Getting a new Nintendo console is always exciting and disappointing at the same time. There is always the big reveal that gets people hopeful for the future and the twist that makes everyone nervous.
We had some fun speculating what the "Revolution" controller would be like before the big reveal. I know it is a year away before announcement but when as that stopped us from speculating endlessly before. E3 is right around the corner depending on what the Wii U line up looks like will give us a clue how soon this thing should be ready to release.
I want to let this be a speculation of not what NX will be for us, or Nintendo, but what it will lead to inevitably after it's time has come. In other words will NX be the "savior" of Nintendo and unite the scattered fans into a single, massive unified bunch of satisfied gamers, or will it be the final death nail for a dying Nintendo console division that got some life support with Wii but was mostly false hope?
I don't know I loved the Wii when it was new, then grew to hate it, now am starting to re-appreciate it for what it was. I go through this every console cycle, not always with Nintendo but whatever anyways this is Nintendo NeXt or Nintendo Xross either way it is going to have an impact on our lives so might as well get started on the discussion now.
I don't see a "PS4" rival coming from Nintendo not just anytime soon but ever. They have made it crystal clear they do not have the talent, time, resources, or interest in making the types of games that not only sell on that type of hardware but require that type of hardware to exist. They will make a console that suits their needs period.
Based on the new deal between them an DNA, I won't spell it that way because its confusing, anyways we know they will get some major online infrastructure out of this deal. With PS4 and Xbox One making sharing such a huge part of their consoles I can see Nintendo thinking that is why those two are selling so well and finding a way to incorporate that element into their new console. Between the name, the partnership, and the integration with the upcoming mobile platform, I get the impression that is the direction they will take.
I have no problem with better sharing and community integration as they built up MiiVerse as something special only for it to be a major let down. I would prefer if Mii's go away entirely but it seems like with them forcing you to have a Mii on Wii U that is not an option. I think they will be here to stay for the long haul, unless Nintendo gos the full rebrand route which is unlikely.
I HOPE NX does not contain Wii in the name as Nintendo should have learned from that mistake.
IF NX does fully integrate the community aspect including introducing a unified account system that allows for cross-buy and interaction with the mobile, console, and handheld games, that would be really interesting. I can see them using both Pokemon and Animal Crossing as a way to realize this. They might even do so in a way that makes me actually consider buying either of those properties.
I suspect the hardware itself will be a moderate step above Wii U. I think Iwata said he wants to be more like Apple with incremental upgrades here and there, between 2DS, and New 3DS I think he meant what he said. I would imagine NX to be something like this. They release the unit, whatever it is, but make it so it can be upgraded easily or replaced by "next years model" easily.
I don't know if I believe it will be a true hybrid as some have suggested, but this could be a major step in that direction. What I do believe is it will bring handheld and console gamers together in a unique way that has not been tried before. I suspect something similar to connectivity where the handheld can be integrated into the console. Since Game Cube, well even SNES if you count Super Game Boy, Nintendo has been trying to merge their split markets into a single customer base that makes them even more money.
Here are a few ways I can see it working out. You buy the New 3DS version of the next Pokemon game and there is a mobile app that works like a Pokedex where you can view and organize your Pokemon and even trade with friends using the App. Then there is a console game, probably a Colosseum type game where you just basically train your Pokemon in the handheld game but can bring them into the Console game to battle on "the big screen" as it were. There would be exclusive quests and Pokemon in the console version but what makes it unique is it has access to all the Pokemon and areas from different games, all unified into a single game. The core RPG game itself is still the Handheld game but the Console version truly supplements it well.
Animal cross I know very little about but it has been mentioned before I suspect it will be something similar where the main quest is on the handheld held and the mobile app is used for inventory management, Unlike Pokemon where there are two connective but different games, Animal Crossing will be true Cross buy, it will be like Smash is now it exist in one form for both units. It will be buy one get the other free, like Mario and DK is now too. This will encourage gamers from the two markets, handheld and console, to interact more fluidly instead of awkwardly on internet discussion forums. It will also allow trading and sharing of virtual items via both versions using the new sharing system they will introduce.
I suspect the main games will be similar to how it is now but scalable. There will be ONE Super Mario whatever but it will exist on both units so gamers can choose if they prefer gaming on the go or the console experience. Instead of a hybrid it will be two separate releases but either using Cross Buy or the sharing mechanic it will be scalable at the software level, meaning you buy ONE version for Console and get a FREE download of the DS version.
Other games that will likely use better integration would be Wii Sports and Mii type games that allow you to customize, create, and trade Mii's using the mobile App and share Mii's made on one device across all three platforms.
Virtual Console will be simplified into a single experience where they will find a legal loophole to merge the new store into the old store so you can keep your games if you are grandfathered in. This might require them to do some legal dancing with lawyers and stuff but we all know Nintendo has some of the worlds finest lawyers around so they will get it done.
Online will NOT be free forever. there will be Free to play and there will be premium services, I suspect this they will get wrong. Sony charges for Online play Microsoft charges for the entire service Nintendo will do it backwards, you play online for free but if you want Netflix or premium stuff you pay a, small fee, of like $25 a year, they don't want to milk you but they want something for their trouble. This will NOT motivate them to actually update the Netflix app regularly but it WILL inspire them to create a NX specific version of the App that fits their needs. Similar to how Sony has Max, Nintendo will replace the Facebook sharing aspect with their own sharing protocol built in. This will require them playing hardball with Netflix but based on the Zelda announcement I assume that game has already begun and deals have been struck we don't know about yet.
All of this could either lead to Nintendo making a console everyone wants with the games that come quicker than normal and between cross buy, mobile, and the strength of the handheld games the entire experience is improved enough that people who saw potential in Wii U but thought the execution was a mess will reconsider NX because it will unite the base better than ever, it will not address every major issue but it will have the games, they will be easier to access for once and because Cross buy and sharing will be so integrated that 3rd party support will be better by default as it will only require them to make a DS version that they can scale up for the console market but not have to make it on par with PS4, I especially see indie's and retro studios cashing in better than they did on Wii U because the customer base will be there.
After NX Nintendo will either go the Tablet route, or eventually once they prefect the system and the infrastructure they will got he hybrid route then.
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