Nerd Rating

Tag: Wii U

  • Can Nintendo Win E3?

    Photo courtesy wiiudaily.com
    Photo courtesy wiiudaily.com

    I know, I know, the title of the article is a bit misleading because if this was simply about that question it would be ending with this:

    No. No they can not.

    Damn, that was a bit anti-climatic.

    Microsoft and Sony will own E3 simply because of the new shiny systems they are bringing to the party. Add to that the fact that Nintendo is not even putting on a big press conference and it would seem that the Big N is giving up what very little ground it has. But I am beginning to think that their different approach to E3 may be exactly what Nintendo needs to have more focus put on them. Nintendo has always done things their own way, no matter if it helps or hurts them. This year they will be putting on a series of Nintendo Direct streams during E3 showcasing what the future holds for the ailing Wii U and their handheld giant 3DS. Nintendo is also partnering with Best Buy to bring a bit of E3 to the masses by having E3 game demos playable in 89 stores nationwide.

    There is no doubt that Nintendo will be a distant third when E3 is over in terms of gamer mindshare, but they can still come out of the year’s biggest video game show with a brighter outlook on the future of the Wii U. Here are a few reasons why.

    Photo courtesy pixelenemy.com
    Photo courtesy pixelenemy.com

    Wii U Price Reduction

    This is not confirmed in any way, but many are thinking that E3 will be the perfect time to announce a price drop for the Wii U. I don’t mean a basic price drop either. I am talking taking the 3DS “shit we’re in trouble” route. A normal price drop would be to take the basic set from $299 to $249 and the deluxe from $349 to $299, but when Nintendo cut the price of the 3DS mere months after its launch they slashed it from $249 to $169. This is what they need to do with Wii U. Let’s face it, go in any retailer and Wii U systems are sitting on the shelves. Sales are abysmal and there is no polite way to put that there are no games to play. With a big fall planned software wise, this summer should be when we get a cheaper Wii U and get familiar with it. I hope Nintendo takes this chance to get the Wii U into more homes by cutting the price of the basic set from $299 to $199 and the deluxe from $349 to $279 ($249 would be better, but I don’t see that happening).

    Bring The Heavy Hitters

    This is a easy one to call since Nintendo has already promised multiple Mario titles and a new Smash Bros. This is a good start. Even with everyone jumping from the Wii U like a sinking ship when Nintendo shows up at E3 showing off the new 3D Mario, Mario Kart U, Super Smash Bros and Yoshi Yarn, it will at least get people looking in Nintendo’s direction. I think they also have a couple of aces up their sleeves with Zelda being the main one I think could make a surprise splash. Even if the game is a ways off (which is always when a new Zelda game is shown), just having the franchise show up in a “more than tech demo” form in crisp HD will instantly have fanboys singing praises again.

    Retro Studios is supposed to be in Nintendo’s corner with their brand new game which is rumored to be a sequel to their classic StarTropics. This could go a long way in deciding whether I take the plunge this year for a Wii U.

    These next two are not rumors, just one fansboys hope that Nintendo will swing for the fences with the Wii U this year. Starfox and/or Metroid. In any shape or form for the Wii U. We have three classic Metroid Prime games and I would not mind a follow-up or a new direction for Samus. Starfox has been lying dormant for far too long and is in need of a revival. With the Wii U struggling Nintendo needs to call on all of their franchises to help out.

    Photo courtesy polygon.com
    Photo courtesy polygon.com

    Hold Serve With The 3DS

    This is the one thing it is almost impossible for Nintendo to screw up. The 3DS is a money machine and there is no sign of it stopping. Here is the kicker; there is good reason it is booming because it has one of the best game libraries available and the next year is flush with quality titles that some consoles would kill to have. Want a quick rundown? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Shin Megami Tensei IV, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mario Party 3DS, Project X Zone, Mario Golf: World Tour and Yoshi’s Island 3DS. Almost all of that is this year! At E3 all Nintendo has to do it hold up a 3DS and say, “this is what you want”.

    It is weird to say, but there is almost as much pressure on Nintendo for this year’s E3 as there was last year when many thought they needed to hit a home run with the Wii U and they grounded out on the first pitch. Their home console is, for all intents and purposes, tanking and measures need to be taken to plug up the holes before the Wii U sinks completely. But as a lifelong Nintendo fanboy, I always have hope that there is better days ahead.

