Nintendo NX design prediction.

Seen a bunch of NX topics about power, and price and power vs price. But didn't see any about its so called Brand New Concept that Nintendo is afraid people will steal.

Here's my prediction.

NX is a Wii U looking Tablet with the entire system inside the Tablet its CPU, GPU, RAM all inside the Tablet it will have a docking base that connects to the TV via HDMI with a rom drive that can read Wii, Wii U games and transfer them to the Tablet for BC, but the main console is inside the Tablet so you can take games on the go, the Tablet part of the console will have a SD slot for NX games, but no disc drive, all NX games are released on proprietary SD Cards so you can buy them anywhere and play them on the Tablet NX on the fly.

All future Nintendo games will be designed to run under he NX banner using one single dev kit, there will be no difference from home version vs handheld version of games, only one cartridge of a game will be released that can be played at home or on the go. The NX Tablet will stream the game to your docking station when its being played at home, and will play it off the Tablet when you are playing on the go.

As time passes, Nintendo will release different versions of the NX Tablet in various sizes like the Apple Ipads and Iphones, but the core specs will remain the same. It will not compete directly with PS4 and XB1 since it's a considered a mobile device.

That's my prediction. Share your thoughts and your predictions.

I like the ideal. I think it will just be a slick new console with a flip down or up door to insert cartridges. I think the next handheld will just be a thinHD handheld bout as thick as a 3DS case. Something like these,

I hope for them to have that minimalist look, real modern like.

Your design prediction seems like a good concept. It would solve several problems: eliminating competition between Nintendo handhelds and home consoles, backwards compatibility, combining the handheld and console libraries to create one big library of games, streamlining game development and format, they would not have to make 2 versions of the same game, and future-proofing the game library.

i think nintendo dont want anything to do with the word tablet anymore.....imo

I thought about this for fun and described something similar. It would be a handheld that could only play handheld smaller games when not in the dock. When docked the power supply would add juice to the gfx capabilities and display on tv, then it could play bigger games made like home console games and have controllers, no streaming all wired connection. Of course it could also play the handheld type games when docked. For whatever reason it seems to me and others that it will be scalable somehow with power and gfx/performance.

NX isn't a hybrid. Secondly,

it's not a hybrid. :P

The suspense of what the NX is is nagging me. Assuming the NX is not going to use a tablet controller for the home console or be a 3DS hybrid, and the home console and the handheld console can play the same games; then Nintendo must be discontinuing the dual-screen feature of their handhelds. Then the default controller for the NX must be something like the Wii U Pro Controller. Assuming the handheld and home consoles use some kind of flash memory card to store games, you will be able to put your games in either device. This is assuming that the games are not going to be online only. Assuming the home console does not have a disc drive you will have to keep your Wii U to play your Wii and Wii U disc games. Motion control games are not compatible with handheld consoles as those games work better on the bigger TV screen. Assuming the games would be online only, the flash memory cards would be used for extra storage space when storage runs out on the handheld or home console.

My prediction is that NX is a unified platform, like Steam, and Nintendo will have an NX console (and more in the future), an NX PC app, and an NX mobile app. The "console" games won't work on mobile, and the mobile games won't work on PC, but they'll all work on the console.

@kazeswen: They can't compete with Microsoft or Sony. They'll have absolutely no chance going up against Apple.

@oi_oi_spanky: They won't be going up against Apple, the NX is a gaming unit, its a Tablet with physical controls attached to it, think the Wii U Tablet but imagine the console is built inside the tablet.

The problem with the Wii U was that the console was inside the part that connects to the TV, while the Tablet had nothing inside. The NX will have the whole console inside the Tablet, and the part that connects to the TV will only house an disc drive that's it.

So what you have with the NX is what Nintendo wanted for the Wii U which is a console that can be played anywhere, at home and on the go. Its the ultimate gimmick, a home console and handheld console built into one device. No one has ever done that before. A Tablet with physical controls that can also connect to your TV via a dock. So when you get home you just turn on the NX Tablet and it'll connect via WiDi to the dock and your games will now be displayed on the TV, with the Tablet showing secondary info.

This is what the Wii U should have been, the biggest mistake with Wii U was the hardware should have been inside the Tablet not the console.

