[Publisher's note: Just for fun we're bumping the original story about Project Cafe that we ran on January 2, 2007. The date always seemed fishy to us, but just about everything else still sounds on point! The controller seems to be the biggest change -- we're now anticipating a large screen on it. Oh Dreamcast, don't say nasty things to the baby. -Niero]
This is just a theory, but it has been floated about in various corners of the gaming world, and it is one that is based very much in reality. So let's just imagine this very possible scenario and I want you to tell me if you would be down for such an idea or if Nintendo did this, would you be pissed? I'm going to break it down:
• Nintendo is making an incredible profit on DS Lite and Wii sales and will continue to do so for the next two years, at least.
• Because of the above statement, Nintendo is also making a good profit on first party game sales.
• With the money now in hand, Nintendo pumps a major amount of money into research and development of Wii 2.
• Because of the heavily-funded development, Wii 2 is comparable or perhaps surpasses the PlayStation 3's capabilities, thus making Wii 2 the most powerful console on the market -- with the right amount of money, it could be the leader for some time.
• Wii 2 keeps the Wii control scheme but the entire system is tightened up and perfected. Games are now in HD and in full 5.1 surround sound.
• Wii 2 is sold at $299-$349 in order for Nintendo to at least break even.
• Wii 2 goes on sale in November 2008.
Now, let's suppose this happens. If it does, will you be pissed that you spent as much as $300 or more on the Wii and games right now? Or, considering that Wii 2 would be able to play Wii games, it won't matter to you? Also, how possible do you think this scenario will really be?
Contest:
1:23 PM on 01.02.2007
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That's why I'll be investing in a PS3 or Xbox 360, which will at least have a shelf life worth the price.
Besides, in two years, we'll have an idea of how popular motion sensing is. If it tanks then no one will care and if it works then everyone will copy it in some fashion anyway.
If it doesn't have friend codes......
Does it use the same controller, can I transfew VC downloads, and can I sell my Wii back to gamestop or something like that and get a decent price for it.
I have a DS fat, and I dont have any malice toward Nintendo for making the lite. If I could sell my DS and get a lite for $50 after the buy back Id consider it.
Nintendos always done it with their portables and no ones ever really raised a huge fuss.
Gameboy -> GB Pocket -> GB Color -> GB Micro
GBA -> GBA SP
DS -> DS Lite
If they go for 2 years and it releases at the same $250 I think the possibility is definitely there.
If the graphics were better by a lot and HD was there, ya i'd prolly get it
Nintendo is a business. Wii2 makes no business sense -- particularly if the Wii continues current selling trends. Launching a Wii2 would isolate their installed base, fly in the face of their philosophy (innovation over speed), and doom them to Sega-style launch errors that would bankrupt the company. A Wii2 would be a 32x for a new millenium.
I haven't been a Nintendo fan for the past 5 or so years and they're finally starting to win me back with the Wii, so I hope they continue to make good decisions and correct the mistakes they've made in the past few years.
Much like the DS lite, I'd happily purchase a Wii Plus in 2-3 years, as long as it added the right things.
ask all those kids who stuck traded their Origininal DS for the new DS Lite.
I think that the intial system showed off enough promise and just one over hearts of the games who had one.
I hoped on bourd the day the DS lites cames to North America. ilove the broghter screen. I never regret the purchase. In fact I havent need to charge it since christmas, te thing is still going.....sorry 2hour PSP...
ANyways, what I am saying is, That Yes, I would buy the new Wii 2. It would also maybe have its own "Nintendo Brand DVD Player" over here. Because right now Japan has that DVD player company only sell in Japan anyway. So insted of getting that company to expand for some reason,nintendo Just throws in their in-house DVD player...im sure it's not THAT hard...
Why would anybody think this would happen. They have remodeled their handhelds but they haven't changed them significantly. all they really change is size or screen brightness. If they do come out with a remodeled Wii in a few years it will only be that, remodeled, not improved.
Nintendo's strategy has always been to keep their initial costs as low as possible. There's no way they are going to spend a ton of money to make a SuperWii, especially since they recycled Gamecube hardware and the fans love them for it. What's the incentive? They make plenty of money keeping their margins as high as possible. They always have.
A "real" online service and firmware updates are likely, but not new hardware. There's no reason for them to even redesign the look of the hardware. Have you seen the inside of the Wii? There's nothing in there, so there's nothing to refine, either.
Existing Wii games are not coded with HD in mind, and the system has a pathetic lack of memory. An HD version of the Wii is unlikely, too.
Nintendo stuff sells well because it is cheap.
I wanted a Nintendo DS to play castlevania games,and I got my wish. However; if the DS was the same price as the PSP I wouldn't have one.
The wii is just too expensive to toss out for another $250-300 system in a year or two. It would have to be so much better than the 360/PS3 that there is no way they could do that and make $$ on every sale.
The thing about the transition from DS to DS Lite or the GBA to GBA SP is that the core functionality of the system did not change. The DS specs didn't improve with the DS Lite, it was a form factor thing.
With the Wii, the only thing that really needs improving is the sensor bar (they need an official wireless/not tethered to the system but plugged in somewhere else solution, and sooner rather than later). But that alone will not change the function of the system itself. In truth, neither will adding DVD playback. The Wii will be a shitty DVD player, because Nintendo foolishly left out digital audio output (my biggest gripe with the system, more than graphics, since the Xbox and even PS2 were able to do this). But like others have said, it would be a bad business decision.
Yeah, I've tried plugging it back in smart ass. No go.
Anyway what we talking about here, it's not going to happen. You really thinks Nintendo will join the most-power-war again? I think they smarter than than that. They really not going to change there strategy for a bunch of whiny hardcore gamers
In short, it won't happen. Nintendo is already the console 'leader', and they will remain so.
Also note how Robert Summa says "would you be pissed? Would you be pissed?" twice in this article. What's going on here?
http://www.gamebunker.com/install/pages.php?id=29
Even if they aren't trying to make graphically charged games like gears of war or resistance, they should have high def support to keep games looking clean on high def tv's.
Like Jayeugene posted about it being an eyesore, I think that the bad look can take away from some of the gameplay, I'm not trying to substitute graphics for gameplay but it does weaken gameplay if the game is hard to look at. I mean the Virtualboy showed us that. I dont have a high def tv but if I did I'd want to be able to use it to its capacity in evey aspect including games.
The graphics dont have to change, i mean like i said, i love wii sports, i love Zelda, but it just looks like complete ass on an HDTV, if they would just sample the graphics in 720p then it wouldnt be an issue, except im quite sure they would need to upgrade the hardware. Here's to hoping for the Wii Plus!
you may need to check you port forwarding settings.
My whole thing is that they should have given full HD support
as a standard.
You can bet your ass I would buy it.