E3 2011 Nintendo Press Conference

[Delusibeta]

Are we just calling every new thing a gimmick now?

Yes. Yes we are. We have done that since the NES introduced the D-pad (and look how that turned out).

As for power: I'm not convinced Microsoft and Sony will resume the graphical arms race with their next console. I think that they're going to try pulling off what the Wii did: repackaging their current tech with a new control scheme. Sure, they might be a *slight* graphical bump (enough to ensure Wii U may have porting problems, although as the PS2 demonstrated this plan has no guarantee of success), but I predict that the graphics of Microsoft and Sony's next console will still be exceedingly old hat for PC gamers.

[Born Stellar]

Wait - Nintendo announce a console that does everything you want, with strong third-party support, and now you choose to abandon them?

You're an idiot.

He wanted power and didn't get it.

Are you seriously saying you're not disappointed the way the graphics are on par or even less then the 360/ps3?

I know Nintendo is all about cutting cost but they are taking the piss. It is a cool tech but they could have wowed all of us by improving on the tech inside the machine.

Meh.

Still buying

They've even said it's slightly more powerful than the 360 and on par with the PS3. What on earth are people talking about, do people not read? I've said this before and I'll say it again. Sony/Microsoft will NOT be releasing a console in the next few years. For one, to have the tech it'd be too expensive and push console prices too high and the other thing is both of them have only just released their motion controls which they need to push for a good few years.

I hope it's more than on par with the PS3, because if it's not then there's going to be problems. If Microsoft's console's out in 2013 then I can imagine the next Xbox putting people right off this in 2012. What's the worst thing? Developers like Epic have been calling for new hardware for the next generation and they're not on board with the Wii U. Meaning right from the get go we're probably already seeing a divide between what'll be on the next Xbox and what'll be on the Wii U.

If they wanted to capture the core, they would have thrown some exciting partnerships out there. They also would have been clearer about the online and clearer about the hardware.

I want to believe in this system, it's just that ultimately. The hardcore want the best experiences in the industry first, will the Wii U even pick up momentum to do that before the next Xbox is out? The third party is definitely lacking some major players. 2K, Rockstar, Activision, Epic, Valve, Capcom, Namco Bandai and Konami for a start.

[Jonathan86]

I hope it's more than on par with the PS3, because if it's not then there's going to be problems. If Microsoft's console's out in 2013 then I can imagine the next Xbox putting people right off this in 2012. What's the worst thing? Developers like Epic have been calling for new hardware for the next generation and they're not on board with the Wii U. Meaning right from the get go we're probably already seeing a divide between what'll be on the next Xbox and what'll be on the Wii U.

Staydead raised a fantastic point in that MS and Sony have just invested millions in their own motion sensor controls, and so I agree they won't be rushing to release something for a significant loss just for slightly prettier graphics. In addition, Sony is still fixing all their inherent security problems and hacks are still going on.

I don't think the component industry is really at the stage where a new generation could result in a big graphics jump (think PS -> Xbox). With Nintendo going HD yet not pushing the graphics boundaries, I can't see any reason why MS and Sony would want to rush out a new console for a 2013/13 release.

EDIT: As far as I am aware (or should I say, from what I've seen), a new generation usually coincides with PC games really pulling out in front in terms of graphics. PC games are only really getting their just now (judging from what I've heard about The Witcher II), so I do believe it will be a while. No point in investing countless millions for such a little gain

[Suffocate Peon]

It's exhausting even watching all the possibilities of what it can enable in that video they showed because it's moving further and further and further and further and further and further and further (and further) away from the simplicity of just, like, a console, that is more powerful than the one previously, that will fit under my telly, it can be purple and look like a Fisherprice toy I don't mind, and a cool new controller, one that looks like the Gamecube controller because it was perfect, and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of new ip featuring cool new cartoon characters with special powers and all kinds of bizarro worlds that you can get lost in. That's it really. Everything else is just aggravation. gooseberry fool like this is what makes people go crazing living in the modern world.

