EA CEO: Wii U is not a 'Next Gen' console

[garyopa]

'Gen 4' is yet to come...



In the company's latest call with investors, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello said that Nintendo's Wii U is not the beginning of the next generation...

Speaking on an investor call to discuss the company's Q3 financials, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello hinted that Nintendo's just released Wii U is not the beginning of the 'next generation'...

However, according to him, you shouldn't "never count Nintendo out"...

“Never count Nintendo out. They’ve got some of the best IP in the game industry. When their marquee titles show up, that’s when you usually see the bounce. I deeply respect the achievements they’ve had over the last several years. And as I said, you never really count them out.”

“Having said that, I wouldn’t say that we see a correlation between the results that Nintendo has shown with their console debut of the Wii U and what we see coming. We see a pretty sharp distinction, and unfortunately I’m unable to go any further than that.

Ours is an industry where a lot of devices come in and represent themselves as the next generation, or the next generation after that. In many ways we would argue that the what we’re describing as “gen 4″ is yet to come. It’s that that we’re excited about, and that’s what we’re investing in. And frankly, we’ve been quite consistent with that for some time, while recognizing the frustration our inability to articulate precisely why causes for you.”

He also addressed Valve's Steam Box and said that he really doesn't know too much about the gaming platform, but said he is a fan of Valve's Gabe Newell...

"I am squarely in the Gabe Newell fan club," Riccitiello said, before stating that Valve "really hasn't put enough information out there to suggest whether or not they've got the wherewithal to compete in console."

"Based on what they've said so far it could be anything from a cool niche product that appeals to, you know, Gabe and his friends and people like me, to a product that actually has the shoulders to help move our industry forward into what we're describing as 'gen 4,'" he explained.

So, what do you think?

NEWS SOURCE #1: EA CEO doesn't think Wii-U is a next-gen console (via) Forbes
NEWS SOURCE #2: Electronic Arts CEO hints Wii-U next-generation has seen Xbox 720 Playstation 4 does know a lot about Valve Steambox (via) GameNGuide

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[Diztructor]

now where is the fan that claimed the wii u to be a true next gen system and eat the BS when nintendo stated the wii u to be arround 7 times better than the wii... failing to note the wii wasnt a next gen system either... just another revamp last gen console.

[Battlefield]

now where is the fan that claimed the wii u to be a true next gen system and eat the BS when nintendo stated the wii u to be arround 7 times better than the wii... failing to note the wii wasnt a next gen system either... just another revamp last gen console.

Now i see where you are getting your "facts" from.

[Diztructor]

Now i see where you are getting your "facts" from.

not off EA, i cant stand them to be honest, but i see the machine for what it is, and it clearly is not a next gen machine, its a new console yes, but is another revamp.

[JonathanD]

not off EA, i cant stand them to be honest, but i see the machine for what it is, and it clearly is not a next gen machine, its a new console yes, but is another revamp.

Just remember your agreeing with EA and some one who claims that this is the 4th generation of consoles... lol

That whole 4th gen thing makes me laugh, we are on the 8th if anyone is keeping track of these things...

[billysastard]

it does seem strange how this comes from the anti consumer turds at EA, the company who were desperate to ru(i)n the wii u's online service but have become completely anti nintendo once they were told to go fcuk themselves by nintendo.

hopefully ea will **** of and take their crap with them from both nintendo platforms.

the TRUTH is the wii u is a gen 8 console so like it or not it is in the same generation as ps4 / nextbox, same with ouya and that nvidia mess (and 3ds and vita)

[JonathanD]

it does seem strange how this comes from the anti consumer turds at EA, the company who were desperate to ru(i)n the wii u's online service but have become completely anti nintendo once they were told to go fcuk themselves by nintendo.

hopefully ea will **** of and take their crap with them from both nintendo platforms.

the TRUTH is the wii u is a gen 8 console so like it or not it is in the same generation as ps4 / nextbox, same with ouya and that nvidia mess (and 3ds and vita)

I love when these companies slam each other, they always manage to say the funniest shit.

As soon as I read 4th gen... I was like so consoles didn't exist before the SNES/Genesis.... PS1 PS2 PS3 SNES hmmm yeah that's 4 generations. I think he means that this is the 4th generation of consoles that they have made games for but consoles existed before EA made games for them.

Edit: lol Wow.... You gotta read this article I found, but first a small quote.

