Rumor or Nonsense: Nintendo's next generation console and handheld: Fusion Terminal and Fusion DS

[parallaxscroll]

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/175135-as-the-wii-u-struggles-reports-and-specs-of-nintendos-next-gen-consoles-spread



As the Wii U struggles, reports and specs of Nintendo’s next-gen consoles spread
By Grant Brunner on January 21, 2014 at 3:23 pm

Nintendo is in dire straights. The Wii U sold poorly over the 2013 holiday season, and the Kyoto company is anticipating substantial losses going forward. Now, rumors are bubbling up that Nintendo is already working on its next console, and it sounds quite promising. With superior hardware and better handheld connectivity, this has the potential to turn the table once more in Nintendo’s favor.

An enthusiast site by the name of Nintendo News recently reported a number of interesting tidbits, and it all sounds too good to be true. First off, the author proposes that “Fusion” could be the name of Nintendo’s next console. The evidence, a domain name purchased over a decade ago, seems like a stretch at best. The domain NintendoFusion.com does exist, and it seems as if Nintendo is actually the owner. However, Nintendo News points out itself that the domain likely exists because of the Fusion Tour that Nintendo held in the early aughts. While the name sounds relatively plausible, I wouldn’t bet any money on it. Even if it’s true, remember that the Nintendo Wii was codenamed “Revolution,” and the GameCube once went by “Dolphin.”

The proposed spec-sheets of the “Fusion DS” and “Fusion Terminal” are available in the post as well. The handheld supposedly sports an ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, an Adreno 420 GPU, 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and two 960×640 capacitive touchscreens. On the console side, the “Terminal” is reported to have a 2.2GHz 8-core PowerPC CPU, a custom Radeon-based GPU, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 4K-compatible HDMI 2.0 output. Those definitely sound like compelling upgrades to the existing hardware, but Nintendo’s problems don’t lie solely with its underpowered hardware. If Nintendo wants hardware adoption, it’s going to need a flood of outstanding first-party titles that the Wii U just hasn’t offered.

With a name like Fusion, this rumor is pointing towards the potential of cross-compatibility between the console and handheld — following Sony’s lead. With cross-buy, cross-play, and remote play, Sony has been knocking it out of the park with the PlayStation Vita in the last few months. Since Nintendo has such a strong hold on the handheld market, it would be wise to follow suit here.

Even if this specific rumor turns out to be bogus, its clear that Nintendo has to do something. The company is hemorrhaging money, and the stock price just fell off of a cliff. It’s highly unlikely that Nintendo will abandon the hardware market in favor of PS4 and iPhone support, so the solution is clear: new hardware.

Nintendo needs to cut its losses with the Wii U, double down on 3DS development, and start anew in the console market in a few years. In the meantime, Nintendo needs to fire much of its leadership, and find a better way to leverage its entire back catalog. With Nintendo’s amazing software library, the Wii U and 3DS Virtual Consoles could be pure profit machines. Instead, Nintendo has squandered this opportunity by only releasing a handful of titles at a time. Frankly, Nintendo better shape up, or prepare for the impending shareholder revolt.



http://www.nintendonews.com/2014/01/nintendo-fusion-could-be-nintendos-next-gen-hardware-name/



“Nintendo Fusion” Could Be Nintendo’s Next-Gen Hardware Name
By Kevin McMinn On 21 January 2014

Nintendo Fusion isn’t just an arbitrary name with no meaning.

We have just received an anonymous tip from one of our very reputable sources regarding possible information related to Nintendo’s next-generation hardware; for both its home and portable consoles.

First of all, if this is your first time on Nintendo News, I want to personally make it clear that we have an impeccable reputation when it comes to delivering information that’s credible and newsworthy. Secondly, thank you for taking the time to read what we offer. Third, and most important, none of the information is 100% guaranteed. Then again, nothing in life is either. Please use caution when viewing the below information, especially with regard to the technical specifications. Let’s have a look at the information we have received.

Perhaps the most important question is, “what is Nintendo working on”? As many may already be aware, Nintendo is already fast at work on their next set of home and portable hardware. Nintendo, in particular, seem to work on succeeding hardware anywhere from six months to two years after their current generation lineup is released on the market. What we know is that “Nintendo Fusion” is a possible name that Nintendo is using for their next-gen hardware.

On Thursday, May 29th, 2003, Nintendo of America Inc. purchased the domain name nintendofusion.com. They purchased the domain from the same Melbourne, Australia-based registrar they use for all of their other official domain names: Melbourne IT Ltd. At precisely 12:17 p.m. GMT on January 21st (just about an hour and a half ago), the WHOIS database record for nintendofusion.com was updated.

You can see all of the aforementioned information related to nintendofusion.com right here. Alternatively, we’ve listed it below for you.

Domain Name: nintendofusion.com
Registry Domain ID: 98528369_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.melbourneit.com
Registrar URL: http://www.melbourneit.com.au
Updated Date: 2013-04-02T09:18:58Z
Creation Date: 2003-05-29T19:33:46Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2014-05-30T05:33:46Z
Registrar: Melbourne IT Ltd
Registrant Name: Nintendo of America Inc.
Registrant Organization: Nintendo of America Inc.
Registrant Street: 4820 150th Avenue NE
Registrant City: Redmond
Registrant State/Province: WA
Registrant Postal Code: 98052
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.4258822040
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax: +1.4258823585
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: webmaster@nintendo.com
Name Server: DNS1.NINTENDO.COM
Name Server: DNS2.NINTENDO.COM
Last update of WHOIS database: 2014-01-21T12:17:01Z

NOTE: nintendofusion.com was originally purchased because of the Nintendo Fusion Tour — a touring rock music and video game festival sponsored by Nintendo of America. The tour began in 2003, which explains the date of the domain name purchase. This may, or may not be, related to the tipped information below regarding Nintendo’s possible hardware. Additionally, the Nintendo Fusion Tour was last active in 2006.

Now, onto the other stuff.

The following information comes from our source, of whom which has provided us with possible hardware specifications related to Nintendo’s new hardware systems, said to be named “Fusion DS” and “Fusion Terminal,” respectively. I want to reiterate that everything below may not be guaranteed so please take that into consideration when viewing the information.

