Nintendo Wii U

[Tekki]

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...ole-at-e3.aspx

Gamers have been waiting years for Nintendo to finally release its Wii successor, and Game Informer has heard from multiple sources that the company will unveil it at E3 this summer if not sooner.

We have confirmed with multiple sources that this new home system is capable of running games at HD resolutions. There are conflicting reports, however, as to whether its graphics will be comparable to those on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 – meaning it could surpass or fall short of those systems. Either way it will offer competitive specifications. Moving to HD should greatly help Nintendo and its new console in getting more multi-platform triple-A titles like Portal 2 or Mortal Kombat. This, in turn, will strengthen Nintendo's historically poor relationship with third-party publishers/developers.

In fact, Nintendo is already showing publishers the system in an effort to get them interested and allow them plenty of time to start developing titles in anticipation of the system's reported late 2012 launch. This advance support marks a change from when the Wii launched. At that time, several Western publishers were outright surprised by the announcement, and it affected the software support for the platform.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata himself acknowledged that it needs to do a better job with its publishing partners at a 3DS press conference in the fall of 2010. "We need to decrease the concern that only Nintendo software can sell well on Nintendo platforms and third-party software cannot sell in the same volume. We feel a need to have closer ties with our third-party developers from the beginning."

"Nintendo is doing this one right," said an anonymous source. "[It's] not a gimmick like the Wii." What else, beyond graphics, this may imply about the system is unknown. What kind of controls the system will support (we imagine a need for both classic analog configurations and motion controllers) or what level of software and infrastructure Nintendo will provide for online gaming is also unknown. However, it's a positive sign that the system might be more than just an HD Wii.

We've heard about an HD Wii for some time now, and the time is perfect – almost necessary – for Nintendo to jump start itself with this new system. The company has been feeling the bite since Wii sales have declined from previous years, and this week's news that Nintendo could be dropping the price of the Wii on May 15 could be a precursor to this announcement and an attempt to move as many Wii units as possible out of the retail channel before the new system hits.

We do not have confirmation if this new system will be backward compatible with the Wii or if it will even carry the Wii branding as has often been rumored. It is our understanding that Nintendo is trying to embrace the western gamer and will likely launch a new brand with this console. Around the office we have dubbed the system Nintendo HD. However, this information at this point is conjecture.

We contacted a Nintendo representative regarding this information, and they would only say that "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation."

Either way, it should be an exciting E3 for Nintendo and gamers alike.

Makes sense from my perspective. Co workers and peers have been looking to N for an answer to 360/PS3. Looks like this christmas will be the year of the 3DS and next will be the year of the N console.

[Katlan]

I'd just expect a HD Wii. I'll be very surprised if its a real next gen system. Neither Sony or Microsoft (afaik) is seriously developing a new console to be titled as "next gen" as they are still developing stuff to enhance their current consoles. Also, i don't know what a next gen system could really bring to gaming outside of slightly better graphics. What could they do technically that current console's cant (outside of the obvious in having more populated backgrounds, more moving objects in smaller spaces, and better physics)

[chikalin]

interesting! i wonder if nintendo can overcome the stigma of being so heavily associated with kids, families, and middle aged women, though. they would need to get developers to chance it. they definitely seem to be taking the right approach there, with trying to work more closely with developers. either way, i hope they can! i've always had a soft spot for nintendo.

[Odin'sLaw]

please please please PLEASE don't fucking push back the next Zelda game i don't want 1 Zelda game per console now 5 years since Twilight princess (DS games don't count imo) but if they could get 3d to work on a console would be interesting in 3d tv prices already falling

[Kaylia]

Nintendo has to match the xbox360 and ps3 with a low cost console. If they do, they will be able to grab a lot of 3rd party on their way, and build a solid base for the console.

If it's just a hd wii, they arent going to increase their market share at all, and it would be very risky on a long run.

[Katlan]

please please please PLEASE don't fucking push back the next Zelda game i don't want 1 Zelda game per console now 5 years since Twilight princess (DS games don't count imo) but if they could get 3d to work on a console would be interesting in 3d tv prices already falling

PS3 is already a 3d console and it looks pretty good

[Odin'sLaw]

PS3 is already a 3d console and it looks pretty good

i'm going to need wii+1 to be a 3d console....can't revert back to 2d now boys but i still want my Zelda game

[Kaisha]

I can't see Nintendo making the Wii+ 3-D as its main selling point. 3DTV prices are too high, and it'd look weird for Nintendo after all their 'no glasses' toting for the 3DS. And the platform can't just be on the same level as a PS3/360 either.

[Odin'sLaw]

I can't see Nintendo making the Wii+ 3-D as its main selling point. 3DTV prices are too high, and it'd look weird for Nintendo after all their 'no glasses' toting for the 3DS. And the platform can't just be on the same level as a PS3/360 either.

to early for smell-o-vision so if its not 3d what else is there currently to do? (i think we're a long while off been sucked into a viedo game here gents and lasses...oh monster rancher)

[Scythiroth]

Hmm, this definitely has me excited for E3 now. Was really hoping for some news about this for a while now, but yeah, if this is just an HD Wii (which it really shouldn't be, and from the sounds of it, it won't be), pass. Motion controls work fine for some games, but basically forcing people to use them on everything is just silly.

[Charismatic]

to early for smell-o-vision so if its not 3d what else is there currently to do? (i think we're a long while off been sucked into a viedo game here gents and lasses...oh monster rancher)

I just want to play some good games, gimmicks be damned.

[Rokku]

I just want to play some good games, gimmicks be damned.

This, all the way.

[Odin'sLaw]

no Nintendo is family only so silly games is all you get! if its anything like the 2ds lineup of released games i sense alot of face palms

[octopus]

just don't do a half assed online system... no more friend codes!

[Charismatic]

just don't do a half assed online system... no more friend codes!

Oh God, that too. FCs are so dumb.

[Katlan]

just don't do a half assed online system... no more friend codes!

this 100x. FC's can go to hell... IGN is reporting its touting to be more powerful then 360/PS3.. So i'm interested. But, even if more powerful, unless they want to be in the same rut as Wii it needs to be on the same level to some degree so 3rd parties can push games on all systems.

[Seanr]

a Wii HD is just going to piss people off, and a completely new system is going to piss off parents. I always hear about how this and that game system JUST came out(They're different companies you dumb fucks!) and all they want is your money (No shit.. really?)

[Kyo]

Yay another console to play nothing but rehashes on. Get a better online model, friend codes are stupid and work on third party support.

[Salodin]

I can't see what else they can do other then Wii on sterioids. But even if all they do is make the console more friendly to 3rd party developers, and enhance the online community, I'd probably be happy with it.

[Kaelan?]

Finally. Hopefully this thing will at least be on par with a 360, if not a PS3. I'm tired of certain good games coming out on Wii only and sucking on the technical side (i.e. looking like ps2 games) because of wii limitations. I don't really care about 3D or 1080p or new gimmicks as long as I can have that be fixed. Also, can we please have a sane online system now ?