Rumor or Nonsense: Nintendo's next generation console and handheld: Fusion Terminal and Fusion DS

[kupomogli]

Hopefully when Nintendo releases their next portable and console they use the same format. Own both systems and you're playing Bravely Default 47 on the home console but have to go to work, take the game out and put it in your portable, and play it on your downtime or lunch break, etc.

Less development costs because they'd develop one title that works on both the handheld and the console. More third party games because selling to two different markets while having a single development cost. More games since it's essentially a single console. Like the TG16 and TG Express Portable.

*edit*

Also better for gamers because if we have both consoles, we don't have to pay two prices to play the same game. Kind of like Sony's cross buy, but it works with all physical games and all digital games. Since Nintendo now has their NNID which allows one Wii U and one 3DS to be tied to it. So they could have the Fusion NNID and allow one of each Fusion console to work on it.

[parallaxscroll]

The Fusion Terminal and Fusion DS codenames/names and *specs* may very well indeed be nonsense, however, the following from January 2013 is absolutely legit:

This is from Nintendo's official Corporate Management Policy Briefing / Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2013.

Jan. 31, 2013

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/libr...130131/05.html

As you might already know from some newspaper reports, we will reorganize our development divisions next month for the first time in nine years. Two divisions which have independently developed handheld devices and home consoles will be united to form the Integrated Research & Development Division, which will be headed by Genyo Takeda, Senior Managing Director.

Last year we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms. What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform. They will also work to avoid software lineup shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware.
Some time ago it was technologically impossible to have the same architecture for handheld devices and home consoles and what we did was therefore reasonable. Although it has not been long since we began to integrate the architecture and this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run. I am covering this topic as today is our Corporate Management Policy Briefing.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/ninte...u_and_3ds.html

Nintendo discusses its next-gen strategy beyond Wii U and 3DS

Future Nintendo platforms will share similar architecture, Iwata reveals. Being built to "make software assets more transferable" between either platform.

By David Scammell (@VG_Dave) On 31st Jan, 2013 at 1:24pm

Nintendo has begun discussing its strategy for its next-generation consoles beyond Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, revealing that it hopes to build an architecture that allows the firm to "make software assets more transferable" between either device, and avoid the software shortages it's seen with its current-generation platforms.

Development on the architecture for the future platforms began last year, president Satoru Iwata announced during the firm's Q3 financial results briefing last night, and the intention, it seems, is for future Nintendo titles to be compatible with either console.

"Last year we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms," said Iwata. "What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform."

Iwata's comments suggest that Nintendo hopes to be able to build the same games for both its next-generation home console and handheld device.

"They will also work to avoid software line-up shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware," Iwata added.

"Some time ago it was technologically impossible to have the same architecture for handheld devices and home consoles and what we did was therefore reasonable."

The decision to share games between home and handheld consoles could shake up the industry.

Until now, the differences in technical capabilities between home and handheld consoles have forced publishers and developers to prepare individual titles for either market.

"Although it has not been long since we began to integrate the architecture and this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run," Iwata continued.

It all seems a bit too early for Nintendo to be discussing a successor to Wii U, of course. The console only launched in the UK in November. But with sales of the console failing to maintain momentum, could Nintendo be looking to move onto the next-generation sooner rather than later?

Whatever their next gen handheld and next gen console are, Nintendo has been developing both of them since 2012.

This week's rumors may be bogus as far as details, but they no doubt at least stem from the real statements made by Iwata a year ago.

[Greg2600]

Nintendo's CEO Iwata recently admitted they have to start thinking about more mobile ventures, although that still sounded like it would remain Nintendo hardware or software licensed to another vendor. 3DS integration would be great, and you really wonder why this did not happen? GBA could be used on the GameCube. They should have done this already.

In terms of new hardware, one would assume they are already well on their way to redesigning the Wii U to be cheaper to make, as all manufacturers tend to do. Many have argued they need to offer a version that makes the GamePad optional to purchase, so the system could be sold at say $150. I think rather than a redesign for cost, they should immediately start working on 3DS/2DS integration. To say they need better graphics on it I think really doesn't matter.

[WCP]

Hopefully when Nintendo releases their next portable and console they use the same format. Own both systems and you're playing Bravely Default 47 on the home console but have to go to work, take the game out and put it in your portable, and play it on your downtime or lunch break, etc.