Fusion DS

CPU: ARMv8-A Cortex-A53 GPU: Custom Adreno 420-based AMD GPU
COM MEMORY: 3 GB LPDDR3 (2 GB Games, 1 GB OS)
2 130 mm DVGA (960 x 640) Capacitive Touchscreen
Slide Out Design with Custom Swivel Tilt Hinge
Upper Screen made of Gorilla Glass, Comes with Magnetic Cover
Low End Vibration for Gameplay and App Alerts
2 Motorized Circle Pads for Haptic Feedback
Thumbprint Security Scanner with Pulse Sensing Feedback
2 1mp Stereoptic Cameras
Multi-Array Microphone
A, B, X, Y, D-Pad, L, R, 1, 2 Buttons
3 Axis Tuning Fork Gyroscope, 3 Axis Accelerometer, Magnetometer
NFC Reader
3G Chip with GPS Location
Bluetooth v4.0 BLE Command Node used to Interface with Bluetooth Devices such as Cell Phones, Tablets
16 Gigabytes of Internal Flash Storage (Possible Future Unit With 32 Gigabytes)
Nintendo 3DS Cart Slot
SDHC “Holographic Enhanced” Card Slot up to 128 Gigabyte Limit
Mini USB I/O
3300 mAh Li-Ion battery

Fusion Terminal

GPGPU: Custom Radeon HD RX 200 GPU CODENAME LADY (2816 shaders @ 960 MHz, 4.60 TFLOP/s, Fillrates: 60.6 Gpixel/s, 170 Gtexel/s)
CPU: IBM 64-Bit Custom POWER 8-Based IBM 8-Core Processor CODENAME JUMPMAN (2.2 GHz, Shared 6 MB L4 cache)
Co-CPU: IBM PowerPC 750-based 1.24 GHz Tri-Core Co-Processor CODENAME HAMMER
MEMORY: 4 Gigabytes of Unified DDR4 SDRAM CODENAMED KONG, 2 GB DDR3 RAM @ 1600 MHz (12.8 GB/s) On Die CODENAMED BARREL
802.11 b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth v4.0 BLE
2 USB 3.0
1 Coaxial Cable Input
1 CableCARD Slot
4 Custom Stream-Interface Nodes up to 4 Wii U GamePads
Versions with Disk Drive play Wii U Optical Disk (4 Layers Maximum), FUSION Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD) and Nintendo 3DS Card Slot
1 HDMI 2.0 1080p/4K Port
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound
Inductive Charging Surface for up to 4 FUSION DS or IC-Wii Remote Plus Controllers
Two versions: Disk Slot Version with 60 Gigs of Internal Flash Storage and Diskless Version with 300 Gigs of Internal Flash Storage

So, until Nintendo officially reveals their next-gen hardware lineup, don’t get too carried away with what we have presented in this article. The domain name, and information provided for the domain name, is entirely real. The hardware name and technical hardware specifications, along with some questionable code names, is another story.




http://kotaku.com/tracking-down-the-odd-rumors-about-nintendos-next-cons-1506566012


Tracking Down The Odd Rumors About Nintendo's Next Console

Here at Kotaku, we love insider info. We like getting information both from random tipsters and our own sources. And because of those people—to whom we grant anonymity in our reporting—we're able to tell you stories you might not otherwise know about, and give you all the details about games like Titanfall and Alien: Isolation before they're even announced.

Of course, we're not the only ones: other outlets have also reported some terrific scoops using secret sources.

But the danger of anonymous sourcing is that when not handled judiciously, it can allow false information to spread.

Take "Nintendo Fusion," the recently-rumored "next Nintendo console" that you might have seen reported on major gaming websites like Destructoid, The Escapist, and VentureBeat. The rumor is this: in the wake of a rough 2013, Nintendo has started development on their next console, Nintendo Fusion, which will have two parts, called the Fusion DS and Fusion Terminal. There's also a giant list of specs for the system, including some questionable bullet-points like "Thumbprint Security Scanner with Pulse Sensing Feedback" and "SDHC 'Holographic Enhanced' Card Slot up to 128 Gigabyte Limit."

The timing is suspect, given that news just came out about Nintendo's rough 2013, and given that the company's last console launched just over a year ago. But while the list is full of red flags, the premise is certainly possible—plenty of pundits and observers would love to see Nintendo use its mighty developer talent for one hybrid console, rather than two. (Nintendo, when asked about the rumor, told me they don't comment on rumors and speculation.)

There's one bigger problem with this rumor: sketchy sourcing.

Where did all this come from? The above gaming sites all cite this article, written by Kevin McMinn for a website called Nintendo News, which says that this Nintendo Fusion rumor came from "an anonymous tip from one of [their] very reputable sources." Nintendo News presents the specs and information as a possibility, not a guarantee, and they warn readers to be skeptical about what's written there.

But when reached by e-mail last night, McMinn told me he doesn't actually know who gave him this Nintendo Fusion story. Although he believes that this is a "very reputable source," McMinn said he doesn't know who they are or how they might be privy to so many specific details about a new Nintendo console.

"I know little to nothing about the person who sent the email with the information," McMinn said. "All I know is that the person has been proven to have inside information and has given details to other sources as well; not just Nintendo News."

McMinn didn't elaborate, but said he hasn't published everything he's received from this anonymous tipster in the past, and what's more, he seems to regret allowing a rumor like this to spread.

"I'm really not sure why the Internet is blowing up right now over this," McMinn told me. "I've made it completely clear on numerous occasions throughout the article that the information is not 100% guaranteed and for readers to take caution when viewing the contents. I'm at a point now where I'll probably just keep tips to myself and not publish the info. This one article has been nothing more than a pain in the neck, really."

But the rumor might not have even started at Nintendo News. Yesterday, a website called GaminRealm also published those same specs, complete with one hell of a warning:

"Before I go any further though, let me make a disclaimer: Take all of this with a huge grain of salt. I'm not going to lie and make it out to seem like I have inside industry sources, because I don't. The information you're about to see comes from an anonymous origin, and an acquaintance of mine brought this to my attention – I'm just being honest with you. Yep, it's one of those situations."
In other words, GaminRealm's tipster could have been anyone ranging from Shigeru Miyamoto to a 14-year-old 4channer. Both websites list the same spec breakdown for this alleged Nintendo Fusion, and neither writer seems to know who provided the information in the first place.

It's not our norm to ask other reporters about their sources, but when a rumor is spreading and the origin of that rumor seems potentially suspect, we have to ask for any context that will help us size things up and discern what's worth sharing with our readers. So in an attempt to distinguish fact from fiction and untangle the confusing sourcing here, I asked GaminRealm founder Marlon Reid for more context.

"Our information came from one of our own sources whose information I cannot disclose," Reid told me in an e-mail. "I am well aware of [Nintendo News]. Unfortunately for them, my reporter was the first to have that info and has had that info for a while now."

