Nintendo has blessed the world with characters like Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and Samus.
The company consistently releases games and systems which put smiles on millions of children’s faces – well, if we ignore the Virtual Boy.
Last generation, Nintendo sold nearly 100 million Wiis and more than 150 million units of its DS line, completely obliterating the competition.
While Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 may be the console choice for University students, casual gamers flooded the market to push Nintendo back on top.
And the house that Mario built doesn’t plan on slowing down.
Last year’s release of the company’s new handheld, the 3DS, is in the rear view mirror and Nintendo has its sights set forward with this holiday’s release of its new home console, the Wii U.
Unveiled at its press conference during last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Nintendo’s sixth home console is finally stepping into the HD market, and the games look gorgeous.
In a pre-rendered trailer of “The Legend of Zelda,” watching protagonist Link fight monsters in high-definition was like heaven for my eyes.
Seeing Mario jump around in crystal clear picture made my inner-child smile.
With a rumored release date this November and appearances from a new Mario and Pikmin game at this year’s E3, the Wii U already has an impressive line of games.
Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed III” has also been confirmed for the console.
The Wii U brings something unique to the table, never seen before in console gaming – a 6.2-inch touchscreen controller.
While touch-controlled games are nothing new – just look at all the games for iPad – the Wii U controller also has two joysticks, an array of buttons, camera, accelerometer and gyroscope.
Imagine playing a “Zelda” game with no more pausing to pull up your inventory. It’s all right there on your touchscreen.
That would have made that pesky Water Temple in “Ocarina of Time” so much easier.
The console can also stream its content to the 6.2-inch screen, meaning players could change the channel on the TV – or turn the TV completely off – and continue gaming.
After getting my hands on the console at last year’s E3 conference, I was fully impressed with the size and feel of the controller, as well as the graphics of the system.
The controller didn’t seem too big or heavy, and it fit great in my hands.
The Wii U will also support all of your old Wii games and accessories.
Overall, I was highly impressed with my brief time with the console. But, there is one glaring flaw which could lead to the success or untimely demise of the console – its name.
I know it seems trivial, but the name of this console could easily dictate the perception of it to the public.
Development started for the Wii U after Nintendo realized people were associating the Wii for casual players, keeping the PS3 and Xbox 360 for more hardcore players.
Keeping the new console named the Wii U associates it with its predecessor.
While that may be good when it comes to brand recognition and sales – 100 million units worldwide is nothing to scoff at – it will hurt in the eyes of these “core” gamers who left Nintendo for other systems.
I predict the Wii U will launch for around $300 to 400. That price range is much higher than the Wii’s initial launch of $250, most likely turning away many of the casual gaming, soccer-mom crowd who scooped up the Wii.
However, like I said, keeping the Wii name – even with its improved graphics and unique controller – will keep hardcore players away since they will most likely associate it with its casual predecessor.
The Wii U has an insane amount of potential. Nintendo has basically remade the same games for more than 25 years, and they somehow keep getting better.
If the system can garner enough third-party support, and developers do some innovative things with the second touch screen, Nintendo will easily continue to dominate the next generation of video game platforms.
Yet, it only takes another Virtual Boy for the company to fall flat on its face leaving a new system to take over as king.
Adam Arinder is a 22-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
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Contact Adam Arinder at [email protected].
Press X To Not Die: Nintendo to continue its domination with new Wii U
April 17, 2012