Want Wii HD? You'll Be Waiting A While...

Post by Steve Farrelly @ 11:55am 12/03/10 | 44 Comments

Nintendo of America boss, Reggie Fils-Aime, when speaking to Forbes in regards to the future of Wii in the wake of Natal and Sony's recently announced Move, or the iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad against DS and DSi, has dismissed a need to move in competition, denouncing a rush to the HD revolution or 3D gaming among much more.

"For us, technology is not an endpoint," he told the site. "Technology is an enabler for fantastic consumer experiences. So from a hardware standpoint, we are always looking at technology. But in the end, the technology has to enable a new, unique experience.

"So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience. Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are ground-breaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself."

Looks like Nintendo fans of yore will be waiting a long time before anything new comes from them, especially in regards to HD gaming. Personally I see their arrogance now as reflective of the same arrogance they had when launching the SNES against SEGA's MegaDrive and at Sony's entry into games, and look where that lead them - two console generations of lagging way behind the competition.

Check out the rest of the interview for more on their stance on Social Networking, Apple, Microsoft, Sony and more.

apple ipad move nintendo wii nintendo ds reggis fils-aime

Latest Comments

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Spook
Posted 11:57am 12/3/10

i dont care whether my wii is hd or not

im happy to get sd games that are fun to play

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thermite
Posted 12:05pm 12/3/10

For us, technology is not an endpoint. Technology is an enabler for selling the same product, but in a new color.

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Lynx
Posted 12:09pm 12/3/10

I've been saying for ages Nintendo won't release a Wii HD.
It's odd that it keeps getting dragged up repeatedly when Nintendo keeps shooting the rumours down.

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Viper
Posted 12:51pm 12/3/10

I think that Nintendo should start looking into the 3D market for the next Wii, It would be very cool if using something such as a Wiimote or perhaps even something similiar to natal that they got proper 3D interaction
so rather than like waving the Wiimote to say wave a bat on screen, the game actually projects a bat object out the end of the wiimote and so making the game more immersive.

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RockitMan
Posted 01:13pm 12/3/10

I agree with this strategy. Graphics doesn't have any bearing on how fun I find a game or how long I will play it for. It's just a bonus if a good game has good graphics, but good graphics don't make a game good.

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Steve Farrelly
Posted 01:25pm 12/3/10

as if anyone wouldn't want to see The Legend of Zelda series in HD

That's my dream in life

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parabol
Posted 01:27pm 12/3/10

So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience.

I don't know, once I went HD I've found it hard to go back to big-pixel land. With bigger TVs getting better and cheaper every year, the low-res of their consoles is becoming more noticeable.

Why is Nintendo so afraid of HD? It's not like the Wii is battery-powered and has to run on low-power hardware.

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glynd
Posted 01:41pm 12/3/10

Why is Nintendo so afraid of HD? It's not like the Wii is battery-powered and has to run on low-power hardware.

my guess is because one of the biggest selling points for wii at the moment is the low cost console.

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Tim Tibbetts
Posted 01:42pm 12/3/10

It would be a little stupid to release a HD Wii IMO. They need to release a new product which is HD but offers something more than the Wii, or Wii 2.

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Tim Tibbetts
Posted 01:43pm 12/3/10

my guess is because one of the biggest selling points for wii at the moment is the low cost console.

Um, in what planet is the Wi a low cost console? It's a low cost to produce, but you can get a freakin' Xbox360 for cheaper!!!

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Hogfather
Posted 01:45pm 12/3/10

They're f*****g idiots.

Wii HD could be the God Console, and give them a chance to fundamentally alter hardware to smackdown s*** like USB Loaders. Oh well, f***em.

PS3 Move thing is looking good.

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mongie
Posted 01:49pm 12/3/10

They're probably just happy with sales at the moment and don't need to update it.

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Hogfather
Posted 01:50pm 12/3/10

Compacency frmo the market leader. When has that EVER gone wrong?!

