There was probably a number of blockers that didn't get noticed until all of the systems were working together on a large scale simultaneously. There's probably some additional improvements that can be made as time goes on.
I'm not in any way a techhead and I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, so I gotta ask.
How did a patch I had to download reduce loading times between the various Wii U functions? I'd assume load times would be determined by hardware, but apparently not?
I can't remember the source, but I thought I'd heard something about them reducing the amount of Miiverse/Warawara stuff being refreshed/loaded in the background during each system transition.
I could be completely wrong, however.
They upgraded the Pikmin they use to move the data.
You probably know this already, but booting up the Wii U on your birthday gives you a nice celebratory jingle, and has all the Miis on the screen run in with their arms up in the air. It's a comical but cute gesture.
Comical but cute describes like 70% of Nintendo's UI design strategy.
I would not be surprised if part of the loading time improvements were due to making the system poll less for online data. That and a combination of gathering more of it asynchronously. Plus a healthy amount of general optimizations.
+1
Warlock82Never pet a burning dogRegistered Userregular
There was probably a number of blockers that didn't get noticed until all of the systems were working together on a large scale simultaneously. There's probably some additional improvements that can be made as time goes on.
I assume a lot of it was trying to front-load all of MiiVerse at once. They may be caching more data now as well.
...I really gotta stop reading too many discussions speculating on the Wii U's future. It gets depressing, and it's not like it's going to change my plans in any case. I'm gonna get the system because there re games I just plain don't want to miss. I just hope more good games are made for it, too.
don't get the "userbase is too small" argument from developers.
Because the other systems are also going to have super tiny userbases for the first 6 months too. Even if they sell triple what the Wii U did, they will be too small to sell a game that needs to sell 3 million copies to break even.
How does any console get off the ground ever, when small userbases mean you skip developing for that platform?
And since when does having a large userbase make a difference when it comes to developing for a Nintendo platform?
don't get the "userbase is too small" argument from developers.
Because the other systems are also going to have super tiny userbases for the first 6 months too. Even if they sell triple what the Wii U did, they will be too small to sell a game that needs to sell 3 million copies to break even.
How does any console get off the ground ever, when small userbases mean you skip developing for that platform?
And since when does having a large userbase make a difference when it comes to developing for a Nintendo platform?
Presumably they think that the other consoles will build their userbase, but lack the same confidence in the Wii U's futures. It is completely a self-fulfilling prophecy, but there you have it.
don't get the "userbase is too small" argument from developers.
Because the other systems are also going to have super tiny userbases for the first 6 months too. Even if they sell triple what the Wii U did, they will be too small to sell a game that needs to sell 3 million copies to break even.
How does any console get off the ground ever, when small userbases mean you skip developing for that platform?
And since when does having a large userbase make a difference when it comes to developing for a Nintendo platform?
Look.
They had to come up with something to say.
But they didn't want to come off as an ass.
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don't get the "userbase is too small" argument from developers.
Because the other systems are also going to have super tiny userbases for the first 6 months too. Even if they sell triple what the Wii U did, they will be too small to sell a game that needs to sell 3 million copies to break even.
How does any console get off the ground ever, when small userbases mean you skip developing for that platform?
And since when does having a large userbase make a difference when it comes to developing for a Nintendo platform?
Reposting something I posted in the Industry thread a while back
Third party games no longer work in the same way they did in the PS2/GCN/XBOX generation. If a third party can release their game on a system easily, they will do so. It's what saved the PS3. It's what's kept AAA development profitable for a lot of companies. There are only a handful of third party exclusives anymore between consoles that have some sort of spec parity.
That's what is hurting the Wii U. Why bother investing in being able to easily port 360/PS3 games to the Wii U? They're going to stop making those games soon. Why bother investing in unique versions of PS4/Next Xbox games for the Wii U? You make one game for two consoles, and then have to make a unique game for another? It doesn't make any sense business wise.
That's why Rayman is getting ported to the 360/PS3. That's why besides Ubisoft pretty much every developer is skipping the Wii U with their multiplatform games.
And that's why if Nintendo would have released a console with modern specs, they would have had third party. The industry changed last generation. FF/GTA/DMC/RE/MGS are all multiplatform games now. All the big and small third party franchises are. Nintendo doesn't seem to get this fact. Probably because last generation, they missed the exact same boat by not releasing a competitive console spec wise.
Why bother investing in being able to easily port 360/PS3 games to the Wii U? They're going to stop making those games soon.
They're not, because it's not economically feasible to make money on the new platforms with install bases less than 10 million. They will need to continue releasing cross-gen games for the foreseeable future.
Why bother investing in unique versions of PS4/Next Xbox games for the Wii U? You make one game for two consoles, and then have to make a unique game for another? It doesn't make any sense business wise.
PC versions of the software still require a "low" spec.
Why bother investing in being able to easily port 360/PS3 games to the Wii U? They're going to stop making those games soon.
