Nintendo Not Ready for a New Console

Those hoping for an announcement of the Wii 2 at this year's E3 shouldn't hold their breath, as Nintendo of America President and CEO Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that the company is "not there yet" when it comes to creating a successor for their popular console.

"Absolutely, we pride ourselves on the big innovative jump, typically in the area of the consumer experience," said Fils-Aime. "The way we approach that innovation, because we have hardware developers working side by side with software developers, is that when the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system. We're not there yet, from a Wii perspective."

Fils-Aime was also quick to downplay the Wii's supposed technological inferiority, asserting that maybe it isn't the clothes that make the man.

"For us, technology is not an endpoint. Technology is an enabler for fantastic consumer experiences. So from a hardware standpoint, we are always looking at technology. But in the end, the technology has to enable a new, unique experience.

"So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience. Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are groundbreaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself."

So what would create a brand new experience that will lead to a new Nintendo console? Is 3D a big enough deal, or is that too niche and too far off to be a draw for the company? What about a totally controller-free experience like Natal? You can bet the Big N will be watching that device closely and monitoring the consumer response. In short, don't expect a new Wii based around HD and if you want a new Nintendo console then you'd better start pitching your crazy ideas.
 

» Go to Source