Next Generation Wii

Alright, I know it’s a little early in the Wii’s life to start talking about the next generation Wii, especially considering there is still a shortage. However, Absolute Gadget is a web site that has decided to start speculating on the next console to follow the Wii and what it means for the quirky and fun Wiimote.

“We imagine some future generation of [Nintendo's] Wii won’t have hand controllers,”said Rattner. “You just set up the cameras around the room and wave your hand like you’re playing tennis.”

Interesting concept, but I wonder how that would fit in with Nintendo’s plan to have an affordable console for EVERYONE. The need for multiple cameras setup in a living room does not seem to fit in with Nintendo’s current business plan, but you never know and it’s fun speculating.

Wii Color Rumors

Ahh, the anticipation of Nintendo’s next generation console, more than a year ago was laced with hopes of a Revolution coming in many different colors. However, the reality is that we were blessed with a single white Wii. :) But could the tides finally be turning, could Nintendo have plans of finally releasing some color options with the Wii, much like they have been doing with the DS?

Start the rumor mill back up!

Wired announced the rumor of Nintendo releasing a new package in Japan which would include 2 nunchucks, 2 Wiimotes, and your choice of color Wii for $300 USD. It seems a bit early and could be entirely made up, but it is something nice to consider and hope for. My guess is that Nintendo will hold off until sales start slowing down…THEN start releasing the color options. Nevertheless, it’s a new Wii rumor.

Wii in Color

UPDATE: Looks like this has already been debunked. Man, that was a short lived rumor. Wired Source

Buy Zelda Wii Zapper

Sorry for the delay in posting, but Mr. Buy-Wii.Net just celebrated the birth of his first child, a beautiful, soon to be playing Wii little girl!

Kicking things off right it looks like Nintendo has announced that there will be a new Zelda game in town, accompanied by a Wii Zapper. The new game, rumored to be a cross bow training game, was confirmed by a reputable source to the online news site Ars Technica. Expect a typical shoot’em up Zelda style to be launched…sometime, Nintendo has yet to announce an official release.

Buy HD Wii In The Future?

The rumor mill has started churning again and the latest is that a Nintendo Wii HD is in the works. It’s not something slated for fall of 07 or even 08, but is an HD Wii a possibility? A number of major online magazines are claiming it’s for real.

PCWorld’s article is still trying to compare the Wii to the PS3 and Xbox360, which seems ludicrous to me. How can industry analysts not just understand one simple thing, “The Wii was designed to do what it does.” Yes it does look good poised several feet away from the screen…but I don’t need to be close to swing my wiimote. duh!?

CVG predicts that analysts predict there will be a Hi-def Wii in the next few years. The entire time I’m reading this article I can’t help but feel that Sony or Microsoft is involved somehow. After all, what better way to slow down unit sales than the possibility of it being obsolete in a year or two. Not that jumping on the bandwagon necessarily applies to the Wii generation.

Even ProG picked up the article to some extent, jumping on the analyst train. Yawn. If a consumer wanted a high end gaming machine that cost a fortune, they would have purchased a PS3 or Xbox 360. However, I think Nintendo’s formula is working out just fine, at least it appears that way in their sales. Why would analysts try to rain on their parade, unless….

Sony is grasping at straws!!!!

Spielburg’s Wii Games

Yes, I’m talking about Steven Spielburg and his partnership with EA Games to create 3 unique video games. Up to this point both EA and Steven have been extremely vague on any information given out about their joint venture. Is it because movies are involved? 4 letter game names are the wave of the future?

MTV has a terrific write up on exactly how much information is available at this moment. Throughout the interview it’s made quite obvious that no game details will be made available until they are ready. However, a few very general details were made available in the interview with Neil Young and Steven Spielburg.

1. There will definitely be 3 games.

2. One should be released by the end of March 08.

3. One Wii Game will be set in Present Day.

4. One Wii Game will be set in the future.

5. One Wii Game will take place during WWII.

Biting the bit yet? There is no better advertisement and marketing buzz than to be vague…and mention that one of the greatest director’s of all time is involved.

Mario Kart E3 Rumor

Yesterday, N-Europe sparked the fires of the rumor mills with hopes that we will get a taste of Mario Kart for the Nintendo Wii at E3. I’m skeptical but excited since I fall over myself every time I hear good news surrounding first party titles. Let’s hope that the ‘trusted source’ isn’t a fooey.

