Nintendo is once again starting the next-gen of gaming, with the Wii U being the first home console to launch the eighth generation. A new Xbox will then follow, as will the Playstation 4, although neither of the latter two have yet been announced. When they arrive they will no doubt hit the Wii U where it hurts.
According to Nintendo Everything, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime took exception to the question of how competitive the forthcoming Wii U will be in the longterm. In an interview with Spike TV at CES 2012, he stated:
“You know, we’re fortunate that we drive our own innovation agenda. We don’t care what any of the… we don’t care what the gaming competitors are doing. We don’t care what’s happening in the broader entertainment landscape. What we’re looking to do is drive a great new experience that’s going to be compelling, that’s going to have consumers say, ‘I have to buy the Wii U to get this new experience.’”
That’s a brave statement to make, and a brave commitment as well. Nintendo is effectively stating that it’s bored of participating in this endless battle with the rival console manufacturers, and that it’s just going to do its own thing from now on.
Nintendo started this trend with the original Wii, developing an idea (motion control) and gambling big on it. With the Wii succeeding in all the major territories that gamble clearly paid off, giving the company the confidence to roll the dice once more. But will the Wii U (with its integrated tablet controller) prove lightning can strike in the same place twice in quick succession?