This.

And I can see Nintendo going for another minimalist look. Nothing too fancy looking.

I wonder if Nintendo could do this at the $300 price range? I would like my Wii and Wii U games to work on the next console with the motion controls and the NX Gamepad controller. Playing games on the go has not been a priority for me, but I would welcome the feature as a part of my home console. I wonder if the handheld gamers would appreciate a disc drive dock with the ability to play games on the TV? I suppose third party developers that were previously publishing for the 3DS would have no problems publishing for a single screen handheld. If the Pro Controller and the Wii Remotes were retained; then gamers that have those would not need to go buy extra controllers. There is a chance that gamers that have rejected the Wii U Gamepad would reject the NX Gamepad unless they liked the 3DS.

@kazeswen: even though I'm not a Nintendo fan anymore, I can see them going that direction.

I really hope that the NX manages at the very least offers twice the processing power of the Xbox one. Nintendo should just take every spec from the Xbox one and double it. GPU, CPU, PPU, RAM etc. Into a rectangle that harkens back to the Family Computer design but with modern flare. Nintendo will use SD card type propriety "cartridges" maybe returning to calling them Game Pak's. Hopefully Nintendo will finally have decent on-line with the NX console. Just no more wacky gimmicks with the Nintendo NX console.

The controllers should just be like the Wii U pro-controllers which are very Xbox/Xbox 360/Xbox One like in design so that is not a bad thing. As long as Nintendo can bring back healthy third party support like they had in the NES, SNES, days.

If Nintendo can do this right, This should hold them until the start of the 9th Generation of videogames which may start in 2018/2019 Then Nintendo could be restored with the Nintendo NX and continue with a Super Nintendo NX or whatever the Big 'N" decides on naming their 9th Gen entry.

If the tablet has to be docked to "stream" the game to the TV, what do you play the system with?

I can see Nintendo going the route of integrating their console and handheld, but I don't think it will be this extreme. I also don't see them giving up dedicated handheld hardware. I could see a console, that has a standard controller because how combative so many were towards the tablet which is itself just a standard controller(but that's a topic for another day). I could however see it being compatible with the Wii U gamepad, for those that did enjoy it and allow for off screen play. I could see the system having something like a flash drive that could store games that can be played on the handheld hardware on the go--and of course vice versa, allowing for handheld games to played on the big screen(the triumphant return of Super Gameboy :P ) I imagine, it would be based on your username as to limit game sharing.

@Sepewrath: The console would stream game data via WiDi to the dock, you use the Tablet to control the game, the dock just acts as a hub that connects the video and audio signal to the TV, and has an optical drive so the console can be BC.

You never actually need to connect the Tablet to the Dock.

Imagine the Wii U, but imagine if the console part of the Wii U was inside the Tablet Controller, not in the console itself. Now imagine the console is just a simple AV output terminal with a optical drive, but all the console elements are housed inside the Tablet portion of the system. Pretty much exactly like the Wii U, but move the console into the Tablet Controller and leave the optical drive inside the console. That's the concept.

This means that your console is no longer tethered.

@kazeswen: I dont think they would use a wifi connection to the dock, it would be easier maybe cheaper to place it on dock for charging and data transfer/display to tv.

I dont think they will allow the take anywhere component to play the games made for home console use either. I really dont know what the NX will be and the release evidence suggest a dedicated handheld. If it is a dedicated handheld I believe like the others that in the future the NX branded home console will be able to play the handheld games but not the other way around.

My idea above is extreme and for fun but I think it would be the only way that N would make a dual purpose console that can be used as handheld and allows for both type of games to be played. The dock would provide the power for the bigger home console intended games through a scalable gpu/cpu. When it is undocked the internal hardware will scale back the power for long lasting battery play with less demanding games, on the go handheld gaming. The dock will also have an HDD or whatever media memory holding format they use. This will also keep you from playing the home console (dock) games on the go in handheld mode.

I don't see Nintendo chasing after others style...they do their own thing. Tablets will have soon ran their course and will fade out as nothing but a fad.

