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[Comet]

I'd love to see what Nintendo games could look like and do with today's latest hardware. Oh well, I guess I'll know that in 2018.

 

[Jive Turkey]

E3 is the hype singularity. We know it's coming, but it's impossible to predict what will come after.

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

 

[Haint]

Name me ONE worth-their-salt developer who would make such non-technical and inept statements regarding hardware like this.

In the context of this article, "Developer" could be very well be someone in marketing or HR parroting water cooler scuttlebutt.

 

[AceBandage]

I refuse to believe this. Wouldn't be harder to build a console weaker than the PS360 nowadays than it would be to build a more powerful console?

No, they could build a console to any specs they want.
The better reason why it's impossible is that there's no reason for Nintendo to do this.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Yeah, just like the 360 and PS3 exploded out of the gate and the wii was an old busted pos that stayed on shelves like forever. Get a fucking clue, GAF is an irrelevant microcosm

But the Wii was an upgrade over the Gamecube, but that doesn't matter right, just because the more powerful systems didn't win right out of the gate? Lets continually move them goalposts.

No one with half a brain is going to say the most powerful graphic pumping console is going to "win", but to say upgrading your visual capability is irrelevant is quite short sighted. Because there are many gamers for which is does matter.

 

[dacuk]

Lol, the classic fall back.

I'm done with these rumors, but at this point, it seems likely that this gen will repeat itself for me. Get a Wii U for Nintendo exclusives, get a PS4 (or 720 if it gets interesting exclusives this time) for everything else due to it being more powerful. I'm good with that.

Give me those five, brother.

 

[commish]

No, they could build a console to any specs they want.
The better reason why it's impossible is that there's no reason for Nintendo to do this.

Because it'd be cheaper to make, thus giving them bigger profits? And they know their fans don't give a shit about graphics? There are many reasons.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

No, they could build a console to any specs they want.
The better reason why it's impossible is that there's no reason for Nintendo to do this.

Yeah. Nintendo might be the most tight-arsed cheapskates in the industry, but they're not dumb.

Even though their E3 2008 conference did make me question their mental health.

 

[Medalion]

It's not that hard or expensive to make something less powerful with modern components, you just don't have Nintendo's "imagination"

 

[1-D_FTW]

E3 is the hype singularity. We know it's coming, but it's impossible to predict what will come after.

Is it? Is it really? Meltdowns, good sir. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west on that day. There will also be meltdowns. Both of these are written in stone.

 

[Cromat]

Rumor: Wii U causes cancer in children

 

[entremet]

Anyone think Nintendo is leaking this out intentionally so we would all be surprised during e3? Machiaveillian move if so.

 

[theBishop]

Until the new systems come out and people who are in the dark see how dated their stuff looks. Same exact thing happened last gen with people saying "good enough". The casual public is happy with what they have till the next new shiny toy comes along and shows them wrong. Right now people don't care, but once the systems are announced and we start seeing actual game announcements, the markets mind will change as it always does.

Yep. I think a lot of people ignore the extent that hardware capability affects game design.

We're seeing in games like Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 these massive interactive environments that move and shift in ways we've never seen before. Most teams today do not have the budget or frankly technical talent to pull this off. Having a huge amount of power will allow lesser teams to start making big design decisions like this because it's easier for everyone to get it running at 30fps.

Better technology helps both sides of the development world. It allows top-tier teams to push boundaries forward, but it also allows smaller teams to make games they couldn't have done previously. Just think how hard it would've been for one guy make Minecraft in 2002.

 

[Massa]

The rumors sound very sketchy, but this is what it comes down to imo:

The tablet controller, with its color LCD touchscreen, is not going to be an inexpensive component. This would tend to push the price of the Wii U (which consists of a Wii U console plus a single tablet controller, according to sources) higher; keeping the retail price of the whole package low means cutting back on the capability of the GPU, CPU, RAM and other components in order to keep the price at the desired level.

 

[Red UFO]

Posted this in the Wii U speculation thread but it also applies here:

I don't know who's more bonkers, the people who seem to be getting pleasure out of hearing bad press on Nintendo or the people who get all upset and stressed out about this stuff.

dudes need to chill

 

[Hoo-doo]

No, they could build a console to any specs they want.
The better reason why it's impossible is that there's no reason for Nintendo to do this.

I'd say making the console as cheap as possible is a pretty good reason.
Worked for the Wii.

 

[WhyMe6]

Here's the reality of next gen:

I guarantee you there are going to be next gen PS4/XB3 launch titles that look significantly worse than the cream of the crop of this gen. We're getting to the point were all it takes is copious amounts of time in order to produce an impressive level of detail. Not all devs are up to the task of pushing modern hardware as far as absolutely possible. And that's fine, pushing hardware to its limits isn't going to net you a great game. There are going to be great looking games on Wii U, just like there are going to be shitty looking games on all next gen consoles. The only thing that really matters in terms of wii u power is that porting is a possibility. If ports are possible, I have faith they will come.

