Reggie talks Wii U target audience & Wii game transfers

Reggie presents the Wii U

Reggie firmly believes that the Wii and Wii U will cater to entirely different audiences from this point onwards, which he hopes will enable the two consoles to co-exist peacefully “for some time”. Citing the new $149.99 price point the Wii now sells at as the key factor in reaching an “expanded demographic”. And it makes sense, considering that the so-called “core” audience with an interest in the Wii has had 5 years to pick one up.

He let out another interesting quip, though, which hints at a possible way to “migrate” from a Wii to a Wii U.

We haven’t announced pricing for Wii U, but you can definitely expect that pricing is going to be different and that the games are going to be different. We do believe that Wii and Wii U will coexist for some time. As we drive the install base of Wii, we’re really setting people up to take their gaming library and be able to transfer it over to Wii U.

The statement is quite vague, but it seems the Wii’s new purpose will be to serve as a “starter” console for those looking to get into video games in a low-cost way, with the possibility of a seamless transfer of save data and digital purchases to a Wii U once they’re ready to “step it up”. It certainly sounds like a clever way to leverage an existing, popular product to drive interest in a new one.

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Comments, Reactions, and General Hooliganism

  1. hardcoreUfan

    I think this really shows how nintendo is pushing to make the wii u the next gen system to go to for hardcore games.
    I really think that the next ps and microsoft console will be more towards the casual to catch up with nintendo and the wii in sales

    • crackkat

      i agree totally 😀 but ps360 gamers just dont believe it, they will though, they will 😉

  2. Sparkymoreno

    I hate when they say their systems will “coexist”. They said the same thing about the GBA DS and GC saying that the DS will be the “third pillar”. From a business standpoint I understand why they would say that. I would never tell my customers that my product is now obsolete. But we all know that the wii fade to black.
    On another note I am interested to see how Nintendo’s capture of a larger audience this generation will trickle the next.

    • THE I

      Well, he did say that they’ll “coexist for some time”, which could be anything from a year to maybe even five years *looks at PS2*

      And GBA is a really bad example as the DS actually did terrible sales its first years, then add the years it existed despite being pushed aside by the DS and we have a “solid” coexistence between the two of them.

      Now Gamecube is another story, but I don’t think they ever said it would coexist with the Wii…

    • Sparkymoreno

      Here is what I would love to see. The Wii U capture “hardcore” and “casual” while eliminating the perception that motion gaming is for casuals. The wiimote is a controller that has not seen its full potential. Look at Zelda Skyward sword w/ the wii motion plus… Imagine if Capcom could capitalize off of that with a DMC-like fast paced action game on an HD system. Or the motion plus on games like GTA, the new Max Payne. Now wipe the drool from your chin….

      I dont want the untapped unappreciated motion gaming to be die with the wii, with a tombstone saying ” for casual gamers”. Here is how they should coexist….and its simple math.
      Implement the greatest strength of the Wii + The Wii U interface and power = Great variety Console – wii biggest downfalls > (PS3 + 360)
      When they say “coexist for some time”, I imagine Nintendo as meticulous boxer. The fading wii is there “left jab” and the upcoming wii U is their underestimated “right hook”. Don’t pepper your fans with lil punches… When the bell rings,
      Mike Tyson ME! Give me a haymaker with a great console and knock me the f**k OUT!!

  3. Revolution5268

    wow they were not joking about wii u been hardcore, and the loyal fans will not have to worry about the backwards comparable.

  4. Tails the Foxhound

    Can I even transfer my game data with online data? ‘Cause you can’t move that data normally. I’m not worried about moving my VC data, I’m sure they’ll work that out like they did for DSi and 3DS.

  5. RockD79

    I’m hoping they let us transfer the VC purchases. Maybe by entering the serial number from the Wii to verify the account. Obviously we would have to redownload everything but that’s a small price to pay.

  6. I hope this means they take the purchases located on your Club Nintendo account and make it transfer to your Nintendo Network account.