Did the Wii U launch fall flat on its face?

[kool kitty89]

It's basically that corporate mentality that's existed since the beginning of the 6th gen.(Right after Dreamcast) except the difference is that they weren't putting out shitty FPS clones, crap party games and tired old rehashes. They also weren't putting out unmemorable systems with stagnated shelf life.

I really think people are starting to miss SEGA. I'm personally glad that they've been filing paperwork to move towards changing course(something that they weren't doing at the beginning of the 7th gen). People are asking for the old Sega back. We'll get it once the SegaSammy merger FINALLY splits. (I forgot it took a full 2 years to form).

The world needs the old SEGA back,sans the disharmony, bad businesses decisions,poor management. The one who made fantastic quality consoles, flawless hardware, aggressive marketing, and stupendous 1st party talent.

Or . . . the corporate mentality for a LOT longer than that, just not as consistent across the entire industry and not as pervasive within all the leading hardware platform parent companies as such. (ie in cases of several big companies in the past, many had similar attitudes, but not as consistently and evenly applied as such)

It's a bigger and more complex issue in general to be sure.

"Sony, Microsoft & Nintendo are all guilty of treating their fans poorly at times but they don't owe people shit anyway."

Actually that's the problem with the corp attitude in todays market.
They think they deserve our business and owe us nothing for it.
We give them what they want, but don't get it in return.

They don't owe their customers anything more than said companies are willing to market and sell (and, of course, things they outright promise to consumers).

Now, what they SHOULD do is another matter entirely . . . and gets into things like ethics vs profitability, volumes, revenue (different from profits), stability, creativity, innovation, evolution, revolution, market share, etc. And none of that is black and white. (and then there's the driving forces behind general genres/styles of games popular to produce and if/when/why that market standard shifts and in what direction -and one big factor has always been technical performance and raw hardware/software limitations)

A shill template for MrSega posts:

1. Give a poorly thought out statement.

If nobody criticizes:

2. Give a reason the statement is relevant toward Sega's definite return to making consoles.

3. Reaffirm that Sega is awesome because of these fictional reasons.

If criticism arises from statement:

2. Call people trolls, unworthy fans, or non-believers.

3. Continue to steer threads toward conspiracy.

4. Argue that any further discussion is over before bringing it up all over again in another thread.

Aside from all that mess, my comments in those topics of his (when I do comment) either end up legitimately addressing alternate topics the topic has deviated to and/or the main point I keep making about Sega's possible "return" to home console hardware:
If ever they were going to do it, their best opening in the last decade would have been around fall 2010 with the potential of a relatively low-cost, mostly off the shelf console design that technically beat the aging mainstay consoles that were overdue for new hardware competition (along with the ever-advancing PC game market needing a better console counterpart to down-port to). 2011 would have applied similarly for that matter.

They obviously missed that, and this is a very similar argument to points about Nintendo's missed opportunity around that same time. (given they had very outdated hardware and that much more reason to jump ahead of the competition while still not dramatically breaking their proportionally low-cost/high-margin, gimmick-enhanced hardware model)

[JCU]

Isn't the WiiU dead by now anyway ? Nintendo won't be at E3 right ? What games are coming out, super mario 2d volume 98, super mario 2d volume 99, zelda 74, super wiiu racers, Nintendo all star fighting 35, and ?

That's a big negative ghost rider.

Nintendo wouldn't be offering the same titles if people didn't buy them. Mario Kart Wii has sold over thirty million copies. Put a healthy lineup of first party game on the shelves and you'll see this system sell very well.

[MrSega]

@Kool Kitty89 "Or . . . the corporate mentality for a LOT longer than that, just not as consistent across the entire industry and not as pervasive within all the leading hardware platform parent companies as such. (ie in cases of several big companies in the past, many had similar attitudes, but not as consistently and evenly applied as such)

It's a bigger and more complex issue in general to be sure."

Certainly. But the best point that can be construed is that the industry grew during the 6th Gen which kinda of released a malaise over the console manufacturer's mentality regarding subsidizing and cheapning of software quality. I knew even in 2005 that it would be exasperated throughout the 7th gen that's now starting to catch up to everyone.

The main thing I would certainly say that SEGA needs work on before they transform and change their brand to Sega Orbi is "Controlling Their Message" something SEGA hasn't done in so long. I can already see the problems they would have if they don't work on their PR issues selling the new brand. The reason why most people told about Orbi don't believe it or troll out of "suspension of disbelief" desperation is because the whole idea of SEGA changing and transforming from a hasbeen console maker, software publisher often misunderstood to this totally,new and completely different worldwide conglomerate which will also be able to sell game hardware sounds too good to be true, so they just pretend the idea is impossible without actually bothering to logically think about or research why SEGA would make such a bold and ambitious move to even consider such an idea.

SEGA NEEDS to stop letting others control their message. This is the mistake they made with Sonic 2006. They SEGASammy could have sold themselves as a publisher had THEY been calling the shots. This is why SEGA is preparing to split the merger and has cleared all loose ends in that regards.

