Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata has acknowledged that Nintendo's Wii U E3 reveal left some consumers a bit bemused.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, the exec said: "Because we put so much emphasis on the controller, there appeared to be some misunderstandings. We should have made more effort to explain how it works."
"We haven't made any kind of blunder," Iwata insisted, "but I should have shown a single picture of the new console, then started talking about the controller. The console is not drastically different, and Wii U is about the controller. The console itself will be almost invisible.
"There have been two groups of people writing about our announcement - those like the Evening Standard, who have been able to experience the Wii U, and those who have not, and are simply writing about it from wire stories and pictures. They cannot see how this can be a game changer.
"It reminds me of 2006, when we introduced the Wii for the first time. Here in LA, people enjoyed it, but in Japan, the atmosphere was very different. It seems to be the same this year.
"What Wii U will offer is very different, but I believe we have the strong potential to change the entire format of videogames and of entertainment," said Mr Iwata.
Wii U's set to go on sale between April next year and the end of 2012. CVG went hands-on with it last night in LA. See what we thought here.
Comments
35 comments so far...
MD1500 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Nintendo consoles are always hard to understand until you play them yourself.
You have to watch two screens at once? How can that work? What a stupid idea! It will never catch... Oh.
You have to wave your arms around? How can that work? What a stupid idea! It will never catch... Oh.
You can see 3D images without glasses? How can that work? What a stupid idea! It will never catch... Oh.
boskersrevenge on 10 Jun '11 said:
No no no no no no no! It is ALSO about the console, that was the blunder - a lot of people thought it was just another peripheral so while the controller is a crucial aspect to this new system, what drives it also interests the very demographic Nintendo is trying to target.
It can't be hard to make it about both parts of the new console.
almanac2015 on 10 Jun '11 said:
I understand they wanted to show off the controller - it's going to be the selling point of the console, but the blunder of not even showing the console was pretty bad. They should have seen it coming.
Still, they have over a year to set it right.
Wozzakl on 10 Jun '11 said:
If you have to try to explain how you didn't make a blunder, then you have made a blunder.
rbt2 on 10 Jun '11 said:
An inexcusable cock up from a major company.
Many heads would have rolled had Yamauchi still been in charge.
Agent75 on 10 Jun '11 said:
It's sad times at Nintendo if they're more interested in the controller that the actual console. On top of that, the controller has made the console expensive (it's going to be £399ish defo). I can't see me using the screen to play games to be honest. There should be 2 packs available - with and without the controller, as I'd just be happy using the motion plus controller, plus I can't say I'm interested in the built in camera either. I'm just interested in the games, not all these daft extras. I can see it being double the price of the Wii...
svd_grasshopper on 10 Jun '11 said:
maybe they should have called it something else, especially now the wii is in rapid decline.
you can alway advertise the fact the motion stuff still works on it... but casuals don't care too much about graphics - so why upgrade?!
i think they have made a mistake, in part at least. they can always still change the name. WTF kind of name is wii U anyway?!
a proper break away from the wii would have been better for them i think.
Tao on 10 Jun '11 said:
I watched the live stream of the presentation and at the end I was thinking "Oh, it's just a new controller for the Wii then? Eh? But then, how will it do HD...???"
It wasn't until later when all the hands-on reports came out that it was made clear that it actually was a brand new console; I think they really, really messed up that presentation.
As for the Wii U itself, well, as MD1500 so clearly demonstrated, it's never a good idea to discount Nintendo's ideas until you've tried them. I'm looking forward to getting one; hopefully it won't be too expensive!
NEO_SUPERMAN on 10 Jun '11 said:
I have abolutely ZERO interest in this.
Yes I haven't played the wii U, I don't want to. It looks crap.
I don't care how many buzz words you throw around like immersive, unique, innovative etc.
At the end of the day it's a pad with a screen in it.
It's innovative but not in a kinect, xbox live, wii-mote or even 3DS way. It's innovative in a barcode battler type of way. Was really thinking this would be the highlight of E3 not the biggest lowlight.
I felt gutted watching it.
Biggest let down of E3. No wonder share price is plummeting. The wii however will continue to sell because of the cost a la PS2 and the 3DS will also do OK.
theak47 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Whats there to explain about a Nintendo console????
All new Nintendo consoles should be announced with the same statement....
"Here is a the next device that will allow us to release the (insert 6 digit number) installment of the Mario and the (insert 6 digit number) of Zelda"
Only messing.
As someone who hasnt had a Nintendo console in years i was still pretty excited about a new console being announced as the competition is great for the industry, and whilst i thought the Wii was a bit of a joke the sales figures proved otherwise i suppose. I have a few mates who are big Nintendo fans and even they just dont know what to make of the new console nor are they eagerly awaiting its release due to the demo/expalnation of its qualities. Surely this shouldnt be allowed to happen.......and at E3 of all places!!!
Serebii on 10 Jun '11 said:
They said countless times that it was the controller for their new home console. I didn't think for an instant that it was a Wii peripheral due to the amount of times they said that it was for their new home console.
I'm truly surprised at the amount of people who thought it was a peripheral
_Marty_ on 10 Jun '11 said:
This was clearly a move to associate with the Wii, with the hope that those people that have one, will upgrade to the Wii-U. Not sure I agree, but I BET that was the thought process.
As for the thing itself though, I thought it looked amazing. How it could be considered a lowlight of the whole show is a mystery to me.