Reid wouldn't elaborate on who sent GaminRealm the information or why they put a disclaimer like that, insisting in a follow-up e-mail that he "can not disclose source information," although the article itself makes it quite clear that writer Jahmai Williams did not know who sent in this info or whether it's real or not.

Meanwhile, Nintendo News's McMinn said he isn't sure whether the rumor he reported is legitimate.

"With regard to the hardware specifications, I can't give you an accurate answer," he told me in an e-mail. "I don't know enough about the listed hardware to provide you with an educated answer. For that reason alone, I cannot tell you if I think it holds any weight."

This is how the sausage gets made—from one or two anonymous e-mails to some of the largest websites in gaming. Flimsy rumors like Nintendo Fusion illustrate just how strange some of this stuff can get.

[wiggyx]

Add 3DS emu/compatibility to Wuu. Sell Wuus.

Come on, Nintendo. Wake up. It's not 1995 anymore.

[kupomogli]

Hopefully when Nintendo releases their next portable and console they use the same format. Own both systems and you're playing Bravely Default 47 on the home console but have to go to work, take the game out and put it in your portable, and play it on your downtime or lunch break, etc.

Less development costs because they'd develop one title that works on both the handheld and the console. More third party games because selling to two different markets while having a single development cost. More games since it's essentially a single console. Like the TG16 and TG Express Portable.

*edit*

Also better for gamers because if we have both consoles, we don't have to pay two prices to play the same game. Kind of like Sony's cross buy, but it works with all physical games and all digital games. Since Nintendo now has their NNID which allows one Wii U and one 3DS to be tied to it. So they could have the Fusion NNID and allow one of each Fusion console to work on it.

[parallaxscroll]

The Fusion Terminal and Fusion DS codenames/names and *specs* may very well indeed be nonsense, however, the following from January 2013 is absolutely legit:

This is from Nintendo's official Corporate Management Policy Briefing / Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2013.

Jan. 31, 2013

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/130131/05.html



As you might already know from some newspaper reports, we will reorganize our development divisions next month for the first time in nine years. Two divisions which have independently developed handheld devices and home consoles will be united to form the Integrated Research & Development Division, which will be headed by Genyo Takeda, Senior Managing Director.

Last year we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms. What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform. They will also work to avoid software lineup shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware.
Some time ago it was technologically impossible to have the same architecture for handheld devices and home consoles and what we did was therefore reasonable. Although it has not been long since we began to integrate the architecture and this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run. I am covering this topic as today is our Corporate Management Policy Briefing.



http://www.videogamer.com/news/nintendo_discusses_its_next-gen_strategy_beyond_wii_u_and_3ds.html



Nintendo discusses its next-gen strategy beyond Wii U and 3DS

Future Nintendo platforms will share similar architecture, Iwata reveals. Being built to "make software assets more transferable" between either platform.

By David Scammell (@VG_Dave) On 31st Jan, 2013 at 1:24pm

Nintendo has begun discussing its strategy for its next-generation consoles beyond Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, revealing that it hopes to build an architecture that allows the firm to "make software assets more transferable" between either device, and avoid the software shortages it's seen with its current-generation platforms.

Development on the architecture for the future platforms began last year, president Satoru Iwata announced during the firm's Q3 financial results briefing last night, and the intention, it seems, is for future Nintendo titles to be compatible with either console.

"Last year we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms," said Iwata. "What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform."

Iwata's comments suggest that Nintendo hopes to be able to build the same games for both its next-generation home console and handheld device.

"They will also work to avoid software line-up shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware," Iwata added.

"Some time ago it was technologically impossible to have the same architecture for handheld devices and home consoles and what we did was therefore reasonable."

The decision to share games between home and handheld consoles could shake up the industry.

Until now, the differences in technical capabilities between home and handheld consoles have forced publishers and developers to prepare individual titles for either market.

"Although it has not been long since we began to integrate the architecture and this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run," Iwata continued.

It all seems a bit too early for Nintendo to be discussing a successor to Wii U, of course. The console only launched in the UK in November. But with sales of the console failing to maintain momentum, could Nintendo be looking to move onto the next-generation sooner rather than later?


Whatever their next gen handheld and next gen console are, Nintendo has been developing both of them since 2012.

This week's rumors may be bogus as far as details, but they no doubt at least stem from the real statements made by Iwata a year ago.

[WCP]

Hopefully when Nintendo releases their next portable and console they use the same format. Own both systems and you're playing Bravely Default 47 on the home console but have to go to work, take the game out and put it in your portable, and play it on your downtime or lunch break, etc.




First off, I think this Nintendo rumor is totally bogus, but I will agree with your take on it. The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc. But the actual guts of the hardware should be exactly the same for both, so that you can have some real deal transfaring, if you know what I'm sayin...

Maybe Nintendo could hook up with Nvidia and base the system around the new Tegra K1 chip, which supposedly is capable of 360/PS3 level graphics.

[The Adventurer]

The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.



Also, aren't there a bunch of rumors swirling around about Sega getting back into the Hardware market with a system based around their arcade hardware?

[Greg2600]

Nintendo's CEO Iwata recently admitted they have to start thinking about more mobile ventures, although that still sounded like it would remain Nintendo hardware or software licensed to another vendor. 3DS integration would be great, and you really wonder why this did not happen? GBA could be used on the GameCube. They should have done this already.

In terms of new hardware, one would assume they are already well on their way to redesigning the Wii U to be cheaper to make, as all manufacturers tend to do. Many have argued they need to offer a version that makes the GamePad optional to purchase, so the system could be sold at say $150. I think rather than a redesign for cost, they should immediately start working on 3DS/2DS integration. To say they need better graphics on it I think really doesn't matter.

[parallaxscroll]

The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. .


That is not what's happening though.

Last year Nintendo state they started R&D in 2012 on a new standalone console and standalone handheld using a common architecture. I'm sure the two platforms will work together much more closely than DS & Wii, or 3DS & Wii U, but the new systems won't be one and the same. Nintendo isn't making a hybrid handheld-console. They will share the same basic architecture (meaning CPU / GPU will be from the same provider(s) but the actual spec of each chipset will be different. Obviously the console will have higher performance than the handheld.


Wii U is dead. It's far worse off than GameCube was 14 months into its lifecucle, and Wii U is selling worse than even Dreamcast did in its very short official life. I doubt Nintendo is merely going to redesign Wii U to be cheaper and turn that into a new console. That is not the same as making the Wii U cheaper to make and cutting the price, which I'm sure Nintendo is doing. However for their next home console, they probably started from scratch in 2012-2013. A new chipset. They're also not going to have Wii anywhere in the name since the Wii-brand is now completely dead as far as consumers are concerned.

