Nintendo’s E3 2012 – The Good, Bad and Ugly

It’s been a few weeks since E3, we’ve now all had time to absorb all Nintendo’s had to say and show at the show. Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie Fils-Aime have also said a fair amount of interview after the show too with more tidbits to mull over.

It’s a lot to take in so we’ve boiled it down to the good, the bad and the ugly.

We’d like to hear your good, bad and ugly as well. Share them in the comments.

Ain ‘Toby’ Soph Aur

E3 this year was met with quite a bit of anticipation, particularly for the Nintendo fan due to the full unveiling of the WiiU. With E3 now done and dusted, you’d be forgiven for asking whether it even occured in the first place. The conferences for all three major gaming companies were all largely described as being lackluster. For me, Nintendo’s conference failed to live up to the hype and they were not able to convince me that I should hand over my hard earned cash to buy a WiiU later this year (presumably), which – in my humble opinion – is surely their priority. That said, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, so let’s look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the show.

The Good

There were several positives to take from this years E3, despite the generally negative reviews from the gaming media. Firstly, the new GamePad does look like a lot of fun, and it is sure to provide a whole new way of playing games much the same as the Wii did when it was first introduced. I do hope they can make better use of the GamePad for the Wii U, as the Wii has – in all honesty – had very few games that truly justified the decision to go with such a control method. Most of Nintendo’s really big guns on the Wii (Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Smash Bros.) could have worked equally well with a normal control method, so I really want them to get the absolute best out of the GamePad.

Another positive is the fact that the WiiU is now ‘next-gen’ in terms of visuals. I certainly don’t prioritise graphics in choosing what games I play, but the fact is a more powerful console means better third party support. In fact, the third party support for the WiiU at launch or within the launch window is excellent. Games like Batman: Arkham Asylum, Assassins Creed III, and Mass Effect 3 are all scheduled to be released at launch or close to. It’s a huge plus having ‘hardcore’ titles like this be released on a Nintendo console, and it gives hope to the idea that games like Grand Theft Auto will also be released in the future. The only concern is that the PS4 and Xbox 720 will see another massive jump in visual capabiltiies, which might upset the balance and see inferior ports on the WiiU.

A final positive is that I already own four sets of Wii-motes and nunchuks which means I am already set for multiplayer gaming for the WiU. Recycling already existing controls for a new console is not only better for our hip-pockets, but it is also enviromentally friendly!

The Bad

Nintendo promised to deliver some big games and they have absolutely failed in this regard. In fact, the third party software at this point in time is much more exciting. Where’s the console shifter? Nintendo have probably been a bit arrogant in thinking that the success of the Wii is going to translate to instant success in the Wii U. In our current financial climate, I cannot see this being the case. Pikmin 3 looks fantastic, but this is only a launch window title. I have played the NSMB titles on the Wii and DS, and while enjoyable, they do not appeal to me enough to buy a console on their merit alone. That said, I do acknowledge that the NSMB franchise is likely to be quite popular, and perhaps Nintendo are pinning their hopes on this title shifting units. Nintendo Land will be fun no doubt, but I expect this to be included with the console anyway. The inclusion of Wii Sports was a great move by Nintendo for the Wii, and it would seem like an odd decision not to include this title in the package.

As for Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, it was unrealistic to expect a new Zelda game, but a 3D Mario platformer or a Donkey Kong title would have been nice. Even a totally new IP from Nintendo that is not just a mini-game demo would have been most welcomed. Perhaps we will get more announcement in between now and launch, but as it stands, I am yet to be convinced to buy a Wii U.

The Ugly

While the conference was a dissapointment, there was nothing overly ‘ugly’ about it. I guess the total lack of ‘wow factor’ is one, I logged onto the net and briefly read a few announcements on Vooks and just thought ‘meh’. This is quite the contrast to some of the previous experiences I have had. Perhaps I am just getting older and more cranky?

Another potential ugly is the battery life of the GamePad. While the reported battery life of 3-5 hours is OK, a charge time of 2.5 hours is probably not ideal. That said, it also isn’t unexpected considering the size of the screen and its other capabilities. The battery life reported for the 3DS was largely not well received, but having owned one since launch, it has never bothered me a great deal.

Overall

Overall, I’d rate Nintendo’s E3 as being a bare pass; ‘meh’ is perhaps the best description for the overall event and Nintendo’s key presentation. They have really done the bare minimum and the launch window software looks good from a third party perspective, but quite bare from Nintendo themselves. That said, Nintendo often keep their cards close to their chest, so I anticipate that we will get more announcements about big Nintendo titles in the next six months.

Phantom Ganon

Well, a lot of emotion was the fall out of the E3 performance of Nintendo. I was feeling well down immediately after the conference but in the days since, I’ve acquired a bit more optimism about the whole thing. Sure, it didn’t hit it out of the park like the Wii did, but it would be foolish to think a systems fortunes are defined by the E3 showing prior to release. For one thing it was only 2010 that Nintendo debuted a new system that had what was widely considered a succesful E3, but the 3DS struggled to gain traction until a price cut occurred. That said, the presentation was not one for the ages.

