Rumor: Nintendo Set to reveal HD Wii at E3

[Angrist]

Nice. Miyamoto: "You don't have to trust all the stuff you read."
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...t-cafe-rumours

[BreakABone]

More rumors courtesy of IGN

Retail cost between $350-400
- Manufacturing to begin this Oct.-Nov. with Winter as the earliest release, but likely to wait until 2012 to build up stock
- Based on revamped version of AMD's R700
- custom-built triple-core IBM PowerPC chipset, clocked higher than that of 360
- potential for stereoscopic 3D
- In terms of the design of the console itself, the overall size will be comparable to that of the original Xbox 360 and the system is likely to resemble a modernized version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
- given the power of the system, could feasibly provide a virtualized console for each individual unit
- "Stream" is being considered as a final name

The more, I hear abotu it. The more I worry.

Seems like they are kind of doing away with motion as well.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/116/1163325p1.html

[Jason1]

Am I the only one that likes what I hear so far? Nintendo is FINALLY accepting HD technology for their next console, and from my understanding it appears motion control will be an option, but not necessairly a necessity as it was with the Wii. (and if anyone tries to argue with me, how many games had no motion control at all? Very few. Some definatley should have, but they always snuck some annoying motion control in there that was unnecessary.)

Plus, I think the screen in the controller could be a good idea, although I'll admit it sounds like it will make the controller cost a pretty penny.

[Ginkasa]

Yeah, I'm not getting the negativity. Maybe its just a knee-jerk reaction to all the excitement (and following disappointment) from the Gamecube and Wii?

I haven't heard anything crazy exciting, but it doesn't sound bad either. I'll probably buy one and I'll probably like the Zelda game they make for it, if nothing else.

[Angrist]

Nintendo producing a $350 console? FAKE.

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by Jason1

Am I the only one that likes what I hear so far? Nintendo is FINALLY accepting HD technology for their next console, and from my understanding it appears motion control will be an option, but not necessairly a necessity as it was with the Wii. (and if anyone tries to argue with me, how many games had no motion control at all? Very few. Some definatley should have, but they always snuck some annoying motion control in there that was unnecessary.)

Plus, I think the screen in the controller could be a good idea, although I'll admit it sounds like it will make the controller cost a pretty penny.

I don't think they are "accepting" it, much like when they switched to CD for the Gamecube, they just know it is harder to build a non-HD console this time around.

It was always a price/ownership thing for them.

I'm actually pretty disappointed they seem to be dropping motion. From the split design of the controller to actual motion/pointing, I thought this generation was fine. And was waiting for a refinement of the tech.

Right now, all I see is an expensive console with an expensive controller.

[thatmariolover]

They'll be fully backwards compatible with Wii MotionPlus controllers so I don't really see where the motion controller fear is coming from. The waggle will have its place, it just won't be the primary focus of the system.

When Nintendo transitioned from GameCube to Wii they used similar hardware and scaled the processors in such a way that the clock speeds were divisible. This supposedly made backwards compatibility easier to pull off. I wonder if they'll do the same thing this time around or if they'll resort to software virtualization. Either way I really hope it's able to render Wii/GC games in HD.

IGN is restating that multiple sources confirm the system to be substantially more powerful than Xbox 360/PS3 and suggest a price between $300-$400.

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by thatmariolover

They'll be fully backwards compatible with Wii MotionPlus controllers so I don't really see where the motion controller fear is coming from. The waggle will have its place, it just won't be the primary focus of the system.

When Nintendo transitioned from GameCube to Wii they used similar hardware and scaled the processors in such a way that the clock speeds were divisible. This supposedly made backwards compatibility easier to pull off. I wonder if they'll do the same thing this time around or if they'll resort to software virtualization. Either way I really hope it's able to render Wii/GC games in HD.

IGN is restating that multiple sources confirm the system to be substantially more powerful than Xbox 360/PS3 and suggest a price between $300-$400.

Let's be honest here, being BC with the Wii Mote/Wii Mote Plus will do nothing. Much like the Wii being BC with the Cube controller. You'll get an odd game here and there which uses it, but it won't really be a refinement or advancement of the tech other than being there to appease fans who dig motion controls like myself.

[Vampyr]

I really hope motion controls take a back seat this time around. That gimmick was old a long time ago. My only regret is that so many games like Mario Galaxy had to settle for being great instead of legendary because they were held back by motion controllers.

Screen on my controller? I'm cool with that.

[Angrist]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

My only regret is that so many games like Mario Galaxy had to settle for being great instead of legendary because they were held back by motion controllers.

