Just a few short weeks ago Nintendo launched its latest handheld gaming hardware, the Nintendo 3DS.
Hot on the heels of the launch have been rumbling of a price cut to its home console the Nintendo Wii. Earlier this week a "trusted" source reportedly told tech website Engadget that Nintendo intends to cut the price of the console, and it doesn't look like it will wait until E3 to announce the cut - which could happen as early as May.
On Thursday 'multiple sources' told GI that Nintendo will announce a new console this summer, an industry insider told CVG it will feature a touch-screen controller and rumblings suggest Blu-Ray support is on the cards. It all seems to be coming together.
Our tornado of questions regarding the Wii 2 is usually silenced by one: 'Do we even need another Wii?'. Now, before you click send on that angry e-mail, hear us out. We're all for another Nintendo home console, in fact you'd find few people as up for it as us, but we can't help but feel disappointed by the Wii.
For many it has come to be personified pre-dominantly by motion controls using the Wiimote and casual, family oriented, non-gamer friendly experiences. Oh and shovelware, lots and lots of shovelware, and that's unfortunate.
It seems like the Wii's potential still hasn't been fulfilled, there are a few titles that have shown glimpses of what it can really do. Games like Okami, Mario Galaxy (both), Metroid Prime 3, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Monster Hunter Tri among few others, but these are almost always quickly buried under a mountain of crap, which in turn discourages developers from picking up where they left off and taking it further.
Now that the prolonged honeymoon period seems to be coming to an end and the popularity of shoddy mini-game collections are waning it may be the perfect time for developers to really put their thinking caps on and explore the Wii's capabilities.
If the PlayStation 2 taught us anything it was that you can never count a good console out, many of its greatest titles arrived in the lead up or during the PlayStation 3's release.
So, fine readers, tell us, do you want another entirely new console, or should Nintendo stick with the Wii for a little longer? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
41 comments so far...
El Mag on 17 Apr '11 said:
Yes to a completely new console, and make it more than simply a Wii HD. I'd do away with friends codes and have a Live and psn type player profile. A built in HDD is a must if it's using blu ray for games. The controller with a six-inch touch screen doesn't sound realistic, nobody will like gaming for hours on a pad that big. A smaller screen similar to the Dreamcast's vmu seems more likely, but even then i thought that pad was a bit big. And finally, no more adverts with Ant and Dec, Jedward or the Redknapps.
darren_mccoy on 17 Apr '11 said:
YES!
1080p, hard drive, decent online service and Nintendo games. I'll buy one.
rbt2 on 17 Apr '11 said:
Need? no.
Want? oh yes.
newsinthefield on 17 Apr '11 said:
If the Wii 2 really does have a touchscreen controller, then it's an instant no-buy for me. I have enough trouble with the touchscreen on my phone; it's a fiddly little thing. I lament the loss of buttons.
The_Jaster on 17 Apr '11 said:
This. ^
However, I reckon the wii still has life left it in it with some cracking titles upcoming like Xenoblade, The Last Story, Pandora's Tower, DQX & Pikmin 3 oh a little thing called Zelda: Skyward Sword too.
I think the whole internet (except for the porn watchers, natch) has gone crazy due to all these rumours about the next Nintendo console.
thekingsteven on 17 Apr '11 said:
from reading that and owing a wii i think we need a new system not a wii2 a whole new system the wii was crap i say do away with everything but the motion controls ! blu ray a 120GB Hdd, the 6' screen sounds like crap tho and a profile system like xbox! all that and it would be one damn good console.
lordirongut on 17 Apr '11 said:
Screw logic, 1080p Zelda cannot be ignored!
ste hicky on 17 Apr '11 said:
i both want and need this new machine.
zelda that looks better than skyrim, f-zero that looks better than wipeout hd, waverace that renders oceans, starfox with 500 ships onscreen at once, seeing where the galaxy team go next, possible/probable support from mistwalker, fatal frame, a rumoured new controller, alleged wii/gc upscaling, no excuse for there not to be the best 3rd party support around to bolster nintendo's gems, all in 1080p (amongst plenty of other reasons)
sold.
El Mag on 17 Apr '11 said:
Throw in a new Luigi's Mansion and hd remake of Mario Kart 64 and i'd buy two and weep tears of pure happiness.
ste hicky on 17 Apr '11 said:
i'd just upscale gc luigi's mansion and laugh maniacally.
oh and announcing a 20th anniversary edition of super mario kart hd would make me pre order one now and it's still a bleedin' rumour.
while if valve and nintendo ever work on the same hardware that machine will,by default,become one of the very best,ever.
