darkSpyro

Today at IGN, I found out the Wii U bundle was coming out the 15th and will include a white Wii U, the game, Nintendo Land, and an exclusive Wash Buckler.

Wash Buckler is actually color shift, like E3 Hot Dog and, in the near future, Dune Bug.

Skylanders Swap Force = Win

*BASIC SET* = FAIL

I've done some research on this one and am leaning away from it due to the 8 GB thing.

The deal at gamestop was tempting with the $25 gift card and the skylanders backpack...but the reality is that the backpack can be had for $8 at Walmart or Amazon...So they're giving you $32 worth of freebies and a special edition Wash Buckler, but yanking 24 GB of memory from you...There's other bundles that give you Mario and the 32 GB or Zelda or whatever the next soup du jour game with bundle will be. I guess it really comes down to how bad somebody wants that exclusive wash buckler and how much value you place in that figure. The deal can get even more lopsided if somebody else offers the wii bundles for under $300 on sale at some point.

The thing with the memory is, if you're the type that you really plan on using that internal memory, that extra 24GB isn't really going to do much for you. You're going to want an external hard drive anyway.

Quote: UncleBob

The thing with the memory is, if you're the type that you really plan on using that internal memory, that extra 24GB isn't really going to do much for you. You're going to want an external hard drive anyway.

Well, they say that 5 GB is used up off the bat...so you only have 3 to work with from ground zero...and I like virtual console and know I ran out early on with the wii...Purchase price of an external hard drive will dwarf pretty much anything you get from the gamestop BF deal unless you get big money for selling an exclusive wash buckler (which I won't be doing thank you very much...much less, then we'd have to find another Wash Buckler reg....then it's turned into a carousel of annoyance)...Not to mention, on a personal note the wifey and I are kind of organization freaks...I don't want any more hardware on my entertainment shelf than is necessary.

Quote: UncleBob

The thing with the memory is, if you're the type that you really plan on using that internal memory, that extra 24GB isn't really going to do much for you. You're going to want an external hard drive anyway.

True that 32GB can also fill up pretty quickly, but for a user who won't download a lot, that extra storage space could easily make the difference between needing extra storage or not. Besides, the 8GB console does not contain anywhere near 8GB of useable space. To quote from Nintendo's support page:

"Some of the storage space is used by the system software. The 8GB Basic Set has approximately 3GB available for data storage and downloads. The 32GB Deluxe Set has approximately 25GB available for data storage and downloads."

Useable space of 3GB vs 25GB is a pretty big difference.


Also, memory is not the only difference between the Basic Set and the Deluxe set. The Deluxe sets also includes the charging cradle and stand for the GamePad ($20 if purchased separately) and the difference could really affect the re-saleability/value of the console if one is the type who sells to upgrade instead of being like me and just keeping them in perpetuity.

Quote: DarthW

Quote: UncleBob

The thing with the memory is, if you're the type that you really plan on using that internal memory, that extra 24GB isn't really going to do much for you. You're going to want an external hard drive anyway.

True that 32GB can also fill up pretty quickly, but for a user who won't download a lot, that extra storage space could easily make the difference between needing extra storage or not. Besides, the 8GB console does not contain anywhere near 8GB of useable space. To quote from Nintendo's support page:

"Some of the storage space is used by the system software. The 8GB Basic Set has approximately 3GB available for data storage and downloads. The 32GB Deluxe Set has approximately 25GB available for data storage and downloads."

Useable space of 3GB vs 25GB is a pretty big difference.


Also, memory is not the only difference between the Basic Set and the Deluxe set. The Deluxe sets also includes the charging cradle and stand for the GamePad ($20 if purchased separately) and the difference could really affect the re-saleability/value of the console if one is the type who sells to upgrade instead of being like me and just keeping them in perpetuity.

Did not know that....The hits keep coming for this Skylanders Wii U Bundle...

It's a trade-off, obviously. For $299, this set comes with SSF and Nintendoland games. This is the same price as the Deluxe set, which includes only Nintendoland OR Zelda Wind Waker.

So, of course it isn't a bad deal, considering the $75 price tag of the SSF starter set. I just think it's weak that they include the Basic set with the SSF bundle.

Personally, I will be getting the new Deluxe Set (also $299) that comes out on Nov 1st and includes both Super Mario Bros U and Super Luigi U because I want the Deluxe set and both of those games anyway. Nintendoland I don't care about.

Is the gamestop one available for preorder and does amybody know if this figure will be available in any other ways? Other than educated guess using comparison of gnarly situation? Thx

No, the internal memory is not good enough if you plan on downloading retail games, even the Deluxe. In fact, the Basic set will not hold many of the current retail games, including Nintendo Land. Why the Deluxe is better has more to do with the extras you get (cradles and such) and if you plan on downloading some downloadable titles.

