• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

report: Wii HD in 2011 with 'significant' graphical overhaul

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

camineet

Banned
nowiihd.jpg


Reggie denies it, but with Wii selling so well, that's part of HIS DAMN JOB. Nintendo can't have word of its next console interfering with the massive success of the present-day Wii.

So assuming this is real, this is about a next-generation Nintendo console,
not merely a refresh of Wii, even assuming it keeps the Wii name (of course it will).


http://www.edge-online.com/news/report-wii-hd-set-2011

Report: Wii HD "Set for 2011"

Citing "multiple sources in the game industry" veteran games journalist John Davison has filed a report on a new Wii, set to launch in 2011.

Posted at WhatTheyPlay, the story says that Nintendo is currently "showing early presentations of its next home console hardware" . It's going under the name Wii HD, suggesting a significant graphical overhaul.

Davison admits details are sketchy but says his sources are pointing towards "a greater emphasis on digitally distributed and backwardly compatible content". Nintendo will once again focus on innovating the console's controller.

Davison, who is extremely well connected and respected in the game industry, points towards surging R&D costs at Nintendo as supporting evidence of his story.
Click to expand...



http://www.whattheyplay.com/blog/2008/09/30/new-wii-due-by-2011/
New Wii due by 2011
By John - September 30, 2008

What They Play has heard from multiple sources in the game development and publishing community that Nintendo is currently showing early presentations of its next home console hardware. Apparently set to hit the market “by 2011” the new device is said to be the true “next generation” Nintendo console, and far more than a simple refresh of the current hardware. Unlike previous console transitions from Nintendo, the new system will be presented as a true successor to the Wii, and is being dubbed by those that have seen the presentation as “Wii HD.” There is no indication if this will be its eventual name, but the nature of the transition has been characterized as similar to “the shift from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance,” where familiar, key elements were left intact while the core hardware was made more powerful. It is expected by all those that we have spoken to on the subject that the new device will retain the Wii name in part.

While our sources are reluctant to be too specific about “Wii HD,” they have been able to divulge some (albeit predictable) generalizations. High definition visuals are assured, as is a greater emphasis on digitally distributed and backwardly compatible content, indicating that the new system will feature some form of local storage medium such as a hard drive or large flash memory solution. It has also been indicated that Nintendo’s emphasis is again on what the consumer will hold in their hands and interact with, rather than the “console” itself.


Nintendo has proven it can be extremely successful by leveraging processor technology that is not on the bleeding edge, and be more profitable and more innovative as a result. In a 2006 interview with Business Week, Nintendo visionary Shigeru Miyamoto stated, “The consensus [at Nintendo] was that power isn't everything for a console. Too many powerful consoles can't coexist. It's like having only ferocious dinosaurs. They might fight and hasten their own extinction.” Based on our conversations about “Wii HD” this attitude would seem to still prevail.

But why should you believe this? Everything stated so far could easily have been the result of educated guesswork or speculation. While a Nintendo representative provided the expected response that, “Nintendo does not comment on speculation or rumor,” there is additional evidence, outside this commentary, to suggest that something is going on.

In 2003, Nintendo declared that $34 million was spent on R&D. This figure steadily climbed to $103 million in 2006 and the following year bumped dramatically to $370 million.


Based on figures from Nintendo’s annual financial reports, the company is currently spending more than ten times as much on research and development as it was five years ago, and since the Wii was launched in 2006, R&D spending has more than tripled. While this could be attributed to any number of additional projects, the level of spending suggests that a large project is in the works. In 2003, Nintendo declared that $34 million was spent on R&D. This figure steadily climbed to $103 million in 2006 (the year that the Wii launched) and the following year bumped dramatically to $370 million. When asked to explain the escalated spending, Nintendo representatives were unable to provide comment.


The current Wii hardware is based upon processors and graphics technology supplied by IBM and AMD. These two companies have a joint development agreement together, which is described by AMD as being focused “on delivering a range of integrated platforms to serve key markets, including … gaming and media computing.”


