Wii HD

[scottcr]

do saves *really* need to be that big? Isn't it more down to poor implementation if a save is comedy sized...?

[Halo]

Hardly a disaster, assuming it's expandable.

It might be worth Nintendo playing the market segmentation game that Microsoft did with the 360. 8gb is more than enough for the average Wii Fit player, not so much for the core gamer end of the market.

[Sprite Machine]

You're right. One should never base their predictions on previous behaviour. Perhaps Nintendo will abandon consoles altogether and start selling washing machines. Anything could happen!

Sorry, but I didn't say that. If you want to predict a company's future approach based on their previous decisions, then you need to consider the context for those decisions, not just carry them over to a new decade and assume nothing will change.

Particularly when there's a more recent example (the 3DS) than the one you're using (the Wii).

[Stanley]

You're right. One should never base their predictions on previous behaviour. Perhaps Nintendo will abandon consoles altogether and start selling washing machines. Anything could happen!

But looking at it logically we can already see that they've changed things with the 3DS. 8GB is 16 times the size of Wii's storage - so if we're taking this rumour at face value, then it's clear they are looking at improving things. Otherwise they'd stick with 512mb, wouldn't they?

Soooooo, taking all that into consideration, it's highly likely that the system will be much better/different than Wii.

[Camel]

But looking at it logically we can already see that they've changed things with the 3DS. 8GB is 16 times the size of Wii's storage - so if we're taking this rumour at face value, then it's clear they are looking at improving things. Otherwise they'd stick with 512mb, wouldn't they?

Soooooo, taking all that into consideration, it's highly likely that the system will be much better/different than Wii.

Let's hope so. This 8GB spec knocking about is a worrying indicator though. Let's hope that bigger drives can be added without an annoying factor like the 16GB limit applied to external drives on the 360. *everything crossed*

[Sprite Machine]

Let's hope that bigger drives can be added without an annoying factor like the 16GB limit applied to external drives on the 360. *everything crossed*

An arbitrary limit which is applied to make you buy Microsoft's proprietry hard drives, so also doesn't apply here.

[squirtle]

Camel, would you also say the 4Gb 360 is also rubbish?

[Camel]

An arbitrary limit which is applied to make you buy Microsoft's proprietry hard drives, so also doesn't apply here.

Why doesn't it apply here? Or have you some insider knowledge which suggests that Nintendo's new console won't support proprietary HDDs?

Camel, would you also say the 4Gb 360 is also rubbish?

Well, first of all, I haven't said anything is 'rubbish'. But a 4GB 360 can be upgraded, so there's no issue.

[SozzlyJoe]

I'm not using it as it is intended; what a completely stupid statement. Perhaps we should ask Microsoft about that.

Yeah, you do that, I'm sure they'll get right back to you. In the meantime let's just say you're being obtuse if you are trying to say that the HDD-less 360 is primarily sold as some sort of media-streaming station, given that MS make their profits on XBL and game royalties.

Anyway, I dunno why there is even a discussion on this. 8GB local storage makes no sense apart from a cost cutting perspective. Don't you think in retrospect MS wish they had never bothered with a HDD-less model?

Although the cloud-saves idea definitely intrigues me (maybe not so much now after seeing the PSN woes).

[Massive Invisible Dog]

Why doesn't it apply here? Or have you some insider knowledge which suggests that Nintendo's new console won't support proprietary HDDs?

They already support third party SD cards greater than 16GB on the Wii and 3DS, so if they're supporting other means of storage to expand what's built in then it's unlikely they'll be applying arbitrary storage limits to them based on current form.

[Massive Invisible Dog]

Don't you think in retrospect MS wish they had never bothered with a HDD-less model?

Probably not, given they are still selling a 4GB model.

[Sprite Machine]

Why doesn't it apply here? Or have you some insider knowledge which suggests that Nintendo's new console won't support proprietary HDDs?

There is nothing to suggest that they will.

