High-Def Wii in 2-3 Years?

xsynergyx | July 31, 2007 | News | Wii Company

Analyst Michael Pachter is suggesting that should and might, release a High Definition Wii in the next 2 to 3 years. Customers may soon get bored in the lack of graphics, see more of what it can actually accomplish and demand for high-def and Pachter predicts Nintendo will reply.

"Consumers may hope for improved graphics, and my guess is that Nintendo will comply," said analyst Michael Pachter in an email to GamePro.

"In two or three years, commodity prices for graphics processors and CPUs may decline to the point that a High Definition Wii could be introduced. If so, Nintendo will likely introduce one," he added.

The statement comes as several industry pundits suggest that Wii's success will gradually fade given the console's dated graphics technology. The long-standing argument is that both core and casual gamers will grow wary of Wii's novelty once Xbox 360 and PS3 graphics hit their full stride.

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Comments

Comments with -10 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.

0 thumbs!
weskraudaon | August 01, 2007

The graphics are going to suck and if you put a Wii game in HD like a PS1 game, it will look horrible so no need for it.
- 1 thumbs!
  nnkklo | August 01, 2007
  
  I cannot think of the head of nintendo's name right now, I just got up, but he already denied an HD wii would ever come out.
-2 thumbs!
Guticb | August 01, 2007

Nintendo has been making excuses for a long time. They would have easily been able to afford giving it HD capability at launch.
-4 thumbs!
Final Blade | August 01, 2007

Yea but what about the infamous 249 price tag, surely adding this will make it 449.
0 thumbs!
xsynergyx | August 01, 2007

It'll cost more, but it will be worth it in a couple years when demand for better graphics from the consumers are knocking at Nintendo's door. Some people could care less on this fact, but a lot of people will see the potential and ask for it.
0 thumbs!
FRoGBuster | August 01, 2007

maybe, maybe not.... I don't think it will be as soon as 2-3 years though.. maybe 4-5 is more like it. Games will continue to be made on the normal wii, though, that's for sure, especially with it's massive install base, and the fact that it will be hard to get people to switch over to a new system of the same name
0 thumbs!
MrSponget | August 01, 2007

The prices should drop when it comes to HD technology within 2-3 years so there shouldn't be a major price change if it does happen. Nothing to complain about.
3 thumbs!
Cruxis Mana | August 01, 2007

^{I have a Wii and I didn't buy it for the graphics - I bought it for a different range of games, as the 360 and PS3 tend to have the same kind of games being developed for each system.
If the Wii does eventually go HD then good ! But by that time I'll already have my PS3}
- 0 thumbs!
  NyffTotal90 | August 01, 2007
  
  Ha ha, exactly the same here.
  
  I really don't care about the graphics on the Wii. It's all about the gameplay.
0 thumbs!
Silver Mirror | August 01, 2007

Nintndeo said they didn't believe in graphics making the game, of course they take it back now
1 thumbs!
Gothic Girl | August 01, 2007

*Ehh* Nintendo should know that people don't really care about graphics when it comes to their games. Leave the super-realism to 360 and PS3. A part of nintendo's appeal it the "cutesy" characters, like Mario, Toad, Kirby, etc.

If they're so worried about a possible decline in future sales, then they should just worry about making more fun, party-orientes games aimed at general audiences, rather than getting HD technology to improve graphics.
- 0 thumbs!
  Anime | August 01, 2007
  
  I prefer not to see Toad's 5 o`clock shadow when he's forgotten to shave. xD
  
  Nintendo doesn't need HD for now since their best games aren't supposed to look extremely real
  
  คภเ๓є
0 thumbs!
tidus04 | August 01, 2007

Some games that they currently have are good just because of the simplicity of the graphics, I think something like this will ruin that aspect a bit though it will inhance others.. hmm keep it as it is I would say ^^
0 thumbs!
Storm | August 01, 2007

Jesus...Nintendo knows what they are doing. Not everyone needs HD for their consoles...Nintendo sure as hell doesn't anytime soon. Their direction is different, and a good different.
- 0 thumbs!
  Anime | August 01, 2007
  
  Indeed, Nintendo don't need to focus on graphic. Why be the same as the majority when you can be better if you do things your own way. But maybe in the console after the Wii in a good few years time.
  
  คภเ๓є
0 thumbs!
KingX2 | August 01, 2007

Nintendo needs to make quality games rather than graphics. You can have a high def Tellitubby game, and then a NES Super Mario Bros game and have the game with lower quality win.
0 thumbs!
bakfromon | August 01, 2007

I can see a HD successor to the Wii in the next generation, but not an upgraded HD Wii within this generation.
0 thumbs!
Gary15 | August 01, 2007

I don't think it's really that necessary, I don't play the wii for fancy graphics and I think a lot of the reason it's popular is because off mainly orientated games anyway.
0 thumbs!
iLLmatic | August 01, 2007

I wish some of these damn submissions would actually be checked for grammar before being approved. Besides, what would adding HD to the Wii do to the graphics? The Wii will still have the same gfx card. It will just output in HD instead. The graphics power will remain the same.
0 thumbs!
Gogetenks | August 01, 2007

There will be no HD Wii. They already said that they are not going to support HD at all this generation. However, they did say that Wii's successor will most likely be HD.

Really, HD takes up quite a bit of processing power. With the Wii, either the framerate will take a hit or the game simply won't look nearly as good. Again, the successor is most likely HD, according to Nintendo themselves, but the Wii will not be. I'm guessing Nintendo will release their next console early this time around, perhaps give the Wii a 4-year lifecycle instead of the normal 5. Just like the XBox had. The GC was dead it's last year anyway, so it really is pretty much the same for it.
0 thumbs!
sten mk II | August 01, 2007

I hope they make a better controller because the wiimote won't cut it. It needs more buttons more complex games.
- 0 thumbs!
  Seventh Blade | August 02, 2007
  
  The wii-mote and nunchuck combined actually have more buttons than any other controller ever made.
  - 0 thumbs!
    iLLmatic | August 02, 2007
    
    Ever heard of the Jaguar?
0 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | August 02, 2007

Despite the part where I 100% don't believe this.. Adding HD to the Wii's crappy graphics would be like hanging a new chandelier in a haunted house.
0 thumbs!
Seventh Blade | August 02, 2007

Even if this did add better graphics to the Wii, I wouldn't want it to be made. Graphics mean nothing after 30 seconds into a game, and giving little graphical horsepower allows developers to focus more on gameplay. I would really hate to see that changed.
0 thumbs!
Chronic Apathy | August 02, 2007

Heh, I always knew they'd try to do this with their Wiis.
0 thumbs!
Supernouva | August 02, 2007

Well, everybody seems to be into high definition all of a sudden this generation.
0 thumbs!
Evanster 69 | August 02, 2007

Perfect for NBA Live 08 and Ping Pong
If I make enough being a soccer referee in the spring then I might get a Wii or PSP.