Wii U - Can it be revived?

There's little to no secret that Nintendo's latest console isn't performing so hot. Just looking at the sales numbers for April (a pitiful 36,000 units) is enough to cause extreme concern considering no modern home console has hit monthly numbers that low in at least a decade. I thought it would be interesting to have a look at what Nintendo is doing with the Wii U to rope in new consumers, as well as taking a look at what they're doing to keep them away.

Not pictured: flesh eating Wiimotes

The name of the Wii U has always been a sore spot in my view. The Wii name is associated with a cheap console of yesteryear, and sold more than the Xbox 360 and PS3 in its prime. I assume Nintendo thought that having a successor to the Wii would be a guaranteed hit given the brand recognition. What has resulted is not what Nintendo had planned, with consumer confusion about what the Wii U is. Is it a controller for the Wii? A new console? Nintendo has poorly communicated that this is a newer, better system that people need to have. 

Despite the consumer confusion over the name, the Wii U is also lacking a significant hook that the masses can latch onto. The Wii had the motion controller and Wii Sports. The Wii U has a controller with a touch screen on it. In a post-iPad world, people expect more out of their tablets and the Wii U's Gamepad doesn't deliver the functionality the iPad or any other tablet currently offers. The Wii's motion controller was something the masses had never been introduced to before. Touch controls and smaller screen games is something everyone's seen before by this point.

The iPad also has another hook the Wii U doesn't: it's portable. I'm not ignoring the Wii U's price in comparison to an iPad (where the Wii U does have the advantage) but once again, the iPad offers a lot more than the Wii U in terms of functionality and is portable. Even then, this is ignoring the 3DS which has been doing decently after its rocky launch in 2011. Why would someone purchase the Wii U when the 3DS is much cheaper and has a wider selection of games? I find it difficult to answer, especially if I'm a parent looking to purchase a console for my child.

Can Nintendo just throw a price cut at the problem? No, they can't. It's the "tree falls in the forest with no one around" problem. They can price cut the system to $200 and it wouldn't help much because, again, the masses don't know why they want a Wii U when they already have a Wii.

Can Nintendo throw games at the problem? Maybe. I think with the right game or collection of games that the Wii U can be turned around quite a bit. The problem is convincing people that the games are worth purchasing the system for. This is going to be increasingly difficult this year as all eyes will be on Microsoft and Sony. Things don't look good for the Wii U moving forward unless they can grab some of the attention back they had a few years ago.

Is the Wii U dead? That's Nintendo's decision, not mine. I certainly hope it isn't, but it all depends on whether or not can Nintendo make the right moves in the coming months.

Game Of The Year 2012 - Number Six

Sixth Favorite Game of 2012

Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 was certainly one of the more hyped releases in 2012, especially with the assumption that this was the 'end' of Shepard's story, and presumably the franchise. At least, that's what the marketing would have lead you to believe, and if you bought that I have some blinker fluid I'd like to sell you.

Without spoiling too much and not taking the marketing into account, Mass Effect 3 was a heck of a lot of fun, and earned its spot on this list with a fun multiplayer mode that provided hours of fun with my friends. I'm always skeptical of a single player franchise adding on a multiplayer mode late in the series (see: Bioshock 2) but Mass Effect 3 surprised me for sure.

Ending issues aside, the single player also delivered, even if it felt as if there was plenty of writer's block deep into the game. Ending a series, or at least a character's story arc can't be easy but Bioware accomplished their goal, even if it meant pissing off some fans in the process.

Game Of The Year 2012 - Number Seven

Seventh Favorite Game of 2012

The Walking Dead: The Game

The Walking Dead: The Game encompasses everything I enjoy about stories in video games. Rarely is there a game that has a story that's engaging enough to impact me emotionally but TWD did that in droves. 

Even though many consider this game to be a "non-game", I find that certain games can have enough quality to overcome those types of criticisms. Addressing those criticisms validates them in a way that doesn't sit well with me, though.

Game Of The Year 2012 - Number Eight

Eighth Favorite Game Of 2012

Scribblenauts Unlimited

Having never really played any entry in this series before, I was legitimately surprised by the amount of freedom the game gives you. If I'd like to spawn an evil green walrus in a business suit, I can (and it's none of your business either).

That's not to say the non-creative parts aren't just as fun, they are. It's quite fun trying to come up with creative ways to take out enemies, solve riddles, and reach new areas. It also helps that you can bring along several Nintendo characters (on the Wii U at least) to help out (or at least create chaos) as needed. 

Game Of The Year 2012 - Number Nine

As was the case with Spec Ops, the number eight game was originally different until I got around to playing its replacement. Dishonored was a great game, better than Halo 4 even but it just couldn't cut the mustard with Far Cry 3 thrown into the mix. I hadn't even considered that I'd play Far Cry 3 any time soon but as the situation arose and I played through the game, I knew I had made the right choice.

Ninth Favorite Game Of 2012

Far Cry 3

Despite the deplorable marketing campaign of "Skyrim with Guns", I find the comparison to be closer upon playing it than originally thought. You have an entire island at your disposal, ready for you to explore, destroy and hunt. 