They're not, because it's not economically feasible to make money on the new platforms with install bases less than 10 million. They will need to continue releasing cross-gen games for the foreseeable future.
That's the real rub here, those PS4/Next Xbox games will have an install base of both systems combined, not just a single console.
Why bother investing in unique versions of PS4/Next Xbox games for the Wii U? You make one game for two consoles, and then have to make a unique game for another? It doesn't make any sense business wise.
PC versions of the software still require a "low" spec.
Which already has the infrastructural in place for porting. Which will (presumably) be easier on the Next Xbox and PS4 due to using x86.
Looks like an update for Toki Tori 2 is available now
Improved the flow of the game after reaching the room with the 'thing'
Added another super-secret area
Fixed a bug where Toki Tori was invisible after returning to the game
Fades between levels now fade the audio too
Simplified the puzzle in the underwater passage
Fixed an issue when the TokiDex was completed in the photo room
Some back- and foreground elements got a fresh coat of paint
When all the collectibles in a level (or the entire game) are collected a melody will play to notify the player
Fixed a rare bug where the player completed the game, but the end scene wouldn't trigger
Various level tweaks, based on Miiverse feedback
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Your question was why would publishers skip the Wii U when the other consoles will also start out with tiny install bases, what I posted is one interpretation of why they would do that. What they may be thinking in regards to how to invest their money.
They could be wrong on that. However as it stands right now, with how the other consoles being an unknown quantity sales wise, they're playing it safe, assuming that's how it will work. I highly doubt it has anything to do with Nintendo the company, and more to do with them not wanting to take risks that at the moment look pretty damned risky.
No I don't.
0
AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Honestly as long as Nintendo makes money and makes my favorite franchises for the Wii u I really don't care. The Wii had a great library but aside from Boom Blox they pretty much did it without EA anyways. If next year I'm finally playing Pikmin, Rayman, and Mario Kart along with getting DLC for Zen Pinball I'll be happy...a better VC library would be nice too... and maybe some Sonic love. I wish we'd spend more time appreciating what we've got and less worrying about stuff like this.
Honestly as long as Nintendo makes money and makes my favorite franchises for the Wii u I really don't care. The Wii had a great library but aside from Boom Blox they pretty much did it without EA anyways. If next year I'm finally playing Pikmin, Rayman, and Mario Kart along with getting DLC for Zen Pinball I'll be happy...a better VC library would be nice too... and maybe some Sonic love. I wish we'd spend more time appreciating what we've got and less worrying about stuff like this.
This is a fantastic attitude to have, actually. No reason to get upset about not getting games you either don't want, or will get on another platform. Nintendo will do fine barring some unfortunate disaster, and Nintendo is at their best when they're actively trying to sell their system instead of it just flying off the shelf.
Looks like Xevious and Solomon's Key for the VC this week. I still feel like Nintendo is really, really limping with these releases, but I've always wanted to give Solomon's a shot.
It's frustrating though. This is one area where Nintendo could be leading the charge and pumping up some excitement in a fairly low-level, low-effort way, and they're putting out two NES games a week. Unless the floodgates open post E3/Nintendo's thing, I have no idea why they would possibly be doing such a lifeless job of this.
I'm gonna be pretty pissed if I'm still booting into Wii Mode just to play Virtual Console games in 2017 because they still haven't re-released my games on the eShop. Nintendo is really bungling up this transition.
I'm gonna be pretty pissed if I'm still booting into Wii Mode just to play Virtual Console games in 2017 because they still haven't re-released my games on the eShop. Nintendo is really bungling up this transition.
By 2017 they'll be getting the Wii Z ready for launch, so it won't really matter.
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HAIL HYDRA
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
I'm gonna be pretty pissed if I'm still booting into Wii Mode just to play Virtual Console games in 2017 because they still haven't re-released my games on the eShop. Nintendo is really bungling up this transition.
They never planned on having VC support on the WiiU in the first place, remember? Now.. question that decision all you want, but given the rumors that every VC release was tailored for the Wii on the backend, it makes some sense.
I'm gonna be pretty pissed if I'm still booting into Wii Mode just to play Virtual Console games in 2017 because they still haven't re-released my games on the eShop. Nintendo is really bungling up this transition.
By 2017 they'll be getting the Wii Z ready for launch, so it won't really matter.
They'll have a much more clever name than that. They'll need a name to evoke its new direction s a console that can be easily used to create new games and work to build new worlds.
They never planned on having VC support on the WiiU in the first place, remember? Now.. question that decision all you want, but given the rumors that every VC release was tailored for the Wii on the backend, it makes some sense.
They might not have planned to have VC for the WiiU from the start, but there's no reason for it to be this bad. Obviously the NES and SNES emulators are running just fine, so why not have more first party Nintendo titles?
