Nintendo's next console

[Murgatroyd7]

What do you guys want from Nintendo's next console? And what do you predict that we will actually get? It's really hard to say at this point, but I think they will surprise with something within the next year or so. Most people seem to be expecting a Wii 2, but I think Nintendo would just be shooting themselves in the foot with that. I love the Wii, but I think of it as its own separate thing like the DS. I expect that whatever they come out with next, development for the Wii will still last for some time, which gives Nintendo the opportunity to focus on something brand new. And this is Nintendo we're talking about, so you know it's going to be innovative and offer something unique. It surely won't be a powerhouse, but I think we'll get an HD console with better online functionality. They don't seem keen on implementing an achievement system, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had something similar that at least tracks your games and progress in some way.

And maybe it's just me, but I'd like to see something that can go beyond just four players. We've been using wireless controllers for years now but we still can't have more than four people on a console? Obviously you don't want to go overboard and kill the processor, but just imagine the gaming parties you could have with big groups of people playing something at once. Mario Party could finally be fun again! You could play Mario Kart with all human players! There has so much done to support people's anti-social lifestyles and not enough done to actually bring people together in person.

Anyway, those are just some thoughts of mine that popped into my head only a few minutes ago. I'd be interested in seeing what everyone else thinks.

[ItsEvan]

I dunno about a full party playing a game at once, that would be an awful lot of people crowded around a single TV. Divvying up the screen to accommodate more than four players is not even worth mentioning.

The only Nintendo consoles that I do own are the NES and the Super Nintendo, so I'm not sure if my say has much credibility to it, but I think that Nintendo would probably make their newer console more accessible to the casual audience - ditch the remote, maybe even go Microsoft's way of using Kinect, only more accurate or something. Maybe even 3D tech where you literally touch the stuff coming out of the screen, I have no idea what Nintendo is going to do.

I sure as hell am certain that they are going to manufacture fifty different versions of the 3DS, though.

[Murgatroyd7]

Yeah, and each version will still sell like crazy. Heh.

Having splitscreen with eight different people wouldn't work well on a small TV, but there are plenty of games where splitscreen wouldn't be needed (such as Mario Party or Super Smash Bros.). And it's not like it would have to be used in every game. I just think it would be nice to have the option. Maybe there could even be a way to hook up two televisions to one console. It's not entirely practical, but it'd be pretty neat.

[StatiK TactiK]

Yeah more power and better online is really all I'm looking for. And it may be wishful thinking but I'm still not entirely sold on their control method. It works sometimes but all too often it seems forced (Donkey Kong Country Returns for example).

[Mike]

I think there are just going to go with Wii 2. Nintendo is out of the graphics competition, so I think they're just going to make a better looking Wii console with maybe some new features like Kinect has or some other little gimics. But whatever its going to be, I bet it going to focus on casual gaming.

[Hit]

Wii 2 FTW. Maybe better rated M games with the package also?

[ItsEvan]

I think we can all agree on the idea that Nintendo is going to make their console more affordable compared to the competition and innovate it in a way that makes it unique. I just hope that they don't name the next console something ridiculous like "Wee".

Me and my friends used to make so many jokes about that name, but it seems to be socially acceptable to say it in public today.

[TRGT_specialist]

Me and my friends used to make so many jokes about that name, but it seems to be socially acceptable to say it in public today.

Yeah I remember that, in school the "playing with your wii" jibes were endless >.>

I think we can all agree on the idea that Nintendo is going to make their console more affordable compared to the competition and innovate it in a way that makes it unique. I just hope that they don't name the next console something ridiculous like "Wee".

Well scratch that because I'm about to disagree Well sort of. Whether they'll make it more affordable or not is debatable, just look at the 3DS - I think Nintendo know that they have to get away from the idea that they're "behind" in areas like power, functionality, etc, as people will probably only tolerate that for so long (and not just the "serious" gamers). On the other hand I think they've gone too far with the 3DS when it comes to price and I'm sure that's going to come back to bite them - so by the time Wii no.2 arrives they may have seen a little more sense.

The innovation is a tough one to call, I definitely couldn't see something making the same impact the Wii did as they'll probably be still riding the wave of the casual market. I'm sure they'll come up with something that'll be clever in typical Nintendo fashion, but nothing that will truly surprise us.

