Alright I know its old news that Nintendo officially confirmed it is working on new hardware. Infact I remember when Wii was unvieled in full that Miyamoto said the next console would support HD, something that indicated the next console was already in development. Then of course there is Nintendo's typical five year life cycle. Both Nintendo DS and Wii are entering there final years of the five year cycle. So the question that comes to mind is when will Nintendo unviel its next platform, and what platform will be unvieled next?
A new handheld? Its been almost six years since the DS broke into the marketplace. That is over a year longer then Nintendo's typical five year life cycle. Also Nintendo's handhelds have traditionally all had three models. DSi has rounded that up. With the PSPGo now a failure and a new PSP expected any time now it would be very likely that the new handheld would be unvieled any time now. Could a new handheld be unvieled at this years E3?
A new home platform? The Wii is going to be concluding its five year life cycle in 2011. If Nintendo sticks to that life cycle a new home platform should be revealed either this E3 or next E3. Already Iwata and Miyamoto have indicated the next home platform is coming close to realization. Iwata says the next platform will revolutionalize the industry and that it will even surpass Natal in evolving the way we play games. If such revolutionary hardware is already underway is it unreasonable to think we might see Nintendo's next console this E3?
Now the question also poised is will Nintendo reveal their new hardware at E3? Or could it be unvieled at GDC or another conferance? Or will there be no new hardware announcement this year. Will Nintendo hold off until 2011?
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
