Rol - The amnalysts have as of yet been pretty much spot-on with the HD TV market.

Ben - Not really. The new games just won't be able to go HD on the current system. Not a big deal, since it's to be expected. They aren't changing the architecture, just the capabilities. Hell, upscaling is likely something they could add to the firmware via Wii Connect so they may not need to even change the GPU.

But if they did, it's not exactly a new thing for the video gaming world. Sega changed their Genesis hardware and though caused a couple of games to be unplayable on the new system the reason is more due to their poor quality control. I beleive the SNES also had its CPU changed from 2.68 Mhz to 3.58 and that was managable because the system has a built-in method of handling variable bus speeds. So, again, small change to the firmware (for the new version) and it'll handle the new requirements without issue and still allow new games to be played on the old system.

I think it´s safe to assume Nintendo´s next console,whatever it´s called,will have HD.

senseinobaka said: I see many predictions for Wii market resistence heading into 2009. The question I pose is: "How could Nintendo best address this?" I think the best plan would be to make a new SKU(over used gaming acronym). Perhaps a Wii Premium that would have alot of the tech some wish it had now (HD output, movie playback, high quality streaming capabilites, more storage, etc). This would make perfect sense since at the time resistence hits the technology would be cheap enough to implement and maintain it's attractive price point. Also the original Wii's price point could be dropped to 129 (DSL levels) for further market exploitation.   What do you think nintendo should do?

The Wii, as it stands, is not incapable from displaying at HD resolutions.

 

Nothing.

It would be stupid to release a HD Wii in 2-3 years time and Nintendo knows that.


Nintendo's next console will be HD, but you won't see it in a few years time.

What they should do is start the nexgen as quickly as possible... while they have the upper hand... let's say... 2011... the PS3 theoretically still has 5 years to live... maybe a Xbox720... will be in development and to be launch in 2013 or something like that.... and that is the point where the Wii2 or wathever name you like is launch... same controllers... maybe a improve interface... full backward compatibility to GC a Wii... 100GB harddrive... ( they would cost 5 bucks by then )... 1080p... The winning media format drive... Dolby blah blah... and all the hi-tech thingys the PS3 has today... but at the price of a bubblegum... by doing this... the are changing the life cycle of the gens... the ultra powerful and hi-tech consoles will have life spans of 7 to 10 years... with expensive hardware... so picture these...

2005 - 2015 (PS3 and Xbox360 lifespan)
2011 ( New Nintendo Console that matches the Ps3 hardware or even exceed it by a little amount at a very consumer friendly price... lets say 250 bucks... )
2015 - 202X (PS4 and Xbox720 lifespan)
2018 / 2019 ( New Nintendo Console matching the other console's hardware)

By doing this you always maintain a low price and for a period of time you have the hype of being the new console with blah blah... without having a current gen competitor...

Besides, you're still ignoring the fact that in two years the HDTV market will have tripled or some such according to the analysts.

Nevere, ever, take what analystis say seriosuly. Some say Wii would sell 10m consoles in its lifetime. You can judge by that how accurate they are. And you know, most of HD owners aren´t getting a video game console for it.

Basically...I don't want to have to buy another console for at least 5 years...I don't want a Wii2 anytime soon...

Don't worry, only the most gullible will believe that a new Wii with HD will come out in the next 2-3 years

diegomoroco777 said: Besides, you're still ignoring the fact that in two years the HDTV market will have tripled or some such according to the analysts. Nevere, ever, take what analystis say seriosuly. Some say Wii would sell 10m consoles in its lifetime. You can judge by that how accurate they are. And you know, most of HD owners aren´t getting a video game console for it.

Most analysts have HDTV penetration at (approximately) 50% in 2010 or 2011.

Even if you assume that everyone who has a Wii uses it on their main TV, and everyone who has a HDTV is repulsed by the Wii's SD graphics, that means that 50% of the market is still willing to buy the Wii. It is likely that neither of these assumptions is true so the Wii can still (probably) sell well to 80% of the market in 2011 without HD support.

What's the actual story on this? This is the first I've heard of the Wii being able to do HD, but all along I've found it a little hard to believe that it really can't. Even the PS2 could do HD if the developers wanted it, and we know the Wii supports 480p. Could it just be a matter of developers finding a way to program efficiently enough to leave a little hardware room to bump up the res?


Though I don't agree with the OP's analysis, these numbers are off. Twenty-eight percent of households already have an HDTV. Conservatively, 60% will have one 2 years from now, and by 2011 they'll be virtually everywhere.

While I'm a fan of Nintendo and what they've accomplished with the Wii, they dropped the ball on this one. HD support should have been a top consideration in designing the system.