What if...

[Sandman]

Sony and Microsoft decided to go the Wii route next gen, without updating graphics much and adding new controller tech, and Nintendo made the most powerful console behind their backs and just straight up stole their tech-savvy hardcore market?

[Ravster]

Wouldn't happen. Definitely not with Nintendo anyway.

After all they've done to innovate the video games market, I very much doubt they would turn their backs on it.

[Boggy700]

As long as gameplay still takes priority over graphics, Nintendo can't go too far wrong.

[Phoenix]

The first part could very easily happen. The second never will. Nintendo has neither the will nor the way.

[Viper]

The first part could very easily happen. The second never will. Nintendo has neither the will nor the way.

To be honest, the latter has more potential than the former.


Case in point is that until GC, Nintendo has always had the most powerful home console. MS barely had more power but look what ti took for them to do that. $5 billion in losses. On top of that, development of the CPU and GPU are not in Nintendo's hands, granted they direct it, but IBM and ATi. IBM's Blue Gene/L chips will be relatively cheap by then and using a trio would be cost effective and still easily rival a next gen CELL. Nintendo already stated their next console will be an HD console.

Sony and MS on the other hand would be abandoning their markets by going low tech. They've locked themselves into an arms race that will now be expected of them next gen as well.


However, neither will likely happen.

[F089/H]

That would be a Scary Generation.SSB:Brawl in 1080p= Gaming Nirvana?

[Phoenix]

It'd be pretty much the same as Brawl in 480i or whatever it is. Just a little sharper. Not much less nirvana.

[TheGreenElf]

That would be a Scary Generation.SSB:Brawl in 1080p= Gaming Nirvana?

I'd prefer a Hunter's (Online) version of Prime or a Wiimote-version of COD 3 with the pretty coat of paint to equal it's counterparts. Screw SSB in 1080p.

[Khaos]

Sony/MS fanboys would scream 'Graphics don't matter!' while Ninty owners will scratch their heads and say 'But you said they did last gen....'

But truth is, those of us who are fans of Nintendo don't care for the latest and greatest too much (it's how you play the game, not how it gets processed); it would be a nice add-on as far as Nintendo's core fan base is concerned.

[Generosity of God]

considering how much profit Nintendo has made (and will continue to make) with Wii and DS, it would be easy for them to invest in some powerful and innovative technology without breaking the bank.

if Nintendo's strategy this gen continues as planned, they will be in a financial position that allows them to take any avenue they want.

But truth is, those of us who are fans of Nintendo don't care for the latest and greatest too much (it's how you play the game, not how it gets processed); it would be a nice add-on as far as Nintendo's core fan base is concerned.

i'm actually inclined to disagree somewhat. yes we care more about how we play the game but unless the processing capabilites of the hardware improves we will end up stuck with outdated physics and AI. i like how the Wii allows me to interact with the games but in the future i'd like the games to be able to interact with me better. its all good for the time being but in the next generation it could feel rather stale if those things werent improved because the hardware didnt allow for it.

[Khaos]

Well, yeah, improvements are needed, but I was speaking of the latest and greatest.

[P.B.]

how about...they all use a different controller functionality like the wii but also upgrade their power! :buldge:

[Fallax]

Wouldn't happen. Definitely not with Nintendo anyway.

After all they've done to innovate the video games market, I very much doubt they would turn their backs on it.

Actually, Nintendo has repeatedly said that they did want HD graphics, but they just couldn't do both the Wiimote and HD Graphics. And everyone at Nintendo said that that was a good sacrifice. So next time around, we will see a graphics upgrade -- more then likely a HD upgrade -- but will it be the most powerful one? I doubt it. Microsoft will be able to blow all their money for the next Xbox, but Sony? I don't know if we will see a "PS4" by the time we see a "Wii 2/XBX 3".


But thats my opinion. I can't back it up with much hard evidence, only the assumptions and logic.

[BananaBabeQT]

My opinion (and I'm far from being a "hardcore gamer") is that, yes graphics matter, we don't want to be looking at SNES style graphics on our big screens but at the same time.... whether a racing or shooting game looks "real", its still a game and if its not fun to play, we could just watch a movie instead, which in fact would be "real"... so Nintendo in my opinion will have the upperhand since they are trying to make new ways to make gaming fun. Although I don't forsee Sony and Microsoft giving up their graphics by any means, and Nintendo... couldn't hurt if they tried to improve the graphics a little I suppose

[Gookanheimer]

My opinion (and I'm far from being a "hardcore gamer") is that, yes graphics matter, we don't want to be looking at SNES style graphics on our big screens but at the same time....

Why not? Imagine how well the games would run with such simple graphics. And it'd free up a lot of processing power for other things like AI or whatever :P

[P.B.]

some games simply wouldn't work as well with snes visuals...plus i mean honestly...who really wants to downgrade to snes visuals in order to get better ai...they want an increase in everything, people are greedy

[Phoenix]

While we all agree that SNES visuals aren't desirable, that doesn't necessarily mean that PS3-level visuals are necessary.

[Khaos]

^All in good time, I say. Don't rush things, Sony!

[Boggy700]

While we all agree that SNES visuals aren't desirable, that doesn't necessarily mean that PS3-level visuals are necessary.
Or indeed desireable either.

[Markopolo356]

if Nintendo's strategy this gen continues as planned, they will be in a financial position that allows them to take any avenue they want.

Yes, but look what happened to Sony when they became too overconfident.

[Viper]

There seems to be a 2 generation dominance theory at work here.

Atari dominated for two generations before Nintendo took over for two generations. Then Sony and now.....Nintendo again?

[Khaos]

Very interesting... One of those 'huh' moments.

[Mr. Coww]

We are all looking at the market like its guna stay how it is, face it the old ways to look at the industry are gone. Gaming has hit mass market and is in the publics eye. We cant ignore this forever, my grandma plays my Wii when i bring it over and is considering buying one( im totaly aware how bad that sounds, haha wii jokes).
We cant predict how the markets going to change at all.

I can see Microsoft and Sony having a "family friendly" system to counter their hardcore gear. Heck Microsoft is closer then we think with Windows, who hasnt spent a few hours with solitare? With the overall massmarketing of Vista in the next few years we can see MS dropping a XboxLite to let folks do that simple stuff on their fancy smancy HD TV.

With the Wii and DS gaining new users from normaly stale areas of gaming we cant expect the other companys to sit by and let Nintendo take all the new guys. They can claim only tayloring to the "Hardcore" for only so long before they realize that their loosing money.
And at the end of the day we get the games, they get our Money.