Which new generation video game console you will buy?

[Bolt the Cat]

Doesn't really matter. It's a simple feature too add. I don't understand adding Nexflix and Youtube support but no DVD. If anything, you'd think that Nintendo would want people to use their system for as many things as possible.

IIRC, Nintendo is against DVDs because of something to do with hacking.

Some of the multimedia features Nintendo added also enhance the social experience of gaming in certain ways. Miiverse allows you to chat with other fans of particular games for anything related to those games. Internet allows you to look up guides for your games if you get stuck, among other things. Youtube also allows you to look up guides, but visual ones which may be more helpful depending on the game.

[Charizard Champion#06]

That's actually a pretty big deal, I mean Sony is looking into a similar thing with the PS4 and Vita so you could sort of consider it a "next gen feature" particularly if the X-box sucessor ends up doing something similar. Though technically the Gamecube was already doing asymmetric gameplay before the WiiU. (but not the play your console without a TV part)

Remember E3? Microsoft was pushing to make the Xbox compatible with their tablet devices. I think that was their answer to the Wii U controller.

I feel like we're going through the same thing as we were when motion control was all the rage a few years ago. Nintendo makes a fancy new motion controller and Sony and Microsoft make their own motion control stuff. They went on and on about how it will change gaming and make things more intuitive and innovative and buzzword and buzzword but the majority ended up being gimmicky nonsense. Tablet controllers things seem like the next generation of that. We're going to hear that "the possibilities are endless" when it's going to be just as gimmicky as motion control.

Also, question to those Wii U owners out there. If you're playing the game on your TV and you have a HUD or inventory on the controller's screen what happens when you take the game off the TV? I probably won't ever need this feature since I own my own TV in my room but I'm just curious.

[Un0va]

Remember E3? Microsoft was pushing to make the Xbox compatible with their tablet devices. I think that was their answer to the Wii U controller.

I feel like we're going through the same thing as we were when motion control was all the rage a few years ago. Nintendo makes a fancy new motion controller and Sony and Microsoft make their own motion control stuff. They went on and on about how it will change gaming and make things more intuitive and innovative and buzzword and buzzword but the majority ended up being gimmicky nonsense. Tablet controllers things seem like the next generation of that. We're going to hear that "the possibilities are endless" when it's going to be just as gimmicky as motion control.

Also, question to those Wii U owners out there. If you're playing the game on your TV and you have a HUD or inventory on the controller's screen what happens when you take the game off the TV? I probably won't ever need this feature since I own my own TV in my room but I'm just curious.

A tablet controller seems like it would be much less of a gimmick than motion control. As it is with the Wii U, it feels like this is something that would mesh pretty nicely with most games, since it could simply be used for the HUD or the map in a game like BO2 or Crysis without getting in the way of the gaming experience.

[sceptile33]

I'll be getting a Wii U, either in 2013 or 2014. I'll also be getting one of PS4, 720, or Steambox sometime this gen, when I feel it has enough exclusive games to justify a purchase.

[blaze boy]

Doesn't really matter. It's a simple feature too add.

It's also pricey since Nintendo would have to pay licensing fee, thus bumping up the price of the Wii U.

I don't understand adding Nexflix and Youtube support but no DVD.

Because Nintendo aren't the one who made those features, an outside company did and they would have to pay Nintendo money, plus again it ties into the feature that you can use it on the Wii U pad.

Furthermore DVD is an outdated format since streaming movie is now the big thing.

If anything, you'd think that Nintendo would want people to use their system for as many things as possible.

They are gaming company, they see the Wii U as a machine who primarily function is to play games everything else is just a bonus feature. Beside isn't the PS4 dropping DVD support, I know that it's dropping CD support.

[Jb]

It's also pricey since Nintendo would have to pay licensing fee, thus bumping up the price of the Wii U.

Perhaps. But the Wii U is already being sold at a lost iirc. Doesn't seem like a few extra bucks would be a big deal.

Because Nintendo aren't the one who made those features, an outside company did and they would have to pay Nintendo money, plus again it ties into the feature that you can use it on the Wii U pad.

If video game streaming could be done on it, then so could DVD playback.

Furthermore DVD is an outdated format since streaming movie is now the big thing.

I'll give you this. But it wasn't when the Wii came out. Plus, digital media will never fully replace the demand for a hard copy.

They are gaming company, they see the Wii U as a machine who primarily function is to play games everything else is just a bonus feature. Beside isn't the PS4 dropping DVD support, I know that it's dropping CD support.

That's true. But their sales are way from what they expected and they're pretty much losing all 3rd party support. Even when competing with the 360 and PS3. I appreciate them keeping games their focus, but as the sales and developers show, that simply won't be enough in this age. People want the most out of their system. The Wii U cost more yet does less than both the 360 and PS3. I'm not saying that a DVD player would solve this, but trying to get the most out the system would help. Hell, the PS2 beat the Dreamcast thanks to DVD playback. Nintendo could of come up with something.

[Dimentio]

Perhaps. But the Wii U is already being sold at a lost iirc. Doesn't seem like a few extra bucks would be a big deal.

