80 replies to this topic

[Pixelboy]

Vic George 2K3, on Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:22 AM, said:

Just hearing about the controller change makes me wonder if Nintendo is really giving up on motion-control games (given the amount of bad games released for the Wii that use motion-control) or even making a game system that anyone can potentially get into and enjoy.

Since the Wii-2 is expected to be backward-compatible with today's Wii, or even if it isn't, I'd say gamers will simply use the Wiimotes they have now with the Wii-2. That's the advantage of having a wireless controller, it can be transfered easely to the next console iteration. Beyond that, if the Wii-2's controller has some motion-sensing features of its own, then Nintendo can afford to sell the Wiimote as an auxiliary add-on for the Wii-2, especially given that Wii gamers are so used to it now.

Offering a new controller that is more hardcore-gamer-oriented shows what Nintendo has apparently realized: Casual gamers cannot be trusted to buy up Nintendo's next console like they did with the Wii. Grandma enjoyed the bowling game in Wii Sports years ago, but she's not likely to buy (or even play with) Nintendo's next console, even if Nintendo was to keep the existing Wiimote. That ship has sailed, and it would be foolish of Nintendo to think that they can count of the loyalty of casual gamers for the long term.

Truth is, Nintendo created the Wii as a console that can appeal to everyone in the family, from youngest to oldest. But the real target audience of the Wii has always been kids. Kids grow up, and they demand more in terms of gaming experience. So by having a new controller that is more like the competitor's controller (while still offering support for Wiimote gaming) and boasting a console with much higher tech specs, Nintendo is positioning itself as a company that caters to both casual and hardcore gamers. So even if casual gamers lose interest in the long run, Nintendo can still maximize its profits by playing both fields.

Also, many third-party developers and publishers have been giving the Wii the brush-off because of its lower graphical capabilities, and because they had to adapt whatever game they wanted to do to the Wiimote. With Nintendo's new console, those arguments are thrown out the window: Games can look as good on the TV screen (and be as complex as designers want them to be) as games for the 360 and PS3. I'd say third-party companies have good reason to rejoice.

Pretty smart, Nintendo.

[godslabrat]

Pixelboy, on Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:15 AM, said:

Offering a new controller that is more hardcore-gamer-oriented shows what Nintendo has apparently realized: Casual gamers cannot be trusted to buy up Nintendo's next console like they did with the Wii. Grandma enjoyed the bowling game in Wii Sports years ago, but she's not likely to buy (or even play with) Nintendo's next console, even if Nintendo was to keep the existing Wiimote. That ship has sailed, and it would be foolish of Nintendo to think that they can count of the loyalty of casual gamers for the long term.

Truth is, Nintendo created the Wii as a console that can appeal to everyone in the family, from youngest to oldest. But the real target audience of the Wii has always been kids. Kids grow up, and they demand more in terms of gaming experience. So by having a new controller that is more like the competitor's controller (while still offering support for Wiimote gaming) and boasting a console with much higher tech specs, Nintendo is positioning itself as a company that caters to both casual and hardcore gamers.

Agreed... The casual market may stick with their Wii well into the future, so maintaining compatibility while shifting focus is a good plan. This is one time when Nintendo SHOULDN'T phase out support for an old console immediately after the new one is released. Keep as many casual gamers as you can, but still move on.

[Lord Helmet]

This is shaping up to be a pretty exciting console...I imagine I'll get one on launch day.

[Christophero Sly]

Unfortunately, I don't see anything over $300 for a new console resonating with the video game buying public anytime soon. Unless this console turns out to be an absolutely killer machine, with at least one absolutely killer app, I suspect the console will struggle at the $400 price point.

I know it's not in their DNA, but I hope that in this instance Nintendo will see the advantage of sacrificing their profit margin for the sake of establishing a strong foothold in the market with a new console priced under $300. I want this console to succeed and act as the catalyst that compels MS and Sony into the next generation posthaste. If the console "flops", then MS and Sony will likely cling to their draconian timelines, and we won't be seeing new hardware for them for at least 3.5 years.

[White Knight]

Still no word on what kind of media it takes?

[DracIsBack]

Atariboy, on Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:19 PM, said:

The time between the release of the Wii and the speculated launch of the WiiHD in the Fall of 2012 will match the longest gap between two console launches in Nintendo's history, the NES and the SuperNes with approximately 6 years between launches.

Typically, the Wii would've been released this Fall. The SuperNes, N64, and GameCube all just had 5 years before a successor was released. We're getting a longer console cycle than usual.

This historically hasn't been a Nintendo only thing either. There was only 4 years between XBox and XBox 360; PS2 to PS3 was 6 years.

This really isn't abnormal. A 2006 to 2012 lifecycle for Wii 1 really isn't unusual.