Iwata addresses Wii's future and 3DS at investors briefing

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata recently spoke to his close circle of super best friends -- hereafter referred to as Nintendo's investors -- about the future of the company's gaming hardware, and how said hardware will translate directly into monies for their wallets. According to Andriasang's translation of the briefing, Iwata shot down the possibility of revealing a successor to Nintendo's home console any time soon, adding, "we believe there's still more we can do with the Wii." Sure there is! You can paint it different colors.

On the subject of the Nintendo 3DS, Iwata explained the seemingly random March 23 announcement date was set to give third-party developers a chance to come up with something for the platform in time for E3. He mentioned these developers may incur a bit more development costs on these projects due to the "trial and error" involved in creating 3D games, but wouldn't comment on how these costs might translate over to consumer software prices for the console.

He also revealed that "the announcement of the formal name [of the 3DS] will not be too far off," meaning it's time to go place your bets with your friendly neighborhood Video Game Technology Marketing bookie. (As of this writing, even money's on "Nintendo Virtual Boy 2.")

Reader Comments (29)

3DS is not the final name?

Really it rolls off the tongue, and gets the point across really well.

don't tell me they are going to call it Nintendo Ultra Nitro Dolphin Revolution.

I will pay you $150 if that's the name.

Cause, hell, that would be awesome.

From what it seems, Nintendo doesn't want to make it seem like another iteration of the DS, and that it's a whole new console. Having the name "3DS" makes it sound like another DS to add onto the Phat, Lite, i, and XL.

But...isn't it another iteration of the DS?

no, it's the next handheld system altogether.

As far as I can tell; Nintendo is gunna rename it to something that separates it from the 'DS' hardware, because I think that the 3DS name is supposed to mean "3D Screen", and not have anything to do with...well, DS. :/

Just my 2 cents.

Maybe they'll call the 3DS PiiWii?

What about the 3DSi XL?

Jeez Louise. Cool your jets, we have to roll out 3DSi first. XL is after 3DSi Lite.

Sure they can do more with the wii. They can make it HD so that Mario galaxy will look good on my tv(not that it doesn't already, but this game deserves so much more than nintendo allows it)

They could also go back to releasing more channels for the thing. Check Mii out and Nintendo channel seriously tapped Nintendos imagination? Kinda makes me worry...

Theres alot more...but I'm afraid I'd just be throwing my hopes in the fire...Maybe just a little more motionplust, please?

A portable system capable of 3-D graphics? I'm getting Virtual Boy vibes here...

Except no glasses/extra peripeheral mode to view the 3D, and presumably no headaches, and more than two colors displayed on-screen.

@wii60dsgamer: Some people cannot envision beyond what they have already seen. That's why most people think 3D at home in 2010 will require red and blue glasses, and anything 3D that Nintendo makes will be only a red screen or a re-release of Rad Racer.

Rad Racer 2 was awesome! I played that so many times it was ridiculous.

I'm really hoping that the Zelda showing at E3 is going to show what he's talking about with the Wii.

All I want to see is Paper Mario in 3D.

Super Paper Mario.

Yeah just like when they said the DS was not the final name of the...um well DS.

Big difference, they said Nintendo DS was a code name but they never said "we are going to announce the actual name soon." Right from the beginning they've been saying that 3DS will not be the final name and that the real name will be announced.

"DS" wasn't the first name of the DS. It was originally codenamed "Nitro."

"DS" was the name it was changed TO, not from.

wut

This is why I never end up with Nintendo handhelds.

So the DS is the same thing as the original monochrome Gameboy?

Finally, someone who REALLY gets it. Thanks, JC. You've truly opened our eyes.

So wait... 3DS is not the successor to the DS? But it's backwards compatible with the DS? Kind of reminds me of when they said that the DS wasn't a replacement for the gameboy line... Remember how that one ended?

The DS wasn't meant to be a replacement but it sold so well that they decided there was no point in releasing more game boys. The same thing will happen when the 3DS comes out except that this time they are planning on it.

Nintendo iDSi 3D Turbo Alpha 3G Maxx 2 HD Remix 3 Collector's Edition

Better knows as iDSi 3DTA3GM2HDR3CE

DSii

Virtual Boy + DS = Nintendo vDS

Iwata addresses Wii's future and 3DS at investors briefing

Reader Comments (29)

Posted: May 11th 2010 8:39PM adv2k169 said

Posted: May 11th 2010 8:49PM Funkmaster General said

Posted: May 11th 2010 9:32PM ThePotato said

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Posted: May 11th 2010 10:27PM Dannyboi68 said

Posted: May 11th 2010 8:46PM Arikado said

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Posted: May 12th 2010 2:25PM r4in said

Posted: May 11th 2010 8:58PM Nook said

Posted: May 11th 2010 9:11PM Diodax said

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Posted: May 11th 2010 9:55PM Ryudo said

Posted: May 11th 2010 10:51PM KaBob799 said

Posted: May 12th 2010 9:17AM Elranzer said

Posted: May 11th 2010 10:27PM Chibi Chaingun said

Posted: May 11th 2010 10:53PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 11th 2010 11:02PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: May 11th 2010 11:16PM Asok said

Posted: May 11th 2010 11:37PM 3cks said

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Posted: May 12th 2010 2:13AM Karate Tortoise said

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