When Nintendo released the Wii with motion controls they could not simply be beat by Sony introducing the same concept only improved upon slightly; Nintendo had bundled the new motion controls with their new hardware and therefore already had years of software specifically developed for motion controls. The Wii also had the image with the general public of being *the* motion console.

However, if Nintendo is going to release a console with such an amazing IDEA but severely limits it by only allowing one screen pad controller to be used per console they will be leaving too much room for improvement which Sony and Microsoft can use without much effort.

Using the new controller the Wii U will be able to unleash an amazing potential for single-player games but not for multi-player games. So only 50% of the potential will be realized. The only thing Sony and Microsoft will need to do is make it possible for multiple of these types of controllers to be used on their next consoles to pretty much have the upper hand in every single aspect.

I'm not a fanboy and I want Nintendo to do the right thing, but this is an incredibly stupid move. Look the Wii U is sure to have great graphics and expectedly better than the PS3 and Xbox360's, but I don't think many people can argue that the next Playstation and Xbox will be stronger than the Wii U even though the difference may not be as great as it was this gen.

Let's assume that when the next Playstation and Xbox consoles launch they have: better graphics + 4 player controller screen pads + motion controls. What does Nintendo have to differentiate themselves now? Nintendo will have inferior graphics and inferior screen pad support. Perhaps price will be their differentiating point, but I can guarantee you that price will not enable them to succeed in their goal of appealing to core gamers (casual gamers are much more price sensitive than core gamers are) and gaining a lot of third party support.

Look I know they will have great first party games (which I too love), but we can expect less consoles to be sold than the Wii did; because the Wii had something others didn't and did it right (Motion+ is a small improvement in the entire picture). As a consequence third party support may plunge once again after the initial start of the console and it may start to look a lot like the Gamecube (which I love, but it's not good for us gamers when we want 3rd party games, and it's not good for Nintendo).

When Nintendo released the Wii with motion controls they could not simply be beat by Sony introducing the same concept only improved upon slightly; Nintendo had bundled the new motion controls with their new hardware and therefore already had years of software specifically developed for motion controls. The Wii also had the image with the general public of being *the* motion console.

However, if Nintendo is going to release a console with such an amazing IDEA but severely limits it by only allowing one screen pad controller to be used per console they will be leaving too much room for improvement which Sony and Microsoft can use without much effort.

Using the new controller the Wii U will be able to unleash an amazing potential for single-player games but not for multi-player games. So only 50% of the potential will be realized. The only thing Sony and Microsoft will need to do is make it possible for multiple of these types of controllers to be used on their next consoles to pretty much have the upper hand in every single aspect.

I'm not a fanboy and I want Nintendo to do the right thing, but this is an incredibly stupid move. Look the Wii U is sure to have great graphics and expectedly better than the PS3 and Xbox360's, but I don't think many people can argue that the next Playstation and Xbox will be stronger than the Wii U even though the difference may not be as great as it was this gen.

Let's assume that when the next Playstation and Xbox consoles launch they have: better graphics + 4 player controller screen pads + motion controls. What does Nintendo have to differentiate themselves now? Nintendo will have inferior graphics and inferior screen pad support. Perhaps price will be their differentiating point, but I can guarantee you that price will not enable them to succeed in their goal of appealing to core gamers (casual gamers are much more price sensitive than core gamers are) and gaining a lot of third party support.

Look I know they will have great first party games (which I too love), but we can expect less consoles to be sold than the Wii did; because the Wii had something others didn't and did it right (Motion+ is a small improvement in the entire picture). As a consequence third party support may plunge once again after the initial start of the console and it may start to look a lot like the Gamecube (which I love, but it's not good for us gamers when we want 3rd party games, and it's not good for Nintendo).

I agree that one controller per device sucks, but I don't think next-gen consoles from Microsoft and Sony will go exatly the same road...
 
Nintendo proved that there is a big market for this motion-based stuff, but that doesn't mean that they will be the only one to inovate in this area.
 
