Soapbox: A Nintendo Fan's Hopes and Dreams for the NX

I definitely hope for cross platform, being able to buy games for WiiU and play on the handheld with no connection required.

Not knowing what NX is, there are some special wishes, here. We don't even know if NX is really substituting the WiiU.

By the way: I am the only one who doesn't like most of the ideas above?

@Chandlero I concur.

With Nintendo doing all this mobile stuff for all we know they're gonna release a smartphone. I mean it probably won't happen but we don't know for sure

A Nintendo online service like PS Plus and Xbox Live? Have you tried both of them? They're garbage.

Strongly disagree on the controllers. The Wii U pro controller owns all other controllers.
And motion control is the only way for Splatoon.

This is way too much to ask all in a launch. But thank god this article didn't try to bash the Gamepad for something that it isn't. Also selling the NX in 2 pieces (handheld and console) just seems really awkward, not sure how that would work. I mean we already sell it in 2 parts, but they don't work with one another. But people already STILL can't understand that the WiiU is backwards compatible with the Wii and same with 3DS to DS. I work in Best Buy and I constantly am explaining that to people. Even sometimes I get people trying to buy WiiU games to play on their Wii and I have to explain why it won't work. Selling it in two pieces will just further people's stupid confusion. Cool idea of course, but for the average consumer this seems complicated. I can just hear it now "WHY CAN'T THEY PUT IT ALL IN ONE BOX!?" The PS3 and 4 had similar confusion with the Vita, and that crashed and burned, so we never saw how it played out. Maybe Nintendo will and can push it to make it work and we'll see how it plays out. If Nintendo can make it where you buy 1 game and it has the ability to play both on TV and mobile, then they're already doing better than the PS brand tried.

The idea of be the low-cost console must go right now, it will never work again, people don't want cheap gimmicks, they want real games with great consoles.

@MegaVeggieMan, @Damo, and @ThomasBW64

Off-topic (or on-topic, because of the Nintendo NX):

If anybody feels bland today, here are some Nintendo NX rumours, just in case anybody could use the little salt shaker.

@TwilightOniAngel Nintendo's online service is far from perfect. Anyone who plays Smash Bro's has probably experienced a few laggy matches. It's even worse that I can't quit said match without being penalized.Lack of voice chat is a issue for me as well.

1. Definitely. Not only was the Wii U's launch lineup pretty meh, but the lineup as a whole leaves much to be desired. So many skipped IPs and missed potential here, it's pretty sad that all of the IPs listed here have never seen a Wii U entry, and only one of them will in the future. Nintendo needs to know exactly what they want the NX to do and tailor the lineup to fulfill that purpose.
2. They kind of need to draw from the Wii U's lineup if they want to help sell the NX. Otherwise consumers won't think they're getting good enough value for games.
3. Keep the Gamepad for BC purposes and just make the NX's default controller the Wii U Pro Controller. The mass market will be a lot happier that way.
4. It doesn't necessarily need to be all one device, but more interaction between home and handheld environments should definitely be a thing. This would allow players to have all of the functionality of the Gamepad without forcing asymmetric multiplayer, and they can draw from players each bringing their own save file to create new forms of multiplayer. Imagine a Pokemon game where you can bring your game to a friend's house and progress through the game together, all while still making progress in your own game. I'm sure Game Freak would have no problem making a game like that in spite of their aversion to consoles.
5. Yes, we need this to keep costs down and allow the player flexibility to buy to their own needs as a gamer.
6. They could, but I feel like they would end up ignored and would have to be discontinued fairly soon. The entire reason Nintendo's sales of the two are falling is because the mass market simply doesn't want the hardware.
7. Meh. I think it'll help brand awareness, but probably not game and console sales as much.
8. I mean if they see an opportunity to tie the two together, go for it, but that shouldn't be a priority right now.
9. This is an absolute necessity, their account system needs to be formatted in a way that players can keep their profile and saves regardless of how many times they switch hardware.
10. Not too keen on the idea of paying for online service TBH.
11. Mobile integration could certainly help software sales, but probably not hardware sales. Nintendo definitely needs to enter this market, but in the long term they should consider reformatting their business so they can eventually make their own mobile device.
12. Good for replay value, and could probably fit into their Nintendo Account system as a way to earn discounts, but not high priority.
13. Should be a medium term goal, something they should gradually work up to over the course of this generation. Amiibos are selling just fine on their own for now so there's not much of a hurry to come up with game uses for them, but they can only remain interesting for so long.
14. Would certainly help trim costs and keep gamers from getting confused. I'd say they could probably trim down to 2 controller options: the Pro controller and the Gamepad, with the Wii Remote being phased out because most of its functionality is already covered with the Gamepad. If they have a good idea for a new controller, they could do a third, but that's it.
15. High end 9th gen consoles should really be measuring their hard drives in terabytes. I'd say for now 1 TB is good, maybe bump it up to 2 or 4 TB 2 years in.
16. Yes, another necessity.

I think Nintendo should be working towards having multiple form factors and models with the NX, that would give them a good foundation for the future. They shouldn't get too crazy with it, I think a home console and handheld unit with 2 different model choices for each would be a good start, but they should start providing more of a sense of flexibility in their hardware from here on out. For home consoles especially, the conflict between having a low cost, profitable budget console and a high powered behemoth of a machine that would appeal to the hardcore is pretty much going to require them to have both options.

As far as I know I won't be paying for a service just so I can play my games online, but the rest of the ideas are what people have been suggesting for a while.

@Superryanworld I'm not saying Nintendo is perfect. I'm saying the online services of the Xbox One and Playstation 4 are garbage. If you guys want to pay for online.Then go for it.Cause i'm not.

So get the features the competition has but not the service.

Not much room left for thought in that article, everything is listed. I am only glad the writer has no input in building the NX.

The reality is that there is no longer any room for three home consoles in the market and one will have to go. If NX fails then no more home console for Nintendo. That may not be a bad thing, Nintendo would still make the games we like.

My guess is that the NX is a replacement for the gamepad. A mobile controller that works away from the Wii U. And the Wii U 2 will arrive sometime in 2017.

