We all know that Nintendo refuses to disclose its technical specifications for its handhelds and consoles and would rather consumers play and enjoy them without worrying whether they are spectacularly powerful or not. Interestingly, Nintendo senior managing director Genyo Takeda spoke with investors and explained how Nintendo tries not to emphasise the raw technical specifications, but instead looks at how the company can use technology to amplify the value of their entertainment offerings.
“Mr. Iwata just explained that Nintendo leads an integrated hardware-software business. To put it differently, combining technology with entertainment creates machines. Under such circumstances, Nintendo tries not to emphasize the raw technical specifications of our hardware. We have focused on how we can use technology to amplify the value of our entertainment offerings, and in this sense, technology for us is something that stays in the background. Therefore, I do not wish to make excuses for having so far failed to offer the “amplifier” that our consumers can regard as having true entertainment value. Whether a machine is powerful or not only has meaning in the context of whether that can express itself in terms of gameplay to consumers, and I therefore do not intend to go into fine detail about the specific numbers. I apologize for not directly answering your question, but it is my personal belief that explanations of such a nature have little relevance to consumers.”
Sweet balls
wat
Wow, a lot of things are happening in Nintendo News today. Glad to see Nintendo talking about these things.
Unfortunately, a lot of gamers just like to stroke off to the specs of a system.
Yeah…. and what always amazes me is that most of these people have absolutely NO idea what any of the specifications mean. They assume more numbers or bigger values mean it’s necessarily more powerful….
you might both be right … but consider the following:
1.) if it has equally large numbers or larger numbers, it’s more likely that ports will happen … ie, if watchdogs is canceled, i guarantee you that they found porting too difficult! … it costs more, if you want to make something more efficient.
2.) i personally like the numbers, because i can translate that into money … for example, i want to know if i’m purchasing expensive or cheap parts, especially when i’m being asked for hundreds of dollars. it’s also interesting to speculate whether they can lower the price, based on the cost of the parts.
3.) i like to compare these numbers with the numbers on the last system … Nintendo put this in our face for many, many years … 8bit? … 16bit? … 64bit? … those were arbitrary and overly simplified benchmarks for those systems … but, nintendo can’t just decide how we want to view a piece of hardware … this isn’t north korea, where you expect to control people’s thoughts … i’m a computer programmer, i always want to know the numbers because it outlines my expectations!
This is like a car company refusing to tell you what kind of engine your car comes with.
Driving at a certain speed or a certain distance though isn’t comparable to the enjoyment gained from a game. Speed can be measured and yeah it is dependent on the engine of the car etc, how do record how fun a game is? The amount of enjoyment from a game isn’t directly linked to the specs of the machine.
I think Link Between Worlds benefited tremendously from 60fps. It’s easier to achieve 60fps with better hardware.
That isn’t necessarily true…. look at the PS4 and Xbox One. They are still struggling to achieve 60frames @1080p…..the game developers can ALWAYS puch more on screen and can always have issues with frames/sec if they create more and more information for the console to draw and calculate…
Its already pathetic enough to hear that these “powerful” consoles couldn’t pull off such simple task if that were the case.
But as Nintendo and other sensible people have explained before, specs don’t make the game nor the graphics capability should be treated as a top priority of the game’s appeal. Its the developer’s effort behind it to utilize the technology for the best or worse.
When are these morons are ever gonna get the message?
Probably never…
IDK where the hell did you get the impression that gaming systems/business is the same as a car dealerships but you as an obvious fanboy buying consoles only for powerful specs and raw graphics (pathetic) who’s got everything backwards as usual.
So? Unless your one of those crazy car guys it doesn’t matter. As long as it has a working engine that’s all I give a fuck about.
http://youtu.be/Ch1ti1VMzXU
Well, no shit. They make fun games, not circlejerk over how much teraflops their machine can put out.
If you want powerful hardware, get a PC.
I think that’s exactly what everyone’s doing. So problem solved…?
Jut make a damn up to date console! Enough of being behind the times. It makes third parties shun the console and consumers scoff at it.
That’s only because they’re only thinking of powerful “up-to-date” specs for the wrong reasons besides for an eye camdy treatment.
Nintendo has single handedly proven time and time again that raw specs isn’t everything and that only they have produced the most compelling looking software with low end specs. Wii U was never an exception to begin with since people/developers are still into PS3/360 which is strikingly similar to Wii U but Wii U is improved over last gen and 7-8th gen jump isn’t huge as 5-6th or 6-7th generations.
What’s wrong with Wii U in the first place is and always was its marketing. Software shortage from launch is typical and resolvable. What baffles me is how the masses are still stupid enough to not figure this simplicity out.
