Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter is “absolutely convinced” we’ll see a Nintendo Wii HD by 2011. What makes him so sure? In short, Nintendo will start to look bad if their console is said to be “for your mom” instead of for gamers.
What they’ve done, so far, is show the industry there is more market than just hardcore gamers. They’ve also convinced many of us that only hardcore gamers actually buy games. Nintendo says they’re selling games, we’ve just not seen any real evidence of that outside of their own first party titles.
“Nintendo has to overcome that [lack of graphics power],” said Pachter. “A Wii HD would really position Nintendo well, which is why I’m absolutely convinced there is a Wii HD coming. Businesswise, they can’t have people saying that their machine is a toy for my mom.” (gamedaily)
Nintendo obviously doesn’t to be the focus of a “your mom” joke outside of being able to boast huge sales figures. Selling the console into homes has definitely raised the awareness of their brand to gamers and non-gamers alike. Now, it seems, Nintendo is going to have to “grow up” and get with the high definition graphics crowd… by 2011.
Would you re-buy a Wii if it was in HD? It’s also important to note Prachter believed Take-Two would become EA and was “convinced” of it. That didn’t happen. Will this?
Well, I got the same rumor, about a new console being developed by Nintendo, targeted for 2012. I am not the console expert, so please feel free to bash me for the following:
While I think the new console to be the real deal, I also think 2012 is a bit too soon. The market for 3DS was not yet properly exploited.
Now, about the SDK, Nintendo was not the most license friendly company. That lead (obviously) to a poor game library. Was that enough to wake up Nintendo? Is this the reason for having such a friendly SDK?
I say yes, that is a good reason. Actually, that is also a good lesson being taught here by MSFT.
However, from “making a friendly Nintendo SDK” to making an “easy to port SDK for all consoles” there is one more thing needed: access to the ins and outs of all consoles. Why would MSFT and Sony give Nintendo access to their technology? How would that benefit them?
Could it be an anti-competition scheme involved, where all developers settle for similar products with just little differences, only to impose a certain price level across the board?
To me, the SDK raises more questions than the piece of hardware.
Well, Nintendo confirmed it.
“Nintendo confirmed it.” 😀 The anti-competition scheme? 😀
Well it’s like there useing old ideas again. I remember they trying this with the Game cube and micro GBA’s . I’m sure its better tech this time around and I hope they have the “hard core” in mind this time around.