Miyamoto: Wii 2 to Be More Compact, More Cost Efficient

[Xander]

Nintendo is constantly thinking about or actively planning for new hardware. What form that hardware will take, however, is anybody's guess. And Nintendo has proven to be quite unpredictable; who would have guessed that they'd build a handheld with dual screens or trade in traditional controls for motion sensing?

In a recent interview with Popular Mechanics, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto was asked about Nintendo's future direction with hardware and how important motion sensing controls would be for the company's next platform. Miyamoto responded, "With both the Wii remote itself and Wii MotionPlus, what we've been able to do is introduce an interface that is both I think appealing and at the right price for a broad audience. And while we don't have any concrete plans for what we'll be doing with hardware in the future, what I can say is that, my guess is that because we found this interface to be so interesting, I think it would be likely that we would try to make that same functionality perhaps more compact and perhaps even more cost-efficient."

Miyamoto also addressed Nintendo's stance on HD graphics at a recent roundtable event attended by IndustryGamers. Based on his recent comments, we'd guess that Nintendo's next console will feature even more precise motion sensing along with HD graphics, all packed into a compact form factor. Of course, the company will probably also do something that seems absolutely crazy to us at first, and then sells a boatload for the company in the end.

Elsewhere in the interview, Miyamoto talked about the convergence of technology with video games and other devices. Things have come a long way since the days when consoles were viewed as toys, he said.

"I think originally video-game systems were viewed as a toy, and they were something you played with. Whereas now I think we're starting to see a blurring of the lines, where, obviously, the internal guts of a video-game system is essentially a computer, and we're gradually seeing video games moving beyond simply entertainment into other aspects of everyday life. And I think what video games benefit from is an intuitive interface that's easy to understand, where the controller is a little bit more familiar and easier to use than the interface of a typical computer," he said. "As time goes on, I think we're going to see how the system of the video-game console and this interactive interface is going to gradually bleed in to other elements of, say, home electronics and daily life. For example, in Japan the Wii itself has a TV guide channel that Wii owners can download to their Wii. And for a lot of people in Japan who own a Wii, that TV guide channel is a lot more convenient and easier to use than a typical TV guide service."


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I think at some point down the road, Nintendo could afford to launch a sort of Wii 2 with HD graphics and such. Keeping it cost-efficient is definitely something that Nintendo wants to keep.

Funny thing about the HD graphics though, most of the watered down graphics come from third party developers who don't want to take the time to make a good looking game. I mean, look at Super Mario Galaxy, very pretty game. Same goes for Red Steel 2, Monster Hunter 3, Metroid Prime 3, Conduit, etc. those games have some real heart behind them and their graphics engine and they still make some really good looking games.

[Fox]

"Be More Compact, More Cost Efficient"

I don't trust Nintendo anymore so I all I hear is that it will be the same thing. No DVD or other media, just games. Also, I see no harddrive. Although there can be some sort of flash card or something of that kind with a decent amount of GB. At least more then the PSP Go. I'm not even sure how HD the system can actually be.

Seeing as this is just running on small amounts information I won't go on anymore. I just hope they back up this console with at least good gaming, seeing as they don't focus on anything else.

[Zwei]

If there is going to be a Wii 2 with a better interface and compact design and better motion sensing then I expect to see a new version of the wii mote/nunchuck. MAKE IT ALL WIRELESS. Ill just say this now. The wii 2 better look ever better than the first wii if NINTENDO has cost efficency in mind. I want something better.

Oh ya. I can see NINTENDO developing new crap to further prevent homebrew and etc.

[Xander]

To each his own I guess, but from an industry perspective there are something you have to know about Nintendo. Like, one reason they don't have a MP3 or DVD player is rights. They would need to pay all this extra money for something that is really non-essential and Nintendo wasn't really looking at their hardware as a replacement for anything else that hooks up to a TV.

I really don't think memory should be an issue for anyone anymore. You have the option to clear out VC and Wiiware games you don't play anymore (cleaning out the fridge) since the beginning, and now you can stream those games off an SD card, which is essentially like a memory card. Heck, I actually store some of my extra games on a portable hard drive from my computer. Yes, I agree Nintendo underestimated the amount of memory the Wii would need, but they have given us a reasonable remedy.

As for their games, I can't help you there Fox. Personal preferences are personal preferences, and while you many not agree, Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, No More Heroes, Wii Sports Resort, Muramasa the Demon Blade, Little King's Story, are others are among my favorite games of this generation and I'm really glad that the Wii isn't a console that has to deal with a game like Wet (which to me just served as a huge insult to it's target audience).

[Fox]

I wouldn't mind getting the Wii 2 or whatever its to be named but in a time where its HD and I can see detail on the characters skin in video game, its just a bit odd to now that the most popular gaming company doesn't have it. The games could have been the same games but if it had HD and was more powerful, I'm pretty sure the other two companies woudn't be a problem for Nintendo. Nintendo would need a big variety of games of course or HD on just Mario and Zelda wouldn't interest me along with many others to even look at a Wii 2.