Wii Hardware Upgrade Won't Happen Soon [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

As high-definition graphics become more and more entrenched in this generation of game consoles, Nintendo has had to deal with constant speculation about a new version of the Wii that would increase its capabilities. Today, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime bluntly denied that a hardware revision was imminent, saying, "We are confident the Wii home entertainment console has a very long life in front of it." He added, "In terms of what the future holds, we've gone on record to say that the next step for Nintendo in home consoles will not be to simply make it HD, but to add more and more capability, and we'll do that when we've totally tapped out all of the experiences for the existing Wii. And we're nowhere near doing that yet."http://games.slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=10/01/15/0738222 (http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/01/15/0738222/Wii-Hardware-Upgrade-Wont-Happen-Soon?from=rss)
Read more of this story (http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/01/15/0738222/Wii-Hardware-Upgrade-Wont-Happen-Soon?from=rss) at Slashdot.
http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MEoD1rCoUFEJZa0DB4kGhNAUqpE/0/di</img> (http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MEoD1rCoUFEJZa0DB4kGhNAUqpE/0/da)
http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MEoD1rCoUFEJZa0DB4kGhNAUqpE/1/di</img> (http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MEoD1rCoUFEJZa0DB4kGhNAUqpE/1/da)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Slashdot/slashdotGames/~4/OLO1m5JN1Yw

More... (http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotGames/~3/OLO1m5JN1Yw/Wii-Hardware-Upgrade-Wont-Happen-Soon)

[kedawa]

Translation: keep buying the Wii, you sweaty apes.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Would you HDers just come off it already? Why risk squandering a firmly entrenched lead in market share? Use your heads!

[Leo_A]

Would you HDers just come off it already? Why risk squandering a firmly entrenched lead in market share? Use your heads!

I know I won't since the lack of HD detracts from otherwise excellent games. Games like Twilight Princess, Mario Kart Wii, and New Super Mario Brothers Wii are all excellent, but I'm not about to argue or urge silence on a topic that could improve the experience with current games and future releases.

I'd love to see Nintendo release a redesigned system with a large amount of internal storage space, HD capabilities, and a improved online network. Especially if it could also upscale GameCube and Wii games (Like can be done with PC emulation) to significantly improve the picture quality on HDTV's.

[Zoltor]

"GOOD", I'm sick of thousands of crappy games being made, that have nothing other then graphics going for them, keeping the consol non HD, will push developers to actually make good games, not just crappy games with movies.

[Hep038]

"GOOD", I'm sick of thousands of crappy games being made, that have nothing other then graphics going for them, keeping the consol non HD, will push developers to actually make good games, not just crappy games with movies.


I agree, with all of the shovelware for the Wii making those games HD is not going to help you sell any more games or systems.

[scottw182]

Good, didn't feel like upgrading my Wii any time soon anyway. Now that Wii HD is off the table for a while, and I have all 3 new-gen systems, I'm set for quite a while!

[badinsults]

Seriously, do you really need HD for something like Wii Fit?

Remember, the majority of people probably don't have HD TVs anyway, and if they do, I bet a large portion know nothing about taking advantage of it.

[kedawa]

People who do have HD sets have ample reason to complain.
The fact that a current console can't be used with a modern television without hideous scaling and/or lag is simply unacceptable.

[Trebuken]

They always deny another system is coming. The slightest hint to the contrary will negatively effect their sales.

Thr truth has always beeen that developement of the Wii successor started the day the Wii was launche -- same is true for Sony and Microsoft. The only speculation is when.

The Wii is still the dominant console and is selling faster than the 360 and PS3 combine so it's not time yet for something new. I think Nintendo best wait and see what Natal and the PS3 motion controller offer and then offer something even more innovative in their next gen HD console...

[Zap!]

However long they decide to wait, I certainly hope it's not called "Wii 2" and just an add-on update. I want a completely new system drawn from scratch.

[duffmanth]

I think the only thing that will keep the Wii going is people buying it who have probably never owned a game console in their lives before like housewives and old farts. Because it sure won't be core gamers that will be supporting it as most of them have probably long since abandoned it altogether.

[Zap!]

I think the only thing that will keep the Wii going is people buying it who have probably never owned a game console in their lives before like housewives and old farts. Because it sure won't be core gamers that will be supporting it as most of them have probably long since abandoned it altogether.

So where do I come in? I have been playing since 1979, played 1,000's of games, own nearly 40 different system, and have a classic gaming website. All of this and the Wii is my favorite current system.

