Game

[Oblivion]

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's ugly but it's definitely mediocre. Nintendo could do much, much better.

I get that the "New" series is disgustingly lucrative for Nintendo (both the DS and Wii version are nearing 30 million units iirc. SMB3 did 18 mil and SMW did 20, just for comparison), but they could have just keep the "New" moniker but create brand new assets, and change the physics while they're at it, and I doubt the average casual Mario fan would give a shit.

[Joe Molotov]

I just hate the CG looking character designs. 

[Great Rumbler]

There's no point in NSMB looking like that when Nintendo has already made a 2D sidescroller that looks like this:



Come on.

[pilonv1]

Shouldn't this be more...impressive?  Not seeing a huge difference here.

If I was doing this I'd have switched the labels and seen if anyone would notice. They look the same to me mostly

[Don Flamenco]

there was a time when nintendo stopped making 2D mario sidescrollers.  now they won't fucking stop.

[pilonv1]

Shouldn't this be more...impressive?  Not seeing a huge difference here.

If I was doing this I'd have switched the labels and seen if anyone would notice. They look the same to me mostly

3) animation is a LOT smoother and of course the higher resolutions gives it a significantly cleaner look.

That was the main thing I noticed when I played it last month. But then part of me was just excited for a new Mario game in HD

[cool breeze]

yeah, problem has never been the tech.  It's the characterless style they're using, except the backgrounds are slightly more spiffy than before.  It's one of the few things it's hard to knock Nintendo for.  First game sold like forty billion copies and Nintendo's in the business of being a business.  And the Wii one was really great.  It's not total schlock series, is what I'm saying; just unambitious and lazy.  All other 2D Nintendo platforms on the Wii have more charm than it, but I don't think any are more fun to play.  Would certainly be nice if the effort of a Donkey Kong Returns or Kirby was put into the series.

anyway, two other things:

Supposedly the battery compartment is physically larger than the battery included.  Whether Nintendo's cheaping out or worried about the weight, who's to say.  On the bright side, there's a good chance you can buy a larger battery to get past the 3 hour estimated playtime.

This is the interface:

[MrSingh]

Should I be ashamed of myself that I don't have a Wii U pre-order?

[Oblivion]

Should I be ashamed of myself that I don't have a Wii U pre-order?

I don't think you seem to understand where you are exactly, boy.

[maxy]

Is this thing really sold out in US and Europe?

No point in advertising when your system will be sold out till April 2013*


*unnamed ninthing

[archnemesis]

That might be the case for the US and the UK. It's nowhere near sold out in Sweden.

[Sho Nuff]

I plan to spend my Wii U launch day playing Dishonored, Halo 4, and TTT2 while ignoring the Internet. I'll likely take in the luls a week later after the dust has settled.

[maxy]

Originally Posted by cvxfreak:

 
Parental Controls

- Nintendo realizes that some parents may fear that their children may use the Wii U's internet functionality without permission. Wii U has Parental Controls.
- Can restrict content based on user age, CERO (Japan ESRB) rating, internet functionality, internet browser, e-Shop spending, Miiverse functionality, friend registrations, videos, data management, internet settings
- Wii U keyboard input can save user input habits and predictive input in a specific database that depends on the game and user. Wii U does not save input data that you don't want other users to know into the database.
- Miiverse settings can be turned on/off depending on the save profiles per game.

USB Data Storage

- 8GB = 7.2GB, 32GB = 29GB in terms of actual save data. Wii U uses around 4.2GB when using the system for the first time.
- NSMBU is ~2GB, Nintendo Land is ~3.2GB. So, both won't fit into the Basic set at the same time.
- Wii U lets you put data onto a connected USB media drive.
- One USB drive at a time only.
- Cannot disconnect the external drive while plugged into the Wii U and receiving power.
- You can use general drives.
- In terms of powering the HDD while connecting to the Wii U, if you do not use a Y Cable Type drive (2 USB cables), then Nintendo cannot guarantee it will work properly.
- Nintendo can guarantee functionality if the HDD plugs into a power outlet.
- No games on USB Flash Memory due to games not running properly all the time (whatever this means...)
- Wii U will read up to 2TB only for external hard drives
- In Data Management, you must format the connected media drive. Note that this means you cannot use the drive with a PC.
- You can move data from internal Wii U storage to external USB media in Data Management and vice versa. Data on both internal and external media will appear in the menu.
- At launch, only 1 USB hard drive can be connected, but through a future update, more than 1 will be possible and you will be able to move data between them freely.
- SD Cards can hold PC data, Wii Virtual Console, Wii Ware, and Wii save data, but cannot be used to save Wii U game save data.

