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I thought this would be interesting. I'm pretty much assuming I am the only one who's read nintendo's Investor Relations Q&A and got something out of it other then the possibility of a Hard Drive and nintendo's reason for sticking with friend codes.
A14 Iwata: "I personally feel that, when software creators have done everything possible with one hardware platform to offer ideas and tricks to generate pleasant surprises to the customers, it is the end of the hardware lifecycle. As Nintendo has its own hardware development team, they are always researching into new hardware. Also, while they are working on new video game hardware, they are also working on hardware accessory to the video game hardware, such as Wii Balance Board, which can add extra functions to the original hardware in order to add an element of surprise for people. Such developments by the hardware team can be considered as a way to expand the hardware platform’s lifespan. Most recently, the wheel accessory for Mario Kart Wii falls in that same category. On the other hand, any technology has a breakthrough point. Even today, there are many things that we want to materialize, but that is limited by the currently available technologies or that can be done today but would be costly to be sold as a game console. But when a breakthrough takes place in the future, that technology can be incorporated into a hardware that can be reasonably priced for our customers. At that time, if the software developers believe they have done everything possible on the current platform to surprise the customers but cannot do anything further, that is when a new hardware platform is needed. As semiconductor technology makes progress and the width of the process rule has become thinner, we can put more transistors and the total functionality will increase. However, that alone will hardly surprise the customers any more. So, we have to think in terms of other elements as well." He basically said they'll keep trying to surprise customers with different products (games, controls, services etc.) for the Wii until there's nothing left. Then at that point they'll make a new console but unlike previous generations they'll do more then just make one with better graphics and processing power. 
A17 Iwata: "First of all, our traditional customers are mainly those who proactively seek game-related information for themselves, and we could quickly deliver the information they needed. This is because they are acting to obtain the information from their side. On the other hand, what we are attempting today is to ask those who openly states that they have no interests in video games to give Nintendo’s products a chance and enjoy our games, which takes time. From this perspective, I have to wonder if it is all right to think that this current generation of hardware will have a 4-year lifespan just because the past generation’s lifespan was 4 years. I believe a different time cycle must be considered. Now that they have kindly purchased hardware, it is desirable for us if they can enjoy the machine as long as possible. We are selling the hardware just because we want our customers to enjoy software. This is something that Mr. Yamauchi (the former president of Nintendo) was saying and not something I myself started. But Nintendo thinks that our customers reluctantly buy our hardware (in order to play software). Accordingly, we would like to offer new proposals one after another as long as that hardware can still provide fresh and pleasant surprises. If such efforts can be resulted in the prolonged lifespan of a hardware, that is good to us. So, we are trying to offer new proposals one after another and trying to maintain a high activity ratio of the hardware. At the same time, there are still many people in the world who have not played video games, so if we can reach out to them, the total life cycle will change. The main point of my address today is that, we have reached a stage where an analysis of past businesses that targeted traditional gamers in Japan, the US, and the European markets alone cannot be an appropriate indicator for the future." So basically they plan on the Wii being around for a long time. (longer then 4 years at any rate) 
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Living the dream since March 16, 2006
Living the dream since March 16, 2006
But that's a lot of innovation right there
swee...
sweet?