E309 | Satoru Iwata Discusses High Definition Wii

By Jorge Ba-oh 06.06.2009 7

E309 | Satoru Iwata Discusses High Definition Wii on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently talked HD - a future console would likely support it, but there wouldn't be a Wii-enabled HD.

In an interview with VentureBeat Iwata was quizzed as to whether there would ever be a Wii upgrade to support full High Definition output, or at least hover around the 720 mark (as opposed to the Wii's maximum output of 420p).

The short answer, no, but future Nintendo consoles are pretty much guaranteed the crisper visual modes due to HD-enabled TV sets being near-enough standard these days.

If we have an opportunity to make a new console, it will probably support HD because it is now common throughout the world. However, as far as the Wii is concerned, we have not found a significant reason to make it HD-compatible at this time. What is the significant meaning to users? I don't think we should do it unless we find that reason. If we decide for other reasons to make new hardware, then HD is one of the things we would naturally add.

Should Nintendo have made the Wii HD-enabled to begin with?

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Wolvesgod is offline. Wolvesgod 06.06.2009#1

Well considering how pathetic the Gamecube sold and GBA too (compared to Wii and DS)I honestly think that they didn't have enough money. Could be one reason.

Or It could be because at the beginning of this generation of video games HD was more of a luxury item then a standard, and right now will be pretty bad to release a Wii successor with HD. Atleast let the Wii die out before it's replaced, because they still respectfully out sale the other two.

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irfy is offline. irfy 06.06.2009#2

They don't have enough money? Thats a joke. Nintendo are just being tight with thier money, very tight.

 
Birdo Is A Tranny is offline. Birdo Is A Tranny 06.06.2009#3

Wolvesgod said:
Well considering how pathetic the Gamecube sold and GBA too (compared to Wii and DS)I honestly think that they didn't have enough money. Could be one reason.

Or It could be because at the beginning of this generation of video games HD was more of a luxury item then a standard, and right now will be pretty bad to release a Wii successor with HD. Atleast let the Wii die out before it's replaced, because they still respectfully out sale the other two.

Irfy said:
They don't have enough money? Thats a joke. Nintendo are just being tight with thier money, very tight.

Jesus.... Smilie Smilie (Rage)

Nintendo knew before they went into this generation who their main audience would be for their consoles (Incase you have been asleep for 3 years thats the casual audience). Do you honesltly think Nintendo's main audience gives a fucking shit about High Def? I'd wager no, so why would Nintendo spend money on something that their audience doesn't care about (or have lack of knowledge to understand).

How in God's name can you compare the GBA and DS in terms of sales. Honestly, do you even know how the world works? Both handhelds are reachs for two very different demographics. Plus one is a generartion older than the other. Try comparing The DS and PSP sales, then you can understand how well the DS is doing this generation. Now compare the GBA and.... oh wait that it the GB was so awesome that it really had no serious contenders, did it? Everything that did try failed very very badly.

Lack of money? Seriously I fucking lol'd, the Gamecube might haved flopped, but you trying to insinuate that Nintendo's too poor to make a High Def machine is.... well retarded.

 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 06.06.2009#4

I'm not a casual and I dont give a shit about HD graphics.

Nice if its there, but I never lost sleep over it.

And remembver folks; You cant just upgrade the output, the gpu would need an upgrade too, else the framerate would go down. (and youd then have to order developers not to use the extra gpu power for anything else).


oh, and the GBA sold spectacularly well, incidently.
The DS just did even better.

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russraine is offline. russraine 06.06.2009#5

Yeah I don't think bringing out a Wii with HD support makes much sense, might as well drag out this system til 2011 and then hit the market with a much more powerful machine.

Don't forget the Gamecube was more powerful than the PS2 so it's not as if Nintendo will certainly release something less powerful next time out - in fact I expect them to leapfrog ahead of PS4 and 720 because Microsoft and Sony will be more cautious with their budgets next time around, both have lost shitloads of cash this generation.

 
Sonic_13 is offline. Sonic_13 07.06.2009#6

I'm a gamer who would easily fall into the so-called "hardcore" category. I just got a new 42" 720p TV that I know use for my Wii and I can honestly say that I couldn't care less that its not HD. Sure the games might look nicer, but they still look stunning. Playing Super Mario Galaxy on the big screen was an amazing experience. As long as the games are widescreen, then I don't care that they aren't HD.

16:9 is much more important to me than 720p.

 
Matt (guest) 09.06.2010#7

If u read his statement he says that HD would be automatically added in new consoles but he did say i have no reason to make the wii HD compatable at this time that mean the wii can go HD via firmware,So with myamoto saying he would think that Pikimin3/Zelda would benefit from HD theres that reason Iwata was reffering to so maybe now everything is HD even Ipad,I think a Firmware update for 576p/720p/1080i should be announced at E3 with a few games running in new resolution lets see if im right.

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