Originally Posted by Adam Tyner

Apparently Nintendo's opening up their wallet for TV spots:

Originally Posted by stingermck

I picked up Splinter Cell and Arkham Origins, and thinking I may need to get the Pro Controller.

Worth it?

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin

You've clearly never witnessed a "is it an accessory" or "can I play WiiU games on my Wii" discussion in a store. I followed around a couple discussing just that before Christmas. It was comical. The average consumer Nintendo courted for the Wii is that stupid.



I don't think it's too late for that. Rebrand it as the Wii2. Let stock bleed dry and restock with Wii2 boxes. Only issue there would be games already on store shelves with the WiiU name.

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin

Wow, other than the C-stick instead of a real analog, the GCN/Wavebird still ranks up there with the best of them for me. It's still leagues above the DualShock 1-3. How exactly is it an abortion?

Originally Posted by Adam Tyner

If I could roll back time, here's what I think I'd do:

* Keep a steady flow of software coming for the Wii in its later years (there was only a trickle of quality first-party titles from 2010-2012). That'd keep the momentum going for Nintendo to their next console.

* More software with a stronger pipeline. Nintendo shouldn't have been caught offguard by the challenges of high-def development. The huge software gap for so much of the Wii's lifespan gave them a very long runway, and they didn't do anything with it. Nintendo titles sell Nintendo hardware, so they need more games on a more regular basis. It's important to perfect games as Nintendo generally does, but the delays and software droughts that plagued the Wii U in its first year are unacceptable. If it's a problem with resources, tools, chain, communication, etc., then fix it. Spend the lifecycle of the Wii establishing more relationships, beefing up processes, and amassing a larger network of developers.

* Make sure there's at least one -- ideally two! -- killer, must-have game before launch. In fact, don't even launch unless you know you'll be able to keep supplying at least one essential first-party title every couple of months for that first year.

* Don't call the new console the Wii U. For the sake of this post, let's pretend they called it the Revolution, but basically anything would be better than "Wii U".

* Spend the lifecycle of the Wii developing a more compelling online infrastructure, eShop, and user experience that'd be ready to go for the launch of the Revolution.

* Figure out what makes the Revolution unique. Right now, Nintendo is mining the same franchises with nearly identical games on both the Wii U and the 3DS. Just about every standout Wii U game has or will have a 3DS equivalent. Come up with a philosophy for each platform so you're not cannibalizing your own userbase. If you like Nintendo games but already have a 3DS, there's not a whole lot of incentive to get a Wii U, and Nintendo has no one to blame for that but themselves.

* Be more aggressive with the virtual console. More titles on a far more frequent basis. Buy a game on one device and play it anywhere: 3DS, Wii, Wii U, whatever. Maybe even cross-save online so you can pick up where you left off, similar to the Kindle. Consider having a subscription where you can access any virtual console game you want, Netflix-style, without an additional charge per-game.

* Nintendo doesn't have a bulldog like Lincoln or Yamauchi to make things happen. It's okay if Iwata's not that guy, but that guy needs to be on the payroll somewhere. Ideally, at least one in the U.S. and one in Japan.

* Overhaul everything related to marketing/branding. (...and marketing does consist of more than advertising.) Essentially nothing that's been done for the Wii U is working. If they're unwilling or unable to sell their console, find someone who can. The Nintendo brand is pretty badly beaten and battered right now.

* Investigate other ways of selling software. Maybe beat Redbox at their own game; have digital rentals of new software for $5 for a weekend. The more you can keep people in your ecosystem, the better.

* Talk and listen to third-parties and customers, the way Microsoft did with the 360 and Sony did with the PS4. Trust your instincts but don't turn a deaf ear to what other people want (something I believe Nintendo, in their arrogance, absolutely did with the Wii U as it was being developed). If that means, say, losing backward compatibility, then maybe that's an acceptable loss. If that means they lose the tiny form factor they want, again, maybe that's okay. If third-parties are reluctant, partner with them. Share some of the risk and some of the reward. The Wii U getting some occasionally shoddy ports and being shafted on DLC isn't helping it any.

* Make sure any peripheral / controller is an essential part of the system. I think the gamepad is terrific, but if you can't market it, and if even your own developers don't know what to do with it, maybe it's not such a good idea after all. If there's going to be a unique controller, make sure there are the games to support it -- gameplay that wouldn't be possible on any other platform.

* Honor your past but look to the future. Nintendo's response to the staggering successses of the Wii and DS were to basically do the same thing, only not as well, losing sight of what made them so profitable and desirable in the first place. I mean, the Wii wasn't marketing towards any one group but towards everyone. The ads were often oriented around late-teens/twentysomethings rather than families, and I think that went a long way. Other game kept you plopped on the couch; the Wii was all about movement. Wii Sports helped give the console a message...an identity. The Wii U has no message. It has no identity. So...don't release a console without one.

* Diversify! Try to fill niches that are being ignored, like arcade-style sports games. Lego City Undercover was a well-received take on open world, GTA-style games. Try doing the same for, say, RPGs (I know X is on the way) and first person shooters. Why isn't there anything like Tearaway or LittleBigPlanet, encouraging creation and creativity, on the Wii U? That's completely up Nintendo's alley.

* Reduce franchise fatigue. Leverage dormant IPs. Create new ones. Heck, Get good at minigames/microgames again. I'm just looking at Metacritic scores here, but titles like Nintendo Land, Wii Party U, Game and Wario, and Mario Party: Island Tour weren't nearly as well received as similar games in the past have been.

* Empower other offices instead of having all decision-making coming out of Japan. Give Nintendo of America the resources and flexibility to establish relationships with Western developers, come up with some of their own software, etc.

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin

Wow, other than the C-stick instead of a real analog, the GCN/Wavebird still ranks up there with the best of them for me.

Originally Posted by LosingMyMind

It looks like arcade games are headed to the eshop The arcade version of Solomon's Key was just rated by the ESRB.

Originally Posted by LosingMyMind

A new article went up today, detailing 120+ indie games coming to the eshop.
http://nintendoenthusiast.com/articl...medium=twitter