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[Overside]

Man, you guys are going to be bummed when we open up that apu and see 8 750's.

 

[tim.mbp]

Dean Takahashi is reliable, but it doesn't sound like he has any actual sources for any of this. Just speculation



Wait, this is the same Dean Takahashi that used to write for seattlepi etc, and wrote the books on Xbox right? WTF

He's not that reliable. He said Google buying Twitch was a done deal.

 

[Trevelyan9999]

Backwards compatibility is so damn overrated... Come on Nintendo, be business-smart and just make remasters of great games like everybody else. Almost nobody will care about the remaining games enough to approve another potentially compromised system architecture.

That might be a great idea, remaster the highest selling & best Wii U games and ditch BC:

MK8
Smash Wii U
Splatoon
Mario 3D World
Bayonetta 2

 

[Jessmo111]

The next Zelda game will most likely come to both the NX and Wii U just like Twilight Princess did with Wii and Gamecube. Anyway I see your point but I believe the majority of Wii U owners are hardcore Nintendo fans that never or rarely sell their consoles. I just don't think it's that big of a deal for current owners. It'll most likely be BC since Iwata stated it would absorb the Wii U's architecture so I don't think there's anything to worry about anyway.

It's silly to sell a console anyway due to them all being a Netflix HULU box. I still keep the dusty old wii in my bedroom just for netflix.

 

[SolarPowered]

Spending money on backwards compatibility for the biggest failure of a traditional console since the Saturn sounds like a dumb business decision. Considering this article is about Nintendo I'd say Wii U BC is probably a lock.

 

[chaosblade]

Backwards compatibility is so damn overrated... Come on Nintendo, be business-smart and just make remasters of great games like everybody else. Almost nobody will care about the remaining games enough to approve another potentially compromised system architecture.

I'd much rather them continue to ignore those business smarts and invest in new games rather than remasters. Not sure why you would want them to go with the less consumer-friendly option.

 

[RK128]

Don't understand the hardware talk, but this means the NX is going to be able to support Wii U BC?

If so, that is fantastic news ! The Wii U will be four years old if this thing launches next year, so having BC with Wii U games is very important so that way Wii U owners don't feel cheated.

The article states that AMD will be supplying the GPU and that the thing will run a x86 architecture (so it will mirror the PS4/X1 that way), so hopefully PS4/X1 ports of at least Indie games land on the NX then.

It seems like the NX based on that article, will be in-between a Wii U and a X1 power-wise (at least the home console version of the NX if it really is a hybrid console).....not bad; more powerful then the Wii U to more demanding games but not powerful enough to run most of the third party line up (so stuff like FFXV or KH3 might not happen on NX).

It will be a shame if third parties ditch Nintendo once again if the NX isn't powerful enough, but at least it will give Nintendo teams and independent developers stronger hardware to play with.

Edit: Made mistake about the article with my post, so sorry if it doesn't match the article's information .

 

[jonezer4]

It makes sense for them to go for BC if they're interested in creating some kind of nebulous, universal machine for playing all the games in their catalog. Assuming it is some kind of amphibious portable/home console, getting instant access to all the WiiU/Wii games and all the VC emulated on them, makes sense.

 

[Trevelyan9999]

Don't understand the hardware talk, but this means the NX is going to be able to support Wii U BC?

If so, that is fantastic news ! The Wii U will be four years old if this thing launches next year, so having BC with Wii U games is very important so that way Wii U owners don't feel cheated.

The article states that AMD will be supplying the GPU and that the thing will run a x86 architecture (so it will mirror the PS4/X1 that way), so hopefully PS4/X1 ports of at least Indie games land on the NX then.

It seems like the NX based on that article, will be in-between a Wii U and a X1 power-wise (at least the home console version of the NX if it really is a hybrid console).....not bad; more powerful then the Wii U to more demanding games but not powerful enough to run most of the third party line up (so stuff like FFXV or KH3 might not happen on NX).

It will be a shame if third parties ditch Nintendo once again if the NX isn't powerful enough, but at least it will give Nintendo teams and independent developers stronger hardware to play with.

The article never said that, also that article has mistakes in it implying that the Wii U can currently run x86 based games......

 

[RK128]

The article never said that, also that article has mistakes in it implying that the Wii U can currently run x86 based games......

Guess I didn't understand then :l. Sorry for the mis-information and I will edit my post to rectify that .