If it is a new console it has to be powerful, no gimmicks and inexpensive. If it is not priced way below the PS or Xbox it will struggle. Nintendo need to put any innovative ideas on hold and start to produce Games, good games and not rushed games to support Amiibo's.

The writer suggests more integration with toys and a Mario Galaxy 3. That is the last thing we need.

If they are so set on Amiibos why not go the whole way and sell the complete game in an Amiibo.

@Chandlero no

"Nintendo has given away its online functionality for a long time. Too long, in fact, and it's time to catch up with the times."

I'm failing to see how providing that service for free is a problem.

"A formal achievement system"

An excrement idea

So basically, the author wants the NX to be a PS4 clone that plays Nintendo 1st party games. Yeah, okay.

Also, DON'T restart the Virtual Console again. Port the Wii U VC library over so we can continue and expand on the offerings as well as add consoles like Gamecube, Turbografx, etc.

I stopped reading when I read that the NX needs a touch-screen and backwards compatibility for Wii U. For starters yes it needs something unique but to bring back a touch-screen controller for the NX is basically asking Nintendo to fail or make another Wii U system. Nintendo needs to get away from touch-screen gimmicks and make a regular controller. As for backwards compatibility of the Wii U. Nintendo needs to step away from that and make a powerful system with an X86 processing unit. How pathetic are you fanboys.

.........or to answer the question in a simple way.......

I have been playing Nintendo games since the Super Mario 64 days and I have a large screen high definition tv.

All I want is a box that will play high definition games and a pro type controller, so I can play new games. Games like Mario Kart and Zelda of course, but a new Wave Race, Pilot wings etc and some new stuff.

What I don't want is big controllers with screens, controllers that look like TV remotes, online gaming, Amiibo toys, VR, old handheld games on the BIG screen or points for being loyal.

If I am in a minority then maybe I have out grown Nintendo or its passed me by.

500 gb isn't enough

@Chandlero some are alright, but most of what he said I don't agree with either. Sounds more like the person who wrote this wants a ps4 or xbox one more than a true Nintendo platform.

I rather suspect we have already seen a console that may work like the nx, in the NVIDIA Shield series. What is necessary for such a system, of course, is servers with low latency. But one can also download. And play with touchscreen, in some games, or a controller. And the price is low.

A strong launch will definitely ensure bad 3rd party support.
3rd parties have long complained that they cannot complete against Nintendo's software and that Nintendo's software kills their sales.

From Dan Adelman (former head of indie relations at Nintendo).

“It really comes down to the business case for these publishers. Nintendo consumers buy Nintendo systems primarily for the first party content. There’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophesy in that publishers feel that they can’t compete with Nintendo first party, so they choose not to invest in making high quality products for the platform. There are some notable exceptions to this over the years like Rayman Legends but many times third party publishers set low sales projections for their games, and then decide a development budget based on that. I can’t say outright that they’re wrong either.”

“There have been cases where companies decided to pull out the stops and make a great game for Nintendo platforms only to find that consumers weren’t interested. And it could be because consumers have been burnt by third party games on Nintendo platforms before.”
http://mynintendonews.com/2015/01/21/dan-adelman-believes-third-party-developers-skip-nintendo-platforms-as-they-dont-think-they-can-compete/

Also there is no way in hell that anyone will be willing to pay $50 a year for Nintendo's online service, even if it was better than XBL.
Nintendo will never be able to live down charging for services, which in turn will hamper sales.

"At least a 500gb hard drive"
A new metric for size? Gram bit? GB is the correct symbol for giga byte, 'b' is bit.

@shaneoh For the former, the author definitely failed to convey what they thought we would get out of a paid service that would justify paying for it and by default paying for a service that was free is definitely NOT a good thing.

The latter though, has potential. For one, it promotes replay value by creating new challenges for the player. They can also take the concept further by tying it to Nintendo Account, they could have achievement points convert into Nintendo Account points and then achievements are more than some optional challenge for bragging rights, the player can use them to earn more discounts by making the most of their games.

I cannot stand online play and achievements. The former is full or morons and the latter is an artificial way of extending the life of a game. Never understood people wanting these things. Maybe it's because I'm an old school gamer and my beloved hobby is out growing me.

With the NX I just want up to date tech, a better VC and more Nintendo games. The hybrid idea is great too.

@Yorumi The problem with that approach is that third parties are pretty much a necessity to create mainstream appeal. If they try to go it alone then they're going to come off as having less value than Microsoft and Sony so there's less incentive to buy Nintendo's consoles. And I highly doubt they're going to be able to create enough Rares to be able to support themselves because that would either require a huge investment of either money to create said studios or people who are interested enough to start one themselves, and Nintendo doesn't have a lot of either.

@Bolt_Strike

I see achievements as showhorning the player into playing in a specific way. Not to mention the immersion breaking pop up to tell me I've "accomplished" something. And converting achievement points into account points is a terrible idea, particularly when we get achievements for playing a game for a total of 365 days, spending an entire Tuesday in game, or starting up a game 10 000 times.

@Yorumi Agreed on the 3rd party support. No chance they get the western 3rd party support. Japanese 3rd party support? I can see it. Problem is that Japanese games aren't as relevant in the west (outside of the mega franchises) as they once were, and so I don't know how much of a difference they'd ultimately make for Nintendo.

I also agree that trying to get into the arms race will end badly for Nintendo.

I'm beginning to wonder if the NX is a Nintendo smart phone that can simply sync with the Wii U. Hope not.
If it's a console, backwards compatability would be important to me or at least the ability to move everything from my Wii U over to it. Each point mentioned above is valid but ultimately I think it boils down to two things: A strong line up of launch games on a strong, powerful system. I have faith in Nintendo but can't help but be a little afraid seeing they have a hard time learning from thier mistakes.

everything else i can agree. but accept pay online service. i don't know why Xbox or Playstation decided to make online a paid service, imo i don't think Nintendo should go into that route as well. i like to play the games with everybody online, and sadly not everybody can pay all the online services for all consoles.

