In this special edition, we look at the next Nintendo system and discuss what features it will have.

Next Nintendo console to have an internal hard drive

Now that Nintendo has revealed that they are working on a new console, rumors are swirling over the various features of it. First up is the rumor that Nintendo will finally include an actual hard drive in a console. There haven’t been any guesses as to a specific size for the hard drive, but the mere inclusion of one would certainly be big news.

Gerry Pagan: I’d actually be surprised if the new Nintendo console didn’t have a hard drive, given that even the 3DS has 2 GB of flash memory. 100%

Andrew Passafiume: It seems like an obvious move for them. I’m sure they’ll have a (hopefully) larger focus on downloadable content, including games and demos, so an internal hard drive is the next step. 95%

 

Graham Russell:  Technically there was internal storage in the Wii, so on a purely semantic standpoint, yeah, it’s going to have one. What kind is hard to say. They could try a 3DS model of relying on external cards, but if the rumors of “appealing to the Western hardcore demographic” are true, they really need internal storage, and they need a lot of it. Any less than, say, 60GB would be a disappointment, unless they try for SSD storage, in which case something like 32 might slip by. 100%

Shawn Vermette:  I think Nintendo has seen the amount of money and importance placed on DLC with the PS3 and Xbox 360. They’ve also seen the popularity of their Virtual Console soar beyond their expectations. At this point, I’d be shocked if Nintendo didn’t have a hard drive in their next console. 100%

Controller for next Nintendo console to have touch screen

Next is concerning the actual controller for the new console. Rumors say that the new controller will be similar to the GameCube controller, only with a touch screen in the middle of it. There’s no certainty to the rumors over what it would be used for, just that it will have one.

Gerry: I’m kind of split on this one. If it’s true, I’m sure Nintendo will find some way of making it non-intrusive like they did with the speakers on the Wii remote. But a touch screen? 50%

 

Andrew: Nintendo probably wants to move away from motion controls, at least primarily, so having a more standard controller would definitely help. The potential use of a touch screen could come in handy during certain games, and it could also allow for 3DS connectivity; using a handheld as a controller is something Nintendo’s been focused on doing since the GameCube. If they’re going to have any kind of crazy innovation, this might just be it. 70%

Graham:  The word on this one is that it both has a touch screen and functions as a sensor bar for Wii games. This tiny detail, I think, is an important one. It speaks not to the flights of fancy of a rumor-monger, but to a comprehensive plan for cost-effectiveness and backwards-compatibility. Why? It means these two things: (1) the system will run Wii games, but only as a legacy thing and not because the system itself retains these abilities, and (2) this touch-screen thing is happening, since that’s a move to cut controller costs in other areas. The controller sits on the TV when you’re playing these games, so that makes me think that the system will simply sync with Wii remotes when you want to do these things. It seems to me that, for most, any controller scheme that costs more than $79 would be impractical, so they need to cut it down to fewer things. Could it have a simple gyroscope? Possibly, but it’s likely that games with motion controls will just get you to pull out that legacy device, much like Wii games supported GameCube controls.  90%

Shawn:  A touch screen on a controller only makes sense if you plan on allowing customizable controls using it, and honestly, it kind of makes sense to do that, assuming they can get some kind of tactile feedback for it. Without tactile feedback, I just don’t think it’d work out the way Nintendo hopes, if it is actually in their plan. 65%

Next Nintendo console to be more powerful than the PS3

Lastly is a rumor concerning the power of the new console. The rumors say that in a slight change of pace for Nintendo, the new system will have plenty of power. Enough to make it the most powerful console on the market by a good amount when it releases.