[Camel]

They already support third party SD cards greater than 16GB on the Wii and 3DS, so if they're supporting other means of storage to expand what's built in then it's unlikely they'll be applying arbitrary storage limits to them based on current form.

Careful now, we can't make assumptions based on what they've done in the past.

As long as there is some method (whether it be proprietary or otherwise) of adding a good amount of storage without fiddling about transferring files, I think 'core gamers' (ugh) will be happy and it'll be a big step in the right direction for Nintendo.

[Camel]

There is nothing to suggest that they will.

There is nothing to suggest *anything* at the moment, it's all speculation. Surely it's not outside of the realms of possibility that Nintendo will introduce their own standard of HDD storage solution.

[SozzlyJoe]

Probably not, given they are still selling a 4GB model.

Well, given what they charge for external HDDs, perhaps you are right!

[squirtle]

Hopefully. Or better yet, Nintendo will stop being idiots and there will be an option for buying a version of their console with a decent amount of storage so users don't even have to worry about where to save and how to transfer files and any other such nonsense that shouldn't even be an issue in 2011.

That reads to me like you think it's a rubbish thing to release with such a small amount of onboard memory.

But to carry on with the 4Gb 360; how do you know that Nintendo won't allow for upgrades to be added? Seeing as the Wii accepts SD cards, I'd be very surprised if their next console offered no way of improving the memory from the base unit.

To be fair, a guaranteed 8Gb will be plenty for developers to work with in a closed system. It's more than they have on the 360, let's face it.

[Camel]

That reads to me like you think it's a rubbish thing to release with such a small amount of onboard memory.

In that case what I really meant was -

Hopefully. Or better yet, Nintendo will stop being idiots and there will be an option for buying a version of their console with a decent amount of storage or the option to upgrade to a larger storage solution so users don't even have to worry about where to save and how to transfer files and any other such nonsense that shouldn't even be an issue in 2011.

But to carry on with the 4Gb 360; how do you know that Nintendo won't allow for upgrades to be added? Seeing as the Wii accepts SD cards, I'd be very surprised if their next console offered no way of improving the memory from the base unit.

I don't know that and have never suggested that I did.

SD cards are not an ideal solution though. Large HDDs are a great solution and oh so simple.

[Stanley]

Yeah, you do that, I'm sure they'll get right back to you. In the meantime let's just say you're being obtuse if you are trying to say that the HDD-less 360 is primarily sold as some sort of media-streaming station, given that MS make their profits on XBL and game royalties.

Only I never said that. You alleged that I'm not using it as it was intended, despite my uses for it all being completely supported by the manufacturer. I'm sorry, did I also need to mention that I play games on it too, it being a games console?

Anyway, I dunno why there is even a discussion on this. 8GB local storage makes no sense apart from a cost cutting perspective. Don't you think in retrospect MS wish they had never bothered with a HDD-less model?

No I don't because they've continued to sell that model throughout it's lifespan. It's helped them shift a lot more 360s in the process. It's not about cost cutting it's about cost saving.

[mushashi]

The Kotaku rumours have a fairly high truth probability, Stephen Totilo was fairly happy to defend himself on NeoGAF over this news story.

8GB of internal flash storage sounds up Nintendo's street, it's a cost-cutting measure.

At least they are going with a blue-laser based disc format, one assumes at a higher speed than the 2x PS3 one, which will give them better than X360 disc performance, without the godawful noise.

And another confirmation for the tablet/trad controller hybrid.

[deKay]

The Kotaku rumours have a fairly high truth probability, Stephen Totilo was fairly happy to defend himself on NeoGAF over this news story.

8GB of internal flash storage sounds up Nintendo's street, it's a cost-cutting measure.

At least they are going with a blue-laser based disc format, one assumes at a higher speed than the 2x PS3 one, which will give them better than X360 disc performance, without the godawful noise.

And another confirmation for the tablet/trad controller hybrid.

