Topic: Nintendo: Wii 2 Not Necessary for 2011

[Stogi]

So what is the difference between these two stories that makes it so vastly different?

The whole feel of the story is vastly different. Yours seems more "factual" as if to take him at his word. But in the actual article, Kotaku makes a point to say that "This is just PR. Take it with a grain of salt." So while you have all the pertinent information, you have two completely different stories.

[Chozo Ghost]

I'm pretty sure no one has actually forgotten about this but I think we all know the Wii swan song will be DQX sometime in the latter half of 2011. Or atleast it's supposed to be... the game still hasn't been officially announced or revealed.

I hate to say it, but its very possible that game could either get canceled or moved to another console. I know no one wants to hear that or admit it could happen, but it has happened so often in the past that we should steel ourselves to the possibility so we don't get too devastated if it happens yet again. That said, of course I'm hoping it doesn't, but you really never know...

Don't count your chickens until they've hatched.

[ThomasO]

Personally, I think that the fact we still haven't seen the Wii Vitality Sensor would indicate the next console isn't coming out for a while as Nintendo wouldn't spend too much time on a new peripheral for their current console when the next one is just around the corner. That, and the Wii Remote Plus as well. But... if the Wii 2 is backwards-compatible with all Wii software (and hardware), who knows?

[TJ Spyke]

I'm pretty sure no one has actually forgotten about this but I think we all know the Wii swan song will be DQX sometime in the latter half of 2011. Or atleast it's supposed to be... the game still hasn't been officially announced or revealed.

I hate to say it, but its very possible that game could either get canceled or moved to another console. I know no one wants to hear that or admit it could happen, but it has happened so often in the past that we should steel ourselves to the possibility so we don't get too devastated if it happens yet again. That said, of course I'm hoping it doesn't, but you really never know...

Don't count your chickens until they've hatched.

I wouldn't be that cynical, they just announced the game way earlier than they usually do. Dragon Quest games don't tend to come out that close to each other and I wouldn't be surprised to not see it come out until 2012 (remember that VII came out after the PlayStation 2 was already released, and it was a PlayStation 1 game).

[xcwarrior]

Good, we do not need another system yet. There are too many good games that all of the above commenters have not yet bought that they need to play.

I own 46 Wii games and I still have others I want to buy. And I still have a bunch of them I need to finish. The system is still selling just fine. Even if its not #1 each month in sales, its still selling well. It just looks bad compared to what it was. Ask Sony if they would like to swap sales with the Wii even right now.

[MaryJane]

@BnM You make some good points that are definitely feasible, and I think a March 2012 launch is possible but at E3 2011 the 3DS will have been out for 4 months already meaning their whole conference will be about software, and maybe 3DS/Wii integration (3DS as a controller anyone?). My point being, then and only then will we really get a clear view of whether Nintendo's plans for the Wii(2) are what Iwata and Reggie have been telling us or if it's a smoke screen. For now I'm taking them at their word because financially it makes sense as the Wii is still selling strong. If this holiday's sales are weak, and the weekly incentives don't pan out, I think a FY2011 will be necessary, but if those ideas work and 3DS compatibility boosts console sales significantly, Nintendo might even be able to wait for March 2013, since as you say MS and Sony are likely going to launch their next consoles in 2014-2015.

The lack of 1st party titles could be Nintendo's gift to 3rd parties who are weary of seeing their titles take a back seat on the Wii, and want their titles in the forefront of consumers minds which leads into my next point brought up by ThomasO:

With EA pushing their own vitality sensor peripheral (that NFL game actually looks cool especially with online leader boards) I wonder if Nintendo is rethinking or retooling that one. I don't know how EA managed to beat them to the punch, but they have been beaten, and it might be better for them to support EA's peripheral with software rather than trying to follow them, something Nintendo is not fond of doing. And it would also give 3rd parties a vote of confidence that Nintendo will be faithful in their support and plans to become more 3rd party friendly as evidenced by the 3DS.

[Ian Sane]

I think a Wii 2 in 2011, following the normal five year cycle, is ideal and realistically is what Nintendo should be aiming for.  I've always felt the Wii is an overachiever.  It's pretty much the Gamecube with a new controller that in 90% of the games is just used for gimmicky waggle.  Meanwhile the third party support is complete and utter trash.  Nintendo is totally carrying the Wi on their back right now while consoles with significantly less sales get all the third party support.  Too much of this strategy relies on targetting casuals that are too ignorant to notice these huge issues.  The Wii has been like the Wizard of Oz this whole time with the risk of the curtain being pulled.  I'm of the idea that Nintendo is damn lucky this sort of stuff didn't matter and that now that the chance to fix things is here they should take it.  They can have improved motion control, up-to-date graphics and decent third party support, and since 2011 is the expected time frame for a new console they don't create any ill will by jumping the gun.  The Wii had a full life and was the market leader.  Mission accomplished.

The 3DS is the Wii's biggest threat.  Unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360 it will grab the interest of the casual market.  All those Wii owners that are blissfully ignorant of the Wii's flaws will notice them once they get a 3DS which has no such flaws.  How come this portable has better graphics than this console?  How come all these games are available on the 3DS but not the Wii?  We'll see third party franchises that are popular on the other consoles come to the 3DS.  So you're Mr. Wii-only and you get a 3DS and you try out this Street Fighter IV and it's pretty damn good.  These series is now on your radar so while in Best Buy you notice that the same game is on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but not on the Wii.  3DS owners will become interested in third party series on their portable and then look into what other games are in the series and it will become apparent that the Wii has pretty much NONE of these.  Healthy third party support for the 3DS will bring Nintendo users to the PS3 and Xbox 360.

I don't think Move or Kinect are much of a threat to the Wii directly.  But they do, in theory, remove the Wii's ace in the hole.  Motion control was the only thing that made the Wii stand out.  In terms of just plain features the PS3 now beats the Wii in EVERYTHING.  There is nothing the Wii has that the PS3 doesn't and the PS3 has MORE.  The Xbox 360 is not quite as comparable as Kinect is quite different.  I don't think they'll be that successful but if they were it would expose the Wii further.  Any casual gamer that does buy either Move or Kinect will become familiar with the corresponding system and, like with the 3DS, realize that the Wii's graphic don't compare and that there are all these games on their new console that are not on the Wii.

In 2011 Nintendo can introduce the Wii 2 and not lose momentum.  Even if you think the Wii still has legs should Nintendo wait until it doesn't to go with the Wii 2?  Ideally they shouldn't want to wait until the Wii has been milked dry but make the transition while there is still a bit of life left.  That gives them a smooth transition, rather than losing ground with an diminishing Wii and then having to rebuild with the Wii 2.