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[The Headliner]

All strictly hearsay at the moment, as the only thing that's ever for sure about Nintendo is that nothing's for sure:

Nintendo is working on a new console to replace the Wii that will run games at HD resolutions, reports suggest, with a launch date planned for 2012.

Game Informer - a reliable source not given to posting wild rumours - broke the news, saying that multiple sources have confirmed that Nintendo are working on the console.

An announcement about the console is expected from Nintendo next month, with more details being revealed at the E3 expo in June. The console is reportedly set for a launch in 'late 2012'.

They quote one anonymous source saying that 'Nintendo is doing this one right,' adding that it is 'not a gimmick like the Wii'.

IGN adds their own sources to the mix, saying that the console will be 'significantly more powerful than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360', and claiming that the console will mark Nintendo's move to 'recapture the hardcore market.'

And CVG, meanwhile, suggests that the device will have a built-in HD screen, which sounds intriguing.

The Wii has been one of the most successful consoles ever made, selling in huge numbers - but it has attracted criticism for being less powerful compared to its rivals, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and for the paucity of decent games for it made by any company other than Nintendo.

The new HD console could see Nintendo return to their traditional position of having competitive hardware (the Wii and DS were relatively anomalous in being underpowered for their generation) - and Game Informer reports that the new console is already being shown to third-party publishers in an effort to make sure that it gets strong support. The Wii, by contrast, was largely kept a secret until its launch.

Further details about the console are thin on the ground. It's not clear what kind of controls it will support, although a combination of traditional and motion controls seems likely - CVG says that it will an all-new controller, not just an updated Wiimote.

It's also not known if the console will retain the Wii name, with Game Informer suggesting that it may be given different branding in an effort to distinguish it from the Wii and appeal more to Western audiences.

Nintendo has been rumoured to be planning a new console for some time, although it seemed more likely that it would be an upgrade of the Wii rather than a complete new system. Sony and Microsoft both maintain the the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are only halfway through their life cycles, and are unlikely to introduce next generation consoles for quite some time.

Nintendo's more powerful successor to the Wii, codenamed 'Project Cafe', will indeed have an almost tablet-style touchscreen controller that will stream games from the console, new reports suggest.

The rumours back up the reports that first surfaced on last week, which suggested that Nintendo was poised to announce the follow-up to the Wii with a possible announcement next month and a full reveal at E3 in June.

Those reports included suggestions that the new console - which, according to IGN, is codenamed 'Project Cafe' - would feature an in-built screen. And now we're getting more details about what that might mean.

IGN reports that the controller for Project Cafe will feature a six-inch touchscreen, which will not only act as a controller for the main console, but will also be able to stream full games from the console to the screen - it is, apparently, 'like a miniature television.' Or, we guess, a small tablet.

The rumours don't end there - French site 01net claims that in addition to the touchscreen, the controller will feature a front-facing camera and can be used as a Wii sensor bar. Combining the reports from 01net and IGN, it also seems that it might feature dual analogue sticks, D-Pad, and two triggers and bumpers, and will have similar functionality (although not design) to a Gamecube controller.

The reports do not indicate whether or not it also sings and dances.

A few more rumours also back up that Project Cafe/Wii 2 will bring Nintendo into the big leagues in terms of gaming power - with the console said to be similar in architecture to the Xbox 360 but 'more powerful', according to CVG.

[Matches Malone]

Not sure if I should start raging or not.

[gungrave17]

so its stonger than 360? that means comparing to ps3, it still sucks

[Matches Malone]

Well that probably means--

"Sony Fanboy 4 Life"

Oh nevermind

[The Headliner]

Rumours are suggesting that Grand Theft Auto makers Rockstar are among the first developers working on Nintendo's 'Project Cafe' successor to the Wii - and might even be bringing Grand Theft Auto 5 to the new console.

According to the claims flying around, Rockstar are among the first companies (possibly the very first) to be given a developer unit of Nintendo's Project Cafe console. This presumably means that Nintendo hope to launch the console in 2012 with a high-profile game from the guys behind Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.

And, combined with the ongoing rumours that Grand Theft Auto 5 is in the works, naturally led to the wild speculation - will the next GTA game debut on the Wii 2 (or whatever it's called)?

That would be quite a coup for Nintendo, whether it's GTA or another Rockstar triple-A game - none of Rockstar's best known titles have ever appeared on Nintendo's home consoles, although a few have turned up as Game Boy/DS versions.

The reports come from French site 01net, which has been positively overflowing with rumours about Nintendo's new console over the past few days - but has built up a fair amount of credibility, both for their Nintendo reports tying in with what other trustworthy sites are reporting, and for the fact that they pretty much nailed the specs of Sony's NGP a few days before its announcement.

In other news of people apparently working on Wii 2 games, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Metroid Prime makers Retro Studios have also taken delivery of a development kit from Nintendo, and are working on a game 'that everyone wants us to do', according to a report from Paul Gale Network. Beyond that, though, there's no further information...

[Matches Malone]

Project Revolution: Good code name, but we ended up with "Wii".
Project Cafe: Unpretty name, could we end up with an awesome official name?

The only reason I'm really angry is because I just got my Wii a few months ago, but that's what I get for waiting so long. Better hop on getting a PS3.

