Iwata: Wii U being first next-gen 'not important', pricing is

[garyopa]

The Wii U is 'important for the world', according to Nintendo.



According to Satoru Iwata, being first to market in a new generation of consoles is 'not important at all', and that pricing will be a major factor at launch.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said that being first next-gen makes no difference to the firm.

"Being first in the next generation race is not important at all".

"One of the reasons we believe this is the time for Nintendo to launch the Wii U is it's going to be important for the world."

According to him, pricing will be a much more important factor:

"The pricing of Wii U is going to be one of the most important elements when it is going to be launched," he said. "The environment is different. Wii U is going to be launching in a different environment than when the Wii was launched. Also, the involvement surrounding [mobile and social] businesses is different than several years ago."

He also commented on early pessimistic Wii U predictions from some analysts:

"When something unique comes up, it's difficult for people to understand it at the beginning," he said. "A lot of misunderstandings and pessimistic observations, like, 'Will a product like this really spread in the market?' prevail and then after some time, after being able to experience it, the atmosphere changes."

And finally, Iwata addressed next-gen console competition from Microsoft and Sony:

“Even when we were going to launch the Wii system, there were a lot of voice saying ‘Nintendo should stop making hardware’,” he added. “The reasoning behind that was Nintendo would not have any chance against Microsoft and Sony. The fact of the matter was: I did not think Nintendo should compete against these companies with the same message and same entertainment options for people.

“We have not changed our strategy. In other words, we just do not care what kind of ‘more beef’ console Microsoft and Sony might produce in 2013. Our focus is on how we can make our new console different than [others].”

Wii U will launch globally later this year. Pricing and specific launch timing haven't been announced yet.

NEWS SOURCE #1: Iwata being first next-gen console to market not important at all (via) CVG
NEWS SOURCE #2: Wii-U important for the world says Nintendo (via) GameSpot

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[LKJHGFDSA]

I bet they downgraded the Wii U's hardware to meet lower prices. A few things they've said this year have pointed towards that.

[JonathanD]

I bet they downgraded the Wii U's hardware to meet lower prices. A few things they've said this year have pointed towards that.

Who knows, but I do agree with the strategy from a business standpoint. With the economy in the dumps world wide, the cheapest console of the next gen is going to be the dominate one and end up with the most profits for its parent company. As a gamer I always want the most hardware they can pack in it for a great price.

We have an interesting year ahead of us, with the Wii-U launching it will be fascinating to see how the market responds to it and what Sony and Microsoft do to soften the blow. My guess is they will at least put some pack in games with the 360 and the PS3 or discounts on Live and Plus.

I am also predicting that just ahead of the Wii-U launch a lot more details will start to emerge about Sony and Microsoft's new systems to try and keep people from buying a Wii-U. (At least thats what I would do if I was MS and Sony.)

[billysastard]

I bet they downgraded the Wii U's hardware to meet lower prices. A few things they've said this year have pointed towards that.

the very fact that the majority of launch titles are only 720p@60fps suggests that is true since hey originally said that the wii u was to be 1080p@60fps native on all titles as the reason that it couldn't upscale wii titles, if it can now run 720p assets too then the failure to upscale wii games is pretty poor especially since some wii titles already have hd assets.

[JonathanD]

the very fact that the majority of launch titles are only 720p@60fps suggests that is true since hey originally said that the wii u was to be 1080p@60fps native on all titles as the reason that it couldn't upscale wii titles, if it can now run 720p assets too then the failure to upscale wii games is pretty poor especially since some wii titles already have hd assets.

