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NoirSon on 12 July 2013
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DevilRising said:
catofellow said:
 

http://wiiudaily.com/2013/02/wii-u-gamepad-costs-around-140-to-replace/

You may say that is retail price and Nintendo is profiting, but even if we assume it costs $100, that is still enough to bridge the gap to your proposed $50 price drop.

And to the second part of your argument, there aren't many games out yet, and the install base is very low.  It would not be too harmful to make changes now.


But it would be nonsensical and pointless. Trying to suddenly make the Wiimote and nunchuck setup the "MAIN" controller for Wii U NOW, would be a huge step back, not forwards. Motion controls are not the future of gaming. They were a neat side thing, but most gamers prefer buttons and dpads and analog sticks. Not flailing their arms around like idiots. The GamePad, techwise, and function-wise, is a MUCH more advanced and much better controller than the Wiimote ever was. Yes the Wiimote was/is simple, but the best thing it ever had going for it was the IR pointer, for direct interaction with menus, shooter game aiming, etc. But menues are more easily navigated by a simple touch of the GamePad screen. And that's why the system still HAS Wiimote backwards compatibility, so that you can use it for FPS and other shooter games if you want.

 

But no, from the stance you're suggesting, the Wii U would not suddenly explode in popularity and sales just because Nintendo made blundering idiots of themselves and said "HEY EVERYBODY, WE GOOFED, JUST KIDDING, HERE'S FREE WIIMOTES!!!". That isn't going to "save" the system. The only thing that is going to SAVE the system, is games, GOOD games, and LOTS of them. Period.

I agree that the Gamepad is ideal but the truth is Nintendo messed up in regards to the Gamepad and the Wii U in order to cut corners, making the current setup of the Wii U controllers is a mess.

Having the Wii U be able to use the previous generation of Wii remotes is fine but they advertised the Wii U with people playing with Wii remotes. Based on most multiplayer games they are built around the idea of that or Pro Controllers which makes it seem like the Gamepad isn't necessary. The fact that consumers can't buy extra Gamepads, a number of games can be played without it and there are no games that use the set up of two Gamepads at the same time only gives strength to the idea that the Gamepad is a gimmick rather then the center piece in which the console was built around. Heck the fact that they didn't bother to create a newer style of Wii remote or Wii remote+ to market as a new controller is just as bad.

Even Sony had the sense to rename the Dual Shocks and add certain new features with each iteration. The way Nintendo has the Wii U marketed, while cost effective for themselves and previous Wii consumers comes off as half-assed rather then revolutionary or even evolutionary.