Rumour: New Nintendo Platform To Debut At GDC

By Ishaan . February 7, 2010 . 9:43am

Rumour: New Nintendo Platform To Debut At GDC

It’s another "new console" weekend rumour! Haven’t had one of these in a while. Keeping with past tradition, I decided to save this one as a discussion post for the weekend, rather than a news piece, since a) we had so many other news stories going up already, and b) this rumour is about as sketchy as it gets.

 

Videogamer.com are reporting that, according to an industry source at a major publisher, Nintendo will be debuting a new hardware platform at the Game Developers Conference this year. According to their anonymous source: "Just heard a rumour that you may be interested in: Nintendo are going to announce a new platform at GDC. Some devs have already started work on it."

 

Earlier this week, we reported Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s stance on a potential high-definition Wii. In reply to an investor query about such a device, Iwata stated: “Would it sell with only that [feature]? It needs something new.” Last year, we posted a rumour about a next-generation DS, allegedly powered by nVidia’s Tegra technology. In recent times, both a potential "Wii HD" and "DS2" have been mentioned by various members of the industry in some capacity, with some claiming to actually have seen the former.

 

The question, then, is which platform would the company potentially debut at GDC, and how would it benefit them? With the DSi XL scheduled to release in Western markets sometime during the first quarter of calender 2010, and the DS still performing remarkably worldwide, one would think it puts a little bit of a damper on the possibility of a DS2 reveal. On the other hand, the Wii is all set to have what could possibly be its best year yet, in terms of the quality of software.

 

Perhaps this "reveal" will be a glimpse — maybe behind closed doors — of things to come in the years following 2010? Allowing developers to get hands-on with a platform set to debut as far as a year later as early as possible makes sense from a production standpoint. For one thing, it would allow development teams to get a feel for the system and start preparing to port games that are currently in development to it. Iwata has stressed on multiple occasions that one of his goals is to improve third-party relations.

 

Of course, the question remains: What would make it sell to the Wii’s audience? Thoughts?


Read more stories about & & on Siliconera.


  • malek86

    If there's actually something, then it's probably the DS2, or whatever it will be called. It's too early for the new Wii, I think.

  • http://www.rpglamer.com TheRootBeerKing

    If this rumor is correct; I hope it's the DS2…I truly do!

  • TheCleaningGuy

    Please don't. I just bought a DSi. :(

  • http://twitter.com/DicesukeInuzuka Daisuke Inuzuka

    yeah, let it be the Second DS, I don't even have half of the Wii games I want right now, or a Wii for that matter. :/

  • wildarms

    wth… DONT!

  • malek86

    Tough luck, pal. I still remember when Nintendo announced the GBA SP mere weeks after I had bought the GBA.

    In retrospect, my case was probably worse. Because at least the DSi is still usable. While the first, non-backlighted GBA was a waste of money.

  • Kunio_kun

    Not really… If I remember correctly, the first GBA was the only one that linked to the GC (or was it just the E-reader?) An underutilized feature, I know, (hey, what Nintendo peripheral isn't?) but I still have both my GBA and GBA SP. But I do know how you feel… I still have the launch version DS which isn't very ideal for playing the 50 to 100 DS games I own… I was planning on finally getting a DSI when the LL/XL launches; now should I wait for this press release to see about the DS2??? DAMN YOU NINTENDO!!!

  • malek86

    Whatever the DS2 will be, I'm pretty sure it won't be as huge as the XL. So yeah, if you want a non-portable handheld, that probably will remain the way to go.

  • Joanna_T

    Well we don't even know what it is. And 'console' is not usually the term used for for a handheld device, at least not in NA. So it may very well be a new Wii.

  • Joanna_T

    If they do show something, I agree with the last paragraph, it's going to be a prototype for developers that will most likely not be released until 2011. Iwata seems like a decently intelligent man, so he knows that Wii and DS sales still have much untapped potential.

    Of course, if they do release something, it is most likely the DS successor.

  • Kunio_kun

    Cool, thanks for clearing up when the GDC is as I had no idea… And like Joanna_T says in the post below, the language would lead one to believe it's probably not a next generation handheld and more likely something along the lines of a Wii HD. Anyways, I try not to buy any new gaming system anymore before several must-have titles are released for it. Also I'm thinking of holding off on buying any first iteration Nintendo system in the future, because history has shown they will inevitably release a better version of it a year down the road. But it's like crack, Nintendo has got me hooked and I'll keep coming back for more and more and MORE…

  • http://www.youtube.com/matman125 matty

    DSGo!

    Whatever it may be, I might be interested in it if it has the upgrade(s) I'm looking for in either the Wii or DS. I hope it involves along the lines of expansion in the drive or download service, and I hope it doesn't _just_ involve controls and HD.

  • http://sidequestblog.blogspot.com/ Musashi

    Wii 2 HD.

  • capristrider

    I'm taking a calculated guess that it will be Wii HD.
    These will be the features of Wii HD:
    *Hi-Def graphics (of course! 1080p?)
    *inbuilt hard drive
    *better online experience/shopping/media viewing/downloading
    *create a username (like Xbox Live and PSN) /account
    *Maybe some kind of achievements/trophies system

    Nintendo will really go after the hardcore!

  • bugmeknot

    Why Wii HD or DS2? Why not both, in the same device? If you're worried about size then there could be some kind of docking station for charging, TV out and supporting peripherals like wireless controllers and a sensor bar.

  • haruspex

    The hardcore will never be the focus target of Nintendo, especially after the casual gamer success of the Wii and DS. The casual gamer market is so much larger and much easier to satisfy. Your list of features in a Wii HD are pipe dreams, listed out as personal wishes. They would never be accurate predictions.

  • crunc

    Wii2 with built-in Vitality Sensor.

  • crunc

    Wii2 with built-in Vitality Sensor.

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.

Popular