Topic: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 178

[Jonnyboy117]

In addition to loads of game impressions, the crew makes their bold predictions for 2010.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=20741

 Episode 178: On the Table    

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James is back with a vengeance, ripping a hole into the Avatar game and scratching his head at Crystal Bearers. Greg reports on his recent PS3 acquisitions, including the last game you'd ever expect him to be playing. Meanwhile, Lindy is catching up with Wii Sports Resort, and he actually likes both Wakeboarding and Canoeing. Jonny wraps up this monstrous New Business bit with Castlevania ReBirth, a dismal report on a South Florida arcade, and a hilariously inept discussion of Noby Noby Boy.    

After a quick break, we read a single email from the Internets that launches us into a sprawling conversation about the year to come. Our predictions for 2010 cover Zelda's chances of release, the true nature of Wii HD, timing for the next DS, Retro's plans, and much more! If even half of these ideas come true, it's sure to be a wacky and fun year for Nintendo fans.    

We're always looking for great Listener Mail to read and discuss on the show, so please send your questions or comments! (We really love seeing your praise and feedback regarding the show itself; however, in the interest of time, we may edit your letter to be read on the podcast.)      Credits:    

This podcast was edited by Greg Leahy.    

Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is used with permission from Jason Ricci & New Blood. You can purchase their newest album, Done with the Devil, directly from the record label, Amazon.com, or iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!    

Additional music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Nintendo, and is included under fair use protection.  

[KDR_11k]

Nintendo doesn't update consoles like they do handhelds, the GBA received 3 iterations (4 if you count the SP with backlighting) and the GC only got a minor one that wasn't even labeled as such. I don't think they'll release iterations for the Wii, in part because people can replace a handheld by handing the older one off to a relative but a console is one per household (plus it holds all the game saves and whatnot).

As for the Wii HD talk, an iterative upgrade would be better graphics, the Wii is precisely NOT iterative because it instead made motion controls the focus. I don't think there's a need for a Wii with better graphics so they'll probably make sure that the new console does something really new that'll make people go "I gotta have that" again. I don't think the Wii is anywhere close to saturation, the PS2 sold WAY more.

[Jonnyboy117]

I don't think the Wii is anywhere close to saturation, the PS2 sold WAY more.

The PS2 has been available for nearly ten years, and a very large portion of its total sales have come after the PS3 launch. I don't expect Wii sales to suddenly stop when the next system is released.

The GameCube did get a major iterative update -- it's called the Wii. I'm not being derogatory here; that is the factual story of how the Wii was conceived. Nintendo was very wise to market the update separately, under a new name and a very different strategy, but the fact remains.

You're right that Nintendo probably won't update Wii in terms of mere visual improvements. As I said on the show, it could be focused on the hard drive and how that affects games, or a number of other things. MotionPlus will be integrated better, and there may be other upgrades to the motion control as well.

[NWR_Lindy]

It'll be a Wii 2.0, not a whole new system.  Or maybe GameCube 2.0, since the Wii is GameCube 1.5, right?

One thing's for sure, there will always be a market for dirt-cheap gaming, and Nintendo will aim to fill it.

[KDR_11k]

One thing's for sure, there will always be a market for dirt-cheap gaming, and Nintendo will aim to fill it.

They would've made a player's choice lineup by now if that was the case.

[Plugabugz]

It'll be a Wii 2.0, not a whole new system.  Or maybe GameCube 2.0, since the Wii is GameCube 1.5, right?

I'd think of it as GameCube SP3 really.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

VViista Ultimate Edition

[Yoshidious]

When I used the term "iterative" with respect to a future Nintendo console, I was referring to the change I expect to see in technical specifications (such as processing power) only, rather than in the overall gaming experience offered. Though a number of gamers expect and/or demand the next Nintendo console to reach 360-level standards of performance, I don't think that's a foregone conclusion and there may be a similarly modest change in graphical performance as the one that occurred between GameCube and Wii.
 