The joint development agreement between IBM and AMD expires on December 31, 2011 but “may be extended further by the mutual agreement of the parties.” This suggests that Nintendo will be leveraging research and development from the partnership in time to ensure that it’s new hardware will be compatible with the Wii’s current “Hollywood” and “Broadway” processors. As Microsoft learned in the transition from Xbox to Xbox 360, switching hardware vendors can make running older games on a new system a much more difficult proposition.

The dramatic bump in spending at Nintendo may also be reflective of Nintendo’s work on a rumored new DS, said to feature a camera and music player. Iterating on the DS in 2009 would certainly shake up the market, though given the incredible monthly sales of the device it hardly needs reinvigorating for the time being. When the Nintendo DS was launched in 2004, the worldwide installed base of the Game Boy Advance was 53 million (on top of the Game Boy’s incredibly huge 118 million.) So far, 80 million Nintendo DS units have been sold worldwide, and demand shows no sign of slowing.

It is unlikely that any official acknowledgement of Nintendo’s new hardware will come until at least 2009, however company president Satoru Iwata will be delivering his annual fall presentation this Wednesday.
Click to expand...


additional linkage:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/speculation-mounts-on-new-nintendo-hardware
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=249220
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170266
http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915106p1.html
http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26616131
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20471
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/20935/532/
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=198273
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/01/0337229&from=rss
http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/?pageid=article&t=12931
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2008/oct/01/news.playstation
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/10/01/wii_hd/
http://kotaku.com/5057222/american-site-its-time-to-talk-new-wii-out-in-2011
http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/4101
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2008/10/01/nintendo-prepping-hd-wii/
http://www.gamepro.com/article/news...ately-showing-new-wii-hardware-dubbed-wii-hd/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/nintendo-prepping-wii-hd-for-2011/
http://www.videogamer.com/news/01-10-2008-9528.html
http://news.idealo.co.uk/news/3151/...n-high-definition-nintendo-wii-a-reality.html
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55023
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/10/01/new-nintendo-console-by-2011-called-wii-hd/
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/10/next-for-ninten.html
http://www.techdigest.tv/2008/10/rumour_new_wii.html
http://www.techspot.com/news/31870-wii-hd-in-development.html
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/10/01/wii.hd.rumor/
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/new-wii-hd-nintendo-2001,news-2660.html
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/689712/New_High_Definition_Wii_In_2011.html
http://blogs.indystar.com/geek/2008/10/wii_2_in_2011.html


update: Miyamoto won't confirm or deny Wii HD is in the works.
(Thus, you can assume it probably is!)


“I’m afraid we cannot confirm what we are doing today. But the fact of the matter is that technology is evolving all the time and in Japan, for example… All the analog broadcast will be stopped and shifted into the digital broadcasting. So many things are taking place and we are working in terms of the changes of the technologies all the time”
Click to expand...


http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=201378
http://www.slashgear.com/wii-hd-rumors-cant-be-confirmed-says-miyamoto-1022078/
http://www.incgamers.com/News/14241/Nintendo-Talk-HD
http://www.videogamer.com/news/10-11-2008-9885.html
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/11/10/nintendos-miyamoto-on-high-definition-and-the-wii/






2011 is the right time. Not too early, not too late...or it IS too late, or it IS too early, depending on your point of view.

No idea if any of this is true, and if it is, whether 'next generation' hardware power means; next-gen as in XB3/PS4 level (whatever they might eventually be) or next-gen as in current-gen X360/PS3 level, or something inbetween X360/PS3 and XB3/PS4, is anyone's guess.


Okay GAF, make this thread as big as my recent PS4 thread :D
 
H

Htown

STOP SHITTING ON MY MOTHER'S HEADSTONE
Considering the rate at which the Wii is selling, it might be too early.
 
Blackace

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Jonnyram said:
What do you mean "not too late"? That's three years from now. It's WAY too late.
Click to expand...

yeah I mean they will be playing catch up.... oh... wait...
 
Z

zoku88

Member
2011 seems so close....

It's like 2.5 years from now... Still feels like this generation has barely gotten started.
 
