I think out of all the mysteries being discussed in these threads, the biggest and perhaps most important one is what the next attempt at a WiiSports-type of juggernaut will be from Nintendo. Iwata mentioned it ever so briefly during the investor's briefing, but it very well could be something that spurs on crazy 6+ hour long lines at E3 this year and gets the media buzzing in ways it hasn't since 2006. Nintendo has had a very long time to work on and perfect whatever this title ends up being, and even if it isn't something we think we want now, it could be something we'll end up wanting after we see/hear about it. Or it could totally suck and so forget I said anything.
Oh yeah, I'm fascinated to see what they've cooked up. It needs to be something with instant appeal to just about everyone, and it needs to use the tablet functionality to achieve an experience we've never played anything like before. It's a lot easier to think up something fitting this description with a small, motion-sensing, remote control shaped input device than it is with a large tablet with traditional game controls on the side. Nintendo will have to show some real outside-the-box thinking if a casual sensation comparable to Wii Sports really is part of their strategy.
Not sure why you're so confident. I could come up with at least 5 reasons why NSMB will be shown at E3 for Wii U.
1) Nintendo normally turns tech demos into real games. (Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Music, Steel Diver, etc)
2) New Super Mario Bros Wii is one of the best selling games for Wii. It's outsold every 3D Mario game.
3) It's a game that is faster to develop just in time for Wii U's launch than 3D Mario.
4) That's way too much effort put into a tech demo for it not to become a real game.
5) It's the perfect game to bridge gap between casuals and hardcore gamers.
But on the other hand, we have
1) New Super Mario Bros. 2 is out in August and it's crazy to release two NSMB games within 3-4 months of each other, especially if you want the second to majorly drive system adoption.
The problem is it looked like there was no effort put into it. It's NSMB with a Mii in it. Looks worse than NSMB2, which is already treading the line of being too familiar.
That there was no effort put into the demo is what convinces me that it's planned to be a real game. I mean, what was it demonstrating? Certainly not the power of the system.
Perhaps it's not a launch title, though. At E3 20006 Nintendo showed off tech demos that saw their final incarnations in Wii Music and Wii Sports Resorts minigames.
The more I think about it, the more I think it makes sense to hold on to NSMB for Wii U. The launch is going to in all likelihood tailored more towards the core. NSMB is a great bomb to drop for the casual at a time when system sales could potentially slow...which is not launch. I would think 3D Mario would be more likely for launch (but I doubt it will be anywhere near ready ).
By the way, any word about Good-Feel?
First was Wario. Then Kirby. What 2D platform will be next? Time for some HD Yoshi love?
There were rumours coming from Japan late last year that they were working on Yoshi's Island. If true, I hope it's HD and not for 3DS.
I dunno. I wonder if their audience will get angry at them for focusing too much on non-gaming points of interest.
I'm not sure if Microsoft realize that Xbox has a real branding problem if they really want it to be a true widespread mainstream device. They're going to have to spend a hell of a lot on marketing to undo the perception of Xbox as a games console first and foremost. Right now people view it as something to play games with and watch Netflix on the side, not as a true multimedia convergence device. This puts them at risk of damage to their perception among their dedicated gamer base.
Apple are well known for the type of product category Microsoft want to position Xbox in. If they go all out with a TV based product (which rumours and Tim Cook's word suggest they will) I think they'll have a much easier time persuading people to buy it and making it go mainstream. Which would put Microsoft in a very...
interesting position.