This is so true. To look "technically" brilliant, it takes a hell of a lot of time, effort and money. I also feel that as long as ports are "possible", it will be enough (and not Modern Warfare Wii "possible", Black Xbox-PS2 possible). Considering playing Wind Waker on Dolphin in 1080p on my TV blew me away as much as any game this gen graphically, I'm really not concerned about Nintendo's ability to make games look mindblowingly good.

Personally, I'm incredibly excited for the potential of Euclideon's Unlimited Detail technology. It's going to erase a huge amount of cost from making games look "realistic" - as evidenced by the state of the industry today, this jump HD was bloody difficult and probably too early for a lot of them.

 

[WrikaWrek]

Wii U is gonna look hot this year if we don't see anything from MS and Sony next consoles. It will have a year to explode, if doesn't do a Usain Bolt, it will get murdered.

 

[AceBandage]

Because it'd be cheaper to make, thus giving them bigger profits? And they know their fans don't give a shit about graphics? There are many reasons.

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of current gen games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

Spoiler

You fucking kidding me with this?

I'd say making the console as cheap as possible is a pretty good reason.
Worked for the Wii.

The Wii wasn't weaker than the GC...
How does that comparison make sense?

 

[schuelma]

Better technology helps both sides of the development world. It allows top-tier teams to push boundaries forward, but it also allows smaller teams to make games they couldn't have done previously. Just think how hard it would've been for one guy make Minecraft in 2002.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[goomba]

 

[MisterHero]

BUT WILL IT RUN DEAD RISING 3?!?!?

 

[impact]

I refuse to believe this. Wouldn't be harder to build a console weaker than the PS360 nowadays than it would be to build a more powerful console?

Nintendo

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Therefore we've compiled a list of things we hold important - a set of rules that we live by, and procedures that we follow.

Editorial and commercial issues are kept separate.
We report stories as we see them, as accurately and impartially as possible - we serve our readers and thereby our advertisers best by being reliable, fair and impartial.
If we receive a response after publication, we update the story or add a new one where necessary.
We always offer a right to reply, correct any factual errors brought to our attention, and credit our sources clearly where applicable.
We do not publish an unsubstantiated rumour without first having attempted to verify it ourselves, but will respect any request for sources to remain confidential.
We believe in being fair, honest and transparent in our dealings with advertisers.
We will not 'oversell' nor over-claim about our readership. The traffic on all our sites is regularly verified by third parties, and we publish that information promptly.
We provide a consultative sales approach based on understanding our readers, our advertisers and the marketplace.

If you believe a particular story or feature or aspect of how we work falls short of the above, please contact the editor.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-we-work

Look at the site archive, this is the only exclusive rumour article GI.biz have published in the last 2 years (as far back as it goes).

Certainly doesn't seem like a site that throws out crazy rumours.

So again either multiple sources in the industry have decided to tell the same lie or the west coast editor of GI.biz (who has worked for EA, Capcom etc.) just decided to make up a totally bullshit story with imaginary sources.

I agree wholeheartedly. Again, it's most likely a case of X aspect of Wii U being more powerful than 360/PS3 and Y aspect being less so. If I had to take a guess it would be more RAM for Wii U being the plus and maybe a weaker CPU the minus. I agree with your point tho, GI.biz and the author of the article aren't the rumor-mongering tabloid type.

 

[BY2K]

What does he mean "COLOR LCD touchscreen"? Did he expect it to be black and white or what?

 

[SolarPowered]

Anyone think Nintendo is leaking this out intentionally so we would all be surprised during e3? Machiaveillian move if so.

It'd only work if the internet could objectively analyze Nintendo hardware and software which is basically impossible unless Retro makes something awe inspiring.

 

[Henry Jones Jr]

Reports of its power are going to be all over the place until we see real games on it. That Zelda tech demo doesn't really count IMO, it's not a game.

 

[Medalion]

The Zelda Tech Demo was a projection, and not made on any type of finalized hardware and was a rush job

 

[Grymm]

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of current gen games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

Spoiler

You fucking kidding me with this?

Uhhh...

*looks at Wii*

*looks at Ace*

*looks at Wii again*

 

[Takuya]

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of current gen games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

Spoiler

You fucking kidding me with this?

The Wii wasn't weaker than the GC...
How does that comparison make sense?

Wii

 

[Glorified G]

nm

 

[Hoo-doo]

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of current gen games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

Spoiler

You fucking kidding me with this?

You mean, exactly like the Wii? That decision that made them billions and billions of dollars?

 

[specialguy]

Kind of expected it.