C

cw_sasuke

If all DLC came tied to $13 figurines, I'd consider all DLC to be free
2011 sounds about right...but i don`t expect nintendo to release ds next and wii hd in the same year...
 
V

VOOK

We don't know why he keeps buying PAL, either.
Jonnyram said:
Obviously it's not too late from their point of view!
Click to expand...

Nintendo have made it abundantly clear they don't give a shit about anything anyone else does. The GameCube years only hid their arrogance, you think being pummelled into third place would learn them some humbleness. But nope back to #1 and time to do what we want.
 
R

Rapping Granny

Banned
zoku88 said:
2011 seems so close....

It's like 2.5 years from now... Still feels like this generation has barely gotten started.
Click to expand...

in before the rich people that bought the consoles on day 1 who are ready for the next thing because they enjoy hype instead of games.
 
B

Black-Wind

Member
zoku88 said:
2011 seems so close....

It's like 2.5 years from now... Still feels like this generation has barely gotten started.
Click to expand...


I felt that way.

Mainly cause of how I saw games on the HD twins just not being that interesting as well as 3rd partys fear/ dumbassness on Wii up till now.

Now the 360 has a few games Im looking forward too (Fable 2!) and 3rd partys (atleast in Japan) are steping up on Wii.
 
C

camineet

Banned
FF_VIII said:
So "significant" means they're still gonna be a generation behind the rest?
Click to expand...


No idea until we get specifics or at least some general idea about
1.) the graphics processing unit, 2.) the amount & type of RAM, 3.) the CPU
 
S

swerve

Member
Heard from multiple sources in games development?

Heh, like Nintendo tells anyone outside of Nintendo anything.

If no one knew about MotionPlus two weeks before announcement... what are the chances of anyone knowing what Wii's successor looks like 2.5 YEARS out...?

I trust John, but he's got a new site. Could use the hits. :)
 
A

Android18a

Member
NES ---> Super NES

Wii ---> Super Wii

Believe. It's the late 80s and early 90s all over again.

Or maybe they'll call it Uss, or Playy or something :p
 
C

cartman414

Member
Private Hoffman said:
So in 2011, Nintendo will be bringing us graphics from 2005?
Click to expand...

Isn't it possible, nay, probable, that Nintendo may be jumping back into the cutting edge this time considering that HD will be mainstream?
 
E

Eggo

GameFan Alumnus
titiklabingapat said:
Never trust anything Nintendo relatred unless it came from the horse's mouth.

Nintendo is the more secretive of the three.
Click to expand...

Truest post in this thread. It doesn't make sense for Nintendo to bail out on this generation with such a commanding lead. Also, a push for better graphics and digital distribution seems very un-Nintendo-like. I'll file this away under the "I'll believe it when I see it" category.
 
T

TTP

Have a fun! Enjoy!
At least I can finally play the thing without hearing my Full HD display crying.
 
P

Private Hoffman

Banned
cartman414 said:
Isn't it possible, nay, probable, that Nintendo may be jumping back into the cutting edge this time considering that HD will be mainstream?
Click to expand...

I think it's highly unlikely, actually. Nintendo didn't make a cutting edge system with the DS or Wii, and look how that's turned out for them.

Making a cutting edge system would mean they would have to have a $400 system on the market AT A LOSS, and I don't see them doing that. Having comparable graphics to the PS3 and 360 now? Sure....they could probably sell that in 2011 at $250 and make a decent profit.
 
R

Revelations

Banned
zoku88 said:
2011 seems so close....

It's like 2.5 years from now... Still feels like this generation has barely gotten started.
Click to expand...
Maybe for people who started this gen with a PS3. I'd say by the end of 2009 - beginning of 2010 people will start to feel the yearn for somethin new.
 
Z

Zerodoppler

Member
AniHawk said:
It means Gamecube graphics in HD.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about that. You'd think that they'd want to milk N64 graphics in HD before they move up to Gamecube level, just like the first Gameboy started at 8-bit instead of 16-bit.
 
B

buffi

Banned
zoku88 said:
It's like 2.5 years from now... Still feels like this generation has barely gotten started.
Click to expand...

