Not just about power

Going its own way

One debate that has swirled around Wii U is its graphical power and grunt, with many debating whether it's on par, stronger or potentially weaker than its Microsoft and Sony counterparts. One thing we do know is that it produces HD visuals and that Mario and company have never looked so pretty, all while coming out with its innovative GamePad controller.

In fact, anyone who looks at recent history with DS, Wii and 3DS will know that Nintendo doesn't concern itself with being top of the technological tree, and arguably hasn't done so since the infamous console wars of the 1990s. When asked by Gamesindustry.biz about Nintendo and Wii U's relative power, worldwide technology director Julien Merceron of Square Enix pointed this out, as well as highlighting the varied experiences currently on offer to gamers.

If you look at the recent Nintendo platforms, the DS, 3DS and the Wii, it seems like they are trying to avoid aligning too much with Sony's and Microsoft's strategies. They are trying to take a different path, a different perspective on things. The type of entertainment they provide focuses not so much on graphics or immersion, but more on high-quality and innovative gameplay. They try to be different, they try to find a different market and they try to solve problems that they perceive as being the most important to solve today. So yeah, Microsoft and Sony are trying to solve different sets of problems. Their focus from a consumer perspective is completely different.

I strongly believe that the Wii U is going to provide new ways of interacting with games and there is definitely a community out there that is interested in that.

The idea of Nintendo pursuing a different direction is now standard, but it's yet another reminder to polygon enthusiasts that Wii U will be aiming to give so much more than pretty graphics.

This has been said by every Nintendo supporter and Nintendo themselves for years but people who support other console just refuse to acknolwedge or accept it. Its almost as if it beyond there comprehension. What is so hard to understand about this? Nintendo believes in innovation.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/07/square_enix_nintendo_works_with_a_different_perspective

And that is why i rated the Wii so highly, it dared to be different. Of course Nintendo didnt always execute things perfectly, but when they did boy was it great. Nintendo have done the right thing by not putting themselves in direct competition with Sony and Microsoft, and carving out their own market and brands with Wii and DS (WiiU/3DS). I know the Wii is slated a lot, but i think it has been very important to the games industry, tapping into an untapped market and bringing more people into gaming than ever before, and plenty of revenue. I hope in years to come people will look at what Nintendo achieved with the Wii with a little more fondness than they do at present. And of course i hope WiiU succeeds,as its nice to have something on the market that is a little different.

Well, not many understands Nintendo's strategic perspective or business practices. On that note, it does take some courage to take the risks they do and what works for them is their artistic talent and the nostalgia of Mario. I say, "Loved specially by FEW, Severely Misunderstood by MANY, but damn well respected by ALL"

I'm happy Square Enix has said this. The more large developers who support Nintendo and their ways, the better!

(Hey... SE... maybe you can make the next FF for the Wii U? )

The mere statement "Different Perspective" resounds all throughout the industry that echoes confusion when it comes to Nintendo's stance.

Its only confusing to people who want a different reality to be correct. Nintendo has been repeating the same thing in explicit detail for years, but some people just refuse to take it as it is.

I can only guess that Nintendo's perspective is too ideal and too different from standard business models for people to accept it as true.

You can't discuss Nintendo's business practices and methodologies without bringing ethics onto the field. A lot of  people (especially Sony and Microsoft fans) do not like this because of not so ethical actions those two companies often take. They don't want a competition on those grounds so they disregard it. The truth is that Nintendo is a very ethical and family oriented company. Its not "just" all about money with them and it is that which people cannot understand. They would rather lose money than go against there ideals as they have shown in the past.

I'm honestly not to fond of what the current Square produces. For me, its all about Mistwalker and Monolith Soft now. That is where the people who made Square what it is now reside.

People's lingering affection for that name is misguided. Square's games weren't good because of the companies name. They were good because of who made the games. Those people aren't there anymore. The games the people who run Square now make are completely different with some crumbs knocked off of the older games and mixed into give them some validity.

That is why I dread the thought of an FF7 remake. If Crisis Core was enough to go by, the game will be completely inundated with cheesey overacting and melodrama 10 fold with modern popular Japanese trends momentary hot themes sprayed everwhere(see Clouds cell phone and shades in advent children). Everything that made the game legendary will be gone but it will still sells million on its name alone leading to the prodcution of more such failure.

I agree that it does take a special perspective when it comes to understanding Nintendo's philosophy. To many who bashes their ideals and business practice either have to no clue or refuses to accept it. Unfortunately, it has become almost a culture-like meme to bash them, and use this as a hook to an article

Let me throw this crazy but great (if you don't mind me saying) idea on the table:

FF XIII-3 on the WiiU. 

No. The Wii U really doesn't need bad games on the system.