 

[commish]

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of current gen games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

Spoiler

You fucking kidding me with this?

Not sure what you're saying... since what you described is what Nintendo has done the last few generations.

 

[AceBandage]

You mean, exactly like the Wii? That decision that made them billions and billions of dollars?

Again... The Wii wasn't weaker than the GameCube.

Not sure what you're saying... since what you described is what Nintendo has done the last few generations.

wat

GAF, you're killing me here with this revisionist bullshit.

 

[schuelma]

You mean, exactly like the Wii? That decision that made them billions and billions of dollars?

..And yet also caused Nintendo to lose out on a lot of money when 3rd party development and eventually hardware sales dried up.

We'll see what happens.

I expect E3 to be an absolute shitfest for this board re: Wii U unless Nintendo shows a game that is clearly a cut above current gen stuff.

 

[Azure J]

Being dead fucking serious right now, I can't stand this anymore. :lol

E3 why are you still so far away? Better yet, where the fuck are the real leaks at?

 

[schuelma]

Being dead fucking serious right now, I can't stand this anymore. :lol

E3 why are you still so far away? Better yet, where the fuck are the real leaks at?

Real leaks are not going to happen until Nintendo is on stage and shows a first party project that shows the system's potential.

It is going to be a looong 2 months.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

Not sure what you're saying... since what you described is what Nintendo has done the last few generations.

1 generation.

First party output wise, it was arguably their best.

 

[Medalion]

Again... The Wii wasn't weaker than the GameCube.


wat

GAF, you're killing me here with this revisionist bullshit.

DS was less powerful than PSP
Wii less powerful than 360/PS3
3DS less powerful than PS Vita

soooooo many generations!!!

 

[qq more]

Not sure what you're saying... since what you described is what Nintendo has done the last few generations.

what

I'm pretty sure N64 and GC were stronger than both the PS1 and 2 respectively

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

The only thing more depressing than the chance of Nintendo not giving this thing enough horse power is seeing some people want it to fail.

For all of the horrible choices Ninty have made, you gotta love em. Miserable bastards!

 

[TheNatural]

Uhhh...

*looks at Wii*

*looks at Ace*

*looks at Wii again*

Except developers already have ports/versions of games announced, and they wouldn't do that if it was underpowered. And people like the Darksiders developers, who actually have the balls to go on record with their name, basically said they had no problem getting their game up and running.

Is there really anyone stupid enough to hold on to that this system won't be able to run what's coming out for 360 or PS3?

This is why stupid rumors get such legs, as long as there's someone stupid enough to believe them, they're stupid enough to post it to get hits.

 

[Medalion]

what

I'm pretty sure N64 and GC were stronger than both the PS1 and 2 respectively

N64 was technically more powerful but the cartridge format held back its potential a LOT

 

[Randolph Freelander]

It wouldn't surprise me if this is true. Just as it wouldn't surprise me if the Xbox 642 and PS4 aren't nearly as powerful as people would hope. Just as it wouldn't surprise me if I didn't care.

Graphics are irrelevant. Content is king.

 

[schuelma]

Re-reading the quotes..yeah, I am very very skeptical. These sentences sound like stuff message board posters say, and not particularly smart ones.

I would be very surprised if developers working on the Wii U would give those types of quotes to anyone.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Again... The Wii wasn't weaker than the GameCube.

It was slightly more powerful and is basically considered last generation technology. For Nintendo to go from slightly more powerful as was the case with the Wii to slightly less powerful for the Wii U is not a huge stretch, at all.

 

[AceBandage]

Except developers already have ports/versions of games announced, and they wouldn't do that if it was underpowered. And people like the Darksiders developers, who actually have the balls to go on record with their name, basically said they had no problem getting their game up and running.

Is there really anyone stupid enough to hold on to that this system won't be able to run what's coming out for 360 or PS3?

This is why stupid rumors get such legs, as long as there's someone stupid enough to believe them, they're stupid enough to post it to get hits.

Bingo.
Gotta love game "journalism".

It was slightly more powerful and is basically considered last generation technology. For Nintendo to go from slightly more powerful as was the case with the Wii to slightly less powerful for the Wii U is not a huge stretch, at all.

So, you're saying they'll make a system, that (despite every dev saying the opposite) will have concessions made for multiplatform games?

Come on, Heavy. You're better than that...

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Yeah... they're going to spend billions in R&D to make a system that only they support, that can't even get proper ports of 360/PS3 games.
Makes total sense.
Yup.
Total sense.

My minor change to the quote above might assist in understanding Ace's point.

Ace is not talking about PS4 and 720 ports.

 

[Sadist]

Being dead fucking serious right now, I can't stand this anymore. :lol

E3 why are you still so far away? Better yet, where the fuck are the real leaks at?

Only 64 days away