Backwards Compatibility

- Wii games, Virtual Console, Wii Ware stuff cannot be played using the GamePad screen, but only on the TV in Wii Mode
- Iwata: "We understand that there are people who were looking forward to playing Wii games, Virtual Console games, and so forth on the GamePad, but unfortunately we cannot accommodate those users' expectations."
- There are plans for a Wii U Virtual Console that WILL be compatible with the Wii U GamePad. Please look forward to it in the future.

Nintendo Network Premium

- For Premium Set buyers only
- Point service
- Make Nintendo Network ID, then login to find and user the service
- After logging in, you can see the points you have earned
- Buy with download card or download number
- Earn 10% back on purchases
- Earn back purchase points in ¥500 increments
- Points earned can be used with Wii U/3DS e-Shop, Wii Shopping Channel, DSi Shop

Buy Nintendo,Buy Premium

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

That might be the case for the US and the UK. It's nowhere near sold out in Sweden.

On the internets they are but I suspect a lot of them are scalpers that want to flip them on eBay and Craigslist.  Gamestop will be probably be sold out of them for probably the same reason.

On the other hand, I was able to go to two shitty run down local Toys R Us' and preorder two of the tard plus packs without hassle.

I think the Wii U is going to sell out here in the US but is going to drop like a rock after January once rainchecks have been fulfilled.

[archnemesis]

I have the same feeling. It will sell well initially, but the casual crowd isn't going to jump in anytime soon. I can't imagine any of my friends, who got a Wii for Wii Sports and Guitar Hero, buying another console unless it's something completely different from what we've seen before.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Shouldn't this be more...impressive?  Not seeing a huge difference here.

So other than the fact that it isn't a huge leap graphically, it's also essentially the same game?

Well its no longer blurry I guess on HD tv's. But yeah they could have made it a real 2D mario, something with the gorgeous style of Rayman instead of relying on this super cheap and clean look they used on Wii.

[pilonv1]

- Iwata: "We understand that there are people who were looking forward to playing Wii games, Virtual Console games, and so forth on the GamePad, but unfortunately we cannot accommodate those users' expectations."
- There are plans for a Wii U Virtual Console that WILL be compatible with the Wii U GamePad. Please look forward to it in the future.

Iwata: "You will buy LTTP and SMW for the 5th time"

[Don Flamenco]

as much as they go for the blue ocean, there seems to be nothing simple about the transition from Wii to WiiU.  I don't understand which controllers can be used for what, which marketplace will have what games, or how shit transfers from one system to another. 

Apparently nothing about the Wii was designed with the next system in mind.  There's no unity between various accounts for handhelds or the Wii or the WiiU apparently.  Aside from the Club Nintendo account, which is nothing more than a game/system registration incentive. 

[Cerveza mas fina]

I dont understand how they cannot accomodate such basic shit as playing 25 year old roms on the gamepad.

Truly a company run by monkeys.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I dont understand how they cannot accomodate such basic shit as playing 25 year old roms on the gamepad.

Truly a company run by monkeys.

It isn't that they can't, the issue is that they won't.

Nintendo is extremely lazy.  They're just not giving much of a shit at a time where they really need to.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Being able to play all this shit on the couch could actually be a system seller, if you could play EVERYTHING on the couch or tv.

WiiU should have had full tablet funcionality, browsing, apps etc. Plus controls, plus being able to play all games on it. That would have been something casuals could have related too.

but nooooooooooooooooooo

[Don Flamenco]

I dont understand how they cannot accomodate such basic shit as playing 25 year old roms on the gamepad.

Truly a company run by monkeys.

It isn't that they can't, the issue is that they won't.

Nintendo is extremely lazy.  They're just not giving much of a shit at a time where they really need to.

Not lazy.  Just cheap as fuck. 

[Joe Molotov]

Fucks Given About the Consumer by Nintendo: 0

It's like the old Henry Ford quote about the customer being able to get a Model T in any color they want, as long as the color they want is black.

[maxy]

Sunday launch means midnight Saturday,right?

If so Europeans will have whole Sunday to read/see funny stuff.

 

[bork]

Being able to play all this shit on the couch could actually be a system seller, if you could play EVERYTHING on the couch or tv.