But I do hope that the new console doesn't have the stigma of being a "kiddy" console.

[The Headliner]

That's up to the developers and publishers. A lot of them missed out on a lucrative revenue stream in the Wii, because they dismissed it early on and by the time they tried to jump on the bandwagon, a lot of the gamers who'd have bought their product had already given up on the system because it was dominated by casual games that had been given a clear run.

[The Headliner]

Confirmation:

Nintendo has announced its plan to launch a Wii successor system next year.

In a note published today alongside its 2011 financial statement, the company confirmed the console, currently codenamed Project Cafe, will launch in 2012.

It also confirmed plans to show a playable model of the new system, and announce further details, at the E3 game show in June.

Nintendo's next home console is said to have high definition visuals and graphical power on a similar level to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Its controller is rumoured to feature a 6.2 inch touch-screen that enables the streaming of games played on the console.

[Matches Malone]

Well, at least they'll have a proper controller this time around.

[El Jackal]

Info about Nintendo’s next home console, the Nintendo Stream.
- Nintendo are planning a full reveal of the console, controller and 1st/2nd party games at E3.
- The console is confirmed to be backwards compatible with all Wii/Gamecube titles, and all your VC games will be transferred over once you link your credit card to the system.
- Many 3rd party developers have development kits who are supposedly hard at work to have something to show (and play) at E3.
- 3rd Parties were involved with the development of the console, with requests for what specifications they’d like to see. As of now (which could change) the system runs of a custom built IBM triple-core CPU and has 2gb RAM. The graphics chip is a custom built Radeon R700 chip.
- There is an internal SSD. Size is unknown at this point.
- It will run natively at 1080p.
- The new controller slightly resembles a Gamecube controller with a large LCD screen in the middle of it. The controller is light for its size and looks like a tablet with Gamecube-like prongs to the side. It has dual analogue sticks, face buttons, d-pad and shoulder buttons. No triggers were on the device.
- The screen on the controller is indeed a 6″ LCD high resolution (reported 640 x 960 pixels) display. However, Nintendo said in order to keep battery life manageable, the controller doesn’t have any hardware to produce graphics itself. The image is simply a video stream directly from the console.
- The controller uses rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Size of the battery is unknown.
- The Wiimote can be used and a new model of Wiimote will be released with the console. This new controller will have overhauled internals allowing for much more precise movement tracking than even the Wiimote Plus had.
- The Project Cafe system development kit is not representative of the final console design. The console is smaller and resembles the Japanese/European SNES models.
- Nintendo have told developers that their online system will be ‘the best online experience’ that’s available on consoles. The whole idea of the machine is to be connected to the internet 24/7. It’s being targeted as an online/social console. Friend codes are gone, but no word on whether the online service will be subscription based.
- The Pokemon RPG is the title Nintendo will be showing off their online experience with.
- As reported by other sources, Nintendo is targeting this console to the hardcore gamers once again.
- Nintendo is planning on some sophisticated inter-game communication between the 3DS and the console. Nintendo didn’t explain what they’re planning on.
To be shown at E3:
Nintendo:
- Pikmin 3 (playable, launch title)
- Pokemon RPG (video, launch or near launch title)
- Super Mario Bros title (playable)
- Star Fox (playable)
- Smash Bros 4 (playable)
- Mario Kart (video)
- Zelda (tech demo)
- Metroid (tech demo)
- New IP (video)
Rockstar Games:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (video)
- Grand Theft Auto “New Title” (video)
Ubisoft:
- Rayman Legends (playable)
- Red Steel 3 (playable)
- New IP (video)
SquareEnix:
- Final Fantasy XV
Capcom:
- Resident Evil (video)
- Megaman (video)
- Monster Hunter (video)
EA:
- NBA ’13 (video)
- NFL ’13 (video)
- NHL ’13 (video)
Activision:
- Modern Warfare 3 (video)
Konami:
- Metal Gear title (video)
- Winning Eleven (video)
Namco:
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (playable)
- Soul Calibur 5 (video)
- Pacman Rebirth (video)

There was however no source presented for this information, I took this from a Tumbr account.. so it may not be credible.

[The Headliner]

After a name like Wii, Stream kinda makes sense. Especially if they release a limited edition golden version.

On a serious note, what I'd like to see in a new console is the option to use a 3DS (or an NGP for the PS4) as a controller. Extra controllers these days cost a fortune, especially if you want four-player action around one TV. It would be great if people who already own a handheld machine could use that instead. It wouldn't be as good as a proper joypad, but it would be a useful alternative to buying extra peripherals that just gather dust when you're not using them.

[El Jackal]

One thing I did notice was that there was no listing of FIFA '13, but there was NBA, NHL and NFL titles.. which I find highly irregular. FIFA is one of EA games highest selling games each year so there is no reason as to why they wouldn't make a version for the new Wii as well. Smells like foul play to me and someone's forgotten to list it, either 'cos they just made the list up or they're an idiot.

[The Headliner]

And/or they're American, so the FIFA franchise wouldn't leap to mind.

[El Jackal]

I thought about that, but surely they would want a comprehensive list of the releases or what they're showing at E3? and I'm sure they would show FIFA too.

[Matches Malone]

If true, then that too bad of a list. I'm hoping that it's a proper Pokemon game for a console.