Dragovian on 17 Apr '11 said:
Entirely new console? Definitely!!
Wii 2? Oh, go on then...
The Wii is without doubt the worst console I've ever owned as, despite some great games, it wasn't a generational jump from the company's previous machine. Inexcusable! I had to force myself to play the best games, rather than wanting to play on it. A good machine should make you enjoy using it.
Like developers said before it was even out, there weren't enough buttons and games suffered for it.
On a more positive note... let's forget about the Wii and look forward to the next one. If I couldn't get excited about an HD Zelda, it would be a very sad state of affairs. Let's just have traditional controls this time, please...
El Mag on 17 Apr '11 said:
If it does upscale i'd be more than happy playing the Cubes Resident Evil Remake whenever there was a dry spell of games out, best in the series i thought. Bloody rumours are getting everybody dreaming here now, they better announce it or we'll riot.
Rise_ofthe_Mike on 17 Apr '11 said:
I agree with everyone else, this is to awesome to pass up. We need a new Nintendo machine that runs in HD and plays a 1080P Zelda for our viewing pleasure. They also need to remake the entire metroid prime series with better graphics in HD and sell them in one bundle. lol. (to much to ask for?) Either way, one thing is for certain, I want this machine...nay, I need this machine and i would kill for it. Or maybe just beg. Begging is good too.
eddiebgreen on 17 Apr '11 said:
I guess I am the target market for this machine.
I don't have an HD Console. I do have an HD gaming PC - not a $2k screaming rig but something reasonable for work and pleasure, and historically the money I would spend on a PS360 goes into that. I don't have an issue with 'Mature' games, but don't really want to play them in my family living room.
Developer wise I have enjoyed a couple of FPA/S on the Wii due to the Wiimote, but the PC and KBM will always be king for me.
My wife and I both enjoy 'Classic' gaming, especially 2 player games. The Wii has served this need well, but it is clearly lacking in raw CPU grunt for more complex AI and physics effects. I don't like big TV's but a graphics upgrade to drive 720p at least would be nice.
What I don't want is a clone of the existing HD systems. With Ninty rolling in cash and half a generation behind they may be able to grab a lead over MS and Sony for the 'Hardcore' gamers by jumping half a generation ahead. But those sorts of games are not the reason I own a Nintendo console.
As for the casual crowd and shovelware let's see how Kinnect works out.
ste hicky on 17 Apr '11 said:
agreed.
also,if it does upscale well,i'll swerve resi 4 hd. i don't want to go back to sticks on that game after the wii version tbh.
gotta say,it probably won't upscale at all but wii/gc bc is a nice feature either way.
Wakamusha on 17 Apr '11 said:
I only just ordered a Wii! My 3DS recaptured me in the NINTENDO spirit and the £99 was too good to resist. A new NINTENDO console with HD and proper online is very exciting though. No doubt it will be even more than that. I do enjoy the possibility of SONY and MS blatantly ripping off Wii and then NINTENDO doing a U-Turn and secures the grannies and the hardcore.
There's no reason Wii can't exist as a separate concept and the new console goes after the core gamers.
Fr33Kye on 17 Apr '11 said:
I miss luigi's mansion...cant find the disc. The reason third party games dont do well on nintendo consoles is because people buy nintendo consoles for nintendo games. It can change but it depends on marketing and timing. How will developers react to ninty's knew console? Shovelware? Ignore and focus on current consoles? Embrace as the next gen they were hoping for? Who knows? I do think this will mean sony and ms might launch in 2013. Too little is known about this thing and too much is subject to change.
Imaduck on 17 Apr '11 said:
No. Very unlikely I'll buy it at all. We'll have to see of course, anything could happen, but here's where I stand. I don't like any of Nintendo's big series, Mario irritates me and I don't get what's so great about the rest of it. I'm not an arse, I can see how important they have been in gaming but they aren't my bag. So, seeing as there will no doubt be a new each of those and 20 spinoffs on the new console as the icing on the cake - no, not for me.
The controller is concerning me, the Wii controllers are s**t to my mind. Nintendo also screwed over Europe at times with the Wii, I wouldn't want to have to put up with that.
They'll probably cater to their fans well as ever, but I doubt they'll ever do what they'd need to to lure me in, I'll look elsewhere. That's the thing with Nintendo that p**ses me off. You're either part of the "club" or you're not. If you don't like the big Nintendo exclusives, it's a pretty barren field, and it's not likely to change as the already established fans like it that way.