WiiU should have had full tablet funcionality, browsing, apps etc. Plus controls, plus being able to play all games on it. That would have been something casuals could have related too.

but nooooooooooooooooooo

Wii U should have just been a (gaming) tablet that could also be hooked up to a TV.

[maxy]

 

[Cerveza mas fina]

Being able to play all this shit on the couch could actually be a system seller, if you could play EVERYTHING on the couch or tv.

WiiU should have had full tablet funcionality, browsing, apps etc. Plus controls, plus being able to play all games on it. That would have been something casuals could have related too.

but nooooooooooooooooooo

Wii U should have just been a (gaming) tablet that could also be hooked up to a TV.

Fuck yes, that would have been gold and could have replaced 3DS too. It would have been a perfect console.

[Sho Nuff]

Wait, is the Wii U tablet controller usable as a controller for legacy Wii games in the first place? Can it be mapped as a classic controller?

[archnemesis]

Wait, is the Wii U tablet controller usable as a controller for legacy Wii games in the first place? Can it be mapped as a classic controller?

No, and no. At least not with the current firmware.

[Sho Nuff]

Wait, is the Wii U tablet controller usable as a controller for legacy Wii games in the first place? Can it be mapped as a classic controller?

No, and no. At least not with the current firmware.

Holy shit 

[Joe Molotov]

Yes, if you want to play games on your Wii U, you'll need:

- uPad
- Nintendo 360 Controller
- Wiimote
- Nunchuck
- Classic Controller

[Great Rumbler]

Yes, if you want to play games on your Wii U, you'll need:

- uPad
- Nintendo 360 Controller
- Wiimote
- Nunchuck
- Classic Controller

"No self-respect required!"

[bork]

Shacknews:

Nintendo Land was supposed to be the Wii Sports of the console: a showcase title that converted gamers and non-gamers alike to the Wii U experience. Instead, Nintendo Land is this generation's Wii Play: a shallow collection of mini-games bundled with Nintendo hardware--and promptly forgotten.

[Joe Molotov]

In other words, exactly what we thought it was.

[Sho Nuff]

People identify with bowling
People do not identify with Popomaru's Ninja Castle

[Cerveza mas fina]

Shacknews:

Nintendo Land was supposed to be the Wii Sports of the console: a showcase title that converted gamers and non-gamers alike to the Wii U experience. Instead, Nintendo Land is this generation's Wii Play: a shallow collection of mini-games bundled with Nintendo hardware--and promptly forgotten.

[bork]

In other words, exactly what we thought it was.

My friend is ultra-hyped for the Wii U...for Nintendoland.  The meltdown is going to be glorious.

[Cascade]

 

[bork]

[Cerveza mas fina]

 

Is that on GAF yet?

[Great Rumbler]

Is that on GAF yet?

Yeah, it came from this thread:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499916&page=4

[Joe Molotov]

LMAO

[Cerveza mas fina]

I think Sony should go for same power level as Wii U, or slight bit faster.
That will give MS the odd out if they still stick with 12 to 16 cores CPU plan. We have see the major odd out in the past of the gens and all has difficult time.

From GAF 

[tiesto]

People identify with bowling
People do not identify with Popomaru's Ninja Castle

As both a polack and weeaboo I identify with both!

[bork]

Is that on GAF yet?

Yeah, it came from this thread:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499916&page=4

That thread is awesome.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Fifstar]

That New Mario Bros U cover gif is among the weakest in that thread

[bork]

 

[Damian79]

One of the biggest problems with Nintendo's original Wii was its low software tie ratio. Nintendo may have expanded its audience far beyond a typical video game console owner with demographic barrier-destroying games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, but the problem was, a lot of those customers never bothered to buy more games.

It's too early to tell whether that situation is going to change with the Wii U, but at the very least, things are looking good prior to this Sunday's launch.

GameStop reports that it's currently sitting on 1.2 million preorders for Wii U games on top of the 500,000 consoles it was allocated (all of which were almost immediately reserved when they went up for preorder back in September).

That's a tie ratio of 2.4 games for every console, which the company says is more than double what it saw leading up to the launch of the original Wii.

This is certainly attributable to a much stronger third-party lineup this time around. The company says preorders were led by (in no particular order, we imagine) Ubisoft's Zombie U and Assassin's Creed 3, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Warner Bros.' Scribblenauts Unlimited, and Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. U.