[Zoltor]

So where do I come in? I have been playing since 1979, played 1,000's of games, own nearly 40 different system, and have a classic gaming website. All of this and the Wii is my favorite current system.

Basically same here. Anyone, "anyone" who thinks hardcore gaming is about HD or they mix up graphics in general with the hardcore concept needs to get a cat scan.

I am sick of people calling every POS game that comes out, which has HD/mad graphics hardcore, and everything else "casual", even when alot of such game are far from casual.

[Fuyukaze]

So where do I come in? I have been playing since 1979, played 1,000's of games, own nearly 40 different system, and have a classic gaming website. All of this and the Wii is my favorite current system.

You come in at about the same place I do. Neither of us are hardcore because we're not cool kids who play Halo and Madden exclusivly, we dont carry an elitist mentality, and we also dont judge the quality of gaming by the price tag of the console alone.

I could care less about HD. I'm not crazy with nintendo these days as so many great games are being denied a north american release but atleast the games they do will display on my current TV. Kinda hard to play dead rising when you cant read what's being said. It aint totaly broke but it does make it difficult.

[j_factor]

It'll come in 2011.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Ok, I've been swayed. They absolutely need and HD Wii pronto! Seriously folks, the end is nigh. Don't think I'm being genuine? Really? Would some evidence help? Thought so...

The game that convinced me that the HD crowd needs an HD Wii for it's full enjoyment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5lm1SMENSA

I know, weep in solitude tard-core. This will never be in 1080p native res. CRIMINAL!

[kedawa]

All I know is that it seems the more someone likes videogames, the less they like the Wii.
Most of the folks I know who own Wii's have moved on to PS3 or 360, and it's not because of graphics, it's because of the Wii's anaemic game library and half-assed online support. It also doesn't help that most Wii games have botched control schemes.

[kupomogli]

I know, weep in solitude tard-core. This will never be in 1080p native res. CRIMINAL!

99% of all PS3 and 360 games aren't in native 1080p.

[duffmanth]

So where do I come in? I have been playing since 1979, played 1,000's of games, own nearly 40 different system, and have a classic gaming website. All of this and the Wii is my favorite current system.

Well if you noticed I said most, not all core gamers have probably abandoned it. All I can go by is what I see going on around me as most of my closest core gamer friends, of which probably a dozen or more had the Wii at one point and almost all of them have gotten rid of the thing cuz they didn't touch it.

I'm also a long time gamer since I was a kid in the 80's and I still love Nintendo, I just don't like the Wii very much. It's great that they've got so much of the casual gamer audience on board with them, but I believe they need to do more to regain that core gamer crowd. I would consider myself somewhere in between a casual and core gamer, and the Wii has virtually nothing that interests me. If you take away the handful of great 1st party Nintendo games that the Wii has, you're left with nothing but shit for the most part. Most of my gamer buddies that I mentioned before went out and bought the Wii and got Super Mario Galaxy or whatever other game, then waited and waited for the big AAA games that still haven't come out to this day, and as a result virtually all of them have long since turfed their Wii's. Going back to my original point, the only people that I know that still own a Wii are people that have never owned a gaming console before, and I'm sure there are still a lot of core gamers like yourself that have the Wii still, but it's a different scene going on around me though.

[otoko]

All I know is that it seems the more someone likes videogames, the less they like the Wii.
Most of the folks I know who own Wii's have moved on to PS3 or 360, and it's not because of graphics, it's because of the Wii's anaemic game library and half-assed online support. It also doesn't help that most Wii games have botched control schemes.


Are you sure? I know several hard gamers who prefer the Wii, and one hardcore gamer who dumped the Xbox after purchasing the Wii... None of who care of it being HD. One I know for sure has a full HD tele. I hooked mine via component on my HD tv and it looks completely fine to me...

[Trumpman]

You come in at about the same place I do. Neither of us are hardcore because we're not cool kids who play Halo and Madden exclusivly, we dont carry an elitist mentality, and we also dont judge the quality of gaming by the price tag of the console alone.

I could care less about HD. I'm not crazy with nintendo these days as so many great games are being denied a north american release but atleast the games they do will display on my current TV. Kinda hard to play dead rising when you cant read what's being said. It aint totaly broke but it does make it difficult.

Have you seen an HDTV? How can you say you don't care? It's like night and day - not even close. About Dead Rising, 360 games are designed for HD, and playing them on an SDTV doesn't do them justice. There is no excuse for the Wii not to be HD, and I agree with the others who say that it has alienated them from Nintendo.

