Network now...NEWS
Report: Wii HD "Set for 2011"
Citing "multiple sources in the game industry" veteran games journalist John Davison has filed a report on a new Wii, set to launch in 2011.
Posted at WhatTheyPlay, the story says that Nintendo is currently "showing early presentations of its next home console hardware" . It's going under the name Wii HD, suggesting a significant graphical overhaul.
Davison admits details are sketchy but says his sources are pointing towards "a greater emphasis on digitally distributed and backwardly compatible content". Nintendo will once again focus on innovating the console's controller.
Davison, who is extremely well connected and respected in the game industry, points towards surging R&D costs at Nintendo as supporting evidence of his story.
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Sonofa... Double post
I still don't care, i want a standard controller. So i'm stuck with Sony and MS
Nintendo makes a lot of "profit" on hardware, so they like the idea of releasing less powerful hardware and making money on it.
Sony insiders are saying that the Sony Corporation cannot afford to release a Playstation 4, unless the people at Sony really were telling the truth about the PS3 lasting "10 years," which they weren't.
Where did you hear that about Sony?
I'd like to know this too as I get the feeling the machine is already in development. At least that's what an article on TechRadar seems to suggest... somewhat. Just like the 720, btw... which is an interesting prospect as well. I'm curious to see if the new Wii HD will try to compete with that if Sony decides to launch their new machine a lot later in the cycle.
I think I'm the only person on the planet who still doesn't care about the Wii. Mario in HD is no enticing concept for me. For them to still be 3 years out with HD is a "little late to the party" as far as gaming is concerned. Yes, it's fun for socialized gaming and parties, but core gameplay is sorely lacking. Granted, I'm all about shooters and adult-themed action games...but if my niece wants to play, the Wii is great. I think by 2011, we'll already be hearing (or seeing) the even-next-gen versions of the Xbox and PlayStation. Hopefully, the Wii fad will have died off by then.
I'm with you on the Wii...while a graphic overhaul would be great, Mario HD with one big "Do" button doesn't appeal to me in the least.
Hopefully as well, given the costs associated with buying consoles, we will only be being teased for Xbox 720 in 2011.
Brian
www.brianwoods.com
It sounds like it won't be just a Wii with a HD out. I hope they are going to give it a similar amount of power to the PS3 and 360, whilst keeping it easy to develop for. Also they could make it so that the new games they release can work on the old Wii but have much better graphics and physics on the new one.
And they are developing the controller too? That's good news. Things can be much more accurate than they are now. Darwin controller anyone?... I like the idea of one controller being something like wielding two wii-motes with analog sticks on. This would mean you could have movement and camera adjusting on the analog sticks, but your other hands would be free to be two lightguns/ wands/punching people in face. And if they could click together end to end it could be one long handle, like an assault rifle or, erm, oar. If you could twist the end to end joint it could be like motorbike handle bars etc, and a pump action motion would have many possibilities...
The ability to assign a Wii-Mii to your controller, and choose a different Mii mid-game (by pressing home and scrolling through them) would be great for gathering stats and changing to your favourite settings and preferences whilst taking turns with your mates. And if you could register a Wii-Mii with a username and password online then you could use them on another Wii and check them out on your computer.
20gb, a decent file browsing system and DVD playback wouldn't go amiss either.
But Is this just a rumour? Because 2010 sounds a bit soon. But then if this is around £200, with that controller that supports hardcore games, this would be the ultimate console and still make plenty of money. You guys think this might me what they do?
@coop and Belcaw - companies are coming to grips with how to deliver digital content in a manner that is palatable to consumers and there will continue to be growing pains for a few years until some sort of balance is achieved. However, I'm confident that a system will evolve and become standard that makes contingencies for timed rentals/households with more than one console/etc.
When you think about it, is it really that different to have bought the same movie on different formats (VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray) over the years as having to renew your license every few years for a digital copy? Either way, you end up paying for it again to play on your new device (yes, I also have two 360's and understand Belcaw's legitimate concern on that).
Regardless of our particular preferences, the benefits of digital distribution for developers/publishers is simply too great to stick with hard media. By going digital, they effectively eliminate the used and trading game markets (which they don't see a penny of) and cut out several middlemen (retailers/distributors/etc). I'm not saying it's necessarily the best thing for consumers - just that it's inevitable.
I agree with COOP in his response to GROGNARD66. They have a long way to go with digitally distributed content before I buy into it. I usually own multiples of the same system for different rooms in the house and I don't want to be restricted to playing my games on a single system, nor do I want to wait for a download multiples times. They need to figure out how to allow me to host the content from a single system on my local network. But this still doesn't solve the problem of when I want to play MY game at a friends house. I don't want to wait 2 hours all over again while I'm there. By then, my time is spent and I'm ready to go home.
Currently, both Microsoft and Sony have a rather crappy work around for playing your games on your friends systems. With Microsoft, I need to Recover my account to play my games. This involves downloading all of my account details and then downloading my game(s). This takes way too long, and the worst part about it, it that I have to recover my account again once I get home. No thank you. With PS3 it's a little better from the validation perspective; but the size of their media is usually huge compared to Microsoft, so the downloads take forever.
I certainly can't think of how to do it in any way that would make me feel good about it. It might be nice to have my game save information online; but even that is something I would want to be optional. The biggest problem with online media and (in particular) online DRM is that when the company eventually goes bankrupt or discontinues production, the users are left with a worthless piece of junk that they spent thousands on.
"it should be clear to even the most fervent doubters that hard media (DVD/Blu-Ray) will be on the decline due to digital distribution."
Then why is it that I nearly refuse to buy digitally? Oh thats right, because I like to rent not buy. Media isn't going anywhere and nintendo sure as hell isn't about to abandon physical media. They are simply taking a console with no storage ability and giving it a respectable amount, big difference.
While you (and me) like to rent games, it doesn't necessarily means that everyone does. The majority of people prefer to buy their games and the new gamers are becoming more costumed to simply get their games through a digital channel instead. Whether we like it or not the trends are showing that we are going that route.
Now just because its digital doesn't mean you can rent it, I'm sure there will be companies like Blockbuster that will rent their games that way by simply locking the game after the rent period has expired, gamers then simply erase the game from their HDD and then you go rent a new one or simply keep it in you console if you plan on rent it later (unlock the game again). I certainly can't imagine a console by 2011 that will not have the ability to get a triple A game like HALO or God of War by download.
I'm inclined to believe this since its coming from Davison. He's not one to casually toss out rumors for attention or page hits like many others in the industry. In addition, it makes perfect sense in terms of timing, HD and digital distribution. By 2011, it should be clear to even the most fervent doubters that hard media (DVD/Blu-Ray) will be on the decline due to digital distribution.
I certainly hope not. I've always been a fan of tangible way of distribution and feel that putting games online is a nice extra. If it will replace hard media, I will certainly be less likely to buy games in general. Downloading demos is fine by me - but only when I actually go out and purchase a game, I feel it becomes an addition to my collection. I guess having an actual game in an actual box doesn't mean that much anymore to a lot of people. Instead they prefer the incredible unimaginative process of staring at a download bar...