This is why I look forward to seeing what's next from Nintendo, they want to reinvent the wheel, and while that approach would be bad for most every company (which is why playstations can be expected to be playstations and likewise with XBoxes), Nintendo somehow manages it.

This list here is mostly the 'wheel' of consoles today, but let's see what happens when Nintendo puts their touch to it. Nobody can ever really guess it to any satisfying degree, and that's the cool part.

i appreciate the perspective of the article, and feel it was well written and properly disclaimered.

i cannot, however, disagree with the motion controller viewpoint more vigorously. there is a constant struggle between the "motion control" and the "simplistic control" camps, and to further one side over the other is divisive and self centered. the fact is that developing multiple control schemes for a game in today's world is simple, and the tech is cheap; both should be offerd in every game where practical.

i recognize the main idea of that section was that there are too many controller types for people to juggle (i disagree btw) but the fact is that every motion enabled controller since the wii mote has given developers the flexibility to throw motion controls out the windows if they so desire. sure, consolidate the form of the controllers to support both camps moreso than the wiimote did, but please don't suggest it's alright to consolidate my interests out of existence.

i for one feel that motion controls have been an effective evolution of an outdated and antiquated setup (masterfully executed for once in splatoon); a setup that the weak-willed have grown accustomed to, and vigorously fight against changing. but i can at least set my opinion aside enough to say "continue to support both in a robust way" by fostering the growth of those who want their interfaces to evolve, and give those who wish to stagnate the opportunity to feel enjoyably contented.

Backwards compatibility would be a mistake.

People don't want to play old WiiU games on a new console. The better bet would be to take the entire virtual console library and make it free to play with the system. Whether or not that's through a paid service like Playstation Plus or not.

If that rumour is true, the one about an updated version of Smash Bros being a launch title for the NX, then isn't it unlikely that the NX will be backwards compatible?

@Chandlero So let's hear YOUR ideas then?

Pretty simple in my book if you want to tap into the "blue ocean" of casual gamers/your average consumers.

Make a CHEAP Apple TV like device that allows you to play every nintendo game of old. Free virtual console through monthly fee.

For more advanced games, the system can draw on processing power from your PC, other devices, etc through the cloud they've talked about.

I've got to a point where I'm bored of trying to predict or figure out what the NX is going to be. I just want Nintendo to give us some solid details already.

Regardless, I still have a feeling I'm probably just not going to give a sh*t—right now the only thing that has me genuinely excited in gaming is the imminent arrival of proper virtual reality—but I'd absolutely love for Nintendo to prove me wrong.

@Chandlero It doesn't look like it. I think I'd find an achievement system annoying and superfluous, I don't want more stuff to be inaccessible without amiibo - let alone to have them become 'integral', and I don't think I want an overly generic controller.

The stuff about 'strong lineups' sounded pretty good though. I'm all for 'strong lineups'.

@Priceless_Spork No to social apps and Yes to backwards compatibility is 2006 not 2016.

Making a system backwards combatible would only drive the cost of the system up. The system's new hardware architecture and os likely won't closely resemble the new console's.

Okay. Good.

Now here are my ideas of what I would want in a Nintendo NX:

1. An architecture that anybody can “mold”. And by “mold” I mean that anybody (second-party, third-party, indie) can develope and port games. No more half-as*ed, lazy ports.

2. A dedicated, console-specific APU instead of a separate CPU and GPU that slowed down a little bit on the Nintendo Wii U. (Most games couldn’t, and still can’t, run at 60fps.) (Here’s hoping that the industry-leading chips is this.)

3. A simple chassis. Please, nothing exaggerated.

4. 4K Resolution. I know this may sound like a pipe dream, but knowing that when the Nintendo Wii U came out, it became literally the first HD console Nintendo has ever made, ever. But the times have changed now.

5. The NX needs to read any kind of external hard drives. Games are becoming more big and more storage-consuming. So if the PS4 and XBONE can use external hard drives, so can the NX.

6. It needs to be engine friendly. This goes with my points about the architecture and APU. If Nintendo wants the NX to succeed, they’ll have no choice but make the console accept any kind of console engine, and not just Unity. (Unreal, Crytek, RAGE, Creation, REDengine, IW, Frostbite, etc.) Again, this seems like a pipe dream.

7. A better GUI/Home Menu. No more “channel-surfing” icons and actions. That should’ve stayed with the Wii.

8. A simpler, yet cool name. Please, nothing repetitive this time. No more Wii-(insert something here). Again, Wii should’ve stayed in Wii. NOT Wii U.

9. A Steam-like or GOG.com-like library of Virtual Console games. If it’s possible, I want them to throw an Ambassador-like Program in which it gives you 10 free Nintendo 64 games and 10 free Nintendo Gamecube games.

10. Backwards compatibility with Nintendo Wii U games (and Nintendo Wii games, if it’s possible). It would also give them an opportunity to make the Wii U Gamepad, the Pro Controller, the Classic Controller, Wii Remote and Nunchuck (with and without the Motion Plus), the Wii Sensor Bar, and the Nintendo Gamecube controller (I know people will still be playing SSB like crazy once the NX comes).

11. No more 32gb and 50gb of storage for the console. Make it 250gb or 500gb of storage. Okay, this sounds crazy expensive. But it’s the principle of more memory storage.

12. Energy efficiency. I think the Wii U already has this.

13. While their at it, here’s hoping they fix the problems the Nintendo Network ID has for the NX. I can see this with their recently announced Nintendo Account.

14. An improved version of the Miiverse app once the NX comes. Although Nintendo is constantly updating it to make it look a little bit better.

15. A Nintendo Account app and My Nintendo app for both the NX and the Wii U. This is definitely going to happen.

16. Some kind of “software-relationship” between NX and mobile games developed from DeNa. You guys understand, right?

17. A music player in which it can let you listen to your favorite songs while playing games, and an image viewer in which it can let you put images in the background like the PS4, PS Vita smartphones, and other devices. Seems pointless, but fun IMHO.

18. An improved version of the Off-TV Play for the Nintendo NX controller/handheld. The wireless range of the Off-TV Play for the Wii U was short that you would lose the connection from your room to another.

