So what is the cutting edge of the industry? Is that Crysis? Because it sure isn't on any console.

And last gens graphics: what were the best? I think RE4 on Gamecube comes close. Sure, not made by Nintendo, but not by Sony or Microsoft either.
But ok, maybe Nintendo doesn't focus on graphics so much. Although Galaxy, Metroid 3 and Brawl prove that Nintendo can make gorgeous games, that can stand proudly next to most of the HD games. Artstyle is more important than number of textures and polygons. So what? I think there is not one real gamer that can seriously say that Nintendo doesn't make quality games.

Salesnumbers screem sales dominance, but that's probably not what you meant.
So what besides the "gimmick" Wii mote makes Wii deserve lots of sales?
Obviously Quality games like Galaxy, Kart, Brawl, Metroid 3, Fire Emblem and 3rd party: Okami, RE4Wii, Zack & Wiki.

But also (and you probably won't believe me) FUN. I can tell you that literally everyone that played wii at my house leaves with at least the intention of buying one. This ranges from women (lots of them in my house...) to older family members to "hardcore" PlayStation fans. Playing is believing, I can't describe it any better.

@OP A lot of posts which I'm sure are beneficial, so I'll go back and read them after this:

I stoped reading the OP once I saw the part where said "keep in mind that the next..." Way to kill something by adding your own hopes and dreams as condition for predictions. If we are supposed to come up with something within the borders you just made then it would only be fair to have multiple options, in other words let's not add it to begin with.

Or to better reverberate I will not consider the clearly insecure limitations your presented to bind the following posts.

First the things we are assuming:
There will be a PS4 and a Xbox360
They will be competeing with one another or with Nintendo
All three next consoles are released around the same time
Vivendi nor Apple will step into the gaming market

Things we are not assuming:
WiiHD as Shigeru did note that HD is going to happen when the conditions are right for it. (Next console)

If that's the case then neither will topple Nintendo, at least as long as Iwata is around short of sheer brilliance, someone would have to create a new road and blaze the trail on it.

Who would be in a position to do that? Nintendo (1), Sony (2) and Microsoft (3)

1 - They have done it in the past and have proven they know how to zag
2 - They need to do way too much to put their company into the right position, but they do have the mind share to pull it off.
3 - Same as sony but on a more technological side, however they do not have execs with wisdom.

One can argue that Mario Kart is not racing but a platformer...and metroid is not a FPS but an adventure game but I don not want to start that fight. Howmany franchises is that...Mario, Zelda, Metroid...Fire emblem and, Wiisports/fit.

Microsoft published games I can think off...all different franchises and different titles.

Racing - Forza, PGR4

FPS - Halo, Perfect Dark

Platformer - Kameo

Action - Gears of War, Crackdown

Sim - Viva Pinata

JRPG - Lost Oddisey, Blu Dragon

ARPG - Mass Effect

Adventure - Kingdom under Fire

Party game/casual - Scene it

Soon to come -

RTS - Halo Wars

Sony has just as much coming out...Not saying one is better than the other as that is to a gamer's taste...but on a technical aspect, Forza 2 vs mario Kart...hmmm?

Worst of all if we look back at some of those titles, they are a carbon copy of last gen games (metroid, zelda, smash brawl, mario Kart) with wii mote technology applied. What do nintendo employees do all day?

@disolitude

Your list includes various titles that were released at a much later stage in the XBox 360's life as compared to the Wii's current point, and ZenfoldorVGI didn't even have a complete list of games (he missed Battalion Wars, Excitetruck, and Super Mario Strikers to name a few titles).

Beyond that, what is your problem with Nintendo? Why is it implicitly bad that Nintendo makes sequels to games people want but ok when Rockstar milks the Grand Theft Auto licence for all its worth (there have been more GTA games than the combined total of Mario and Zelda which are far older game series)?

Grow up, we get it you don't like the Wii, you don't have to come up with reasons to justify your preference.