The Good

Launch software. Some people might already be laughing at me, but I think the launch is healthy. If you don’t think so, take a gander back at what launched the last generation of consoles. In terms of the first party, a new 2D Mario game is always a system seller, it sold the NES back in the day, it sold the SNES, skipped the two consoles after it (which coincidentally didn’t sell that well) and gave the Wii traction midway through its life. Anyone doubting the sales potential of 2D Mario is kidding themselves. And well, I can’t help but feel that there’s a reason for that. Despite all the talk that Nintendo’s prize mascot sells anything that he’s put on, his 3D games don’t get anywhere near the amount of sales. They’re generally fun games to play, a New Super Mario Bros. U seems no exception to that rule. I’ll palm it down to a smart business move on Nintendo’s part. Wii Fit U also seems to be an attempt by Nintendo to help the install base grow quickly. A Wii Fit game has never been tasked with selling a system before (though I guess it does have the help of a 2D Mario game), but the previous entries have sold about 20 million units each, so it does sell.

Pikmin 3 is one that is not as business driven. It was a launch window title for the Gamecube as well and while it’s not a game that moves systems, it’s one with a vocal fanbase. I’m not the biggest fan of Pikmin (I have finished the first one), but there is one thing I’m glad to see out of all this; the primary control scheme for the game is the Wiimote and Nunchuk, which seems to suggest that the GamePad will be sitting equal with the Wiimote and Nunchuk as a control option. The only way my whim could be confirmed would be for Nintendo to throw a Wiimote into every Wii U box, but I would love to see games continue to be made for the control scheme that the Wii pioneered. I know I would much prefer to play my shooters with a pointer now that I’ve had a taste.

P-100 and Lego City: Undercover are games that don’t seem first party, but looking at the fine print will reveal that they are being published by Nintendo. Lego City looks like GTA lite, if Rockstar announce GTA V for the Wii U, it might bite into the sales of this game. It also looked rough around the edges from what gameplay footage I managed to find, so technically, the game requires a bit of polish. P-100 is an interesting one. Platinum Games are making this one, and it looks like a novel concept. Recruit quirky “superheroes” and band them into a team which can fight gigantic foes and traverse large obstacles by forming large weapons and gadgets. People might get angry at me for this, but I think this one will have a better chance of success as a downloadable title. But I don’t know what’s there in terms of content, so perhaps Kamiya and co. can pack enough content into this one to warrant the disc release.

The third party support is also there. I hear you laughing again, but as mentioned before, launches are generally filled with ports. Two of the ports that have been shown, Batman and Mass Effect 3, are appreciated by this gamer who does his gaming on Nintendo consoles and a PC. I’ll have to see more of Mass Effect 3 before committing to that one, but Batman looks like one that I should play. Scribblenauts looks like the Scribblenauts we all know, but better. Being a launch title gives it a chance to stand out, so if it’s good, it’ll sell well. Not sure too many people are too interested in Maxwell’s origin story, but we’ll see what happens.

Darksiders II may be considered a port by the time the Wii U version hits, but it looks like a game that I will have fun playing. While all I have is the word of the developers to go with, I’ve heard the words “open world” being bandied about. It also looks combat heavy and loot heavy, which when done right, provides a sense of growth that allows access to other areas of the world map (I’m a Legend of Zelda fan in case you couldn’t tell). Hopefully they don’t go too nuts with cutscenes but what I see so far is promising.

Ubisoft were considered by many the winners of E3 2012, and they’ve brought some stuff along for the Wii U gamers. Just Dance 4 seems like the rest of the Just Dance series, and I don’t begrudge Ubisoft at all for bringing a cash cow along. What I’m going to be most interested in, is Assassin’s Creed III. It should shift a healthy amount of units for the Wii U and it looks like the Assassin’s Creed people love, in a fresh new setting. I’ve bought some of the older ones to play through in order to see whether it’s something I’ll be interested in getting. As for Rayman, while it may not be my cup of tea, I know there is a group out there who swear by its predecessor in Origins. It’s a good option to have for those who don’t want the Mario platformer or even for those who just want a different kind of platforming to Mario.

Now, the third party game I took the most interest in was Zombi U. Again from the people at Ubisoft, Zombi U, seems like a survival horror game. At first glance, I gasped at the title – wondering who would name a game like that – and while it may not be the prettiest game, it takes advantage of the two screen setup to build tension while the player is looting for valuable ammo or health to keep themselves alive. From what little I’ve seen the zombie infested areas are truly infested, try to rush through and they’ll overwhelm you with numbers. Try and pick off every single one, you’ll find yourself running out of ammo. It seems like it will be a truly tense experience. Not only that but each survivor you control only has one life, once they die, that’s it. You take control of another survivor in a different part of zombie-infested London. You have the option of fighting back to your previous survivors corpse for the sweet loot, but remember, there was probably a reason that you ended up dying there in the first place. The “open world” term has also been bandied about here, and I would be truly excited to explore a zombie-infested London, doing quests to try and help you survivors continue to live, and work slowly towards a solution to rid the place of zombies.