Looking at the next console more broadly, I think Nintendo will make some substantial changes to the Wii experience that would not be considered iterative. The purpose of their abnormally high R&D spending in recent years has yet to be revealed by the products they've announced during that period; it's rather unlikely that Nintendo has been burning through cash to achieve some step change in graphical performance, so another significant modification to the interface is likely on the way.   
 

[kraken613]

I honestly doubt the next system will even approach the success of the Wii. I really doubt my grandparents won't go buy another $300 console. The really blue ocean people they went after will say we have a Wii, we play it every few weeks or months when friends are over. Why do we need another.

I don't know I will probably be so wrong but that's my gut.


Nice outtakes by the way. Too bad you said the game and didn't leave a little more mystery. But then how weird would we think you all were....


Great show as always!

[King of Twitch]

There's a lot of shock in this podcast that a third party game based on a movie didn't turn out very well

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Yeah, if they release a Wii HD it'll be akin to a DSi, in that it's not the next "new" system. I fully expect the next Nintendo console to be sufficiently different in terms of its input device technology to stand out as something different from the Wii to the expanded/non-traditional market. Will it strike a mainstream chord of the Wii's magnitude? Probably not.

[KDR_11k]

I honestly doubt the next system will even approach the success of the Wii. I really doubt my grandparents won't go buy another $300 console. The really blue ocean people they went after will say we have a Wii, we play it every few weeks or months when friends are over. Why do we need another.

Well, the point is that Nintendo's next console will need something that will indeed make your grandparents think "yes, we need that!"

[Halbred]

I'm fairly certain we won't see any new Wii at E3 or this year. I think Nintendo has to give the DS Phat/Lite/i/XL a chance to settle, too. They can't be thinking new handheld for awhile. The DS has seen almost as many iterations as the Game Boy.

Game Boy (GB), GB Pocket, GB Color, GB Micro, GBA, GBA-SP
DS Phat, DS Lite, DSi, DSi-XL

I think Nintendo's shown a certain level of unsuredness about the DS because they don't know who the market is.

[KDR_11k]

They seem pretty sure about their market, the DSi and XL were just further expansions (DSi turns the DS from a family system to an individual system that you don't want to share so more systems can sell per household, the XL is aimed at old people with bad eyesight).

[D_Average]

After the success of NSMBW I'm hoping for and predicting an announcement for a new Donkey Kong platformer on Wii.  Possibly a Country stlye one if Nintendo has all the rights to that franchise.

[Jonnyboy117]

After the success of NSMBW I'm hoping for and predicting an announcement for a new Donkey Kong platformer on Wii.  Possibly a Country stlye one if Nintendo has all the rights to that franchise.

I'd prefer Jungle Beat 2!

[D_Average]

After the success of NSMBW I'm hoping for and predicting an announcement for a new Donkey Kong platformer on Wii.  Possibly a Country stlye one if Nintendo has all the rights to that franchise.

I'd prefer Jungle Beat 2!

Wow.  That's a bold statement.  After Mario 64, the first DKC was my biggest "holy s$$$" moment when starting a game.  This was extremely rewarding, as it was one of the few games I followed in my youth months before it was released.  I ended up even getting it a day early.  I've actually never played the first Jungle Beat as I missed the GCN era, but based on your interest in, I just may pick it up next time I see a used copy w/ drums.

Man, I'm think I'm going to download DKC right now, currently I just have the sequel on my Wii.  Other thank Donkey Kong, or Metroid, anyone have any other predictions on a return to a 2D platformer for Wii.  Possibly Sonic?

[vudu]

I like how James boldly declares that there will never be a Motion+ compatible WiiWare game the day before NWR runs a news story about ShadowPlay, a Motion+ compatible WiiWare game which was released a mere 4 days later. 

[DmentD]

I like how James boldly declares that there will never be a Motion+ compatible WiiWare game the day before NWR runs a news story about ShadowPlay, a Motion+ compatible WiiWare game which was released a mere 4 days later. 

ShadowPlay was out by the time I listened to this,  I lol'd when I heard James say that.  It would not have been a surprise to me either if they never released a Motion+ compatible WiiWare game.  I don't think this game really needed motion+ for what it does.