The problem is, essentually, consoles must jump before tablets, mobile phones, streaming services etc take them out. It's the reason why there's a 3D screen on the 3DS: nobody else does that at the moment, and you have to buy it to experience it. Same with the Wii. Same with the Kinect. Same with Sony's and Microsoft's next console. Consoles need to differenciate themselves from the competition in order to survive, and experiments like the Wii U, the original Wii, the PSVita, the DS, the 3DS and the PSPgo will be the order of the day for consoles.

I wish it would end. I wish there was two formats and time and resources went into making new games, because at the moment it's new technology, new gimmicks, new toys that are the draw for people, and it's not new ip. There's not enough quality, originality and fresh ideas on these consoles and handhelds to justify spending money on them. I'm just going to retreat to the ease of use that the xbox live arcade supplies. It's too maddening to even read/comment about games now. I feel sorry for anyone who has to write about it professionally, i'd rather kill myself. Back to my cave. my brain feels like it wants to eat itself its refusing to engage vbnb n

illleave you with other attmeptms to write aarrtrhghgjgjgjgk

It's not getting new people into games, it's changing the perception o



How long will this go on for?



I can't even be bothered to care what interesting and new gameplay possibilites the wii u will open up because if they're not used on


If Nintendo see no reason to be original and fresh then they'll continue to reclycle.

. I find it sad and desperate that a company that's one of the

At the moment, Nintendo keep coming out with new technology and 'new ways to play games',

because


see no reason to make new ip because that isn't a draw for people,


It comes across as sad and desperate that a



All I care about is games. It's a headache there being so many different consoles/handhelds with



It's sad, pathetic and desperate then that a videogame innovator doesn't think that new ip is enough anymore.

[Born Stellar]

I hope it's more than on par with the PS3, because if it's not then there's going to be problems. If Microsoft's console's out in 2013 then I can imagine the next Xbox putting people right off this in 2012. What's the worst thing? Developers like Epic have been calling for new hardware for the next generation and they're not on board with the Wii U. Meaning right from the get go we're probably already seeing a divide between what'll be on the next Xbox and what'll be on the Wii U.

Staydead raised a fantastic point in that MS and Sony have just invested millions in their own motion sensor controls, and so I agree they won't be rushing to release something for a significant loss just for slightly prettier graphics. In addition, Sony is still fixing all their inherent security problems and hacks are still going on.

I don't think the component industry is really at the stage where a new generation could result in a big graphics jump (think PS -> Xbox). With Nintendo going HD yet not pushing the graphics boundaries, I can't see any reason why MS and Sony would want to rush out a new console for a 2013/13 release.

Hence why I only mentioned Microsoft, their next system can support Kinect, no issue.

[Mafro]

Developers like Epic have been calling for new hardware for the next generation and they're not on board with the Wii U.

Aliens: Colonial Marines runs on UE3, so Mark Rein can't use the "It can't run our current engine" excuse this time.

The third party is definitely lacking some major players. 2K, Rockstar, Activision, Epic, Valve, Capcom, Namco Bandai and Konami for a start.

Ken Livine from Irrational Games (2k) and someone from Namco Bandai were show in the dev trailer at the conference, plus there's already a Tekken game announced. It's silly to think Activision won't be involved, and Kotick has already been talking the system up. Rockstar were rumoured to be one of the first third parties to get a dev kit. Capcom will almost certainly be on board, as will Konami. God knows about Valve.

[Born Stellar]

I'm talking UE4.

And how on board will they be exactly? I'm unconvinced that the third party support on this system would match that of Microsofts.

[Mafro]

I'm talking UE4.

And how on board will they be exactly? I'm unconvinced that the third party support on this system would match that of Microsofts.

Consoles that can run anything based on that UE4 demo are a long way off, given the hardware used for that.