For years Nintendo has had to split their development teams to make games in a handheld format and a console format. If they make a handheld console that can stream the games to the TV it will be a win for Nintendo and the fans. Fans will not have to choose which Nintendo game machine has the most games, but instead they will have access to all games with one machine. If this is what they are working on I support it. I would be ok with cartridge games. In fact it wouldn't really make a difference to me if the games were in cartridge or disc format.

The touchscreen is a good feature for console gaming. The Gamepad is the best alternative to a keyboard and mouse, but much more portable. The only problem for gamers I can see with it this generation is Gamepads are not sold separately in stores. Maybe more Gamepads should be allowed per console.

I think if kazeswan is right about the NX it will be very successful.

To be honest, I can easily imagine the NX using cards for it's handheld component and discs for it's TV component.

@LauriAJ: I don't see them releasing two versions, A) it increases the COGs, meaning they will need to manufacture two SKUs for each game, and B) I think Nintendo's biggest problem is nobody wants to make games for it, so merging the home console and handheld divisions into one division means they increase the Nintendo game library.

Also cartridge storage has finally over the years managed to catch up with disc storage, so one cartridge for one console both home and handheld is finally possible. You can get a 16-32gb SD Card for dirt cheap nowadays, meaning Nintendo can store their games on SD and still be able to get all the big AAA games that are huge. This wasn't possible in past, but you can now easily release a game on a 32gb SD Card for relatively cheap.

The only reason to keep an disc drive in the dock is for Wii and Wii U backwards compatibility.

Looks like my predictions are panning out. We'll find out real soon.

If they did go with the hybrid system, I figure it would really benefit the indie devs as they could make on version that plays on the console and handheld. The question then would become pricing, would they charge as if it were single version or a version for both? Then things like Smash Brothers which was across 2 platforms will become more common. A system like that could also be beneficial to gamers(keyword COULD) where DLC could be released once for both sides of the platform and things like VC games(which should become a service)would be accessible across both sides. The hybrid concept is an interesting idea, particularly for Japan who is gaga over handheld and don't care much for console gaming anymore. Something that promises them both could be very enticing.

It would solve Nintendo's biggest problem, which is lack of third party support. Nobody wants to develop games for Nintendo home consoles, they avoid it like the plague. With a unified hybrid, you would see all the third party that Nintendo lost come back.

Ubisoft, EA, etc, would be more confident designing games on a mobile platform than Nintendo's home platform.

sounds like wii u 2.0...

@juboner: Coolyfett likes your idea. Nintendo will most likely have cart slot on both the docking station and the ds based controller. The controller / handheld would be the perfect mix of the Vita, 3DS, and Wii U Tablet. The home console / docking station would upscale all of the games, but they will look really good on the handheld. The player would insert the game cart in the home console and used the hand held for the controller when home, the player would insert the same game cart into the handheld when on the go. ALL game saves files would be on the controller. The game cart should be able to hold about 15 GB of data. They need not compete with PlayStation or Xbox, just make great 1st party games enough to sell the system. Nintendo needs to look at their long history all the way back to NES and Gameboy and come out with updated titles for EVErything!! Dont depend on 3rd parties, just build an install base.

@kazeswen: both the console and the controller should take and play the cartridge. Playing the game from just the controller could limit the visuals and audio. The video and audio should come straight from the hardware connected to the HDTV. Used the handheld as the controller when home and the handheld as a handheld when on the go. You should be able to pop the game in and out of both the TV console and the handheld controller. Think Vita and Vita TV only Nintendos console hardware will take NX game carts and possibly Wii U disk. The handheld will only play the gamecart. Coolyfett thinks it would be cheaper to leave the Wii U disc player off and re release the games in the NX cart format.

If this was the case, tiny_rick predicts that Nintendo is going to get even more rekt than the wii u

Agreed, that's just a Super Gameboy as a console and that's not going to win anyone over. Basically that sounds like your saying just make handheld games and play them on the TV. I don't think too many would be interested in that. If that's what they wanted to do, it doesn't require a system, they could just make a peripheral to plug in the TV for the 3DS. A much cheaper prospect.

The problem is Nintendo has not been competitive in home console market for 2 generations now, they pretty much lost their whole home console base over 2 decades. And they are always one generation behind in terms of hardware parity.

