This is one of a few threads I've been thinking about starting for a few months now, but as usual, I've been
lazy busy. What I'd like to accomplish here is a discussion about what Nintendo's vague "brand new concept" may be. I considered posting this in Soren's "
NX Rumors and Speculation Thread" but I didn't want to disrupt/derail it. This is an "ideas" thread rather than anything based on internet rumors, a place we can post drawings, mock-ups, and ideas/thoughts without it descending into negative clusterfuckery. I mean it. If you want to say, "It'll be some gimmicky bullshit controller for rubes," fine, duly noted, but there are dozens of ruined threads for that.
I'll start, but I'd really like to hear everyone else's suggestions, and what you think of mine. Please no name-calling. Cat-calling is not only accepted but encouraged. Seriously, put your thinking cap on and post some suggestions.
Before I get into the idea I've been kicking around since Nintendo passively announced NX in March, I want to run through a few important and related quotes. My suggestion is based on things Nintendo has been hinting at for years now.
In terms of our platform integration, as I explained to you a short while ago, we are not saying that we are planning to integrate our platforms into one. What we are saying is that we would like to integrate software development methods, operating systems, and built-in software and software assets for each platform so that we can use them across different machines.1
Previously, our handheld video game devices and home video game consoles had to be developed separately as the technological requirements of each system, whether it was battery-powered or connected to a power supply, differed greatly, leading to completely different architectures and, hence, divergent methods of software development. However, because of vast technological advances, it became possible to achieve a fair degree of architectural integration.2 We discussed this point, and we ultimately concluded that it was the right time to integrate the two teams.
For example, currently it requires a huge amount of effort to port Wii software to Nintendo 3DS because not only their resolutions but also the methods of software development are entirely different. The same thing happens when we try to port Nintendo 3DS software to Wii U. If the transition of software from platform to platform can be made simpler, this will help solve the problem of game shortages in the launch periods of new platforms.3
In this perspective, while we are only going to be able to start this with the next system, it will become important for us to accurately take advantage of what we have done with the Wii U architecture. It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately.4 When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems.5
Still, I am not sure if the form factor (the size and configuration of the hardware) will be integrated.6 In contrast, the number of form factors might increase. Currently, we can only provide two form factors because if we had three or four different architectures, we would face serious shortages of software on every platform. To cite a specific case, Apple is able to release smart devices with various form factors one after another because there is one way of programming adopted by all platforms. Apple has a common platform called iOS. Another example is Android. Though there are various models, Android does not face software shortages because there is one common way of programming on the Android platform that works with various models.7 The point is, Nintendo platforms should be like those two examples. Whether we will ultimately need just one device will be determined by what consumers demand in the future, and that is not something we know at the moment. However, we are hoping to change and correct the situation in which we develop games for different platforms individually and sometimes disappoint consumers with game shortages8 as we attempt to move from one platform to another, and we believe that we will be able to deliver tangible results in the future.
Though I cannot confirm when it will be launched or any other details of the system, since I have confirmed that it will be "a dedicated video game platform with a brand new concept," it should mean that we do not intend it to become a simple "replacement" for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U.9
Interpretations:
1. Not a hybrid. Also, unifying the console and handheld divisions was done in order to simplify development.
2. Iwata suggests console and handheld sharing the same architecture, could mean both go x86-64 or both go ARM. Back in December 2014, AMD announced that it won a semi-custom design contract for a game console without revealing which company is employing AMD's services. The logical conclusion is Nintendo since it's the hardware maker with an aging handheld and an ailing home console.
3. Porting has sucked for a number of reasons. Simplifying this processes will alleviate shortages.
4. "Absorb" could mean "port," or it could mean "emulate" without giving too much away. It's doubtful Nintendo uses PowerPC again, but what it is using must be able to run Wii U. My understanding of software emulation (which may be wrong) is that the hardware must be able to simulate the legacy hardware through "brute force." It sounds like Nintendo is making Wii U software emulation a priority, and with good reason. It released a lot of quality games this generation that many people didn't play due to Wii U's poor sales.
5. Console and handheld will be closer than ever. I'll delve further into this later.
6. Not a hybrid.
7. Nintendo recently denied a rumor that NX would run Android. Then again, Nintendo denied DS Lite rumors, DSi rumors, 3DS XL rumors etc. I'd advocate Nintendo creating its own Android fork (and just playing nice with since Google generally dislikes when companies fork Android) since it wouldn't have to start from scratch.