19. And for the love of God Almighty, because we love Him so much, NO MORE REGION LOCK! If Nintendo doesn’t want piracy (and to a lesser extent, homebrew), Nintendo needs to make the NX region-free, something that many people have been asking for years.

I already posted these ideas in Starmen.net, WAY BEFORE Jonathan Bee posted this article. Some of these ideas are somehow similar to the ones mentioned above.

The number one thing Nintendo needs is to truly appeal to all types of gamers, especially hard core players who may have moved on.

@Yorumi
"There's nothing wrong with the wiiU graphically. Spend the gaming budget on game play, not graphics. Don't worry too much about the big AAA 3rd parties, instead make investments in promising indie companies and trying make new versions of Rare. That would provide a lot of games and make it a great console to own."

Agreed 100%. I'm actually surprised to hear you say that. Heck I'm surprised to hear ANYONE say that. But I agree. I really appreciate the visual splendor of all my PS4 and X1 games, and don't get me wrong- I prefer better graphics to worse (who doesn't) but I'm more than content with the Wii U graphics. It leaves a little to be desired when it comes to realistic styled games, but those are far and few between.

"I definitley want to see the nx as a hybrid, but I'd like a standard controller."

I think there's a pretty big split when it comes to this topic. Personally, I've come to adore the 2nd screen and would hate to see that go. It's just, it's become such a "Nintendo" thing now- it defines their platforms and even in games with minimal integration, I'd hate to give it up. But I also recognize what is most people's issue- the size factor. And I can't really argue there. But what if Nintendo were able to slim it down? What if they could make it just slightly larger than a normal controller, with a smaller (yet higher resolution) screen so that it doesn't feel clunky? Perhaps that would be a solution that could potentially satisfy both camps (both you and I)? I don't think anyone is inherently against more options, I just think they don't like the baggage it brought with the gamepad. If that can be overcome, perhaps most would be in favor?

"One of the main things I want is for nitnendo to get away from the safe sequels. When you compare SMB, SMB3, and SMW those are all different enough that I don't consider them safe sequels, but they're all definitely mario games. Do more of that with their games, they should be distinctly different but also definitely faithful to the IP they're from."

A common criticism. But in fairness, we went without 2D Mario games for 15 years, so it was nice just getting a few entries in our hands to play. Now that we've had a few, I think it's time to switch it up (and iirc that is what Miamoto said he wants to do, so that's cool). As far as visual art style, it's a little harder to switch it up now that we're in the HD era. Back then each generation brought more pixels and with them the potential for more ambitious sprites/models. But now, Mario's look is well established. So I'm not too concerned about that aspect- just mixing up the formula. Like the flagpole- get rid of it for the next game. Get rid of the 3 coins. It's amazing how a few small changes can freshen things up.

You are setting yourself up for bitter disappointment with that wish list.

@John_Enigma region free would be fantastic. Why would Nintendo care if I want to play a Japanese title that may never be localized? It's a sale they would not have had otherwise.

@shaneoh Nothing says you have to have time locked achievements. In fact, I've never seen a game that has an achievement like that. I'm thinking more content based achievements that reward you for completing certain tasks (to use Mario as an example, things like "collect every Green Star", "beat Grandmaster Galaxy/World 8-Crown/Champion Road/whatever", "unlock Rosalina", "bounce on 3 enemies without hitting the ground"), primarily content based requirements and impressive feats.

@Yorumi "that's why I said work with promising indies. They woudln't be starting the companies they'd be finding the good ones and giving them a boost in various ways. They can give IPs, advice, money etc."

Well technically, they wouldn't be indies then because the entire definition of an indie is a studio that's self published. Nintendo getting involved in that way would defeat the purpose. But as to your larger point, they probably couldn't do much aside from fund support, and again, they only have so much money.

"I get that 3rd party support has value but how do you propose nintendo get that support? Everyone acts like if they would just clone the ps4 the 3rd parties would come rushing in but that won't happen. I mean sure they wern't powerful but the wii blew away the competition early on, and that didn't secure any kind strong support. It outsold the competition the whole generation an when the wiiU came along they didn't care. Mostly lazy ports(and remember it's launch sold decently) and quickly abandoned the system.
NIntendo specifically held back on the 3ds launch to give 3rd parties a chance and it didn't do anything. While that system has more support than the wiiU that's not saying much. It's the problem that people primarily buy nintendo consoles for nintendo games. I don't know specifically how you break that but maybe you have ideas?"

It mainly boils down to two things: competitive specs and ease of porting. They're trying to work on the latter, but they're going to need the former as well to really get support.

"The main reason I think the budget console works is it makes a lot easier to buy as a secondary console. A big part of the reason I don't have a ps4 right now is I don't want to spend $400 on a console(the wiiU's $350 hurt a lot too). If it was $200 or $250 I'd probably have one now. A similar conversation happens with the people I work with who are gamers. "Ugh, like a few wiiU games and really want to play stuff like XCX or pokken but it's $300, I'd have it in a heartbeat if I could get it for $200". A hundred dollars doesn't seem like much but it's clearly having an effect.
So a cheaper console is much easier to market to people, and the only chance of 3rd parties selling is if they're making very nintendo-like games. Hence the Rare comment. So you get an affordable console with a lot of really fun, high quality games, and you get people considering the console and once they're playing you keep them hooked and wanting more and build long term customers.
You can mark this post but I'll take a stand and say if nintendo gets into the arms race with a me-too console, it's not going to end well for nintendo."

I don't think that being a secondary console is going to do much good nowadays, there's too many choices for hardware and less disposable income for Nintendo to really succeed that way. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think Nintendo should be a me-too console and they should try to do something unique, but the mainstream market isn't going to give them the time of day for a unique but low powered console, the only way that can work is with a blue ocean market and I'm not confident that lightning will strike twice here. They should try to be unique, sure, but whatever idea they come up with it shouldn't be something that interferes with traditional hardcore gaming, it won't pan out well for them otherwise. Variety and flexibility is the way to go this generation.

"Nintendo was once the titan of the video game industry."