[ApolloBoy]

Have you seen an HDTV? How can you say you don't care? It's like night and day - not even close. About Dead Rising, 360 games are designed for HD, and playing them on an SDTV doesn't do them justice. There is no excuse for the Wii not to be HD, and I agree with the others who say that it has alienated them from Nintendo.

So? I've seen an HDTV and I could care less about HDTVs. Component on an SDTV is good enough for me. Plus you can't play light gun games on a non-CRT HDTV and older systems tend to look like crap on HDTVs.

[Trumpman]

That's why you don't throw out your old TV when you get an HD set. I wasn't talking about older systems; I was talking about the 360 and the PS3, and how they compare to the Wii. After you play one of those two systems on an HD set, playing them on anything else just seems subpar. And compared to that, most Wii games (except Mario Galaxy and a few others) look terrible.

[Baloo]

Fuck HD, I'm still using RF Switches.

Also, HDTVs have no light-gun support.

[Icarus Moonsight]

All I know is that it seems the more someone likes videogames, the less they like the Wii.

Bull, meet Shit. Shit, Bull. You two will be fast friends. :D

Yes, I have seen HD stuff and know Fuyukaze has too. We don't see the faptasticness, we've had this discussion a few times already. Sure, it looks nice and all. It's just not worth getting rid of working things that I already have that do the job. Now, when something breaks and I actually need a new TV... That's a New Story... Three word limit initiated, naw j/k.

[Flippy8490]

I am fully content with my $250 purchase being 'the newest' for a few more years!

[Zap!]

Have you seen an HDTV? How can you say you don't care? It's like night and day - not even close. About Dead Rising, 360 games are designed for HD, and playing them on an SDTV doesn't do them justice. There is no excuse for the Wii not to be HD, and I agree with the others who say that it has alienated them from Nintendo.

I have had a full 1080p 61" TV since June 2007. Before that, I had two 1080i TV's. With years of HD, I'll take New Super Mario Bros Wi over anything the 360 has put out in the last year. I don't care if it looks worse (I do max it out with a component cable). I am a classic gamer first and a modern gamer second. I don't care about how it looks, only how it plays and how much fun it gives me. No one produces better games than Nintendo. Not EA, not Konami, not Sega, not even Capcom. And the only place to play new Nintendo games are either the Wii or the DS. Since I never got too into portables, my only choice is the Wii.

[Leo_A]

What kind of defense is that?

Of course NSMB Wii is a great game. But it would be even better if the video didn't have to suffer on a modern tv because it can't be output beyond 480p. Nor does being primarily a classic gamer have any bearing on this subject.

I'm a classic gamer, yet I always strive for the best image quality possible, such as modding my Atari 2600 for s-video. Am I wrong for wanting s-video on my 2600 just because someone such as yourself is willing to put up with a tv/game switch, interferance, color bleeding, etc?

Nintendo does produce the best games, but that doesn't mean they can't be improved. NSMB being output at a resolution more compatible with HDTV's would be great. It has nothing to do with being a classic gamer or a modern gamer. It's about putting up with the times, and HDTV's are what we're facing right now and will increasingly see in the future. That NSMB can't be output at a resolution best compatible with a modern television to minimize problems like input lag, scaling issues, etc., isn't a good situation.

Defending a situation that leads to inferior quality and and harming the experience of a game like NSMB on a typical modern television just means you don't care about picture quality. I always want the best output possible with any of my consoles. If Nintendo were to release a console that would allow current games to be upscaled to HD resolutions and all the other tricks that emulators allow, and new games in HD, I'd be there.

[phaxda]

I love my Wii.

[j_factor]

I don't think anyone's arguing that HD wouldn't be better. They're just saying that it's not a big issue to them, or at least not a defining issue. Personally, I prefer the best video quality in general, including HD. But at the same time, the Wii lacking HD doesn't affect my opinion of any particular game, or my general preferences, or how I feel about the overall library. Last gen, PS2 had the lowest use of progressive scan, and I count that as a weak point for the system, but ultimately that doesn't weigh heavily into how I feel about it versus Xbox, Gamecube, and Dreamcast.

And I think being a classic gamer does have bearing on the subject. If you still play older consoles, you're obviously willing to play non-HD systems. Whereas if you're a modern gamer only, then I can see not liking the Wii due to its un-modern-ness. Personally, I basically view the Wii as equivalent to DC/PS2/GC/Xbox but with a fancy controller. Seeing as I still play Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox games all the time (not to mention PSX, Saturn, Genesis, SNES, TG16), I have no problem with another system being along the same lines.