“Nintendo came out and we felt it was dirty and kind of a step backwards,” Gordon recalls. “We had mixed feelings in the company. There were some who said, ‘You don’t get it, this is way more fun.’ Middle school kids and suddenly presidents were playing games instead of just nerds.”

Instead of flopping, the NES exploded, making Mario a household name and earning the company the undying allegiance from a new generation of young gamers who saved their weekly allowances to buy the must-have console. Despite Nintendo’s newfound success, some EA executives still questioned the viability of publishing on the platform. “EA was in deep denial,” Gordon admits. A courtesy visit to the retailer Toys “R” Us in 1988 changed the hearts and minds of the remaining reluctant executives."

http://bluetoad.com/display_article.php?id=773681

[Wakutan]

Next gen? What is the definition of next generation? Yup. it just means next version. Nothing more nothing less.
What? Do we expect our childs and grand childs to grow wings just because they are "next gen"?

[Mr.Do!]

Are these the guys who didn't even change the splash screen for fifa 13 from fifa 12?

I dont disagree that nintendo systems may not be fit for EA's games, but that has nothing to do with its hardware.

It is because in order to survive on nintendo's hardware, you have to actually compete with their software.

EA tries to sell crappy ports of 360/ps3 games on wii.. and yeah they wont sell.. They are missing features, lazy ports, of lazily developed money grabs.. Can't blame the hardware when other developers are releasing great games made for the system and doing quite well.

No doubt there are games better fit for the other systems... Well leave them there, and develop a game made for the system and watch the money roll in.. Port over a turd.. and you deserve to suck.

[Diztructor]

Are these the guys who didn't even change the splash screen for fifa 13 from fifa 12?

I dont disagree that nintendo systems may not be fit for EA's games, but that has nothing to do with its hardware.

It is because in order to survive on nintendo's hardware, you have to actually compete with their software.

EA tries to sell crappy ports of 360/ps3 games on wii.. and yeah they wont sell.. They are missing features, lazy ports, of lazily developed money grabs.. Can't blame the hardware when other developers are releasing great games made for the system and doing quite well.

No doubt there are games better fit for the other systems... Well leave them there, and develop a game made for the system and watch the money roll in.. Port over a turd.. and you deserve to suck.

alot of the word port here, which *ahem* the wii u is getting last gen ports and multi platform ports.

you mention about hardware... but the fact is, if nintendo provided this hardware then these devs could have released these game first time round, but couldnt because it lacked the hardware and even dumbing it down would ruin the game.

you can expect the same to happen again, due to the wii u having slightly better hardware than the current gen, dont get why fans think its ace to compare to a wii and brag that its several times better, when the wii is a weak system and was limited after a few years.

lets just see what happens when MS/SONY release their systems, will these systems actually have next gen hardware capable of pushing the limits, if so, how will nintendo compete.

what will the fans be saying, like now they compare a wii u version to a 5 year old system and say its graphics are better, given 2 or more years and if we find MS/SONY versions have better graphics, will the wiitards change their tune again and say graphics arent important??

its what i love about nintendo fans
GC was graphics are better
wii graphics arent important (aparently the wii was the only system to have better games, yet i find that its the 360/PS3 that has had more games that get editors choice, game of the year awards)
Wii u its all about graphics again (comparing to 5+ year old systems)

[Mr.Do!]

alot of the word port here, which *ahem* the wii u is getting last gen ports and multi platform ports.

you mention about hardware... but the fact is, if nintendo provided this hardware then these devs could have released these game first time round, but couldnt because it lacked the hardware and even dumbing it down would ruin the game.

you can expect the same to happen again, due to the wii u having slightly better hardware than the current gen, dont get why fans think its ace to compare to a wii and brag that its several times better, when the wii is a weak system and was limited after a few years.

lets just see what happens when MS/SONY release their systems, will these systems actually have next gen hardware capable of pushing the limits, if so, how will nintendo compete.

what will the fans be saying, like now they compare a wii u version to a 5 year old system and say its graphics are better, given 2 or more years and if we find MS/SONY versions have better graphics, will the wiitards change their tune again and say graphics arent important??

its what i love about nintendo fans
GC was graphics are better
wii graphics arent important (aparently the wii was the only system to have better games, yet i find that its the 360/PS3 that has had more games that get editors choice, game of the year awards)
Wii u its all about graphics again (comparing to 5+ year old systems)

I never mentioned graphics once in my post.

And yes WiiU is getting last gen ports.. But not from nintendo... from guess who... OH SHIT.. 3rd parties.. Its not nintendos fault all 3rd parties are offering are last gen ports currently, and they arent selling.

