HD Wii By 2011? [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

1Up noticed an interesting post up at WhatTheyPlay which put together some public information with more from private sources suggesting that the next version of the Wii console is planned for 2011. Quoting: "Unlike previous console transitions from Nintendo, the new system will be presented as a true successor to the Wii, and is being dubbed by those that have seen the presentation as 'Wii HD.' There is no indication if this will be its eventual name, but the nature of the transition has been characterized as similar to 'the shift from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance,' where familiar, key elements were left intact while the core hardware was made more powerful. It is expected by all those that we have spoken to on the subject that the new device will retain the Wii name in part."http://games.slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=08/10/01/0337229 (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/01/0337229&from=rss)
Read more of this story (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/01/0337229&from=rss) at Slashdot.
http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/ojnTnlDQdjlWNFVPl1ikiqR_zvs/i</img> (http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/ojnTnlDQdjlWNFVPl1ikiqR_zvs/a)
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Slashdot/slashdotGames/~4/i6t9UHLRN3E

More... (http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotGames/~3/i6t9UHLRN3E/article.pl)

[Graham Mitchell]

Hopefully Nintendo will take advantage of this by not using the 2-polygon Mii's for every game.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Hopefully Nintendo will take advantage of this by not using the 2-polygon Mii's for every game.

Wii owners don't care about polygon counts or HD. Everyone knows this.

[heybtbm]

A high definition, more powerful Wii? Sounds interesting. Add a decent hard drive and I'm sold.

If this truly hits in 2011, I'm sure I'll find one around 2014 or so.

[mailman187666]

A high definition, more powerful Wii? Sounds interesting. Add a decent hard drive and I'm sold.

If this truly hits in 2011, I'm sure I'll find one around 2014 or so.

ha ha, better pre-order one now so you can actually get yours by 2014.

[Rob2600]

The Wii was released in 2006, so a new console in 2011 (five years later) is normal.

[rbudrick]

I still have not seen a damn Wii in a store!

-Rob

[norkusa]

I still have not seen a damn Wii in a store!

-Rob

I've seen six!

[slip81]

Wow great idea, Wii HD in 2011, 6 years behind the other consoles. Are they going back to cartridges too?

[BHvrd]

Wow great idea, Wii HD in 2011, 6 years behind the other consoles. Are they going back to cartridges too?

At this point that may be a good idea.

[Rob2600]

Wii HD in 2011, 6 years behind the other consoles.

Behind in terms of what? The majority of Americans still don't own HDTVs.

[slip81]

Behind in terms of what? The majority of Americans still don't own HDTVs.

In terms of power and technology, the other two systems are both capable of doing more than the Wii when it comes to visuals, audio, processing. I like the Wii controls, would it have killed them to make it a little more powerful so third party developers wouldn't treat it like a leper and we could get things like Brothers In Arms, Bioshock, Oblivion, Midnight Club etc on the system?

Here's a ProTip Nintendo; by 2011 720p ain't gonna be a big deal anymore. Hell, 1080p won't even be that jaw dropping since the PS3 and all of its Blu-Ray glory will have been on the market for 5 years by then.

I can see they're next announcement now "2011, the successor to the Wii will support Dolby Digital." WOW

[Rob2600]

Here's a ProTip Nintendo; by 2011 720p ain't gonna be a big deal anymore. Hell, 1080p won't even be that jaw dropping since the PS3 and all of its Blu-Ray glory will have been on the market for 5 years by then.

In the grand scheme of things, very few people own a Blu-ray player. Yes, you own an HDTV and a Blu-ray player, but right now, you're in the minority. Blu-ray may have defeated HD-DVD, but plain old regular DVDs are still outselling Blu-rays by a wide margin. Blu-ray amounts to what, 8% of home video sales?

By 2011, HD will finally be mainstream. In 2011, an HD game console will be cost effective. More people will own HDTVs and more people will be buying HD movies..but in 2006, HD in the Wii just wasn't worth the added cost.

[slip81]

I don't own a blu-ray player, still not totally convinved that the format is going to stick around.

But really, was not including the power to do 720p and making it the cheapest thing really that necessary? I know it's selling really well and is a commercial success and all, but to me it's a lot like a band selling out, yeah, they make more money, but usually it's at the expense of it's integrity. The Wii may be the best selling thing since sliced bread, but really, you can't argue that companies are mainly just overloading the system with crap to make a quick buck.

I'm sure if it was more advanced it would have opened up doors for third parties allowing them to produce, or at least port more quality games over.