 

[Overside]

It makes sense for them to go for BC if they're interested in creating some kind of nebulous, universal machine for playing all the games in their catalog. Assuming it is some kind of amphibious portable/home console, getting instant access to all the WiiU/Wii games and all the VC emulated on them, makes sense.

Hell yeah, thats next gen right there. Weve gone from taking the gamepad into bed, or to the bathroom, to taking it into the bathtub.

 

[Tom Nook Sawyer]

It makes sense for them to go for BC if they're interested in creating some kind of nebulous, universal machine for playing all the games in their catalog. Assuming it is some kind of amphibious portable/home console, getting instant access to all the WiiU/Wii games and all the VC emulated on them, makes sense.

I'm not sure why that interests them so much when that's what the Wii U is/could be (minus only GCN support)

 

[Omega Kirby]

No backwards compatability if it holds the NX back, focus on a newer architecture. If you want to play wiiu games get a wiiu.

 

[exmachina64]

ARM in home console to ease handheld game ports. x86 so that third party can port their games without loosing a lot of money.

That definitely isn't happening.

 

[jroc74]

I'm not sure backward compatibility would be guaranteed, given the Wii U's small install base it might be a good time to start fresh.

I suppose you could also look at it the other way, backward compatibility would give the Wii U games a second opportunity to bring in revenue.

Either way, I don't think an AMD APU would be all that surprising.

That would be a plus for Nintendo and Wii U games at least.

But damn...the pros n cons of sticking with Power PC.... I wanna see them ditch it too.

And if a fresh take on Mario requires something a bit more than PowerPC....ditch it Nintendo.

The Wii U's small install base is also a huge reason for backwards compatibility. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would like to buy a brand new Nintendo system that also has the ability to play big hits they may have missed such as Mario Kart 8.

Maybe then I would finally play 3D World...on the NX...lol.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Backwards-Compatibility seems pointless with the small install-base and the fact several game are already in small print runs.

They would be better off just remastering a few titles like Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3 and Tropical Freeze while having new Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon installments.

There's not a large audience to entice and several Wii U games outside of the big ones are niche.

Remasters also sell to core Nintendo base that has already bought the Wii U games.

 

[jroc74]

The article suggests the Wii to Wii U transition went from powerPC to x86, which is flat out wrong, so it's probably not worth paying attention to.

Well damn....might be time to take this with a bucket of salt.

How could anyone get that wrong?

 

[Trago]

Backwards-Compatibility seems pointless with the small install-base and the fact several game are already in small print runs.

They would be better off just remastering a few titles like Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3 and Tropical Freeze while having new Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon installments.

There's not a large audience to entice and several Wii U games outside of the big ones are niche.

Remasters also sell to core Nintendo base that has already bought the Wii U games.

But what about VC games?

 

[chaosblade]

Backwards-Compatibility seems pointless with the small install-base and the fact several game are already in small print runs.

They would be better off just remastering a few titles like Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3 and Tropical Freeze while having new Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon installments.

There's not a large audience to entice and several Wii U games outside of the big ones are niche.

Remasters also sell to core Nintendo base that has already bought the Wii U games.

I never understood the idea that remasters primarily appeal to people who already bought the game. Then again I'm the sort of person that has never bought a remaster of a game I already owned, and likely never will.

 

[Sterok]

I don't care too much about BC exactly. But I care very much about getting to keep all of my digital games. All of them. Wii U, eshop, and Virtual Console. If that means BC is necessary to run Wii U games, then it better be there.

 

[greg400]

Backwards-Compatibility seems pointless with the small install-base and the fact several game are already in small print runs.

They would be better off just remastering a few titles like Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3 and Tropical Freeze while having new Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon installments.

There's not a large audience to entice and several Wii U games outside of the big ones are niche.

Remasters also sell to core Nintendo base that has already bought the Wii U games.

They're already all on the eShop, doubt that would really be an issue

 

[Graphics Horse]

Well damn....might be time to take this with a bucket of salt.

How could anyone get that wrong?

To be fair, he also gets it right later on, it's very odd.

Nintendo has already made the leap from IBM’s PowerPC to x86-based (AMD and Intel) architecture. ...It would make sense for Nintendo to...continue to use x86 architecture [in NX]

later

But with the 2012-era Nintendo Wii U, IBM provides a PowerPC processor and AMD provides the graphics chip. With Nintendo, AMD would have to come up with an APU that handled both the CPU and GPU functions and be able to handle the PowerPC processing as well (in order to run older Nintendo games).