I guarantee you, games like rayman legends, and games built for the system (regardless of power or hardware) will be good games and sell pretty well.

Not once did i say sony sucks, MS will be unsuccessful, weak hardware, strong hardware.. behind the times... None of that. Go rant somewhere else.. This post was about EA sucking.. Which they do. Except for a few exceptions..

Hardware power historically does not sell system, and does not guarantee great games. Some of the best games ever were on ps2. STILL.. So i dont see why all spec whores even have an argument.

There is no need to dumb down ports... Just dont make them. PS4 gets cod.. Make a different game for wiiU. There is no need to waste money making a game that you know isnt going to sell. Embrace the hardware and CREATE something for it.

Ill buy COD on my PS or PC.. Not my wii U. Most people do own more than one system you know.

[JonathanD]

I never mentioned graphics once in my post.

And yes WiiU is getting last gen ports.. But not from nintendo... from guess who... OH SHIT.. 3rd parties.. Its not nintendos fault all 3rd parties are offering are last gen ports currently, and they arent selling.

I guarantee you, games like rayman legends, and games built for the system (regardless of power or hardware) will be good games and sell pretty well.

Not once did i say sony sucks, MS will be unsuccessful, weak hardware, strong hardware.. behind the times... None of that. Go rant somewhere else.. This post was about EA sucking.. Which they do. Except for a few exceptions..

Hardware power historically does not sell system, and does not guarantee great games. Some of the best games ever were on ps2. STILL.. So i dont see why all spec whores even have an argument.

There is no need to dumb down ports... Just dont make them. PS4 gets cod.. Make a different game for wiiU. There is no need to waste money making a game that you know isnt going to sell. Embrace the hardware and CREATE something for it.

Ill buy COD on my PS or PC.. Not my wii U. Most people do own more than one system you know.

If it wasn't for ports most game systems would be missing about 50% of the games from a given library. Diztructor likes to go on about hardware specs or last gen or ports this and ports that, when its painfully obvious that none of that matters and it never has.

Some of my favorite PS1 games where ports, the PS2 had the least amount of ports since the NES since they had something in common.... (A large share of the market at the time, so there was less reason to port around.)



But all of this is just smoke and mirrors.... The games are what matters not the hardware, not where they came from. If you have fun playing Mario or Checkers or God Of War go go go have that fun

I love Road Rash on the PS1, sure it was like 3 years later than the 3DO version but hey the PS1 version is almost as good and it plays well Sure it was a port from an older system and according to Diztructor it was trash, but I still loved it.

[Diztructor]

If it wasn't for ports most game systems would be missing about 50%

50% of which the wii never had due to lack of hardware, if nintendo gave it then i would have been able to enjoy the games that ms/sony had, rather than wait for a new system to pay full price for the same game (with iFAD features).

but again wii u is lacking hardware, and chances are if the next MS/SONY systems have better hardware you will find that devs wont bother releasing a dumbed down version, which is exactly what happened with the wii.

this is why i wont buy the wii u, like the cube/wii i dont want to pay for another console to have next to no games to play, and a system thats mainly aimed for children.

MS/SONY clearly win in my eye, they offer great games for all ages and have had the most games that win awards or break records within days, nintendo only manage a few or nintendo fans name a game thats bundled which is rather durrrp no sh1t sherlock.

[DEDDOA]

The fact he is referring to the next gen as "gen 4" kind of shows he is pretty much a management man who knows only as much as he thinks he needs to about the industry, at the very least this is Gen 7 starting with the likes of the good old Atari 2600, though it could argued that that was 2nd or 3rd gen as well (I say start with the 2600 as that was the first mass market console that didn't need screen overlays and had changeable games).

Personally I think the only thing hampering the Wii-U is the name, Wii2 would have been so much better and a lot more clever than Wii-U.

[Diztructor]

The fact he is referring to the next gen as "gen 4" kind of shows he is pretty much a management man who knows only as much as he thinks he needs to about the industry, at the very least this is Gen 7 starting with the likes of the good old Atari 2600, though it could argued that that was 2nd or 3rd gen as well (I say start with the 2600 as that was the first mass market console that didn't need screen overlays and had changeable games).

Personally I think the only thing hampering the Wii-U is the name, Wii2 would have been so much better and a lot more clever than Wii-U.

i dont get how stupid people are if they cant see the difference in a wii and a wii u when theyre in a shop, i mean its got the fecking iFAD on the box FFS!!!