We’d like to tear you away from the latest rumors and scuttlebutt surrounding the next iteration of the iPhone for just a moment in order to bring you an important public service announcement: Companies other than Apple are currently busy preparing their own next generation devices too. It’s a shocking, we know, but we swear it’s the truth. Take Nintendo, for example. Word has it that they’re in the middle of prototyping their next generation console gaming system. Given that a little over a year ago, Nintendo declared Apple “the enemy of the future”, will their next hardware offering be designed to take on Cupertino’s forays into the realm of gaming?
In a word: Nah.
Back in April, GameInformer gave us the goods on what is believed to be Nintendo’s successor to the Wii. According to “multiple sources” the console, which as mentioned is believed to be called Project Cafe, is set for a fall 2012 release. On the obvious side of things, Project Cafe is rumoured to support for high-definition television screens, and will be able to rock games at an HD resolution. We’re pretty sure you’ll agree that this is a no-brainer. Now for a few whispers from the unicorn-powered side of the rumour mill: tech pundits and unnamed insiders have declared that Project Cafe’s game controllers will play host to a 6.2-inch touch screen, dual analog sticks and eight buttons. To keep things old school, Project Cafe is also said to be backwards compatible with the gyroscope-chipped Wii Remote, which suggests to us that if you currently own a Wii and are considering an upgrade to Nintendo’s new system once it becomes available, many of the games you already own will still be compatible. That friends, is a win.
It’s also been mentioned online that Project Cafe may utilize a three-core design chip built by IBM that will natively support 1080p and stereoscopic 3D right out of the box. We have to admit, that is any of this is true, Nintendo will have the makings of another game changing home console system on their hands. But red-hot, cutting edge hardware boasting next-gen graphics and a wide variety of titles does not an iOS gaming killer make.
Despite a declaration last year by Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata that Apple was his company’s “Enemy of the Future”, the Japanese gaming giant has done very little to shore up Cupertino’s runaway success in the realm of portable gaming. Sure, they’ve released the 3DS, and their own extensive library of games, but none of it has managed to make so much as a dent in the runaway fiscal success of the iTunes App Store and the devices it supports. If that’s the case when comparing mobile gaming devices against each other -- oranges to oranges, if you will -- then the possibility of Nintendo’s hopes of beating down iOS’ growing share of the mobile gaming market by unleashing a new home console -- apples to oranges -- seem pretty remote.
If anything, we’d suggest that given the advent of AirTunes, the regular introduction of more powerful iOS hardware and the comparatively low cost of games iOS games versus their pricey console-based cousins, Apple could be set to drink even more of Nintendo’s milkshake. After all, if a single device could offer you the same high quality gaming experience at home or on the go, why would you ever consider investing a house-bound gaming solution, especially if that mobile device also serves as a very respectable productivity and lifestyle management platform to boot? And what about the Apple TV? If Apple opts to bake in iOS gaming support into that low-cost set top streaming beauty, you have to wonder how many consumers would opt to buy it to fill their gaming needs instead of a more expensive Nintendo console.
We’re sure that what ever Nintendo has in store for gamers will be awesome… but not so awesome as to see any members of Apple’s executive team lose any sleep over it.
Follow this article's author, Seamus Bellamy on Twitter.
TrainAss
June 02, 2011 at 9:02am
There's a HUGE difference between cell phone games, and console games (TV and hand held consoles). Cell phone games are quick little games to pass the time on the bus, shitter or waiting for someone.
Phones have too small of a screen, too limited hardware and very poor controls for long-term gaming.
If I'm going to do some serious gaming, I'm going to be playing one of the millions of games I have on my PC, or play one of my consoles. I'll play a game on my phone if I'm killing time waiting for someone.
iOS gaming a run away success? Only the casual market, and that's where it's going to stay.
nmz502
May 31, 2011 at 7:18pm
Why do people keep on saying 3d = future. Sometimes I just want a play a game without having to worry about perspective or getting sick.
Kruz8er
May 31, 2011 at 7:02pm
Nintendo was game consoles' last hope for innovative games.... Until the Wii arrived. Nintendo truly does make some great games but they lost sight of the fan base that made them who they are today. Now theyve traded all the loyalty for a quick buck from gimmicks that will ultimately be the demise of Nintendo in the console race.
CCardarelli
May 31, 2011 at 3:07pm
Those of us who enjoy to sit down and play a game for an extended period are not going to be appeased merely by iOS offerings (great as many of those games may be).
To be honest, they may be playing in the same stadiums but they're playing different sports. They'll affect each others' margins, but this isn't a case of iPhone/iPad vs. the 3DS.