I have a lot of virtual console games, both on the Wii and the WiiU side. By now I would have gone WAY past a Basic setup. 32GB is plenty if you have a decent set of virtual console titles. Keep in mind that while the ROM for an NES game, for example, is only a 16-128K normally, each virtual console title also includes the full emulation engine. For some reason they chose to not build that into the main console, probably to avoid issues with piracy. Therefore a NES virtual console title might be 40MB or so. A SNES/N64 game significantly more.

So, in the end, a Basic is fine for just storing save game data. If you plan on downloading anything, including demos, you really need the Deluxe or you will be springing for an external powered hard drive (their recommendation). If you plan on buying more than one or two retail downloadable titles, you need the external drive regardless.

Quote: defpally

No, the internal memory is not good enough if you plan on downloading retail games, even the Deluxe. In fact, the Basic set will not hold many of the current retail games, including Nintendo Land. Why the Deluxe is better has more to do with the extras you get (cradles and such) and if you plan on downloading some downloadable titles.

I have a lot of virtual console games, both on the Wii and the WiiU side. By now I would have gone WAY past a Basic setup. 32GB is plenty if you have a decent set of virtual console titles. Keep in mind that while the ROM for an NES game, for example, is only a 16-128K normally, each virtual console title also includes the full emulation engine. For some reason they chose to not build that into the main console, probably to avoid issues with piracy. Therefore a NES virtual console title might be 40MB or so. A SNES/N64 game significantly more.

So, in the end, a Basic is fine for just storing save game data. If you plan on downloading anything, including demos, you really need the Deluxe or you will be springing for an external powered hard drive (their recommendation). If you plan on buying more than one or two retail downloadable titles, you need the external drive regardless.

This is where I am...I like to play (and have downloaded) a lot of the old school games....and wii ran out on me...I estimate zero issue with a 32 GB system, but the same issue I had with the wii if I go 8 GB...and the cost of getting that extra 24 GB + with other memory options ruins the deal...Just better to buy Swap Starter and get the Mario/Luigi bundle IMO. (Or Zelda if that's your thing)...

Two quick things:

The original Wii had half a gig of internal storage. On the Wii U, this is part of that 5GB that is "reserved" for the system - so any of your old Wii games that you transfer over won't eat into that 3/25GB available storage. With that said, while Wii U Virtual Console games are a bit larger than their Wii counterparts, it's not a major difference - and if that's all you plan on downloading, then you've got about six times as much space on the basic. Like defpally said, a few retail titles and you're looking at an external hard drive with whatever system you buy. This is why systems like the PS3 and 360 come with crazy amounts of memory (what, 250GB and 500GB now?)

The charging cradle is nice to have in some respects, but let me say, the battery life on the game pad sucks. Badly. If you play for a few hours or don't always put your gamepad on the cradle, you'll find yourself unplugging the cradle so you can just tether your gamepad to an outlet anyway. The stand? Can't say I've ever used mine. Granted, I have the cradle, but I'm not sure I ever really used the cradle as a stand for gameplay either.

I'm not trying to build up the basic set. I have a deluxe set and will probably have a second one before the year is out (have a Wind Waker bundle in layaway, just deciding if I want to get it...)... I'm just saying, don't let *that* be the thing that drives you away from a bundle that you'd rather have. Although, with the Wind Waker and Mario Bundles, you can't go wrong with any of those games either.

this is perfect for me. i already have a 2tb hard drive dedicated to my wii. i keep all my games backed up on the hard drive so i can flip through my collection and choose a new game without getting out of bed.

If I hadn't gotten a Wii u is prob choose the one with Mario and luigi. The skylander bundle is tempting but I like having the bigger harddrive

By the way; This bundle also includes Nintendo Land.

Quote: SlayerX11

If I hadn't gotten a Wii u is prob choose the one with Mario and luigi. The skylander bundle is tempting but I like having the bigger harddrive

It's not very useful if you download games. Lego City Undercover is a 19GByte download, which won't fit on the black 32GByte Wii U due to formatting and system overhead. So you'd need to attach a drive for that or possibly other future games.

Once you do attach an external USB drive all future downloads and saves are stored there by default so your internal storage is never used again.

I might consider getting it for my boys if I can sell the Wash Buckler to offset some of the cost. I'd use the GC for a 2nd pad.

You can't use 2 gamepads.

Quote: Lash

You can't use 2 gamepads.

I think he means a Pro Controller. However, technically you CAN use two Gamepads. The WiiU supports two, although they aren't sold separately here yet (in Japan they are $150) and no games use it anyways.