The DS name is still good, as of early 2014. So the next handheld may have the DS name in it, unless Nintendo decides to do away with two screens. Maybe they'll bring back the GameBoy brand, who knows.

The only thing that's clear from Nintendo's statements is that they're working on two different platforms with a common architecture. The handheld won't be as powerful as the console, but it should be much easier to port between the two.

GBA and GameCube had nothing in common hardware wise. Neither did DS and Wii, nor does 3DS and Wii U. But that will change with Nintendo's next gen hardware offerings.



The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.


Don't worry, a new Nintendo console isn't coming out this year, or in 2015.

Iwata said (which I posted above) that their efforts won't have an effect in the short term.

Iwata:

"this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run. "

The next handheld could be out sometime in 2016, and the next console could be out in late 2016, but more likely, 2017.

The next main console entry of The Legend of Zelda for Wii U won't be out until fall 2015 anyway since Nintendo / Tecmo Hyrule Warriors for Wii U should be out sometime in 2014.

Nintendo will try its best to make Wii U live through 2015, even if they're the only ones supporting it. Late 2016 or 2017 would be the timeframe for the next console.

[kupomogli]

First off, I think this Nintendo rumor is totally bogus, but I will agree with your take on it. The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc. But the actual guts of the hardware should be exactly the same for both, so that you can have some real deal transfaring, if you know what I'm sayin...

Or what you're saying would work better. Portable system that can be used as a home console. They can use low resolution screens to cut costs for the portable, when playing at home though, can play up to 1080p.


That is not what's happening though.

Well, it's less that's how we think it's going to turn out, more hopeful. It might not even be that profitable. Seems more developer and consumer friendly than anything.

[Leo_A]

I think they will have a shared library with shared hardware architecture. But I suspect that there will still be a distinct handheld system and a console system rather than a combination that's capable of both tasks out of the box.

Many just want one option or the other rather than both. By staying with separate handheld and console systems, it allows them to keep hardware cost in line yet they gain all the potential advantages a shared ecosystem could offer Nintendo such as a universal pool of software rather than supporting two distinct lines.

They have to do something like this if they want to remain a hardware provider. Their console business is in bad shape and their 3DS business is down in many ways compared to past generations despite being successful now (although far off their projections). It got off to a slow start, 3rd party development is significantly down compared to past generations, much of the casual business has evaporated, and the 3DS has sold 35 million units and is reaching the later stages of its success (It's 3 years old now which means it's down hill from here or will be pretty soon) compared to over 150 million DS units.

And that's with the Vita essentially being a non starter compared with the DS that went up against the successful PSP back when Sony cared about succeeding here. If they don't reinvent themselves soon, they risk failing even with their handheld line that traditionally has kept them going through lean periods with their consoles.

[parallaxscroll]

I think they will have a shared library with shared hardware architecture. But I suspect that there will still be a distinct handheld system and a console system rather than a combination that's capable of both tasks out of the box.

Many just want one option or the other rather than both. By staying with separate handheld and console systems, it allows them to keep hardware cost in line yet they gain all the potential advantages a shared ecosystem could offer Nintendo such as a universal pool of software rather than supporting two distinct lines.

They have to do something like this if they want to remain a hardware provider. Their console business is in bad shape and their 3DS business is down in many ways compared to past generations despite being successful now. It got off to a slow start, 3rd party development is down compared to past generations, much of the casual business has evaporated, and the 3DS has sold 35 million units and is reaching the later stages of its success (It's 3 years old now which means it's down hill from here or will be pretty soon) compared to over 150 million DS units.

And that's with the Vita essentially being a non starter compared with the DS that went up against the successful PSP back when Sony cared about succeeding here. If they don't reinvent themselves soon, they risk even their handheld line.


I pretty much agree with this.

I think Nintendo will create an ecosystem where they make each game that can be released on handheld and console. These two platforms will probably not be compatible with each other. But they could be.

The console can run the game in much higher resolution (native 1080p) perhaps at a higher framerate, with more complex visuals, effects, greater fidelity. The handheld can play the same game (either a port or the same code) but at the lower native res of the handheld's screen (it won't be 1080p, maybe not even 720p, even Vita is not 720p) with reduction in the effects, complexity and fidelity. Not unlike how a PC game can be played on lower-end machines, but also on high end rigs with the graphics options and resolution cranked up.

This won't work if the handheld is only 1/20th 1/10th as powerful as the console, but could work if the handheld is say, between 1/3rd and 1/5th the performance of the console and has the same architecture, just less of it.

Nintendo needs to keep two sources of revenue flowing. Handhelds and Consoles. They need to add a 3rd source, a proper online network for their platforms that starts to close the gap between what they have now (next to nothing) and Live/PSN. That might be Nintendo;s biggest challenge besides a failing home console.

Nintendo needs to excite the industry again with a console that can clearly play better playing and better looking games than PS4 & Xbox One. Something that actually makes not just gamers, but also developers WANT to have the system. I do NOT mean like when Nintendo announced Project Reality with Silicon Graphics in 1993 and the resulting Ultra 64 / Nintendo 64. I'm mean like in 1988 - 1989 when Nintendo revealed the Super Famicom to the press and to developers in Japan, which clearly showed things that could not be done on the NEC PC Engine /TurboGrafx-16 or Sega Megadrive / Genesis. Or like in 1999 when Sony revealed the PlayStation 2. What Sony did with PS2 starting in 1999 is probably too much for Nintendo to pull off, but I think they've got it in them to do another Super NES.

They have to try.

Nintendo cannot repeat the mistakes of N64, GameCube and Wii U, or even the mistakes of Wii, despite that system's incredible success from a hardware sales standpoint.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Nintendo FUSION? Yeah I hear it is coming out around the same time as DREAMCAST 2 !

Yes a little 3D modeling skill combined with fanboy dreams are a dangerous thing lol.

[PreZZ]

People play super nes, nes and n64 on their phones and tablets for FREE on crappy emulators. So either Nintendo releases the virtual consoles on android and ios and get shitloads of money on their classic games , or they don't get shitloads of money and do absolutely nothing about it. They should also release an official bluetooth classic controller pro for the games too.

[The Adventurer]

If Nintendo puts their IPs on mobile it effective ends their hardware business. They won't do that.

[TonyTheTiger]

The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.