And they still are, so that's neat. One failed console doesn't change the fact that Nintendo is still one of the largest companies in the entire industry, both by market cap and by revenue. That's a big part of why they're able to constantly take risks that others won't or can't afford to. Sometimes it just doesn't pan out for them.

No. Freaking. Hybrid.
The home console and handheld must have their own identities and be designed to both function together AND function primarily apart. They should both be part of the same brand and platform with games working on both, but they must be apart.

Really, all that the NX needs to sell amazingly is a full-fledged, mainstream pokemon game.

Is anyone else surprised that there wasn't a Mario Universe for the Wii U? You know, because of the U in Universe.

Did fatal frame make it over to U.S.? I've been waiting and waiting. I haven't seen it. I almost forgot about it. What happened to that game?

Things I want from the NX and Nintendo in general.

Digital purchases linked to your account and not the console, allowing downloads on multiple systems, like Steam.

Open communications with other players like the other consoles and PC has. The system already has parental controls, restricting everyone is stupid.

No region lock.

Hardware that at least matches the PS4, if the NX launches 3 years after the PS4 and can't at least do that, it will honestly be quite the joke. Please don't use the argument that "graphics don't matter", if that were the case why didn't Nintendo stick with the NES and Gameboy? If it could have a standard of 1080p, 60 FPS, that would be amazing (but I wouldn't hold my breath for that, and rumors do not support this either).
Stop designing and localizing games around the Viewers are Morons rule. I'm not a moron, I know when I'm being patronized, and it's very annoying.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ViewersAreMorons

Seriously Nintendo is the only company getting away with non cosmetic day 1 DLC right now and gets to market it as a feature with the support of its fans. Even if other publishers were to have non cosmetic day 1 DLC, it would at least be criticized.

Stop trying to appeal to the casual audience as their main audience. Casuals have moved on to smartphone games, they're not coming back, they have no interest in gaming consoles as long as its still a console. Nintendo made the Wii U in complete denial of that, and that's why it failed. With Nintendo's recent actions as of late, I'm not convinced Nintendo has learned that lesson, at all.

If the NX is indeed both a home and portable console as rumors suggest, new portable needs to be impressive hardware wise as well, considering most people these days have 1080p smartphones, people will make the comparison, even if the NX portable console is completely superior as a gaming device.

@Bolt_Strike
Those were just two games, universal sandbox and the Stanley parable. Others that come to mind are completing entire worlds in Super Meat Boy without dying, one million streetpass hits in Streetpass plaza (had to include one from Nintendo, I'm at 15k, it's not going to happen any time soon), firing only one bullet in HL2 Ep 1 (which is required to shoot a lock off), beating Mega Man 10 without getting damaged. There are plenty of BS "achievements" out there, denying people points and discounts because of unreasonable demands is plain stupid.

"Achievements" are a ridiculous concept, they don't bring enjoyment and longevity, they make it a chore. It's a list of tasks to complete, playing on how obsessive a person is, rather than bringing true enjoyment.

The NX console needs to be more powerful, not as powerful, as the PS4. This should be done not just because it will make porting multiplat games easier, but also to improve Nintendo's public image as a company that wants to compete and provide the best gaming experience (in this case, best hardware) possible.

The NX handheld should be as powerful as a mid-tier smartphone. It won't match the processing power of an iPhone 7 or 8, but it should be powerful enough to handle more intense, action based games that everyone seems to enjoy. The handhelds will also needs to implement an HD or sub-HD screen resolution. thus making it a modernized portable Nintendo product.

@CHET_SWINGLINE You do know the era he's talking about right? When Nintendo was a titan that no one can go up against?That was the SNES gen,nothing was bigger than the Big N in that time. Nothing.They ruled everything.Nintendo isn't that anymore,they lost that title years ago.

And one failed console? Playboy Nintendo has been failing more than once. The home console market i mean.

@shaneoh That's the whole point behind the discount system though, you're supposed to be rewarded for your loyalty in the game. What, you just expect achievements to be handed to you? It's perfectly reasonable to tie achievements to discounts, if you're skilled and persistent enough to accomplish those amazing feats or complete bonus tasks in the game, then you deserve a discount.

@Bolt_Strike
I don't expect "achievements" at all, a game is a piece of fun, not a doctorate. Loyalty to the game? You really think they care if we play the game after we've paid for it? We don't deserve anything, other than what we paid for.

@Yorumi
Just like an achievement ceases to be an achievement when it becomes part of a checklist. Whatever happened to setting your own goals? That Mega Man run you did was something you did off your back, just like my recent Mirror's Edge (a game with no achievements) no combat run was something I took upon myself for the sake of my own enjoyment.

@shaneoh And if you feel that way about achievements, you can ignore them. They're meant to be optional, no one's forcing you to complete every single one of them, it's for people that want to go above and beyond.

And yes, Nintendo has confirmed that they're going to be rewarding players with discounts for playing the games, that's been established. With that in mind does it not make sense to fit an existing concept like achievements into that program?

@3MonthBeef So? It's a placeholder date, that's entirely meaningless information. We already know it's coming some time in 2016.

@Bolt_Strike
Except they're not optional are they? The game doesn't give you an option to opt out of getting "achievements". Nor do I see how they cause a person to go above and beyond.

And it doesn't make sense to fit it into the discount program because of previously mentioned stupid "achievements."

@TwilightOniAngel Playboy? Okay. Anyway, Nintendo is and always has been one of the largest gaming companies in the world, and every few years they become THE largest gaming company in the world for a while, and then fall back again. My point was, that is still true in spite of the specific failure of Wii U. They've had failures because they've produced more hardware than any other company out there, but they've also sold more systems and more games than most if not all of their compitors by far.

And the SNES era? Yeah try the Wii era, when their market cap was almost equal if not virtually equal to Apple's at the time. The money they made from just Wii and DS is more than Microsft has ever made on Xbox in its entire existence.