This problem can't be solved with NX, they know this. But Nintendo's handheld market has always been strong, so might as well dive head first and just make a your home console a handheld, and allow it to have home functions as a bonus. Instead of chasing after console hardware parity, they might as well just ditch that road, and make the best handheld the world has ever seen.

This move is logical because the Japanese industry has more or less moved completely into handheld over the last decade.

So what you will end up with NX is a handheld console that performs at the same level as PS4 a little slower in mobile mode, and when you are not on the go, you can play the games on your TV at higher resolution as bonus function. They will not compete with Sony or MS, its too late for that. They just need to consolidate both the handheld and home market into one.

You won't be playing handheld games in the traditional sense, these games will be home console games but designed to run at a lower resolution when in mobile mode, and when docked, will bump up resolution for the TV, you will not see two SKUs for each game, there will only be one version for NX that works at home and on the go.

@Coolyfett: I agree Nintendo needs to innovate and push gaming like they did on the nes/snes. But much easier said than done since they established certain play styles before they existed. And the old guard at N that came up with those games are older and dont want to do that again it seems. I dont think that the handheld will accept the same carts as the dock maybe. Not sure how they are going with physical games but I dont think they would abandon them yet. But it seems like they would have you manage the handheld games from the dock. Maybe the handheld games will be digital only, and you DL them on dock with some internal memory in the handheld with expandable sd card slot for mobile gaming.

After hearing the dev. talk about the power, I now do believe in my original configuration of the scalable gpu/cpu/apu whatever chips setup they use. I still think N will make the games more purpose built for their environment of play, handheld or home. N likes making games on the handheld size of things, they are good at it. I think N would make a distinct separation with handheld games being the only games playable both ways.

I think @kazeswen could be right on SOME games being the same on dock or mobile unit just with scaled back gfx, just not every game. They could also limit you to certain features of a game in handheld mode on games that are primarily made for home use. They could bring back 3rd party slowly if the NX sells well and has a large enough install base. Since now it looks like the hardware will be on par with ps4/x1, it should be easy to port those 3rd party games if they use x86 architecture.

@kazeswen:So a handheld that is suppose to keep up with consoles in power and have similar operation to consoles? Why in that case, not just make a console then? Because what your describing is making a console to compete with MS and Sony and calling it a handheld. The idea of a hybrid gives the best of both worlds, because creating a console handheld like the vita robs it of its handheld charm. And the handheld will never fully capture what it means to be a console.

@Sepewrath:

Because nobody other than Nintendo is willing to make games on a Nintendo home console that's why. A console cannot survive with 0 third party support. Most of the companies that still support Nintendo's handhelds have long since abandoned Nintendo's home market. Square Enix for examples supports 3DS but will not make games on Wii U.

Nintendo is going to try to leverage their third party support for handhelds by making a handheld that can also function as a home console. Also keep in mind Nintendo has an very bad reputation in the home console market when it comes core gaming fans, which means its very unlikely that anyone will buy another Nintendo home console outside of Nintendo's most die-hard fanbase, but Nintendo's handheld market has been and is still very strong, in fact they almost have an monopoly in handhelds with Vita leaving the market next gen.

With all that said, why would Nintendo make a home console when they have 0 third party support, 0 hardcore fans, when they can make a hybrid handheld where they have 100% third party support with a monopoly in the market.

Nintendo is not trying to compete for the home console market, because they know they've lost that war ages ago, they are trying to create a new market that's a hybrid of home users and handheld users. Like I said they have no intention of competing with Sony or MS, that ship sailed long ago, all they can do now is consolidate whats left of their home users with their monopoly in the handheld market.

Also since you mentioned it. The problem with the Vita was it was never able to dock with your TV, if PSVita could output video and audio wirelessly to your TV from day one, the system would not have failed. In fact they didn't even bother making an HDMI output on Vita, later on they came up with PSTV, but that's a separate device altogether was essential an handheld without the handheld ability, failed idea. If Sony had the foresight to make a hybrid with PSVita by adding an HDMI out or a WiDi dock for the PSVita from day one, they would be the king of handhelds right now.

