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Confirmed! Wii successor coming in 2012
firefly2003
Member UncommonPosts: 2,527
It's official. Nintendo will have a new home console in stores next year.
The company confirmed the rumors Monday morning, saying it would have a playable version on display at this year's E3 trade show in June. That's also when the company plans to announce details on what will make the unnamed system notably different from its predecessor and competing systems.
The announcement (PDF) was made in a terse three-paragraph statement (beginning with a stiff "To whom it may concern") in conjunction with the company's annual earnings -- and those financial numbers underscore why Nintendo is ready to move on from the Wii. Net profits fell 66 percent from a year ago, the lowest operating profit Nintendo has posted in five years.
Not surprisingly, the company didn't offer any other details about the new system, hoping to save the shock and awe for June.
"As for the details of exactly what it will be, we have decided that it is best to let people experience it for themselves at E3," said Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's president and CEO, in a conference call. "So I won't talk about specific details today, but it will offer a new way of playing games within the home."
Nintendo also revealed more info about sales for their recently released 3DS handheld, which had a smooth start -- but hardly a stellar one, falling short of the company's projections. The system sold more than 3.61 million units, versus the 4 million Nintendo had forecast.
The confirmation of a Wii successor isn't exactly shocking. The current system lacks any sort of high definition graphics and is very weak on the multiplayer front. That helped Nintendo to keep it affordable when it was launched, but with motion controllers from Microsoft and Sony stealing the spotlight over the past year, it's a bit long in the tooth.
The new system is already being shown to third party publishers, who have started working on launch titles for it.
It's name? That's very much up in the air, but whatever the system is ultimately called, it's going to have some big shoes to fill. While the Wii might be a bit passé now, it sold more than 86 million units over the course of the last five years. And that number's likely to jump even higher if Nintendo cuts prices, as expected, in the coming months.
http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/627-confirmed-wii-successor-coming-in-2012
Comments
"Not surprisingly, the company didn't offer any other details about the new system, hoping to save the shock and awe for June."
It's called scrambling. It will likely be a thrown together piece of junk. Bold claim that it will be more powerful than 5 year-old tech /sarcasm.
Oh dear, looks like this is all about "Entertainment for the whole family".
*leaps out of this thread and rolls for cover*
My brand new bloggity blog.
Judging from the info released so far, it sounds like Nintendo is finally trying to enter the NEXT-GEN console market...albeit a bit too late. Their gimmick machine is no longer pissing money for them so time to basically abandon it and move on to the next thing.
If you read the supposed specs from this http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/04/15/rumor-roundup-nintendo-39-s-new-hd-console.aspx it sounds slightly more powerful than the 360 and the PS3, not significantly as is being claimed. The controller with the built in screen sounds gimmicky as hell, does a controller really need a screen on it?
If the new console does have the hardware mentioned, it will still be behind the curve as Sony and Microsoft will surely answer not too long afterwards with new consoles that make the Wii 2 (or whatever dumbass name Nintendo afixes to it) look like the Wii as compared to the current next gen consoles.
So we can rest assured that Nintendo will largely ignore the WIi in favor of their next gimmick, then again the Wii seems to be dying off in terms of good games and support these days anyhow.
it all depends on pricing.. the Wii did really well because it was cheap (affordable by just about everyone) which is why in the UK it is the Number 1 console - probably in most other countries too.. as for the 'more powerful than xbox or Ps3' not exactly hard to do given modern technology.... even entry level PC's tend to be more powerful.. it also depends on the controller.. if Nintendo manage to go one further .. then no controller at all would be the great (kinect) ... but it will really be a case of pricing.. Nintendo didnt have to subsidise the Wii.. which microsoft and sony both had to do extensively to sell their own.. must admit im kind of interested to see what they come up with.
I don't care how much they upgrade their console. if they do not bring more appealing games to the masses then it means nothing.
I havent been following this at all...any idea if they are going the 3D route with it?
The sole reason why I left Nintendo during the Game Cube era. I recollect the days when the N64 reigned over all the current gen consoles of its time offering awesome games, superior graphics and excellent multiplayer support. and wonder what changed? There are those few titles that I will borrow consoles from my friends to play such as the Zelda series, but other than that, the company has lost my total interest due to lack of appeal. The family oriented approach drove them too far in one direction and almost if not completely exiled power gamers and mature gamers (gamers that play games that reflect mature content).
I love Nintendo but until they can at least recapture the appeal they once had or surpass it, I won't be investing in their technology anytime soon.
Didnt Epic come out not too long ago with Unreal Engine 3 stating something along the lines of its ready for consoles but consoles are not ready for the software.
The people at Nintendo are going to roll in it.
They released the Wii and completely blew the other consoles out of the water in sales. Sure, to the more 'hardcore' gamer it's not something they'd prefer.. but they broke through with hitting the casual market. Now they're releasing a brand new console over the old Playstation 3 and Xbox 360s; which aren't due for another console until years to come. Sure, it's not going to be more powerful than your average PS3, but think of all the new gadgets that it might have.
Personally, I'm excited for it. I hope they do something really cool.. but I haven't really followed it.
Currently Playing:
Nothing.
I dont understand the hate for nintendo. Whether you enjoy their games or not, doesnt matter. I respect the fact they are the only video game company that takes risks. Sometimes it blows up in their face, sometimes it pays off in spades. But at least they are always trying to bring sokething different to the table.
Ugh... I'm still enjoying my Xbox 360, and already they're making next gen consoles? Gonna make us pay a couple thousand bucks again?
...ugh...
Oh well, business is business.
<TBA>