Nintendo’s new Wii U Controller won’t play DVDs or Blu-ray discs when it is launched next year, and what’s more, it will also not allow free play games as head honcho, Satoru Iwata, says he is not interested in the freemium model because it cheapens the experience of the game.
 Click to enlarge |
Critics say Nintendo has missed the point of the tablet device by confining it to simply gaming, especially as Microsoft has moved to make the Kinect more of a media hub that would keep the whole family involved.
However Nintendo says its aim is to attract hardcore gamers who buy lots of games, and that it is also not interested in providing the free experience.
But developers working around the freemium model say that attracting followers who don’t incur the price tags can be lucrative, especially when it comes to generating income from ads and microtransactions.
Ignoring its current customer base could prove a risky strategy, say observers, since mainstream gamers may well opt for the Kinect, which, according to gaming experts, provides a natural upgrade from the Wii.
Game developers have also pointed out that they have little idea of how they can make Wii U games more intuitive than its predecessor, the Wii, or Xbox 360 and PS3 games.