We are all over the place on the speculation. I thought Nintendo said they were going to have a common software architecture that will work on a variety of devices and a dedicated home console. I could see them making it possible that the cartridge games work in both the home console the handheld, but the games would look better on the home console. I think production was supposed to start this month (October 2015). I guess we are going to find out pretty soon. The other news threads about Nintendo providing developer support is a good sign for the third party support. We are going to find out soon if the NX is to be released Summer 2016?

@kazeswen: And what your proposing is a console called a handheld and if no third party makes games for it, will itself not be able to survive either. The reason the 3rd party supports the handheld is because of its high attach rate and lower development cost. If this "handheld" is on parity with consoles, both of those things go out the window and if they are so anti-Nintendo consoles; their not going to make any games for that either. Just calling something a handheld but trying your hardest to make it function as a console, will simply leave it with all the problems you claim they have. Zero third party support, zero hardcore fans, so how would calling it a handheld benefit them?

@Sepewrath: Well who said they need to develop AAA titles for it? I said several times Nintendo has no place competing with Sony and MS, if NX becomes Nintendo's next handheld console, then they are left with the exact same userbase as its current handheld market, and the exact same third party support.

Nobody is suggesting that devs makes the same games they make on PS4 and XB1 for the NX, even if they were to release the same caliber of games as the 3DS on the NX, Nintendo would still be in the winning side of the battle.

You are expecting Nintendo to be competing in the same tier as PS4 and XB1, I'm suggesting they leave the home console market all together and build a new market of hybrid handheld, using the same userbase they currently have for their handheld market plus whatever home console users they have left which is pretty low to begin with.

What I suggest is Nintendo stay in the handheld market only, and be content with that since they monopoly anyway. NX will play primarily lower budget games designed for the mobile market and will have bonus feature of being able to play them on a TV. That's it.

@kazeswen: That would be very sad, but I doubt it is the case, NX seems to be at least part home console

@kazeswen: I like the idea.

@kazeswen: Well people want to play AAA games, I doubt many are interested in playing games like Triforce Heroes for now from Nintendo. Handhelds have never had parity with current consoles and to try and do so is just making it a console and calling it a handheld. If you believe Nintendo should abandon the console market and focus on handheld, why are you suggesting they make a handheld that will be a console? Your talking about a $400 handheld, one of the biggest reasons they always won the handheld market is pricing. If anything, you should want to stick with the same pattern they always have. A handheld that is sub $200, power slightly less than the last gen and not featuring all the bells and whistles of a console. And since its not a console or suppose to be one, you don't need it having anything to do with the TV.

@Sepewrath: If you make the system just slightly more powerful than a Wii U, and a little less powerful than a PS4, you are more or less hitting the same price range as a 3DS when it originally launched, keep in mind these things are set to ship late 2016-2017 and cost of production will have dropped even more by then. It will not cost close to 400, hell even the PS4 is dropping to 350 soon, so how can a system less powerful than a PS4 cost 400 a year from now? I suspect the system will ship at around 250-300 at launch which is on par with the price of a 3DS day one.

As for AAA games, Nintendo can keep making their own first party AAA as they always have, whether or not third party devs wanna invest the money is up to them, since everyone knows most of the AAA are going to PS4 and XB1 anyway, which leaves Nintendo the odd one out, so I expect third party to treat the system as a handheld and spend development resources as they would for a handheld system.

You keep calling it a console pretending to be aa handheld, this is where you and I differ, I prefer to call the NX a handheld pretending to be a console. If Nintendo is staying solely in the handheld business then why would they make NX have home capabilities you ask, its pretty simple $$$. Nintendo already has a monopoly in the handheld market since Sony is dropping out next gen, so really they own 100% market share in that sector, since they have no competition in handhelds why not try to bridge two markets into one and steal whatever market share they can from Sony and MS by adding a simple function of WiDi Game Streaming? All you need is a WiDi Stream dock which costs like 20 bucks to make, and boom you now have a handheld that can double as a home console, and since Nintendo already has a monopoly in handheld they don't even need the home console userbase to have a successful run, any home console user they manage convert is a bonus for them.

