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Soundwave on 06 July 2014
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RolStoppable said:
Soundwave said:

Don't shoot the messenger, the tablet pad isn't the controller I'd bank a system on, I'm just looking at it from Nintendo's POV. I also probably think that they came up with the idea for it before Apple released the iPad in spring 2010, and if everyone and their grandma didn't already have a tablet in the house, some of what the Wii U tablet brings to the table may have been fairly novel. 

But as is, put next to "real" tablet, it looks like some cheap kids toy with limited functionality and that certainly isn't helping Nintendo. 

Some of the things are neat though like the ability to share funny Youtube videos on the TV with family/friends ... in a world where an iPad doesn't exist, something like that might be much more of a notable functionality. 

Though I think this whole situation illustrates pretty clearly the dangers of trying to rely on controller gimmicks to sell a console. Sometimes it works, but if it doesn't, you've basically put all your eggs in one basket and now you're screwed. That's the problem with such an approach. 

How was the Gamepad supposed to convey ease of use with all its buttons and sticks? Regardless of the iPad's or other tablets' existence, the Gamepad ran contrary to the Wii's message.


The Wiimote + nunchaku actually has quite a few buttons on it too so does the DS (which is far more successful than the Wii) ... but really, even if you strip the Wii U tablet of both analog sticks and ZL/ZR buttons, is it really going to sell any better? No. 

If a lack of buttons is everything than Kinect should be the controller of choice for most people. 

In actuality I think iPad's multi-touch interface trumps everything (even the Wiimote). I've seen 2-3 year old kids be able to start using it without parental help, my goddaughter for example, while I still have to guide her with the Wii to get into Netflix Kids (she doesn't understand that she has to point the Wiimote at the sensor bar, not the TV), but on her mom's iPhone she was able to almost purchase certain games on her own and can launch into all the games by herself.

Against that ... Nintendo really can't compete. They're a game company they can't develop an OS interface competitevely with the likes of Apple and they can't offer the $1/free game ecosystem either as it runs contrary to their traditional business model. Apple just presents to many headaches for Nintendo, at least with Sony and MS they by and large play by Nintendo's rules. 

The iPad definitely took a giant sh*t on Nintendo's hopes with the Wii U too ... if there was no iPad I have no doubt it would be much better recieved.