Topic: Iwata Comments on Nintendo Next Generation

[WindyMan]

It's not exactly the comment you've been waiting for, but at least it's something.

Link: http://www.gc-inside.com/news/126/12628.html (Japanese)
Source: GC-Inside


You know that mysterious product Nintendo plans to reveal at this year's E3 Expo?  The one that's not going to be the next-gen GameCube or GBA?  Well, in an interview with a Japanese newspaper, Nintendo president Satrou Iwata let out a little hint of what we might be expecting in a year or two when talking about that mystery Nintendo product.

When asked about what the upcoming consoles will be like, Iwata commented that the current systems have basically reached their limits, implying that making a new game system similar to the ones currently available isn't something that should be done.  He then went on to talk about Nintendo's new and unique game device, saying that the concept of the thing will offer a hint of what we can expect for Nintendo's new game system.

It has been heavily rumored that this new gaming device would simply be the recently released Chinese iQue, but after hearing what Iwata had to say, it's probable that it won't be.  E3 2004 is only four months away now, and it will probably take that long to figure out what Nintendo has up their sleeves.  

[Ian Sane]

"the current systems have basically reached their limits"

That's a VERY bold statement to make.  I personally disagree with him but he knows more about games than I do so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.  This totally changes any pre-conceived notions of the mystery device.  None of the theories could possibly be accurate now.  What really is interesting is that this device will actually affect the next Nintendo console.

This revelation makes the mystery device much, much more important than ever before because now Nintendo's future has a lot riding on it.  It better be something that's REALLY cool now.

[vudu]

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"the current systems have basically reached their limits"

 i would agree with the quote to a certain degree.  it's definitely true that the level of technological advancements has started to decrease between console generations.  the jump from the snes to the n64 was huge.  the subsequent jump to gamecube, while still large enough to make a difference and be worthwhile, wasn't quite as enormous.  better graphics, larger draw distance, more characters on-screen at once, etc, but it's not the same level as the jump from 2d to 3d.  (i’m sure someone like shadowfox is going to jump on me for not using all the technical terms.)

i'm willing to guess the jump from the gamecube to the n5 is going to be even smaller than the jump to the gamecube.  i think that's all iwata meant.  the jump is still worthwhile, and i certainly hope nintendo still plans on making the advancement, but it's hardly comparable to adding another dimension to gameplay.  i think nintendo will fix the problems they have with the gamecube, and then the n5 should be able to stick around for quite sometime.

[Knoxxville]

It's gonna be an all-in-one retrosystem containing like 50 or so NES Classics...kinda like those Intellivision deals where you hook the controller straight to the TV.  Unlike the iQue, the games will be permanent, and I'm sure that it will include some nifty flash save system or something.  Sure beats blowing out the good 'ol NES and that treasured copy of [insert game of choice here] then trying to load it in juuuuuuuuuust right so that the game actually works.

Just my little hypothesis.....

[vudu]

Quote
It's gonna be an all-in-one retrosystem containing like 50 or so NES Classics

 wouldn't it be more cost effective to just release a gamecube disc with all the games on it, rather than make people purchase an entirely new system?

[Kobun Heat]

EGM this month said that while they hear rumors of Nintendo doing an all-in-one system, it is seperate from the new system they're going to announce at E3.

It's more cost-effective to release a GCN disc with the games on it if you're only trying to sell it to GCN owners. If you're trying for a larger or different market - like the same people who bought the Atari and Namco machines that Jakks Pacific put out - they can fit a dozen NES games into a machine the size of an NES control pad for $25 easily.

[Knoxxville]

kingvudu, just because it would be cost effective doesn't mean that it would satisfy Nintendo's little mystery agenda's needs, ya digg?  Like Kobun said, it would hit a whole different audience.  I would buy one just because of fanboyism.