Gerry: This I’d actually like to see. Nintendo’s always been great with the eyecandy when it comes to their first party titles, so seeing a Mario or Zelda in 1080p would be a nice sight. 78% 

 

Andrew: We won’t know until we see it; it’s something that might just edge out the PS3, but the difference won’t be that noticeable. It’s tough to say at this point really. 50%

 

Graham:  The era of advancing graphical ability is largely over. It’s important that I explain: I fully believe graphics will get better and better, as they have, but the law of diminishing returns has started to kick in. Do we really need things to look better than, say, Crysis 2, if that means bloated development budgets and more expensive games? We don’t, and if anyone agrees with me, it’s Nintendo. Affordability is key as PC and iOS development have been racing to the bottom, price-wise. All that said, I think Nintendo will at least match 360/PS3 capabilities, and they should, regardless of crazy new ideas they have. Whether the system will outpace the PS3 is up for discussion, though, since Nintendo loves making a profit from the beginning and doesn’t want to price the system at the high levels the PS3 did at launch. 65%

Shawn:  I think at a minimum, the next console needs to be at least as powerful as the PS3 for it to have any chance of attracting third-party publishers and last longer than three or four years. Nintendo isn’t known for doing what most people would expect them to do, though. 75%

In this installment, we look at the swirling Nintendo system rumors, the next Dashboard update and the NGP’s final name.

Nintendo announcing home console for 2012 release by end of E3

A low murmur turned into a roar when Game Informer reported plans to announce a new Nintendo console at (or before) this year’s E3. Possible features include graphical power to equal or surpass the 360 and PS3, a 6-inch screen in the controller and full backwards compatibility.

Gerry: Given the recent surge of talk regarding this, I don’t see what the point of keeping something like that under wraps would be. It might steal a bit of the 3DS’s thunder, but it wouldn’t be releasing this year anyway. 63%

Andrew: While some people are still finding the reports hard to believe, I think the time is now. A new Nintendo console was bound to be announced sometime this year, and E3 is the best place for it. It’s hard to say which rumors about it will be true, but the probability of an E3 press conference from Nintendo without a new console announcement seems very slim. 95%

Graham: I think that, even if Nintendo was planning to keep its plans secret for a while longer, they’ll have to announce now. They can leave out release, price and even many games, but they can do a reveal much like the “Project Natal” event and the “Revolution” unveiling. Give people a taste, but leave specifics for the 3DS announcements. 90%

360’s next Dashboard update to include Hulu Plus

Screenshots have been leaked showing a Hulu Plus app for 360 that looks almost identical to Netflix’s interface. We don’t have anything official, but could it be coming in the next update?

Gerry: Sure, why not. 75%

 

Andrew: If anything, I’m sure Microsoft would love to add Hulu to their already long list of non-gaming related content available on the 360. I see this being an inevitability at this point, although if it actually happens with the next update is a bit harder to predict. 85%

Graham: This does seem to be where Microsoft is going. They were first with Netflix, they’re still the one with ESPN…it wants to be the media center for everyone, and Hulu Plus is the obvious next step. Add that Hulu has said that “more devices are coming soon,” and it seems like a slam dunk. It could be one more update away, though. 95%

New Sony portable, codenamed NGP, to just be called PSP2

Sony’s Next Generation Portable is still in the codename phase. It seems the final name for things is the last announcement in this industry lately (see: Kinect, PlayStation Move), so we’ll probably see that in June. Will they go the safe route and call it the PlayStation Portable 2?

Gerry: While the “Portable” moniker really is the ideal way to market a portable PlayStation, there’s nothing wrong with getting a “fresh start” for a system with a new name, especially considering the ton of mistakes done with the PSP. This one could really go either way. 50% 

Andrew: Sony generally sticks with “sequelizing” their consoles, unlike Nintendo and Microsoft, so I’d believe the NGP would be called the PSP2. The NGP seemed a bit too silly to be an official name, and the PSP brand name, while not hugely successful, still holds some weight. 80%

Graham: Sony never seems to need to go out of the way with naming things. The PlayStation part is a given, since that branding is too pervasive. I think they’ll go with PSP2, since the form factor is so similar to the original, but they may want some iconic name to distinguish it from its predecessor. 70%

In this installment, we look at Star Fox, Mortal Kombat and the Halo remake.