I don't know what people mean with this. SMG was great. There were so many fun pointing/tilting mini games in it that would have been less fun with a normal controller.
The only drawback I can think of is the waggle-to-spin thing.

[Ginkasa]

I think motion has a place as a supplemental "once in a while" kind of thing. There are certain types of games that benefit from motion controls, but I think this generation has shown it is impractical to try to make every game include motion controls. I think basing future consoles on motion controls would be futile.

Sure, Nintendo won over a lot of casual gamers with the Wii. That audience, however, is only looking for certain kinds of games. They're not interested in relatively complicated "hardcore" games. They're not interested in amazing graphics or story or anything like that. The Wii, for the casual audience, was a fun toy that provided them plenty of cheap entertainment. They're not going to look for the "next" version of the Wii. They don't need it.

I think the recent releases of the Kinect and the PS Move showed this. It seems hardly anyone bought the Move and you don't hear much about it just a few months later. Audiences didn't care because it was basically the Wii 2. They already had that and they weren't interested in getting it again. The Kinect sold well, but it was also radically different. But, again, how many great games have come from it? You have the casual games and then....

I do think that if the next generation ignores motion controls completely there is some lost opportunity. There are games that benefit from motion controls. I think, though, Nintendo is smart not to be focusing on it this time around.

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by Ginkasa

I think motion has a place as a supplemental "once in a while" kind of thing. There are certain types of games that benefit from motion controls, but I think this generation has shown it is impractical to try to make every game include motion controls. I think basing future consoles on motion controls would be futile.

And at the end of the day, I'm happy we got motion this generation. I agree it doesn't work with everything, but for the games it does work, it really does add an extra something.

And unlike Vamp, I feel that Mario galaxy is better for its inclusion. And will perhaps go down as one of the best games of this generation.

Sure, Nintendo won over a lot of casual gamers with the Wii. That audience, however, is only looking for certain kinds of games. They're not interested in relatively complicated "hardcore" games. They're not interested in amazing graphics or story or anything like that. The Wii, for the casual audience, was a fun toy that provided them plenty of cheap entertainment. They're not going to look for the "next" version of the Wii. They don't need it.

I really really dislike the use of the term "Casual" and lumping them into categories. Because at the end of the day these casuals are the same ones who make games like Call of Duty, GTA and Madden smash hits.

The "hardcore" are the minority in gaming really. There's nothing to say they don't like better graphics or story based games.

I do think that if the next generation ignores motion controls completely there is some lost opportunity. There are games that benefit from motion controls. I think, though, Nintendo is smart not to be focusing on it this time around.

The smartest.. and most logical thing I heard about the whole situation is Nintendo will treat motion like accessory this gen. So Wii Sports 3 will be bundled with a Wii-Mote Plus and Wii Fit 2 will have a balance board, etc etc. Which could potentially work.


Closest to the Project Cafe/Stream controller apparently.
Looks like a Game and Watch.

[Vampyr]

And will perhaps go down as one of the best games of this generation.

I agree - it will and it should.

But I think it achieves that level of amazingness in spite of it's motion controls, not because of them. All those things you have to twist and turn the wii mote for, I could have done with an analog stick, and I would have been more accurate at it, thus less frustrated, and thus had more fun...thus making it a slightly better game.

[Blix]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

I really really dislike the use of the term "Casual" and lumping them into categories. Because at the end of the day these casuals are the same ones who make games like Call of Duty, GTA and Madden smash hits.

The "hardcore" are the minority in gaming really. There's nothing to say they don't like better graphics or story based games.





Closest to the Project Cafe/Stream controller apparently.
Looks like a Game and Watch.

Interesting observation you made there, BaB. I think things like this should be common knowledge to the gaming audience... but for some reason, people don't see it.

[Ginkasa]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

I really really dislike the use of the term "Casual" and lumping them into categories. Because at the end of the day these casuals are the same ones who make games like Call of Duty, GTA and Madden smash hits.

The "hardcore" are the minority in gaming really. There's nothing to say they don't like better graphics or story based games.

I don't generally like the term either, but its the one that fits best. Besides, I wasn't really thinking about people who casually play Halo or CoD or whatever. I was thinking more of the people that didn't previously play games until the Wii allowed them to bowl with their TV. The types of people who allowed the Wii to outsell the PS3 and 360 throughout most of its career.

*pic snip*
Closest to the Project Cafe/Stream controller apparently.
Looks like a Game and Watch.

That is so ugly.