[Guitar Smasher]

Yes!  This is exactly what Nintendo should be doing.  In case you don't understand me, I'm talking about building hype.  Many people are speculating as to what the mystery is, so by leaving all these hints, and talking about how cool it's going to be.  As long as they don't let us down (which can be easy if they overhype) then they'll be going in a good direction.

[Sooper Dood]

As far as my guess would go, all Iwata meant by his statement that "the current systems have basically reached their limits" is that it's time for game companies to start focusing on making solid games with the technology they have, rather than putting so much money and time into developing a system that is 3x as expensive as the old ones with nowhere near that value in improvements. Like kingvudu said, what he probably meant was that the jump from this generation to the next will seem extremely minimal next to the jump from SNES/Genesis to N64/PSX, and even the jump from N64/PSX/DC to GCN/XBox/PS2. While there will  be improvements that are helpful (processing power, primarily), we're not gonna see the kinds of jumps (especially graphically) that we did in previous generations.

If that's the case, I think Nintendo is the company that can benefit from it more than anything. They've always been about quality games, and if my guess is right (which is probably unlikely, or at least only a fraction of it), their dedication to quality games will be what brings them above and beyond anything Sony could ever do, or anything Microsoft could ever pay for.

And in response to the newly posted above me thing by Guitar Smasher, he's exactly right - building this kind of hype and mystery is exactly what they need to do.

[Bill Aurion]

Quote
Originally posted by: Sooper Dood
As far as my guess would go, all Iwata meant by his statement that "the current systems have basically reached their limits" is that it's time for game companies to start focusing on making solid games with the technology they have, rather than putting so much money and time into developing a system that is 3x as expensive as the old ones with nowhere near that value in improvements.

Bingo...That's exactly what he meant...

[vudu]

Quote
If that's the case, I think Nintendo is the company that can benefit from it more than anything. They've always been about quality games, and if my guess is right (which is probably unlikely, or at least only a fraction of it), their dedication to quality games will be what brings them above and beyond anything Sony could ever do, or anything Microsoft could ever pay for.

 i remeber hearing this exact same thing about 2 years ago when the gamecube was first released.  so far it hasn't done nintendo a lot of good.  unless nintendo can shake the belief in casual gamers that nintendo systems are for kids, the n5 is going to have the same problems that the gamecube has.  (with the exception of launching a year behind sony.)

[Ian Sane]

"This is exactly what Nintendo should be doing. In case you don't understand me, I'm talking about building hype."

The problem with building hype is that if the product doesn't deliver they're going to have egg on their face.  The meg@t0n thing, even though it wasn't their fault, hurt people's faith in Nintendo a bit.  I think they should hype this device but only after it's been revealed.  Hypeing up something that hasn't been seen before is risky.  At least once the device is revealed the hype will be somewhat realistic.

Edit:  apparently the 'm' word is forbidden thus requiring some creative spelling.

[Olpus]

In my humble opinion, it's only a Nintendo's fake news to increment its shares value...



Talking seriously, for me it is a somewhat Virtual Boy 2 + virtual reality gloves that can read Gamecube discs and Gameboy Advance cartridges...

[Nintendo Gamecube]

I remember readin the Q&A in IGN mailbag once. The guy remored that Nintendo might be working on some device, which could be like sensors for hand movemens.

For example, instead of pressing "B" to pull the level, but you'd use the special device and move your hands and arms in a way, so you pulled the lever.

[Rize]

"the current systems have basically reached their limits"

I strongly disagree.  Obviously he's not talking about graphics because that is clearly wrong.  He's talking about gameplay, and I still think he's wrong.  I mean, you can obviously do things on the GameCube that could not be done on the N64 (games like Pikmin are a good example).  You might be able to do just about anything that you can aimgine with a GameCube, but the graphics would become so horribly limited with certain ideas, that it would not be worth doing.

Graphics do not make a game, but bad graphics (really bad ones) can ruin a game.  Especially if they are bad for the time period (old games don't look as good as current ones, but with good art, they can stand the test of time as classics).