[boatofcar]

Here's a ProTip Nintendo

Last time I checked, Nintendo was making money hand over fist. Pretty sure they don't need any "ProTips."

[Trebuken]

I belive nearly half of homes in America have HDTV's now, and it is expected to be approaching 80% in 2011. Other nations may be on a different pace. I would guess Japan would be ahead, Australia behind and Europe being a mixed bag...

Of course they will need HD for their next console, I think it is more critically that they make a competitve effort to get some CPU/GPU power under the hood. Many of the Wii owners will have grown up by then and will start to care about polygon counts and HD.

I want the next Nintendo console to launch with something as amazing as Mario 64 was with the N64...

[Rob2600]

I think it is more critically that they make a competitve effort to get some CPU/GPU power under the hood. Many of the Wii owners will have grown up by then

Most Wii owners are grown up already.

[Trebuken]

.
Most Wii owners are grown up already.


hehe...did not word that correctly; sounds insulting that was not intended. I just meant that Wii owners will be expecting more from their gaming experience than they are getting. Nintendo's goal with the Wii is to attract more people to gaming, and they have succeeded, but in a couple years those gamers are going to see the Wii as the 'softcore' system that it is and want a more adult experience than it generally provides...

[boatofcar]

.
in a couple years those gamers are going to see the Wii as the 'softcore' system that it is and want a more adult experience than it generally provides...

How do you know that? There are plenty of "adult experiences" out there in gaming, and the Wii is still the leader in console sales.

[swlovinist]

A Wii in 2011 sounds about right. The system will probably be backwards compatible, be cheaper than its competitors, and sell really well. The people who like Nintendo franchises and Nintendo products will buy it and be overall happy. Others who like other consoles better will continue to trash on Nintendo for being the console leader and having eveyrone making games for them.

[Hep038]

Most Wii owners are grown up already.


Most of the Wii owners will be dead by then.

[Press_Start]

.


hehe...did not word that correctly; sounds insulting that was not intended. I just meant that Wii owners will be expecting more from their gaming experience than they are getting. Nintendo's goal with the Wii is to attract more people to gaming, and they have succeeded, but in a couple years those gamers are going to see the Wii as the 'softcore' system that it is and want a more adult experience than it generally provides...

The difference between the Wii crowd and the PS1 crowd is they don't mind playing Yahtzee for the 100th time. Unlike the younger generation, the generation of gamers brought in by the Nintendo's new best seller aren't necessarily looking for high-def graphics and explosive surround sound. They want something simple, wholesome, and fun to enjoy with friends and family.

The reason people will turn to hi-def in 2011 is the fact there'll be the only thing in retails everywhere.

[Trebuken]

How do you know that? There are plenty of "adult experiences" out there in gaming, and the Wii is still the leader in console sales.

I think it is obvious, and I am assuming. I feel that we saw the same thing occur from say the Atari to the NES, or the NES to the PS1 and yet again to the 360. I think as gamers age their interests age with them.

I do not discount that many people enjoy the convenience and casual nature of Wii games, and it will continue, but the developers are driven to attract new sales not allow people to continue to play the same Yahtzee...they'll need HD Yahtzee...

It is amazing how the Wii continues to out-sell the other consoles, but I think it is also amazing how the 360 sells more software with a smaller install base...

Is casual gaming overtaking hardcore gaming?

[DreamTR]

Everyone keeps yelling about the Wii.

How hard is it to understand it's not even in the same category/technology as a PS3/Xbox 360, yet people still compare it to those systems and their graphic capabilities.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, or with all the snide remarks about it, it's still selling more than any of those system, so if you are going to "compare", take that into consideration.

And about all this "HD" technology, 720p not being a big deal, and even 1080p not being a big deal in 2011, last I checked, my cable company does not go to 1080p, so not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon (Yes, Comcast may suck, but they have more HD than anyone else around here), and to be honest, this argument could have been presented years ago with RGM monitors and high resolution monitors over HD TVs anyway, this is nothing new, so it's hilarious seeing everyone jump on the Wii.

Nintendo sure thinks it's hilarious. They are laughing all the way to the bank!

[Nature Boy]

How hard is it to understand it's not even in the same category/technology as a PS3/Xbox 360, yet people still compare it to those systems and their graphic capabilities.

What really bugs me is that everybody goes on and on about the graphical capabilities of the systems, while at the same time poo-poohing the idea that graphics can get any better...

and without bringing up the *real* good bits about more powerful hardware, which is the capability of better AI and more interactive environments in games (no matter how they look) amongst other things (like networking and streaming music and whatnot).