 

[-Horizon-]

So can we trust this article or not?

 

[chaosblade]

So can we trust this article or not?

Nintendo working with AMD? Probably true.

Anything else? I don't see any reason to believe it's more than speculation.

 

[Zombegoast]

Nintendo could use what MS are doing for the Xbox One for BC.

People keep saying it, but I dont believe this.

There's not an industry wide, decades long grudge just towards nintendo. big third parties are publicly traded companies that have shareholders. If Nintendo actually specced a machine third parties are developing their stuff for, youd see more games.

That's a poor argument considering both the Ps3 and 360 are still being supported even to the point where developers have to cut back on content.

 

[jroc74]

Remasters...as seen with PS4 and XBO...do sell. Thats definitely an option.

Unless I'm mistaken....couldnt NSMB U be considered a remaster?

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Remasters...as seen with PS4 and XBO...do sell. Thats definitely an option.

Unless I'm mistaken....couldnt NSMB U be considered a remaster?

No. It's a completely new game.

 

[Verger]

I'm still wondering how many Gamecube's duct-taped together the NX will be

 

[Everdred]

I hope it retains BC because I don't own a Wii or a Wii U and I want to play those games. I just can't get myself to buy a Wii U knowing there is something around the corner.

 

[greg400]

I'd much rather Nintendo put their effort into new games instead of pumping out re-masters of games that didn't get people to buy their system in the first place (I think they're fucking amazing but clearly the majority don't find them compelling enough to buy a system). Either put backwards compatibility or don't do anything. Putting out remasters of multiplayer games like MK and Smash is a bad idea anyway, seeing as how part of the appeal of those franchises is how they get new iterations every console generation.

 

[Astral Dog]

Remasters...as seen with PS4 and XBO...do sell. Thats definitely an option.

Unless I'm mistaken....couldnt NSMB U be considered a remaster?

No, that was a "new" game

 

[MercuryLS]

I hear that the NX will have a new cpu called the PowARM-86.

 

[Alchemy]

PowerPC is fine though I think it is wiser to move towards x86 and stick to that architecture long term with a unified OS and hardware architecture going forward, but this does make me question the form factor of the device a little. I hope they move away from the tablet gamepad of the Wii U, but if the NX is a console that has backwards compatibility with the Wii U things are a little weird. I think sacrificing Wii U BC and moving to x86 and killing the tablet gamepad is significantly wiser, regardless of whatever quirks the NX ends up with.

 

[Killerhertz]

Nintendo has always kept their games at a premium price so I would definitely want some bc with the NX

 

[Madao]

But what about VC games?

they can make a new emulator for those.

PowerPC is fine though I think it is wiser to move towards x86 and stick to that architecture long term with a unified OS and hardware architecture going forward, but this does make me question the form factor of the device a little. I hope they move away from the tablet gamepad of the Wii U, but if the NX is a console that has backwards compatibility with the Wii U things are a little weird. I think sacrificing Wii U BC and moving to x86 and killing the tablet gamepad is significantly wiser, regardless of whatever quirks the NX ends up with.

Wii U BC could be like Wii BC on Wii U. the machine can run the games but you have to buy the controllers on your own.

 

[Naked Prime]

For WiiU bc just require the handheld nx and the console

 

[Roo]

I'd much rather Nintendo put their effort into new games instead of pumping out re-masters of games that didn't get people to buy their system in the first place (I think they're fucking amazing but clearly the majority don't find them compelling enough to buy a system). Either put backwards compatibility or don't do anything. Putting out remasters of multiplayer games like MK and Smash is a bad idea anyway, seeing as how part of the appeal of those franchises is how they get new iterations every console generation.

Nintendo has an ever going struggle with their machines due to piss poor third party support. That means they're basically the only developers (outside of indies and 3rd party contractors) that support the console. Releasing remasters every now and then between new and big games would be a good way to keep their momentum going as they're relatively easier and cheaper to do.

Aonuma said it took them 6 months to work on WWHD and it actually sold pretty good (for Wii U standards anyway) so yeah, I'm not against remasters as long as they're worth the investment.

 

[greg400]

Nintendo has an ever going struggle with their machines due to piss poor third party support. That means they're basically the only developers (outside of indies and 3rd party contractors) that support the console. Releasing remasters every now and then between new and big games would be a good way to keep their momentum going as they're relatively easier and cheaper to do.