     

     

     

     

  • Nintendo Not Having Large E3 Press Conference

    Photo courtesy zeldainformer.com
    Photo courtesy zeldainformer.com

    In a move that surprised a lot yesterday, Nintendo announced that they would not be holding the traditional large scale E3 press conference. They instead will be putting on smaller events that will focus on all the software they have coming up for the Wii U and 3DS.

    I was initially surprised with the announcement, but then it became more apparent to me that Nintendo may have been moving towards this anyway. At last year’s E3, they had a large press conference as well as three of four separate events at the show or through Nintendo’s direct stream. Over the past year Nintendo has used their direct stream to announce their biggest games including The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2.

    Even with Nintendo’s exit from the big time press conference they have many promised huge games to show off including Super Smash Bros. and Mario for the Wii U.

  • Nintendo Direct Stream On April 17th To Focus On 3DS

    Photo courtesy plunderguide.com
    Photo courtesy plunderguide.com

    Nintendo has announced that they will be hosting a direct stream on April 17th at 10AM EST and will give new information about upcoming 3DS releases. Just go to Nintendo.com to watch the stream and be sure to ask them why they are having another 3DS stream when the Wii U is the one in need of all of their support right now. The 3DS prints money so I think it is good to go for awhile.

  • Batman: Arkham Origins Revealed. Releases On October 25th

    Photo courtesy gameinformer.com
    Photo courtesy gameinformer.com

    The May issue of Game Informer has broken HUGE news on the next Batman game.

    Batman: Arkham Origins will see Batman in his early days take on eight of the world’s best assassins (including Deathstroke) as they make their way to Gotham on Christmas Eve to try and eliminate Batman.

    The game is being developed by WB Montreal, not Rocksteady, so I understand if that gets some fans worried about if this will be as good as Arkham Asylum or City. I think we don’t have too much to worry about. WB Montreal handled the port of Batman: Arkham City on the Wii U which was received well and the creative director, Eric Holmes, was the lead designer on one of the most fun and addictive open world games ever, [amazon_link id=”B0007OSLAA” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction[/amazon_link].

    This will be the first of the Arkham series that takes Batman out into the city of Gotham. And since it will be on Christmas Eve I am hoping that we can get a Max Shrek cameo or at least a picture of Christopher Walken somewhere in the game. I think all games would do good to have one piece of Walken in them.

    The game will be coming to PS3, 360, Wii U and PC. A handheld version called Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate will also be releasing for the 3DS and Vita.

    Batman: Arkham Origins releases on October 25th. Take a look at the reveal video below thanks to Game Informer.

  • Shigeru Miyamoto Wants Wii U To Be A “Warm And Welcoming Place”.

    Photo courtesy gamingbolt.com
    Photo courtesy gamingbolt.com

    It hurts me to watch the Wii U flounder like it has. It is nowhere near as powerful as what will be offered by Microsoft or Sony, but I still have hope that Nintendo can carve their own niche when we finally get some damn games for the system. This E3 will be Nintendo’s biggest test and show if they are really ready to compete.

    Shigeru Miyamoto was interviewed by CNN and gave his impressions on how the Wii U’s second screen will eventually become the standard for gaming and a integral part of the living room.

    “There was a period when we first released the Nintendo DS that people would say there’s no way people can look at two screens at once. I almost feel like, as people get more familiar with Wii U and these touchscreen interfaces, that there is going to come a point where they feel like ‘I can’t do everything I want to do if I don’t have a second screen.”

    “I feel a device like Wii U, with its ability to continue to offer new features and that network connection and the connection to the TV and the interface, really makes it feel that it’s more than just a game machine, but something that offers a lot of practical use and practical purpose in the living room. I look at it as being a very useful device that can do many different things and therefore really seems to be the device that’s ideal to have in the living room.”