Pretty much all the major western devs have already shown support. There's a third party roundtable tonight at the same time as the one last night. We'll probably find out more then. Two major things so far seem to be an exclusive Assassin's Creed game, and a new IP from Ubisoft that's an FPS.

[HSH28]

I'm talking UE4.

And how on board will they be exactly? I'm unconvinced that the third party support on this system would match that of Microsofts.

So you are talking about an engine that isn't finished with no games yet even announced for it. With no platforms it'll support yet announced either.

Yeah Nintendo definitely dropped the ball there...

[Buffalo]

Just Dance 3, I see. Suzz will be happy.

[Born Stellar]

I'm talking UE4.

And how on board will they be exactly? I'm unconvinced that the third party support on this system would match that of Microsofts.

So you are talking about an engine that isn't finished with no games yet even announced for it. With no platforms it'll support yet announced either.

Yeah Nintendo definitely dropped the ball there...

Yeah, an engine which isn't confirmed to be supporting the Wii U. An engine that will almost definitely support the next Xbox, meaning JUST LIKE I SAID, we're already seeing a software divide. One which will happen by 2013.

Epic were calling for new hardware, so why didn't they jump on Wii U instantly?

[Green Gecko]

I agree that I doubt semiconductor technology is at a stage where it's commercially viable to release a significantly more powerful console than PS3 or Xbox and now - it seems - the Wii, other than efficiency improvements and further savings in manufacturer that may or may not be handed down to the consumer (as we have seen with the reduction in fabrication process of the 360 CPU and at some point GPU in the new Xbox, and the PS3 Slim). As the Wii U seems to be even smaller than the Xbox Lite it seems Nintendo have gone exactly down this path, possibly with improvements. If Nintendo are using a multi-core IBM CPU it could very well be one of their latest architectures which could put it ahead of the 360's triple core custom IBM CPU.

As already mentioned, with Sony and MS having just released their motion control solutions and heavily pushing for their adoption by both the casual and hardcore markets there is no reason I can see to project anything less than continued success with Wii U and certainly Nintendo are not failing to be competitive at all.

The alternative scenario would be financially implausible, to ship a console at a mass market price point with this highly complex controller and a cutting edge graphics, which on the PC market remain relatively expensive, and to expect MS and Sony to release a similar console any sooner than 2013 - I just don't see that happening.

If anything I'd agree that, if we don't see MS and Sony abstain on a new console (as they are both absolutely claiming to be doing) for another 2-3 years, we will see more economically-powered consoles, that aren't absolutely cutting edge, in a similar vein to the Wii. Both to save money at manufacture and for the consumer, but more importantly because the market, outside of the absolute top 5% of hardcore, don't demand it. There is zero market demand for this technology and the success of the Wii, and continued success of both 360 and PS3 indicate no need to push the market forward.

Nintendo were right when they put their foot down on the technology race war. It's pointless and expensive for all.

If you want the latest cutting edge graphics and the same frickin' games, go and buy a PC and stop being so vain. Plenty of 16x anti-aliased, specular bump mapped HDR DoF soft shadowed ambient-occluded porn there.

[JayGo]

(Edit:
Nevermind. Apparently the only way to get yourself defended by mods etc. on this board is to either post 'outside the rules of language' so that people can think you're cool and unconventional, or just post complete crap the majority of the time and when people mention it they can be deemed a 'special case'.

People wandering around saying you've copied and pasted things from elsewhere when you haven't? Allowed.
People being insulted continually? Allowed.
Sigh.

I think I'll leave here, given that the only ways of getting a response out of anyone important is to say something against a 'special case' poster or dare to point out 'hang on, the servers are a little bit gooseberry fool for what we're paying aren't they?'. Please feel free to ban me. Goodbye.)

[Green Gecko]

If you can't deal with expressing yourself outside of the 99.9% of conventional language codes then just ignore him. A lot of people on here sound like droids, at least somebody has any character.