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trog
Posted 01:55pm 12/3/10

well the market has spoken: people clearly don't give a s*** about HD yet. That'll change, no doubt, and probably sooner rather than later, but it's hard to fault Nintendo's logic when they're rolling in cash and everything they do turns into money faster than people can say "TAKE MY DISPOSABLE INCOME"

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TiT
Posted 01:57pm 12/3/10

Well they just spent alot of money advertising about the new Black Wii which has just come out they should have introduced HD with it, would not be really hard...

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glynd
Posted 02:00pm 12/3/10

my guess is because one of the biggest selling points for wii at the moment is the low cost console.
Um, in what planet is the Wi a low cost console? It's a low cost to produce, but you can get a freakin' Xbox360 for cheaper!!!

my bad, havn't checked prices in AGES. last time i checked the wii was at least $100 cheaper than xbox.

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trog
Posted 02:08pm 12/3/10

wow Xbox is cheaper than Wii now!?! that's crazy

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`ViPER`
Posted 02:13pm 12/3/10

What they are basically saying is they want more games developed just for there console. The other 3 major competitors (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC) are all on a similar level with hardware, so you can develop games that came out on all 3, whereas the Wii either gets a cutdown version or doesnt get the game at all.

Nintendo seem to be ok with this and want developers not to release cutdown versions of multiplatform games, but develop new games that are just for the Wii.

Its prett evident by the titles that Nintendo release themselves (eg Super mario galaxy) that you can make some kick ass games for the Wii, its just that there arent many developers with the cash and time that Nintendo have to spend on making a game.

So what we end up with is an awesome game from nintendo every year or so, s***** cut down versions of other games with tacked on motion controls, or s***** games made just for the Wii to make a quick buck.

The Wii has sold well because it was new and exciting, why would any buy the next version if it doesnt add something new?

What new tech are they going to come out with? HD with 3D seems to be the way things are going, i'd like to see what they come up with thats better than that.

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`ViPER`
Posted 02:15pm 12/3/10

wow Xbox is cheaper than Wii now!?! that's crazy

Isnt the Xbox 360 Arcade like $269? I might be way off but I though I've seen it on special for $199 even.

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skythra
Posted 02:16pm 12/3/10

Before when every TV was measured under 50cm, before when your monitors were large at 17", before when everyone else had low graphics too, SD was perfectly acceptable.

But try playing a wii on a 50+" TV. It looks like s***. In fact the PS2 with component cable looks better. Sure if i scale it back to 30" it looks fine, the pixels aren't the size of my index finger. But I'm not sitting any further from my TV than i was when it was smaller, and i can count the pixels because they're so huge.

There's been two reasons why the wii hasn't been in use in the house.

1) Not having new friends come around, and all the old friends have played all the 'party games'
2) I've got another console and will play it every time over the wii because its well, better. I don't know how else to put that. I enjoy pretty things. I like 1080p.

That said I still enjoyed playing through a few wii games. Graphics alone don't make a good game. But I know you all have old consoles and I don't see you avoiding playing new games because there are better games on the previous consoles that you havn't played. Why is that?

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Kat
Posted 02:19pm 12/3/10

Wii doesn't need to be HD to be enjoyable.

Plus old people can't see the difference and kids don't care

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lewd
Posted 03:28pm 12/3/10

dude at EB told me that wii blacks are HD/out and make the games look a little sharper.

ive been playing xbox360 for the last week (mainly brutal legend), and yeah, for single player, its heaps entertaining.
but when mates come over, its still new super mario bros. and wii sports resort (archery mainly) that cops a flogging.

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thermite
Posted 03:32pm 12/3/10

Considering most Wii models are a low-poly ball for a head, a rectangle for a body, and arms that don't join onto the body, I can totally see why improving graphics hardware isn't really a concern.

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Dazhel
Posted 03:34pm 12/3/10

Plus old people can't see the difference

I laugh whenever I hear old people complaining amongst themselves that they can't tell the difference between SD and HD tv broadcasts.

