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Gamerace on 04 December 2012
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Mandalore76 said:
Gamerace said:
Mandalore76 said:

I keep hearing people bash the Gamepad as a "non-innovation".  Having used the Gamepad, not just for gaming, but for everything else it can do on the system, it tremendously impoves your experience interfacing with the console and all it's capabilities.  In my opinion, not using a Gamepad controller on any other next gen system will feel like a step backwards at this point.

It's a non-innovation because Nintendo has long admitted to having considered this very idea for Wii (based off DS's success) but for various reasons decided it wouldn't be a good idea.   They went with the Wiimote instead which won them the generation hands-down.

So what do they do with WiiU?  Enhance or reimagine motion controls? No.  Add something else (halograms? head tracking?) to make it even more immersive? No. Surprise us with something totally new?  No.   The pick up the disgarded 7 year old idea, brush it off and call it a day.   

This is non-innovative.  6 years ago, it would have seemed like a DS home console but would still be seen as a lot more novel than it is today when people already own multiple touch screen devices.  Now it comes across as a poor 'me-too' instead of something original.

Plus what happened to motion controls?  After revolutioning the industry and creating all new types of game play they are just tossing it aside (mostly)?  This is folly.  This allows MS to carry that banner going forward, (while apeing much of the gamepads features via Smartglass) and taking some of Wii's audience with it.

Have you personally used a Wii U?  The motion controls are still there.  The Wii motes are compatible, the only console I know of that you don't have to go out and buy all new controllers for.  And, the Gamepad itself utilizes motion controlls which is evident from the very pack-in title (Nintendoland) that comes with the Deluxe package.   So, motion controlls have not been kicked aside for a "7 year old idea".  For me, it's not like having a DS home console, it's like having a console packed with a mini laptop.

Basic motion control is a standard in all devices now.  Phones, tablets, game controllers.  PS3 had it, 3DS has it, Vita.  I fully expect all next gen controllers will have it and some touch functionality as standard features, so the fact that it's in the gamepad is practically irrelevant.  The wiimote and nunchuk allowed a range of movement that the gamepad (which is more tilt) can't match.  You can't swing the gamepad like a tennis rack, sword or baseball bat for example.  You can't drum with it like you did with Wiimote/nunchuk.  You can't aim it like a gun. Etc, etc.  It's taken away that viseralness which sold so many Wii's (and Kinect and Moves).

As for using wiimotes, WiiU does allow use of them but unless the game is multiplayer where it's forced, most games will not support the use of wiimote/nunchuk.  If they all did, I'd be thrilled.   IR aiming on Mass Effect would be great, and the possiblilities with Assassin's Creed sword fighting from the guys who made Red Steel 2!  Or ZombiiU!  But alas - no wiimote compatibility.  CoD and Pikmin 3 do but that's the only ones I know of (with single player).  So yes, for all effect and purposes, it has been kicked aside.   Wii also had support for the gamecube controller but how many games actually supported it?  A few, but not many.

Why revolutionize an industry and then go backwards?  It's equivelant to Apple introducing a iPhone with a keypad.  Yes, some people would be thrilled to have a iPhone with keypad, just as some are to see the dual analog return on WiiU, but it's still a step backwards.     In my opinion, a touch surface and/or screen could have been incorporated in a modified wiimote design.  In fact a touch surface on a wiimote / nunchuk would eliminate some buttons and add greater immersion.   A small screen could be on a wiiUmote or it could be seperate altogether allow you to still swing freely.    Yes, I know, you can do that with WiiU but the gamepad isn't designed for it and very few games will be designed for the required use of two seperate controllers (Possibly Tiger Woods PGA tour since the wiimote was so beneficial and the gamepad could be used as a tee - but really, that would add very little, I doubt most people would bother with the gamepad for a tee.  WiiU Fit will probably alternate).   Games will be designed around the gamepad, not the wiimote.  Largely because WiiU will get PS3/360 ports (poss PS4/720) which are all based on dual analog.  It's easier to port to the gamepad and slap a map or such on the gamepad screen.  We're already seeing that in some games now.  

Where Wii had poorer graphics but often superior (and more fun) controls, WiiU will not have that distinction.  It'll be the same controls, with maybe some tacked on use of the gamepad screen - which in most cases will be very minor and skipable.  Maybe some great uses of the gamepad will come along for Madden or such, we'll see.  But more likely WiiU will have the same controls but still poorer graphics (to PS4/720).  

Oh the other hand, Nintendo could have made the gamepad a full-on tablet, with multi-touch and Android operating system.  Then games could be streamed from WiiU to gamepad via internet and you could take it anywhere.  That would be a huge incentive for people to get a WiiU!  Best of both worlds!  But no, they didn't go there either.