So no, they're not rolling in cash with Wii U, but they are still in the upper echelon of gaming companies by revenue and overall value, and on top of that they have like $10-billion cash, which puts them in a much better situation than Sony with their $10-billion of debt. No one believes that Nintendo is infallible or is immune to further downgrades in their value, but as they stand right now, they're profitable and enormous and sitting on a war chest most companies in the industry would kill for.

The game pad is a device that works with the console and t.v to better immerse players in the game. I don't think it can be called a tablet just because it has a touch screen. Different devices. For the wii u the game pad was the icing on the cake. I don't think it needs to be improved, just utilised more.

Nintendo normally release the handheld first, followed by the home console. It may become a hybrid when combined with the home console which will be released later.

@shaneoh Um yes, they are. Nothing says you have to pay attention to them or bother with them. As for how they cause a person to go above and beyond, by giving you extra challenges to accomplish it encourages completionists to do go even further than they normally would before moving on.

If the NX is two devices that let's you play each others games then Nintendo's library will expand quickly. No need to have a Mario portable and a Mario console enteries/team .this would free up a lot of Nintendo's talent pool to bring back old IP and all new IP. Honestly that's what I'm hoping for with NX.

"Amiibo functionality will become a more integral part of game experiences"

Please God, no. It's bad enough my local Game looks like a toy shop now but to be forced to buy these cheapy plastic things would be a guarantee of me not buying the new Nintendo console (and I've bought every single one at launch since the NES)

@Bolt_Strike
Bit hard to ignore them when they're shoved down your throat with their irritating, immersion breaking, pop ups. It's not a system that you can opt out of. It's artificially inflating the game and restricting a person to certain play styles and areas. If the game is good, then why does it need to play on people's compulsions to keep them playing the game?

I don't care about achievements or another touch screen low battery controller. Just make a normal controller with limited motion controls like the current Wii U controllers, just without the touch screen. You can charge for online play if it's on the same levels as it's competitors.

And lastly, amiibos. I already have 15 of them and not planning to buy anymore of them, so if Nintendo decides to make a Skylanders type of game, it better has to support all the amiibos I have,

I'm along the same lines still want Nintendo too be free online tho that's one perk they got just make the games better online and a subscription for the whole VC catalogue would be good too.

@abbyhitter
Looks that way.
(This writer must be from push)

It's games that sells hardware & that's always has been the case, Nintendo's hardware might not be the problem like most people think maybe Nintendo should focus on its library.

@shaneoh The popups are definitely something they can allow you to opt out of, I don't see why they couldn't do that.

And why do you care if they're artificially creating bonus content? Like with DLC, as long as the main game is complete (which Nintendo has definitely shown themselves capable of handling), then it serves to actually enhance the game. Even good games get boring if you run out of things to do in the game, so having that extra incentive to keep playing adds value.

Nintendo ALWAYS knows better...

Nintendo ALWAYS knows better...

@BulkSlash no one is forcing you to do anything dude. Unless they are? I don't know anything about you so that might actually be possible. Not Nintendo though, or any company for that matter. How can they actually 'force' you, bar them being Jedi or pointing a gun to your head?

"The NX will prove why we need amiibo, and create more need for plastic Nintendo toys. What will go away,"

We don't NEED SCamiibo. They're a scam to try and rip us off. People will see this in time.

@zool,

Besides the fact they've made it very clear they are moving on from Wii branding, your idea of a Wii U 2 and it just being a gamepad replacement are literally the worst ideas I've ever heard.

"We have a failure of a console here, so much so that we're likely releasing our new one a year early. With that being said, let's integrate it into the failed console, making it essentially a fancy controller for it, and name it after the failed console that lots of people still don't even know is a failed console"

I mean, you HAVE to be joking with these suggestions, right? I think I've seen you say exactly this before. I've never seen someone with worst suggestions confidently repeat them and claim them lol. So, so bad.

*worse not worst

@Bolt_Strike
Sure you can disable the notifications on steam and the xbone, but last I heard that isn't the case with the PS4, but even then you have these little notifications all over the home menus and such telling you what you've "achieved" and how much more you have to "achieve." It's not a system you can opt out of. They aren't creating bonus content, they're dragging out the game, it's not adding anything at all. The most lazy of alternate costumes dlc is more content than achievements are. If "achievements" are all that is keeping the game interesting, then the enjoyment value of the game is suspect to begin with.

@LetsGoRetro who knows what the NX is. But last year Nintendo said that the NX is NOT replacing the Wii U.

I agree with everything but I think the QOL platform may be further away and may evolve into something else.
I mean, it's smarter to focus on mobile, NX and brand recognition for now.

@zool the DS wouldn't be replacing the GBA etc etc
... "Third pillar" bullsh*t is all talk to keep current owners satisfied.

@TwilightOniAngel You're right on the money. I've given up buying from PS3 because of credit card issues. My card does work on eShop though..

I'm hoping for no achievement system.

How about 4K support? That would be awesome

But they probably don't have that in mind or else they might have waited for twilight princess for 4K instead

Why do we consistently print articles about this when we still have no concrete facts or details regarding what the NXT will or won't be in the first place?? Before we actually get any kind of real regarding confirmation the system, this article might as well say

"I want it to shoot gumballs out of a slot on the front every time I kill an enemy"

"Amiibo should allow you to unlock the entire library of games related to this character"

"The NX should be able to be plugged in to your wall at night and act as a night light and then sound an alarm if intruders enter the bedroom"

@zool

context. what they were saying was that it wasn't continuing the wii branding, if you read the full quote you will see. in fact the only time nx is every brought up is in relation to wii u and/or home console gaming's future

I absolutely agree with the idea that the NX will be a portable game device that can also broadcast to an HD TV. I think the product announced at E3 this year will be essentially a gaming tablet that looks a lot like the current Wii U controller but is a stand-alone device that you can take anywhere. There will also be a set-top box that can be used to play your games on an HD TV. Later (probably 2017) a smaller form-factor will be released that is more portable and plays the same software.

The basic idea here is that Nintendo are not going to try and complete head-to-head with Sony and Microsoft for the console market. Rather, they are going to try and keep one foot in that market while also taking a bite out of tablet gaming market (which is growing very fast). With a smaller NX they can also keep a stranglehold on the handheld game market. Crucially, since all form factors will play the same games, they will no longer be splitting their development staff between multiple machines. Every Nintendo first party game will be on NX.