 Also, I higly doubt that Wii U will be more powerfull than X360/PS3, but we will have to wait for actual system specs.

is this confirmed? its absolutely INSANE to cut local multi player... and im a 32 year old guy that never plays locally (well rarely) but still... damn, it really is a different time isnt it :(

It all comes down to brand recognition and customer loyalty. Let's face it: More people own a Wii than PS3/360. That's great. As much as many of us hate the "casual gamer", they're here to stay, and they more than likely own a Wii. They'll see the Wii U on the shelves and learn that their Wii accessories and  games are compatible. Boom. Plus another sale. The hardcore market is severely different form the target demographic of the modern Nintendo audience (Is it weird that spellcheck recognizes "Nintendo" now?)  No one should complain. As long as people are experiencing gaming, we have no room to bitch. It cuts down on the "Vidja games maed them do it" bullshit. 
 
Besides, let's face it: For many of us older gamers, Nintendo brought the experience in the day. We gotta believe in them to an extent... (And No, and I am NOT a fanboy. But I know my roots.)

The multi-controller argument is really exclusive to Nintendo's consoles. It's only a small niche of Xbox/PS3 gamers that ever use multiple controllers. They're playing online multiplayer, not couch. This is why there are always like three guys that bitch when a new game comes out without local coop, but largely no one else gives a shit.

That said, I hope MS and Sony don't bother improving upon Nintendo's crap this time. I still may or may not buy a Wii U, but don't spoil real consoles by adding in gimmicky shit.

is this confirmed? its absolutely INSANE to cut local multi player... and im a 32 year old guy that never plays locally (well rarely) but still... damn, it really is a different time isnt it :(

The screen controller isn't the revelation that motion controls could have been/will be some day, so I'd say that Sony and Microsoft won't even touch it and the argument is moot. It's not like the system can only use one controller period, just one separate screened one. There are already plenty of things they've shown that look interesting, and some of them *because* only one player has the extra screen to work with. 
 
I'd also be willing to be it's a hardware limitation. No currently available consumer wireless technology could push gameplay wirelessly to multiple screens without a ton of lag issues.

It will be fine, chill "hardcorez" ಠ_ಠ

Probably comes down to hardware. If the thing has to render 4 separate images, it would probably dumb down the quality significantly.

Why's everyone freaking out? The console allows 5 player local multiplayer.

Just means that only one person uses the new controller, everyone else just uses Wii remotes.

@VilhelmNielsen said:

Probably comes down to hardware. If the thing has to render 4 separate images, it would probably dumb down the quality significantly.

Seems like a perfectly reasonable and logical explanation, if you ask me.

Why's everyone freaking out? The console allows 5 player local multiplayer.

Just means that only one person uses the new controller, everyone else just uses Wii remotes.

@creamypies said:

Why's everyone freaking out? The console allows 5 player local multiplayer.

Just means that only one person uses the new controller, everyone else just uses Wii remotes.

From what I can tell the system can recognize any combination of Wii-motes and Touch-Screen controllers. (Since each developer can use any combination for their game)

It all comes down to brand recognition and customer loyalty. Let's face it: More people own a Wii than PS3/360. That's great. As much as many of us hate the "casual gamer", they're here to stay, and they more than likely own a Wii. They'll see the Wii U on the shelves and learn that their Wii accessories and  games are compatible. Boom. Plus another sale. The hardcore market is severely different form the target demographic of the modern Nintendo audience (Is it weird that spellcheck recognizes "Nintendo" now?)  No one should complain. As long as people are experiencing gaming, we have no room to bitch. It cuts down on the "Vidja games maed them do it" bullshit.   Besides, let's face it: For many of us older gamers, Nintendo brought the experience in the day. We gotta believe in them to an extent... (And No, and I am NOT a fanboy. But I know my roots.)

Like some people already suggested I can completely understand the hardware limiting streaming 4 high graphic images to 4 different controllers.
However, I do at least expect to be able to use 4 of these new pads with at least some kind of mini-map or equipment screen on them even if they are made up of just sprites. By allowing this I do believe a lot of concern would disappear.
 