@disollute

1. Apply for a job at Nintendo and show them how to make money with your great software expectations
2. They make games
3. MKWii = Platformer? What is a platformer... is this preperation for justification of what Banjo is?
4. Microsoft does well about publishing different games, Sony also what's the point here? *Scrolls up*

Also back to 3 for a second, this has happened way too many times for me to count, the reason why there are gaming genres is so that people can understand what they are getting from a game, if a platformer has a flight sim in it (Tools of Destruction) does that make all a fantasy flight sims platformers?

The point of a platform game is to get from point A to point B and the things that make each one unique is how you get from A to B, in that basically wraps up shooters also (offline) does that mean CoD4 is a 1st person platformer?

Maybe you could explain to me why MKWii is suddenly hybrid platformer after all these years of the franchise being called "Racing."

What makes Mario Kart a racing game for the record is very simple, competition that leads to you geting from 1~12 position.

I mean really what you said is getting me confused cause now I'm looking at Gladiators and saying wow that guy wouldn't stand a chance in Nascar.

I agree RE4 looked amazing...but even that game was outdone by ninja gaiden and god of war 2. thats besides the point...Best looking nintendo developed game for that console in my mind is Star Fox adventures back in 2002.

I also agree fun factor is important. Boom blox was funner than a lot of hardcore ps360 titles i've played. But it seems like wii only provides that kind of an experience...fun time for a couple of hours...another 2 hours of fun with friends...game collecting dust afterwards.  In any case, I'm not arguing nintendo is not doing a great job with the wii making money and providing a fun product. But they are not the market leader...nor are they dominating in any aspect that matters to gamers. If we owned stocks of all 3 companies and this is what mattered to us...then we could say they are dominating.

I'm going to say Microsoft.

They learned alot from last generation with the xbox which they resolved with the 360:
- Need more than just Halo
- Need to NOT be the most expensive console on the market
- Need a visually and ergonomically sound console and controller
- Need to continue dominating online
- Need to establish franchises
- Need to expand to countries outside of America (it hasn't resolved this one.. yet)

Now the 360 has alot of things to fix:
- Not enough Japanese love (that is AAA love)
- Console reliability
- Diversity in games (yes it has a big library, but it's not called the FPS console of choice for no reason)

There's more but I can't think of them right now.

Fact of the matter is, while I don't think Nintendo will lose next generation (they learnt alot from the GCN) I think that in terms of competition, MS > Sony. Where as MS is a company that makes a HEAP of mistakes, they are always fixing or damage controlling. Sony and Nintendo however, they tend to get smacked around for a while before they actually learn and evolve (PSP for the first 5+ years, and N64 + GCN years). While their way of doing things means they will at some point peak at number 1 again, MS is a sustained approach, they may never hit number 1, but they won't get beaten down to last place without a fight (al la gamecube).

Racing game is a game where you can manually change gears and use a steering wheel. A game where you lead the entire match and are shot by a turtle in the last 10 seconds and lose is not a racing game. Speed and handling are the aspects of racing... Now I know a steering wheel comes with mario kart...lol.

But really the game is a platformer on rails. Its more important to collect the right power ups and shoot the other guy than it is to "drive" well.

I have nothing against mario Kart as its a fun game. This comment leads to my previous point of nintendo not making racing games. Instead they take mario characters and engine from a mario game...put it on rails and add a track and taa-daa...billion dollars in the bank right there. They don't have to reasearch how a car handles, what current cars exist, licences...etc.

@ everyone that is attacking me  

I appologize for my comments here. But this thread started by a lot of people saying "nintendo's dominance" and "nintendo -  the market leader". We as gamers do not gain anything form nintendo getting billions of dollars more than sony or mocrosoft...this shouldn't concern us. On the software development side...and hardware side...theya re not the market leader. Hence why my initial post...I did not want to derail a thread or start a flame war.

Its not voodoo, it is just that in evolutionary generational upgrades the status-quo tends to be protected ...

If you have a generationaly switch from something like the Playstation to the PS2 most people who were happy with their Playstation will buy the PS2 because there is little to no reason to switch platforms.

In a revolutionary generational upgrade anything can happen ...