Star Fox 64 coming to 3DS in May

Nintendo is notoriously closed-mouthed when it comes to when their biggest franchises will be released, but according to a recent document released by the Spanish distributor of Nintendo games, Star Fox 64 is coming in May to Europe. Thus, it stands to reason it would come to the US in May as well, right? 

Gerry: Sure, why not. The 3DS could sure use some more games to cover the gaps left on the launch line-up. 50%

 

Andrew: You would think that if any big 3DS title was going to come out in May, it would be Ocarina of Time. But that’s currently slated for June. Nintendo has been known to release some games in Europe before the U.S., so it wouldn’t be all that surprisingly to see Star Fox 64 3D over there before we get it. It’s the kind of thing you think they would announce by now if it were true. Either way, doesn’t seem entirely plausible to me. 20%

Graham: Nintendo was clear about which games would hit the launch window. From what I’ve played, it will be a great version of Star Fox, but it doesn’t make much sense to release it near either Pilotwings or Kid Icarus. I’ll hold out a bit of hope, just because the post-launch 3DS schedule is as barren as it could possibly be.  3%

Halo: Combat Evolved remake coming in 2011

Microsoft has confirmed that they are working on a full-fledged remake of the original Halo for the Xbox 360, but have given no release schedule for it. However, recent rumors seem to indicate it could come as early as this holiday season, putting yet another blockbuster franchise in to an already crowded holiday season.

Gerry: Given a lack of a new Halo release this year,  there should be some pressure to release something new related to the franchise. A Halo:CE remake would certainly be well-received during the holiday season, though I wonder how quickly Microsoft would rush this to fit a deadline. 45%

Andrew: I’m sure we’ll be hearing about a new Halo game soon enough (probably E3 if I had to guess), but I doubt we’ll actually see it this year. I’m sure Microsoft would love to keep people talking about the franchise, so why not reboot the original? With a nice new coat of paint and some online play, it could be a great way to get the Halo name out there again before 38 Studios takes a stab at whatever the next game might be. 80%

Graham: It’s getting a bit crowded for the holiday season, but what’s really missing is something Microsoft can trumpet as a solid system exclusive. Halo would sell like hotcakes and get them through another year without too much talk of a next-gen device, and they already said they’re working on this. It could tank the series if it fails, though, so they may want to give the new guys a generous development cycle.  70%

Mortal Kombat to require an ‘online pass’ for used games

Recently, rumors have been popping up that Warner Bros. is going to adopt the online pass strategy for used games that EA and THQ have created, charging $10 to access online portions of games that are sold used. These rumors also seem to indicate that the first such title would be the new Mortal Kombat.

Gerry: As much as I disagree with this “online pass” policy, the appeal of gaining money off used game sales is tempting enough to get more big name publishers to adopt it. I really hope this doesn’t come to pass, but the odds don’t look too good. 75%

Andrew: It seems to be the popular business move to make these days. I won’t get into whether it’s right or wrong, but big publishers want to do whatever it takes to make sure that gamers hold onto their copies of Mortal Kombat and also that they don’t buy it used. It seems like a given at this point. 95%

Graham: I hate gouging consumers. I don’t so much hate online passes, since they don’t take from anyone who has already paid them. Do what they need to do about used games, yeah? It just creates a problem in the future, but I doubt online play will even be active as far away as I’m concerned about. Anyway, Mortal Kombat. Yeah, it could have it. I have no inside sources, but it make sense, and WB hasn’t shied away from similar tactics in the past.  70%

This week we show you our moves with a couple of dance games and a fighting title.

Current score

Gerry Pagan: +40

Andrew Passafiume: +395

Graham Russell: +384

Eric Schabel: +35

Shawn Vermette: +375

 

Results

Games coming to Apple TV

At GDC this past week, Apple revealed that games are indeed coming to Apple TV. However, not in any form that will compete with the home consoles, as it will mainly be in the form of iPad ports and the type of game currently available on the iOS App Store.

