Wii 2 in the pipeline

[tenohfive]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13186597

I'd be surprised at Nintendo if this was just an update with HD etc - whilst the Wii wasn't a gamers games console it did change things to a degree and was genuinely innovative. I'm hoping they've come up with something new, and something that will bring it back towards proper gaming. Wii Sports Resort et al are great fun and have a place but it would be nice to see them do something new and get back towards games that you can get your teeth in to.

I'll be watching the updates from them with interest.

[davepoth]

It needs to be a new architecture, IIRC the Wii runs on pretty much the same hardware as the GameCube, so it's really, really old. Hopefully it'll be something game changing again.

[MadMullah]

its quickly shown its age when postioned against the kinect.

and move is definately something to step on the wii's toes.

i've got sick of my wii - not even set up now.

[jmorgan]

Bound to happen but what are we going to get me wonders? 3D virtual head sets?

[davepoth]

jmorgan said:

Bound to happen but what are we going to get me wonders? 3D virtual head sets?

I'd doubt it - they don't work too well. It'll need to be something that at least matches the Kinect's body tracking ability. Nintendo more or less invented the "party game" genre, so that's where I reckon they'll stick.

[jmorgan]

I was going OTT, left the interactive body suit out..... I do hope it will be interesting though.

They did corner a niche and I do not the think the lack of HD at the time was such an issue. Now of course it is and with other formats on the horizon I think they will have to be future proof.

[Hub]

They do need a new one. The Wii looks increasingly rubbish on decent TVS now, the quality of the third party software is mostly poor, and Nintendo haven't had many good new ideas recently just re-hashing old stuff!

[Jinx]

So predictions for the new machine?

I'm going for AMD graphics again (well ATI but that brand has died) based on their 40 nm fab (similar to the new 6670 - low power but very able at 1080p ) - so it'll be HD, with 7.1 capable audio. Probably blu-ray tech discs (though maybe not blu ray player) - 802.11n wireless - and I suspect a unified blu-tooth motion controller with single analog stick and four buttons (A-B-Z-Y)
Might also include microphone (replacing the speaker in the existing controller). Given the Nintendo's relationship with 3D I suspect it will be able to output 3D via HDMI on 3D capable TVs and I would expect an enhanced vibration technology in the controller to give better feedback (distance related perhaps) .

The above are all random guesses and any simularity between consoles living or dead is purely coincidental

[vtecstu]

Hub said:

The Wii looks increasingly rubbish on decent TVS now

Component connection from the Wii rather than SCART (composite?) actually does make quite a difference on a decent TV, but not sure how many people are aware of that, and agree entirely how far the graphics are behind PS3 / Xbox.

[Ved]

If the Wii was no.1 then surely the no.2 has to be called the Shii'

[HereBeMonsters]

vtecstu said:

Hub said:

The Wii looks increasingly rubbish on decent TVS now

Component connection from the Wii rather than SCART (composite?) actually does make quite a difference on a decent TV, but not sure how many people are aware of that, and agree entirely how far the graphics are behind PS3 / Xbox.

Yeah, the composite connection means you can run it at 480p, which isn't brilliant, but better than SCART. I think Goldeneye actually looks pretty good - easily as good as an early 360 game.