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hardware
Posted 03:36pm 12/3/10

I have a PC and a Wii and that is all:

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Midda
Posted 03:48pm 12/3/10

Yeah, great logic. If you like games, get the platform that costs the most, and has the least new-release games.

I like games, so I go where the games are. That means PC and console. They're not mutually exclusive.

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MatchFixa
Posted 03:54pm 12/3/10

Midda, that chart is a joke and you were just played like a chump.

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Tim Tibbetts
Posted 03:55pm 12/3/10

That's awesome! I have all of them though, does that make me a whore?

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Spook
Posted 04:26pm 12/3/10

Nintendo seem to be ok with this and want developers not to release cutdown versions of multiplatform games, but develop new games that are just for the Wii.

wii versions of games for other consoles are pretty much not worth playing

But try playing a wii on a 50+" TV. It looks like s***

wii over component on my 50" sony looks awesome

you are obviously doing it wrong

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konstie
Posted 04:42pm 12/3/10

wii over component on my 50" sony looks awesome you are obviously doing it wrong

+1. I had it on my tv with regular cables, decided to upgrade with 7 dollar ebay composite and it looks SCHWEET.

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hardware
Posted 04:44pm 12/3/10

Midda, that chart is a joke and you were just played like a chump.

this.

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Mantorok
Posted 05:21pm 12/3/10

Why is Nintendo so afraid of HD? It's not like the Wii is battery-powered and has to run on low-power hardware.

They didn't say they don't want to go HD, just that HD isn't going to allow them to do anything new, so it's not their number one priority. I'd expect their next console to have full HD support, but it's not going to be the major selling point and there won't be a Wii redesign that supports HD.

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trog
Posted 05:25pm 12/3/10

Midda, that chart is a joke and you were just played like a chump.

is it, though?

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Sc00bs
Posted 05:31pm 12/3/10

wii might b fun for a little while but there is only so long u can look at square shaped ppl

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groganus
Posted 05:53pm 12/3/10

Trog hasn't realized that console gaming is the new pc gaming. LOLZ

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Spook
Posted 06:01pm 12/3/10

no its not, pc gaming is the new gaming

consoles are still for the poor people who dont have pcs

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Methz
Posted 06:36pm 12/3/10

I have all 4. The PC and the PS3 are the only ones plugged in atm. I think it's going to stay that way for a while.

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Spook
Posted 06:57pm 12/3/10

i have a pc and a wii

i dont need a ps3 or an xbox as i have a pc

the only game ive missed out on was unchartered 2

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parabol
Posted 07:48pm 12/3/10

If you like games, get the platform that costs the most,

For every PC I buy, console gamers seem to buy multiple consoles and countless accessories and controllers with each generation. Of course some people buy just the one console, but most consolers I know have a Wii and a PS3 or Wii and xbox. The more hardcore ones have all three. The price advantage of individual consoles is sort of lost then ...

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koopz
Posted 08:45pm 12/3/10

when the kids bug me to play the Wii i have to ask myself if they'll play that game on the wife's laptop or the TV...

on the wife's lappy it's in high def - not that they care

wii versions of games for other consoles are pretty much not worth playing

the biggest I seen them is my brother's plasma.. it's smooth

I'd like to see him run an emu on his media center pc though... lcd would pwn that

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Tollaz0r!
Posted 10:34pm 12/3/10

I run a LCD emulator on my Plasma TV

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weedy
Posted 10:37am 13/3/10

What a silly question does this article suggest? - sorry to the writer but have they even checked out the hardware specs of the Wii? The hardware is not capable of HD gaming or video playback.

Wii will never be HD, maybe the next one might when current Wii starts to get pwned by the Sony Motion and they realise they shouldnt have just made a glorified GameCube with new controllers.

For the writer - see hardware specs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii

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hardware
Posted 10:47am 13/3/10

is it, though?

Yes it is a joke based on some truth
It is possible to like games and use a console
but its not possible to be a PS3 player and have friends

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Tepid
Posted 02:44pm 14/3/10

wii looks crap even on component. im sorry, i like details.

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