First off, I think this Nintendo rumor is totally bogus, but I will agree with your take on it. The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc. But the actual guts of the hardware should be exactly the same for both, so that you can have some real deal transfaring, if you know what I'm sayin...

Maybe Nintendo could hook up with Nvidia and base the system around the new Tegra K1 chip, which supposedly is capable of 360/PS3 level graphics.

[The Adventurer]

The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.



Also, aren't there a bunch of rumors swirling around about Sega getting back into the Hardware market with a system based around their arcade hardware?

[TonyTheTiger]

The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.

That's exactly it. They're stuck for the time being. If they make a move too soon they wind up in the same boat Sega was in 20 years ago. They screwed the pooch with the Wii U and probably have to eat it for a little while. The best scenario for them would be if they were to come out strong in 2015/2016 and market the new console as their "real" next gen entry and requalify the Wii U as if it were always meant to be some kind of mid-cycle Wii offshoot, kind of like how the DS was at one point described as not really being the next entry in the Game Boy line up.

[parallaxscroll]

The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. .

That is not what's happening though.

Last year Nintendo state they started R&D in 2012 on a new standalone console and standalone handheld using a common architecture. I'm sure the two platforms will work together much more closely than DS & Wii, or 3DS & Wii U, but the new systems won't be one and the same. Nintendo isn't making a hybrid handheld-console. They will share the same basic architecture (meaning CPU / GPU will be from the same provider(s) but the actual spec of each chipset will be different. Obviously the console will have higher performance than the handheld.


Wii U is dead. It's far worse off than GameCube was 14 months into its lifecucle, and Wii U is selling worse than even Dreamcast did in its very short official life. I doubt Nintendo is merely going to redesign Wii U to be cheaper and turn that into a new console. That is not the same as making the Wii U cheaper to make and cutting the price, which I'm sure Nintendo is doing. However for their next home console, they probably started from scratch in 2012-2013. A new chipset. They're also not going to have Wii anywhere in the name since the Wii-brand is now completely dead as far as consumers are concerned.

The DS name is still good, as of early 2014. So the next handheld may have the DS name in it, unless Nintendo decides to do away with two screens. Maybe they'll bring back the GameBoy brand, who knows.

The only thing that's clear from Nintendo's statements is that they're working on two different platforms with a common architecture. The handheld won't be as powerful as the console, but it should be much easier to port between the two.

GBA and GameCube had nothing in common hardware wise. Neither did DS and Wii, nor does 3DS and Wii U. But that will change with Nintendo's next gen hardware offerings.

The trouble is, Nintendo CAN'T shove out another console without alienating a ton of Wii U adopters (ie: Their core audience). I suppose if they released it Christmas 2015 maybe they could get away with it. But definitely not this year.

Don't worry, a new Nintendo console isn't coming out this year, or in 2015.

Iwata said (which I posted above) that their efforts won't have an effect in the short term.

Iwata:

"this will have no short-term result, we believe that it will provide a great benefit to our platform business in the long run. "

The next handheld could be out sometime in 2016, and the next console could be out in late 2016, but more likely, 2017.

The next main console entry of The Legend of Zelda for Wii U won't be out until fall 2015 anyway since Nintendo / Tecmo Hyrule Warriors for Wii U should be out sometime in 2014.

Nintendo will try its best to make Wii U live through 2015, even if they're the only ones supporting it. Late 2016 or 2017 would be the timeframe for the next console.

[kupomogli]

First off, I think this Nintendo rumor is totally bogus, but I will agree with your take on it. The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc. But the actual guts of the hardware should be exactly the same for both, so that you can have some real deal transfaring, if you know what I'm sayin...

Or what you're saying would work better. Portable system that can be used as a home console. They can use low resolution screens to cut costs for the portable, when playing at home though, can play up to 1080p.

That is not what's happening though.

Well, it's less that's how we think it's going to turn out, more hopeful. It might not even be that profitable. Seems more developer and consumer friendly than anything.

[Leo_A]

I think they will have a shared library with shared hardware architecture. But I suspect that there will still be a distinct handheld system and a console system rather than a combination that's capable of both tasks out of the box.

Many just want one option or the other rather than both. By staying with separate handheld and console systems, it allows them to keep hardware cost in line yet they gain all the potential advantages a shared ecosystem could offer Nintendo such as a universal pool of software rather than supporting two distinct lines.

