The sequel to Nintendo's world-storming Wii console is close. Very close. That's what rumours bursting from inside the industry would have us believe, with most tipping an unveiling at this year's E3 convention - the annual games industry shin-dig where new tech has always been shown off.
It will be HD - but that's a given these days. What's more interesting is that the rumours say it will have a controller with a HD touchscreen, as well as use Blu-ray and a meaty quad-core processor to deliver graphics which are ahead of PS3 and Xbox 360 levels whilst still remaining innovative.
Whilst these rumours should be treated with caution, it is intriguing that the French site which revealed these specs - 01.net - also leaked the final specs of Sony's 'PSP2', the NGP, before the device was made public.
If the rumours are true, it will be interesting to see how Nintendo manages to market the console to its more recent target audience of families and social gamers as opposed to the Modern Warfare, dark room, headset types who will no doubt be more at ease with a high-spec, high-price console than the mums who just want to play Wii Fit.
It would mark a serious departure from Nintendo's low-graphics, high-innovation approach which has seen it sell 225 million DS and Wii consoles in six years.
If Nintendo does return to targeting a more typical gamer audience, it might at once alienate its most recent fans whilst struggling to claw back old fans who grew disillusioned with Wii Play and Brain Training and moved to Xbox or PS3 to get their fix.
The new 3DS might give us some idea. The handheld may not be the most powerful thing ever created, but it does smash the PSP and deliver graphics capable of beating Wii - and in 3D. And with games like Pro Evolution Soccer, Ridge Racer and Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D promising deep experiences rather than light family fare, it marks a shift in focus for Nintendo back to its more traditional roots. The price - £230 - is more than double the launch price of the £99 DS, leaving all but the most fanatical for the device unlikely to open their wallets.
A console which delivers the likes of Zelda, Metroid and Mario Galaxy in glorious HD is a dream to any Nintendo fan, but where does it leave the new crowd?
The controller may provide the answer. While I'm not sure why you'd need a HD screen on a controller (the aspect of the rumour I'm most suspicious of), if it were true that the Wii 2 will use a controller with a touch screen, it would be a way of marketing the console as something a bit different.
Cue adverts of families playing Monopoly on their Wii 2 with their money laid out on their remote screen, or playing 'silly' mini-games whilst smiling un-naturally. Even if it weren't the controller, but some other gimmick (a projector has been rumoured, meaning the console wouldn't need a TV to be played), there is likely to be something to make the console stand out.
There is a danger, though - as there is with 3DS' 3D screen - that the headline feature, the touchscreen controller, thrown in to make the mainstream take notice simply won't do the trick.
That would leave Nintendo in a vulnerable position. PS4 and NeXtbox will likely beat Wii 2 graphics, leaving most developers to make games for that pairing, leaving Wii 2 with only ports of old games (even if those 'old games' are today's PS3 and 360 titles) and the likes of Mario for owners to play. Except they wouldn't have the mass market to fall back on.
On the flipside, it could take the mass market while bringing in the 'hardcore', too, capturing both markets just like the mighty PS2 managed.
Either way, it's going to be an interesting 12 months for the industry's most unconventional of companies.
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