Square Enix President predicts Wii HD for 2011, doesn't see big impact for PS3 and Xbox motion controls
By Paul Miller 
posted Sep 21st 2009 12:12PM
posted Sep 21st 2009 12:12PM
Sure, they sound like the words of a man who hasn't begun development of any motion-controlled titles for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, but we're still intrigued by President of Square Enix Yoichi Wada's statement (he's the guy on the left) that the motion control additions to the PS3 and Xbox 360 aren't that big of deal. He cites the other "pillars" of console use (like video playback) that somehow make motion controls a minor player -- though we'd say the Wii's sales numbers would beg to differ. Speaking of the Wii, Yoichi thinks all three major consoles will start to look rather the same by 2011, when believes the Wii followup will hit the market -- in line with other rumors we've heard for the "Wii HD." Three "HD" consoles with similar input options and similar graphics output certainly sounds like a boon for developers, we just hope there are enough similarities in the control systems and enough "impact" in PS3 and Xbox motion control sales to make mega triple-platform motion-controlled blockbusters feasible.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
A year too late?
Wii HD would be great but what about all those current Wii games that are not HD? Upscaling is sooooo 2008!
@emu76
I thought those games are PS3 exclusives? How can you compare graphics and gameplay on exclusives?
Does he realize that more than likely, we'll be getting at the least another Xbox close to that time?
He looks so grumpy, is it because he has a Square Enix?
just when we finish buying all the accessories for the wii...they come out with wii HD with .....A NEW CONTROLER....
I think it's too late for all those Wii games already out, and I think that a Wii HD around that timeframe is quite possible.
Wii is popular, wheather you're a PS3 fan, 360 fan, it doesn't matter, you have to admit the Wii is popular. However, what is killing it after the initial purchase is the hardware. It's just not powerful enough. Nintendo could have gotten by longer if developers would have just made good games for it and not crapware, but it's just not going to happen. Wii gets passed over on awesome games.
By 2011 the console will be 5 years old - typical life-span. So, release an HD version. Lot's of graphics processing power. If it's on par with 360 and ps3 (which both companies say they want to last a lot longer), then they can release it cheaper since the technology will be essentially be playing catch-up. With natal and ps3-dildo I wouldn't expect new systems from them anytime soon. In a way this was a perfect move for Nintendo when it was failing a few years back. They regained market-share and developers love with the inexpensive Wii, and can now regain the hardcore players and get awesome games back with their inexpensive HD version. If I had proof good games were coming to it, I'd buy one. I love the Wii controller for first-person shooters. It was made for it. Natal wouldn't cut it for me in that area and the glowing dildo looks stupid imo. What developers need to learn from the Wii is to limit the amount of motion control. It's perfect as far as aiming goes, but beyond that you don't need to be flailing all over the place.
Wii HD could be an awesome move by Nintendo.
....yep Elvis just told me that...
Holy crap, I want a Judgemaster suit for Halloween! No really though.. I'll wait and see the games before I judge PS3 or 360's motion controls and their impact.
There's no one Judgemaster suit, that's Gabranth's. Pick one. Pick Ghis'. Smelt it and sell it on eBay. Profit.
He's right I'm afriad.
"he's the guy on the left". the best part of my day so far :)
I'm sorry but that humor was simply IQ reducing and not funny.
"he's the guy on the left"
Are you sure?
shitty day?
Well, I'm the guy on the right, so it seemed kind of obvious to me, but I can see how it could be amusing to other people.
I'll have to disagree.
There is a substantial difference between the graphics capabilities in the 360 and the PS3.
Now it is possible that the motion controllers will not make that much of a difference: the name "Wii" has become a huge icon for nontypical gamers. People get the Wii who otherwise would not own a console. While owning that console for a typical gamer would be blasphemous, it is a huge, huge, huge market for people who don't care about graphics. I don't see the Wii HD being that big of a hit, and I'm certain it will not be anywhere near as graphically-capable as the PS3.
"I'm certain it will not be anywhere near as graphically-capable as the PS3"
Right, because the Gamecube paled in comparison to the graphical prowess of the PS2. Nintendo has shown in the past that it definitely can do decent graphics, so I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt until we find out for sure.
while there has been SPECULATION that the PS3 can surpass the xbox360 in terms of graphical effect plug-ins it has yet to been proven because of 2 reasons.
