Wii 2 roundup: Mock controller, price, name, more rumored details

Collecting info from multiple sources, the upcoming Wii 2 is getting more and more details, including a mockup of the next-gen controller.

For now, the console is under codename Project Cafe and may be released very early next year as the Nintendo Stream.

Under the hood, the Stream will run on a custom-built triple-core IBM PowerPC CPU, with "much" faster clock speeds than the Xbox 360. The GPU will be a revamped AMD R700 architecture. The system will support full 1080p output alongside stereoscopic 3D.

For form factor, the system will be the same size as the first-gen Xbox 360s and will look like a "modernized" SNES.

The completely revamped controllers will have integrated touchscreens, with the ability to stream games to each controller. (Check included mockup)

While the console will begin shipping in September, but it appears that Nintendo will not release until early 2012 to ensure they have a huge amount of launch titles and large supply so there are no delays.

Perhaps most importantly, the sources expect the console to sell for $350 at launch, unless Nintendo decides to take a hit on margins and lower the price.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Apr 2011 13:01

biglo30

Awwww remind me of the dreamcast, good times but this kind of technology wasn't available yet for the dreamcast. But can you guys imagine the price of one of these controllers??? It will probably be like buying a nintendo ds.

23.4.2011 13:11 #1

CJ (unverified)

They should call it the Nintendo Surge
1. It stays on the Stream mentality
2. it stands for the re'SURGE'ance of Nintendo into the hardcore market

23.4.2011 13:31 #2

KillerBug

That controller either looks very small or very heavy...but I am still happy to see something other than a WiiMote.

As for the processor...I called it; this thing will be slightly faster for games than the PS3 if they put a half-decent graphics chip in it. This is Nintendo's entry into the generation of the PS3 and 360...a late entry, but probably the best system of the three (at least in terms of hardware); just like the Wii is the best of lastgen.

I see this as great news...hopefully it will start hurting Sony sales and force Microsoft to release the XboX720 sooner.

23.4.2011 21:53 #3

xnonsuchx

'"much" faster clock speeds than the Xbox 360'??? They're gonna have 5-6GHz chips in the thing? Liquid cooling??? ;-)

It sounds more like it'd be using the same (or similar) Xenon CPU the 360 uses, but with a 4-5 year newer GPU. I wonder how much money IBM makes having a lock on all the major console CPUs??? Yes, Sony may be making their own Cells now, but even the PS4 is expected to use IBM CPUs (or at least CPU tech licensed from IBM for Sony to produce themselves).

And will they finally move to a standard media (DVD/BD)...or will they go to a download-only/"cloud-based" format?

23.4.2011 22:08 #4

KillerBug

"Much faster" might only translate to 1GHZ or something...but remember, the PowerPC line can be clocked extremely high with the smaller manufacturing techniques now available...a typical late model 360 has a processor that could easily run "Much Faster" if it were not for the fact that Microsoft wants to keep all the 360s about the same. I suspect there will be less total processing power than you would find in a PS3 Cell processor...but the video chip will more than make up for it.

I sure hope they have a BD drive...that would draw away potential PS3 customers, and let's face it...it is the standard; the war is over. DVD is still king simply because people still have them and they don't wear out like tape...but bluray is taking over new sales, and even services like Netflix are offering them.

23.4.2011 22:52 #5

lissenup3

Originally posted by KillerBug: That controller either looks very small or very heavy...but I am still happy to see something other than a WiiMote.

As for the processor...I called it; this thing will be slightly faster for games than the PS3 if they put a half-decent graphics chip in it. This is Nintendo's entry into the generation of the PS3 and 360...a late entry, but probably the best system of the three (at least in terms of hardware); just like the Wii is the best of lastgen.

I see this as great news...hopefully it will start hurting Sony sales and force Microsoft to release the XboX720 sooner. Why does every nincompoop auto assume that the "next release" of a console is a doubling or enhancement of the existing console name. In this case, XBox 360 (x2) = XBox 720 Shut your speculation up for crying out loud. There has been NOTHING indicating that the "next" XBox will be 720 so SHUT IT!

23.4.2011 23:28 #6

Jemborg

Originally posted by KillerBug: As for the processor...I called it... Yes you did KB. :)

Can't really see the point of the touchscreen. A touchpad maybe...

And only two buttons per shoulder, I was expecting three.

I see RAM wasn't mentioned.

And for goodness sake lissenup... piss off! No-one expects the next gen Xbox to be 720, it's only called that for convenience. Go find a plinth down at the local park harpy.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

24.4.2011 02:34 #7

KillerBug

Originally posted by lissenup3: Why does every nincompoop auto assume that the "next release" of a console is a doubling or enhancement of the existing console name. XboX360 = modification of the last console name (Xbox)
PS3 = Modification of the last two console names

There is nothing to prove that the next sony console will be the PS4 either...but everyone knows what I mean when I say, "XboX 720". It is reasonable to assume that there will be another XboX, and 720 makes as much sense as 360...they can't go down in number (example, XboX 3)...and there are few good numbers for them to use above 360. Sure, it might be the Microsoft LifeBox or something, but no one would know what I was talking about if I said LifeBox.

24.4.2011 02:41 #8

Jemborg

@KB

You're bothering to reason with him?