Follow Suffocate anywhere else on the Web and you'd realise that is quite normal, and all the better for it if you ask me. What is normal? I'm surprised he's chosen to participate in a hot games topic like this as he's usually straddled with comments like that. Let him react to the announcements how he likes.

Anyway strawberry float it, talk about games.

[Qikz]

I agree that I doubt semiconductor technology is at a stage where it's commercially viable to release a significantly more powerful console than PS3 or Xbox and now - it seems - the Wii, other than efficiency improvements and further savings in manufacturer that may or may not be handed down to the consumer (as we have seen with the reduction in fabrication process of the 360 CPU and at some point GPU in the new Xbox, and the PS3 Slim). As the Wii U seems to be even smaller than the Xbox Lite it seems Nintendo have gone exactly down this path, possibly with improvements. If Nintendo are using a multi-core IBM CPU it could very well be one of their latest architectures which could put it ahead of the 360's triple core custom IBM CPU.

As already mentioned, with Sony and MS having just released their motion control solutions and heavily pushing for their adoption by both the casual and hardcore markets there is no reason I can see to project anything less than continued success with Wii U and certainly Nintendo are not failing to be competitive at all.

The alternative scenario would be financially implausible, to ship a console at a mass market price point with this highly complex controller and a cutting edge graphics, which on the PC market remain relatively expensive, and to expect MS and Sony to release a similar console any sooner than 2013 - I just don't see that happening.

If anything I'd agree that, if we don't see MS and Sony abstain on a new console (as they are both absolutely claiming to be doing) for another 2-3 years, we will see more economically-powered consoles, that aren't absolutely cutting edge, in a similar vein to the Wii. Both to save money at manufacture and for the consumer, but more importantly because the market, outside of the absolute top 5% of hardcore, don't demand it. There is zero market demand for this technology and the success of the Wii, and continued success of both 360 and PS3 indicate no need to push the market forward.

Nintendo were right when they put their foot down on the technology race war. It's pointless and expensive for all.

If you want the latest cutting edge graphics and the same frickin' games, go and buy a PC and stop being so vain. Plenty of 16x anti-aliased, specular bump mapped HDR DoF soft shadowed ambient-occluded porn there.

Not once have I read one of your really long posts and agreed with you the whole way through. I applaud you for this post Gecko, especially the bit I've bolded.

[Rubix]

I couldn't care less about the improved graphics to the PS3 or Xbox I already have both consoles so why would I want to purchase something that does the same thing?

Mario Galaxy's have been fantastic games without the need to look as good technically. And when I have people round it's always Wii Sports that gets broken out.

What interests me more is the new controller, not for what has already been shown but the potential for future games.

Not a day one purchase for me but a possible purchase in the future.

[Suffocate Peon]

What did JayGo say, what did JayGo say!

[HSH28]

Yeah, an engine which isn't confirmed to be supporting the Wii U. An engine that will almost definitely support the next Xbox, meaning JUST LIKE I SAID, we're already seeing a software divide. One which will happen by 2013.

Epic were calling for new hardware, so why didn't they jump on Wii U instantly?

Bollocks, no way theres a new MS console till 2014 at the earliest.

[mic]

...I applaud you for this post Gecko...

I agree totally - and not for the first time, either.

I would be happy if wiiu turned out to be in N64 vs playstation territory, since with wii they've learned important lessons about developer involvement.

Reggie's opening paradox about something for everyone was inspirational.

I'm going to keep asking: Was the bird tech demo real time or CGI?

[SEP]

...I applaud you for this post Gecko...

I agree totally - and not for the first time, either.

I would be happy if wiiu turned out to be in N64 vs playstation territory, since with wii they've learned important lessons about developer involvement.

Reggie's opening paradox about something for everyone was inspirational.

I'm going to keep asking: Was the bird tech demo real time or CGI?

Pretty sure it's real-time.