If it gets hacked I would not be surprised that some hacker figures out a way to do upscaling for Wii games on it, I mean look at GameCube USB loading. I thought that was surely impossible considering the GameCube never even had a USB port and how they figured out how to shove a driver in there I will never know. Amazing what they have done with the Wii, that one GameCube loader even will load GameCube games on none BC units and use the classic controller for a GC one... How? lol

[Diztructor]

been first next gen isnt important, pricing is important and nintendo can say this because theyre likely to be the cheapest of the 3 next gen systems, but then you need to ask, why and how is nintendo able to be the cheapest.

making note that nintendo still havent released the system spec information just makes it sound yet again its a revamp last gen, and will be why it can be so cheap. (or unless nintendo arent including power supply with the system lolz)

i think nintendo shouldnt be focusing soley on fad controllers, and focus more on a system that isnt a revamp last gen, its a joke when game devs report that theyve got a last gen game engine running smoothly on nintendo's next gen system, when MS/SONY release their next gen, will devs be stuck making the same for the wii, will they have to dumb down the engine or simply skip the wii u all together (just like the wii) and will nintendo gamers have to wait for nintendos next gen system to enjoy these games (like they are now with the wii u)

[trancehead]

The Wii U isn't next gen, they are the last to release a current gen console IMO, they can't charge that much because of that fact.

[billysastard]

The Wii U isn't next gen, they are the last to release a current gen console IMO, they can't charge that much because of that fact.

really? do you even understand what console generations are?

[Diztructor]

really? do you even understand what console generations are?

i guess you didnt get what he ment.

current gen nintendo released what you could say a slightly revamped last gen system (WII)

and again its next gen is on par with this gen (WII-U), and this is why nintendo can brag about making it cheap, because the technology is old and will be cheaper to produce aka cheaper RRP but still make a profit (only tools cant see this).

i loved it when nintendo made a report to say they doubt microsoft or sony will be able to make a graphical leap with its next gen systems.

but hello nintendo, you never made a graphical leap with the WII, at least sony has allways made a graphical leap from the PSX-PS2-PS3, PSP-PSV, Microsoft have from the XBOX-360.

but thing is, its likely sony and ms will carry the same, its not likely that theyll do a nintendo and simply release a slighlty beefed up last gen system.

so i think what hes trying to say is, how can the wii u be classed as a next gen system when its on par (or slightly better) than current gen systems.

if anything, to me, its just nintendos new system pushing yet again a new fad controller (to make people forget its yet again another revamp last gen system).

Regardless what nintendo say, it isnt actually needed to enjoy games, because no matter what you say, its a motion controller, and motion controlled games allways get sh1t shovel ware games (regardless of the system) and this was the 90% that the wii had.

The remaining games (ports) were poor in comparison to the 360/PS3 and was harder to play with the forced wiimote as to using a controller.

as you say billy, the dam thing cant even run in full 1080 HD (even tho i dont really see a major improvement from 720 v 1080) and saying its a next gen system, this should be a walk in the park, but it cant hence my points above (which youll likely wont accept as usual).

[trancehead]

really? do you even understand what console generations are?

gee, i think i do.
i've only been around since the first one.

in terms of time scaling, yes, it is next generation.
but in terms of power, they're just catching up to current gen consoles, which is what i was trying to say.
from a system spec standpoint, they're a generation behind.

[JonathanD]

gee, i think i do.
i've only been around since the first one.

in terms of time scaling, yes, it is next generation.
but in terms of power, they're just catching up to current gen consoles, which is what i was trying to say.
from a system spec standpoint, they're a generation behind.

That's OK, for a company though. It worked great for Sony both the PS1 and PS2 were the weakest system spec wise of those "generations" for a really good laugh compare the PS1 to the N64 for graphics... Nintendo got its ass handed to them in sales.

Going all the way back to the Atari 2600 it has always been the lower spec system that managed to sell the most units with the SNES possibly being the one exception depending on who you talk to as if to the Genesis won in sales or the SNES won in sales (it was too close to call.) Not to mention that Nintendo's handheld division has pretty much owned the portable market since day 1 and at the same time had continuously the weakest hardware too. PSP VS DS please spare me "Nintendo is so far behind!" sure and a Sony exec would cut off his left testicle with a butter knife to switch sales positions in that one. So far it looks like the 3DS is going to be doing the same thing to the Vita.