It matters. Might not have impacted your decision to purchase hardware, but it did impact mine.

[chicnstu]

Is casual gaming overtaking hardcore gaming?

What is your definition of casual? Is it the usual one.....a simple fun game that can be played for a few minutes at a time?

Ever played a game on a system before Playstation?



Hopefully Nintendo will take advantage of this by not using the 2-polygon Mii's for every game.

Wow great idea, Wii HD in 2011, 6 years behind the other consoles. Are they going back to cartridges too?I'm sure if it was more advanced it would have opened up doors for third parties allowing them to produce, or at least port more quality games over.
Of course they will need HD for their next console, I think it is more critically that they make a competitve effort to get some CPU/GPU power under the hood. Many of the Wii owners will have grown up by then and will start to care about polygon counts and HD.
What really bugs me is that everybody goes on and on about the graphical capabilities of the systems, while at the same time poo-poohing the idea that graphics can get any better...

and without bringing up the *real* good bits about more powerful hardware, which is the capability of better AI and more interactive environments in games (no matter how they look) amongst other things (like networking and streaming music and whatnot).

It matters. Might not have impacted your decision to purchase hardware, but it did impact mine.




Meet the gamers with a decidedly retro edge. Remember Burgertime, Jungle Hunt, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage and Radiant Silvergun but have no problem wreaking havoc in Halo? Well then... welcome home.

[Nature Boy]

Meet the gamers with a decidedly retro edge. Remember Burgertime, Jungle Hunt, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage and Radiant Silvergun but have no problem wreaking havoc in Halo?

What am I supposed to gather from this oh so 'clever' response?

My part of the conversation at hand had nothing to do with retro-gaming. I was pointing out that people think big hardware = big graphics exclusively and seem to ignore everything else that more powerful hardware brings to the table.

If you're trying to point out that you don't need fancy hardware to play retro games my answer is, simply, "duh". And that a love of retro-gaming, one I share, has nothing to do with a conversation about new hardware.

If you're trying to point something else out, then next time I suggest actually stating your point, rather than trying to cleverly have it all said for you in a simple quote...

[Graham Mitchell]

I think chicnstu's point is that we're in Digital Press, so he presumes we shouldn't care about graphics.

While I agree that graphics aren't the most important thing, these toys are anything but cheap these days. My latest console purchases have cost around $700 to buy all the crap required just to have it run as advertised (Wii excluded). For that much money, the visuals damn well better wow me from time to time, among other things.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I think chicnstu's point is that we're in Digital Press, so he presumes we shouldn't care about graphics.

Well, it should be true if you follow the logic, but post history of quite a few members proves otherwise. We have our own little paradox here; 'Retro gamers whom harp on about graphics." I personally find it hilarious. :D

[Graham Mitchell]

Well, it should be true if you follow the logic, but post history of quite a few members proves otherwise. We have our own little paradox here; 'Retro gamers whom harp on about graphics." I personally find it hilarious. :D

This thread is starting to get really philosophical but...

I know that what I appreciate most about games is a quality presentation. Having decent visuals is a big criterion for what makes a quality game in my opinion, and I get the feeling that a lot of people around here agree with me on that. They don't have to be out-of-this world phenomenal, but they should keep up with industry standard for the machine on which they are released at the time...which Wii Sports and Wii Play do not (hence my op).

You won't find too many people around here heaping praise on Super Pitfall for the NES. Ever wonder why that is? I've played pretty far into the game. The gameplay isn't horrible. I mean, it's Pitfall. We love that game on the 2600, where it looks even worse. But compared to other NES games, Super Pitfall looks (and sounds) pathetic. So, as much as we hate to admit it, I think graphics DO matter to some extent.

[swlovinist]

Nostalgia reigns over everything on most forums. Going back and making a sequel these days usually results in something like Star Wars Episode 1. Very few sequels can capture a hit. They are out there but are few and far between.

With that being said, this year has seen a suprise with Mega Man 9

and I hear that the Wii version "looks" the best

I am currently enjoying the Wii, for all its shortcomings, the the system is really has some gems. I am currently enjoying de blob

[CosmicMonkey]

Back on topic....

Denied! (http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/reggie-fils-aime-denies-wii-hd-rumor/)

[Nature Boy]

We have our own little paradox here; 'Retro gamers whom harp on about graphics." I personally find it hilarious. :D

I know what you're saying, but I don't see it as a paradox personally. We harped about graphics back when our now retro games were brand spanking new.

Then, like today, graphics wouldn't have been the only reason to buy or not buy something. But it was and still is valid.