Nintendo: Don't expect a new console 'any time soon'

[Queasy]

It's no secret that the Nintendo Wii lags behind the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 graphically. This has led some analysts to speculate that a 'Wii HD' or similar successor to the Wii is on the horizon. In a video interview with Gamespot at the Nintendo Summit, Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway squashes the idea of a new Nintendo console any time soon.

Dunaway says that the it's too early for a new console from Nintendo because the Wii still has a lot of room to grow. The install base of the Nintendo Wii is 27 million plus worldwide which is more than the PS2 had at the same point in its lifecycle. "There's still a big audience that we can access with the Wii," claims Dunaway.

The Wii graphics lag doesn't seem to bother Dunaway as she says that Nintendo is about creating immersive experiences that consumers can enjoy. "That being said, part of Nintendo's heritage is to always be looking at innovation and to start working on the next hardware as soon as we launch a platform, so we'll have it ready when we think the time is right."

 

[jpeyton]

I don't have a degree in business, but if I'm selling 500,000 Wiis every month, I probably won't kill the Golden Goose anytime soon either.

The components for the Wii are cheap enough that the console has a lot of downward pricing mobility. Nintendo can keep their sales up for a few more years with more $50 price drops, just like the PS2 has done.

 

[Lotheron]

The Wii is doing a fine job at printing money for Nintendo, no reasons to change imo.

 

[dguy6789]

I would prefer no new Wii console anytime soon. Means I won't have to buy a new one

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

I'm okay with this if less spending on hardware development means more spending on first-party franchise software.

 

[drbrock]

wii is good enough for now. they just need to keep pumping first party titles. I am excited about metroid and mario. We need a new zelda stat.

 

[magomago]

I wonder the percentage of games that are sold for Wii that isn't first party. I have a feeling that its biased towards first party....meaning Nintendo is literally taking in all the money it can get.

 

[Queasy]

I wonder the percentage of games that are sold for Wii that isn't first party. I have a feeling that its biased towards first party....meaning Nintendo is literally taking in all the money it can get.

One of the stats that Nintendo was throwing around during their summit yesterday was that 4 of the top ten Wii games sold last year (or just December, I forget) were third party games. However, one of those was Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics so there is a Nintendo tie-in there.

Third party games on the Wii can have success if done right and they get the proper marketing. Too often it is shovelware though and the stuff that isn't shovelware barely gets noticed.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Not unexpected, but still disappointing.

 

[zerocool84]

I wonder the percentage of games that are sold for Wii that isn't first party. I have a feeling that its biased towards first party....meaning Nintendo is literally taking in all the money it can get.

Well everyone knows that the only good games on Nintendo consoles are first party titles. Very rarely are any third party games good.

 

[smackababy]

Well everyone knows that the only good games on Nintendo consoles are first party titles. Very rarely are any third party games good.

This was true for the past decade maybe, but N64 and before there were plenty of third party tites that were amazing. RE4 was also considered the best shooter for awhile and it was released on the GC.

But yes, for the Wii, the only games close to worth the asking price are first party.

And this no new console stance shouldn't come as a surprise. Nintendo is leading in console sales, and even though they've slowed some, all they have to do is continue to support the platform with Wii Sports 4, Mario Party over 9000, and a new Zelda game every 3-4 years.