4) Innovation Or Familiarity?
Nintendo has a reputation for taking risks with their consoles – look at the Wii and its bold strides into motion gaming (pretty much inspiring Microsoft and Sony to stumble into the idea too). The Wii U is no different, tipping its hat to the idea of tablet gaming along the way. The breakthrough of tablets into the gaming industry has changed mobile gaming forever and Nintendo were quick to use that as inspiration for their new console.
Sadly, it hasn’t quite been the success they might have predicted. In Nintendo’s hands, the Wii U Gamepad leads to unique, interesting applications for the device, but as with the Wiimote, other developers may feel too tempted to tack it onto their product and devalue that version of the game in gamer’s eyes. The reaction to Microsoft’s Kinect should tell you everything you need to know about gamers’ needs for a traditional controller.
Nintendo does offer standard controllers too, such as the Wii’s old Classic Controller, but those aren’t compatible with every game on offer – including The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, a big system mover for the Wii U right now. To play Wind Waker the old way, you need the new Pro Controller. Given that the Pro Controller is simply an updated Classic Controller, it seems like a needless hurdle. While the various features and functions of the Gamepad no doubt add or improve various gameplay experiences, some will always yearn for the typical controller – two sticks, face buttons and triggers. A better balance between innovation and familiarity — perhaps relaunching the Pro Controller and pushing it as a key accessory — would no doubt help ease people back into Nintendo’s world.