I also agree with the fact that casual Wii owners are not just going to buy a Wii U; In fact I believe Nintendo is going to have a very difficult time selling any new console to the casual crowd for quite a while. Nintendo knows this and this is precisely the reason why they are trying to cater to the "hardcore" again, without their loyal fan-base they are lost. The grannies and grandpas, the house-wives, and young families have a Wii with some fun multi-player games, and I see absolutely no reason for them to dish out a lot of money to buy this thing.

It will be fine, chill "hardcorez" ಠ_ಠ

Do you really believe that the WiiU controller concept will catch on to that extent? I can't see it at all.

Do you really believe that the WiiU controller concept will catch on to that extent? I can't see it at all.

It's only a small niche of Xbox/PS3 gamers that ever use multiple controllers. They're playing online multiplayer, not couch. This is why there are always like three guys that bitch when a new game comes out without local coop, but largely no one else gives a shit.

It's not "one controller per console" actually, based on the demos they were showing it looks like it allows 5 controllers per console and I think that's a step up from what Sony and Microsoft are offering right now.  Sure, you can only use one of the WiiU screen controllers at a time, but I'm  it won't affect how you play those games in a negative way since their design will be based. 

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

It's only a small niche of Xbox/PS3 gamers that ever use multiple controllers. They're playing online multiplayer, not couch. This is why there are always like three guys that bitch when a new game comes out without local coop, but largely no one else gives a shit.

This is my impression as well. Also, true or not, Nintendo seems to feel that there's nothing inherently wrong with the Wiimote/nunchuck combo for controlling games. Seems they felt the main issue was the power of the current system.

@DefaultProphet said:

Do you really believe that the WiiU controller concept will catch on to that extent? I can't see it at all.

Im sure you didn't see it for Kinect or the original Wii or the DS, either. Most "real gamers" have a dismal track record of "expert opinions".

@Law313: I bet it will come with one or two Wii Remotes. Those things must cost Nintendo about fifty cents to make.

However, if they want it to catch on for third party support in real games, they'll have to release a real controller of some type. Playing, for instance, Call of Duty on that new controller would be hell (only two top buttons, the analog sticks are directly above the buttons and dpad).

@Law313: I bet it will come with one or two Wii Remotes. Those things must cost Nintendo about fifty cents to make.

However, if they want it to catch on for third party support in real games, they'll have to release a real controller of some type. Playing, for instance, Call of Duty on that new controller would be hell (only two top buttons, the analog sticks are directly above the buttons and dpad).

The multi-controller argument is really exclusive to Nintendo's consoles. It's only a small niche of Xbox/PS3 gamers that ever use multiple controllers. They're playing online multiplayer, not couch. This is why there are always like three guys that bitch when a new game comes out without local coop, but largely no one else gives a shit.

That said, I hope MS and Sony don't bother improving upon Nintendo's crap this time. I still may or may not buy a Wii U, but don't spoil real consoles by adding in gimmicky shit.

In reality, it supports five controllers, so local multiplayer is better then ever.

@sarahsdad said:

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

It's only a small niche of Xbox/PS3 gamers that ever use multiple controllers. They're playing online multiplayer, not couch. This is why there are always like three guys that bitch when a new game comes out without local coop, but largely no one else gives a shit.

This is my impression as well. Also, true or not, Nintendo seems to feel that there's nothing inherently wrong with the Wiimote/nunchuck combo for controlling games. Seems they felt the main issue was the power of the current system.

My problem with that is what happens to the gamer that doesnt already own a Wii(like myself). So when I pick up my Wii U at launch, I have to buy a few Wii-motes just to play the games I want? Insane Nintendo.

Am I the only one thinking the graphics on the Wii U won't be much better then current 360.PS3's based on the trailers they showed at E3?

@LiquidPrince said:

Am I the only one thinking the graphics on the Wii U won't be much better then current 360.PS3's based on the trailers they showed at E3?

Everyone knows and has been thinking that for the last few weeks.