yeah I kinda lost what I was gonna say but. Personally I think they made their statement and that was cool and all, but I'd like to see Wii-Ni step up graphically and really compete well with future consoles. I think they can do well enough catering to "budget gamers" by keeping the original Wii going and having the next one be more advanced to cater to the crowd who wants more bang out of it.

i wouldnt be. ill probably have a 1080p tv by then and i want nintendo to put at least a little effort into making a powerful console.

It has nothing to do with effort, making enough hardware for 1080p from 720p hardware is very easy (just duplicate GPU power, add some more RAM and you're basically there). It has everything to do with cost/benefit ratio, which doesn't seem to be good with most people unable to tell between a 720p and a 1080p game.

I think Nintendo will release a console next gen for $299.

It will be HD 720p guaranteed, more powerful than you think it would be (closer to competition). Sony and Microsoft will not release a machine for over $400.

I would say Microsofts and Sony's consoles will be no more than twice as powerful as the next Nintendo system. And the jump in power will not be as large as from last generation to this generation.

I agree in that I think the Wii will follow the DS 'upgrade' model. They will NOT drop the price - at all - until sales significantly start to dip.

Then I think you'll see a 'Wii HD' or 'Wii+' released at a little over the current price point. Then the Wii will get a price cut at the same time, and most of the Ninty fans will start upgrading.

The amazing thing with the DSi is that DSi games will NOT RUN on a DS!! So it really is a new handheld (it has extra RAM, as well as the camera and other features).

The Wii+ could follow the same pattern. I'd love to see the next Wii go back to carts - but this won't happen for the Wii+, as backwards compat is so important (it must be able to play Wii titles).

...

I'd expect lots of onboard RAM, and special Wii+ (only) downloadable titles. Its a great way to migrate to a DL-only world - have the retail Wii titles, and the online only Wii+ titles.

They *could* stick extra VRAM on it, extra RAM, crank up the clock speed on the GPU/CPU, upgrade the output to 720p, controller will come with M+. Even a 1080i upscalar and/or HDMI plugs, or better FSAA. Lots of options really.

Opens the door for them down the track to release a ultra-cheap Wii+ WITHOUT a drive (might be half the cost, if not less) - DL titles only. By then they would have a good catalog of DL titles.

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Doesn't anyone think it wierd that Ninty have NOT released any really significant WiiWare titles of their own? They have obviously been working hard on DSi titles - but I wonder what else they have coming. Or maybe they are leaving it to 3rd-parties for now...

Am I missing something? How is that amazing? I think that's terrible... I had no idea. I hope I don't have to buy a new DS just to play newer games!?

Someone put my mind at ease, please. I think I'm reading way too much into this... For example, do you mean only games that take advantage of the new camera feature? I really haven't read anything on the DSI.

OT: I couldn't care much what the next Nintendo system's resolution is. That wasn't at all what bothered me about my Wii. But to answer your question: yes, I would be more than satisfied.

^
Hes wrong. DSi isnt even close to being a new handheld.

Dude DSi is compatible with ALL DS games unless they use a peripheral that required the GBA slot.

Phew. Thanks a bunch! I felt like I had been swindeled there for a minute.

DSi will have exclusive software but it's all DSWare via download. all new retail releases will work on all DS hardware unless Nintendo say otherwise.

of course it will be at least 1080i, by the time the next wii is released it will be cost effective to do so. The only reason Nintendo didn't go HD this gen is because they could make a much cheaper console, and they felt consumers didn't care that much at the moment. Nintendo said they looked into it and it would have cost them at least $400 to make a HD console. Nintendo made the right decision. By the time next gen comes around it won't be expensive, and more people will care about HD graphics.

Next gen they could release a console that is 2x as powerful as the 360 and ps3 for $250. Releasing another SD console would be pointless, even releasing a 720p console would be pointless, the price difference would be minimal at that time.

As graphical differences between generations become less and less noticeable Nintendo is going to have the advantage because they know how to differentiate themselves from the competition.