• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

Remember when the Wii was codenamed the Nintendo Revolution? It wasn’t that long ago that during one E3, Nintendo revealed a simple black box and said it would be the future of gaming. That little black box happened to be the Nintendo Wii. Now, was the Wii the future of gaming? I don’t think so; if anything, I’d call it a prototype for what could potentially be the future… one day. But the Wii had its problems: poor graphics, poor sound, beta controls, zero HD, mediocre online capabilities not to mention the fact it couldn’t even play DVDs something every console has been able to do since the PS2.

Now, apparently Nintendo is ready to reveal another console at E3 in June. Codenamed Project Cafe, this new console is apparently going to have better graphics than the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Better sound. Blu-ray capabilities. And should be more than capable of recapturing the hardcore market something the Wii was unable to do. I mean, I can’t really call Animal Crossing a hardcore video game. Can anyone? This new console should be able to play third-party games that were at one point only available for the PS3 and 360. The question is… too much too late? Or too much too soon?

The PS3 and 360 still have plenty of life. New games are coming out. The graphics haven’t peaked. People are still buying them. And no one can deny that games like God of War 3, Call of Duty, Bayonetta, Vanquish, and even still to this day Grand Theft Auto IV are fun to play on these consoles. Some people even argue that the PS2 still had life prior to the release of the PS3. I’m inclined to agree.

Personally, I find the Wii to be a gaming failure and a marketing success bar none. When the console sold, it sold well. Very well. But the games released for it have left so much to be desired with a few exceptions. Even the most anticipated titles have been lacklustre and this is a bad, bad thing. Take Super Smash Bros Brawl for example: fantastic series, great multiplayer, fantastic game in theory but sadly, the Wii’s seemingly broken, child-proof and lazy online components kept this game from being a success and a multiplayer demon that could actually have rivaled Call of Duty. The potential was there it was blatant, but sadly, like most things Nintendo, the key factor just fell apart. Zero rankings. Horrible lag. Friend codes? Give me a break. Shame.

Now, this could perhaps change with Project Cafe. Rumour has it that GRAND THEFT AUTO V could be a launch title for the system when it’s released, and not only would this be a key selling point, but if it’s an exclusive title, then Nintendo could be one step forward scratch that one giant leap forward in capturing the hardcore market. The lack of M-rated games on the Wii was certainly a failure on Nintendo’s part. But if this new console can go out of its way to capture what was lost we’re talking good things in Nintendo’s future.

I guess the only real question is this: too much too soon? Or too much too late? If this is the first of what will be the next generation of consoles, then will this push by Nintendo have Microsoft and Sony releasing a new console to battle Project Cafe? And keep in mind, The Microsoft Kinect and Play Station Move only came out recently scratching these two features would not only be costly, but it would piss off the majority of people who already invested in these two products. What’s the option here?

How much more powerful will Nintendo’s console be? That’s the million dollar question. If it’s lightyears ahead of the PS3, then Nintendo has the key advantage, but if it’s only slightly more advanced, then Sony and Microsoft can still compete with their consoles. Other question is this: is this the end of the Wii or merely a second console? What kind of controller will it feature? What kind of innovation? These are all big questions.

All I know is this: when E3 rolls around, I’ll have coverage right here on Forum M bringing you all the goods and showcasing what’s hot. What’s going to happen with Nintendo? How will Sony and Microsoft counter? It’s all the suspense of the NHL Playoffs with all the dramatics of a cheesy 90′s soap opera.

Only time will tell, and let me just say that video games are about to get a bit more interesting. As if they weren’t already. It’s amazing how far video games have come in the past twenty years, and at E3, there could be yet another huge evolution.

May the force be with us all.

Mike Gwilliam brings you up-to-date reviews, previews and news about video games, the internet, and technology. He's bold, out-spoken and pulls no punches. If you ever had a reason to trust someone's opinion on a video game, Mike Gwilliam will tell it how it is. Whether it's a masterpiece, overrated, or just downright sucks, Mike will let you know. His favourite games range from Star Craft, Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto, and Skyrim to Zelda, Max Payne, God of War, Uncharted and Batman: Arkham Asylum. In addition to game reviews, he'll also preview upcoming TV series and special gaming events such as E3, which, he'll be going to in 2012.

Mike Gwilliam

View all posts by Mike Gwilliam
Mikes website