New Nintendo Console Debuting At E3 This June, Launching In 2012 Update: New Details

[blurredvision]

All I know is that I said the Wii would bomb and I ended up with mud on my face. I'm not about to predict this next one's popularity.

 

[smartpatrol]

Going to stop you right there. They're printing money with the Wii and DS/3DS - how are they in a crappy position?

The Wii and DS both sold phenomenally well, better than anybody expected, but it was primarily based on novelty. The only way Nintendo will repeat that success is by coming up with some new gimmick.

Essentially, the Wii and DS were both gambles that paid off. I am skeptical that they can do it again.

This is going to be a Wii with better graphics and a more accurate controller. The only good games are going to be Nintendo 1st party titles, just like it's been since the N64.

How well did that work out for them? N64 was dominated by Playstation. Gamecube got completely destroyed by PS2, and was even slightly outsold by the Microsoft Xbox.

Give me a break. Wii didn't sell like hotcakes thanks to Nintendo's great first-party games. It was because the Wii was a hot new gimmick that everybody just had to get.

 

[Queasy]

It is an odd situation. I do wonder if the new console will be nearly the sucess as the original wii if only because how many of the casual gamers will flock to it when they already have a wii/kinect/psmove.

It will have the benefit of being the first next-gen console out if nothing else. People will flock to it for that reason alone. If they can launch it at around $300, all the better. It doesn't need to be more than $400 though as the PS3 showed how a bad launch price can hurt.

 

[MikeyLSU]

It will have the benefit of being the first next-gen console out if nothing else. People will flock to it for that reason alone. If they can launch it at around $300, all the better. It doesn't need to be more than $400 though as the PS3 showed how a bad launch price can hurt.

fully agree, I think $250 is too cheap for a new console for nintendo as it would just be impossible to get a great system at that price with Nintendo selling it for a profit and not taking losses on hardware.
But even $400 is probably too expensive for them, I think the $300-$350 range should be tops for nintendo.

I would like to see $400 from the other 2 companies though.

 

[frumply]

one thing's for sure, it'll have a lot more traction from devs on the get-go compared to the Wii. I think it's pretty obvious developers overcommitted to HD gaming back in 2005/2006, and investors must have been insistent on the strategy considering how devs kept at it despite massive losses. There weren't really many devs that went all out with 'core' games on the Wii, despite Nintendo showing off repeatedly that it can be done in spades, and that's what really caused this current console divide. Really can't sell third-party games when all they decide to throw at it is crapware that's worse than Wii Sports that come packed-in free of charge.

 

[Beev]

A bigger problem is that a lot of companies try to make ALL of their games crossplatform, and with the very, very limited controls the Wii offers it just isn't possible for most games. That, along with an obvious lack of power, is why you always see separate versions of games released on the Wii, like Modern Warfare "Reflex Edition."

 

[Aikouka]

however on phones, games that have "virtual controllers" control pretty terribly conpared to their counterpart. the best one i've seen is Geometry Wars on iphone. and the reason is because there is a threshold of where you can move instead of having hard set "up, down, left, right" buttons. it is hard to explain until you play it.

I haven't played Geometry Wars (on the iPhone), but I have played Infinity Field on the iPad, which is pretty much a Geometry Wars clone. It also has a good control scheme which I think is what you're trying to explain.

Geometry Wars requires two inputs... direction of movement and direction of fire. On Infinity Field, placing a finger anywhere on the left side of the screen will create a "joystick" that centers at the initial point where you put your finger down. The same happens with the right side (for firing). Also, if you lift your fingers off the screen, the game automatically pauses. In my opinion, it's rather well done.

There are actually a few games using these "dynamic virtual joysticks" on the iOS (and maybe Android, but I don't know).

 

[purbeast0]

I haven't played Geometry Wars (on the iPhone), but I have played Infinity Field on the iPad, which is pretty much a Geometry Wars clone. It also has a good control scheme which I think is what you're trying to explain.

Geometry Wars requires two inputs... direction of movement and direction of fire. On Infinity Field, placing a finger anywhere on the left side of the screen will create a "joystick" that centers at the initial point where you put your finger down. The same happens with the right side (for firing). Also, if you lift your fingers off the screen, the game automatically pauses. In my opinion, it's rather well done.

There are actually a few games using these "dynamic virtual joysticks" on the iOS (and maybe Android, but I don't know).

if you are playing on ipad, you should check these out...

http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php

i havent used them but my friend has them and said they are great.

 

[Queasy]

Ok, so the controller will reportedly have traditional controls (analog sticks, face buttons and triggers) with the control screen. If true, that will definitely cater to all segments.

