Would You Be Angry If Nintendo Released A New Console But Still Supported Wii U?

[TheLastStarFighter]

Dr.Henry_Killinger said:

TheLastStarFighter said:
So many of the responses on here are hilarious because they talk about stopping support for Wii U which was clearly stated would not happen in the OP. Others talk about how could they support 3 platforms, which again is not an issue in this scenario.

OT: I love the idea and wouldn't be mad at all. I picked up a Wii U at launch and would have no problem springing for this new system. In fact, I'm already looking at either picking up a PS4 or new PC this year or next. There are a lot of third party titles that I love and that won't be seeing life on Wii U. The first two years of the U have been good with COD, AC and Batman all present, but the next titles likely will not be, and I really like those games. If Nintendo offered me a high-end option with third party titles, I would pick it up for sure since their 1st party games are by far the best.

I think to make it work, however, Nintendo would have to do a few things:

1: It has to be very powerful. The specs you listed are the minimum. It has to be a full step above the PS4, and also able to compete for a year or two with PS5. There has to be a measurable benefit.

2. It needs some compelling software. It's fine that all of the planned titles for Wii U will be cross-gen, but there should be at least one or two titles made to sell the system. These could be 3rd party partnership titles (like Titanfall). It could be a very special and high end version of a 3rd party title like Battlefield that pushes the max PC specs and makes it by far superior to the PS4 version. Or it could be that Nintendo buys up or starts a couple studios to make some launch games for it that can't be done anywhere else - preferably western studios that make flashy PS/XBox style games. Or it could be a port of a PC game that simply can't be done on the other two systems. A mix of Wii U games and 3rd party offerings isn't quite enough to make it feel "special".

3. Obviously, the system needs full, unrivaled 3rd party support.

I think the concept could be awesome and I hope Nintendo does it. If they launched it soon enough, they could sway some potential PS4 and One buyers their way, and if it is powerful enough and the games good enough they could even encourage a few mid-gen upgraders like those that bumped up from Wii to PS360. The unified OS that Iwata is pitching could really make it possible too, with different versions of the same titles appearing on Wii U, 4DS and this high-end machine, and resources not stretched too thin.

That's simple. The OP is unrealistic. Since this is more or less an opinion poll then Its alright I suppose, but OP's question is like asking how would you feel if you lived in a saturday morning cartooon.

If you think more power will solve the problem with Nintendo's consoles, you don't understand why Nintendo is losing both consumer and developer support, and you definetly do not understand the scale or severity of this problems.

The issue is systemic. Every Nintendo console with the exception of the Wii has followed the trend of declining user base and developer support. Up till the Gamecube, Nintendo ruined 3rd party relations by being an asshole with proprietary hardware and licensing fees. After the Wii, Nintendo weakened 3rd party support by being significantly weaker than the competion.

Why is this the case? I'ts simple really, Nintendo does not like to follow the loss leader model, they like to make profits off of hardware sales, which is why they can sell so little and still profit. The negative effect of this is that Nintendo is not very willing to lose money from the onset thus we see intial prices at the Wii U level even though its basically in between last gen and current gen power wise.

Thus we have one of the reasons why 3rd party support is so bad, Nintendo doesn't risk much money on there hardware so its condierably lower spec then the competiton and thus more of an effort to downport for.

Furthermore, this is why we know that if Nintendo released this new console in this timeframe, its specs would have to be cost effectice which I doubt is feasible to do along with outperforming both hd twins combined. And even if it did happen it would be the most expensive.

In regards to the issue with consumers, Nintendo's Core has been declining and they haven't been replenishing it fast enough.

A new console to early would destroy consumer confidence, which would be fatal to the system sales wise and developer wise.

It would be disatrous, probably the worst launch in history.

The OP isn't unrealistic at all.  You can say it's unlikely, but it is completely within the relm of realism.  Part of it is actually alluded to, with Iwata merging hardware departments and stating that in the future their games will likely be multi-Nintendo platform.  We've already seen the first in Smash Brothers.  The only things that could be called a stretch here are Nintendo making a new system soon, and to a lesser extent that it would be powerful.

The problem isn't systemic.  There are multiple reasons that Nintendo doesn't get 3rd party support, and some of them have changed from gen to gen.  Choices in media format, choices in system power, system architcture and so on have caused third party trepidation.  There is also the issue that certain 3rd parties (such as EA) do not want Nintendo in the hardware business.  

The proposal is that Nintendo management, seeing the dire situation that Wii U is in, desides to change strategy to remain relevent in the console space.  They consult 3rd parties, build a system that is easy to port to and provide 3rd parties with incentive to bring their titles there.  None of this is rocket science, it's exactly what Sony and MS do and Nintendo could do it too if they wanted.

The issue with money-losing hardware has been a problem in the past.  However, it is no longer.  Sony and MS now sell their systems beyond $800 a unit (including subscription fees) and consumers are completely accepting of this.  Nintendo could adapt this strategy and make powerful hardware while still making money.  This is a trend they have missed with Wii U.

Your comment about launching a system early shaking consumer confidence is completely unfounded.  There is no example of an early launch killing consumer confidence, however there are multiple examples of an early launch capturing it.  Sega Genesis increased the Sega marketsare dramatically by launching early and cutting the Master System life very short, XBox 360 did the exact same thing to XBox, with sales increasing over 4X.  If no one is buying your product anyway... you make a new product.  The 6 million people who have a Wii U already are Nintendo nuts and would gladly pick up the new system.

Besides, the whole point is that it is Nintendo taking on a more i-Thing approach to products.  Wii U is still supported, but a new supperior model is made available.  Apple does it every year, and older products are still supported.  Nintendo doing this is not only possible, but likely.  As an owner of a Wii U, I'd be perfectly fine with Nintendo taking this approach.  As long as my product doesn't become instantly obsolete, I love the idea of having the option of upgrading when it works for me.