For the second year in a row, Nintendo is set to showcase a brand new gaming console to the world at E3. Last year was a new glasses-free handheld (the 3DS) and this time we’re look at an unnamed Wii successor that will reportedly be more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3 and will cater to the “hardcore” gamer demographic with controllers that feature the more traditional twin-sticks in addition to a built-in touchscreen.
In the mystery surrounding Nintendo’s soon-to-be-unveiled new home console, another new ‘inside’ report claims that the system’s new controller designs will also feature a built-in camera, adding further credence to some previous rumors and speculation. Smile!
If it weren’t for the eight buttons and 2 joysticks, the Nintendo controller sounds more and more like a smartphone. An insider has leaked info to Develop claiming that in addition to the six inch touch screen, the controller will give gamers a front-facing camera.
It’s not far-fetched at all to believe this to be true (more believable than a textured screen) and it fits in with the idea of the controller featuring a screen. Perhaps now you can look into the controller to see your co-op gaming partner and communicate that way, blowing the Xbox 360 headset functionality out of the water.
Think of Ghost Recon where when you receive and send commands to teammates, except now it’s actually your face popping up in the corner of the screen or the other players’ controller. Awesome, right? I chose that game example specifically because I have a haunch that after repeated delays, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will be a Nintendo Wii 2 launch title. It’s the Ubisoft way.
There’s a lot of potential for the new Nintendo console to bring more innovation to gaming, so we’ll have to wait and see how it all pans out, what games they’re offering, and how they’re going to implement it all.
We’re still confused by the news of the system not featuring a hard drive but hope Nintendo completely revamps the unit’s online capabilities.
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Follow me on Twitter @rob_keyes.
Source: Develop
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…wonder if with no hard-drive they might move to saving “in the cloud” for the net-connected with accounts and default to SD if they’re not… At least it would mean no more lugging around portable storage to take your saves and stuff over to your mates… Unlikely but I can dream, right?
That’s what we speculated as well, but I’m not a fan of forcing users to be constantly connected online.
I’m curious where did you guys mention this? I would like to read about it.
Our man Jeff Schille wrote it up when the rumors first broke. Check it out here:
http://gamerant.com/wii-2-no-hard-drive-jeff-82378/
thank you sir!
With that much tech in the controller, I’m guessing the absence of a hard-drive is an attempt at keeping costs down? I’m excited about this console but the more I hear about it, the more I worry that it will be way out of my price-range.
The more I hear about this console the more I am becoming convinced that Nintendo has lost their way.
Their focus is shifted to controllers for some reason, as if how you control the game is more important than the actual games.
The Wii is a novelty controller attached to a redesigned Gamecube.
It sounds like a novelty controller is all they are capable of anymore. Sad really.
Dude…
Nintendo has ALWAYS been about the controller (in addition to their 1st party titles). See:
The patented d-pad in the NES
The shoulder buttons in the SNES were a first
analog stick = first on the N64
Wavebird = first (good) wireless controller
Gamecube….nevermind
Wii = first motion control in a console
I would have to disagree with you there, the controller was a ways to a means for Nintendo until there was a shift in their thinking.
You mention NES, SNES, N64, & Gamecube – all of which had very traditional controllers. In fact you could say the controllers were the LEAST interesting thing about the systems. Shoulder buttons and joysticks as defining a system? I think not.
Now with the Wii they did put the controller 1st. The games HAD to be made to accomodate the motion controller, NOT the system – which is a glorified Gamecube 1.25
Did this bring them mainstream success outside of the hardcore gamer? Yes, absolutely. Did it simultaneously alienate their core audience, the aforementioned gamer? Yes, absolutely.
Now they have announced the most news, regarding this new system, about the controller; so once again it is appearing that new games will have to be made to accomodate their Novelty Touchscreen Controller. As a hardcore gamer you can see my worries.
You do realize that they still have the best stuff hidden right? I mean we know next to nothing about the system other then what everyone is speculating about. We have nothing REALLY concrete.
When those systems came out there was nothing else really interesting to offer other then upgraded graphics. They did give 3D a shot, but that was a flop. So the controller was the next best thing. They literally made the standard controller design that Sony and M$ use in current designs. You mention the “Joystick” as un-defining in the system. Try playing Golden eye with a D-pad please.
I will give you that the Wii is a glorified Gamecube. But It’s still the unquestioned leader in the current console race. What Nintendo wanted to do with the wii, was show people you don’t need Top gen graphics. Your system just needs to be interesting and easy to use. You will probably argue that the system has tons of shovelware. I will agree, but Developers are going to the system with the wrong mentality. They use the Wii as a quick buck thing because it has the biggest user base. Nintendo them selves do wonderful jobs of implementing the motion controller, you can see this with examples, Twilight princess or Mario galaxy.
Saying Nintendo has made the Hardcore not play their system is wrong too. Everyone of my friends is “Hardcore” including me. And they all have every current system. They never thought for a moment that the motion controller is a inferior controller because it’s a “gimmicky” motion control. It’s ALL dependent on how the game is developed. If they make a hit with the motion controller it’s because they put the time into making a good game. Saying the Games had to be developed with the motion control is only true to a certain extent, normally games launched with multiple controller schemes able to play them.
Nintendo launched the Wii with the intent on developers making great games. The thought was. Without having the power to run the games that the X360 and PS3 run; the games on the wii were supposed to be more story & gameplay driven, Not Graphically driven.
As a Hardcore gamer I disagree. I think new controller types are needed and keep the industry thinking on its toes. If implemented correctly any game could use the touchscreen and benefit from it.
So Nintendo invented the joystick now? Sorry there bud, I had one of those newfangled Joysticks on my Atari.
Wii as the unquestioned leader in the console race? You must be joking, what exactly is it leading in, system most likely to sit unused in hundreds of thousands of households? The games “developed” for the Wii have to be dumbed down, slowed down, ridiculous versions of the actual console versions. Nintendo continued to make good 1st party titles but waiting years for another (a 4th) Gamecube Zelda? Really?
The Wii leads in sales in a class by itself. It would be much more accurate to lump it in with the ThighMaster, Treadmills, and Bowflex’s of the Infomercial world; seeing as how most Wii’s I have seen are in a similar state of disuse. To say that it competes with a serious gaming system is ludicrous.