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I guess by now we can finally say that Nintendo have turned it around since the small degrees of success that they had with the Gamecube. The Wii and DS have sold millions worldwide and they still have a few more years in them yet but what is next for Nintendo? Do they stop all this innovating lark and just make the DS 2 or WII (Thats two in roman numerals) or would you like to see even more innovation on the part of the Nintendo? Really you can’t deny the success of both systems. The handheld market was ready to be rocked with the release of Sony’s Playstation Portable and it seemed that Sony where on course to dominate another market until the Nintendo DS hit the scene with its quirky controls and quick pick-up-and-play game aesthetic. Meanwhile Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 where to busy focusing on each other to even think about the Wii’s success.

Obviously we have to go through, Nintendo’s patented iteration-colour-cash-in period yet where we see hardware reproduced in every colour under sun, before we actually hear anything about a new system. Once we’ve seen those we can move on to the next really big announcement by Ninty. Lets be honest they are going to ride on the success of these systems before moving forward but thats nothing new and it makes perfect sense.

You can’t drive away from the eventual outcome, Mr Mario.

In the handheld department could you possibly see another Game Boy type system where you only have one screen and buttons. It would feel like a big step backwards. We all know the only reason its called the Nintendo DS and not the Game Boy DS is because they didn’t know how successful it would be but now the DS has overcome that and maybe even surpassed the Game Boy name. Do we see a DS 2. I predict that we will actually see a second DS with flasher graphics and with Wii-esque motion sensing built in. The possibility for a camera, built in internet support and upgradeable firmware all seem probable. But this is a few years away and I’d expect another slimed down version before another generation. I’d also add that they would wait for Sony to make a move with a PSP2 but at the moment Nintendo seem to be in a world of their own by just focusing on their own products and systems.

The Wii is only a year and a half old so to be talking about another version seems weird and far off. Expect multiple coloured Wii’s before a Wii 2 although is a Wii 2 the next step. People have been talking about the Wii as a constant platform. It can be updated, its key demographic doesn’t care about graphics therefore why do Nintendo need to invest in another platform? The Wii has the install base it needs to just make new controller shells every few months or two to gather interest and to keep momentum until the next shell comes along. This might not please the hardcore Nintendo fan’s but they have games like Smash Bros. to keep them happy.

Expect something like this before any new innovation comes your way

The most important question here is ‘How can they improve the Wii?’ The only problem is the sensor bar and that doesn’t warrant a second console. Other problems like the lack of third party games can only fix it’s self in time. If I had to add things to the Wii, it would only be extra peripherals and channels.The possibility of having two consoles would be weird but there is a silm chance. A Wii like one that caters to your ‘casual’ gameplayer and a standard one that caters to the hardcore market although after the Wii I can’t see them going back to a standard system anytime soon.

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The Hot Topic is a new feature on Nidzumi.com and is written by Sam Morris. If you would like to suggest what he should ramble on about next send him a quick email at sam@nidzumi.com . Check out previous Hot Topic’s by clicking here. Thanks for reading.