It's incredibly unlikely I'll jump in on this one. The Wii was seriously disappointing to me. I can't name something about it that impressed me. I bet I'll get angry faces and rage left right and centre, but I don't give a f**k. Honesty is the way to go. This is an opinions thread, I gave mine, on topic.
Respect
kimoak on 17 Apr '11 said:
Yup. Time for a new console. I will say that microsoft and sony would have failed epically to get me back into console gaming pre-Wii. Basically, you do what my PC does, but nowhere near as good. It's holding back PC gaming. Crysis 2 is a good and easy example. My PC smashes the XBox and PS3, but you would not know it from looking at the games and comparing.
weejocky on 17 Apr '11 said:
Need? No
Want? No
*walks out the door*
Padua on 18 Apr '11 said:
... only if it has the games on it that i want to play.
Highly specified it would appeal to core gamers for sure ... but will it appeal to casuals? I think not!
The Wii has plenty of life in it for casuals and they don't need more than what the Wii currently offers.
I can see the Wii and Wii 2 selling well side by side like the 3DS and DS.
Finally whilst I don't believe the controller will have a screen built in, I wouldn't be surprised if it had a touch interface combined into it.
Also why would Nintendo want to have games beamed to a controller when it has two great hand-held consoles? If anything - I wouldn't be surprised if you will be able to play some Wii 2 games by waving the 3DS in the air
Fr33Kye on 18 Apr '11 said:
Just occured to me....i dont care if console gaming "holds back" pc gaming. I'm not a pc gamer nor do i have some personal vendetta against my wallet so no hurry on the next gen. Besides hasnt the longer console gen made pc gaming more affordable? Wouldnt an increase in pc gamers be partially attributed to a longer console gen? What's the obsession with graphics? When developers show me a physics demo or truly amazing particle effects for a game that cant be currently done on consoles then we need a new gen sometime soon.The only one who seems to care about physics are the developers of inversion, and vanquish had the best particle effects i've seen this gen, but very few people care. Why would pc gamers want more expensive games? If a game costs a lot to make, then it would need to reach a wider audience to make a profit, and isnt that what pc gamers hate? Dumbed down games right?
Imaduck on 18 Apr '11 said:
As a PC gamer since I was 4, I was asking myself where people pulled that bull from too. Console gaming is not "holding back" PC gaming. PC gaming is shooting itself in the foot repeatedly. It's messy and unfriendly to work with, bear in mind I still love it, I'm just being brutally honest. The consoles are very simple and user friendly. I think PC gamers who bought 3 580's just feel like cocks (they are) because their new powerstation in the back garden is noisy and there's nothing out there that they need their PC for.
Personally. I like it. A lot of great games, gorgeous games, on MOSTLY affordable tech. There's never a need for the cutting edge tech, and there never should be. Cutting edge tech is to keep things going forwards, it's not the new platform to build on it's a step towards the next leap. PC gamers need to lighten the f**k up for the most part. I mean all that "oh mouse and keyboard is better hands down" is bs too. Mostly from people who bought a super powerful PC only in recent years and are still in shock at the mouse
PC's are nice. You can have whatever you want, but you have to know how to find that and put it together. Personally, I often enjoy playing on a console more. Less 360 noscope and insta-turn sniping etc. The consoles feel like they were made to run games and are specifically tailored to the task. PC's feel ... I dunno, sometimes it's just a f**king maze to even get games working, sometimes due to developers, others due to hardware. Either way, many PC gamers need to get off their water cooled high horse and realise that a mouse and keyboard and 3 3d screens don't actually improve story or gameplay mechanics at all.
SpandexArmstrong on 18 Apr '11 said:
See you all day one for the new nintendo console!
I want fun games, this gen's HD consoles kinda forgot the fun factor. Watching my housemate play Bad Company 2 last nite was so mind numbingly boring! (had to go into the next room and play The Warriors on ps2 to cure myself!)
I wanna see what surprises Nintendo has in store for us.
Kinda funny that all these years Nintendo hasnt been HD, fans and the media have been craving it badly and they know it.
