Ubisoft fully support WiiU, but isn't happy with the high console price

[theRepublic]

Squilliam said:

the_dengle said:

Squilliam said:

It certainly isn't out of line but at the same time it doesn't make sense. They are investing billions of dollars on a dumb tablet when people can get proper tablets for a very inexpensive price. Why would you want a second tablet which cannot do anything on it's own? How is this considered a major selling point worth jacking the price up by $100 for? Microsoft has already released Smart-Glass and Sony are developing their much more capable Vita tablet as well as leveraging their eco-system of Android devices.

Now we get to the meat of it. Stop thinking of the GamePad as a tablet. It's a controller. It has buttons and analog sticks and triggers. It is directly connected to the console, just like a controller would be, because -- surprise -- it IS a controller, not an accessory, not a distinct product, not something sold separately. It's a part of the console. SmartGlass isn't even comparable. As for Vita, what exactly is it "more capable" of? Bombing? ...Hard?

I'd also like to know what kind of information you're evaluating to come to the conclusion that Nintendo Land is a "weaker" pack-in title than Wii Sports. By what criteria are you judging the comparison?

Why not compare a tablet to a tablet? Even if one is tethered to a console and the other is free it still invites a comparison. 27% of households will own tablets by the end of this year and smartphones are over 50% pentration. The idea that one can get the same utility from an app as from a built in device shouldn't be shocking for anyone.

If it is not packed in the box, developers will not take advantage of the functionality.  There are countless examples of under utilized peripherals.  Look at the Wii Balance Board, Wii Motion Plus, Gamecube to Gameboy Advance connectivity, N64 Expansion Pak, SNES Super Scope, and NES Zapper just to name some Nintendo examples off the top of my head.

The fact that it is an app is not going to change that.  There will not be enough tablets out there, and a smart phone's screen is far too small to be useful in game.  The big difference with the Wii U controller is that the screen is built right in.  No one is going to want to try to operate both a standard controller and separate tablet at the same time in game.  When it is constantly there just inches from your fingers it is a different story completely.