Or is it? Perhaps the most interesting and surprising part of Far Cry 3 is its engrossing story. Despite all of its twist, turns, and whacked out ending it turns out to be satisfying when it's all over with. Biggest surprise of the year? Maybe.

Game Of The Year 2012 - Number Ten (Really)

I know how this looks. I can't ignore that the original number ten post that has already been published on this blog. What I can do is admit that I am not impervious to mistakes, correct myself and move on. Halo 4 was prematurely posted to my top ten list before I played a few games released in 2012 that I had missed. Now that I have completed a few of them, I'd like to move on and restart the list from square one. Of the games I revisited however, I'd like to note that Assassin's Creed III will not be appearing on my top ten.

Tenth Favorite Game of 2012

Spec Ops: The Line

After having little to no interest in the revival of this all but forgotten series, Black Friday reeled me in with a price I could not refuse. Once actually playing it, I was enamored by the scale and terror that envelopes Dubai in Captain Walker's journey. 

Without spoiling too much, this game has a ton of 'meta' elements in it that I came to appreciate, along with a story that can actually inspire a certain sense of regret that most games of this type lack. It's refreshing to say the least, and I hope this isn't the last we see in this style of shooter.

Game Of The Year 2012 - Most Disappointing

Welcome to the first post of the Game Of The Year 2012 series. In these posts, I will be going over the games I loved, and the games that didn't quite make me smile. Most of these posts will be one gamer per, and that's because I probably would get lazy and not do it otherwise. With that said, I give you:

Most Disappointing Game of 2012

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

I guess you could say that my original desire for this game was blind optimism, and you likely wouldn't be too far off. However, the premise of the game was just as promising with third person shooter action that I would almost assuredly love. 

Where Operation Raccoon City failed was in being much fun at all. Running down extremely dark corridors with little direction and overly challenging enemies proved to be more than I could handle. I finished it and haven't touched it since. Actions speak way louder than words, and when it comes to Resident Evil, that says bundles more than I ever could.

Top 10 Games of the Generation

This list was certainly not easy to make, and is exactly how I feel about these games as of right now. Sure, it's a bit unfair to say "this is it" when the generation isn't over yet, but I did want to get my thoughts in on these games as of right now. Obviously, you can create your own list if you don't like mine. Discussion of the games is encouraged however, so go ahead and comment or reach me on Twitter if you want to talk about them.

10. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2

I had a great time with the multiplayer in this game, and my friends and I played it for months on end. I was a beastly leader in the Team Leader mode, often times single handedly leading my team to victory.

9. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

I had never even played a Civilization game before this one, and boy was this a good place to start. This simplified the experience of playing Civ in a package that was attractive to me, and I could still waste days on this game if I had the time.

8. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the Assassin's Creed series, and this one is sort of the culmination of what makes the series great to me. Ezio has matured, and you're offing fools in ancient Rome. What isn't to love?

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

After not liking Oblivion too much, little surprises me more than how much I love Skyrim. Exploring the world is a treat, and shouting "FUUUS ROH DAH!" has become part of my morning shower routine.

6. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Whenever I hear a game called a "movie-like experience" these days all I can think of is Uncharted 2. I was hooked from the gripping start all the way to the climatic end. If only the third lived up.

5. Resident Evil 5

All fanboy bias aside, I enjoy picking up RE5 and playing it at just about any time. Co-op brought the series up to par with the generation, and the villains and characters all made the game feel comfortable, yet new. 

4. Left 4 Dead 2

The definitive co-op experience that just hasn't been bested by any game I've played. Nothing beats playing the campaigns with your friends, blasting zombies in the face while trying to survive along the way. Versus is just as fun, so long as you take every round in good fun.

3. Grand Theft Auto IV

It's hard to express in words what it is I like about this game, and the only word that comes close is chaos. The missions are fun most of the time, but I just enjoyed playing a beautiful rendition of Liberty City and causing destruction wherever I went. The fact that I could do this online too is what secures its position.

2. Halo Reach

Bungie went all out for their last Halo game, pretty much reinventing what Halo was known for in the process. While many disliked the changes, I came to appreciate just how tightly knit the game had become after many sequels. Vehicles had less of an emphasis than in Halo 3, but I just didn't care too much surprisingly.

1. Red Dead Redemption

Open worlds have always been a main interest of mine, as have western games. Rockstar combined the two and made a masterpiece of sorts. The characters were fun to talk to and play with, and the excellent writing made you feel for them once the credits started rolling. The same great multiplayer was ported over from GTA IV, and lets you explore a 19th century North America. A tragic experience, but a damn fun one that I could play over and over.

