GameStop on Wii U sales, not performing like Wii, blockbuster needed
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
Wii U may not have obtained the same sort of success as the Wii did at launch, but it was by no means a disaster. Since then, though, sales have fallen off.
GameStop CFO Rob Lloyd spoke about the Wii U’s performance at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference earlier today. While he noted that the system’s launch “performed at expectation”, interest has waned.
Lloyd said there are a “variety of theories as to why that might be.” One big reason is the lack of a true “blockbuster” – in other words, a system seller.
Lloyd’s comments on Wii U sales in full:
“We were pleased with the allocation [of Wii U units] that we got through the launch. I think for us, it performed at expectation. I think what what you’re [now] seeing is the interest has not been to the overall level that [Nintendo] had hoped for. And it’s not performing like the Wii did. There are a variety of theories as to why that might be. But among them is there hasn’t been the blockbuster from Nintendo. So Nintendo I think understands the need to have that first-party software available to drive Wii U sales.”
Nintendo has some heavy hitters on the way – it’s just a matter of when big titles will be released. We know Wind Waker HD is due out this fall, but something like Mario Kart or that new 3D Mario could boost sales as well.
Famitsu review scores (2/12/13)
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 0 comments
This week’s Famitsu review scores are as follows:
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3) – 10/10/10/9
Tokyo Yamanote Boys Portable (PSP) – 8/8/7/7
Desert Kingdom Portable (PSP) – 7/8/7/8
Grisaia no Kajitsu: Le Fruit De La Grisaia (PSP) – 7/8/7/8
Tank! Tank! Tank! (Wii U) – 8/7/7/6
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (3DS) – 7/6/6/7
Renegade Kid confident Wii U will have “an excellent future”, Mutant Mudds 2 likely for 2014
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
For the first time, Renegade Kid will be supporting a Nintendo console. And there’s good reason: co-founder Jools Watsham sees a bright future ahead for Wii U.
Sharing his thoughts on the system, Watsham said:
“I am certain the Wii U will have an excellent future. The writing is on the wall. It is an excellent console. Nintendo has some amazing titles lined up for future releases. Even though Q1 2013 may have had some issues, I predict that the 2013 holiday season will be huge for the Wii U. Nintendo’s campaign for the Wii U has only just begun.”
Along with Wii U, Renegade Kid will continue to create games for the 3DS eShop. Mutant Mudds 2 has already been confirmed for the platform, but we’ll probably be forced to wait until 2014 before its arrival.
According to Watsham:
“We have a lot of projects going on right now, and Mutant Mudds 2 is one of them. But, it’s going to be a while before we can share any more information on it. Due to our busy schedule, it is looking like Mudds 2 will be a 2014 release.”
Straight Right may have news on Wii U game soon
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
Straight Right, the team behind Mass Effect 3 on Wii U, is porting a “big” game set “in a well known franchise” to Wii U for Square Enix. What might that project be?
Square Enix and Straight Right haven’t haven’t said anything since that discovery was made, but news could be coming soon.
Last week, a fan asked the studio on Twitter if they could provide any hints about its mystery Wii U title. Straight Right didn’t budge, but hinted that it may have an update after DICE – which wrapped up a few days ago.
@wavetradeinc We’d love to give out hints, but we’ll be a little busy at DICE this week. Maybe afterwards we’ll have some news. #dicesummit
— Straight Right (@straight_right) February 5, 2013
Giants Software believes Wii U has untapped potential
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Giants Software’s Marc Schwegler of Farming Simulator fame feels that the Wii U has a lot of untapped potential. Schwegler told NowGamer that if this potential is explored, Nintendo’s newest console “could be more popular than Wii”.
Schwegler said:
“I think it should do as well as the Wii, maybe even better. It’s difficult to say, it’s really depending on what games they will add that really use the extra device you get with it. There’s a lot of potential that’s not tapped yet, if it is and if it will be then I think it could be more popular than the Wii because it’s something more. Wii motion was okay, everybody copied it but it’s done, people are returning to regular controllers because it’s easier to play and you have much more options. A touch device, you could put a whole set of controls on there.”