[Zap!]

What kind of defense is that?

Of course NSMB Wii is a great game. But it would be even better if the video didn't have to suffer on a modern tv because it can't be output beyond 480p. Nor does being primarily a classic gamer have any bearing on this subject.

I'm a classic gamer, yet I always strive for the best image quality possible, such as modding my Atari 2600 for s-video. Am I wrong for wanting s-video on my 2600 just because someone such as yourself is willing to put up with a tv/game switch, interferance, color bleeding, etc?

Nintendo does produce the best games, but that doesn't mean they can't be improved. NSMB being output at a resolution more compatible with HDTV's would be great. It has nothing to do with being a classic gamer or a modern gamer. It's about putting up with the times, and HDTV's are what we're facing right now and will increasingly see in the future. That NSMB can't be output at a resolution best compatible with a modern television to minimize problems like input lag, scaling issues, etc., isn't a good situation.

Defending a situation that leads to inferior quality and and harming the experience of a game like NSMB on a typical modern television just means you don't care about picture quality. I always want the best output possible with any of my consoles. If Nintendo were to release a console that would allow current games to be upscaled to HD resolutions and all the other tricks that emulators allow, and new games in HD, I'd be there.

I agree that I would prefer NSMBW if it were in 1080p or even 720p.I can only imagine how cool it would be will HD visuals and CGI cut-scenes. That would be awesome, and I would prefer it if the Wii had full 1080p support.

With that said, it doesn't. Even with 480p, it comes out on top for me. I'll take the best of the Wii over the amazing top of the line 360 games any day of the week, and twice on Tuesdays. It's first party games are truly outstanding, and looking at the sales you can see that they have achieved all-time sales records. Not that that matters to me though, as they were already all-time the moment I played them.

Being a classic gamer does matter on this subject a bit. We are less likely to be swayed by fancy graphics. Many of us (not saying me) would even prefer to go back to 8-bit or 16-bit days over current technology. And just for the record, I too prefer to play my 2600 on something better than an RF switchbox.

[crazyjackcsa]

This just in:Instead of catering to every petulant whim of the "L33T" Nintendo says/does something that totally infuriates the "hardcore" gamer!

[Flack]

Nintendo shouldn't upgrade the Wii because from a sales perspective, it won't make any difference. As evidenced by this thread, the people that don't like the Nintendo Wii wouldn't like it whether it were in HD or not. If the Wii were magically available HD tomorrow, the same people that hate it now would hate it then -- they'd just complain about how Nintendo was now copying Microsoft and Sony, and they'd just ramp up their complaints about the system's control scheme levels of "shovelware", and online support.

Inversely, the people that play the Wii now play it because they enjoy the games, and I'm guessing a lot of those people aren't put off by the Wii's video quality. That's not to say that there's probably a small cross section of people who {A} own the Wii and {B} would upgrade if/when Nintendo releases a console that supports HD, but I'm guessing from a marketing/sales/development standpoint, it's probably not worth doing yet.

I love all the talk about how "real gamers" do this, or how "real gamers" wouldn't buy that. Real gamers enjoy good games, period.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm a classic gamer, yet I always strive for the best image quality possible, such as modding my Atari 2600 for s-video. Am I wrong for wanting s-video on my 2600 just because someone such as yourself is willing to put up with a tv/game switch, interferance, color bleeding, etc?

No that's not wrong, in fact that is closer to hardcore than the usual suspects that throw that around as if it means something relevant to themselves. It is wrong to say, not want to ever play a 2600 -- just because it doesn't have HDMI or DVI output, then right afterwards you start telling others how much more 'hardcore' you are... Give me a break... Hmm, Kit Kat. Now that's hardcore... You have to break it to eat it. :p

[Zoltor]

I agree that I would prefer NSMBW if it were in 1080p or even 720p.I can only imagine how cool it would be will HD visuals and CGI cut-scenes. That would be awesome, and I would prefer it if the Wii had full 1080p support.

With that said, it doesn't. Even with 480p, it comes out on top for me. I'll take the best of the Wii over the amazing top of the line 360 games any day of the week, and twice on Tuesdays. It's first party games are truly outstanding, and looking at the sales you can see that they have achieved all-time sales records. Not that that matters to me though, as they were already all-time the moment I played them.