That's exactly it. They're stuck for the time being. If they make a move too soon they wind up in the same boat Sega was in 20 years ago. They screwed the pooch with the Wii U and probably have to eat it for a little while. The best scenario for them would be if they were to come out strong in 2015/2016 and market the new console as their "real" next gen entry and requalify the Wii U as if it were always meant to be some kind of mid-cycle Wii offshoot, kind of like how the DS was at one point described as not really being the next entry in the Game Boy line up.

[parallaxscroll]

If Nintendo puts their IPs on mobile it effective ends their hardware business. They won't do that.


I agree.

Nintendo is in an incredibly good & strong position right now, compared to Sega's position a year after the Dreamcast had launched in the west.
Nintendo made tons of money from the DS / Wii era and although the Wii U is a failure, Nintendo is still has the 3DS which after a slow start, has become very successful, where PlayStation Vita has not.


The DS sold like 155 million worldwide and that's with a competitor (Sony PSP) that sold roughly 80 million worldwide as of last year.
Sony's PSP was the only non-Nintendo dedicated handheld game system that was successful, selling tens of millions of units, and yet, Nintendo still managed to completely outsell PSP with the DS.

This time, Sony's Playstation Vita is going nowhere fast, Nintendo will have the dedicated handheld market to themselves. Even with the rise of games on mobile devices.
It would be terrible if Nintendo put their IP on mobiles when the 3DS is still in its prime and making money for Nintendo, their main source of income at present.

Being "homeless", meaning not having your own hardware platform, could very well end up being an awful thing for Nintendo, since they would not control the platform (phones & tablets).


As for Wii U, Nintendo will have to make it hang on, through all of 2015. Nintendo's next home console won't be out until the end of 2016 at the very soonest.
It's not as if Nintendo has a new console waiting in the wings to launch this year, or 2015.

There is still Hyrule Warriors (a collaboration between Nintendo & Tecmo, a game based on Tecmo / Koei's Dynasty Warriors series) coming out sometime this year in 2014.
Then the next main installment of Legend of Zelda for Wii U most likely in 2015. Iwata said in the last Nintendo Direct that Hyrule Warrors is *not* the next main Zelda game for Wii U.


Now don't quote me on this, but I believe I read somewhere that EAD Tokyo is working on the true successor to Mario Galaxy, which was not the recently released Super Mario 3D World.

Whatever that Mario game might be (and I *hope* it's what I would want & have imagined for a potential "Super Mario Universe" ) that game, if it hasn't already, should be re-targeted for the next console
(in late 2016 or 2017) and it must be a day one launch game with the next home console.

Nintendo did not have a 3D Mario game for the launch of GameCube in fall 2001, Sunshine was almost a year later in2002. Or for Wii in 2006, Galaxy was August or Sept 2007.
Or Wii U in 2012, 3D World was late 2013, just a few months ago.

Nintendo hasn't had a main 3D Mario game for a new console launch since 1996 with Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64.
The main Mario game prior to that, for a new console launch, was Super Mario World on the Super Famicom in December 1990 and SNES in 1991.

So that has to change, along with other things.

[Tanooki]

Seriously read this piece it covers many good reasons why the articles online are wrong in giving advice to Nintendo and it makes sense.

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2014/01/nintendo-mobile/

[BlastProcessing402]

The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc.

So pretty much a Wii U that has the main guts of the system integrated into the gamepad, with the "console" itself just a way to connect to the tv?

[Rickstilwell1]

Nintendo hasn't had a main 3D Mario game for a new console launch since 1996 with Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64.
The main Mario game prior to that, for a new console launch, was Super Mario World on the Super Famicom in December 1990 and SNES in 1991.

So that has to change, along with other things.

IMO anyone who is complaining about New Super Mario Bros. U not being a sufficient launch Mario game is not a true Mario fan. Real Mario fans want all the Mario they can get. Both 2D & 3D. I like 2D better than 3D.

[parallaxscroll]

Seriously read this piece it covers many good reasons why the articles online are wrong in giving advice to Nintendo and it makes sense.

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2014/01/nintendo-mobile/

Yeah I saw that the other day, great read.

[WCP]

IMO anyone who is complaining about New Super Mario Bros. U not being a sufficient launch Mario game is not a true Mario fan. Real Mario fans want all the Mario they can get. Both 2D & 3D. I like 2D better than 3D.


Well, how bout this.... My favorite game of all time, ranked No.1 overall, is Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo. I don't take that ranking lightly either. I'm a huge 2D Mario fan.


Here's the problem. The new games that started with the DS and Wii, and then later on Wii U and 3DS use polygons instead of sprites. For whatever reason, I just don't get that same feeling as I do when I'm playing Super Mario World or SMB3. The DS game, and the Wii game are both very clever, and well made games, but ultimately, they just don't feel the same to me, and I think the polygon thing is the reason why. If Nintendo made a "real" 2D Mario game, I would be in seventh heaven. I'd love them to use the exact same engine as Super Mario World, just add a couple of extra special effects to it, and great background music and sound effects and I would be in heaven...

[Press_Start]

The worst thing that could have happen to Nintendo at this point is if the WiiU had edged out around 6 million units with minimally satisfying success that they felt no reason to change their current strategy whatsoever and thus, blissfully continue to allow themselves the same problems throughout 2014. Now, that they missed even their initial 5.5 mill mark, they're getting the quintessential "hot-coffee-thrown-in-their-face" wake up call they need to start paying attention and fix their serious problems with the WiiU before their 2 biggest titles this year hit the market.

[Bojay1997]

The worst thing that could have happen to Nintendo at this point is if the WiiU had edged out around 6 million units with minimally satisfying success that they felt no reason to change their current strategy whatsoever and thus, blissfully continue to allow themselves the same problems throughout 2014. Now, that they missed even their initial 5.5 mill mark, they're getting the quintessential "hot-coffee-thrown-in-their-face" wake up call they need to start paying attention and fix their serious problems with the WiiU before their 2 biggest titles this year hit the market.

It's much too late for that though. The WiiU had a very impressive release schedule this past year. Nintendo's whole strategy since launch has been to keep promoting the fact that the big titles that came out in the latter part of 2013 were coming. Those titles were released and it didn't do much for console sales. In 2014, Nintendo's target audience isn't going to get super excited over Bayonetta 2 and Donkey Kong, Super Smash and Mario Kart are going to be great games, but they have been on several previous Nintendo platforms including the Wii and they aren't going to convince people on the fence to buy a whole new console. As others have pointed out, Nintendo is just going to keep muddling through for the next few years until they release a unified platform and ultimately, WiiU will just be remembered as Nintendo trying to capitalize on the massive success of the Wii but in the process alienating third parties, failing at marketing and ultimately loosing more of the audience it has built over the past three decades.

