Nintendo Announces New Console: Wii U 330
_xeno_ writes "Nintendo has announced the official name for what had been known as 'Project Cafe:' the Wii U. It is an HD console, it retains backwards compatibility with the Wii (it's unclear if this includes GameCube software), and the controller does, in fact, have a touch screen on it. Nintendo demoed moving a game off the TV and playing it solely on the Wii U controller."
Also in E3 news, cylonlover writes "At its E3 press conference Sony finally revealed that its next generation handheld — previously codenamed the NGP — will carry the official moniker of the 'PlayStation Vita.' The PS Vita — which is Latin for 'life' — will come in two flavors: a Wi-Fi only version priced at $249 in the US, JPY24,980 in Japan, and EUR249 in Europe, and a 3G/Wi-Fi version going for US$299, JPY29,980 and EUR299."
price (Score:5, Insightful)
Err...What?? (Score:4, Insightful)
They call that a controller? Yeah maybe for a giant. The way the Wii was designed in the past you want real movement and reflexes with the controller.
Just thinking back to those people who accidentally threw their Wiimotes into their TVs, can you imagine the mess that one would cause :)
USD vs. EUR (Score:0, Insightful)
a Wi-Fi only version priced at $249 in the U.S., JPY24,980 in Japan, and EUR249 in Europe, and a 3G/Wi-Fi version going for US$299, JPY29,980 and EUR299."
Right now, 1 EUR = 1.4682 USD. Thanks for trying to fuck us over again, Sony.
No love,
Europe
Does seem to be the case (Score:4, Insightful)
I also don't know that it'll work well this time around. The Wii did well because it sold kinda like a board game: Many people bought it that weren't in to video games. They often didn't play it a lot, putting it away only to take it out for parties, but they bought it. Ok fine. However this? Not sure you'll sell people on it. Particularly since a controller like this is going to be all kinds of expensive. A nice large LCD costs money, no way around it.
We'll have to see what goes on but Nintendo may have a dud this time around. Gimmicks can be great when they work, but they often flop hard.
Hard to say (Score:5, Insightful)
I look at that controller and I think both "Wow, cool!" and "Holy crap its big!" But it wouldn't be the first time we've all thought the Big N has lost their collective marbles only to be right. When they announced the N64 with its 3-prong controller, everyone said that looked like the most uncomfortable thing they'd ever seen -- and it was maybe the most comfortable one I've ever used, even to this day. When they announced the DS, everyone thought they were certifiable, and it turned into the best selling handheld of all time (no, we're not counting the goddamn iPhone just because it can play games). And I seem to recall that the Wii's announcement was also met with a fair bit of ridicule and it outsold its competitors (at least console-wise).
Of course, they also released the Virtual Boy (or whatever that thing was called) and that was a trainwreck. Still, I'm going to withhold judgement until I can try it for myself. At the very least, it sounds like there's some real possibility there. I just hope I'm not paying $150 a controller!
Re:My hands hurt... (Score:5, Insightful)
Over a decade ago, when our cell phones were still rocking monochrome displays and just then getting into WAP browsing? Yeah. That's a great comparison, actually, and points out where the concept would have begun in the 'modern' era. Remember, that was about the extent of what our technology of the era could bring to bear without HUGE cost, which incidentally I imagine will be a very present issue with the Wii u's main controller.
Re:My hands hurt... (Score:5, Insightful)
Damn thing is almost as big as an iPad (and a lot heavier I bet).
Why on earth wound it be heavier? It is smaller, requires far simpler electronics, probably has much less in the way of a battery, and is primarily made of plastic.
Re:price (Score:4, Insightful)
Why the fuck do people keep bringing up the Power Glove as a Nintendo accessory when it was made by Mattel?
Also, you forgot the E-reader. But also, you forgot that people buy the accessories because they think they're worth buying for the uses that are available. Anyone who bought a Gameboy Printer and thought it was going to hit some mainstream feature status that all games would use was an idiot. Only a fool would buy something solely based on what it might be able to do in the future.
--Jeremy