For Nintendo fans such as myself, finally seeing Nintendo games in HD will be like witnessing HD gaming for the first time again! (if that makes sense)
Fr33Kye on 18 Apr '11 said:
Hahaha water cooled high horse.....but yea...no rush on next gen, a longer one can allow for costs to go down a bit. Next gen we can hit the ground running with beautiful new ip's that won't costs too much to develop!
humanhand on 18 Apr '11 said:
By the time this thing actually comes out I would probably want it day one. Currently I don't need it, there are too many games PS3/XBOX360/Wii/DS games that are on my to-get-to list it's crazy. I'm never in a hurry much, except for the newest R* game or Metal Gear game and those don't come often enough.
TOKEN on 18 Apr '11 said:
Not the most important thing,but yes!im ready for starfox,monster hunter 4,mario kart,pikmin ,crrysis 2 wii HD,skyrim,masseffect.etc.
Oh and please make DUST 514 for wii 2 to battle ps3/360 owners.
AJDarkstar on 18 Apr '11 said:
Nobody actually needs games or consoles, CVG. I don't need to make an animated video, because I have a job, but I want a better job.
What a stupid question.
plain_kloz_cop on 18 Apr '11 said:
How many sheep can you fit into one forum thread? If I count you all, I'll have fallen asleep before I'm done.
Do you prats work for Nintendo? How many games do you own for the Wii? Four, maybe ten at most. In the space of 'five' years that's two games a year, at best! How many of those aren't from Nintendo? Less than half, I'll wager.
Nintendo are raking in the cash but it's casual all the way. Buy that plasticated s**te?! Count me right the f**k out!
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
er,more than 30-odd. more than half not from nintendo. oh and one casual game called wii sports that got lashed the second i bought the machine,twilight princess was waiting.
i don't do casual games.
next?
The_Jaster on 18 Apr '11 said:
Do you work for Sony? Are you Jack Tretton or maybe it MS & your Bill gates.
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
This is one of the reasons gamers get a bad press.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
why the f*ck don't gamers like that get hammered on tv instead eh?
boskersrevenge on 18 Apr '11 said:
Sounds like you're having a similar day to the one I had on Friday
laslowoodbine on 18 Apr '11 said:
As I said on Friday, I feel let down by Nintendo, the last 3 consoles I have owned from the N64, Gamecube and Wii. They have slowly failed to lure any good third party dev's to their consoles. I have sold all of the Nintendo's apart from the SNES long before they finished. It's a shame but I don't see the mass market picking up the next wii in the same numbers as the first was all about people who don't own or normally buy consoles picking them up. These aren't the type of people to by the next instalment of hardware.
Very_Silver_Ownz on 18 Apr '11 said:
If there was a Zelda Wind Waker remake as a launch game I'd but the next Nintendo console day 1 probably.
sevvybgoode on 18 Apr '11 said:
Im really looking forwards to this...
I have to agree slightly with most peoples attitude towards the Wii where it just didnt compete in the same way their other consoles have.
However only a fool writes off Nintys ability to amaze and innovate. Whatever the USP for their next console it wont be long before MS & Sony start getting their R&D boys on something similar...
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Agree with all that.
I bought the Wii at launch, after owning all their previous consoles and loving them all. Still do.
If only a small percentage of these rumours turn out to be true then we could see the halcyon days of the snes return for the 21st century.
And about f**king time too!
sevvybgoode on 18 Apr '11 said:
Id be happy with gamecube good in terms of software library but if its N64 or SNES good... Well im definitely in.
Dragovian on 18 Apr '11 said:
Part of that problem is that the Wii was a generation behind, and so didn't get the multi-format games (the controller was also a problem). Personally, I love Nintendo's games, but one reason the GameCube was brilliant was because it could play many of that generation's multi-format games, like Prince of Persia, Incredible Hulk etc.
pjh2903 on 18 Apr '11 said:
I, for one, wouldn't worry about any Nintendo console/controller developments. I've learnt through (delightful) experience that I need never be wary of anything that Nintendo comes up with - seem to recall everyone going a bit mental about the N64 pad back in the day when it was first shown; three big prongs, tiny yellow buttons, Z trigger, thumbstick etc - and that was great. Similar with the GC pad and its big green button. I've STILL not found a more comfortable controller than that.
You can't really hate the Wii and its legacy just because idiot 'developers' released great honking piles of rubbish for it. The goodness is still there, you just have to navigate a little more liberally through the tripe to get to it - sort of like shopping at TK Maxx I suppose......
I digress. Nintendo is still up there as the only genuinely innovative hardware manufacturer; they take more risks than any of the other guys and they seem to always pay off (looks mournfully at Virtual Boy....). Oh, and there's the very minor issue of first party support, that's usually pretty reasonable, no?