Backward compatibility with Wii U is more important than you might think. They spent a lot of money learning how to develop HD games and I am sure that Nintendo would love to have a second chance to sell gamers on titles like Mario Kart 8 and Zelda Wii U. More importantly, they need the opportunity to evolve their current development tools rather than create all new ones. That will allow them to get content on the NX much faster.

If NX phase 1 is a gaming tablet (which I think it will be) then some degree of Android compatibility would be a huge benefit. Make it easy for Android developers to get their software running on NX.

@LetsGoRetro it was said that the NX is not a replacement for the Wii U. So we should have some thoughts on what it may be.

My money is still on a gamepad type controller that can be portable. Maybe the Wii U 2 will be here at the same time.

@CHET_SWINGLINE They ain't what they used to be,look in Nintendo's past and look at them now. They were top dog and now they're not. You can write all this nonsense. But they're nothing anymore(exaggerating i know). They don't even consider themselves a competition.And "THE largest gaming company in the world for a while" Key word here. WHILE. They weren't number 1 for awhile in the past sir remember that.

The Wii era? Really playboy? That was a fluke Nintendo got lucky and everyone except you knows it. I don't know why you even said it here in the first place. You cannot compare the Wii to the SNES era. You just can't.

"Sufficiently efficient". Say that five times fast...

Nintendo needs a PlayStation Network equivalent, a system without gimmicky controllers and CPU/RAM/GPU hardware which is 2 years (at least) newer than what Xbox One and Sony PS4 released with and that is all.

Why is this all they need? Because this will attract all the non-exclusive developer content required to produce a booming platform. Nintendo has way better exclusives/IP than Sony or Microsoft so when people can buy Star Wars Battlefront (and games such as this) on the NX as well as Nintendo IP the NX will be one of the 2 systems most people will own.

@premko1 N64, GameCube and Wii U sales objectively prove that they don't always know better. Not to mention all their lack of modern features and behind the times principles.

I don't agree with some of your hopes and dreams in this article. First point is a subscription service for online functionality, this is not something I think most people would want to be forced upon them and neither the Xbox or PS4 give any tangible benefits, other than a few games, over free online on PC. Nintendo improving their online capabilities should be a given, but if they do it for free it is a selling point for the console. They could try out a PS+ service similar to the PS3 era where you could choose to opt in or not without consequence.

My second problem is with the implementation of Amiibos, as someone who doesn't want to collect them I would hate to have to pay a premium for any DLC I want just because it is attached to a figure. If they followed that idea, but also had the option of buying the content at a significant discount for those who don't want the figure, then fair enough.

What I'd like to see is Nintendo make good on their promise to carry on supporting the Wii U after the NX releases. I think a good way to do this is have the NX compatible with the Wii U and allow a single disc to work on both systems. Wii U games look really nice anyway and the added power of the NX can be used to add more effects, better resolution and keep a stable frame rate, much like what you get with the graphics options in PC games. With the added power of the NX, it should be no problem for 3rd parties to bring their games to the system too. I think that alone would see Nintendo at least have a chance at competing with an already established generation of consoles.

What Nintendo needs to do with the NX:
1. Stop with the gimmicks, just make a great console with great games
2. Wii U BC
3. 500 GB hard drive or more
4. ONE controller - stop making all these unnecessary controllers and peripherals
5.A STRONG launch lineup
6. STRONG third party support
7. More Virtual Console availability or some kind of subscription service for it
8. Better Online

Nintendo please make a console more powerful than the vita.

@shaneoh How many times do I have to explain this before you get it? It's not supposed to be a substitute for existing content. Dragging out a game is a good thing when you run out of things to do, there's only a finite amount of content in a game so once it's done, you're inevitably going to get bored of it. Achievements prolong that point and allow you to get more out of the experience.

Right away there's fallacy in this article:

"Hindsight is always 20/20"

Many people--a great many--predicted an ill fate for the Wii U, not the least of which include the man who is president of the company right now. In this regard, hindsight is only 20-20 for the Nintendo fans who were wearing blinders to the writing on the walls when the console was sloppily revealed and then extra sloppily launched.

The NX will likely launch with the weakest 3rd party support of any Nintendo platform yet, and it will peter out faster than ever. Why? Because Nintendo is launching new hardware at a time when the PS4 and XBO are going to be heading into their strongest years in the market (2016~2018). Third parties are going to be working for success, and they'll find it on PS4, XBO, and Steam.

There is no good reason for the NX to be backwards-compatible, particularly to the Wii U, which has done nothing positive for Nintendo in the public eye or gaming marketplace.

And if the NX is the fabled hybrid console (that has long been rumored, never confirmed, but a logical move forward--from a company that exists despite logic), the last thing Nintendo should do is keep the Wii U and 3DS active, and going by their history of quickly killing off legacy platforms, particularly poorly-selling ones (like the N64 and GC), the Wii U and 3DS are already on their way out. Depending on which platform NX is set to replace, the Wii U and/or 3DS will be dead within 6 months of launch. In many ways, the Wii U is already dead.

@TwilightOniAngel Oops. Sorry, I made the mistake of thinking you were serious, but I can see now that you are so obviously just another troll. Or at least I hope you're a troll, for your sake, because the alternative is that you're actually as intellectually bankrupt as your posts and their inane, incoherent, misinformed content make you seem. Also, stop calling me "playboy," son.

@Quorthon Sorry dude, but we already know that your opinion is just hopelessly biased against Nintendo because nobody bought your little Wii U game that you made, which you openly admitted that you blame Nintendo for, along with all of their silly fans that failed to buy your game because we're all just stupid.

NO REGION LOCK PLEASE!!!
Seriously, that's literally all I'm asking for...

My only wish is that Nintendo lift the curtain and reveal the damn thing already

@Bolt_Strike
As many times as it takes for me to lose all sense of self. If you're going to get bored of the game, achievements aren't going to stop that, just prolong the tedium. If they want people to replay their games, they should aim for actual replayability, instead of getting the player to resuscitate a long dead corpse.