SEGA says TimeGate only helped Gearbox with Aliens: Colonial Marines
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
SEGA has denied rumors that Aliens: Colonial Marines was primarily developed by TimeGate Studios. A rumor originating from last year reared its head yesterday, claiming that Gearbox only worked on the game’s multiplayer aspects.
Speaking with Playnews during the Italian Aliens: Colonial Marines’ launch event, SEGA of America senior producer Matthew J. Powers denied the speculation.
Powers said:
“Absolutely not, the game has been developed by Gearbox Software. Other studios [like Timegate] helped Gearbox on the production of single and multiplayer.”
Ancel, other devs protest Rayman Legends delay
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
Even Michel Ancel is upset about Rayman Legends’ delay. The Rayman creator has been seen with other dev team staffers in photos protesting Ubisoft’s decision to push back the game.
A banner depicted in snapshots includes the words “Release Rayman. Support Ubisoft Montpelier.” Rayman’s speech bubble says “SVP” – which is “please” in English – and the character himself is crying.
Rayman Legends’ delay on Wii U was announced last week. The game is essentially done, but it won’t be hitting Nintendo’s console until early September so that work on newly announced PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 versions can be completed. Ubisoft wishes to release all three editions of Rayman Legends simultaneously in order to avoid two separate launches.
Why Capcom Arcade Cabinet and Darkstalkers aren’t on Wii U, support hinted at for the future
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U, Wii U eShop | 0 comments
Capcom has supported Wii U with two game’s thus far: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Resident Evil: Revelations, which will arrive on the console soon. Aside from these two releases, more support from the publisher seems to be on the way.
When asked by a fan why Capcom Arcade Cabinet and Darkstalkers Resurrection aren’t coming to Wii U, Capcom’s Christian Svensson explained that the titles’ inception came “before having visibility into the digital Wii U market or Nintendo’s policies/vehicles pertaining to digital.” Svensson did leave a tease for Wii U eShop fans, noting that they “will have things to look forward to in the future.”
Multiplatform refers to”more than one”. It does not necessarily mean “all”.
To answer your question more clearly, the projects in question were conceived of and started before having visibility into the digital Wii U market or Nintendo’s policies/vehicles pertaining to digital.
Fear not though. Wii U eShop fans will have things to look forward to in the future.
In another thread discussing Wii U support in general, Svensson additionally teased:
We’ve got MH Tri Ultimate and RE: Revelations announced for Wii U with more fun you’ll hear about “in the not-so-distant future ™”.
What else might Capcom have in store for Wii U?
Zelda: Wind Waker design sketches
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GameCube, Images, News, Wii U | 0 comments
Accompanying The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker’s release in Japan over a decade ago was a special “Zelda Box”. The package included a copy of the game, a promo book, a soundtrack, Link and Moblin figures, and a guidebook. Tucked away in the guidebook were a bunch of amazing Wind Waker sketches.
GlitterBerri has started to translate some of the contents of the guidebook, and uploaded high-quality scans of the sketches. Hit up the gallery above for some of the art.
Rumor: Gearbox only made Aliens: Colonial Marines’ multiplayer
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Podcast Stories, Rumors, Wii U | 0 comments
For the most part, it has been known (or at least assumed) that TimeGate Studios was lending a hand to Aliens: Colonial Marines’ development. The studio’s involvement appears to have been deeper than initially expected, however.
An unconfirmed forum post from a Gearbox staffer, posted last year, states that TimeGate actually handled a majority of Aliens’ creation. Gearbox was mainly relegated to the title’s multiplayer component.
The message says:
Hate to say it, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high for Colonial Marines. I used to work at Gearbox, and the development of that game has been a total train wreck, going on what, 6 years now? Gearbox isn’t even making the game, except for the multiplayer. Primary development was outsourced to TimeGate Studios, which has a less than stellar past.
I hope it proves me wrong, as I still have alot of friends still working at Gearbox, but I am expecting it to be average at best.
Aliens: Colonial Marines hasn’t exactly received the best reception thus far. If this information is true, it would have been interesting to see how the shooter would have turned out had Gearbox been the game’s sole developer.