They are selling at a loss. Which is counteracted by the fact that they have all their first party stuff as well. If I recall, them selling a console + 1 game nets a profit. And any subsequent games as well.

But it wasn't when the Wii came out. Plus, digital media will never fully replace the demand for a hard copy.

I don't think the Wii's launch is relevant in this case. So the Wii didn't have DVD support. Wowee. It's irrelevant now that the Wii is in decline. Also, I'm not sure you can accurately state that digital media will "never fully replace demand for hard copy" especially in certain media outlets.

That's true. But their sales are way from what they expected and they're pretty much losing all 3rd party support.

Launch sales are always paltry. The Vita was actually a surprise for a console launch, handheld or not. In fairness, it has not even been half a year and also some games had to be pushed back for unrelated reasons (Metro: Last Light, Rayman, Wonderful 101, even Pikmin I suppose). Compare the Wii U launch to the 3DS, basically. Slow start then a quick rise to power. At least, that's how I'd see it. I won't deny though that their 3rd party support has been lacking, but that's honestly in large part due to those 3rd party developers.

[Sonikku za Hejjihoggu]

PlayStation 4.

I look forward to the Wii U Dreamcasting itself out of the generation.

...only without any of the memorable software of that platform or core-market appeal.

[Night_Walker]

Can we please avoid a flame war?

Which yes I do think we're starting to head towards as we argue about features and company strategies.

[Charizard Champion#06]

Can we please avoid a flame war?

Which yes I do think we're starting to head towards as we argue about features and company strategies.

There hasn't really been any flaming. This seems like a pretty calm discussion.

[Un0va]

They are selling at a loss. Which is counteracted by the fact that they have all their first party stuff as well. If I recall, them selling a console + 1 game nets a profit. And any subsequent games as well.

Selling a console at a loss to begin with is still a bad idea, especially since they have to account for the share that all of their retailers take. Lately they've been trying to push digital downloads for that very reason - look at Fire Emblem: Awakening.

I don't think the Wii's launch is relevant in this case. So the Wii didn't have DVD support. Wowee. It's irrelevant now that the Wii is in decline. Also, I'm not sure you can accurately state that digital media will "never fully replace demand for hard copy" especially in certain media outlets.

It's still a pretty basic function and certainly one that wouldn't hurt the Wii U, especially since the PS3 had Blu-Ray support. I get that they're trying to make it a machine mainly for gaming but I don't think they should be choosing features not to add just because they think it doesn't fit with how they're branding the console or whatever.

Launch sales are always paltry. The Vita was actually a surprise for a console launch, handheld or not. In fairness, it has not even been half a year and also some games had to be pushed back for unrelated reasons (Metro: Last Light, Rayman, Wonderful 101, even Pikmin I suppose). Compare the Wii U launch to the 3DS, basically. Slow start then a quick rise to power. At least, that's how I'd see it. I won't deny though that their 3rd party support has been lacking, but that's honestly in large part due to those 3rd party developers.

Metro: Last Light was never going to be a Wii U title, IIRC they made a mistake when they showed it off at the Wii U conference but I could be wrong. The fact remains, though - third party support for the Wii U is pretty lacking right now, regardless of why. The Wii's best third party games were the ones that made the most creative use of the Wiimote like No More Heroes, and I don't think that's going to be as evident this generation. The touchpad is essentially a a controller with a screen on it, meaning that any games that come to the Wii U could just as well be put on the PS4 or 720 and look better to boot.

[SBaby]

To answer the topic question. It depends on a couple things for me.

If the consoles all require a constant Internet connection, that's an automatic dealbreaker for me. My Internet cuts out randomly on a regular basis, so it would be a pain to play a game for a couple hours, and lose all that progress because it randomly boots me off. Not to mention requiring a constant connection is a terrible idea in concept, because your game servers are going to be under a heavy load 24/7. Without enough servers, you'll be running into the same situation that the creators of the new SimCity are currently having problems with (the game randomly stops working due to server issues and players lose hours of work as a result, and can't log on to play the game they spent 60 bucks on). And this is a company that generally knows what they're doing when it comes to making games. This is not a good sign, folks...

Second, the one install per game might sound like a good anti-piracy measure, at least in theory. But anyone who knows anything about video games, knows that when a game is updated, problems can happen that force the player to reinstall (like if the power goes out midway through the process). If there is going to be a one install per game policy across the board, there'd BETTER be a guarantee that those problems will never happen, it had better be IN WRITING, and there had better be COMPENSATION if it DOES happen. Otherwise, my future game library will be relegated to handhelds, Nintendo and table-tops.

[cookies kill you]

which ever one that will let me play online for free so probably the ps4

[marioluigifan05]

None of the above, all the games I really wanted got pushed back (NSMBU doesn't count- I already beat it), and the others aren't too appealing to me, either. Maybe if PS4 has Dark Cloud 3 or Klonoa 3, I might get it, but if it's always online, I'm out.

[wingzx]

im getting ps4 the day it comes out i cant wait for it i love sony games

[Unoin]

None because I have no interest in 8th Gen gaming, but my brothers will probably get a PS4. I have a PS Vita, but it's not much of an improvement on a PSP, so I'm not expecting much from Sony with the PS4 in comparison to the PS3