One commonality I've noticed in these threads (and I've been following them closely for months) is it's almost always Nintendo fans (DCKing, StevieP, and others) who are trying to downplay the potential for next-gen graphics in a thinly veiled attempt to damage control the Wii U's specs. Try to be a little less transparent.
Exact thing I have noticed. DCKing is preaching how expectations do not dictate reality, and yet acts as if anyone who does not go along with his expectations of next gen is a fool.
There is a (good imo) chance that the next xbox will blow us away, but sure there is a chance it will be underpowered as well.
All this talk about how people dont care about graphics is bollocks. Based on what? The Wii?
I have yet to meet a gamer, or causual gamer that is not impressed or does not care about graphics.
If graphics didnt matter then why is graphics a huge selling point of just about every exclusive and every AAA game that releases?
MS exclusives
Halo
Gears
Forza
Alan Wake
(Originally Mass Effect)
The Witcher 2
etc.
Sony exclusives
Uncharted
Resistance
GT
God of War
Killzone
The Last of Us
etc.
Even big Wii exlcusives have a selling opoint of being the best looking games on the system
Mario galaxy, Skyward Sword, Metroid Prime etc etc
AAA Multiplats
Red Dead Redemtion
CoD
Battlefield
Mass Effect
Far Cry
Crysis
Skyrim
Bioshock
Medal of Honor
Portal
Assassins Creed
GTA
etc etc etc
All these games have competitive graphics for a reason.
The average CoD player if showed a next gen version of CoD would immediately want to jump in to next gen for that version. I can guarantee that a next gen CoD, with the same gameplay as we see now, with upgraded graphics, would move more systems with the more casual CoD players than it would hardcore gamers.
Graphics sell, they always have and they always will.
Edit: And also, if graphics dont matter, as evidenced by the Wii, then why is Big N bothering to show off tech demos of the WiiU showing off awesome graphics? Why are they rumored to have INCREASED the power of the WiiU after concerns that it was underpowered? I mean, afterall, graphics don't matter anymore...