@horizon I disagree on the pro controller. It's decent, but not the best, I prefer the xbox controller for the following reasons:

Convex thumb pads on analog sticks. Play FPS and my thumb kept on slipping off unintenionally. Bad choice as concave is vastly superior.

Digital triggers. I love the burnout series and playing Need for Speed Most Wanted U was a bad experience solely because of the triggers. I find that racing games really benefit from analog control for throttle/brake and this was impossible with digital triggers.

Otherwise the pro controller was pretty good.

I'm all for backward compatibility, but if that means going with a non-PC architecture, that's should be sacrificed. It's way more important that this console has a PC architecture so that it will have strong third party support. Ports need be easy to bring to the NX and the only way that is possible is if it is x86 based.

For region locking, they better drop it. NOA is run by lawyers and they love region locking as that gives them justification for their expertise. Nintendo Japan needs to come down hard on this and just get rid of it. Region locking has no place in the gaming world in this day and age.

Nintendo became very price sensitive after the gamecube flop. They've made sure to be the lowest price console on the market after that fiasco.

Now they have an even bigger failure in the WiiU. I feel like they have gone too far in the other direction, underpowering their machines too much to make them the cheapest console on the market.

Because of the timing in the release cycle (3 years behind everyone else), they need to come out as the most powerful console or else they will fail from the get go. That's the only way that third parties will even pay attention to the console and consider porting their existing successes.

So for me, if they can bring third party support + quality first party games, that is a good base to work from. That necessitates a x86 architecture which sacrifices backward compatibility unless they do emulation like xbone is doing with the xbox360 games now.

From that base they need to differentiate beyond that. How do they do so?

Controller is the obvious way, which has been successful for them in every single past generation.

Ideally they would also innovate in the online space as well, but considering their track record I wouldn't count on it. I'm betting they will bring something unique to the table (like Mii's did during the wii generation), but hopefully they can come up with even better ideas.

Other x-factors include Amiibo support, handheld hybrid, VR, 4K support, mobile phone integration.

@japongt That will be the deciding factor for me as well. I wish Nintendo would realize that we're sick of being babysat.

@CHET_SWINGLINE How am i troll? Did i say i want Nintendo to die? Did i say i want Nintendo to go third party? Did i say any of these things? And another thing how am i troll for saying a fact? Nintendo and i'm gonna say it again cause you're fighting against a fact or better yet don't want to accept the fact. But okay!! They were top dog! Do you understand? Do i need to go slower?They had third party on their knees! They were dominating. Do you see that now? No they're the laughing stock of the gaming industry.How are you fighting against a fact?And the truth?Are you one of those Nintendo fans who don't know the history of the big N? Are you? Is your first console a Wiiu?

In before you say playboy."I played everything of Nintendo!" Or better yet " I play on PC! No i play on everything!" Right?????????????? You rustled my jimmies right now. Congrats. Calling me a troll cause i'm saying the truth, Now i seen everything.

Wow. Such negativity. Seems that everybody just wants a ps4 with Nintendo slapped on it. If you want all that stuff, go buy another console.

@TwilightOniAngel Yikes. I take it back. You're obviously not a troll, there's just something wrong with you. And while I generally try to refrain from escalating situations with strange people on the internet, I wanted to answer a couple of key questions from your last comment that are of personal importance to me.

My first console: I was born waaaaayyy back in the olden days (like, omg it was probably, like, twenty years before you were born lolz!), in 1984. As the youngest of five kids, I was born into a household that already owned an Atari 2600 and a Texas Instruments 99/4A. Those were the systems I cut my gaming teeth on before I had most of my actual teeth. I graduated to an NES at the ripe old age of five. Since then I have owned every Nintendo console that has been released in the United States, and most of their handhelds. I have also owned a Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, all four playstations, and the first two Xboxes. And yes, I do also game on PC.

My level of knowledge of "the history of the big N/the truth": I've been a gamer my entire life, and "gamer" is the one and only label I give myself that's not related to my job, as gaming is by far my one true passion in life. And as an unabashed Nintendo fan, I've been following this company with much scrutiny since I was five years old. I subscribed to Nintendo Power from its inception to its close, I've read no fewer than six books about Nintendo's history, or that strongly feature Nintendo and/or their characters and games, I write a weekly blog about Nintendo, and I'm currently in the middle of the research phase of my own book about Nintendo that I intend to publish next year.

Anyway, I just wanted to answer those specific questions to hopefully help you gain a sense of confidence in my knowledge of the topic at hand, since you seem to think I'm like twelve years old.

@cloudrunner64 I honestly think a lot of these people just ooze over here from pushsquare. They get bored and decide to come here and antagonize Nintendo fans, because PlayStation fans seem to love trolling Nintendo fans more than they do actually playing games.

Probably late to the party but I just want gyro controls on the controller. It's a must.

I just want more games than Wii U got. It's by far my least played Nintendo console I've ever owned.

Not sure what to make of this article, it seems to want contradicting things.. to make it a succes Nintendo will have to make choices, tough choices probably (Is backwards compatibility really going to sell more consoles? if the wii u didn't sell enough in the first place, probably not)... And just using ps4/xbone features (psn/xbl) won't be enough .. actually, i think the wiiu online experience is better at the moment, more stable than psn)... And if you want ps like things, you should by a ps4...

They need to find their specific angle... During the wii times they managed to do that when they seemed defeated after the gamecube, so lets see what happens.. nothing in this article suggests such a new succesful niche though...

What an excellent article! And I agree with/support about 75% of what you've said here. Definitely want a hybrid device. It just makes sense. No reason for Nintendo to support two devices anymore. If they could focus on games for one device, droughts would be a thing of the past.
I think a 3DS-like controller for the NX is the perfect thing. Two screens for gaming on the go, motion/gyro controls for things like Splatoon, all the buttons you need.

I honestly just need a new and genuine Paper Mario >o<...
Atlus support is also welcome too.

Hopefully we can transfer our WiiU purchases from the WiiU to the NX or be able to just redownload them .