Basically the NX is a handheld that also allows Nintendo to wrestle in the home console market without actually risking anything, if nobody from the home console market buys the system so what, they're core handheld userbase will still buy it. Its pretty genius move, you are essentially making a handheld console that has the power to steal home console market share away from the big two, while still keeping an monopoly in the handheld market. Its the best of both worlds for Nintendo, also saves Nintendo billions in dev costs, since they now just need to create one game for both home and handheld as opposed to splitting dev costs to satisfy two different software lines which would allow Nintendo to make big AAA games that you desire, because instead of wasting money making two different versions of Mario for handheld and for home they can pool that money and make one really expensive Mario game for both home and mobile. If you could pool the money from Triforce Heroes, Zelda HD, Link Between World into one game for just one platform, you'd have one hell of a AAA title. This was always Nintendo's biggest problem two many platforms too little development funds, NX solves that problem.

You know, as long as the graphics for the NX look as good as the Wii U or better, I am going to like it even if it is a hybrid. As far as the form factor for the home console goes, I think something like one of those steam machines would be pretty cool except with a Mario power light display or some other symbol harkening to Nintendo.

@kazeswen: Power is but one feature that controls price point. All of the features of this supposed handheld raises the price. Look at the Wii U, on par with the PS3/360 and released at 350. The controller raised the price of the system and you think these features of making it act like a console is going to come at the same price as the 3DS? That's not happening. And a price point that high for a handheld, even if its pretending to be a console, is too high--if you don't believe me, ask Sony. Even if it were $300 its too much and if you expect it to be less, than your idea is not feasible at that price point. And you say this idea would allow Nintendo to play at the console market risk free, there is no such thing as risk free. But in reality if that's the plan, it would be far more sensible to release it as a console, with the fall back of using it as a handheld in an uncontested market. If you sell it as a handheld, that is all it will ever be, it will never break into the console market.

#@Sepewrath: I think the NX will ship as around 350 MRSP if marketed as a console with handheld abilities which puts it at the same price as a PS4, if it is marketed as a handheld with home console abilities it will most likely ship at 300 on the dot, which is what 3DS started at day one.

As for keeping costs down, the system is really just an enhanced Wii U with the guts of the system moved into the Tablet and a cheap WiDi Stream Dock like the new Steam Box. The cost of production cannot be any higher than PS4 or XB1 assuming the system is using weaker core components, and both of those systems will MSRP at under 350 come 2016. So the pricing shouldn't an issue at all. Really its just a high-end gaming Tablet with a wireless dock.

I guess you make a good point that a handheld will have a smaller chance of breaking grounds in the console wars, so maybe they should advertise it as a home console first and a handheld second.

$300 Day one should be the golden number, it will guaranty a steady flow of handheld gamers will adopt and also be cheaper than the competition in the home console market. Over the years they can gradually slim the model down for higher portability and battery life and sell more SKUs like the 2DS, 3DS, N3DS and N3DSXL. I can see Nintendo eventually releasing various size models of the NX for broader appeal at various price points.

Sadly this is the only logical step for Nintendo, they have no other choice but to embrace the handheld market as their primary focus and leave the home console market as an bonus, since they've already dug themselves into that hole with two generations of weak consoles. They might as well embrace the hole they are in and make the best of it. By risk free, I mean they will essentially be competing with no one with the NX since its primary focus is to replace the 3DS line and they can do that without anyone stepping up to the plate. So if they happen to gain home console market share, great, if not, not the end of the world.

I just hope it's a proper console... with decent power & a proper controller. If so, I'll buy it.

This, without a doubt, is the most intelligent theory on the design of the NX I have read thus far.

@sonic_spark: I would have to agree, its a great prediction.

@kazeswen: We'll have to agree to disagree. If the handheld market is as uncontested as you think, then there is no reason to focus solely on it. The same way Apple knows whenever they want to make money, just toss out a slight variation to the iphone, so they can poke and prod at other markets--Nintendo can afford to focus on the console market and know they have the fallback of the handheld market; particularly in Japan. If its a hybrid console, it can be whatever the consumer wants it to be, they can treat it like a handheld(namely Japan). But but if a handheld only slightly more powerful than the Wii U; It can never be a console, as it will never see major console release.

@kazeswen: BUMP.

I called it from day one. Right on the dot.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-nx-is-portable-has-detachable-controllers/1100-6442163/