HeavenlyGamer on 10 Jun '11 said:
Not related to the subject, but does anyone know whether or not the two analog sliders on de Wii U controller are 'clickable' like on the X360 and PS3 controller? If not, I can see this being a problem with first person shooters.
almanac2015 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Chances are it won't impact FPS games that are being released. Whilst they clickable analogue sticks have a use on the PS3/360 there are different ways to incorporate controls. I know on some PSP games for example holding a button down allowed you to look down the sights and a quick tap would melee.
humanhand on 10 Jun '11 said:
I was wondering the same thing...
ricflair on 10 Jun '11 said:
I think the problem Nintendo have with the name is the same they have with the 3DS and it's a rod they built with DS, DSi, DSiXL etc. It will sound like a re-release/design of the wii to some.
They'd have been better off calling it the Wii 2 or something totally different and not trying to put so much f**king meaning into the name!
boonattack on 10 Jun '11 said:
Maybe he should have named it better too.
From this point on it shall be known as 'The U'
charliecheswick on 10 Jun '11 said:
I agree the E3 presentation wasn't the best. It did look like it was a new controller for the Wii and to show more Wii Sports,although it was just a snippit as to what can be done,left me and no doubt many others wondering what the hell was going on. It wasn't until i saw some hands-on demo's that the penny dropped. That Zelda hands-on was incredible and left me in no doubt what-so-ever that this thing is going to be a gaming revelation.
I think the right thing to do was show the console first along with the graphics demo to show what it can do,then show the controller with it's own demo's to do the same. Ah well,here's to the next games conference and hopefully some solid information on tech specs,on-line plans and confirmed software line-ups.
stedman on 10 Jun '11 said:
Theres no way its going to be £399, that's too high.... maybe £229-£299
stedwyer on 10 Jun '11 said:
That controller is going to be expensive. It's almost like a tablet. I don't want the console package to be expensive, but I can definitely see it going that way. €400 (£350) at a guess.
charliecheswick on 10 Jun '11 said:
Sorry,here's a link to.....errr Link. Think i'm in love with this video as i can't stop looking at it. Anyway,this is why i'm excited!
http://uk.ign.com/videos/2011/06/07/e3- ... da-hd-demo
mrlister on 10 Jun '11 said:
I missed the first half-hour of the conference, and assumed they'd already shown the console, but the controller was for Wii. Then they showed the games and I thought it was Wii again. Even the Zelda footage I thought was Wii as I was watching an SD stream. It was only until the 3rd party reel and developer testimonies came on that I realised they must have been talking about a new console. Still, the confusion lasted until I went to another webpage, so no harm done really. That said you can see the machine under the TV right at the beginning of the demo reel, and it clearly isn't a standard Wii.
rick on 10 Jun '11 said:
I think I read somewhere that the dual analogue sticks are the same design as the DS which are flat and flush against the controller. With this in mind it may be unlikely that they double up as clicky buttons. But if it's buttons you like I wouldn't worry as they could fit loads on that ridiculous gigantor touchscreen.
delmariachi on 10 Jun '11 said:
Ahh i can see the advert now.. Mario singing into the controller "Boom, Boom, Booooom, let me hear ya say Wii-u.. Wiii-uuuuuuu"
The_Jaster on 10 Jun '11 said:
I was confused about the announcement at first constantly thinking to myself is it just a controller or *scratches head* then I noticed the actual console unit next to the TV in the promo Video.
No use dwelling on it though as they can rectify it during the Tokyo Game show.
asparky59 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Pretty sure I'm going to go to Wii U ninja school so if anybody steps to this I'll be like "Oh, Nintendo didn't explain it well enough to you... I'm pretty much an expert"
Balladeer on 10 Jun '11 said:
Yes. Yes you should. But the damage is done now. Time to rectify it.
the nutty boy on 10 Jun '11 said:
i know this might sound a bit weird,but everything that i have read and seen about wii-u sounds really good.i love video games and this to me looks bloody brilliant.i can honestly say that i cant wait for it to come out.also i still use my wii quite a lot,about as much as my 360 and ps3.in my opinion(for what its worth)a new console coming out is a good thing,regardless who makes it.i am a happy gamer.
am i weird??
Balladeer on 10 Jun '11 said:
Not at all! I think most non-fanboy gamers will be excited for the WiiU in time, but that it was just announced in a really confusing way.
rick on 10 Jun '11 said:
Im sure it will all become clearer nearer release. I just hope it has a good launch line up.
I do have one minor concern. In the GT interview with Reg "wots his name" he said there is a limited range on playing on the controller screen and is intended for use in the same room so no going off and gaming in other rooms. It would have made a nice replacement for the newspaper when I have aa number two.
charliecheswick on 11 Jun '11 said:
No bog time then.
rbt2 on 11 Jun '11 said:
You'd wipe your arse on a WiiU controller???
Mind you, judging by some of the hate on here, there's plenty who would!
kimoak on 11 Jun '11 said:
Can't say I was confised at all. Maybe it's because all the rumours about a new HC Wii2 and touchscreen controller made me assume right off the bat it was a new console so avoiding any confusion for me.
Personally, I am really looking forward to Nintendo's next machine. It's something different again with the added core third party games addition... My PC may be under threat.
Obscure_Metaphor on 12 Jun '11 said:
They really did mess up, they didn't even acknowledge there there even was a new box under your tv. it made the whole thing very bizarre, and they looked very amateurish, like they were embarrassed about it. Even post briefing, they avoided all the questions about it, like they had some big secret to hide.
They should have simply just shown off. they should have said "heres the console, it looks the same, but its full of power, but whats really special is the controller. Then we'd understand that this is designed as an upgraded wii, with a fancy controller.
it was disappointing from nintendo, they should know that nobody cares about a product they dont understand.
gmcb007 on 12 Jun '11 said:
To quote Jesus talking to his disciples : "No s**t Sherlock"