I think Nintendo could release a new "8th gen" console for 2012 and both MS and Sony could still both wait till 2015 to release theirs deeming them "9th gen" consoles, as long as the level of quality and capability differ enough from Nintendo's console.

Anyway, I think next gen consoles are going to hit a wall on development budgets. After that, it comes down to other factors besides the game's budget, like the overall experience (mostly from an enforced software standards standpoint) such as: Load times (below a certain threshold), Frame rates (constant at 60 fps), Smooth OS Interface (no lagging, or loading icons, etc.), additional functionality (perhaps in-game video chat?), Competitive price points (cheaper hardware and software over time, smaller margins as things get more competitive since hardware is capped by software limitations), Tight accurate controls (developers should be able to give us a consistent tight level of interaction, rather than depending on long pre-scripted animations and cut-scenes), etc.

After next gen goes on for sometime, it will be up to the software side of development to get cheaper or become innovative to keep consumer coming back to the same old consoles. Otherwise, the markets may shift more over to the PC and handhelds.

No way the Wii can survive till 2015 against Ps3 and 360. The Wii's biggest advantage (in my mind) has always been its price. It was $250 when PS3 was $500-$600 andd 360 was like $400 or something like that. Once all the consoles are under $200, which I gotta think will be by late 2012, there will really be no good reason (besides Mario/Zelda) to buy the wii since its not HD and it no longer has a huge price advantage. 

Just my opinion anyways. The Wii is already starting to falter, its losing to PS3 by a lot each week in Japan, losing in America to the 360 and losing in EMEAA to PS3. 

I really think the Wii should have a big price drop this fall to like $150 so it can dominate one last holiday season and then they can release the Wii 2 in late 2012. 

2013, not 2012.

I dont find it a good idea for any of the system makers. I also dont think any of them are going to do it. The ten year plan means 10 years on the market. it does not mean 10 years as their only flagship console.

In my hypothetical (read: probably never going to be tried) strategy that probably wouldn't be a major issue ...

The entire point would be to replace the system "mid-generation" with hardware that is superior in multiple ways while retaining compatibility between both systems. Confusion doesn't matter because the two versions of the system wouldn't be on the market at the same time, and the newer system would be the same or superior to the original system in every way.

What I see as the biggest problem with following a strategy like this is (essentially) 'what is the gain from doing this?' ... The NES, Gameboy, Playstation, PS2, Nintendo DS and Wii have demonstrated that you can still outsell your competition (often by a wide margin) while being significantly less powerful if the market conditions are right. If you look at all of the market leading consoles, the best strategy for being a dominant console would be to be the successor to a market leading console, with a 12 (or more) month head start on the competition, with something 'new' about your system, and to sell your hardware at a reasonable price. Boosting power mid generation doesn't (really) seem to add any value to this strategy.

Nintendo could hold off until 2013 as the latest. Actually I have the ultimate plan for them which I'm going to make into a video.

Honestly I think Microsoft planted the rumour about the next X-Box coming in 2015. I know for a fact that in like 09 Microsoft began hiring staff to work on a next gen Halo title, now some say that it was Reach but why did they call it next gen if Reach launched on 360.

I think Nintendo will launch in winter 2012. Now I'd think Microsoft would launch the following winter. With PS4 coming possibly as late as 2015 just so that Sony manages to make PS3 profitable and make up for all the losses they took early this gen.

As for power, some saying the next Nintendo console could be 720P or on par with PS3/360. That is possible but Nintendo would be in an awkward position. Sure for the year or so it had no competition titles could be ported from 360/PS3. But once 720/PS4 come , Nintendo would be in the same software predicament they are in right now. Where porting titles is very complicated.

I suspect Nintendo to do a DreamCast, no not go down in flames. Launch a powerful new console a year before the competition. This console is powerful enough to be considered next gen but not a super computer. Then Microsoft would play Sony's part entering their 720 (PS2) and Sony would follow later on with PS4 (GC/X-Box).

Nintendo has spent apparently like half a billion dollars a year on R&D. They should be able to give us a far superior system to PS3/360 for the cheap price of 250$. The question is how much will this innovation cost? Nintendo says the console will allow developers to do something they couldn't do on any other platform. How much will that cost I wonder.

OT: I'm glad to see the majority heck I haven't found a single user that thinks Wii2 could come in 2015. Heck not even MS fans think Microsoft could wait that long. Though some have suggested Sony.

I honestly have no problem waiting until 2015, as the Wii graphics are just fine. Anything more is not really needed to produce good games.

Hey the first one who doesn't mind waiting till 2015. Glad some people still enjoy Nintendo's hardware :P

only one more thing is needed for there to be good games - developers working on them!

where are these developers? how many games do we know of that are actually being made for wii? let alone ones that are confirmed for release in the west?? seriously... as a Wii owner I feel like the situation has become almost ridiculous at this point...

Nintendo talk about having a more balanced release schedule, better 3rd party support, better online... but that doesn't mean they have to postpone every single improvement in their strategy to the next hardware generation... launching new hardware when the current one is collecting dust can alienate just as many existing consumers as it can attract new ones...

I am personally hoping Nintendo have some kind of plan for one more major software cycle for the Wii before they retire it, either with new original content or 3ds ports or something... it just doesn't seem like good customer-relations to let a viral hit die a slow death... it just reinforces the notion that the wii was a fad in the eye of the consumer...

Ideally if they could reignite the enthusiasm and interest in the platform then that would provide an excellent launch-pad for a new home console, similar to how the DS is still going strong with Dragon Quest, Layton and Pokemon.

If they are able to do that, then they could launch a successor as late as 2013, with the Wii burning out completely about a year into it's successor's life...

Here's hoping... as was said by someone else on these forums, I feel like the Wii has yet to live up to it's potential...