Nintendo HD Has the Next-Gen Console War Begun?

[admin]

After poor 2011 sales reports for Wii, Nintendo hinted at a price drop for the console. A tweet here and a blog-post there and suddenly the gaming community has come unglued with rumors about a new Nintendo game console. It's said to have more power than a locomotive and be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Forget 3D, this one has X-ray eyes! Some are already calling it Nintendo HD after the most conspicuous feature missing from Wii. Nintendo itself is staying mute, so let's sort out the rumors and pre-E3 Expo speculation.


Discuss "Nintendo HD Has the Next-Gen Console War Begun?" here. Read the article.

[kevon27]

The real new kings of gaming are Apple and Android.

[ratso]

sorry, not even close. there really is no difference between angry birds and the wii games - fun little "party" games, social diversions, but not the future (and certainly not the core of gaming). another fad that will die soon.

[GlocksRock]

I just breathed new life into my wii by modding it, so much better to be able to load games right off a hard drive and play old console games via the emulators. I'm in no big rush to get a new console anytime soon, but I am curious to see what Ninetendo will come out with for their next gen Wii.

[its phillip]

I'll probably mod mine, I hardly ever use it anyway. I do hope the next gen wii has an actual hard drive though. It would be nice if they provided a way for you to transfer your virtual console/wii downloads to the new machine but they probably won't. When I bought a new wii and sold my old one, I would have had to mail them both to nintendo for them to transfer my stuff :/

[FirstReflection]

Based on the rumors (touch screen, dual analogue sticks, sensor bar), my feeling is that Nintendo is attempting to take on several competitors all at once.

The 6" touch screen controller rumors scream to me that Nintendo wants to basically go head-to-head with iPad gaming. I think the idea here is to offer "casual" iPad-type games that can play on just the controller (no TV needed). The big hook is that the Project-Cafe controller will also offer physical controls (analogue sticks, buttons AND the touch screen), which is something that a lot of people want for iPad and iPhone games.

Then the system itself will likely be around the same power as a PS3. If the system can stream images to the 6" screen controller, that would allow Nintendo to compete head-to-head with Sony's NGP (so long as you stay at home of course).

Finally, as a home console connected to a HDTV, it could offer PS3-level graphics, but also have the 6" controller screen as a standard and included option. Nintendo is no stranger to trying to "tether" their portable system to their home system (remember the GBA-to-Gamecube cable?), but now, it wouldn't be an optional - and therefore poorly supported - peripheral.

The rumors of a sensor bar could be one of two things IMO. I COULD be a direct Kinect competitor, but I actually just think it'll be for Wii backwards compatibility. Wii sales might be dropping, but it was still a hugely popular console with many, many owners. I think it only makes sense that Project-Cafe will be backwards compatible. I think Nintendo will simply allow you to use your existing Wii controllers, which might also allow HD Project-Cafe games to use Wii controls if a developer still wants motion control. It's kind of like how you could still plug a Gamecube controller into the Wii and some Wii games even used that Gamecube controller.

My $0.02 anyway

[MinusTheBear]

I could care less about what Nintendo does next gen. They cater to casual gamers and children and I HATE motion sensing controllers. If Microsoft comes out with a more powerful console that developers find easier to develop games on than the cell (PS3), they will get my money. MS has nailed the controller. With Kinect being separate, I don't have to worry about that crap raising costs for the next gen console.

[Wayde Robson]

I could care less about what Nintendo does next gen. They cater to casual gamers and children and I HATE motion sensing controllers. If Microsoft comes out with a more powerful console that developers find easier to develop games on than the cell (PS3), they will get my money. MS has nailed the controller. With Kinect being separate, I don't have to worry about that crap raising costs for the next gen console.

Minus, I gotta tell ya, I was with you for a long time.

I have PS3 and recently got Move (ahem, for my son... for his birthday).

I am using the Move controllers for Killzone3 with the assault rifle thingy... OMH, after a bit of working with it... it seriously kicks butt!

I am playing this game called Lights Out a two fisted fight game - it's actually pretty amazing. Oh... btw my son doesn't play those, those are for dad.

But yeah... I didn't think I'd like the motion controller at all but they're growing on me.

[MinusTheBear]

Even if a motion sensing lancer with chainsaw bayonet existed wouldn't get me excited. I don't know if I could find satisfaction in air chainsawing a locust . I'd rather my money go to games and dlc rather than peripherals.

[lononigedapen]

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