The above is what we will see when we turn on the Wii U.
Every.
Single.
Time.
In 2006, Iwata said the goal for the Wii was how fast the player could get into the game. The Wii menu booted up fairly fast.
Shouldn’t the goal be for the player to get into the game as soon as possible? Allow us to configure the console to go directly into the game and bypass the OS entirely.
With the U Pad’s screen, there is no reason for a OS anymore. The OS should be on the U Pad.
Edit:
To elaborate further, the entire reason why we play game consoles is that it is easy to turn on and get into the game.
In 1986, I put in a NES game, and I was at its title screen.
In 1992, I put in a SNES game, and it took a little while to get to the title screen. I had to watch company logos flash and spin and maybe an intro.
In 1996, I put in a N64 cartridge, and it took longer to get to the title screen. Games were becoming more and more movie-like with their intros.
In 2001, I put in a Gamecube disc, and it took even longer to get to the title screen. This was mostly due to using discs instead of cartridges.
In 2006, I put in a Wii disc, and it took even more time to get to the title screen. I had to accept the contract at the beginning that I won’t blame Nintendo if the video game fries my brain, and then I go to the Wii Menu. Then I must select the game, watch it zoom out, and then click accept. Then I have to wait for it to load and start at that point where I was in 2001 (watching company logos do their thing, go through the long movie intro, etc.)
In 2012, I put in a Wii U disc, and there is MORE clutter I have to go through in order to get to the game? I have to go through a Mii Plaza now?
Why can’t I just go directly to the game? It’s why I bought the console in the first place.
“But if you do that, our marketers can’t get you to buy games you don’t know about.”
We didn’t need that in 1986, 1992, 1996, 2001, or 2006. So why would we need it in 2012?
“You don’t understand the full scope of what is going on.”
Oh, I do. The more stuff that gets between me and the games, the unhappier the consumer becomes. Instead of going through this mess, it makes me not want to turn on the Wii U at all and forfeit my gaming session.