[Press_Start]

It's much too late for that though. The WiiU had a very impressive release schedule this past year. Nintendo's whole strategy since launch has been to keep promoting the fact that the big titles that came out in the latter part of 2013 were coming. Those titles were released and it didn't do much for console sales. In 2014, Nintendo's target audience isn't going to get super excited over Bayonetta 2 and Donkey Kong, Super Smash and Mario Kart are going to be great games, but they have been on several previous Nintendo platforms including the Wii and they aren't going to convince people on the fence to buy a whole new console. As others have pointed out, Nintendo is just going to keep muddling through for the next few years until they release a unified platform and ultimately, WiiU will just be remembered as Nintendo trying to capitalize on the massive success of the Wii but in the process alienating third parties, failing at marketing and ultimately loosing more of the audience it has built over the past three decades.

Haha, uh....no. Remind me, how long did it take PS3 to start selling like hotcakes? Oh right....3 years! Three bloody years! And during that time it had to contend with the Wii's dominance, 360's year-long head start, a $600 price point, a lack of third-party exclusives, $200-$300 loss per console and it's sitting cozy @ 80 million units now. So yeah, if it ain't too late for the PS3, which took Sony nearly 900+ days to fix, then it absolutely sure as hell ain't too late for the WiiU with 600+ days left and counting.

[Tupin]

The market is different than it was in 2006, or even 2009.

[The Adventurer]

Also the Wii U isn't a blu-ray player.

That said I think its a valid comparison. The war isn't over yet.

[Bojay1997]

Haha, uh....no. Remind me, how long did it take PS3 to start selling like hotcakes? Oh right....3 years! Three bloody years! And during that time it had to contend with the Wii's dominance, 360's year-long head start, a $600 price point, a lack of third-party exclusives, $200-$300 loss per console and it's sitting cozy @ 80 million units now. So yeah, if it ain't too late for the PS3, which took Sony nearly 900+ days to fix, then it absolutely sure as hell ain't too late for the WiiU with 600+ days left and counting.

So, lay out the possible scenario because I sure can't see it. The WiiU is essentially a last generation piece of hardware with almost no third party support with no real hope of third party support in the near or distant future. It's expensive to produce and can't sustain a price cut without further damaging Nintendo's bottom line. Nintendo lacks the capacity to get additional studios up and running on software and would be years away from releasing anything if they started acquiring new studios today. So yeah, it is too late for the WiiU and as others have pointed out, this isn't 2006 and the audience Nintendo built with the Wii has moved on to mobile devices while both the PS4 and Xbox One continue to sell at a record pace with no compelling software available for either one right now.

[Greg2600]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-25-iwata-isnt-nintendos-problem-its-miyamoto

Apparently it's all Miyamoto's fault!

[Press_Start]

So, lay out the possible scenario because I sure can't see it. The WiiU is essentially a last generation piece of hardware with almost no third party support with no real hope of third party support in the near or distant future. It's expensive to produce and can't sustain a price cut without further damaging Nintendo's bottom line. Nintendo lacks the capacity to get additional studios up and running on software and would be years away from releasing anything if they started acquiring new studios today. So yeah, it is too late for the WiiU and as others have pointed out, this isn't 2006 and the audience Nintendo built with the Wii has moved on to mobile devices while both the PS4 and Xbox One continue to sell at a record pace with no compelling software available for either one right now.

That's easy! The same thing they did after the Gamecube....the one no one expects. :)


http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-25-iwata-isnt-nintendos-problem-its-miyamoto

Apparently it's all Miyamoto's fault!

Yeah, I stopped reading at '3ds is underperforming' like saying a chronically anorexic 60-pound Lindsay Lohan is fat.

[The Adventurer]

That's easy! The same thing they did after the Gamecube....the one no one expects. :)



Yeah, I stopped reading at '3ds is underperforming' like saying a chronically anorexic 60-pound Lindsay Lohan is fat.

I stopped reading after...


It has absolutely no vested interest in the console business beyond selling video games

*shakes head*

[Bojay1997]

That's easy! The same thing they did after the Gamecube....the one no one expects. :)



Well, if it was that easy, you would have been able to map out a possible scenario instead of just spouting vague platitudes. They already did what nobody expected with the WiiU by adding the pad and nobody cared. At this point, to have an impact on the market that really shakes things up they will have to essentially start over with a new console which is what almost everyone in this thread seems to agree is what will happen, the only real question is when and what that means for the WiiU in the short term.

[Greg2600]

By the way, I did read the full Miyamoto article, and the author eventually made a point despite spending 80% of the piece Nintendo bashing. Ha ha ha. His point was that the company were stuck in a tough place. They have to choose between making absolutely stellar Mario, Zelda, old franchise games, or spending resources/people power on new franchises. That even Miyamoto has admitted this is an ongoing concern. Nintendo's greatest asset, it's incredibly well done franchises, is also a burden. He did say that Miyamoto IS working on a couple new concepts though perhaps it's kind of too late?

[Atarileaf]

He did say that Miyamoto IS working on a couple new concepts though perhaps it's kind of too late?

It might be too late for the Wii U but going forward, Nintendo needs some fresh ideas and franchises and if Miyamoto has something or two up his sleeve then that's nothing but great news for the big N.

[Tanooki]

Fascinating and all that but I think it's fair enough to wait to see what comes with E3 before condemning the WiiU to death let alone eating that shit sandwich that the 3DS is floundering which is clearly isn't. Nintendo since the SNES has always put out older hardware or at the least limited (GC to mini discs vs DVDs) hardware which has put them in a spot. N64 really started it with the carts versus CD mess that probably should have killed them and well the Wii was no PS3 by a long shot. I know it's cool to dump on anything having a hard time, especially if you're not a fan, or were a fan who got fed up with the bullshit but my experience has always been to keep an open mind for 2 years on the market, then see if things are up shit creek or not before calling it a day. I think had Wii U been properly named, advertised, priced where it is now at launch, and had mainly third parties given it equal support it would be a different picture but that's too late to matter now as it's just not a pretty picture.