I don't see how this console generation is relevant in a topic about Wii.
 
A

_Angelus_

Banned
Does that mean Nintendo will use more than a role of duct tape to jump to next gen. this time around?

Hmm...this is Nintendo afterall.
:lol
 
C

cartman414

Member
Private Hoffman said:
I think it's highly unlikely, actually. Nintendo didn't make a cutting edge system with the DS or Wii, and look how that's turned out for them.

Making a cutting edge system would mean they would have to have a $400 system on the market AT A LOSS, and I don't see them doing that. Having comparable graphics to the PS3 and 360 now? Sure....they could probably sell that in 2011 at $250 and make a decent profit.
Click to expand...

They've almost never done cutting-edge with handhelds. And the reason why they didn't choose to go head to head this time with Sony and MS on the console front was because it meant going into HD, and HD wasn't widespread enough to justify that kind of jump. And they called it right. Things are different now though.

While it's true that Nintendo has mostly went the cost-effective path, that doesn't mean it always comes at the expense of power. The Gamecube, on paper, had less horsepower than the XBox, and yet it all but went head-to-head with it in terms of the results.
 
KingJ2002

KingJ2002

Member
2011 is right on the 5 year mark... so i bet this info is pretty accurate... no way they are going to milk this current system. i think a shift in game design will give the wii more shelf life (more artsy and cartoony games... less games going for realism).

so far i like what i hear.

HD gaming

DD games

Backwards Compatible


depending on how the controller comes out... this new wii seems like its already a must have item.
 
P

Private Hoffman

Banned
cartman414 said:
They've almost never done cutting-edge with handhelds. And the reason why they didn't choose to go head to head this time with Sony and MS on the console front was because it meant going into HD, and HD wasn't widespread enough to justify that kind of jump. And they called it right. Things are different now though.

While it's true that Nintendo has mostly went the cost-effective path, that doesn't mean it always comes at the expense of power. The Gamecube, on paper, had less horsepower than the XBox, and yet it all but went head-to-head with it in terms of the results.
Click to expand...

They did it for financial reasons. HD is a an irrelevant excuse that they can use as to why they went the direction they did with the Wii. You can output HD graphics on the Wii if you really wanted to. The real difference is in performance...and just because this is "Wii HD" or whatever, doesn't really tell us much of anything.

Nintendo isn't going back to being cutting edge, and if you expect them to I think you'll end up being disappointed. They just don't work that way.
 
C

cartman414

Member
Private Hoffman said:
They did it for financial reasons. HD is a an irrelevant excuse that they can use as to why they went the direction they did with the Wii. You can output HD graphics on the Wii if you really wanted to. The real difference is in performance...and just because this is "Wii HD" or whatever, doesn't really tell us much of anything.

Nintendo isn't going back to being cutting edge, and if you expect them to I think you'll end up being disappointed. They just don't work that way.
Click to expand...

I said possible. Not absolutely.

And performance is exactly what I was talking about.
 
B

Black-Wind

Member
Im in the "this is BS, don't believe" camp. I see a 2012 (<<<more likely) - 2014 release for "Wii+" or "Wii HD" (6 - 8 year long life spand for the Wii).

I don't see them whiping out a new console untill the Wii has been milked dry which may not happen in the reg 5 year life spand.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

[VGC] Nintendo has now dominated Japan game sales for 19 consecutive years
34
2K
Hudo replied
  • Locked
Reuters: Switch 2 willfeature a custom Nvidia chip, coming later this year
News
45
2K
Marvel14 replied
Rumor | Nintendo Switch 2 May Use Samsung 5th Generation V-NAND With up to 1.4 GB/S Read Speed
2 3
121
8K
Kataploom replied
Rumor: Switch 2 Reportedly Delayed to 2025
Rumor Hardware 6 7 8 9 10
480
29K
Robb replied
Nintendo Insider Leaks Remake Of Xenoblade Chronicles X As Potential Switch 2 Title
Rumor 2 3
137
10K
StueyDuck replied
Top Bottom