1. All major games (thus far) have been released on more then one system and are usually done in the order of PC/XBOX360--->PS3 dude to programming difficulty. Esencailly every multi-platform release is a "port" for its PS3 version.
2. Console exclusive titles for PS3 have had much less profit return then xbx360 are very much hit or miss and therefore companies put more money into game development then graphics.
Maybe the new price drop with the PS3 slim will put the ps3 to the test and the system will finally be pushed to the limit (like they did with the ps2). But for right now, no game on the PS3 looks better or worse then a game on the 360.
@Grammar Delinquent
Uncharted 2, Killzone 2.
Go on, try and deny it.
@emu76
I thought those games are PS3 exclusives? How can you compare graphics and gameplay on exclusives?
@ Christopher
Most gamers I know have Wiis. I have every console and the Wii gets the most playtime. Why? Because it provides the best party atmosphere when entertaining guests, there are a number of simple yet fun games that you can play if you only have about 10-15 minutes to burn, there are still some good hard core games, and it is also the only way to play first party nintendo games. The other consoles lack most of these items.
Real gamers play the wii just as much as any other console because it offers a lot of things those other consoles dont deliver. The only thing it lacks is the graphics. I can guarantee that I will get an HD Wii. And I would bet that if it also provides backward compatibility, and media streaming then a lot of the the casual market will probably upgrade as well.
@Mark:
Then they'd have nothing to lose if they had made the Wii "HD capable" from the start. I mean, they COULD've done it, right?
Just because it's meant for ocasional gamers doesn't mean it can't be HD, even more so considering that the other two competing consoles are capable of showing HD graphics.
Yes, I will buy it. Because no matter what any hater has to say about the Wii, Mario, Zelda, Metroid and Fire Emblem will never see the light in any other console.
I hate to correct Engadget but I'm certain that Mr. Yoichi Wada is on the right, Hard to tell though.
I believe that's Nintendo's ambassador on the right.
Ah, the Japanese and their cosplay!
So what type of deal did Square Enix and Nintendo strike up for him to sweat their ballsack all of a sudden?
I'm guessing Final Fantasy will be a Wii only title in the future?
square and nintendo have actually been on pretty bad terms since the N64 days. I remember some huge "NO SQUARE RPG" fiasco back in 2001ish.
Evolve or die. Adapt or die. We cannot stay stagnant because we have mastered one style of controls. We must master a new kind now. Where is the fun in gaming if everythins is same old same old with a slight twist? Motion controls offer us a direct evolution of gaming ideas. While it may not in the end become the BEST evolution is not always about what is best through out history. Evolution is about what is best for the current evironment. The current evironment needs something new. Your old ideas are holding back the industry.
Though I agree on that everything will evolve yet motion controls are not necessarythe best solution out there. The thought that Wii´s success solely depended on the motion controls is unlikely. A good pricing, easy games (or better said the casual games), motion control, easy SDK/development and so on are all mayor contributors.
Now if you look at the total succes considering the numbers is also not likely to be correct. The succes for every Nintendo/MS/Sony depends for each differently. While Nintendo basically makes money out of everything Sony draws money from the licenses. Making it for Sony more important that people buy a lot of games but also game longer (which they do compared to Wii players) and not to forget the target to make it last atleast a decade. While Nintendo has rather short cycles of 4 to 6 years per console.
"he's the guy on the left"
You sure about that?
(he's the guy on the left)
:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
This is all fine and dandy, but what about some FFXIV news Mr. President.
Also, for WTFROFLYEAH reasons, I say it's the one on the right.
My eyes were drawn inexplicably and unwillingly to the leather pants on that mannequin. Why did the crafters of the suit feel the need to make it look like he has a baseball bat in his pants? The leather looks to be at it's breaking point, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near this guy (were he real) if he had to crouch down; you could easily be knocked unconscious if you were standing in the wrong place when the stitching let loose.
"For the next one, act like you know each other"
Correction: He's the guy on the right :)
LoL wii and hd go together like gas and a lit match. Epic Fail !!!
I'd say it's a rather explosive combination
What exactly does a lit match and gas fail at exactly?
im tired of seeing idiots declare anything and everything "epic fail"... no one is impressed
Ummm... he can't even accuratly predict a release date...
Oh no he di'nt!
Dear Engadget.
Do you understand that XBOX/PS3 won't have Motion Control built in/standard?
For that you would need a time machine.
So few will pick it up and few developers will develop for it. On the other hand, Nintendo, who came up with the idea, is printing money.