3D I think is an outright no no because for some maddening reason people have this pretty much instinctive dislike towards the technology. Anyone I've ever spoke to, even people who haven't experienced it at all, despite all the amazing possibilities I've thrown at them the best I can get is "well I guess it looks ok........but [insert most mundane and superficial nitpicking here]" I'd love it to happen but it's unlikely, especially since the 3DS won't do well, in my opinion (many reasons for that, the 3D, being a very un-Nintendo handheld with a low battery life and region locking, and so on).

On a weirder note though, apparantly there are rumours going round that there could be a 'Wii2' reveal at E3 in June, and that it could have a Blu-ray drive, quad-core processor and an inbuilt LED projector!

[Rah5er0]

As far as I'm concerned the next Wii could have an integrated microwave oven and a coffee maker, and people will still buy it. Why? Because it's Nintendo. Everybody, no matter how casual or hardcore- will come back to Nintendo because of the company and it's philosophy. Most people don't think about stuff like this, but it's the core values that can make or break a company; no matter how the graphics compare to Sony and Microsoft; Nintendo will find something, even if it's one thing that consumers like, and they'll implement it into their system - then like every other corporation out there; they'll drive it into the ground until the next iteration. Ironically, I don't own a Wii; I'm just speaking from common sense.

Now to answer Murgs question: I'd like to see the next Wii (or whatever it'll be called) with more virtual reality attributes; 3D and Motion control to the 10nth power.

[Murgatroyd7]

This 3D aversion actually isn't something I have seen at all. From my experience, people seem to be ridiculously obsessed with 3D. Everybody wants 3D TV's and other 3D devices. I personally am against it for the most part because I don't usually like how it looks and the current technology hurts my eyes like crazy. I am interested in the 3D in 3DS, but never in a television. It's just a strange concept to me; something I can't quite explain.

I can't really predict the future of 3D. It seems like just a fad, but that's what a lot of people thought about HD and Blu-Ray at first, so I don't know.

[GL0pez]

Hmm well Nintendo is at probably the most advantageous position out of all three companies. Nintendo has not only surprise(they can change the entirety of the games medium with a single device) but the market (1 in 3 people has a DS and 1 in 8 a Wii). Nintendo can decide to make a powerful gaming system and ditch motion controls for a basic controller and you know what? MS and Sony will follow and drop motion controls. Nintendo has the ability to shape gaming unlike any other company and both MS and Sony know that. Whatever Nintendo does I am on-board. I love playing TLoZ, Mario, Metroid etc. and would not want to just up and forget about them. I do not have the almost spiritual connection with Nathan Drake or Marcus Fenix and probably never will. Sure I love shooters and any other genre but sometimes nothing beats clearing a dungeon as Link or beating Bowser for the hundreth time in Mario.

[Murgatroyd7]

I absolutely agree. Nintendo is incredibly innovative with their games and hardware. People make fun of them for being behind the times, but they're constantly setting new trends. And nobody has characters like they do. Sure, other consoles have Drake or Fenix like you said, but no other games have the longevity and charm like Nintendo's all-star cast. Most franchises can't go beyond three games without getting old, but we can play 50 Mario or LoZ games and still want more. They don't always change much, but it's largely because they don't have to. For many of these games, they got it right the first time.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like my PS3 and I love my 360, but gaming simply wouldn't be where it is today without Nintendo.

[Murgatroyd7]

It's interesting to re-read this a few months after the Wii U's announcement (I told you something would be announced!). I was really hoping for a non-motion console, but I have to admit that Wii U looks pretty awesome. It needs a lot of improvements and they probably shouldn't have shown it as soon as they did, but I think the final product will be much more impressive than what we have seen so far.

One thing I was very wrong about was support for the original Wii. The poor thing is almost as dead as the PSP right now. Even the shovelware developers are barely making anything for it. It's a bit depressing, but I'm going to be optimistic and see this as a sign that many of the developers are working feverishly at making an awesome launch lineup. The 3DS has really been lacking in variety and Nintendo knows it, so I hope it will be the complete opposite for Wii U. Of course, only time will. All I know for sure is that I will most definitely be getting this (Vita can wait!). In case you haven't seen the videos, it looks freakin' amazing. Microsoft and Sony will eventually surpass it, but when it comes out, it will have the best graphics on the market. It's not really a selling factor for me, but I can't deny how great the early videos look.

[ForTheCity]

The wii u does look pretty amazing, being able to play the system from one room to another but doesn't it seem like an oversized handheld system? Hopefully they'll put out more games that are for the older crowd instead of what nintendo has been known for (family games). Plus I'm willing to bet that the controllers are expensive. Still the concept is great and although I don't think i'll be willing to throw down my money on it, i wouldn't mind playing.