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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Should Nintendo offer an optional WiiU SKU without the Gamepad?

 

Should Nintendo offer a WiiU SKU without the Gamepad?

Yes, their best option at this point. 164 47.13%
 
No, the negatives outweigh the cheaper price. 183 52.59%
 
Total:347
archbrix on 20 February 2014
Arius Dion said:

Why not make it optional with a DKC bundle considering that game doesn't use it at all?

Such a missed opportunity.  They had the perfect game to usher in a new Gamepad-less bundle and sell it for $249.  

Maybe Nintendo will realize when the WiiU doesn't see improvement upon DKC's worldwide release (Japan numbers make me sad), they'll wake-up in time for Mario Kart's debut.  They wouldn't even need to bundle a Pro Controller there; just make it a MK8/Wiimote/nunchuck package, throw in the plastic wheel and sell it for $249.  So much potential for win.



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Podings on 20 February 2014

A SKU without the GamePad would spell the death of the system.

A much better idea would be to have two SKUs with the GamePad featured less prominently on the box, instead showing either a Wiimote+ or a Pro Controller.



archbrix on 20 February 2014
Podings said:
A SKU without the GamePad would spell the death of the system.

A much better idea would be to have two SKUs with the GamePad featured less prominently on the box, instead showing either a Wiimote+ or a Pro Controller.

@bolded:  Not really sure what you mean here...

Are you suggesting a new, more expensive SKU that included the Wiimote/nunchuck or Pro Controller?  That would be fine, although it doesn't help to offset the system being sold at a loss because of the Gamepad's inclusion.  The entire basis for my thread is to make the hardware both profitable for Ninty and affordable for the consumer, so this idea would do neither of these things.

Now, if you're suggesting to just feature the Wiimote/nunchuck or Pro Controller on the box more prominently when they're not even included, then that would be absurd, obviously, but I don't think that's what you meant, lol.

Furthermore, the idea of featuring the Gamepad less prominently in the existing SKU is not my intention at all.  I don't think that Nintendo should be ashamed of advertising it or anything, lol.  And I don't think that the problem for most people is being scared away by the Gamepad.  For the people who want it (like me), it's a great device.  And if there was some way to just lower the price of the WiiU enough (without repercussions) with the Gamepad included, then by all means, leave it intact.  Anyone who chooses to play with another controller would be free to buy one.

The problem is that making it a mandatory inclusion is driving up the cost, and the Gamepad currently is just not selling the system.  That's a deadly combination.  And the reason it's not selling the system, in my opinion, is because it hasn't been proven by Nintendo as a bona fide game changer.



Podings on 21 February 2014
archbrix said:
Podings said:
A SKU without the GamePad would spell the death of the system.

A much better idea would be to have two SKUs with the GamePad featured less prominently on the box, instead showing either a Wiimote+ or a Pro Controller.

@bolded:  Not really sure what you mean here...

Are you suggesting a new, more expensive SKU that included the Wiimote/nunchuck or Pro Controller?  That would be fine, although it doesn't help to offset the system being sold at a loss because of the Gamepad's inclusion.  The entire basis for my thread is to make the hardware both profitable for Ninty and affordable for the consumer, so this idea would do neither of these things.

Now, if you're suggesting to just feature the Wiimote/nunchuck or Pro Controller on the box more prominently when they're not even included, then that would be absurd, obviously, but I don't think that's what you meant, lol.

Furthermore, the idea of featuring the Gamepad less prominently in the existing SKU is not my intention at all.  I don't think that Nintendo should be ashamed of advertising it or anything, lol.  And I don't think that the problem for most people is being scared away by the Gamepad.  For the people who want it (like me), it's a great device.  And if there was some way to just lower the price of the WiiU enough (without repercussions) with the Gamepad included, then by all means, leave it intact.  Anyone who chooses to play with another controller would be free to buy one.

The problem is that making it a mandatory inclusion is driving up the cost, and the Gamepad currently is just not selling the system.  That's a deadly combination.  And the reason it's not selling the system, in my opinion, is because it hasn't been proven by Nintendo as a bona fide game changer.


Seems you understood me correctly.

I know you want to lower the price, but removing the GamePad isn't an option. It simply can't NOT be mandatory.

It's an inregrated part of the system, and the best they could do to make the system more appealing, in my eyes, is put a controller that is easier to understand on the box in a more prominent position.

Most casuals would respond better to the WiiMote than th eGamePad, and most hardcores respond better to the ProController than the GamePad.

I know this is a little outside the topic, but I really do feel it isn't an option at all in any way to remove the GamePad from the system. It would cease to be a Wii U at that point.



archbrix on 21 February 2014
Podings said:

Seems you understood me correctly.

I know you want to lower the price, but removing the GamePad isn't an option. It simply can't NOT be mandatory.

It's an inregrated part of the system, and the best they could do to make the system more appealing, in my eyes, is put a controller that is easier to understand on the box in a more prominent position.

Most casuals would respond better to the WiiMote than th eGamePad, and most hardcores respond better to the ProController than the GamePad.

I know this is a little outside the topic, but I really do feel it isn't an option at all in any way to remove the GamePad from the system. It would cease to be a Wii U at that point.

@bolded:  Believe me, I used to have this exact attitude, but as of late with the Gamepad not selling the console I don't quite share this opinion of separation being out of the question at this point.  If Nintendo surprises me at E3 with that one big game (preferrably more) that is going to sell the Gamepad, then I will wholeheartedly agree that separating it from the console is a terrible idea.  And I sincerely hope they do.