[Bojay1997]

Fascinating and all that but I think it's fair enough to wait to see what comes with E3 before condemning the WiiU to death let alone eating that shit sandwich that the 3DS is floundering which is clearly isn't. Nintendo since the SNES has always put out older hardware or at the least limited (GC to mini discs vs DVDs) hardware which has put them in a spot. N64 really started it with the carts versus CD mess that probably should have killed them and well the Wii was no PS3 by a long shot. I know it's cool to dump on anything having a hard time, especially if you're not a fan, or were a fan who got fed up with the bullshit but my experience has always been to keep an open mind for 2 years on the market, then see if things are up shit creek or not before calling it a day. I think had Wii U been properly named, advertised, priced where it is now at launch, and had mainly third parties given it equal support it would be a different picture but that's too late to matter now as it's just not a pretty picture.

The 3DS isn't in the same situation that the WiiU is, but it missed it's sales target by over 4.5 million units and software sales missed targets as well by 14 million units. Those are fairly large misses when you're talking about 18 million hardware units and 80 million software units as the former targets. Again, it's not catastrophic, but it signals bigger problems for Nintendo as their cash cow just isn't delivering like it used to.

[The Adventurer]

I think it just says Nintendo has been a bit delusional on their projections. Reign those in and make desisions on realistic expectations, and they'll do all right.

I seriously have no idea how Nintendo thought 9 million was at all realistic expectation.

[Bojay1997]

I think it just says Nintendo has been a bit delusional on their projections. Reign those in and make desisions on realistic expectations, and they'll do all right.

I seriously have no idea how Nintendo thought 9 million was at all realistic expectation.

Both Xbox One and PS4 will easily hit 9 million units by the end of calendar 2014 and Xbox One lacks any real market demand in most of Asia, so I don't think Nintendo was being unrealistic in projecting 9 million units worldwide in a full fiscal year if the console was actually a viable contender.

[Tanooki]

Nintendo time and again lives in a fantasy land of overprojecting what their systems will move, at least with the 3DS. THe Wii U, they got bitchslapped plain and simple not correcting that shit six months ago seeing how 'good' the sales were pre-Zelda and hell even pre-Pikmin 3 for that matter. They came up with garbage numbers that didn't have a basis in reality even given how their first Christmas went and blindly rolled with it with their eyes closed, fingers in years and mouthing 'LALALA can't hear you' to reality. The 3DS may have been over projected and missed but it was also their best yearly sales for the thing too on software and hardware so they just let ego make them look like asses in its case.

[Drclaw411]

Call me crazy, but I think the worst thing Nintendo did was decide to put the next Smash Brothers game on the 3DS as well as the Wii U. Smash Bros is always a system seller, and releasing it on a console every has already leaves people no reason to buy a Wii U to play it.

Also...consoles could play CDs three generations ago, and DVDs two generations ago. Why is Nintendo still ignoring this?

[TonyTheTiger]

I don't think the games are Nintendo's problem, the timing is. If anything, their current entries are better than the ones we were getting on the Gamecube but they aren't coming out when they need to. Skyward Sword should have been a Wii U launch title. What good did it do Nintendo as the Wii's last hurrah? For all the praise Nintendo gets for its innovation, that was a very shortsighted move.

[Bojay1997]

I don't think the games are Nintendo's problem, the timing is. If anything, their current entries are better than the ones we were getting on the Gamecube but they aren't coming out when they need to. Skyward Sword should have been a Wii U launch title. What good did it do Nintendo as the Wii's last hurrah? For all the praise Nintendo gets for its innovation, that was a very shortsighted move.

I don't think anyone would claim that Nintendo doesn't make incredible games. I believe the issue is that there are just too few of them on the WiiU and too few in the pipeline to really ever place the WiiU in a situation where it's the only console someone would own. Even when Nintendo slowed development on new Gamecube games, it seemed like there was always some unique third party title coming out to fill the gap. That just doesn't exist on the WiiU as Ubisoft and Activision have now shifted into multi-platform port mode and sadly the only unique third party content is coming from Majesco. As I think I've shared here before, as someone with kids in exactly Nintendo's prime demographic, I'm amazed at how little play the WiiU gets in our house when compared to the iPad and all of the other electronic devices the kids have access to and frankly, we own every first party Nintendo game and most of the rest of the library.

[Greg2600]

Gamecube is a bit of a different story, because Nintendo screwed up when they contracted Retro studios to do many games, and the owner was a con-artist and nothing got done. They can continue to make 1st party games from their well known IP's, but that cannot be the ONLY 1st party games they release. That's the point I think.

However, are Activision/Ubisoft bailing a massive problem? I'd say yes, if Nintendo were attempting to be the inexpensive alternative to the other guys. However, the problem they face there is that 360/PS3 games are still coming out, and both of those systems are cheaper than the Wii U.

[TonyTheTiger]

Unfortunately, that's true. Nintendo is trying to sell a console that is not well suited for multiplatform development in an environment in which going multiplatform is the only viable solution for most third parties. This leaves Nintendo in the cold for the most part. The Wii had the same problem but that was tempered by it's runaway success thanks to some other factors. But this has been going on since the N64. Nintendo has consistently managed to maintain success through people buying its consoles for the 10 to 20 must have exclusives with anything beyond that just gravy. I'm not sure what's changed this time to suddenly make it a problem other than maybe people are just getting wise to the routine and decided "nope, not this time." I want to attribute it to both the console's name and appearance (it looking and sounding too much like a Wii update possibly muddied it's purpose as a next gen console) as well as the terribly uninteresting first 8 months or so of software.

I don't think the Wii U is a lost cause yet but I've never seen Nintendo so unfocused. It was pretty terribly marketed, all things considered, only vaguely trying to ride the coattails of the Wii and iPad's success without a cohesive spirit of its own. In what universe is it a good idea to use ports of last gen games as your highlight? Who's supposed to be amazed that the Wii U has Tekken Tag 2 and Mass Effect 3? Isn't that like if Sega tried to sell the merits of the Genesis by demonstrating an exact replica of Castlevania II? For all the weird decisions of Nintendo past (N64 cartridges, Gamecube discs, controller) they always built a console identity around the machine. I still have no idea what the Wii U's identity is.

They also need to pick their battles. They certainly don't have to match the system specs of the Xbox and Playstation but they do need to stop adamantly rebelling against just about every single advancement that's happened in the last ten years. Basic multimedia functionality, competent online, an indie-friendly publishing environment, etc.

[Tanooki]

DRCLAW: Now as far as Nintendo ignoring standards it was my understanding they're using a standard disc format finally, but as true to stock they refuse to pay any licenses to have that marked on the system let alone such video playing movie discs run on the system either to cut more corners as it's all just added expenses. The WiiU storage isn't lacking for space as it's basically a tweaked standard blu-ray drive they built with Panasonic to avoid the expenses as the thing holds 25GB per layer which is no slouch.