Aonuma said it took them 6 months to work on WWHD and it actually sold pretty good (for Wii U standards anyway) so yeah, I'm not against remasters as long as they're worth the investment.

As long as they have dedicated teams that only work on remasters (like Grezzo) then I'd be alright with it for a few games like Pikmin 3 (I still think it's a really bad idea for MK and Smash). Wind Waker took 6 months but that 6 months could've also gone to getting EAD3's next game out at a faster rate. Seems like a lot of unnecessary amount of work for games that really don't need to be re-mastered.

 

[Anth0ny]

backwards compatibility would be fucking craaaaaaaaaazy

 

[AniHawk]

this is what iwata said with regards to nx last year

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.

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

 

[0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55]

Good. So I still don't need to buy a Wii U.... Just hold out till NX.

 

[AmyS]

^That's worth quoting.

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.

 

[Social]

just shrink down the wiiu parts and include them in the same console for your BC. Then add some brand new NX hardware. Shouldn't cost that much anymore in terms of parts right?

 

[Linkstrikesback]

I'd much rather them continue to ignore those business smarts and invest in new games rather than remasters. Not sure why you would want them to go with the less consumer-friendly option.

Nintendo rereleases stuff all the time. Most obvious would be the "new play control" line of remasters on Wii of gamecube games. Let's not pretend they are above dooing it, shall we?

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

PowerPC is fine though I think it is wiser to move towards x86 and stick to that architecture long term with a unified OS and hardware architecture going forward, but this does make me question the form factor of the device a little. I hope they move away from the tablet gamepad of the Wii U, but if the NX is a console that has backwards compatibility with the Wii U things are a little weird. I think sacrificing Wii U BC and moving to x86 and killing the tablet gamepad is significantly wiser, regardless of whatever quirks the NX ends up with.

Nintendo hasn't released a backwards compatible home console that didn't require old controllers.Wii U bc wouldn't necessarily require a tablet controller as part of the NX. History states they'd make you keep your old gamepad instead.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I can see trying to get BC in so digital purchases can come across as smoothly as possible.

 

[atbigelow]

Since we know there will be multiple NX devices, I wonder if they can include Wii U BC in some models for those who want it. Or possibly the first gen NX devices will, to ween folks in, but the second gen won't.

And that x86 thing in the article is such a glaring flaw.

 

[akidnamededdy]

I can see trying to get BC in so digital purchases can come across as smoothly as possible.

Ehhh, on the other hand, if they're really buckling down and revamping their online whatsits to be more modern, maybe they'll be incompatible anyway? I mean you can't even do crossbuy on Wii U and 3DS now without roundabout receipt codes and stuff.

I dunno I'm just thinking out loud. You're probably right. People would probably be super pissed if they had to rebuy VC games on an all new system yet again.

 

[Alchemy]

Nintendo hasn't released a backwards compatible home console that didn't require old controllers.Wii U bc wouldn't necessarily require a tablet controller as part of the NX. History states they'd make you keep your old gamepad instead.

Wii U BC could be like Wii BC on Wii U. the machine can run the games but you have to buy the controllers on your own.

Thats the problem. If it requires people to buy the Wii U tablet, which isn't even readily available during the lifespan of the actual system, barely anyone is going to care or even be able to leverage the Wii U backwards compatibility. BC is already a niche console feature, requiring someone to drop $100~ish or more on a controller is going to further reduce the impact.

It is is something I see as an easy thing to drop if it allows for moving to a better hardware architecture, especially one that is healthier for long term software compatibility like moving to x86 like the PS4 and XBO have. I'm not against this decision, but I find it questionable.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

just shrink down the wiiu parts and include them in the same console for your BC. Then add some brand new NX hardware. Shouldn't cost that much anymore in terms of parts right?

I couldn't tell you exactly how much it would add in terms of cost, but it definitely wouldn't be non-negligible. Even two-digits is enough to yield significant impacts.

Assuming they don't make it hilariously underpowered (as in, barely a half-step from Wii U to Xbox One), emulation would be relatively simple and much cheaper in the long-run. Wii U's Expresso CPU is not particularly exotic at all (it's basically a faster, multicore PowerPC 750 with some modern PPC enhancements) and emulating PowerPC on x86 has been done for a long time. It should be much easier than say, emulating Xbox 360's highly exotic (and much higher clocked) chipset on Xbox One (again, assuming it's not extremely underpowered).