"So few of the larger publishers interested in making things specific to a platform any more. "
" We'll be much poorer off as gamers if cross-platform homogeny sets the agenda for platform holders."
With all the focus on the negative news sorrounding Wii U it's nice to hear a dev say something positive. And they also bring up a very good point about games being the same across all platforms. It would be nice to see a game like Assassin's Creed totally revamped for Nintendo systems. If it's the same for all systems, naturally most people with multiple consoles will choose the better looking version. And that rings especially true for the 8th gen. of consoles. Very few people will want to get the inferior looking version of a game just for added Gamepad mechanics. I would, but I know that I am in the minority, recent sales numbers prove that.
But if games like Assassin's Creed were taken in a totally different direction, in gameplay and story. For example, if they made an AC spin off on Wii U that used Black Beard or James Kidd as the main character and had the story tie in with the existing ACIV story line. Then totally revamp the controls for AC and put in the option of using Wiimotes and Gamepad combo for the game. it would definitely spark more interest in multi console owners to get more than one copy of AC that year.
I would sure like to see more 3rd party support for Wii U but just porting the same game over to the system is not a formula that seems to be working. And it sure won't get easier to sell the inferior version as time goes on. And if they keep just porting, sadly, that's exactly what Wii U owners will get from 3rd parties- the inferior version of 8th gen games.
But devs can turn that point of view around and make the Wii U version an equal if not superior version by making it more unique. I know it'sa slim chance of it ever happening, especially with current Wii U sales trends, devs will be reluctant to take those kinds of risks with big selling ip's like AC. But as a multi console owner, I can't see myself buying the same game for multiple systems or buying the Wii U version if the game doesn't utilize the Gamepad properly or innovatively. But I would definitely buy a spin off or tie in that is totally different and I think a lot more people would also.
Hopefully Wii U's 2014 line up will turn things around and devs will start thinking of new ways to attract gamers to their Wii U offerings.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/dakko_dakkos_rhodri_broadbent_emphasizes_the_value_of_unique_consoles
