Wii U is "effectively a 360" says Microsoft

[Cobretti2]

archbrix said:

Adinnieken said

Let's start with a correction, the Wii U's processor is a tri-core as well.  I keep making the mistake of remembering the original specs that were going around.  But the specs on Nintendo's web site are that it is a Power-based tri-core processor.  So you would be mistaken there.  Since the Power7 is the only current Power processor, I'm going to assume that the Wii U is using the Power 7 as the basis of the CPU.  You are correct, Nintendo has not come out said how many threads per core are available, however they have also not refuted the assertion by a developer that the Wii U's CPU is limited to two hardware threads per core.  I would think, with the Wii U releasing shortly, that Nintendo would be going to the press with specs to counter any argument thaat the Wii U isn't powerful.  But they aren't.

Just as an fyi, even the Xbox 360's processor is a nerfed Power5+ CPU.  So it wouldn't be unexpected for the Wii U's processor to be nerfed as well.  The fully functioning processor is a bit expensive, so in both cases a less powerful version of the commercial CPU is used.

I'm less concerned about the memory and the GPU because any modern GPU will be significantly more capable than any GPU available in any current console.  As well, the rumors of 1.5GB or more of memory seems acceptable.  Memory will only be an issue if the CPU is powerful and there isn't enough memory to do more with the console.  Having a ton of memory but a CPU that can't take advantage of it would be pretty worthless.

Nothing I have said suggests that the Wii U is less powerful than the Xbox 360, and I would think it would be ridiculous to assert that it is functionally the same when considering it likely uses a Power7 CPU, a modern GPU, and includes more memory.  Having said that, I think many third-party games will be just as do-able on the 360 as they are on the Wii U.  Would the Wii U version be graphically better, most likely yes.  Could it offer a better AI and draw distance?   Sure.  None of that stops an easy port from the Wii U to the Xbox 360.

Actually, unless I just missed something, the specs on Nintendo's web site do not specify the CPU to be a tri-core processor.  All it states is that it is an IBM POWER based multi-core processor.

http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/#/features

Still, I'll concede that the majority or rumors do support the tri-core claim, so I'd wager that you are correct.  But the fact that Nintendo has not refuted any claims made such as threads per core is hardly an admission that such claims are fact, simply because it is not Nintendo's habit to address rumors and speculation regarding tech specs.  I remember many opinions floating around prior to the Gamecube's launch that the system wasn't up to par with the PS2, until Factor 5 (and later, EA) did their own benchmark tests and publicly praised its capabilities.  Point being, that Nintendo remained similarly silent during all of that.

I realize that you're not saying that WiiU will be less powerful than 360, and I agree that many 3rd party WiiU games would be do-able on the 360.  The question is, would the best of the WiiU's games - games in a year or so after launch built from the ground up to take advantage of the newer hardware -  be an "easy" port to 360?  If you believe Microsoft's PR, then yes.  I, however, remain skeptical about that.

I think the PR guys believes  (or is banking on) that the WiiU will be similar to Wii. In that the developers won't bother trying tp push the gfx (as apparently Nintendo owners dont care about gfx, or jsut cheaper to do ports) on the system to reach it's full potential. After all there are better looking Gamecube games than on Wii. By this logic sure the WiiU games will be on par with the 360.

What will be interesting is when PS4 and  Nextbox come out. We knwo they will be better than WiiU (by how much who knows). Will the gfx quality then imporve on WiiU or will WiiU support be dropped all together?? is the real question here.