Square Enix president Yoichi Wada reckons we'll see a new Wii before 2011. He's also got a few things to say about motion sensing controllers from Microsoft and Sony...
Wada said that a new Wii would likely be closer to 360 and PS3 in terms of functionality, and perhaps ship with a new controller.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Official trailer
1:32E3 2009 reveal
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Official trailer
1:32E3 2009 reveal
Age Restricted Content Please enter your date of birth below in order to verify your age before watching this video
You must be at least 0 years of age.
Play Again? Missed something? Just watch it again..
Watch More Videos Browse related videos and see what's new & popular
Share This Video Email this video, or embed it into your own web page
"Present game machines already have a lot of functions: they are a network terminal, a Blu-ray or DVD player, and a gaming machine. Compared to these three pillars, the [new motion] controllers are quite limited, so the impact may be small. They are an extension of the gaming function," he told the FT.
Speaking about Natal he said, "As a user interface it's fantastic and I think it will become standard." That's a bold claim right there.
So within 15 months we'll get a new wii. Well, 14 because they're going to release it in plenty of time for christmas aren't they. So actually in about 13 months.
They could basically just launch a backwards compatible 360 level console with BR, and improved wiimotes with built in M+, proper HDD, decent web access etc.
I personally think Nintendo would have to go down the BR route or something to really set the new wii apart from the old one, as a lot of the 'casual' audience simply won't upgrade for better graphics.
I agree about natal as an interface, looks great. Still have to be convinced about gaming. Although I'm not sure how relevant SE are to 'world' gaming anymore as they seem to pump out the same old same old, time and time again in the hope they'll get another FF7. While eschewing Europe and the USA - the two biggest markets. One of the top guys at SCE Japan was saying the same thing recently - diversify maaaaan!!
I think ricflair is onto something. I've said in the past that the console following the Wii will have a major challenge ahead of it - the casual crowd don't care about graphics (obviously) and there's still not enough hardcore titles to satisfy a dedicated long-term hardcore gamer (name me 10).
So what can you offer them that the current Wii doesn't already? Easier net access should be a given, but isn't a system seller by itself. Even if they lost the codes (which they won't, since it'd need to be backwards-compatible with the existing system).
It'll be a tough sell. Just like the motion controls are going to be for the 360 and PS3.
I think ricflair is onto something. I've said in the past that the console following the Wii will have a major challenge ahead of it - the casual crowd don't care about graphics (obviously) and there's still not enough hardcore titles to satisfy a dedicated long-term hardcore gamer (name me 10).
So what can you offer them that the current Wii doesn't already? Easier net access should be a given, but isn't a system seller by itself. Even if they lost the codes (which they won't, since it'd need to be backwards-compatible with the existing system).
It'll be a tough sell. Just like the motion controls are going to be for the 360 and PS3.
I don't think they will need to carry over the code system to remain backwards compatible as they could just keep it there for the Wii games and introduce a much better system for the new console.
1. Mario Kart. 2. Galaxy. 3. Twilight Princess. 4. No More Heroes. 5. Little Kings Story. 6. MadWorld. 7. SSB: Brawl 8. TW10. 9. RE4:wii 10. MP3.
Granted some of these are 2/3 years old. Though they're basically all exclusive. You won't get the same experience on TW10 and RE4 on another platform.
Then this is ignoring decent stuff like Godfather, Bully, the casual fun of wii sports/WSR, Excite Truck, the definitive version of PES, HotD, great cheap arcade games like Ghost Squad, that are an absolute blast and built for high scores, then the stuff on VC, which you won't get on another console, plus wiiware too. Plus you've got murumas out soon and plenty of stuff coming up, including this - http://www.hudson.co.jp/kagenotou/
It's not to everyone's taste, but to say (or allude to) there aren't ten good 'core' games is a bit harsh!
But they have got a hard sell, although the 'casual' will start to feel graphics are out of date at some point. I just don't think we've reached that point yet. To some extent, they could do with a new console coming out, that makes the wii look even worse, so people would want the graphical upgrade, but still the accessibility of the controls.
And get rid of the friend codes. Just have friend requests, no messages or anything like that at first, just a friend request that says 'Ric Flair wants to be your friend, do you accept?'.
I'll let you have them, despite including 2 that are actually GC games I don't want to get into that argument again!
A much harder one is figuring out what you could offer to the people happy with Wii Fit and Wii Sports that would make them want to upgrade to the new console.
I'll let you have them, despite including 2 that are actually GC games I don't want to get into that argument again!
A much harder one is figuring out what you could offer to the people happy with Wii Fit and Wii Sports that would make them want to upgrade to the new console.
That's the problem. The motion controls were such a new direction, the hype about them was enough to shift millions of the things!
Will be interesting to see what they do next, but they've always been pretty good at implementing new hardware approaches and of course, there's always the core gamers who didn't get on with the wii to get back on side!
dated October 2008 -Gamespot 'Wii HD set for 2011' http://uk.gamespot.com/news/blogs/rumor-control/909119209/26616131/wii-hd-set-for-2011-launch.html
dated September 2008- whattheyplay.com 'new Wii due by 2011' http://www.whattheyplay.com/blog/2008/09/30/new-wii-due-by-2011/
Unlike previous console transitions from Nintendo, the new system will be presented as a true successor to the Wii, and is being dubbed by those that have seen the presentation as “Wii HD.” There is no indication if this will be its eventual name
Even if they lost the codes (which they won't, since it'd need to be backwards-compatible with the existing system).
It would be possible to make it backwards compatible, just not by getting rid of the codes. What they could do is simply just mask the numbers with words and numbers (just like web addresses do on the internet), though the codes would still probably have to be viewable for the compatibility.
Then again the Wii firmware can be updated and I'm sure the DS's probably could be too.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I don't want to get into that argument again!
