EuroGamer: How Powerful is the WiiU Really?

[Conegamer]

Soundwave said:

Conegamer said:

Soundwave said:

A modern $200 GPU blows away a PS3/360, especially in a closed console environment. 

PS3/360 are nothing special, this is ancient tech nowadays, you don't need a $600 system to blow those away. The only reason the PS3 was $600 anyway was because of the Blu-Ray disc format. The 360 launched at $299/$399 seven years ago. 

Whilst true, I think the battle will come from the UI as opposed to the graphics. There's not far to go with affordable technology currently, whereas options for innovative control schemes are massive.

 

To make the consoles a winner next-gen, graphics will likely improve slightly, but control options significantly.

There will be PS4/720 games by their mid-cycle that demolish current gen games, its just a matter of whether or not that's a big deal to the individual user. 

As for UI, honestly I think Nintendo is in for a rude awakening if they think running back to the traditional controller and slapping a touchscreen on it will have the same impact as the Wiimote. That's nothing people are going to be that surprised with and its probably something easily copied by Sony/MS as well. 

I still love Nintendo software, but the Wii philosophy on hardware just isn't my cup of tea. The days of the SNES/N64/GCN are long gone I guess. Still looking forward to Mario Galaxy/3D on Wii U very much. 

Yes, there will be games next-gen which destroy games from this-gen, but I don't think we'll see games looking any better than what we currently find on PC's, which is more of an improvement than a leap. If the WiiU struggles, it'll have the same game, but ported down with fewer lighting features, or detail, for example. It's whether or not after this gen, devs give Nintendo another chance...that's the bit I doubt.

Also, the Gamepad won't have the immediate impact of the Wii, correct. But it has more potential over its lifetime, just as the DS' touchscreen did. You can do so much more with an extra screen in your hands than a motion controlled wand. It may not take off, and it may be copied, but there's far more possibilities with it, which I look forward to. The issue, again, is whether or not devs jump on board. At least for now, that seems to be the case.