This. You could also say that Sony themselves have proven that raw spec isn’t everything with the PSX and PS2. Nintendo had the raw muscle when those two console did extremely well and Nintendo consoles didn’t in comparison. They took a page out of Sony’s playbook for the Wii while Sony decided to look at Nintendo’s playbook as far as building a powerful console and had to price it to where they could make money. Nintendo was successful with Sony’s approach and their trademark wallet-friendly pricing.
…but people will continue jerking it to specs, never mind the history. It’s like the bulk of fans came into gaming when PS3, 360, and Wii came out or something.
Perfect examples. The GameCube was a more powerful system, and produced better visuals than the Playstation 2. However, the PS2 “won” that generation why? Because it had the software.
However, far too many people out there get a chubby over “cell processor!” and “8GB of RAM!” to even realize that you can have the most powerful system (with a price point to boot), but it’s nothing without the games.
It should be noted also that even though the Gamecube didn’t “win” the generation it still managed to profit. It’s one thing to “lose” a generation, but it’s another thing to “lose” and not make money on the hardware. Microsoft stuck with it even though the original Xbox didn’t make a profit despite selling a couple million more than the GC.
That goes into another thing–still related–about calling it on the Wii U. Even if the console isn’t as successful as the other two by the end of this generation, Nintendo has always found a way to make money in that generation when it came to the home console (the handheld always did well so I’m not putting that into the equation).
man. this company is losing its luster. with each new system its credibility as a gaming company drops significantly. they got to start putting gamers first, otherwise their death is imminent. fucking nintendo.
People want to know what they are buying… Clearly software doesn’t sell hardware anymore… After all the wii u has some great titles out and yet look at the numbers… If they don’t know what’s inside it they have little confidence in it
Everybody is degrading Nintendo & Wii U for the wrong reasons or reasons that are just as shortsighted as ever.
Speaking of numbers, look at the opposite situation with 3DS/Vita. Everybody still knows to this day that 3DS specs are lesser than Vita but which system is selling better? 3DS and why? The software. How Vita is flopping? A few reasons. Lack of original software, pricing like its ridiculous memory cards and maybe its marketing at a point.
Problems with Wii U: Marketing which no doubt sparked some confusion (only by idiots with no common sense or lack of research), blind hate over its specs and 2013 launch window which is typical for every new system launch..like PS4 which is much worse.
I’m going by why ps4 a console with no reasonable games right now is selling well, and wii u a console with a pretty decent library isn’t… The difference is Sony is less lip tied about what’s inside than Nintendo.. Same with Xbox one… Maybe it is poor marketing but even so why is ps4 and Xbox one doing well despite any kind of marketing? No software yet hardware still selling
Funny how before the PS4 And Xbox One got unveiled nintendo we’re always talking about how their console we’re technically stronger than the other console’s and now they refuse to give anymore detail about it….hypocrites.
lol the babytenyearolds stoped bragging about specs
They were talking about Wii U > PS3/360 moron.
Anybody remember playstation move or powerbook
Powerbook? Aside from the Mac line of laptops, what other product used that name?
Good answer
Can anybody tell me is there gonna be hundreds of games on ps4 and xboxone that uses it’s full power or are the majority of the games gonna be no better than what could appear on wii u
Games that push a console to its full potential usually don’t pop up until the twilight years of its life cycle (close to when the next consoles are on the horizon) and those are usually a handful.
The consumer base complained about the N64 when it was released for utilizing cartridge-based technology. Antiquated, declared the naysayers; yet, my N64 continues to work since the first time I powered it on in 1997. If the build quality of the console outshines the longevity of its initial purchase, extends for two to three decades past its relevancy, then it was worth the money. When I buy a Nintendo system, it may be feebly underpowered, but I am guaranteed a device with an interminable lifespan; I can’t declare such bold statements for any other competitive games manufacturer.
At the time no one took into consideration that Nintendo had every right to go with cartridges because -every- CD-based console/attachment that came out prior to N64/PSX/Saturn -failed miserably-.
With out the power Nintendo will always be Last, so thank you for destroying my dreams and hope again. No more supporting your consoles with add on, 64 rumble pack add on, Wii, motion plus add on, 3ds second stick add on, Wii u with better batteries, buy the bigger one, forget you Nintendo. I’m finish and done supporting your consoles that never wants to be perfect.
This is how I feel about my Wii U from day 1 purchase to now!
http://31.media.tumblr.com/ad96ce5c63549e037ad79a8d5e1059c4/tumblr_mtyhwwsOUH1rhhmt2o1_500.gif
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