Being a classic gamer does matter on this subject a bit. We are less likely to be swayed by fancy graphics. Many of us (not saying me) would even prefer to go back to 8-bit or 16-bit days over current technology. And just for the record, I too prefer to play my 2600 on something better than an RF switchbox.

I myself would love if the new systems were 16bit, simply amazing dungeon designs, you have infinite space for systems, maps, sprites, and exc(aka if they put 16bit games on DVD, the possibilities would be endless). More monsters, more dungeons, grander story, the list goes on, and on, it would be a dream come true.

[Fuyukaze]

Nintendo shouldn't upgrade the Wii because from a sales perspective, it won't make any difference. As evidenced by this thread, the people that don't like the Nintendo Wii wouldn't like it whether it were in HD or not. If the Wii were magically available HD tomorrow, the same people that hate it now would hate it then -- they'd just complain about how Nintendo was now copying Microsoft and Sony, and they'd just ramp up their complaints about the system's control scheme levels of "shovelware", and online support.

Inversely, the people that play the Wii now play it because they enjoy the games, and I'm guessing a lot of those people aren't put off by the Wii's video quality. That's not to say that there's probably a small cross section of people who {A} own the Wii and {B} would upgrade if/when Nintendo releases a console that supports HD, but I'm guessing from a marketing/sales/development standpoint, it's probably not worth doing yet.

I love all the talk about how "real gamers" do this, or how "real gamers" wouldn't buy that. Real gamers enjoy good games, period.

Ya, this basicly sums it up for me as well.

[Zap!]

I myself would love if the new systems were 16bit, simply amazing dungeon designs, you have infinite space for systems, maps, sprites, and exc(aka if they put 16bit games on DVD, the possibilities would be endless). More monsters, more dungeons, grander story, the list goes on, and on, it would be a dream come true.

Well, some of my favorite RPG's happen to be on 8 and 16-bit systems, so I agree. Phantasy Star 1 and 2, and Ys: Book I and II are right up there with any RPG on the HD systems. Twilight Princess is amazing too, but I guess it's not a true RPG.

[danny_galaga]

Translation: keep buying the Wii, you sweaty apes.

ROFL

Or maybe they are saying "We are not Sega" ;)

[danny_galaga]

I believe they need to do more to regain that core gamer crowd.

Why? Having a big business is about making big money. Aren't Nintendo selling more of their consoles than everyone else combined? Sounds like a success story to me...

[Icarus Moonsight]

You ever get the feeling that many of those of the "hardcore" mentality want the gaming market to morph into some sort of representative centrally planned market where they call the shots? They are forgetting; "In Soviet Russia, Games Play YOU!" And what body or individual of central planners would have ever come up with Pong? LOL

[duffmanth]

Why? Having a big business is about making big money. Aren't Nintendo selling more of their consoles than everyone else combined? Sounds like a success story to me...

Let me re-phrase that, I wish they would do more to regain that core gamer market. If the Wii even had a dozen or so more mature games, and not necessarily blood-soaked shooters, it would definitely appeal more to me and I would seriously consider picking one up.

[Zoltor]

Well, some of my favorite RPG's happen to be on 8 and 16-bit systems, so I agree. Phantasy Star 1 and 2, and Ys: Book I and II are right up there with any RPG on the HD systems. Twilight Princess is amazing too, but I guess it's not a true RPG.

Yea same here(Might & Magic 3, Dragon Warrior/Quest 1-6, FF 1-6, the Wizardry games, Chrono Trigger, 7th Saga, Mystic Ark, Crystalis, Secret of Mana, Link, DOE, Lufia 2, the list goes on, and that's just most of my favorite RPGs/Variants, nvm games of other genres).

"Almost" all my fav games are on 8-16bit systems.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Let me re-phrase that, I wish they would do more to regain that core gamer market. If the Wii even had a dozen or so more mature games, and not necessarily blood-soaked shooters, it would definitely appeal more to me and I would seriously consider picking one up.

It's been tried already. No More Heroes, Madworld... The "Hardcore" arn't biting. So, the logical next step is to stop listening to what they want. They won't buy it anyway.

[TonyTheTiger]

It's been tried already. No More Heroes, Madworld... The "Hardcore" arn't biting. So, the logical next step is to stop listening to what they want. They won't buy it anyway.

You won't find a bigger critic of the entire "hardcore vs. casual" concept than me but I'm not sure those are fair examples. No More Heroes and Madworld are pretty niche games, with a quirky presentation to boot. I can't say I'm very confident that their success or failure can be attributed to some flaw in the Wii's market.