Gerry 60% = +10

Andrew 50% = +0

Graham 50% = +0

Shawn 90% = +40

 

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2 coming to 3DS in the US in 2011

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2 has been confirmed as being ported to the PSP and 3DS already, though a timeline for these ports has not been established, or even announced for a US release. Zen United, European publisher for the BlazBlue games, has announced that they’ll be out in Europe later this year. Will Aksys Games follow suit in the US?

Gerry: If Continuum Shift 2 is going to be out Europe this year, I can safely say it’ll be out in the US as well. Unless Europe gets an earlier BlazBlue release than the US for the first time, anyway. 75%

 

Andrew: People in the U.S. seem to generally enjoy BlazBlue, and Aksys games has released the previous portable title in the States before. I don’t see why they wouldn’t continue to bring us games in the franchise. 90%

Graham: Aksys is clearly trying to tiptoe around the mammoth launch window releases of Super Street Fighter IV and Dead or Alive. It’s a smart move, since BlazBlue is a smaller-market title, and it could use the breathing room in the release schedule. They’ll announce soon and release around the July or August. You know, probably.  95%

Shawn: I believe Aksys Games will announce BlazBlue: CS2 for the US shortly, though whether it will come out in 2011 or not is something I’m not so sure about. Given the usual time period for ports though, I suspect it will indeed come out in 2011. 75%

Dance Central 2 coming out in 2011

Dance Central was the runaway hit title for the Kinect when it launched last November. After sending out a survey to fans asking what features they would like in a sequel, rumor now has it that the aforementioned sequel will be released later this year, once again as a Kinect exclusive.

Gerry: As successful as Dance Central was, I’d like to think that Harmonix has enough sense to not follow the example of the -Hero franchises and actually develop a proper sequel. Kinect and Dance Central haven’t been out for even a year, they should let the audience who wants a Dance Central 2 actually get tired of the first game.30%

Andrew: Dance Central is easily Harmonix’ biggest property right now, and Microsoft needs another big hit for the Kinect. Despite the strong sales of the hardware, the attachment rate is incredibly low, so with a price drop and a sequel to their biggest Kinect title to date would easily help keep the device selling this holiday season.  85%

Graham: If Dance Central 2 is going to release at all, it needs to strike while the iron is hot. That is, while the Kinect is still a viable platform. As successful as it’s been, there will likely be a new Microsoft system in the next two years, and this is the kind of release you can annualize. It’ll be out for the holidays. 90%

Shawn: Again, I don’t think this is a matter of if it will happen, but when. Unless Harmonix decides to build a new graphics engine for Dance Central 2 though, I doubt it takes long to release. 75%

Activision to announce ‘Dance Hero’ by E3

Despite the death of the Guitar and DJ Hero franchises, Activision seems intent on making its way in the rhythm game genre anyway. The success of Dance Central for Kinect seems to have spurred Activision to go ahead and begin production on a game they trademarked 3 years ago, Dance Hero, as rumor has it that they’ll be announcing it at E3.

Gerry: Sure, why not. I don’t really agree with a lot of Activision’s business policies, but if they think a Dance Hero is gonna be profitable, more power to them. 50%

 

Andrew: Activision does love trends that make money, despite how badly Guitar Hero backfired on them recently. I’m not sure how well this would sell over Just Dance or Dance Central, but the dance craze seems to be just as big as the plastic instruments craze was just a few years ago. And the best part? No additional hardware is required, aside from a Kinect. At the same time, they might not want to risk creating another franchise only to have it die off a year later.  65%

Graham: Well they probably won’t announce it at E3. They may announce it adjacent to E3, with big piles of Blizzard cash and half-pipes lowered down from the rafters. Anyway, back to Dance Hero. Without a Hero franchise to play off, why would they tie that in? I could see this happening, but really as an original IP.  50%

Shawn: I’ll just put it this way…what else does Activision even have to work on? Movie games and Call of Duty. They took the axe to everything else. I think they’ll try to cash in on the dance game phenomenon while they can. 90%