So I was reading an article on CNET called "Why the next Nintendo portable needs to be a tablet." The article focuses heavily on the touch screen and gyroscopes of the new Wii U controller, and how the author wishes that Nintendo would make it more "tablet like." The author complains about how it needs to be paired with the wii u in order to work and play games and how you can't just take it on the go without the wii u, especially "considering that the ipad mini can do so much more without the need of a wii u." It's times like this when I'd wish that the techies at CNET would keep their noses out of the world of video games. The author has no idea what he's talking about, so allow me to explain.
1. The wii u gamepad is a controller.
Yes it is true that it has a touch screen and gyroscopes, but it is built from the ground up to be a controller for the wii u, to control video games being played on a TV screen, and has those capabilities to add an extra layer of control and depth to gaming. It was not designed to be able to play games, watch video, surf the web, or something else you can do with a tablet on it's own. There weren't any complaints when it was shown that NES/SNES/N64/PS1/2/XBOX controllers needed to be plugged into the console to work, or that 360/PS3/Wii controlers needed to have the console on to do anything. Or that your universal remote doesn't turn on your car or microwave.
2. It streams games to free up the TV
A semi-big selling point for the wii u, well at least something Nintendo has been boasting about, is the fact that you can stream some games to the tablet freeing up the TV. The author brings up this feature but complains that it needs to have the console on in order to do that. Again, the gamepad is a controller, not a tablet. Nintendo did this because with many kids, the video games are connected to the family TV, and I for one know the frustration of wanting to watch TV or a movie or play one of my other consoles but my brother is playing CoD. With this, parents are able to kick their kids off of the TV while the kid is still able to play their game, or you could be able to continue playing your game while you go to the bathroom, instead of pausing, losing your momentum, and failing. It is not however, intended to run the game, but just allow a second option for play. Sir, you are complaining that you aren't able to instantly stream Netflix without an Internet connection.
3. You want the TV experience.
Since by now I gather that you aren't a gamer, let me put this in terms you tech guys might understand. If you had the choice to watch a movie on blu-ray, 1080p, 60 inch display, full 5.1 surround sound, or standard definition, compressed, itunes quality on a tablet, which would you choose? Unless you're an idjut, you'd choose the former. We aren't playing angry birds here. We're playing in depth, high paced, quality games here on the Wii U, and using a controller to make it all the better. The stream to the controller is a last resort convince like streaming netflix to your smart phone. It's meant to be played on a TV, like movies are meant to be watched on a big screen with quality sound set up.
4. It may be a spiritual successor to the DS, but need I remind you how the DS handled the touch screen?
Let me remind you how the DS worked with the good games, not the ones that are ports of smart phone games. The good ones, like Super Mario 64 DS, Urbz, New Super Mario Brothers, Animal Crossing, Spider-Man 2, and other games like that, used the top, NON-TOUCH, screen for the majority of the game play, with the bottom touch for more of menu, inventory, map, and some mini games. Games such as Bejeweled are not good examples of what DS games are, they are cash ins on technology but run just like the smart phone counterpart. No serious gamer bought a DS for games like that. They bought it for the games that I mentioned previously. Games that aren't heavy on touch screen, but use it for secondary controls or menu-type items. This is similar to how the gamepad will be handled. Gamers aren't buying it for the controller, or the touch screen heavy games. They are buying it for the games that focus on real gaming and use the game pad screen for secondary features. WE DON'T WANT TO "play super Mario on our ipads," BUT RATHER ON THE TV!
5. Pressure form Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other hardware manufacturers to make tablets? Nintendo Ecosystem? What rock have you been living under?
I don't know if you're awair, but Nintendo makes all their own stuff. You can always find aftermarket devices, but they aren't approved by Nintendo. Plus Nintendo isn't a tech company, they are a video game company. Unlike Sony and Microsoft who are tech companies who also make video game consoles and some games, Nintendo is SOLELY video games, and merchandise of their games. Have you ever used a Nintendo computer? My guess is no because they don't exist, and I don't mean Fami-Com. That was a marketing ploy and as far as I know, it really only played games. Ever watched a Nintendo TV, or used a Nintendo CD player, or a Nintendo Blu-Ray player? No, because again, they don't exist. Nintendo makes games and game consoles, for games, for gamers to play games on. They are not in the business to try to make computers.
6. What you just described was the DSi/3DS (warning, mild course language ahead).
You talk about "Nintendo developing a tablet that has brain age and could work with leapfrog to have entertaining education," and "a tablet with classic Nintendo game library." Well guess what Dip Shit, you just described the (3)DS. "The Wii U has a lot of great ideas to add to the discussion of how tablets can work with TVs, but the next step needs to be to find a way to unpair the GamePad and have it be a device on its own." Why the hell would they when they have the (3)DS already there? The game pad is a fucking controller, and not a fucking tablet! It was built to control games on a TV using a second touch screen as a secondary means of input for controls. If you want to game on the go, get a (3)DS. "Consider the alternative: Nintendo has a near-tablet and two handheld all existing in parallel. I'd rather have one connected ecosystem instead, and I think many people would agree." You sir just don't get that the gamepad is a controller, and not a tablet. You also don't understand how the 3DS and DS are coexisting for the time being until the DS gets phased out entirely. The 3DS and DS are at the point similar to how many movies were released on both VHS and DVD during the same time. Movies were still available on VHS but that was just to allow people the time to get a DVD player before they were a thing of the past.
7. The Wii U is not an apple TV, and the gamepad is not an ipad.
Lets get one thing perfectly strait, people are not buying the Wii U for it's controler and then getting the Wii U console as an added bonus to have some fun on the TV. They are buying a Wii U for the same reason they bought a wii and wii remote, a gamecube and a gamecube controller, an N64 and and N64 controller, and any other video game console and it's respective controller; and that is to play video games off of the console and use the controller to control the game. This is not "oh I'm watching a TV show I bought on itunes on my ipad, but now I feel like watching it on my TV, so I think I'll put it on my TV using apple TV." This is "I'm shooting zombies, shooting zombies, crap I need health, look down select med kit, look back up, OH GOD more zombies" and "Doot doot doo suuper mario on the TV, 'son you've had the TV long enough, I'm kicking you off,' not a problem I'll just keep playing on the controller, but I'd rather have the TV." Please, understand this.
8. Nintendo is tired of being "the casual guys."
I don't know if you've noticed, but Nintendo is really pulling hard for NOT being labeled for casual gaming with the Wii U. They lost a lot of credibility with gamers with the Wii because it had such a casual gaming stigma. If there's anything Nintendo is trying to do, it's to lose that stigma and get the hardcore gamers, and marketing the Wii U as merger of casual gaming at home and on the go, will do just the opposite of what they want to accomplish. And just like I said in #6, they have the (3)DS for the on the go, casual gaming. I don't know if you've noticed, but the DSi and 3DS have a download shop that has casual games in it. There are also physical media casual games that you can pick up at gamestop for $5.
In conclusion, you sir are a delusional, tablet struck, dumb ass who doesn't comprehend what gamers want out of a game system nor what Nintendo wants out of their game system. CNET, in the future, please keep your hands off of video games and leave that to the professionals at IGN, Joystiq, GameSpot, and others who specialize in games, because you don't know what gamers are looking for.
No comments:
Post a Comment