By comparison, the original Wii's strongest launch title (not including the packed-in Wii Sports) was The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Third-party support included titles like Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Red Steel.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/181680/Wii_Us_software_preorders_double_those_of_the_original_Wii.php

[pilonv1]

http://au.ign.com/articles/2012/11/15/nintendo-land-review

IGN – 8.7 (Great)

Nintendo Land is a brilliant show of what Nintendo’s new console and tablet controller are capable of, and has far more depth and content then you’d expect from a mini-game collection. The attractions are ridiculously fun and offer plenty of variety, whether you’re flying solo or entertaining a group.

Throw in high scores to best, gold trophies to earn, stamp achievements to collect and tons of Plaza decorations to unlock, and what you’ve got is an experience that must not be missed, and probably the best show of Wii U available at launch.

Pretty sad indictment of software then

[Oblivion]

Ugh, even more insulting than the reused art assets, NSMBU has several tracks that are DIRECTLY RIPPED from NSMB: Wii. 

Nintendo

[MyNameIsMethodis]

like several music tracks?

[Trent Dole]

Bah, baaah~
Hey it's the second even more newer superer marioer bros-er game this year, corners need to be cut!

[Oblivion]

At LEAST 4 themes have been reused without any (noticeable anyway) modifications whatsoever.

-The main overworld theme
-The underground level theme
-The forest level theme
-The main castle theme

[Damian79]

Who cares, 2 marios are for kids.

[Phoenix Dark]

is it just me or does no one give a shit about this system? Going by Facebook, conversations at school/work, etc it feels completely different from the inescapable hype the Wii got during its launch month

[maxy]

Apparently a whole army of underground Nintendo dweebs will surface on Sunday.

Beware.

[Human Snorenado]

Basically, this is going to be a regular console/nintendo console launch.  Only real gamer dorks and ninthings give a shit; the lightning in a bottle casual crowd that loved them some wii sports for six months or whatever are going to give this a miss.  It will be sold out for a month or two; after that you should be able to get one.  In six months, there will be a price cut, right around when the specs for the actual next gen systems leak and systems are gathering dust in stores.  In a year and a half, it will be confirmed as the bomb we all thought it would be.

[maxy]

Without question, it has a few issues. This version of ME3 seems a lot less visually stable than, say, the Xbox 360 version -- the frame rate is choppier, the animation seems rougher. The audio suffers, too; while the music and sound effects have come over fine, all the dialogue has a hollow, echoing quality to it. The GamePad's analog sticks aren't as comfortable as the 360's, and the placement of the face buttons relative to the right stick made me continually miss the melee and reload buttons. My headshot ratio has dropped precipitously. It's tragic.

Now, the Wii U Controller Pro rectifies some of these control issues -- it's pretty much a 360 controller, and it works great. But the problem there is that you lose the GamePad features if you use the Pro, and the GamePad is actually used pretty well here. By default, it serves as a quick skill-select menu or live map display (yes, just like a DS game), and the developers have added some neat details -- for instance, during the prologue sequence, the map display breaks up and distorts momentarily whenever a Reaver in the distance fires an energy blast. There was some actual thought put into this port, which is always nice to see.

The real advantage to the GamePad, however, is the fact that the game looks much better on its smaller screen. I don't know if it's the flaws being obscured by the pad's screen when they're shown more clearly on the higher-performance LCD of an HDTV, or if it's simply a benefit of the pad's lower resolution requiring the system to render fewer polygons, but the game plays noticeably smoother on the GamePad screen. The stiffness of the characters doesn't come across as readily, and the compactness of the visuals makes the environments seem far more beautiful and detailed.

Another trade-off: The Wii U version comes with all the collector's edition exclusive content on-disc already (though not high-end DLC like Leviathan), but much of the subtlety of the game is lost due to the lack of support for Mass Effect 1 and 2 save files. The game kicks off with a 20-minute digital comic that allows you to make key choices to shape the plot, just like the PlayStation 3 version of Mass Effect 2, but the most interesting moments in ME3 came as outcomes of smaller choices that aren't included in this prologue. So while you'll still shape the outcome of, say, Tali's major plot arc, you'll never know the pleasure of helping Conrad Verner find true happiness.

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9115515

budget cpu/gpu 

[Tasty]

Dunno if I can get one Sunday. Didn't get a preorder.

Guess I could cruise Craigslist.

[maxy]

someone from gaf has got it,hehehe