 

[Drako]

Ok, so the controller will reportedly have traditional controls (analog sticks, face buttons and triggers) with the control screen. If true, that will definitely cater to all segments.

So they are moving away from motion controls?

 

[purbeast0]

So they are moving away from motion controls?

hopefully it doesn't go the six axis direction.

 

[Queasy]

So they are moving away from motion controls?

No idea. I can't see them completely moving away as the system is reported to be backward compatible with the Wii. It may be a case where they will offer a dual control scheme like they did with the Wii.

 

[smartpatrol]

one thing's for sure, it'll have a lot more traction from devs on the get-go compared to the Wii. I think it's pretty obvious developers overcommitted to HD gaming back in 2005/2006, and investors must have been insistent on the strategy considering how devs kept at it despite massive losses. There weren't really many devs that went all out with 'core' games on the Wii, despite Nintendo showing off repeatedly that it can be done in spades, and that's what really caused this current console divide. Really can't sell third-party games when all they decide to throw at it is crapware that's worse than Wii Sports that come packed-in free of charge.

What makes you think that?

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4237/thirdparty_publishers_react_to_.php

Third-party developers learned their lesson with the Wii. At best, we might see Nintendo get some great multi-platform games that it shares with the 360 and PS3. I seriously doubt we will see a lot of AAA third-party exclusives.

 

[cantholdanymore]

From a market analysis I read, Wii sales are begging to come down and it was expected that this year will slow down even more; so it's time for nintendo to do something.

If part of the goal is to truly gain back third-party devs so that cross-platform games are released on Nintendo's new console as well, they are going to have to shoot high in the graphics department so that there isn't a significant gap between it and its competitors in the next-gen.

It may be attractive for third party developers if the platform is easy to program (?) so they can make the nintendo the "best" console version until MS and sony come with the big guns (hopefully not very soon).

Edit: Just read in CNN late 2012 launch, so its about right, maybe MS and sony launch one year later

 

[Sureshot324]

I still believe in motion controls. If this console's controllers have motion sensors even better than Wii Motion plus, a second analog stick, and more buttons (so it can double as a conventional controller), well, than that would be an awesome controller. We could finally start seeing some killer apps for motion controls.

If Nintendo releases a console that they're selling for a profit at $250, and then Sony/MS release consoles 1-2 years later, selling at a loss for $400, then Nintendo will still be well behind hardware wise. However, I don't think it will be nearly as bad as it was with the Wii, since they'll be creating brand new hardware, rather than just overclocking the previous gen's hardware.

 

[smartpatrol]

Rumor has it that they will be upgrading the hardware substantially.

They will be upgrading the CPU from a G3 to a G4. The GPU will be upgraded from Radeon 7000 series to the Radeon 8000 series.

This console will be SMOKIN'!!!

(J/K)

 

[Queasy]

From a market analysis I read, Wii sales are begging to come down and it was expected that this year will slow down even more; so it's time for nintendo to do something.

The line-up for upcoming Wii games (especially from Nintendo) can only be described as pitiful.

It may be attractive for third party developers if the platform is easy to program (?) so they can make the nintendo the "best" console version until MS and sony come with the big guns (hopefully not very soon).

Nintendo and Microsoft are basically using the same architecture for the Wii and Xbox 360 just at different specs. If both continue down the same path for the next generation of consoles then it should be fairly easy to port games back and forth (control schemes excluded).

 

[frumply]

What makes you think that?

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4237/thirdparty_publishers_react_to_.php

Third-party developers learned their lesson with the Wii. At best, we might see Nintendo get some great multi-platform games that it shares with the 360 and PS3. I seriously doubt we will see a lot of AAA third-party exclusives.

Not sure what this article is trying to say. There's been quality titles that had disappointing sales vs critical reception on all consoles, and highlighting one and saying it's happened to all of them is plain silly. And it still doesn't refute my point at all: devs still never made full-blown Assasin's Creeds, Bioshocks, GTAs, RDRs for the Wii. Unless you were walking deaf and blind you should have seen that their main area of concern was the PS3/360, that this was where the dev money and ad dollars were spent. Guess I wouldn't call it a complete misread but the way they positioned the games it solidified things from most users' point of view that they weren't planning to go 'core' on the Wii.

 

[BD2003]

Now I'm hearing in addition to the controller having a touchscreen, it'll have a front facing camera and can serve as the sensor bar for wii backwards compatibility.

