Nintendo unveils $300 Wii U, coming Nov. 18

• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-09-13 22:13
  I'm shocked! Nobody has posted this yet?!
  
  

  
  Nintendo's Wii U finally has a price and release date: The next-generation gaming console, which comes with a large touchscreen controller, will go on sale in the United States on Sunday, Nov. 18 for $300.
  A second, "deluxe" version will cost $350. That version has 32 GB of memory (the basic version has 8 GB) and a charging pad/cradle for the GamePad controller, plus some other extras. The basic version is white; the upgraded one is black.
  The Wii U console itself looks a lot like its predecessor, which launched in 2006 for about $250. The Wii U's big difference lies in its special wireless GamePad controller. It gives the bearer special powers, adding a new layer to both single- and multi-player games.
  The GamePad features a 6.2-inch touchscreen that works differently with each game. CNNMoney tried it out during a series of demos with Nintendo in New York City.
  With multi-player games the GamePad holder sees different things on the touchscreen than what their fellow gamers, who have regular controllers, see on the linked-up TV.
  In a chasing game that Nintendo showed off, players with regular controllers team up and try to catch the gamer with the touchscreen. The regular players simply see their avatars running around on the TV -- but the GamePad holder sees an overhead map on the touchscreen, which shows where everyone else is running.
  In its single-player mode, the GamePad adds some special features or interacts with what's happening on the TV screen. An archery game at the demo featured enemies that "jumped" off the screen and onto the GamePad controller if they weren't defeated quickly enough, giving the player a second chance at victory.
  A first-person shooter game used the GamePad for grabbing items. Players could also move the controller around the room to check out a special heat-map.
  Nintendo is hoping these special elements are attractive enough for a successful Wii U launch, as its last hardware release proved to be a misstep. The handheld 3DS system went on sale for $250 in March 2011, and its day-one sales beat records. But sales slumped over the next several weeks, and the Nintendo was forced to slash the 3DS' price to $170.
  Meanwhile, the idea of "casual gaming" -- which Nintendo helped invent -- has evolved to include mobile and social gaming. But Nintendo has consistently said it's not interested in putting its games on other platforms, even as gaming has exploded on Apple's (AAPL, Fortune 500) iPhone and other smartphones, as well as on Facebook (FB).
  Related story: Microsoft versus Sony versus Nintendo. Who wins?
  Nintendo released a partial list of upcoming Wii U games, though as always, titles and launch dates are subject to change.
  For now, the planned slate includes a few Mario titles, a Wii Fit exercise game and Pikmin 3. Third-party developers like Electronic Arts (EA), Sega, and Ubisoft will also sell Wii U games, including titles from the "Mass Effect" and "Assassin's Creed" franchises. "Bayonetta 2" will be exclusive to Nintendo. The Wii will also have a Metroid title and "Call of Duty Black Ops II."
  In addition to games, the Wii U will offer some features for social networking and "Nintendo TVii" -- yup, that's really how they're spelling it. The TVii interface features streaming media apps from Netflix (NFLX), Hulu, Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) and Google-owned (GOOG, Fortune 500) YouTube. You can see what shows your friends are recommending and categorize content, and choose across platforms -- Netflix vs. Amazon, for example -- how you want to watch a show.
  When you watch live TV the GamePad syncs, showing scene photos and a one-sentence description. It lets you share you share your favorite moments on Facebook, take part in polls, and interact in other ways.
  Live sports gets a few special features, including built in integration with Twitter and Facebook for those who want to chat with other fans as they watch.
  

  
  
  Source: http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/13/technology/wii-u-price-release-date/index.html
  
  Discuss! I'll post my thoughts later. Just wanted to get this out there.
• Kayate wrote on 2012-09-13 22:44
  Until they come out with the new smash bros. I ain't buying. Also I hope the game allows wii motes or GameCube controllers cause I sure as hell ain't using that tablet they call a controller.
• Hazeri wrote on 2012-09-13 23:06
  Waiting until march to see if we get the monster hunter bundle japan is getting. I know, no chance, but #IWANTTOBELIEVE
  Regardless, waiting until march to save up for it, my poor wallet ;_;
  
  

  Quote from Kayate;950964:

  Until they come out with the new smash bros. I ain't buying. Also I hope the game allows wii motes or GameCube controllers cause I sure as hell ain't using that tablet they call a controller.