8. Again, Nintendo is concerned about software shortages as it should.
9. Hmm, maybe because it's replacing both.
As I've stated before, I'm not a fan of a hybrid system. I mentioned this a few months ago:
A hybrid paints Nintendo into a corner and forces it to make compromises it may not want to make. A console and a handheld that play the same games makes the most sense for Nintendo and solves a big problem: supporting two platforms. Scalable engines and DLC make this much easier for the company to go down this route. I think Nintendo would still prefer to sell two Mario Karts or two Super Smash Bros. to people, but it's getting harder to justify from both a development and consumer perspective. With the blurring of console and handheld games over the past 10 years or so, I feel like this is the best case scenario.
That's essentially the crux of my idea, but I'll discuss it a bit further. NX is both a console and a handheld yet separate. I don't know how feasible this is from a hardware standpoint so I'll ignore that. There was a recent rumor about NX being less powerful than PS4. The handheld, let's call it HDS because I doubt Nintendo is passing up that opportunity (no, I'm not taking credit for coining that either), most certainly would be. Based on note 4 above, it'll be more powerful than Wii U if Nintendo plans on a Wii U virtual console. Failing that, the hardware has to be powerful enough to port. Emulation is a cheaper and easier option though. The reason VC support has been so sporadic on 3DS and Wii U could be because Nintendo shifted its focus on a universal emulator for NX, one that can work on both console and handheld.
Cost is certainly a concern, and I don't usually advocate taking a loss, but if Nintendo takes a bath on hardware, HDS would be the better choice. Nintendo's handhelds are just more popular. Make it as powerful as possible while keeping the price of at least the non-XL model at $199.99. When it comes to hardware, I've been of the mindset that Nintendo should either aim high or aim low though I favored the latter for personal monetary reasons. In this scenario, it can do both. HDS is the lower end. The console is the higher end. While it would be amazing if Nintendo, of all companies, launched a 4K gaming capable console, I don't know how feasible a "Nintendo4K" would be at a reasonable MSRP. The magic number seems to be $399.99. Let's call it "Nintendo 7/N7" from here on out.
Why even release a console? Different markets favor different kinds of hardware. Some people prefer consoles (like myself), some people prefer handhelds (weirdos), some buy both anyway. HDS would be geared toward Japan; N7 would be geared toward the West. If Nintendo launches a console at $399.99, the hardware better reflect that. I think $200 is a wide enough margin between HDS and N7. You get a lot for that money. It's essentially like a SNES with a Super Gameboy built-in on day one. Besides Streetpass stuff, it can play every HDS game. If you have both HDS and N7, you can take your save file with you.
A more powerful console than PS4 isn't automatically going to bring in third parties though the upside is that's one less hurdle in the way. Nintendo could always go the SteamOS route, but I discussed that at length
in an older thread (that may not be the best solution anyway considering how poor certain PC ports have been lately). One problem I think people might have is that Nintendo would be mostly developing slightly above Wii U-level games for an entire generation. Yeah, the games would be upscaled and whatnot on N7, but to me, that's easier to live with than software droughts. This is better for Nintendo's internal teams and people like Masahiro Sakurai who would only need to make one Super Smash Bros. again. In this scenario, Nintendo is pooling together all of its talent to support one platform, except on the rare occasion that HDS hardware couldn't handle a game like how Xenoblade Chronicles 3DS needed a hardware boost of New 3DS. Put a tab on the N7 game card so it physically can't fit in HDS, like how 3DS games can't fit into regular DS. This also brings up the problem of file sizes and the cost of physical media/solid state memory. I don't have a solution for that.
Here's the really interesting part: cross-play between N7 and HDS. That has never been done before on this scale. Every multiplayer HDS game is compatible. That's a brand new concept. I thought it was silly that there was no cross play option between Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS. Hyrule Warriors is coming to 3DS and carries the same problem. I mean, I understand due to hardware limitations and so forth, but if Nintendo made a point of unifying its console and handheld divisions, this is the first thing that needs to be addressed. Additionally, I think this is how the GamePad concept can finally realize its potential. Both N7 and HDS use an updated version of Broadcom's low-latency transmission connectivity technology. On N7, four GamePads can be supported at the same time (720p/60fps). On HDS, single card multiplayer, up to four players, one HDS (60fps). Handheld multiplayer at a fraction of the cost.
I made that in MS Paint. It isn't to scale. I know it isn't a great picture. And of course, I think there should an updated Pro Controller.
Ultimately, this is just a culmination of Hiroshi Yamauchi's own words: "The hardware is just a box you buy only because you want to play Mario games." My suggestion for this "brand new concept" is based on a very old idea. Nintendo's bread and butter is its software which is the entire point here. Make a box that's most appealing to the market your going for, the games will be there. Develop one Mario Kart engine and use it for post-release DLC. Same with Super Smash Bros. minus Sakurai undergoing an existential crisis. Nintendo has handled DLC fairly well on Wii U. Perhaps it can use DLC to make up the revenue of not selling two versions of something.