Rumor: Will Nintendo punk us with the Wii?
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 27th 2006 at 4:35PM }
Go Nintendo points to French gaming blog ActuJV which claims to have information from an "inside source" concerning Nintendo and its attempt to hide the real graphical power of the Wii. Perhaps to capture even more attention as we approach a final launch date, rumor has it Nintendo will take the gaming world by storm by revealing the real goods behind their system. According to ActuJV's source, this is what has been goin' down:
Nintendo has been playing us the fool all along. They have been showing us trailers for games that have deliberately downgraded graphics compared to what the Wii can actually do. This is to create an element of surprise for the press during Nintendo's next media event.
That next media event in discussion could be the Sept. 14 affair which Nintendo has set up in NYC. Rest assured, Joystiq will be there all day to get the goods of that event as perhaps the real Wii and games will be showcased.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
KVN @ Aug 27th 2006 4:40PM
it never ends,We're still going to be aruging about the wii graphics in 5 or so years when nintendos next system is out.
OTAM @ Aug 27th 2006 4:41PM
I actually have wondered this and brought it up many of times with my friends.
Revolver @ Aug 27th 2006 4:41PM
I wish people would stop perpetuating this rumor about the Wii having some sort of secret graphic power that no one knows about. What you see with the Wii is what you get.
Ichidou @ Aug 27th 2006 4:42PM
Yeah, I wouldn't believe this either....
Still, if ANY company would delibarately downgrade it's graphics just to kick us all in the nuts in the near future, it's definately Nintendo.
I'm just saying.
epobirs @ Aug 27th 2006 4:43PM
Sad, just sad. At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if some Nintendo fanatics have to be talked off of ledges when the truth is confirmed.
Guys, it's just a video game machine. It won't make you a lesser person if it doesn't have bleeding edge tech inside. Getting obsessed over that issue will, however, make you a lesser person in the eyes of sane folk.
Jigen @ Aug 27th 2006 4:42PM
There is no secret power, people have been saying this for years (even when it was the revolution).
darryl @ Aug 27th 2006 4:43PM
Bullsh*t.
keener @ Aug 27th 2006 4:48PM
what about that rumor that they could sell the console for something around $90 and still turn a profit? if that were true youd think theyd still say under $250 as a target price? thats sounds like a bit of a markup, but if the stuff under the hood is more powerful than originally thought it might make sense. otherwise why the hell are we paying that much more? dont most console makers lose money on them at first?
Jigen @ Aug 27th 2006 4:46PM
BTW, I wish Joystiq and other sites would stop posting every little rumor that spawns from the internet.
At least look at things with rationality and reason and see what's *possible* and what isn't.
Aaron @ Aug 27th 2006 4:47PM
This is crap -- if true, it would just make Nintendo look extremely stupid since they've been pushing the whole "graphics aren't everything" philosophy.
Knoxximus @ Aug 27th 2006 4:48PM
America! PHUCK YEAH!!
Jay @ Aug 27th 2006 4:48PM
Oh. this I don't know.
Take into account that Nintendo have been working with ATi on the Hollywood GPU for the past 4-5 years.
just to repeat because nobody will read it.
Take into account that Nintendo have been working with ATi on the Hollywood GPU for the past 4-5 years. Something is going to happen. Be it big, be it small. You don't invest that amount of time with a graphics chip manufacturer for nothing.
That said, I don't care what they show us. I am perfectly happy with what they have shown us so far. Can't wait to have that plugged into my HDTV running 480p, be a first for us brits anyways.
vidGuy @ Aug 27th 2006 4:49PM
I think this is very possible.
MANY developers have come out to say that the things they have shown have focused on gameplay and do not represent what the Wii will be doing graphically. The Wii is supposed to have a 1+ GHz CPU and a 500MHz GPU, which should be outputting much more than we have seen.
When you consider how a game is made, the graphics are probably the easiest thing to tack on at the end of production. Texture files can be upgraded fairly easily. The gameplay mechanics, level design, etc is what takes time.
Look at Mario Strikers Charged. It looks like a slightly updated version of the first game. But this makes sense because they are really just using the previous graphics engine. Once the engine is established, they’ll incorporate it and you’ll have a much more visually stunning game.