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

24.4.2011 07:48 #9

pcrazy99

That controller is just ridiculous. I can't imagine they are serious about releasing that. It reminds when the first photos of the PS3 boomerang controllers came out. They will probably realize this and reel it in a bit.

24.4.2011 11:12 #10

ukhn9 (unverified)

Originally posted by pcrazy99: That controller is just ridiculous. I can't imagine they are serious about releasing that. It reminds when the first photos of the PS3 boomerang controllers came out. They will probably realize this and reel it in a bit.
You do know that photo is not from nintendo right. It just a digital mock up that somebody made to show what they think how it might look like.

24.4.2011 13:38 #11

eebeejay

Originally posted by lissenup3: Why does every nincompoop auto assume that the "next release" of a console is a doubling or enhancement of the existing console name. In this case, XBox 360 (x2) = XBox 720 Shut your speculation up for crying out loud. There has been NOTHING indicating that the "next" XBox will be 720 so SHUT IT! Also there is nothing to indicate that it will have the Xbox name, either. So maybe you should "shut it" too, because that makes you just as wrong as the people you call nincompoops.

When someone Says "Xbox720", it simply means the next console from Microsoft, and doesn't insinuate a doubling in power. If the 360 had been named "Xbox2", then the guy would have referred to the upcoming console as "Xbox3".

So henceforth it would be simpler to refer Microsoft's next console as "Microsoft's next console", so you won't be just as "wrong" as the nincompoops.

Maybe you should listen to JemBorg:
Originally posted by JemBorg: And for goodness sake lissenup... piss off! No-one expects the next gen Xbox to be 720, it's only called that for convenience. Go find a plinth down at the local park harpy.

24.4.2011 14:14 #12

drvorlon

24.4.2011 15:03 #13

Jemborg

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

24.4.2011 15:12 #14

punkpolitical

24.4.2011 19:04 #15

KillerBug

24.4.2011 21:51 #16

punkpolitical

25.4.2011 01:01 #17

Jemborg

Nice one PunkPolitical

Since you obviously might have thought about it, what would be the point of a touchscreen? I personally would find it distracting or I just wouldn't look at it in the heat of battle.

I suppose it might replace the HUD.

I also think a touchpad, whilst more useful, might be a stretch for my thumbs... if it was on the underside...

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

25.4.2011 03:10 #18

Interestx

Originally posted by KillerBug: DVD is still king simply because people still have them and they don't wear out like tape...but bluray is taking over new sales, and even services like Netflix are offering them. DVD is still king because the majority of the market don't care and DVD is cheap, everywhere & does the job.

As much as I enjoy Blu-rays on my HD TV all but two of the people I know with an HD TV have no interest in buying a Blu-ray movie player (and both of them have PS3s for gaming).
They do like their satellite HD DVR with hard drive for recording & playing movies though.

Blu-ray is no big deal, it's set to be a significant minority share of the market but I think its clear DVD will see it off.

They kept the prices of burners & blank media too high for too long for it to compete with hard drives in computing too.

If anything the huge success of the original Wii proves that the quest for the last detail in graphics is of little interest to the mass-market.
We're all stuck with 1080p as max res for the foreseeable future too, so I doubt anyone is going to be producing anything vastly greater in the next next gen, graphics wise, anyways.
Vanilla 5.1 DTS/DD audio is fine for most too.

I would also not be at all surprised to see Nintendo stick with DVD, perhaps multiple DVDs, it's certainly been no handicap to PC gaming and PCs have been way ahead of all the consoles for ages now.
With on-line abilities and a hard drive capable of downloading extra content too.
It keeps console costs down and game costs down (or margins up, if you prefer).
Is this just a little better Xbox 360 in truth - with Nintendo's (new & old?) version of motion control?

The hardware as leaked so far shows this new Nintendo to be more powerful than either Xbox 360 or PS3.
Given the smash success of the Wii I have no doubt that this console
(apparantly, for once and very welcomely, price competitive at launch, a major plus if true)
will do extremely well - especially as it shares PC/Xbox characteristics which will make multiplatformers for the less casual gamers easy to port to it & they ought to be great on it.

Looks like a smart move by Nintendo, if you ask me.

25.4.2011 22:44 #19

Gnawnivek

Originally posted by drvorlon: Originally posted by lissenup3:
Why does every nincompoop auto assume that the "next release" of a console is a doubling or enhancement of the existing console name. In this case, XBox 360 (x2) = XBox 720 Shut your speculation up for crying out loud. There has been NOTHING indicating that the "next" XBox will be 720 so SHUT IT! Yeah, next they'll be assuming the next self righteous tosser to join on here will be called lissenup4..!!!!

Well, honestly, I don't get the Xbox 720 at all, there's no logic to it. PS3 to PS4, easy, what does Xbox 720 mean? Oh wait...

Xbox + 0
Xbox + 360
Xbox + 360 + 360

I get it... I never liked Xbox 720, but over time I sort of agree to it, i.e. it means the next Xbox console. But I know this name ticks off some people.

Anyhow, the controllers look expensive, can't Nintendo just release a firmware or something to turn the existing DS/DSi into controllers for the new console? Streaming game off the console sounds pretty interesting...

28.4.2011 13:45 #20

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