Tony: It's not the first party or second party games that are the problem, as you noted they're better than what the Wii delivered so far. It's the timing and the failing of third party to bother to put more bulk on the shelf to make the system more appealing to various gamers. I agree that Skyward Sword would have benefited from being an HD-release as Twilight Princess pulled it off racking up some incredible sales on Wii despite it being the crap version of the game with the visuals and controls reversed. They could have at least doubled down like the GC-Wii TP did.

I don't think Ubisoft, Activision or the remaining others are bailing yet at this point, but they'll be slowing operations on what they put out to much the level of what the Wii had downscaled and shoveled to it for at least this year if not going forward. If the Wii U has a nice hardware sales turn around and bulks up the ownership I'd see an increase but nothing on the level that should have been there from the start but that's Nintendo's fault entirely between their piss poor treatment of third parties requests for new hardware to their shitty naming and shittier idea of advertising and awareness. I think the Wii U isn't screwed yet, but they're walking a tightrope without a safety net at the bottom really as the 3DS as runaway as its sales in 2013 were still couldn't prop it up.

[Trebuken]

These specs, if true, seem to make this console Wii-U compatible, but with the addition of the FUSION features. Also the CableCard slot suggests it's going to be integrated with your TV and cable services.

Nothing here seem impossible, it just all seems too soon; unless this is just a console revision. They could market an upgrade for Wii-U owners. Remember the 32X or the 64DD?

[parallaxscroll]

Nintendo just posted this a few days ago on its Japanese site:

Corporate Management Policy Briefing / Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for the 74th Fiscal Term Ending March 2014

Q&A


You have explained your concern about users being divided by hardware. Currently, you have both a handheld device business and a home console business. I would like to know whether the organizational changes that took place last year are going to lead to, for example, the integration of handheld devices and home consoles into one system over the medium term, or a focus on cost saving and the improvement of resource efficiency in the medium run. Please also explain if you still have room to reduce research and development expenses.


Iwata:

Last year Nintendo reorganized its R&D divisions and integrated the handheld device and home console development teams into one division under Mr. Takeda. Previously, our handheld video game devices and home video game consoles had to be developed separately as the technological requirements of each system, whether it was battery-powered or connected to a power supply, differed greatly, leading to completely different architectures and, hence, divergent methods of software development. However, because of vast technological advances, it became possible to achieve a fair degree of architectural integration. We discussed this point, and we ultimately concluded that it was the right time to integrate the two teams.

For example, currently it requires a huge amount of effort to port Wii software to Nintendo 3DS because not only their resolutions but also the methods of software development are entirely different. The same thing happens when we try to port Nintendo 3DS software to Wii U. If the transition of software from platform to platform can be made simpler, this will help solve the problem of game shortages in the launch periods of new platforms. Also, as technological advances took place at such a dramatic rate, and we were forced to choose the best technologies for video games under cost restrictions, each time we developed a new platform, we always ended up developing a system that was completely different from its predecessor. The only exception was when we went from Nintendo GameCube to Wii. Though the controller changed completely, the actual computer and graphics chips were developed very smoothly as they were very similar to those of Nintendo GameCube, but all the other systems required ground-up effort. However, I think that we no longer need this kind of effort under the current circumstances. In this perspective, while we are only going to be able to start this with the next system, it will become important for us to accurately take advantage of what we have done with the Wii U architecture. It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately. When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems.

Still, I am not sure if the form factor (the size and configuration of the hardware) will be integrated. In contrast, the number of form factors might increase. Currently, we can only provide two form factors because if we had three or four different architectures, we would face serious shortages of software on every platform. To cite a specific case, Apple is able to release smart devices with various form factors one after another because there is one way of programming adopted by all platforms. Apple has a common platform called iOS. Another example is Android. Though there are various models, Android does not face software shortages because there is one common way of programming on the Android platform that works with various models. The point is, Nintendo platforms should be like those two examples. Whether we will ultimately need just one device will be determined by what consumers demand in the future, and that is not something we know at the moment. However, we are hoping to change and correct the situation in which we develop games for different platforms individually and sometimes disappoint consumers with game shortages as we attempt to move from one platform to another, and we believe that we will be able to deliver tangible results in the future.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130qa/02.html

Here's the start of the Q&A session: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130qa/index.html


Iwata also gave a presentation about their plans for the future, titled Presentation by the President.

This was one of the slides shown:

http://i.imgur.com/ZQWfyIQ.jpg?1

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130/03.html

Starts here: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130/index.html

[Leo_A]

It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately.

I wonder if he's talking about the Wii U gamepad more than the Wii U itself.

Going with a ARM based setup for their next generation hardware makes more sense for commonality than the Power PC based processor of the GCN/Wii/Wii U. It's more suitable for handhelds, it's getting pretty powerful in its own right, and it provides for backwards compatibility with their successful handheld line rather than their current console failure.

The Wii U gamepad, even if just an option, could enable off-screen play for their next generation console and also stream the lower touch screen of the handheld when desired by the customer if they want to enhance their experience beyond the standard and cheaper gamepad. Essentially just what it does now for those that desire to take that functionality forward, just without being mandatory and bundled with every system sold.

[parallaxscroll]

Iwata has been saying quite a lot lately, regarding Nintendo's future plans.

However, there is no doubt a lot of this is being mis-communicated by the media in translations, as already happened in the past. So not only has there already been confusion regarding the next hardware platforms from Nintendo, there's bound to be even more.


I also doubt that Nintendo themselves know *exactly* what forms its next generation platforms will take, at this moment in time.

Add to that, the mistranslations of what Iwata is saying (and will say) and you have the recipe for all sorts of confusion, and genuine rumor, yet also, pure bullshit stuff that gets made up, as we've already seen.

[Niku-Sama]

I think one of the first responses had it right, now that there is a game pad with a screen in it, DS and 3DS games on the wii-u preferable ala an adaptor like super game boy or the game cube game boy player for advance games, as well as digital download which they plan on starting with regular DS games soon from what I was understanding.

a small hardware add-on wouldn't piss people off that already have games they like plus it could be cheap, it would only be a means of getting the info from the DS cart to the system for the system to run, it in it self shouldn't do any processing.
another thing that would be interesting and I think both systems have the ability to do it is being able to use a ds/3ds as a controller for the wii u. or maybe that's how they could communicate in order to get ds/3ds games on the big screen...