Despite this, I'm sure that Nintendo will release a new console that is basically a GameCube with better tech (and maybe a few bells and whistles as this device (whatever it is) seems to imply).

Now if only Nintendo would realize that online gaming is on the verge of exploding...  yeah, it might be hard to make money with it, but that doesn't change the fact that people love it.

[ObsidianDragon]

Iwata's quote makes me wonder if the the new device will be a conventional console. It may be something completly off the wall, which in my opinion is a great thing.

I would like it to be The first in home Vr game (real VR) but i doubt it.  He says also that it will "Hint at what we can expect from the next console." which might mean It will be an add on device for the Gamecube which will come standard on the next console. Something like a hard drive or maybe something like the GB Player. I just hope it isnt gimmicky like most Gba link ups and the card reader.  

[kennyb27]

Quote
Now if only Nintendo would realize that online gaming is on the verge of exploding... yeah, it might be hard to make money with it, but that doesn't change the fact that people love it.

Let's not get into the whole online thing.  If something is indeed "exploding" shouldn't it be making money too?

[Edisim]

Sorry, this link was way too long. - Bloodworth
Well, there's the link (hopefully) if anyone wants to read the poorly translated text for themselves...

Personally, I interpret this to mean that rather than focusing on specs and graphics, they will be focusing on interactivity ("fun and movement not seen before") through some super cool highly interactive controller. Highly interactive as in it's more than just some buttons and a couple of sticks. Probably something that will force game developers to further bow to Nintendo's wishes for them to think more about controls (rather than just slap functions onto 20 different buttons)...

And "Mega ton" didn't hurt Nintendo's reputation in my eyes at all.
   

[Pod]

Let's have another go at it:

"the current systems have basically reached their limits"

True when speaking of actual gameplay. There's been some interesting views on what Iwata san was thinking when he said this. I'm with Sooper Dood all the way, but I think he's also thinking of what is needed for Nintendo, in order to make the games they like to make.
 Mario Sunshine has been accused for not really pushing the system, but if Nintendo is happy with how it is, and believe they can do many more great games with the GameCube technology, why on Earth would they produce a system with four times the graphical power, but no real design related benifits?
 The current systems have basically reached their limits... in what new game design aspects they can actually present.

And that's probably why Nintendo is cooking up some mystery device, to offer those new hard-to-achieve revolutionary gameplay concepts. The hundred-NES-games-in-a-controller is a nice thought, but hardly very Nintendo'ish. Iwata san also said last week that the new system will work alongside the GameCube and GBA as "a third pillar," and a multigame NES rerelease doesn't sounds like anything in that direction to me.  

[thepoga]

yeah, the mainstream crowd doesn't read game magazines or websites, so they wouldnt have known about Never Happening. so ya... and most who dont have a gamecube dont really care at all if they even hear about it.

[LeprosyRiddledBeggar]

I think that when he says it will connect to the next system, he means that it will be some kind of handheld that doubles as a controller, much like the current Gameboy advance, but easier to connect. Plus, I think the next console will have a screen built in to the controller, like that thing for the Dreamcast. (can't remember the name)

[GaimeGuy]

Well,  keep in mind,    the industry is bound to peak in  technological   progression sooner or later, and  be formed under a single, universal  platform.   It happened with  movie making and television  and it's bound to happen  with  consoles, too.   Several developers have been saying this, that  a time where hardware reaches its peak  will come soon, and I agree witht hem.  It's nice to see that Nintendo is   doing something about it.     I just wonder what it could be....

[Michael8983]

It's definitly starting to sound like some kind of VR device. Probably something very primitive as far as the technology goes but it would be a kind of first step into bigger things for its successors.

[ThePerm]

i think the video game industry will be different then the movie industry as long as theres competition

[Perfect Cell]

But wouldnt a Virtual Reality ssystem  get comparisons to the Virtual Boy disaster, im still not so sure its that, and i still think its some sort of portable GCN GBA fusion