Where are you getting this information?

[Harsin]

One of the things good about a big hard-drive on the 360 is that it allows optional full installs of games, anything that puts less wear and tear on the moving parts of a console can only be a good thing in my mind, but 6GB at a time (even more on a Blu-ray) soon starts to fill it up. A matchbox full of SD cards instead isn't really a desirable alternative in my opinion.

[Stanley]

Provided the parts are well made then wear and tear is less of a problem. At least Nintendo have a fairly good record there.

The problem with installs is that you still need the disc in the drive to play the game, so it's no improvement from a convenience point of view.

This mooted blu-ray drive, faster than the PS3's, should do the job fine.

[scottcr]

I gave up with installs on the 360 since having to have the disc in kinda defeated the purpose and I didn't notice any performance improvements... so I didn't bother.

[Eighthours]

do saves *really* need to be that big? Isn't it more down to poor implementation if a save is comedy sized...?

I'm more thinking in terms of game devs not really wanting to produce 2GB high end XBLA-style games if the default configuration is 8GB storage. I think it will limit what devs will realistically want to do in that area, even if it's only a psychological thing.

[scottcr]

can't see them doing that... as long as there's enough space to run the game then that's fine...

Also - if the online service is better, I don't mind not having all games downloaded all the time... let me know what I've purchased, let me search through it easily, and let me download the games when I want to play. I'd rather do that than store everything on a growing stack of SDs...

EDIT: (forgot to add - this is like the iPad comic apps... you have a set amount of space for downloads, you delete the ones that you're not reading and you can easily download again at a later date)

[Comrade]

Well, first of all, I haven't said anything is 'rubbish'. But a 4GB 360 can be upgraded, so there's no issue.

But according to the rumour, the new Wii can have its storage upgraded too. So is there no issue there?

[Sprite Machine]

I'm more thinking in terms of game devs not really wanting to produce 2GB high end XBLA-style games if the default configuration is 8GB storage. I think it will limit what devs will realistically want to do in that area, even if it's only a psychological thing.

Hmm... I wouldn't have thought so. To use a comparable example, the default 360 memory is either zero or 4GB, and that doesn't stop 2GB+ downloads from happening. Developers will push the most they can get away with.

[mushashi]

Where are you getting this information?

post #1105.

Totilo added a couple of things in reply to some questions from disbelievers:

You're asking if Wii Remotes will work with the new console? Yes. I and others have already reported that. You'd be mistaken to imagine multiple people huddled around a TV each with a Cafe screen-controller in their hand. I don't even know if the new console can stream to more than one controller (I've never asked). Imagine one person with the screen controller; another with a Wii Remote. Or multiple people with Wii Remotes and none with screen controllers. Mix and match.

Any word on a hard drive slot?

stephentotilo: I have no idea. Sorry.

Guys, these rumors are utter bullshit.

stephentotilo: I wasn't guessing.

Totilo... please, stay in this thread.

Where are you? We demand answers! You started this... now give us more info, please.

stephentotilo: I gave you what I could. That's it. Thanks to everyone who said nice things about the work I'm doing at Kotaku. I hope those of you who are down on the site will give it another look.

I've done my best to make clear what I've reported and I, like you all, look forward to Nintendo forking out a whole lot of answers at E3.

Shame he didn't ask about the multi-controller streaming feature the French mention.

[suzzopher]

I'm more thinking in terms of game devs not really wanting to produce 2GB high end XBLA-style games if the default configuration is 8GB storage. I think it will limit what devs will realistically want to do in that area, even if it's only a psychological thing.

Devs aren't happy being capped at 2GB as it is.

[Camel]

But according to the rumour, the new Wii can have its storage upgraded too. So is there no issue there?

No issue at all if that is true. As I have said many times already, if there is a way of upgrading storage on this new console that doesn't involve SD cards and fiddling about transferring files then that will be great and a big step forward for Nintendo. I'm guessing you didn't read those bits.