Enough on software, I’ll quickly go through some hardware features that I think are going to be very useful. Firstly, the TV remote. Brilliant. Now I don’t have to track my TV remote whenever I get the whim to play a game. I just pick up the GamePad. Secondly, while this doesn’t affect us down in Australia, making sure Netflix is there again is a great move. For those of us who are uninterested in using a video game console as a media hub, I’ve always been a supporter of Nintendo not adding DVD/Blu-ray Disc playback to their consoles at extra cost. You want Netflix, you pay the extra cash for it and you can use it. The destruction of friend codes is something many are rejoicing over. I’ll just put it on the record that I had no problem with them in the form they took on the 3DS.

The Bad

The conference itself was awful. After all, Batman was shown, a game that was released around half a year ago, in place of something else (and as much as I like him, Reggie swearing that it was a new game on G4 was also quite cringe-worthy). We had to wait until after the conference to discover the existence of P-100, which was never going to be a graphical showcase game, but something new. I feel Zombi U would’ve benefitted from an on stage demo, much like Red Steel got six years ago. Pikmin 3 and New Super Mario Bros. U were the best parts of the conference, after that, it fell away badly.

Also, I feel Nintendo were lacking that one more first party title that was going to come out and look great. It would’ve been Retro’s game I imagine, if that were far enough along. But even something like F-Zero (I’m being selfish here) or a new 3D Metroid (though Retro could be working on this). We were waiting and waiting for the bomb to be dropped, but there was no bomb, only Nintendo Land.

Let’s discuss Nintendo Land. Six years ago, when Wii Sports was shown off at E3, while I wasn’t over the moon about it, I saw it and I wanted it because I saw its potential as a multiplayer game. Then they announced that it would be bundled with every Wii console in the West and much rejoicing occurred. And then the Wii came out and Twilight Princess stood on the backburner for a couple of days as Wii Sports came along and took centre stage. Nintendo Land has made me feel nothing. To the point where I haven’t looked at it, which is probably unfair. I should give it a chance. I don’t think Nintendo Land will do for the Wii U what Wii Sports did for the Wii. It may be bundled software, but it’s not going to make people say “I need this system for this game”. New Super Mario Bros. U will do a much better job of that.

Finally, where were the software features which had question marks over them? I’m sure it’s been all but confirmed that all Virtual Console games will transfer to the Wii U, but how will that work? As I understand, the Wii U is account based now, so who’s account do the games transfer to? Are the games removed from the Wii console they came from after a system transfer? What about Gamecube Virtual Console? Can I turn off the Miiverse? I’m not one who objects too much to the concept of a social network integrating stuff, but it shouldn’t and hopefully isn’t at the expense of being able to get into the game quickly. Also, the option should exist to just turn it off, even if you want to play online multiplayer games. Some people aren’t too big about showing off what achievements they’ve earned and what not. Also, it’s been said that there will be a maximum 30 minute delay from posting stuff on the Miiverse to it actually appearing. I’m actually fine with this (better than penises being everywhere). But I would hope that contact between friends is unfiltered. I do want to ability to invite a friend to play an online game with me. Perhaps an invite system seperate from the Miiverse messaging will serve this purpose.

The Ugly

And we look to the future. Wait, Nintendo only announced launch window games? This is what upset me the most. They’re trying to get me to buy a new system not for the four months following launch, but for the six years following it. So where’s my incentive? What was shown to make me think, “Oh man, I’ll buy this sytem for that game now, but also because these really awesome games are coming for it”. This is where I think they screwed up the most. If they weren’t scared to show off Retro’s new game or whatever Monolith are working on (and I’m not even talking gameplay footage, a teaser trailer would’ve done me fine), I wouldn’t be feeling like I was taking a leap of faith in buying the Wii U. How can I trust when the Wii stopped getting games after 2010? When there was that big gap between Super Smash Bros. Brawl and New Super Mario Bros. Wii in 2008 and 2009?

Now that’s my E3 wrap up, but one final thing. What the Wii U is up against at the moment are consoles we have no idea about yet. Consoles which we won’t know about until this time next year. I think that surely Sony won’t make another $599 USD system and force themselves to play catch up again, but their suits at E3 say things that make me think twice. I think surely, the other two won’t push development costs to even greater heights again, but then I’m not so sure. Let’s just remember, we’ve got a look at Nintendo’s new system and to me, it doesn’t look like something that’s going to perform terribly. It’s just a crying shame they didn’t show us what was coming through 2013. And it’ll be interesting to see what occurs at next years E3.