I just feel like aside from the Miiverse, which I couldn't care less about, Nintendo is really half-assing it this time around.
They never planned on having VC support on the WiiU in the first place, remember? Now.. question that decision all you want, but given the rumors that every VC release was tailored for the Wii on the backend, it makes some sense.
They might not have planned to have VC for the WiiU from the start, but there's no reason for it to be this bad. Obviously the NES and SNES emulators are running just fine, so why not have more first party Nintendo titles?
I just feel like aside from the Miiverse, which I couldn't care less about, Nintendo is really half-assing it this time around.
Half-assing compared to what? It's about on par with the VC on Wii and 3DS.
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HAIL HYDRA
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AthenorBattle Hardened OptimistThe Skies of HiigaraRegistered Userregular
Just because a homebrew emulator can brute force a game with glitches and bugs doesn't mean that meets Nintendo's standards. Honestly, if there's one problem with Nintendo it's that they rarely half-ass anything. We may not like the outcome, but they pour a ton of energy into making it as good as they can when they try*.
@LindseyLohan: Yes, a Sonic game would be most pleasing right now. Sonic has done pretty well on Nintendo consoles, so I hope they give it a shot with whatever it is they're working on right now.
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I believe this to be factually accurate, yes.
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I would not be surprised if part of the loading time improvements were due to making the system poll less for online data. That and a combination of gathering more of it asynchronously. Plus a healthy amount of general optimizations.
I assume a lot of it was trying to front-load all of MiiVerse at once. They may be caching more data now as well.
REALLY
don't get the "userbase is too small" argument from developers.
Because the other systems are also going to have super tiny userbases for the first 6 months too. Even if they sell triple what the Wii U did, they will be too small to sell a game that needs to sell 3 million copies to break even.
How does any console get off the ground ever, when small userbases mean you skip developing for that platform?
And since when does having a large userbase make a difference when it comes to developing for a Nintendo platform?
Presumably they think that the other consoles will build their userbase, but lack the same confidence in the Wii U's futures. It is completely a self-fulfilling prophecy, but there you have it.
Look.
They had to come up with something to say.
But they didn't want to come off as an ass.
Switch (JeffConser): SW-3353-5433-5137 Wii U: Skeldare - 3DS: 1848-1663-9345
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Reposting something I posted in the Industry thread a while back
They're not, because it's not economically feasible to make money on the new platforms with install bases less than 10 million. They will need to continue releasing cross-gen games for the foreseeable future.
PC versions of the software still require a "low" spec.
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That's the real rub here, those PS4/Next Xbox games will have an install base of both systems combined, not just a single console.
Which already has the infrastructural in place for porting. Which will (presumably) be easier on the Next Xbox and PS4 due to using x86.
The other angle is that Nintendo paid them money to make the game
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Your question was why would publishers skip the Wii U when the other consoles will also start out with tiny install bases, what I posted is one interpretation of why they would do that. What they may be thinking in regards to how to invest their money.
They could be wrong on that. However as it stands right now, with how the other consoles being an unknown quantity sales wise, they're playing it safe, assuming that's how it will work. I highly doubt it has anything to do with Nintendo the company, and more to do with them not wanting to take risks that at the moment look pretty damned risky.
And The Wonderful 101?
I thought that's the Platinum-developed game we're talking about here...
I meant 101. Which one are they paying for, or is it both?
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This is a fantastic attitude to have, actually. No reason to get upset about not getting games you either don't want, or will get on another platform. Nintendo will do fine barring some unfortunate disaster, and Nintendo is at their best when they're actively trying to sell their system instead of it just flying off the shelf.
It's frustrating though. This is one area where Nintendo could be leading the charge and pumping up some excitement in a fairly low-level, low-effort way, and they're putting out two NES games a week. Unless the floodgates open post E3/Nintendo's thing, I have no idea why they would possibly be doing such a lifeless job of this.
Super Metroid next week, though.
Patience, young grasshopper.
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By 2017 they'll be getting the Wii Z ready for launch, so it won't really matter.
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They never planned on having VC support on the WiiU in the first place, remember? Now.. question that decision all you want, but given the rumors that every VC release was tailored for the Wii on the backend, it makes some sense.
Nintendo are moneyhatting it, I believe.
*edit* Beated, many times
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They'll have a much more clever name than that. They'll need a name to evoke its new direction s a console that can be easily used to create new games and work to build new worlds.
The Nintendo tUl.
It's not really moneyhatting when you're funding development and publishing. It's more... funding development and publishing.
They might not have planned to have VC for the WiiU from the start, but there's no reason for it to be this bad. Obviously the NES and SNES emulators are running just fine, so why not have more first party Nintendo titles?
I just feel like aside from the Miiverse, which I couldn't care less about, Nintendo is really half-assing it this time around.
Half-assing compared to what? It's about on par with the VC on Wii and 3DS.
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* - Unless you are in Europe/Australia.