Also, some games have been much more visually appealing than others. I’m stunned by Rayman Raving Rabbids, and some of the scenes in Metroid Prime 3 and Red Steel look amazing. But other shots look very GameCube-ish.
An aside to this, though: don’t expect early 3rd party games to be stunning. Red Steel may be getting a visual make-over, and surely Nintendo’s games will be much better, but the ports won’t likely get much of an upgrade. Games like Rampage and Marvel won’t be great, but the rest will be impressive.
It’s been a good strategy because Nintendo has built a lot of support based on gameplay and design rather than graphics. The only complaints of the Wii I have seen are in regards to its smaller graphical ability. Once Nintendo blows that out of the water, they are almost guaranteed 1st place this generation.
While I'd like to see this happen, I don't think it's neccessary. It would definitely benefit Nintendo, but I think the Wii will be just as fun with the visuals we've seen so far.
Chris @ Aug 27th 2006 4:50PM
This all sounds like a fanboy's wishful thinking. More realistically, Nintendo would probably just reveal the launch date and price. Maybe a few more Wii titles if we're lucky.
Knoxximus @ Aug 27th 2006 4:49PM
Seriously, if they are shooting for a $250 price point, it's too close the the Core 360 to NOT have a few more bells and whistles that maybe aren't ringing and whistling yet.
Nicholas @ Aug 27th 2006 5:30PM
Jigen i wish some sites would stop, but there isnt much to report any way....
tactics @ Aug 27th 2006 4:52PM
100% believer, right here.
-"superfan" tactics.
James @ Aug 27th 2006 5:17PM
I agree with Aaron. Nintendo's entire campaign with the Wii being about innovation, not having the prettiest looking graphics. And I also don't understand why they would keep it under wraps when that's been the only knock against the console.
In addition, why would Ubisoft go along with it when people have been complaining about Red Steel's graphics.
I call BS on this one, though I do belive there will be some other surprises in store at TGS and other game shows before the Wii's launch.
vidGuy @ Aug 27th 2006 4:52PM
@keener,
Nintendo will be taking a loss (albeit a small one) on the Wii at launch. A conservative estimate would put the cost to Nintendo of making the Wii at $150. More likely, the console costs $200 - $250 to produce.
CP229 @ Aug 27th 2006 4:53PM
not only have they been "downgrading" down all the trailers, they have put all the effort of downgrading all the demos too, right? : )
I don't think nintendo who put so much effort in showing gameplay over graphics would pull off such a big marketing scheme as not showing the actual graphical power of the wii.
It is more likly that sony will come out and say "wait, the PS3 is actually going to cost 400 dollars not 600.", then this hunk of bolagna.
Knoxximus @ Aug 27th 2006 4:57PM
I believe it...it just *seems* like something they would do.
Einhanderkiller @ Aug 27th 2006 5:02PM
Fanboy tactics.
tactics @ Aug 27th 2006 5:04PM
i think something there was lost in translation... instead of actively "downgrading" let's just think "deliberately castrating devkits", okay?
i get the feeling that some of you take this rumor to mean that nintendo is going back into games and actually downgrading the graphics for demoes and trailers... but that's not what i get from it. just think about them handing out bullshit devkits that *barely* get the job done, and coming out with a much more robust final product and suprising everybody. won't be hard at *all* for developers to upgrade some textures in the month or two they'll have until launch.
-"superfan" tactics.
B33 @ Aug 27th 2006 5:04PM
Most of the trailers at E3 were prerendered... The graphics are about the same as the Gamecube's... That's the only way the Wii can sell for such a cheap price.
Brock2621 @ Aug 27th 2006 5:05PM
This one website, said they heard from this other website from a woman who supposedly is a wet nurse for Miyomoto's cats who told HER that the Wii is going to have better graphics than the PS3!!!!! They've totally been setting up the best and most halarious prank EVAR in videogame history! Amazing!
generaldane @ Aug 27th 2006 5:07PM
i really coudnt care less wheter this is true or not but if any company can do this nintendo can
Karmakin @ Aug 27th 2006 5:06PM
The Wii doesn't HAVE to have anything extra under the hood to make it look better than we all expect. Nintendo has caught the leading edge of VG graphics, and they're going to ride it for all its worth. They're ahead of the game, where the game is being able to do more with less.
