Rumor Control

Wii 2 in production, Miyamoto out of ideas?

Source: See below.

What we heard: This morning many Nintendo fans perusing RSS feeds did a spit-take upon seeing two headlines, both from the online edition of British industry-news magazine MCV. The first proclaimed "'Wii 2' in production, confirms Nintendo," apparently indicating the successor to the console is ready for manufacturing. Another piece on the site titled "Wii Music 'Miyamoto's last idea'" gave the impression that the legendary game designer had finally hit a creative wall after three decades at Nintendo.

Unsurprisingly, the eternal game of telephone that is the forumsphere reverberated with the double-shot of news--news that actually originated from a single article in The Wall Street Journal. Titled "Keeping Up Nintendo's Momentum," the piece is a collection of quotes from an interview the financial daily's Japan correspondent did with company president Satoru Iwata. But while a pair of the executive's comments led to MCV's attention-grabbing headlines, upon closer inspection, their meaning radically diverges from what said headlines imply.

Concerning the Wii's successor, Iwata said, "The hardware team started work on the next thing as soon as they were done with their previous project, but what they think up doesn't necessarily become a product." (Emphasis added.) He went on to emphasize the conceptual nature of Nintendo's next console, and to underline the fact there is no actual Wii 2 product yet--let alone one in production. "We only turn something into a product after it's been thoroughly vetted inside the company," said Iwata. "We're not at a point where we can give specifics, but of course we're working on it."

As far as Miyamoto goes, Iwata said that Wii Music, the rhythm title awkwardly demoed at Nintendo's E3 press conference, was the last of the designer initial concepts for the Wii. "Wii Music completes what Miyamoto wrote in his proposal when he came up with the idea for the Wii," Iwata told the paper. The executive continued, "He was saying that he needs to think up more ideas now," indicating that far from being at his wit's end, Miyamoto is hard at work on Nintendo's next big thing.

The official story: See above.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that the Wii's successor is in the early stages of development--as is the fourth PlayStation and the Xbox 720 (working title). However, it's 100 percent bogus that Miyamoto has had his last idea. That won't happen until the 55-year-old designer jumps off into the great Mushroom Kingdom in the sky.

Category: Bulletin
Posted by thorsen-ink, Aug 4, 2008 10:50 am PT   380 Comments

Comments

teirdome

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:09 am PT

All I can do is laugh at those stories. Disgusting journalism on the part of MCV. That is really disappointing.

Nice article Tor.

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xcollector

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:14 am PT

If they want me to consider getting a wii 2 then they better release more good games for the wii 1. The last thing I want is high definition shovelware. With the poor lineup of games for the wii I can't say I'm looking forward to the wii 2.

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  • 126 of 161 users agree
atopp399

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:14 am PT

Well I have always assumed when a new console is released that the company begins work on a new project. Games take years to develop sometimes...imagine what a whole new console must take. That is nothing new. As for the piece on Miyamoto? I wouldn't have believed it anyway.

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Jordanaire

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:18 am PT

I believe that there is an Nintendo Wii in development and it might be launch sooner than expected. As for Miyamoto hitting a creative wall... definitely not. This is the greatest game designer in gaming and I bet he has more ideas than he can use.

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  • 42 of 52 users agree
SteveTwo

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:27 am PT

angelGP32, did you read the article or just rush to try and get the first post after reading the headlines?

There are no lack of ideas for the Wii. The next console they are working on is a new project still in the prototype stage.

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  • 29 of 31 users agree
Canuck3000

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:33 am PT

Nintendo needs a new system long before the others do...

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  • 35 of 53 users agree
LazyPenguin1989

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:37 am PT

It was a no brainier that they were already thinking and even started making it, but of coarse there not gonna rush it out, there doing extremely well now and have a lot of good games out and a lot coming out soon, and i cant wait for four of them especially.

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Majin_Neo

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:37 am PT

You mean Nintendo is actually doing work?! (Sarcasm) Of course they are working on the future, they aren't going to just say Ok this is our last system...come on guys.

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  • 17 of 18 users agree
NormanOfTorn

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:41 am PT

Obviously a new Nintendo system is in development, just don't expect it until at least 2011. As for Miyamoto, he will never run out of ideas.

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Paladin_King

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:43 am PT

this is so sad in so many ways

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Phazevariance

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:47 am PT

So, business as usual... i'd still like to see an actual zelda for the wii come out that isnt a GC port. ... anytime now... dont announce it jsut release it tomorrow!

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Echo13791

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:49 am PT

I would not be happy if the next generation of consoles was around the corner. I wouldn't be happy at all! lol

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Losarii

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:50 am PT

"That won't happen until the 55-year-old designer jumps off into the great Mushroom Kingdom in the sky. "

That brought back some wonderful memories. Keep up the good work Nintendo.

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ctg867

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:51 am PT

Story = pointless. *Goes back to doing something else*

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comelstr

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:54 am PT

I wonder what Nintendo will do next. They have Touch, Motion whats next Virtual Reallty. That would be cool but at what Cost. Nintendo just make some Hardcore games Please.

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-Intellectual-

Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:54 am PT

@ Tor Thorsen
"However, it's 100 percent bogus that Miyamoto has had his last idea. That won't happen until the 55-year-old designer jumps off into the great Mushroom Kingdom in the sky. "

LOL

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