Wii Successor confirmed for 2012 launch

[Swamperon]

Nintendo had their investors meeting earlier today and in a minor note Nintendo confirmed that Project Cafe is in development and is scheduled for a 2012 release. Apparently a playable build will be on show at E3.

This isn't surprising but rather excititng. I guess a lot of those rumours were correct. Now just gotta start saving for the damn thing.

(Felt like this needed its own thread but feel free to merge with the rumour thread)

[Icarus Moonsight]

What? No sauce? Were you at the meeting? Are your services as a mole for sale? Does Reggie sparkle in the sunlight?

[Oobgarm]

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/wii-successor-2012/

*glisten*

[heybtbm]

I'll be pre-ordering this thing at the first possible opportunity. No "will I see one on the shelves for the first two years"-B.S. this time.

[Oobgarm]

I'll be pre-ordering this thing at the first possible opportunity. No "will I see one on the shelves for the first two years"-B.S. this time.

As much as I like to bag on Nintendo, I'll probably do the same.

Though, getting the Wii was a total impulse and I happened to be in NYC at them time, so getting it at the World Store a day after launch was pretty cool.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Thanks for dropping the link Oobgarm. Noticed this straight off;
"The terse announcement does nothing to clear up rumors surrounding the system..." Damn.

Ultra-vague confirm of release date looks like it's going to be at or later than March 2012. As the successor is not being factored into this year's financial forecast. 2011 release speculation is a dead rumor walking now.

[RCM]

Is anyone -- especially all those "casual" folks who purchased Wii -- clamoring for a new Nintendo system?

[kupomogli]

Is anyone -- especially all those "casual" folks who purchased Wii -- clamoring for a new Nintendo system?

I don't think this system is going to sell anywhere close to what the Wii has sold. Pulling estimates from my ass because I really don't know what I'm talking about, probably 50% of people who purchase the Wii aren't gamers and picked the console up as a novelty, only for it to be used as a fancy door stop within a week. I assume that they'll remember they bought the Wii, used it for a week, and have never touched it again.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Is anyone -- especially all those "casual" folks who purchased Wii -- clamoring for a new Nintendo system?

I don't care much about that. I know I am. It's not that I dislike the Wii... It's just that the Gamecube is a decade old now.

[WCP]

As the successor is not being factored into this year's financial forecast. 2011 release speculation is a dead rumor walking now.

I find it strange that the system is going to not only be playable, but playable to the general attendees at large. Also, 3rd party and first party software will be shown in playable form. Why show all this so early?

Is it possible that Nintendo could have left that out of their financials, for fear that it would ruin the surprise factor with an announcement at e3? I'm thinking they could legally get away with it, just saying that at the exact time of the financials, it was thought that the system would be held back for 2012, but just prior to their e3 press conference they change their minds?

I can't think of another e3 in which a system was shown in playable form, playable not just behind closed doors to the elite gaming press, but playable to any Joe Schmo that goes to e3. Not just one tech demo, but actual games from 3rd parties and Nintendo? This would definitely be a first, in terms of showing this much of the goods without launching the thing the same calendar year.

It seems really weird that they would make a big show at this E3 and have it in playable form, and then have this finished hardware that they just sit on for over a year. At E3 2005, we only saw PS3 and "Revolution" in the form of a very limited teaser; neither was playable and neither showed its final controller. Xbox 360 was not mentioned at all at E3 2004.

ha ha... didn't see your post. That's funny, we were thinking the exact same thing. It does seem really weird.. I'm glad I'm not the only one scratching my head.

[kupomogli]

Wii2 with one controller? $399. Wii2 stand alone controller? $150. Finding out it's not backwards compatible with prior systems once you bought it? Priceless. There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard.

I will pick this up if it's backwards compatible, but it just doesn't look like it with the complete new remote control. Sure Nintendo allows the Gamecube controllers to work on the Wii, but with the new controller is this system going to even be a motion gaming system anymore? I don't think Nintendo wants to pour money by adding multiple ports on the system for both the Wii and the Gamecube.

[swlovinist]

I think that Nintendo will launch this for the Holiday of 2011. I know that they have stated differently, but look at it this way. Announcing the system for this year early would mean that they would stop selling alot of Wiis. Showcasing the system at E3 and building excitement for the system can only intensify the demand for this thing when they announce it for the holidays at a later date.

Announcing it this year would be key. The competition will have an average at best lineup to go against the system this year. The longer they wait, the less of an edge they have. If the system is priced right(under $299) this system could really be a nice bridge between hardcore and casual market.

I hope:
They actually now have an real game system to offer online gaming
Can I have a real controller?
I want another pack in game please

[Icarus Moonsight]

I find it strange that the system is going to not only be playable, but playable to the general attendees at large. Also, 3rd party and first party software will be shown in playable form. Why show all this so early?

I think they intend to launch before June of 2012, that's why. I could be wrong though.

[Swamperon]

What? No sauce? Were you at the meeting? Are your services as a mole for sale? Does Reggie sparkle in the sunlight?

Sorry, I just like to keep an aura of mystery And yes I do believe he does.

[Joe Redifer]

Have you seen the controller?



Those buttons are tiny! There's NO WAY you can press just one! Have fun playing Street Fighter on that!

[Enigmus]

Have you seen the controller?



Those buttons are tiny! There's NO WAY you can press just one! Have fun playing Street Fighter on that!

Or the picture was taken at a far enough distance to make things appear small.

[megasdkirby]

Is that even a real picture?

Honestly, I believe the controller will be the same size of the current Wiimote, just with a touch screen interface. Somewhere I read that the screen will be 6 inches or so, which is the diagonal size of the Wii controller itself.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Controller looks more and more like a tablet every time I see another pic.

[Joe Redifer]

Or the picture was taken at a far enough distance to make things appear small.

Nah, those are definitely DS-sized buttons. Nintendo must think only small children play their shit. A real console deserves real buttons. I'm kind of hoping it's a fake, though.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Doubles... Roll again!