From everything I've seen in the Wii, has some pretty impressive ability to filter. Practically every game I've seen to date for the system shows very advanced color filtering for it. More than likely this stuff is on-board.
If you have powerful enough filters, the effect of the filters can hide other graphic flaws (such as a low polygon count). In fact, with good filters you can drastically reduce the horsepower needed, while actually making the game look BETTER than it would otherwise.
Practically every top-tier 3-d game graphically today uses aggressive filtering to achieve their artistic vision, with the exception of the sports genre, which demands the realistic "hard" look.
At least to me, games that don't run this filtering, no matter how detailed they are, look like complete and total ass.
sienar @ Aug 27th 2006 5:08PM
@23
A sony fanboy saying playable E3 games were prerendered. Wow
And I suppose the reason the PS3 is so expensive is because of the ubertechsupercomputer cell chip and rsx, and has nothing to do with bluray?
tactics @ Aug 27th 2006 5:09PM
that's right, Einhanderkiller.
...and don't you forget it!
"You will say 'Wow'" -Iwata.
-"superfan" tactics.
Decompiled @ Sep 1st 2006 9:58AM
The same thing could have been said about the Game Cube.
BIGGEN @ Aug 27th 2006 5:15PM
"This all sounds like a fanboy's wishful thinking. More realistically, Nintendo would probably just reveal the launch date and price. Maybe a few more Wii titles if we're lucky."
WOW!!!! it took 16 posts for the very played out and very tired FANBOY term to make into this one!! i'm severely impressed. not with you "Chris," but with everyone that posted before you. CHEERS to posters 1-15!!!
socrates @ Aug 27th 2006 5:15PM
I believe it baby. The graphics on Mario Tetherball will look SO good, you'll be able to see multiple light sources reflecting off of each individual hair sticking out of Mario's plumber's crack. I can't wait.
jigzat @ Aug 27th 2006 5:15PM
The brand new controller is a very risky idea. I dont think nintendo is going to take the same risk as sony or microsoft by investing massive amounts of money into something that may or may not succed. if the controller becomes a great hit the next nintendo console could be at the same technical level as ps4 xbox420. If the wii and the new controller do not succedd that wouldnt be that bad for them since they are not trowing away money. Just remember wich one of the past console generation was the worst from the technical point of view (PS2 if u didnt know) and at the end was the most succesfull in sales and games. So unless you can stack 4 Wii's into some kind of grid (wich is not a very crazy idea) what you see is what you get.
DojoRacoon @ Aug 27th 2006 5:34PM
I think that it won't be as bad as most people say but it's not going to be a big OMG moment either. I fully expect at least one more surprise from Nintendo though. I won't be dissapointed if this isn't true but damn if it was then it would definetely steal away a huge amount of market share. Graphics is one of the last things the anti-nintendo camp has to bitch about. It looks like third party support has been boosted. There will be online play (any comment on quality of this is just speculation) and More third party support should mean more "adult" games. Again I doubt the graphics are going to be hugely better than what people are seeing right now though.
mike @ Aug 27th 2006 5:17PM
So let me get this straight every game demostrated so far has been dumbed down to somehow underwhelm everyone for a big announcement... :-)
god dam bloggers if only sites like these would give them so much exposure
Optimus Prime @ Aug 27th 2006 5:18PM
yar, yar, whatever .. they can have the most power CPU/GPU combo of the 3 systems (which they dont by a long shot), but, they're stuck at 480p which is gonna look like crap when its scaled up on ppl's hdtvs.
Kirby @ Aug 27th 2006 5:23PM
No way. The Wii just isn't powerful enough to be hiding super charged graphics. As you can see, I'm a Nintendo fan, hence the name Kirby, even I know that the Wii is what it is and nothing more. But it's still cool. :D
Myomi @ Aug 27th 2006 5:26PM
Hey, one thing I have been wondering about this entire time is if the original Xbox has the processing power to output in 720p and 1080i, is it really to hard to imagine Wii, even though it is so small, being able to do it. Especially considering how old the Xbox is, the higher resolution might easily be the increase in graphics they are talking.
jigzat @ Aug 27th 2006 5:24PM
i dont know optimus prime, not everyone in the world has an HDTV yet maybe in 4 years and by then we will start talking about PS4 Xbox420 and what-ever-crazy name-nintendo-use-on-its-next-console.
