Take it with a big grain of salt:

Via Go Nintendo:

"At GDC, we heard reference to Nintendo's "Project Butterfly", the intended succesor to the Wii. No specs were given, though the hardware is designed to be physically upgraded over time. As it was explained to us, by plugging in new parts it 'becomes' a new machine. It will be marketed as the antidote to Apple's yearly redesigns. One machine, for life."

With the reference to GDC in the blurb, I'm thinking this is an April Fools' Day joke from NGamer. Take it as you will.

Source

http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=155581

http://3anime.com/wii-2-rumors-project-butterfly-as-nintendos-next-console/3827#

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I'n not sure if this's real, but the idea is something strange. Could work?

Could this be a SEGA/Nintendo team up?!

As the idea isnt a bad one, no console manufacturer would ever market a console like this, as sales would never be as large as they could be by releasing new console generations periodically.

If this were true, then this is Nintendo's last console? Hahah, I know this is probably a joke but the premise is kind of a cool one.

Nintendo releases the Butterfly with specs A. These would be comparable to what the PS3/360 have now. It would of course include some new multi camera motion array or more advanced voice controls... anything to have that catch for new gamers.

Then down the road the "Butterfly Wing, (spec B)" releases which can either be baught as a new console or as a component add on that plugs into an expansion port on the original console. All previous games are originally made to be essentially upscaled to new hardware, and once spec B releases past and future games automatically use the new hardware to its greatest advantage. (similar to how games scale according to hardware specs on PC's)

When the next iteration comes along, its simply a new attatchment to replace the old one.

This seems like a way for Nintendo to come out with a new console sooner rather than later and still have the possibility to compete when the PS4 and 720 come along.

... Interesting, even if fake.

Carl, if your post were on Facebook, I would like it.

I will also take it as an April Fool's joke, for many reasons.

What's described in the OP is called a "desktop PC" I guess... :P

For this to happen wouldn`t it need to have lots of "holes" )lack of a better word) or be able to open it and add parts?

Terrible idea if true. Therefore it's false.

Sounds up Nintendo's ally, they usually have been dabbling with add-ons since the NES era (or more accurately the Famicom). Although the main problem with such is, what would really seperate it from a computer?

The reason for most console success and endurance over PCs with the mainstream is the lack of need to buy add-ons and ease of picking up and playing. The idea of console that is expandable isn't bad in of itself, but it just sounds so terribly unlikely for success if that is the main selling or design point.

It rather seems anti-Nintendo to me, largely because they've been against that PC-style mentality from the beginning