Having the most powerful hardware sure helped Sony this gen didn't it? Being in 3rd must be new language for "winner" but to me coming in last is hardly a win.

Moral of the Story, if the Wii-U is the weakest of the next gen. It's probably going to be the lead system in sales. It's hard to even call that a prediction based on how many years the trend has been going on.

[Diztructor]

That's OK, for a company though. It worked great for Sony both the PS1 and PS2 were the weakest system spec wise of those "generations" for a really good laugh compare the PS1 to the N64 for graphics... Nintendo got its ass handed to them in sales.

but sony didnt release a revamp N64 insted of the PS2 did they.

sure the PSX and PS2 wasnt the powerfullest system, but considering it was launched first, it had the power to still compete with the powerfuller systems, also unlike the N64/GC it had far better games.

Nintendo lacked these great games on the GC and devs as usual dont support nintendo with these excellent games, this was the reason nintendo started been cheap, they hit financial dificulty with the GC and had to sell Rare, and since then nintendo have been re releasing last gen systems but adding a BULL SH!T controller to make the system sound like something it isnt.

and from launch give it a year or two, people (who arent nintendo fans) find its forced motion controller to be BS and will see the same BS games made soley arround its BS controller.

take nintendo with the wiimote, they claimed (even in videos with FAGS diving behind couches) that what you do, will be represented in the game..... and guess what DID IT FECK, you pointed, it aimed, nothing innovative hear it felt just like a light gun, you press a button to trigger a move, erm just like a controller.

so are nintendo so great??? LIKE FECK, all they do is keep re releasing systems with old specs, and add a fad controller and make it sound like its the bees knees, the whole attitude of nintendo stinks when they brag, SONY/MS may not be able to do a graphical leap with its next gen, unlike us.... erm yea because you didnt with your last gen, and saying graphical leap, nintendo cant even offer a graphical leap with its next gen compared to current gen.

so will i buy a wii u, will i FECK, nintendo are cheap ar5ed feckers, theyre that cheap that they dont even include the 3DS XL charger, why would anyone (other than nintedno fanboys) want to buy a revamp last gen system with last gen ported games and a system that devs brag it can run an old last gen game engine.... WOOOOPEEEE FECKING DOOO, it just proves the cheapness of nintendo, lets release a system that costs next to FECK ALL to produce, add what fans will think is cheap and sit back watch it PRINT MONEY.

id rather wait for sony/ms to release their next gen system that wont be outdated as soon as its launched, the only systems that have actually offered great games, great features plus console updates adding new features, unlike nintendo you just get a brick that plays games only, you have to wait for nintendos next system to get these great features that sony/ms have already been providing for years.

[trancehead]

That's OK, for a company though. It worked great for Sony both the PS1 and PS2 were the weakest system spec wise of those "generations" for a really good laugh compare the PS1 to the N64 for graphics... Nintendo got its ass handed to them in sales.

Going all the way back to the Atari 2600 it has always been the lower spec system that managed to sell the most units with the SNES possibly being the one exception depending on who you talk to as if to the Genesis won in sales or the SNES won in sales (it was too close to call.) Not to mention that Nintendo's handheld division has pretty much owned the portable market since day 1 and at the same time had continuously the weakest hardware too. PSP VS DS please spare me "Nintendo is so far behind!" sure and a Sony exec would cut off his left testicle with a butter knife to switch sales positions in that one. So far it looks like the 3DS is going to be doing the same thing to the Vita.

Having the most powerful hardware sure helped Sony this gen didn't it? Being in 3rd must be new language for "winner" but to me coming in last is hardly a win.

Moral of the Story, if the Wii-U is the weakest of the next gen. It's probably going to be the lead system in sales. It's hard to even call that a prediction based on how many years the trend has been going on.

yes, agreed.
but only in this generation (and the next) we have had a console a full generation behind.
and although the companies do, i really couldnt give a **** about winner\loser, or where which company is on hardware sales because it doesnt affect me.