Pachter: Wii HD will provide 360/PS3-like graphics

[jake_the_fake1]

if Nintendo makes and releases WiiHD and it's suppose to have equal graphics capability to the PS3/360, then wouldn't nintnedo in effect start the next generation?

Not only that but wouldn't that put Nintendo at a disadvantage seeing as the install base for HD games is much greater on the PS3 and 360, and since the wiiHD would be more powerful that would mean that WiiHD games will not be compatible with the current SD wii, so this in effect would splinter their own market and make developers look at the WiiHD with an install base of 0 just before launch and not the current 50million......this to me is NOT extending the life cycle but rather starting a new one.

Now what I do see, and I've stated this before, is Nintendo following what they've done with the DS/DSi. Simply put, Nintendo will release something like Wii plus where the wii hardware will be almost identical to the current wii with the difference that the wii plus would have an upscaler that would automatically convert all 480p images internally to 720p/1080i/1080p and come with added flash memory, and this version of the wii would eventually replace the current wii, this way compatibility will remain accross the board as well as well provide an advantage to those with HD sets without penalising SDTV owners.

This will prelong this cycle as well as proved an updated version with the ability to make wii games look a little better on HDtv's...now this is what I think will actually end up happening.