AfterDawn: News

Updated Wii console coming by 2011, predicts Square Enix pres

According to an interview with the Financial Times, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has noted that he expects Nintendo to release an updated Wii console by 2011, offering a new type of controller as well as more "next-gen" functionality.

What this added functionality is up for debate, some are speculating that a Blu-ray may even be added. Wada also speculated that upcoming Sony and Microsoft motion control systems will have little impact on the market.



"Present game machines already have a lot of functions: they are a network terminal, a Blu-ray or DVD player, and a gaming machine," says Wada.

"Compared to these three pillars, the [new motion] controllers are quite limited, so the impact may be small. They are an extension of the gaming function."

Wada did however, compliment Microsoft's Natal tech.

"As a user interface it's fantastic and I think it will become standard," he noted.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Sep 2009 17:16

• Previous article

• FCC head wants internet competition and ISP transparency

• Next article

• Europe to see five 250GB Slim PS3 bundles

• 8 comments

• ZippyDSM

  I would be surprised if nin put HD and a BR drive in it.

  21.9.2009 17:44 #1

• jookycola

  Why not?
  By 2011 i think BD drives will become a bit more cost friendly. I't makes sense, but i'd guess they'd be better off just going with DVD9, it works for 360, and Wii games are nowhere as graphically advanced as the 360's games are. So they may not need the BD drive. But a HDD would be just perfect. And if they would make it interchangeable like the PS3's HDD, they could just dominate the market again.
  
  Actually if Wii had a HDD and DVD9, and 720p...microsoft would have to seriously step up their game. Because Then the Wii would be playing in the 360's yard. And with the PS3 already walking across the 360's lawn this could be bad news.

  21.9.2009 22:24 #2

• Pop_Smith

  I don't think a BR drive would be necessary on the Wii, I'd say give the Wii 720p video and 5.1 surround.
  
  If they further revised the controlling scheme so it becomes better than Motion Plus, which is pretty good, together with the above mentioned additions I think it could help Nintendo "steal" some of the more "hardcore" video gamers from Sony and Microsoft.
  
  Considering that developers are able to have really great graphics on the XBox 360, despite it "only" having a DVD9 drive, a DVD9 compatible drive and a small SSD (~16GB) on the next-gen Wii would be great.
  
  Peace

  22.9.2009 00:43 #3

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Pop_Smith: I don't think a BR drive would be necessary on the Wii, I'd say give the Wii 720p video and 5.1 surround.
  
  If they further revised the controlling scheme so it becomes better than Motion Plus, which is pretty good, together with the above mentioned additions I think it could help Nintendo "steal" some of the more "hardcore" video gamers from Sony and Microsoft.
  
  Considering that developers are able to have really great graphics on the XBox 360, despite it "only" having a DVD9 drive, a DVD9 compatible drive and a small SSD (~16GB) on the next-gen Wii would be great.
  
  Peace
  if they polished up the chip set for 1080P added some ramm or CPU/gpu speed to add help HD games along then put a BR drive in it(since it only costs 30$ more than a normal DVD drive) they could really do something with the WII, however control wise it seems the WII plus is it.....which is a shame........

  22.9.2009 03:05 #4

• Mddday

  Wow. I think this is a step in the right direction, if nintendo want to keep up the sales, considering sony and Microsoft are seeing the benefits of motion control and are now implementing them.
  
  I'd feel happy to upgrade my wii in the hope that third party developers would pay it more attension, and try harder to publish on the wii as well as ps3 and xbox.
  
  I'm considering not even buying the slim now... though 2011 is a while away

  22.9.2009 04:35 #5

• KillerBug

  Nintendo's people have already stated that they will not be bringing HD to the Wii because their customers do not want it (or at least do not want to pay for it).
  
  They seem content to let this outdated system become more and more outdated...because they know that parrents will buy it for their kids as long as they can keep it cheeper than the 360 or PS3.

  22.9.2009 05:19 #6

• jookycola

  Originally posted by Mddday: I'm considering not even buying the slim now... though 2011 is a while awayDude, seriously? get the Slim. Not only is it far better than a Wii. All the things listed are not what the next Nintendo is going to be it's rumors and suggestions. Don't wait for 2011 only to find out the only thing Nintendo did was put on board flash HDD inside. The PS3 is a much better machine, to wait for something that may never come is just silly.

  22.9.2009 10:47 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Nintendo's people have already stated that they will not be bringing HD to the Wii because their customers do not want it (or at least do not want to pay for it).
  
  They seem content to let this outdated system become more and more outdated...because they know that parrents will buy it for their kids as long as they can keep it cheeper than the 360 or PS3.I dunno MS said it was not going to be a media machine and didnt need a HDD bigger than 20GB...........

  22.9.2009 16:34 #8