The CommUNITY within Wii U. This Universe. This U-Mii-verse. This You-Me-verse.
They have absolutely redefined networked play! They are creating a base that builds in a viral nature. They're building an ecosystem. They won't need as much traditional marketing because Word-Of-Mouth is built into the design of this system...organically.
Since you can also look into Miiverse per Browser from the PC or Smartphone or other devices and you have the possibility there to look into some selected screenshots and posts from the various games even if you arent' logged in (I just checked it), this Word-of-Mouth caused by Miiverse isn't only inside-effective, but also partly outside. So people who aren't owning a Wii U yet but heard about Miiverse can also look into favoured posts so they can have a bit of insight in the game, but not only with screens, there is also always a comment added by the player. That's the difference to just only looking to screens showed by the game-publisher.
However, the outside-word-of-mouth-effect will be largely created by the Wii U owners themselves when they show and explain the system to friends etc.
Let's hope this works out well otherwise it has no chance to reach the imo quite high-scheduled 12 million-mark by this years end.
Animal Crossing Plaza JUST came out & I didn't even know it. I just bought Animal Crossing: New Leaf a little less than 2 months ago. They can bypass the payola-ed critics & bad press as the Wii U Miiverse spreads the word about Wii U's games. Add in Nintendo's old strategy of Connectivity with the 3DS & one hand washes another. They feed into one another. 3DS helps sell Wii U. Wii U helps sell 3DS. Their old fashioned sister system program (Game Boy to NES/SNES, Game Boy Color to N64, Game Boy Advance to Gamecube, DS to Wii) designed to reciprocate better than ever before. In the Game Boy Advance/Gamecube days we had those obstructive wires getting in the way. We lost the wires in the DS/Wii days & things got much better but the ecosystem still had portions of disconnect. This time it's a fully cohesive ecosystem within a unified seamlessly connected network & it even covers the old Wii since Wii resides within Wii U in the system's Wii Mode.
You could see them experimenting with this on Wii's Mii Parade & DS's Tag Mode. Tag Mode has evolved into SpotPass/StreetPass & that Mii Parade has evolved into Miiverse/Warawara Plaza.
Keep your eyes on Animal Crossing Plaza & Animal Crossing: New Leaf. They always called that series a communication game. It took off out of the gate like wildfire & believe me when 3DS washes with Wii U using that game as the soap...man...wow.
I find it quite interesting that the games of some franchises on this system are having very similar names.
You have Super Mario 3DLand for 3DS and Super Mario 3DWorld for WiiU. See?
There are Mario Kart 7 for 3DS and Mario Kart 8 for WiiU...
Hell, there is gonna be a Super Smash Bros. Wii U and a Super Smash Bros. 3DS. Yes, the two games are basically the game, but there will be some differences such as the stages and the graphic styles, so hardcore fans will maybe buy both versions hence he must have both consoles.
And not only the names...but also Remake-NewGame-combinations.
A DKCR remake for the 3DS launched in the same year as a complete new DKC-Game will launch on the WiiU.
Hell, this year two Zelda games are coming out. WW HD,a remake, for WiiU and ALBW, a new game, for 3DS. It started here already on the Wii with OoT 3D and Skyward Sword.
Others...
Wii Party U for WiiU while a month later Mario Party: Island Tour is coming out for 3DS. Both games made by the same developer by the way ;)
Monster Hunter 3Ultimate can be played together with owners of the 3DS-version. You can also transfer your data between those systems.
That's all really interesting. I guess there's more to come.
And holy s*** we also know they are planning to put Miiverse on 3DS together with a NinID also von 3DS and maybe a bit later even a unified e-shop. And this is gonna be HUUUUUUGE! Imagine both Miiverses combined but with a certain structure so you won't be overstrained. This will rock =) The Animal Crossing Plaza allowing you posting pictures of Animal Crossing in Miiverse already shows you the potential.
I think there is some BIG thing coming if Nintendo does alright.
Then you take these 2 hyper-connected systems & have both wash over with the other. DAMN!!
"Wash over with the other"....yes, that sounds good.
This is going to be a devastating generation for Sony & Microsoft once Wii U gets that word-of-mouth going. I used to call it the WiiDS Phenomenon with the combination of Wii & DS. This is WiiDS Up 3!!
It all will depend whether the plan with Word-of-mouth will work out or not...
Keep your eye on the end of the year. Asda's gonna regret that decision to pull Wii U's off the shelves. They just gave all their business to Tesco (gotta love Wikipedia!).
The end is this year is actually very crucial for both systems, especially Wii U. The whole fate of the WiiU will be determined by this little time period, the holiday season 2013...It all depends on this event.
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