If there is a flaw, I think it's a far simpler one. Namely, the Wii's Apple/IKEA inspired box design makes it damn near impossible to figure out what's good or not just by looking at the shelf. Nintendo itself indirectly acknowledged this with Metroid Prime Trilogy and NSMB Wii. So it's no wonder that titles with already limited appeal have trouble standing out enough.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If you were to ask me, I'd say that this 'hardcore' demographic is niche too. I enjoy myself fine being a gamer without adjectives. It's all fluff and pillow talk for bruised and battered egos.

That's not new. Most the libraries of 2600, NES, PS1 & 2 are complete crap too. It's the nature of a lead market share system. Hasn't stopped me from surpassing 100 PS2 games I like, and I'll probably repeat that on Wii in a few years. I'm about half way there now. It has plenty of worthwhile games, unless you really enjoy gaming apparently. LOL

All the chatter of HD Wii might have materialized into an actual product, if the standard Wii were not doing as well as it is. When you are on top, the pressure is on the competition to knock you down. Despite going for "hardcore" hardware, they haven't been able to. It would be insanity to mess with what they have at this point. Especially to just adopt the strategy of the others.

I will admit, they have seemed to ride it a bit too easy on top. That may wind up biting them in the tuckus, if anything.

[Leo_A]

It's been tried already. No More Heroes, Madworld... The "Hardcore" arn't biting. So, the logical next step is to stop listening to what they want. They won't buy it anyway.

Maybe they didn't think they were very good? That's why I avoided both of those games and the latest House of the Dead (Which wasn't deserving of the name).

[kedawa]

The reason so few people are buying those 'hardcore' games on Wii is that the target demographic is too busy playing on the competing consoles to really care. They'd rather have those games on one of the more powerful consoles without the waggle.
Whenever a quality game that doesn't need motion controls gets released for Wii, they just ignore it and hope for a 360/PS3 port.
Most of the Wii owners I know treat it as a secondary system that they only use for the exclusives that really use the motion control properly.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Maybe they didn't think they were very good? That's why I avoided both of those games and the latest House of the Dead (Which wasn't deserving of the name).

Well, I got a joy-gasm or two from them. But, I'm a Wii owner and hate games with the passion of a thousand cell processors so, take that with a grain of salt. ;)

[Zap!]

This thread made me realize something. Anyone who calls themselves "hardcore" is someone I want to ignore.

[Zoltor]

This thread made me realize something. Anyone who calls themselves "hardcore" is someone I want to ignore.

Lol yea I agree. I used to consider myself hardcore, but after seeing this thread, plus what new school gamers consider hardcore, I wouldn't want to take the chance of people mixing me up with the new school crowd, and what these "things" consider hardcore.


Note: I am pre-ording 3 games in 2 months(SMT: SJ, Shiren, and RO), so take that for what it is, but I won't be calling myself hardcore anymore.

PS. See you learn new things every day lol, evidently hardcore = HD graphics, and FPS(only) games, oh man then I was way off with what I thought hardcore gamer meant.

[TonyTheTiger]

The problem is that the definition is whacked. People who toss around "hardcore" all the time use it as a synonym for "games I like." So "I want more hardcore games on the Wii" translates to "I want more games I like on the Wii." And "Too many casual games" translates to "Too many games I don't want to play." So basically they're doing something as basic as describing their tastes but add a layer of pompous jackass on top of it.

Now I can say this while fully respecting the criticism against Nintendo for limiting the Wii to 480p. I have a problem with it myself simply because 720p/1080i support could have come at little additional cost to all parties involved. Is it enough of a reason to force out a new Wii HD console? Not at all. But if it were possible to add the capability to current consoles via an add-on or upgrade? Sign me up. Limiting the Wii wasn't the worst thing Nintendo could have done but it's certainly one of the more unnecessary ones.

[duffmanth]

It's been tried already. No More Heroes, Madworld... The "Hardcore" arn't biting. So, the logical next step is to stop listening to what they want. They won't buy it anyway.

Yeah I suppose you're right. Look at GTA: Chinatown Wars and Dead Space, they sold like shit on the DS and Wii.

[Hari Seldon]

The problem is that the definition is whacked. People who toss around "hardcore" all the time use it as a synonym for "games I like." So "I want more hardcore games on the Wii" translates to "I want more games I like on the Wii." And "Too many casual games" translates to "Too many games I don't want to play." So basically they're doing something as basic as describing their tastes but add a layer of pompous jackass on top of it.



