Nintendo launched what was labeled as the first Next-Generation Console with the Wii U on November 18th, 2012. The Wii U to some degree has been labeled as Nintendo’s attempt to play catch up from the launch of Wii, which from hardware standards fell well short of its competition. With impending consoles from Microsoft and Sony on the horizon, the Wii U looks to be falling short again and may very well wind up on the short end of the stick much like its predecessor.
Nintendo though did announce that they would be attempting to merge their portable and home consoles divisions to stream line development of the two. The 3DS and Wii U were obviously developed with much the same idea in mind, with improved graphics, touch screen controls, and Nintendo’s undeniable branding, it’s easy to see why the two would make perfect mates.
Nintendo’s handheld took some time to gain its legs but is now off and running. Will there be another portable in the near future?
Though looking beneath the surface there maybe a deeper meaning to the merger, especially when in an interview with Nintendo of Japan Mr. Iwata had the following to say about Nintendo’s future, “In terms of our platform integration, as I explained to you a short while ago, we are not saying that we are planning to integrate our platforms into one. What we are saying is that we would like to integrate software development methods, operating systems, and built-in software and software assets for each platform so that we can use them across different machines.”
He went on to say: “This means that if we manage to integrate our platforms successfully, we may in fact be able to make more platforms. At the moment, we only have our current handheld devices and home consoles because if we tried to make more platforms, our development resources would be spread too thinly. The more we can share software across different platforms, the more development resources will be left for something else.”
An interesting point that was brought forth was simply “we may be able to make more platforms.” While Nintendo has said since the launch of the system that it will take time for developers and consumers alike to recognize all of the potential that the Wii U has, we may find that the next console from Nintendo is more of a High-Powered machine rather than a gimmick.
Could this have simply been Nintendo’s answer to the 360 and PS3 all along?
Many have rumored that the next XBOX will feature two models, one for Triple-A titles and a center piece for all content enjoyed in the living room. The other being more of a causal experience for the individuals that enjoy the simplistic Arcade games and a media center. This would ensure that both the Hardcore and Casual players have what they are looking for and not paying for something that they don’t need.
Nintendo could be looking at a formula just like the potential one that Microsoft looks to be brewing. Should Nintendo choose to go in this direction, some of the analyst may have been premature with their notion that Nintendo was the first out of the box in the newest console race. The big N may wind up in joining the party after all, creating a system that is just as powerful as the others; only to expect anything else other than them showing up late would simply be asking too much.
The Cinematic Katzenjammer 