  
  It supports the Wii motion plus models, and I believe the CCP as well, nothing has been said about gamecube compatibility so I'm doubtful on that one.
• Maenad wrote on 2012-09-13 23:12
  Good guy Nintendo: Charges only 50$ extra for a game, a magazine, a charging cradle, and 24 extra gigabytes.
  
  Scumbag Apple: Charges 200$ extra(Effectively doubling the price) for the same thing but with 48 extra gigabytes.
• Zack wrote on 2012-09-13 23:32

  Quote from Maenad;950999:

  Good guy Nintendo: Charges only 50$ extra for a game, a magazine, a charging cradle, and 24 extra gigabytes.
  
  Scumbag Apple: Charges 200$ extra(Effectively doubling the price) for the same thing but with 48 extra gigabytes.

  
  
  Storage space is more important on a phone than a Wii. Especially since you can use the iPhone for much more than texting and calling.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-09-13 23:39
  hah
  console games
• Hazeri wrote on 2012-09-13 23:44

  Quote from Zack;951013:

  Storage space is more important on a phone than a Wii. Especially since you can use the iPhone for much more than texting and calling.

  
  
  You serious? You do realize you can download full games on this right?
  I'm honestly not aware of how much space is needed on new cell-phones (Mine is like 5 years old and the only numbers I have are my sister, my house and the taco place), but I don't see why in the world would you need more space on a cellphone than in a modern day console.
• Tropacat wrote on 2012-09-13 23:45
  Hmm, should save up money for this.
• Maenad wrote on 2012-09-13 23:46

  Quote from Zack;951013:

  Storage space is more important on a phone than a Wii. Especially since you can use the iPhone for much more than texting and calling.

  
  
  Good guy Nintendo: Allows extra storage space using SD cards.
  Scumbag Apple: Specifically doesn't keep up with the times and doesn't allow the use of SD cards just so you HAVE to pay 200$ for more space.
• Mentosftw wrote on 2012-09-13 23:56

  Quote from Kayate;950964:

  Until they come out with the new smash bros. I ain't buying. Also I hope the game allows wii motes or GameCube controllers cause I sure as hell ain't using that tablet they call a controller.

  
  
  1980's, game companies try to sell games to sell consoles. They fail in epic proportions.
  
  Today, gamers buy consoles based on what games are on them.
• Zack wrote on 2012-09-13 23:56

  Quote from Hazeri;951020:

  You serious? You do realize you can download full games on this right?
  I'm honestly not aware of how much space is needed on new cell-phones (Mine is like 5 years old and the only numbers I have are my sister, my house and the taco place), but I don't see why in the world would you need more space on a cellphone than in a modern day console.

  
  
  A phone is used for more than games. Apples consumers are not only for people who want to listen to music, play games, and dink around. Phones are essential for businesses and having to get a storage device to hold important documents on a phone is ridiculous. Apple can get away with pricing phones $200 more because of storage because people need it more than storage on a video game console where you can uninstall a game you never play anymore. If you think about it from a business side of things it would make much more sense.
  
  Also, file sizes are much smaller on a phone because it doesn't need as much to run. 48 gigs on a phone will be much more on a computer or game console. I don't know the exact ratio but I believe that files on a mac are around half the size of a program on windows (Or they used to be?). So if you take that and then convert it down to a phone, it makes perfect sense.
• Maenad wrote on 2012-09-14 00:01
  Apple can't get away with 200$ extra in my book because I can get a 16 gigabyte SD card for 20$, but they REFUSE to put an SD card slot on their device.
  They refuse to put a universal micro USB or mini USB port on the phone either, because then they wouldn't be able charge to use their charger design.
• Zack wrote on 2012-09-14 00:05

  Quote from Maenad;951031:

  Apple can't get away with 200$ extra in my book because I can get a 16 gigabyte SD card for 20$, but they REFUSE to put an SD card slot on their device.
  They refuse to put a universal micro USB or mini USB port on the phone either, because then they wouldn't be able charge to use their charger design.

  
  
  They don't need to get away with it in your book if you have no use for it. You obviously only want extra storage for the sake of having it. Or you want to horde stuff.
• Maenad wrote on 2012-09-14 00:15
  Apple is money whoring as much as possible, and it's ridiculous.
• Zack wrote on 2012-09-14 00:19

  Quote from Maenad;951042:

  Apple is money whoring as much as possible, and it's ridiculous.

  
  
  Then why did they just release a brand new phone at $200. They're lowering their price to try and take some of the market away from Andrioid.
  
  (My keyboard is now french and idk how to change it so no question marks :( )