They have to do something like this if they want to remain a hardware provider. Their console business is in bad shape and their 3DS business is down in many ways compared to past generations despite being successful now (although far off their projections). It got off to a slow start, 3rd party development is significantly down compared to past generations, much of the casual business has evaporated, and the 3DS has sold 35 million units and is reaching the later stages of its success (It's 3 years old now which means it's down hill from here or will be pretty soon) compared to over 150 million DS units.

And that's with the Vita essentially being a non starter compared with the DS that went up against the successful PSP back when Sony cared about succeeding here. If they don't reinvent themselves soon, they risk failing even with their handheld line that traditionally has kept them going through lean periods with their consoles.

[parallaxscroll]

I think they will have a shared library with shared hardware architecture. But I suspect that there will still be a distinct handheld system and a console system rather than a combination that's capable of both tasks out of the box.

Many just want one option or the other rather than both. By staying with separate handheld and console systems, it allows them to keep hardware cost in line yet they gain all the potential advantages a shared ecosystem could offer Nintendo such as a universal pool of software rather than supporting two distinct lines.

They have to do something like this if they want to remain a hardware provider. Their console business is in bad shape and their 3DS business is down in many ways compared to past generations despite being successful now. It got off to a slow start, 3rd party development is down compared to past generations, much of the casual business has evaporated, and the 3DS has sold 35 million units and is reaching the later stages of its success (It's 3 years old now which means it's down hill from here or will be pretty soon) compared to over 150 million DS units.

And that's with the Vita essentially being a non starter compared with the DS that went up against the successful PSP back when Sony cared about succeeding here. If they don't reinvent themselves soon, they risk even their handheld line.

I pretty much agree with this.

I think Nintendo will create an ecosystem where they make each game that can be released on handheld and console. These two platforms will probably not be compatible with each other. But they could be.

The console can run the game in much higher resolution (native 1080p) perhaps at a higher framerate, with more complex visuals, effects, greater fidelity. The handheld can play the same game (either a port or the same code) but at the lower native res of the handheld's screen (it won't be 1080p, maybe not even 720p, even Vita is not 720p) with reduction in the effects, complexity and fidelity. Not unlike how a PC game can be played on lower-end machines, but also on high end rigs with the graphics options and resolution cranked up.

This won't work if the handheld is only 1/20th 1/10th as powerful as the console, but could work if the handheld is say, between 1/3rd and 1/5th the performance of the console and has the same architecture, just less of it.

Nintendo needs to keep two sources of revenue flowing. Handhelds and Consoles. They need to add a 3rd source, a proper online network for their platforms that starts to close the gap between what they have now (next to nothing) and Live/PSN. That might be Nintendo;s biggest challenge besides a failing home console.

Nintendo needs to excite the industry again with a console that can clearly play better playing and better looking games than PS4 & Xbox One. Something that actually makes not just gamers, but also developers WANT to have the system. I do NOT mean like when Nintendo announced Project Reality with Silicon Graphics in 1993 and the resulting Ultra 64 / Nintendo 64. I'm mean like in 1988 - 1989 when Nintendo revealed the Super Famicom to the press and to developers in Japan, which clearly showed things that could not be done on the NEC PC Engine /TurboGrafx-16 or Sega Megadrive / Genesis. Or like in 1999 when Sony revealed the PlayStation 2. What Sony did with PS2 starting in 1999 is probably too much for Nintendo to pull off, but I think they've got it in them to do another Super NES.

They have to try.

Nintendo cannot repeat the mistakes of N64, GameCube and Wii U, or even the mistakes of Wii, despite that system's incredible success from a hardware sales standpoint.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Nintendo FUSION? Yeah I hear it is coming out around the same time as DREAMCAST 2 !

Yes a little 3D modeling skill combined with fanboy dreams are a dangerous thing lol.

[PreZZ]

People play super nes, nes and n64 on their phones and tablets for FREE on crappy emulators. So either Nintendo releases the virtual consoles on android and ios and get shitloads of money on their classic games , or they don't get shitloads of money and do absolutely nothing about it. They should also release an official bluetooth classic controller pro for the games too.

[BlastProcessing402]

The next Nintendo gaming system should be a portable/home hybrid. Instead of having separate specs for the portable system and the home system, they should be one and the same. Basically, the portable should simply have a docking station that would have HDMI output, and the bluetooth for wireless controllers, etc, etc.

So pretty much a Wii U that has the main guts of the system integrated into the gamepad, with the "console" itself just a way to connect to the tv?