Why do people immediately assume that more power = better graphics? That's the visible effect, yes, but such a minor one in the grand scheme of things.

I'm still wondering where we go beyond HD. Sure, 3D is coming, but feesability without glasses in a living room setting is ways off...

If these reports are true, I hope that this woos a lot of third party developers... and that development costs for Wii U are low.

Better AI? More complex forms of interaction? Streaming/ cross platform gaming? Pushing more polygon (bigger hordes etc)

There's plenty of ways consoles can benefit from hardware updates yet.

I want the extra power to be used to reduce load times

@WaltzElf I added you on my 3DS. Could you please add me or tell me if you are not going to.

I'll add you tonight.

Graphics are good enough, I want better animation, A.I. and reduced loading, or eventually none at all. Quick saving.

Nintendo's pushing the power-thing to get more third-parties on board- because these days, that's what most really care about. The latest tech. And some of them, don't really make compelling games and they just blend in with the rest. I would hope they treat WiiU like the DS where developers were pushed to make innovative games and there were plenty that made the best use of two screens, touch, microphone and it's online capability. I care more about the features more than it outputting 1080p HD- because to be honest, that does not have any effect on how the game is played or how it enhances the gaming experience compared to other features.

I'll always look at HD as another layer. A pretty layer, but that's about it.

If the WiiU turns out to be the DS of home consoles this generation, then it's going to be more than successful. But that's just wishful thinking.

Of course it will be more powerful than the PS3. Do you really think Nintendo would release something weaker than their competitors' previous generation?

That's only the case until Microsoft and Sony make their next move. If Wii U is going to compete with the PS4, it needs all the power it can get.

I didn't go anywhere. The cost of HD technology went down. I still wouldn't pay $500 for a PS3.

everyone's getting on board the POWER7 TRAIN______ but ubisoft are saying stuff that points to a tri core broadway cpu,, they say its wii api code with added multi- core code support and a huge clock speed improvement and added EDram l3 catch NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.....

I'm impressed, many of you have gotten it correct!

If the Wii U is indeed equal to the PS3, then it will have to be more powerful. The system streams content to an external video controller, and that takes a good deal of power to do. Power - as Waltz stated - isn't always about graphics, mostly I think this power will be used to build cache (loading, streaming, processing, etc). It's going to have to have the engine under the hood to blast those awesome HD Zelda graphics and gameplay across the room to the controller!

@Rift: 500$ for a PS3. You're living in 2008

^ If that statement contains logic, it's hidden well.

Wow!

PSP Vita means life

Can you confirm that?

Some developer type interviewed on my local news station the other night, said it was 'obviously more powerful than those', referring to the 2 HD consoles.

Anyway, I grow bored of this speculation. From now on I listen to Reggie only! (And Japanese Nintendo peeps)

For me the increased power should be used to ensure that the frame rate of games is 60fps. If the WiiU achieves this and outputs at full 1080p then I will be very happy.

Why does everyone keep mentioning PlayStation 4? You really think Sony is going to move on so soon? And even if the Wii U is more powerful, that doesn't mean the PS3 is weak. The XBox is weak as I can see Microsoft making "the next move". Sony? After the hacker deal and all the money they lost during that? No.

Oh well, even if the graphics are a bit less than the PS3, i can live with it, as long as it has great games.

Sure they will, especially after Microsoft moves on. There's no way Sony would be able to rest on their laurels if both of their competitors have next gen systems slated to hit the market.

What would be great about this is that Sony reported originally that their PS3 will have a long life span. Something in "teens" in terms of its life. So, if it came out in 2007, and Wii U comes out 5 years later in 2012, then the Wii U will be on top for at least 5 years in terms of specs and I can see a bunch of developers jumping on board to use the resources a machine this powerful would offer. I do think the Wii U should have had some sort of 3D support though.