QFT. Especially when hardcore translates as "My favorite games are of a niche genre that would feel more at home in MAME than in my 360" or "I spend so much time playing Team Fortress 2 that I've become a boring fuck who's only chance of socializing is going out with people just like me".

Hardcore gamer: Someone who's ass is likely to be bigger than the averange.

Gaming culture: A lie, it doesn't exist.

[blue lander]

I wonder if the people who are demanding an HD Wii are the same people who said the Wii was going to flop back in 2006. Seems to me that Nintendo's done pretty well for itself by ignoring the "hardcore" flock's demands.

[kedawa]

Seems like everyone in this thread has an axe to grind with someone.

[Leo_A]

I purposely have myself classified as a casual gamer on my XBL gamertag just because I don't like the term hardcore or think it has any bearing on the subject beyond signifying the person probably doesn't play anything besides Call of Duty, Halo, Madden, and Gears of War.

Yet, I want a HD capable Wii.

[kedawa]

I purposely have myself classified as a casual gamer on my XBL gamertag just because I don't like the term hardcore or think it has any bearing on the subject beyond signifying the person probably doesn't play anything besides Call of Duty, Halo, Madden, and Gears of War.

Yet, I want a HD capable Wii.
So that's who we're supposed to call hardcore?
I think of those folks as the lowest common denominator.

[TonyTheTiger]

Call me crazy but aren't the terms "hardcore" and "casual" simply ways to describe how much time a person invests in a hobby? If that's the case, I fail to see how specific games can be "hardcore" or "casual." "Hardcore/casual game" is a misnomer if I've ever heard one. A person who plays every Madden for 20 hours a week is far more "hardcore" than somebody who occasionally plays an Atlus RPG one or two times a year merely by virtue of them investing more time in the hobby.

[kedawa]

You're crazy.
You have a point though. I think what has to be considered is not only the time one invests in gaming, but the money, at least from the perspective of a company like Nintendo.
They have the expanded market zipped up, but there's still money to be made off of what they call 'core' gamers, which I can only guess are those who treat games as more of a hobby or interest than as a simple passtime. Maybe the 'core' gamer has a deeper knowledge of the medium and it's history, prefers games over other activities, buys shitloads of games and hardware, is serious about their skills, and has tastes that go beyond the handful of blockbusters that the industry cranks out every year. Either that, or they're just assholes who don't want you to enjoy your Wii for some undefined reason.

[BetaWolf47]

Screw resolution. View type is really the only advantage. Progressive > interlaced.

[kaedesdisciple]

Am I the only one who finds it really ironic that "hardcore" gamers, typically those found in PS3/360/PC gamers, can gain this alleged title by sitting on their behinds, twiddling their thumbs and yelling profanity into a microphone while many "casual" gamers are actually getting up off their couches and are physically active to play games like Wii Sports (Resort) and work out with EA Sports Active and Wii Fit Plus? Just a little something to think about.

I am a proud owner of both the 360 and the Wii, each has its uses and for their strengths, they deliver beautifully.

I don't harp on the omission of HD on the Wii at all and I'm playing it on a 46" Sony Bravia W series TV that also has a 360 and a BD player hooked up to it. Yes I can tell the difference and no I don't care.

All three consoles can keep on chugging for all I care, the games should continue to get better as developers continue to optimize their code & methods.

[kedawa]

Am I the only one who finds it really ironic that "hardcore" gamers, typically those found in PS3/360/PC gamers, can gain this alleged title by sitting on their behinds, twiddling their thumbs and yelling profanity into a microphone while many "casual" gamers are actually getting up off their couches and are physically active to play games like Wii Sports (Resort) and work out with EA Sports Active and Wii Fit Plus? Just a little something to think about.
You probably are, but you're definitely not the only one making baseless generalizations.
If you like playing those silly exercise games, more power to you, but I prefer to go outside and get real exercise, with fresh air and sunshine and all that jazz.

[Zap!]

Here in Staten Island, we would call those kind of people "bros." A "bro" is someone who's like "Yeah bro! Let's go to the Jersey shore bro! I'll smash that kid's face in bro! I just bought a $125 Ed Hardey hoody bro! Let's go home and play the 360, I'm hard core! Gimme a f'en Red Bull!"

[Leo_A]

Screw resolution. View type is really the only advantage. Progressive > interlaced.

If you don't think there is any significant visual leap with HD capable consoles on a nice HDTV, you've simply never have experienced it.

