The Future is Now: Putting U in Wii U

Thursday is going to be a big day. Virtually every gaming news platform is anticipating the information from Nintendo’s Press Event in two days. What is the point of Wii U? Why should you care? Will Nintendo survive, crumble, or thrive? These are just a few questions I will attempt to answer here. Momentarily, we will know the console’s price, launch day and launch games. And, meanwhile Apple will hold its own hardware conference tomorrow, reminding us as Nintendo Life points out in a Talking Point that the company is always looming large. Indeed, I resist calling it the ‘Big A’ and yet I am typing this up on a new Macbook Pro.

To start off, let us try to dispel the ‘Apple threat’ or so called iOS invasion of consumers. We must remember that when Apple is touted of taking over the industry, with the now ‘majority of gamers’ deemed to belong to its casual camp, this pertains most to possible repercussions on the handheld market. How will 3DS and PSV resist this trend, or simply survive it. But in terms of consoles, why even consider a domination and prevailing of Apple? Satoru Iwata emphasizes it continuously and if one truly supports what Nintendo has brought to the table in the form of rich, elaborate experiences, Apple will not stand a chance. Still, let’s look a little close at Nintendo’s agenda with the Wii U.

Leading right up to now, primary concerns remain in form of the Wii U’s hardware. Could the online service concerns, GamePad lags and storage setbacks eventually come back to hinder the Wii U? We do not know nearly enough about the online service; we know that Nintendo did not integrate EA’s Origin into their online service for better or for worse. While EA has been at it for two generations now, Nintendo is still floundering and learning to navigate online gracefully. Plus, why are there reported lags on the GamePad? Nintendo has happened to nail quality control for generations. If Reggie Fils-Aime should handle anything come Thursday, it will be to reassure us that the Wii U is polished and primed.

Ultimately though the Wii U has been about one fundamental thing: us. The establishing of hardware that guarantees chiefly, a powerhouse console capable of leading gamers into brilliant gameplay and adventure, something that Nintendo is best known for. Today, they want to show us that they can consistently deliver on this promise. So what matters most? Obviously, the games themselves, and once more, Nintendo’s ability to use this hardware particularly for their games. How we fit in the picture? To ensure they will deliver on this initiative. And in a time where other players in the industry continue to ramp it up and continue to survive – like Apple-, this is the best time to voice ourselves and to voice yourself in the making of the Wii U’s journey.

So, although hardware and extra perks do matter as much as any which reporter or enthusiast would have it, what prevails this generation is the reception of software, and how you impress and then express the game experience. Don’t like a game? Make it known. Believe one of their IPs should take things in a new direction, or to the next level? Make it known. But most importantly, make yourself known as a dedicated gamer because this generation, the Wii U in all evidence is dedicated to U. And in a round-about way, this system of mutual feedback may be the make or break of this new console.