That's why, the guy in the picture is rich as hell, and you're a blogger.
I'm still waiting for ColecoVision 3DHD.
Oh yeah, just of how awesome those intro cinematics would be on a Wii HD.
Wii HD in 2011???
Isn't that when their supposed to announce the NEXT generation of Nintendo consoles?
OR maybe wii hd will be nintendo's next gen?
PS3 is supposed to last 10 years until the PS4.
360 is gonna last 5 years? Longer? i don't remember seeing a timeline as to how long it will be before we hear about a xbox 720.
Wow. It takes 5 years for Nintendo to put HD graphics into their console. No surprise that Square Enix is waiting for the Wii HD beacuse the graphics would be really, really crappy.
"motion controls a minor player"
I tend to agree. The Wii's emphasis on accessible family and party gaming is probably just as important as the motion controls. The PS2 had more breadth of genres than the PS3, and the Wii has picked up a lot of people who Sony abandoned when they became more hardcore-centric.
Yoichi Wada's statement
"Present game machines already have a lot of functions: they are a network terminal, a Blu-ray or DVD player, and a gaming machine. Compared to these three pillars, the [new motion] controllers are quite limited, so the impact may be small. They are an extension of the gaming function"
Mr Wada said he rated the technology in devices such as Microsoft’s Project Natal controller very highly. “As a user interface it’s fantastic and I think it will become standard,” he said.
Their immediate effect on the console market might turn out to be greater if compelling games are released. However, games that use motion control are quite difficult to design, Mr Wada said.
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I'll have to say I agree 100% with that
Dude looks like Lloyd from Entourage.
Sounds right. Nintendo is pretty reliable about their consoles having a 5-year life cycle, whether that tradition behooves them or not.
I guess I'm fucked. Everything is becoming motion controlled or I have to stand in front of a camera and talk to a screen.
My cousin let me borrow his Wii so I could play Zelda, gave it back the next day. It made playing the game more of a chore than entertainment.
I like a regular gamepad or mouse & keyboard. Motion control and Natal will lead to new ideas and such, but they're not for the gamer who likes to lay down and relax while playing a game.
AGREED!! haha, i unfortunately bought a wii because i thought it would be fun, but i was wrong... The Wii IS fun though, its just so damn annoying to have so much emphasis on motion control... For example, the BEST games that i have played for the Wii are the ones that have little or no motion sensor control (ie. Smash Bros. Brawl, Metroid, Zelda) so seeing as the 360 and PS3 are gonna have motion control as an "add-on" then thats just perfect... motion sensor controls are fun to play with, but not as a main medium to game with...
when is final fantasy coming out? the only reason i bought the ps3 was because of final fantasy....now that FF is coming out for xbox i have lost all faith in ps3 and sony.
seriously....ps3 fanboys know what im talking about.
You only say this because the only thing the Wii doesnt have going for it now is the graphics. If the Wii goes HD all of the haters will have lost their main hating point.
Is that Lloyd from Entourage?
The PS3 isn't going anywhere, Wii and 360 have their ups and downs but the PS3 is sticking in there. I mean come on, free online play? Why bother pay to play a game you already paid for? And now you can get a PS3 for FREE, just follow the link. Sign up for something you want anyway and get a PS3, simple right?
http://www.gamesncs.com/rd_p?p=192108&t=9528&a=13190-splaystation&gift=13190
'to make mega triple-platform motion-controlled blockbusters feasible.'
Why would it not be feasible? If all three consoles have similar user input and comparable graphic output it would absolutely be feasible. Successful is the thing you have to worry about, not probability.
they had to release a "HD" version because "HD" is huge catch phrase right now. If you throw "HD" on anything it will sell despite if it is high definition or not. Just watch nintendo will show huge sales in the first few weeks of this device getting released. I suggest you buy stock now.
He looks like lloyd from Entourage.
I say to the hell with motion controls! Let's start getting into mind controls shall we?!
Thats a nice suite that Mr.Wada has :)
That suit looks kind of like the Immortals armor in 300. Very cool.
That the guy on the right has an erection?
Stop making life sized replicas and start making an HD remake of FF7!
Autostereoscopic graphics should be making the push within the next decade. That's going to be a bigger deal than HD.
WRONG! In 2011, Nintendo will release the red, blue, and purple models of the classic Wii.
Who cares about HD on the Wii.....without decent online, it's a yawner