Mario Kart for the Wii will be a “replacement” for Super Smash Bros. Brawl in Europe, which will sadly miss Europe this year, and it will be out early 2008 instead. 

I’d expect rumors like this and a bevy of others up until the gates open.

Buy Wii Hardware Lineup

Wii RumorThe Nintendo Wii is finally starting to catch up to itself, at least in terms of accessories and hardware availability. I’ve noticed that prices on eBay and other typical locations are starting to drop and availabilities are becoming more widespread. Specifically, I could go right down to my corner Super Store and pickup a Wiimote and Nunchuck, whereas 1 month ago I could not. That’s part of the reason why I created the Wii Shop so that visitors could always find a Wii or hardware to purchase.

Over 6 months later and consumers are still itching to get their hands on the latest Wii components. Manufacturers have hinted the past few days that there will be more to sink your teeth into soon enough. Topping the list is the potential for a Wii Hard Drive.  The suggestion was made due to the increasing size in Virtual Console downloads and their success. Most Wii owners have multiple virtual console titles.

Next in the development rumor mill is the creation of a Wii router. The Nintendo Wii contains it’s own wireless abilities, but a Router is required for connectivity. Gemtek, the creator of the Wii’s wireless capabilities, announced that they would be releasing a Nintendo branded router. Afterall, if your gonna go wireless for the Wii, might as well having matching components in your living room.

Putting The Brakes On Online Play

Wii OnlineThe Wii has been a marvel since the moment the power came on and the ambient blue shined from the disc eject. But, it’s not without it’s problems or shortcomings for that matter and it looks like it’s going to get worse with online play. The latest rumor suggests that we won’t see any online game play from 3rd party Wii titles till the very earliest in 08.
The Wii is always online, yet it’s capacity to play modern games online is not possible.

According to Gamepro.com, Nintendo is telling Wii game developers not to create online content, at least for 07.

SNK is one such developer, and Herman believes that online features in third party Wii games won’t become a reality until after 2007.

Spending money on the virtual console is the only way to go, currently, if your looking for some online interaction. Downloading games online is fun, even if they are 20 years old.

Opera Browser for Wii

opera.pngIt has been reported on several websites that a source close to the Opera Wii project has given a little insight into what Wii owners should expect with the up and coming release of the Opera browser trial that is expected to hit the Wii Shop this Friday.

First it is worth noting that this will not be the final release of the browser, and some are dubbing it as a beta. The Wii was ment to come with this browser however Nintendo had issues over how stable it was and kept rejecting the builds that Opera Software created. It is expected to have the full build ready for March.

Javascript is not expected to work fully, this is due to Nintendos fears that the Wii software can be exploited if javascript is allowed without being fully patched, Opera Software is expected to have this problem sorted by the March build, however no promises from either Opera or Nintendo on this matter. Ajax, on the otherhand is expected to work mostly, however some mashed up versions of Ajax code may face issues due to the javascript being disabled.

Flash is also expected to be a problem due to Nintendo opting to use a edited version that limits what the flash can do, once again due to fears that the Wii software may be hacked so in turn some games, and flash sites that use the Flash plugin may not work correctly. It is unknown if Opera intends to fix this problem.

A better brighter Wii with small price tag for 2007?

Some rumors, and we must stress rumors have been going around that have been leaked from a Toys-R-Us store manager about some changes coming to the Nintendo Wii for the next year. Two things shall be changing, the first will be that the Wii will be able to be brought in a set of colors, now I always expected this due to the fact the DS did it with great success. We are sure to see a pink Wii by the end of 2007, also expect a big price drop next year from 250 USD to 200 USD.

The price drop is expected being consoles allways go down in price, however one can not expect for the Wii to go down to much due to its price is low for a console in the first place. However we at buy-wii.net feel that the console within 2 years will be as cheap as 125 USD.

No official word from Nintendo as yet, but I am sure that after christmas if this is true we shall hear from them pretty quickly. Currently they are holding back with fear that it might put some people of buying a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. However we at Buy-wii.net do not think the changes are worth waiting and if you want a console now is to time to get it. A recent poll by the website Gotfrag asked users if they see it happening and it is 50\50 right now, so you decide… will we see Wii 1.1?