Simple as that

[PapaStu]

The problem is that alot of these 'hardcore' games are really just darker/more violent games than what are normally seen for specific systems (the Wii and DS). Sometimes these hardcore games are good, sometimes they arn't. I guess the publishers are making these games for those who arn't the normal system + 2.7 games (or whatever small sell through % most systems have) and are shocked that not everyone is off their laurens to get them. *I* do, but i'm no normal gamer.

[Berserker]

When you get right down to it, I think "Hardcore" is just a term you use to set yourself apart from a group of perceived lessers.

So, ask yourself - what makes them lesser?

Furthermore, is there really a point in trying to set yourself apart from "them" in this context? And if you really wanted to illustrate your dedication to the hobby, wouldn't it be better to do that through actions rather than terminology?

I think once you realize the irrationality of the reasoning behind it, the term loses whatever meaning it probably never had in the first place.

[BetaWolf47]

What I'm noticing lately is that people who view graphics junkies as "elitist" are becoming elitist themselves. I agree that people who view themselves as superior, hardcore gamers based on the strength of their system are arrogant. However, there are people here and all over claiming "No, you're an idiot for being enthralled by fancy graphics. I'm the true hardcore gamer because I care more about gameplay than anything." Surely ragging on other gamers for different priorities is just as elitist.

It seems to me that "hardcore" (term used tentatively) Wii owners are more hypocrites than anything. Whenever a Pokemon game comes out, Wii owners rag on it for being too much of the same. Yet when a game from an established franchise comes out and changes things up, and received critical acclaim for its intuition, Wii owners bash it because it's too different. (Case in point: "I'm not buying Donkey Kong Jungle Beat or another Donkey Kong game unless it uses a real controller. Where's my Donkey Kong Country 4?) They'll bash a series because it needs to be changed, then bash another one for the complete opposite reason. You know why? Same = rehash/milking. Different = gimmick.

If a Wii came out that could achieve 1080p, nobody would buy it. The "casual, ignorant" audience wouldn't care, while the "hardcore" audience would view HD as a gimmick that Nintendo is using to fatten its wallet.

[chrisbid]

dumb question

what prevents the wii from exceeding 480p? is it an actual hardware limitation or is it something in the system firmware that can be updated?

the original xbox could do true HD, im sure the wii processor can handle it if nintendo wanted it to

[Ye0ldmario]

I read some article somewhere on google that says the next one is gonna have 1080p bluray and all that but then bluray is owned by sony so yeah.

[BetaWolf47]

I read some article somewhere on google that says the next one is gonna have 1080p bluray and all that but then bluray is owned by sony so yeah.

Owned by Sony? News to me! (http://www.blu-raydisc.com/en/about/SupportingCompanies.html)

[Ye0ldmario]

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/29/possible-wii-2-specs-leaked-1080p-blu-ray-2010-oh-my/

[Baloo]

Why should Nintendo really give a shit about specs? The DS (which is 5 years old) and the Wii that's using more or less Gamecube hardware are selling like hotcakes.

Fuck the "hardcore" market! There's no money there!

[Leo_A]

Why should Nintendo really give a shit about specs? The DS (which is 5 years old) and the Wii that's using more or less Gamecube hardware are selling like hotcakes.

Fuck the "hardcore" market! There's no money there!

The number of systems sold is just part of the picture. Many of those customers are buying very few games and the console has a very low attach rate compared to the competition. Also, 3rd parties are finding the Wii market to be very tough to enter with any sort of success.

The traditional gaming market isn't one to ignore. I'm sure Nintendo isn't happy that Wii owners aren't buying as many games as the competition and that few 3rd parties are succeeding on their platform. Nintendo isn't in this business just to make money off console sales and their own games. They certainly want 3rd parties to be succeeding in a big way on their platform and more Wii owners that are going to buy more than just a game or two. That means going after traditional gamers.

That's why they're not going to ignore it because there is money to be had there. That's why so many large developers that have been in this industry for years remain so dedicated to the 360 and PS3 despite so many Wii's having been sold. There's money (And a lot of it) in this marketplace. And I can assure you Nintendo wants as much of it as they can. They're a business out to make a profit and they're not about to ignore a huge segment of their potential market.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If I sold my Wii and games, I'd have less games and less games that I enjoy. If that = hardcore then hardcore is an Orwellian term. I'd rather go by "Jack Thompson" gamer at that point. Reverse the poles and you win... YAY!

Ultimately, it amounts to nothing. There is no meaningful incentive for an HD Wii at this point, accounting for the given. Can that change? Sure! When the hardware sales indicate a needed action, by all means.