[MrSega]

That's a big negative ghost rider.

Nintendo wouldn't be offering the same titles if people didn't buy them. Mario Kart Wii has sold over thirty million copies. Put a healthy lineup of first party game on the shelves and you'll see this system sell very well.

As far as the industry is considered, Wii U is doomed to be nothing more than a base system. Only Nintendo fans will bother, everyone else will just avoid it. You can only sell the same reheated franchises to the loyal base not Wii consumers.

If Wii U had ANY chance in hell, it would be selling well and Wii owners wouldn't be so damn confused by it. Don't spin it, its doomed outside of Nintendo fanboys.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Again with the Orbi nonsense.

I propose that every time MrSega mentions Orbi he should get a 1 week temporary ban.

[Knuckle Duster]

As far as the industry is considered, Wii U is doomed to be nothing more than a base system. Only Nintendo fans will bother, everyone else will just avoid it. You can only sell the same reheated franchises to the loyal base not Wii consumers.

If Wii U had ANY chance in hell, it would be selling well and Wii owners wouldn't be so damn confused by it. Don't spin it, its doomed outside of Nintendo fanboys.

One would usually need to be a fan of something to buy it.

Disregarding that obvious point, and following through with the logic of your argument... tell us how Sega would be any different or better off, with their smaller fan base.

[JCU]

As far as the industry is considered, Wii U is doomed to be nothing more than a base system. Only Nintendo fans will bother, everyone else will just avoid it. You can only sell the same reheated franchises to the loyal base not Wii consumers.

If Wii U had ANY chance in hell, it would be selling well and Wii owners wouldn't be so damn confused by it. Don't spin it, its doomed outside of Nintendo fanboys.

Even if that was true, there were almost 35 million people (and counting) who bought Mario Kart Wii and a Wii on which to play it unless they bought the game just to look at the case. One game has contributed to almost 1/3 of the Wii's total sales. Casuals or loyal fan base I don't know. Do you? Some of these Mario games appeal to everyone.

You can't judge a system when the strength of its lineup hasn't even been released. For many years the strength of Nintendo has been its first part titles and right now next to nothing has been released. The 3DS started off somewhat poor yet turned things around exponentially. The PS3 was a joke during its first few years but history shows quite a turn around. I doubt you want to talk of similar examples though.

[KitsuneNight]

what like the saturn ?
or the 32 x ?
or the sega cd ?

the dreamcasts launch line up was solid though

but ever since the n64 nintendo consoles had to rely heavily on nintendo only titles and mostly managed to weather the story thanks to pokemon

[MrSega]

what like the saturn ?
or the 32 x ?
or the sega cd ?

the dreamcasts launch line up was solid though

but ever since the n64 nintendo consoles had to rely heavily on nintendo only titles and mostly managed to weather the story thanks to pokemon

I know. But the thing is, is that its becoming obvious that its no longer working to Nintendo's advantage with Wii U.
And to those using the "3DS spin", no. 3DS started off slow because of its price tag and library. It picked once it got affordable and had a decent library. Wii U has none of these things going for it.

[KitsuneNight]

yet you mean

the console is barley 6 months old
its a bit early to start lambasting it already the 3ds got slagged off until it got a price cut and some good games as well
the price cut worked wonders for the 3ds

now if the wii u is still in the doldrums in may 2014 with a price cut and some first party games backing it up then its a failure
right now its too early to tel

but 350 is just too damn expensive

[MrSega]

yet you mean

the console is barley 6 months old
its a bit early to start lambasting it already the 3ds got slagged off until it got a price cut and some good games as well
the price cut worked wonders for the 3ds

now if the wii u is still in the doldrums in may 2014 with a price cut and some first party games backing it up then its a failure
right now its too early to tel

but 350 is just too damn expensive

The difference is that 3DS has original games while Wii U doesn't. Just half assed PS3/360 ports with gameplay variations.

[JCU]

I know. But the thing is, is that its becoming obvious that its no longer working to Nintendo's advantage with Wii U.
And to those using the "3DS spin", no. 3DS started off slow because of its price tag and library. It picked once it got affordable and had a decent library. Wii U has none of these things going for it.

Purely speculation. No one positively knows how the 3DS would have sold at full price with a suitable library to back up the price of the console. The price drop was followed by a strong fall/winter lineup. SM3DL and MK7 helped turn sales around.

[Segadream]

To answer the question: Did the Wii U launch fall flat on it's face?

No.

Here's why:

#1. I don't think it just fell, it was slammed into the ground by Nintendo marketing.

#2.didn't stay on the surface at all, it was slammed so hard its head is now stuck in the sand,
it's neck is broken, And its now permanently paralyzed.

[Knuckle Duster]

I still don't see what games are worth buying even a 3DS for.

[Segadream]

Star fox 64 3ds.