MrD @ Aug 27th 2006 5:26PM
Yeah, right. It's not going to happen. For once, Darryl actually makes sense.
The only thing I want is embedded RAM, which we know it already has.
Raynre @ Aug 27th 2006 5:30PM
I dont know... I dont like listening to rumors, but this definatly seems like something that Nintendo would do...
"Weve been expressing gameplay over graphics all these months now, just to sell you all on the idea of waving a new controller around. Itll be fun, and now that we believe that weve gotten you all on the bandwagon, here's an extra little treat for you..." *shows kickass realtime MP3 trailer*
Meh, I remain cautiously opptamistic about this. The graphics for the Wii are amazing, but I have yet to be truly "Wow!"ed by them... We shall see in the coming months...
Pal @ Aug 27th 2006 5:28PM
Why would Nintendo do that? The first impression can make or break a deal.
Raynre @ Aug 27th 2006 5:30PM
"yar, yar, whatever .. they can have the most power CPU/GPU combo of the 3 systems (which they dont by a long shot), but, they're stuck at 480p which is gonna look like crap when its scaled up on ppl's hdtvs." ~Optimus Prime
As opposed to Dead Rising scaled down on regular tv sets? =P
skyrous @ Aug 27th 2006 5:32PM
If this were true you'd have to give nintendo massive props (even if your a nintendo hater) for being able to keep a secret like that for this long... But of course it isn't true.
Nintendo's graphical goal with the Wii is no secret. Push an standard definition TV (480p) to it's absolute limit. any more horsepower than that is a waste because the Wii doesn't support HD.
Staticneuron @ Aug 27th 2006 5:34PM
You know a more powerful VC proc wouldn't hurt. What people are seeing are games the were said to be build off of gamecube dev kits. Why is it such a horrible thing that the Wii might be more powerful. Did nintendo say its specs were finalized? I for one, could entirely see nintendo having more cards up thier sleeves.
gamerhenry @ Sep 1st 2006 12:52PM
hmmm, I guess its possible and it would not surprise me for Nintendo to do this BUT, I'm not going to assume this and all you people shouldnt either. Get your hopes up and you'll set yourself up for a huge fall once you realize that the graphics are wah they always were.
Now dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Wii graphics anyway. if they dont change from what we have seen then I'm still ok with it. Besides you can have amazing looking games without the actual graphic power.
??? @ Aug 27th 2006 11:36PM
...and the same source says the PS3 is actually going to be $299 for the core model.
Will @ Aug 27th 2006 5:37PM
The mere fact that Nintendo time and time again has said they're not going to support HD tells me that this is probably going to turn up false. Unless the real news is that Nintendo is supporting HD now.
Tom @ Aug 27th 2006 5:40PM
I don't believe it one bit. Simply look at the size of the Wii and they would have to have made some damn amazing discovery to make it that much more powerful. We know the Wii is basically a slightly upgraded xbox, I would say looking at the launch games for it that they look like slightly upgraded xbox games. I don't think this is a bad thing really though. I mean compare prey and doom 3 on the xbox and there isn't a massive difference, and then imagine that doom 3 on the wii could be upgraded slightly.
Im not worried about the Wii grapics at all. Look at LoZ:TP that game looks amazing and it is a gc port. So they could make the next Zelda look even better. Or hopefully Re:Wii will use an improved RE4 engine. RE4 doesn't look much worse than most 360titles that are released at the moment and in some cases it looks better so an upgraded version of that would still look great.
However I wish these rumours about the wii being able to pull off graphics better or the same as the 360 and ps3 would stop, it simply can't.
Addison @ Aug 27th 2006 5:44PM
Well I dont beleive this rumor... but the fact that Nintendo is not allowing vids or screenshots to come out of events like Konami's BBQ thing could be some evidence... but i doubt it.