    “Our immediate objective over the next few months is to improve the Wii U system and make it a little more stable, a little bit more convenient to use from a system standpoint. Miiverse (a sort of social network that lets players interact) is an example of an ongoing project. We really wanted to be able to leverage Miiverse in something like ‘New Super Mario Bros. U.’ We’re obviously still early on in it and just trying things out, but so far, it does feel like the community itself is doing a very good job of being a warm and welcoming place for people.”

     

     

  • Is Miyamoto Concerned About The Wii U’s Performance?

    Photo courtesy nintendo.com
    Photo courtesy nintendo.com

    Shigeru Miyamoto told The New York Times that he knows the Wii U is not exactly lighting the sales charts on fire right now, but he is confident on the system’s future.

    “Certainly in the short term I would want to see it performing with probably a little more momentum. I think in the long term I’m not at a point where I’m concerned yet.”

    If anything, Nintendo is known for their ability to keep support for their hardware going even through rough sales and Miyamoto still feels that the Wii U can be the entertainment hub of everyone’s living room.

    “I think that the Wii U still has a long future. We really view it as being the ideal device that families are going to want to have connected to that screen in the living room that everyone is going to gather around and watch.”

    I have no doubt that the Wii U will be around for a while no matter what the sales numbers look like. Nintendo only sold 57,000 Wii U’s in January and 80,000 in February, but there is still ample time to turn this around. E3 is right around the corner and they have promised that Smash Bros. and the new 3D Mario will be shown. I think Nintendo is a big price drop and a solid holiday list of games away from being back in the equation. Just look at the 3DS for example.

     

  • Watch Dogs PS4 Demo Steals The Show

    Photo courtesy entertainment-focus.com
    Photo courtesy entertainment-focus.com

    If one game truly took the crowd’s attention last night it was Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs. The game already won everyone over at last year’s E3 and the demo shown last night just furthered the fact that this may be a special game on the way. The feel I got from the trailer was it is a little Minority Report mixed with Grand Theft Auto, but you appear to be doing good acts instead of killing hookers. But you never know there is always time to add in hooker killing. He does steal some cash from an ATM, but I don’t compare that to killing ladies of the night.

    Watch Dogs will release this fall and should be a PS4 launch title. The only confirmed consoles so far are the PS4 and Wii U.

  • Wii U Resident Evil: Revelations Will Have Gamepad Only Play. Sound Familiar?

    Photo courtesy digitalspy.com
    Photo courtesy digitalspy.com

    Capcom has revealed that the upcoming port of Resident Evil: Revelations will support the gamepad only play feature on the Wii U. You know, the feature that lets you play the game on the Wii U gamepad….kind of like playing it on a 3DS…the system it is being ported from. Thus is the circle of Capcom double dipping.

    Revelations was a fun 3DS game and is being given the HD treatment with new weapons and characters for the console release.

    [amazon_link id=”B00B59L9T6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Resident Evil: Revelations[/amazon_link] releases on May 21st.

     

  • New Trailer For Lego City Undercover

    Photo courtesy gamespot.com
    Photo courtesy gamespot.com

    The more I see of Lego City Undercover, the more I really think this could become a game that could move some Wii U consoles….with the right marketing. This newest trailer has a lot of gameplay footage including car chases, tightrope action between rooftops and a look at how the Wii U gamepad will be used in the game. Now that I have just finished Sleeping Dogs this should easily fill the hole in the open-world game spot in my heart.

    [amazon_link id=”B002I0K3PM” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Lego City Undercover[/amazon_link] releases on March 18th.

    http://youtu.be/c23XvgFv9Lw

  • Zombi U Wii U Bundle Coming February 17th

    Photo courtesy polygon.com
    Photo courtesy polygon.com

    Now this is more like it Nintendo.

    While the Big N has gone on record saying that there will be no Wii U price cut (until the fall, mark it down) they did not say anything about not giving gamers awesome bundles. Behold the Zombi U Wii U bundle. The correct way to try and sell a system that is hitting a plateau. Let’s give you the rundown: a Wii U deluxe set including the 32GB black console and all the bells and whistles it comes with, a copy of Zombi U, a digital code for NintendoLand, a Wii U Pro Controller and even a Zombi U artbook.

    The bundle will be available on February 17th and retail for $389.99. With Zombi U being $60 and the Pro Controller running $50 that comes to a $70 savings by my meager high school level math skills.