If true, they're definitely trying to push AR games to the next level. Also, the controllers will be hideously expensive and run out of juice in 2 hours, so that console better come with an integrated dock. Basically sounds like the bottom half of a 3DS.

The most suspect thing about the recent rumor is that's it's a single touch (resistive), SIX inch screen. Six inches is way too huge for a handheld controller.

Could have some interesting possibilities but sounds even more batshit insane than the wii did before it came out.

 

[Queasy]

Basically sounds like the bottom half of a 3DS.

That was my initial thought as well.

Could have some interesting possibilities but sounds even more batshit insane than the wii did before it came out.

It'll hit "batshit insane" levels if there is any mention of the Vitality Sensor.

 

[Aikouka]

No idea. I can't see them completely moving away as the system is reported to be backward compatible with the Wii. It may be a case where they will offer a dual control scheme like they did with the Wii.

Well, considering how the Wii is backwards compatible with the Gamecube and it does so by featuring the controller ports. Maybe the newer Nintendo console will allow for WiiMote connections, but focus on this newer controller for all games designed for the newer console itself.

if you are playing on ipad, you should check these out...

http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php

i havent used them but my friend has them and said they are great.

That's pretty sweet... is there anywhere B&M that I can buy one or is it online only? I'm tempted to get two as it'd make IF a lot better to play as well as other games . Only if the weren't something I had to keep an eye on (or else I might lose them)!

EDIT:

I ended up getting a dual-stick 2-pack at the Apple Store. It's only $29.95 there, so it's the same price as you'd pay with the $10 discount online.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Now I'm hearing in addition to the controller having a touchscreen, it'll have a front facing camera and can serve as the sensor bar for wii backwards compatibility.

If true, they're definitely trying to push AR games to the next level. Also, the controllers will be hideously expensive and run out of juice in 2 hours, so that console better come with an integrated dock. Basically sounds like the bottom half of a 3DS.

The most suspect thing about the recent rumor is that's it's a single touch (resistive), SIX inch screen. Six inches is way too huge for a handheld controller.

Could have some interesting possibilities but sounds even more batshit insane than the wii did before it came out.

Maybe they're making the screen the entire face (no physical buttons on there)? It would certainly enable a lot of control options, although I don't think any screen is good enough for gaming like that.

Then again, maybe they've got some plastic shells that can fit over it to give you the physical buttons if you need them?

How big is the original Nintendo controller? Make it about the size and shape of that (actually probably a bit bigger) with the face being just a display, with plastic shells for when you need buttons actually sounds kinda cool. Just as long as its not as fat as the Wii-mote, which turned that into an abomination of ergonomics.

 

[BD2003]

Maybe they're making the screen the entire face (no physical buttons on there)? It would certainly enable a lot of control options, although I don't think any screen is good enough for gaming like that.

Then again, maybe they've got some plastic shells that can fit over it to give you the physical buttons if you need them?

How big is the original Nintendo controller? Make it about the size and shape of that (actually probably a bit bigger) with the face being just a display, with plastic shells for when you need buttons actually sounds kinda cool. Just as long as its not as fat as the Wii-mote, which turned that into an abomination of ergonomics.

Diagonal the entire nes controller def is smaller than 6 inches. There will almost certainly be buttons, but 6 inch screen...no way. That's basically tablet sized at that point. Maybe 6 square inches (3x2 in). I kind of like the idea of the screen on the controller, but not at the expense of the primary controls.

 

[seipheroth]

http://gear.ign.com/articles/116/1162204p1.html

Speculation that the games may be streamed to the controller has me interested, but at the same time has me wondering how expensive the controller will be. Yes, it'd be great if people bring their controllers along so they could play games in one place with their own screens instead of going split-screen. I ride Amtrak often, so I could imagine bringing a system along to play games on the controller, but I don't know how big or small the system will be. Can't wait for E3 to see what Nintendo really has in store.

 

[BD2003]

http://gear.ign.com/articles/116/1162204p1.html

Speculation that the games may be streamed to the controller has me interested, but at the same time has me wondering how expensive the controller will be. Yes, it'd be great if people bring their controllers along so they could play games in one place with their own screens instead of going split-screen. I ride Amtrak often, so I could imagine bringing a system along to play games on the controller, but I don't know how big or small the system will be. Can't wait for E3 to see what Nintendo really has in store.

I highly doubt the controller will be useful independent of the main system. They dont want to cannabalize their 3DS. More likely the screen will be used to complement the main game, or provide some sort of individualized view. Think zelda four swords, not having to go into subscreens, being able to choose football plays or quiz answers in secret. Itll be a neat addition, but I dont think itll be anything like a portable system.