Is the Wii U really a next-gen game console?

Bitmob - The industry has commonly referred to Nintendo's upcoming Wii U as the first of the next-generation consoles; however, this moniker is up for much speculation in light of the current console market.

Up until this point, the market has been able to accommodate three home consoles. Much like the previous generation's PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, assuming that this trend will continue in light of Sony's, Nintendo's, and Microsoft's respective past success is not a stretch.

[PopRocks359]

Jeez, ANOTHER one of these articles?

Yes it is. It's a console generation after the Wii which was released about five years ago.

[AO1JMM]

I agree with you. This is truly getting stupid with all this "is WiiU next gen" crap.

[GribbleGrunger]

what do you expect from a largely American media? Wake up! There is a concerted effort to discredit anything that hasn't got the American label.

[TruthbeTold]

A concerted effort? I mean I know MS is a U.S. company, but in general, we don't even make much of anything here in America anymore unfortunately. Articles like this are written to provoke a response. Staunch agreement by those who never plan on buying a Wii U, and want their favorite company's next console to 'win', and Staunch disagreement by those who plan on buying a Wii U, or support Nintendo in general.

[gamerben]

Yes, the wii was 5 years ago. And you can't judge what generation a console is in by it's power. If that was the case, then the PS1 wouldn't be in the same gen as N64.

[Picture_Dancer]

PSX had better graphics than N64.

Best looking fighting game: Tekken 3 - PSX
Best looking racing game: Gran Turismo 2 - PSX
Best looking RPG - FFVIII/FFIX - PSX
Best looking Platformer - Crash 3 - PSX

The only much better looking games on N64 was shooters (FPS) and 1080: TenEighty Snowboarding

[PopRocks359]

The PSX had better textures from what I saw. But the actual polygon count and bits used were greater on the 64. Had Nintendo not stuck with cartridges, they probably would have had a system that looked and palyed better than the PSX in all aspects and not just how modern the tech was.

[gamerben]

N64 didn't have many RPGs, besides, the graphics in the FF series on PS aren't even really all that impressive. It's hardly even true 3D

(don't get me wrong though, I love the playstation final fantasy games)

[yabhero]

Yes. Its releasing after Wiihas more power tha PS3 or 360 ( probably 2-3 times). And it has new controls scheme, online interface and developer who haven't even bothered with Nintendo in ages. They sooner we all accept it, the sooner we can get to games.
If your so butthurt that WiiU is a few times more powerful than 7 year old console disagree. Just realize your disagreeing with the developing like EA, Epic, Crytek and Vigil and Level 5 who said so. Keep living in your fanboy fantasy...

[ChunkyLover53]

By the time the Wii U will launch it will be six years since the Wii's launch. A console generation isn't defined by the power of a console, but rather the consoles release after the previous one.

So, the Wii U is the first next gen console.

[konnerbllb]

So what you mean is last gen wii was a shitty next gen and this gen wiiu will be a shitty next gen as well?

[ChunkyLover53]

Well the Wii sold close to 100 million copies and produced some of the best games this generation. I believe Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are two of the highest rated games this generation.

So if you consider that "shitty", I guess it was shitty.

The Wii U is probably 3 times as powerful as current consoles, the next Xbox and PlayStation are supposed to be 5 to 6 times as powerful as their current versions. Which would mean the Wii U will only be slightly less powerful than the next Microsoft and Sony consoles.

In comparison to this generation, the next generation will be less noticeable when it comes to power between the big three.

Even after all this time, people don't understand that power doesn't define what a console generation is. Also, the most powerful console HAS NEVER WON A CONSOLE GENERATION. Think about it.

[nukeitall]

Wii wasn't the powerhouse, but it certainly was one of the most innovative consoles coupled with the some of the most innovative games.

It is therefore no surprise that some of the most highly rated games this generation is on the Wii. Hate it all you want, but it doesn't change facts!

[DivineAssault]

ppl just love to get the fanboys all fired up lol

[live2play]

^^^
fanboys just love to call other people fanboys lol

[DivineAssault]

i am a fanboy.. So r u & so is everyone else in here...

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

fanboys love to call people fanboys when they are trying to putout the flames.

[ronin4life]

@divine
Yes... me too... ^_^;;;

[slavish]

short answer.... no. Long answer absolutely not!

P.S. Wii U=PS3+vita or Xbox360+smartglass, oh damn!

[Ben_Grimm]

Yes it is, we probably won't see its full potential in the first year of release but just like the other consoles late in the first year or the second is when we truly start seeing the potential of the console and what it can really do.

[mamotte]

Is my mother the generation after my grandmother?

Do we really need to explain basics here? Or do we assume the PC gaming is from the future?

[Chris558]

I m sony fanboy but still first day purchase for me because of the games and innovation and so many clever people who say is current gen lol.

[Picture_Dancer]

Wii isn't current gen so also WiiU with the power of X360 won't be a next-gen console. Wii was different kind of system and doesn't compete with 360 or PS3. It is more like different gen of console just like iPad. Nobody compares iPad, or phone market to PS3 and 360, the same is with Wii and the same will be with WiiU. It will be some casual console, dedicated only to N fans and casuals.

[Kaos_Vll]

do you even know what generation means? is your mother in the same generation as your grandmother?

think people. it has NOTHING to do with power.

[WeskerChildReborned]

Yes, technically it is a next generation console cause it's next gen for Nintendo.

[jboy]

Yes its next gen it has more power better visuals than current gen and boast allot more features

"Eat it Fanboys"

[greenpowerz]

It's next gen. What a dumb notion. New everything from next nintendo platform to tech. Opinion or criteria is irrelevant.

[Derpy]

Another silly article putting the Wii U down before it's even in the hands of consumers. The Wii U is a next gen system because it is coming out too late to be of this generation, it's a replacement for a system of this gen and it offerest an experience out of the box that nothing of this gen does. Regardless of people's opinion of what a next gen system should be, it's not going to change the fact that the Wii U is a next Gen system.

[YoungPlex]

These articles are just plane silly! The Wii was considered next-gen and so will the Wii U. The graphical gap will be a lot smaller than it was, nonetheless there will be one. It's going to boil down to price and software, and if the Wii U is priced competitively against the new Xbox and PlayStation, and is able to keep selling and directly impact their sales, then it is in fact next-gen.

[seanpitt23]

its a next gen system without the bells and whistles.

[tiffac008]

Why am I not surprise to see another article like this -_-

Give the console a chance to launch first then a year to judge it. I think that's the fair thing to do.