In any case, I'm sure that Nintendo won't separate it regardless.  But honestly, if they do intend to stick with it they really need to lower the price anyway to $249 when Mario Kart releases and bundle it.  That's all I really wanted anyway from a consumer standpoint and I believe there are plenty of people who would pay that price to get to play Mario Kart.  Do a bundle with Smash when it releases later this fall and Ninty will move consoles pretty nicely this holiday.  

Unfortunately, their profit margins would be another story, but at least selling more consoles would mean selling more software as well.



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the2real4mafol on 22 February 2014
archbrix said:

1.  No, you don't.  You can turn on the system and play Mario just fine with a Wiimote without touching the Gamepad.  Yes, the GP does turn on as well, but there's nothing that Ninty couldn't patch to fix any inconsistencies.  And unless you're talking about off-TV play, DKCTF says Hi with its black screen while you play.

2.  Why not?  The two main issues - splitting the userbase and the UI - are addressed in the OP, so what else is there?

3.  Fair enough for you personally, but it's sure not selling the console at the moment.  At least not at its current price, and Nintendo can't lower the price without dropping the GP.  And the console still has one big unique feature - Nintendo exclusives - just like the Gamecube did.  Difference is, GC was priced right... and so far, is tracking much higher in sales aligned.

4.  Lol, I'm still waiting for links to this massive abundance of "Should Ninty add a GP-less SKU" threads here on the Chartz.  Particularly from a Nintendo fan like myself who was a big advocate for not separating the GP until recently.  This "lot" would like to see evidence of this.

How much cheaper do you people want this console to be? It's already the cheapest of the 3 (£250 (Wii U) compared to £350 (PS4) and £430 (X1) even if the controller is expensive to make. Gamecube was cheapest in it's generation as well and yet still got destroyed by PS2. 

I don't think we can blame the gamepad on Wii U's failure, i think it's more Nintendo created this controller and don't know what to do with it themselves. They seem to lack direction with it. A good idea but not used very much. I'm not sure if just suddenly ditching it for a pro controller or wiimote would solve anything. I may be wrong but i find it hard to see.

And if Nintendo did drop it altogether, how would that affect the games that use it properly? like ZombiU for example.

I know Donkey Kong don't use it at all.

Anyway, i'm not going to link a thing but it's seems the removal of the gamepad is a common thread at the moment, much like the resolution wars and kinect. It's kinda annoying. People should enjoy these things for what they are. 

 



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Cleary397 on 22 February 2014

Absolutely not.

The only thing it will do is increase the confusion of what the console is,
some consumers already believe it is just an add on for the original Wii, so removing the one defining feature (the gamepad) would only worsen that.

Plus, so much software would be completely unplayable without the gamepad. Including the eShop and the console settings.



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TarHeeLsALLday on 22 February 2014

No, what they need to do is actually utilize the gamepad.



t3mporary_126 on 22 February 2014
Podings said:

Seems you understood me correctly.

I know you want to lower the price, but removing the GamePad isn't an option. It simply can't NOT be mandatory.

It's an inregrated part of the system, and the best they could do to make the system more appealing, in my eyes, is put a controller that is easier to understand on the box in a more prominent position.

Most casuals would respond better to the WiiMote than th eGamePad, and most hardcores respond better to the ProController than the GamePad.

I know this is a little outside the topic, but I really do feel it isn't an option at all in any way to remove the GamePad from the system. It would cease to be a Wii U at that point.

You got yourself another quoter!

TL;DnR at bottom

I think this is a good point for keeping the Wii U. I believe the average consumer that Nintendo wanted to target in the Wii/DS time most likely know the PS4 and One have better power/graphics/performance than the Wii U like last gen. And some gamers dont even know if the Wii U is stronger than last gen just like they thought for the Wii. The GamePad can help the consumer justify buying the Wii U even though it's weaker.

But what has history constantly shown us in the console wars? That the most powerful console RARELY WINS. Power is not the only cause for sales. There is something else. What that is what avid gamers constantly try to figure out. Some say software is the most influential cause, and some say the price and value of the system. If both are those are true, then the Wii U is lacking both of them.

The consumers have shown they do not want another 2D Mario game that initially looks similar to the one in the Wii. The consumers have shown they do not want a Nintendo Land as launch title for Wii U as much as Wii Sports for Wii. The consumer has shown that they do not want a Wii U for 300$ with a free 2D Mario Game and its expansion pack included. The consumer have also shown they do not want a 3D Mario game that you can play with three other friends because the PS4 and One outsold the Wii U in 2013's holiday season.

The consumer wants something different from Nintendo, and the GamePad is either not innovative enough or unattractive. And the current games this year are the same games that appeared for the Wii last generation. 2D Mario and 3D Mario sold above 10 million for Wii but they couldn't get the Wii U to have a modest 70k sale per week since January. So how will Mario Kart and Smash Bros. do any better? Does library sell hardware. Maybe for the PS3. But the PS3 has a huge library of million sellers. So far the Wii U only has 2D and 3D Mario, Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Nintendo Land, Monster Hunter, Donkey Kong and Lego City (i think) being the only or possible million seller so far.

How does this tie to the GamePad? The GamePad, as I have already mentioned, is either undesirable or not innovative enough for the consumers to be attractive. It's been over one year since the Wii U has launched and that image it has is a weaker system with a controller that is undersirable or non-innovative. Why not remove that image by removing the GamePad which will allow the price and the development cost of the Wii U to be lower?

TL;DnR: GamePad has a negative image based on media and sale reception of it and the Wii U in the past year which allowed the PS4 and One to quickly gain ground on it and destroy it in sales during November to December of 2013. Removing that image may actually be a good thing.



toot1231 on 22 February 2014

Yes.
I like the gamepad
but its still just a gimmick would rather have normal pro controller.


Oh yea I finally picked up a Pro controller for Wii U
most comfortable controller i have ever held.



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