS SOURCE #1: Why the Wii-U literally can't stand-up (via) Kotaku
NEWS SOURCE #2: Nintendo shares drop following disappointing E3 press conference (via) CVG

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[JonathanD]

I really do agree with #3, it's not like I spend hours looking at the system going "Ohhh that system looks awesome just awesome!!!"

Not sure about anyone else but I always kept the Wii and the PS3 flat. Standing up is a cool idea but with the dogs and kids and wife cleaning.... I just can't trust them not to knock my systems over. Bad enough I had to buy another copy of Tekken Tag for the PS2 because my daughter decided that the PS2 would make an awesome domino in the middle of a game.

[billysastard]

I really do agree with #3, it's not like I spend hours looking at the system going "Ohhh that system looks awesome just awesome!!!"

Not sure about anyone else but I always kept the Wii and the PS3 flat. Standing up is a cool idea but with the dogs and kids and wife cleaning.... I just can't trust them not to knock my systems over. Bad enough I had to buy another copy of Tekken Tag for the PS2 because my daughter decided that the PS2 would make an awesome domino in the middle of a game.

my wii and ps3 (with additional stand) are upright, 360's are flat it was purely a matter of space the xbox with its hd-dvd player provides a flat surface to stand an additional hdd on when the wii and ps3 "required" additional drives there wasnt enough space without blocking the ps3 vent so it went vertical and that left space for a nice big hdd (or two) to sit next to it, the wii is more accessible as it gets more use (wii motes get used across all 5 wii systems so constantly have to be synced to it) but it didnt have a lot of space so once the hdd was required its stand got unboxed, the xbox however is just not suitable to stand.

[tech3475]

Space determines whether my console is vertical or horizontal.

I wonder whether the name will be an issue for Nintendo, ie. casual thinking it's a 'minor upgrade' like the DSi.

[IJTF_Cinder]

Nintendo shares always drop when they release new hardware...then the **** prints money, and shares skyrocket. I should buy some stock now.

[sped]

Im not suprised shares are falling after that tat! After seeing Microsofts poor show, i thought Nintendo would clean up. I was ready to throw away the Xbox, and open my wallet for Nintendo, but now im not too sure?

To start with they should have shown us the console, explaining it, as they did with the controller. Told us the consoles specs, and maybe shown us a preview of the software that comes with it. They focused too much on Wii fit U, and Nintendoland, oh and i hope that game comes with the console because i can't see the hardcore gamers buying that ha!!

Also who gives a **** about putting a curtain up on the screen when your looking on the web?! When you've tech like that, you should be showing things that blow people away. From last years E3, this is the first time people are going to see what all the fuss is about, and that conference was seen by thousands, if not millions. First impressions showed all that watched it that Nintendo dont seem to be ready.

I hope in the next few months Nintendo sort their heads out and start showing better things, because at this moment i'm not going to buy it at launch just for one game that i thought looked good (ZombiU).

[DEDDOA]

I agree witht he multi touch screen bit, it would be nice but if does increase cost I suspect they took thebest course. Also unlike touch screen tablets and phones, the controller has real buttons, dpad and analogue sticks so the multi touch is likley to be unneeded int he same way. Infact other than zooming in and out of pictures on my phone, i don't think I even use multi touch for games with the dedicated controller built in, so I am not seeing much of an issue.

I have no dount that there will be stands out for the Wii-U at launch much as there were all the wii sports peripherals for the Wii, so I doubt that will be a real problem if it's needed that way.

[billysastard]

I have no dount that there will be stands out for the Wii-U at launch much as there were all the wii sports peripherals for the Wii, so I doubt that will be a real problem if it's needed that way.

nintendo already showed a charging cradle / stand along with some other accessories although most sites seem to have ignored it.




they also showed a screen cover / protector and a wii remote charge stand that looks like it might be wireless.

[Ahmed_p800]

1- Yes, this is Bad!

2- It was a well known fact that the Gamepad screen is resistive since announcement, [Stylus => Resistive] (except wacom tech and capacitive styluses with huge tip).

3- Can't stand up? really?? thats considered an issue now?! (o_O)

4- Well, the conference was a disaster! whoever was responsible for preparing it should be replaced!

Not being a fan (PC master race :P) ... just trying to be fair!

[Diztructor]

i love teh BS nintendo say "it increases cost" erm hold up a second, no it wouldnt, its just nintendo wanting to be as cheap as possible.

HELLO, people rush out to pay £500+ for a sodding mobile phone, ever since the GC nintendo have allways been cheap, instead of pushing new things, theyre basically saying well this is the cheaper option for our production, youll have to put up with it.

we all know if nintendo released a console that was a little more expensive people would buy it.


personally i think the fact theyve made the system to be laid down only is due to the pad, like the wii bar (horizontal) i find it funny that the sensor could be built into the wii u console, therfor can only be laid flat in order to pick up the ifad controller.... nice try to cover it up with BS nintendo.

if you used more upto date technology insted of cheaper old tech then this would have been possible, also the battery WTF all its doing is displaying, not processing, i think thats cr@p handhelds last the same time yet theyre loading a game on the same device, yet again suggests cheap batterys.

[billysastard]

also the battery WTF all its doing is displaying, not processing, i think thats cr@p handhelds last the same time yet theyre loading a game on the same device, yet again suggests cheap batterys.

how do you think that display gets to the screen? dont you think wireless streaming might be using battery power too?

[Diztructor]

how do you think that display gets to the screen? dont you think wireless streaming might be using battery power too?

well lets see, i stream movies from my ipad to my tv or from my drive to my ipad and yup it lasts longer.

but the fact is, nintendo have gone hey heres a cool gimmick idea lets add it into our primary controller, but lets not spend too much money lets give it a weak battery, which gamers might aswell just keep the sodding thing on charge all the time insted of having to stop put it on charge mid gaming.

lets say what youd think if it was sony or ms i knwo for a fact youd be saying the exact same thing, why invent a controller that has a battry life of sweet fa.

[billysastard]

why invent a controller that has a battry life of sweet fa.

because unlike the newer ipad you can play and charge at the same time?

i do however agree that 3.5 hours is too low.