Most Anticipated Games of 2012 (Post E3 Update)

A few months ago on this here blog, I wrote about which games I thought would be my most anticipated games of the year. Having wrote that earlier in the year, some of the games have released, and E3 has come and gone. I attended E3 and all of the media events, so I do have new opinions whether it's a game I played at the show, or simply just saw being played. I also did write an entire blog about E3 but it was consumed by the blogremlines of the internet, so this will do instead (I didn't feel like writing 1,500 words again). Keep in mind that I'm only going to list a game if I feel I have something interesting to say about it, otherwise the game will simply go to the honorable mentions list. If you have a question about any of these games (including honorable mentions), go ahead and ask a question in a comment, or on Twitter.

Assassin's Creed 3

This game made the previous list, and it should be no shock that it continues to be on the list after E3. At the show, we saw footage that pointed out the more traditional Assassin's Creed features, including traversing through the forest and killing dudes. A bow and arrow has made an appearance, although I doubt it's the only projectile weapon you'll be using in the game. The other footage saw Conor captaining a boat through rocky water, and battling British ships while doing so. This looked absolutely gorgeous and will likely be a big highlight of the game.

Far Cry 3

Another game that made the previous list, Far Cry 3 was actually playable on the show floor with co-op being the focus. In my time with the game, I played the demo that was seen at the Ubisoft E3 conference. The gun mechanics from FC2 seem to have been fixed, and the co-op seems to be incredibly fleshed out for it being the first time in the series. You really do need to work together to complete tasks, and it didn't feel too "gamey" like many co-op games do.

Resident Evil 6

Is it any shock that a new Resident Evil game would make a list of mine? Well, either way I did like the way this one looked, and even played. Think RE5, but with more characters and a bit more fleshed out controls. I played as Leon, and had no trouble shooting while I walked even if it was only for a few minutes. Leon's campaign also seemed to have a bit more 'horror' to it than the other two, which was nice to see after a few games with less focus on it.

ZombiU

 

ZombiU was a pretty exciting game to check out, considering how the Wii U isn't even out yet so plenty of details about it are still unknown. In the game, you play as many different characters attempting to complete goals while dodging zombies in the process. You can zoom in only when you hold the Wii U pad up to the screen, and then you can tap a button to shoot. Perhaps the most interesting part however is that you can't just "retry" after dying. You will restart as a new character, and be forced to kill your old self to retrieve loot. Is it gimmicky? I guess we'll have to see when it comes out, but I'm on board for now.

Honorable Mentions

• New Super Mario Bros. 2
• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Hitman Absolution
• Retro City Rampage
• Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale
• Halo 4
• Tomb Raider
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Batman Arkham City Armored Edition
• Doom 3 BFG Edition

Holy crap! Games!

To say I've been playing a lot of games lately would be a huge understatement. I've been practically breathing them, and I am loving each and every wiff taken. Not all of these games are hot off the shelf brand new but that doesn't make them any less fun, despite what some may think. Here are my impressions of the games I've been playing lately.

First off, I'll start with Mass Effect 3. Having played and liked the first two games, I pretty much knew exactly what to expect from the third game's single player portion. I mean, it's still mainly about Shepard traversing across planets and killing bad aliens. The choices made in ME3 felt like they had more weight in previous games though, which I think will leave me with quite the impression looking back. I was satisfied with the end of the trilogy, even though this is likely not truely the end.

Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City is certainly a game about shooting people, and I guess I was expecting a bit more out of this one. Not that it's bad or anything (at times I thought it was actually pretty good) but it could have used probably another year or so in the oven. The game has some strange graphical glitches, and it just overall has a strange, unfinished feel. The tie-in story to RE2 and 3 has some nice throwbacks (romping through the RPD was neat) but in the same vein, the interactions with Leon and Jill are entirely forgettable and mostly non-canon. Still, a fun game that is best played in co-op and in short bursts.

Moving on, Battlefield 3 was a game I should not have liked. I hated the beta, and felt that it was probably representative of what the final product would be like. I was wrong, and I'm not sure why I was so hesitant in the first place. My favorite Battlefield game up until this point was Battlefield 1943, mainly because of its tight vehicle integration (Note: Yes, that's usually all it takes). Battlefield 3 is a blast, and so much more fun than 1943 in so many ways but I love it because of the class system (harkens back to my Wolfenstein pedigree) and the vehicles that control as smoothly as possible. Doesn't hurt that I also have a lot of friends playing it, too.

For the last part of this blog post, I just want to mention Dead Rising 2: Off the Record. I have played a good couple of hours of the original Dead Rising 2, and found it to be a bit fun but also feeling that it didn't do enough to distance itself from the first game's shortcomings. Mainly, its save system and lack of sandbox mode. Off the Record fixes one of those things and brought in Sandbox mode, with online co-op. That I was not expecting but it is welcome now more than ever. Mowing down zombies with whatever contraptions you can think of is pure bliss, and I can hardly wait to see what happens next. Controlled chaos is probably one of my favorite things about video games. Oh, and the save system is exactly the same as in previous games but with a comforting twist: if you die, you don't have to start over or lose progress, you're simply brought back to your latest checkpoint (usually only a few minutes apart). I'll say this: it's about time.

This isn't even the half of everything I've played, so consider this to be more of a 'highlight reel' of sorts. I'll be back soon enough with more.