Would it really be a good idea for Nintendo to upgrade to HD?

I mean, look at Banjo & Kazooie for example.

Before/After

Maybe it's just me, but Banjo & Kazooie looked a lot better when they were on the N64. Honestly they just look ugly now, after being upgraded to HD on the XBox 360. I have nothing against Banjo & Kazooie either, Banjo Tooie is one of my favorite N64 games.

Here's another example, Dr Eggman,

Before/After

I think Dr Eggman looks much better in the first pic. The first time I played Sonic the Hedgehog on PS3 and I saw Dr Eggman, I thought to myself, what the heck did they do to him? He's not supposed to look like that. As far as I know he only looks like that in Sonic the Hedgehog 06, but still. He looked ugly in that game. I'm really glad they didn't make him stay that way permanently. Maybe that's why they kept his original design in every other Sonic game to come out after that one.

I guess it just got me thinking. What if Nintendo does upgrade to HD for their next system? Do you think they'd ruin characters like Mario and Link, the way that Microsoft and Sony ruined Banjo & Kazooie and Dr Eggman?

Here's what Mario currently looks like, in New Super Mario Bros Wii. Now imagine if he was upgraded to HD, he could look something like this...

Before/After

Of course this is just speculation. But imagine if Nintendo upgraded to HD and Mario looked something like that. That thought just scares me. Honestly I don't think it'd be good for Nintendo to upgrade to HD, not if they'd have the same results as Microsoft and Sony. I would however like to play games in HD if it could be done without ruining the characters or the experience.

Personally I prefer the way games look on the Wii right now, they look perfectly fine. If they did get anymore advanced and upgraded to HD lots of other characters could be ruined too. I'd hate to see that happen to Mario and Link. I think graphics for a game should make it look like a game. Not super realistic and high tech.

Uncharted 2 on PS3 is a perfect example of that. Sure, it's a beautiful looking game, but scenery in real life doesn't even look that nice. It doesn't feel as much like a videogame when it gets that realistic.

I guess I just think that if Nintendo upgraded to HD they could ruin the gaming experience by making things look to realistic. Certain characters and games are meant to look more cartoony, and less realistic. Is it possible for Nintendo to upgrade to HD without ruining a character's image?

I think there is a certain point where hd would work. Instead of changing the character model to look all high tech, keep that old school feel but use the extra power for epic gameplay and extremely clean visuals. I like the older feel of the n64 games too. They had a certain friendliness and soul.

The newer HD screens you show feel extremely stylized for marketing...

uh...That doesn't define HD.

But if Nintendo got an HD console Developers would actually DEVELOP on it.

I couldn't agree more. HD ruined Banjoe/Kazooie and Dr. Eggman.

I think that the graphics for the games on the Wii look awesome just the way they are.

Graphics for games should look like games, when they're too realistic it takes away from the gameing experience. Really, who'd rather play a game that looks like a fantisized version of the real world over an actual game :roll:

Done correctly nintendo(and other companies) can and have done it very well. HD doesn't necessarily mean going super realistic. For example, I LOVE the art style in Muramasa and Boy and his Blob. Could you imagine that artwork in HD? Your eyeballs would try to dry hump the screen.

It is something they will have to do eventually, as HD is really starting to catch on........mainly due to the fact that the TV's are becoming much more affordable than they were even 2 years ago. If you mean a WiiHD? Not sure how that would go, as that could cause a backlash for gamers who already purchased a Wii, and it seems late in the game to do so, but they've surprised me before.

Done correctly nintendo(and other companies) can and have done it very well. HD doesn't necessarily mean going super realistic. For example, I LOVE the art style in Muramasa and Boy and his Blob. Could you imagine that artwork in HD? Your eyeballs would try to dry hump the screen.

It is something they will have to do eventually, as HD is really starting to catch on........mainly due to the fact that the TV's are becoming much more affordable than they were even 2 years ago. If you mean a WiiHD? Not sure how that would go, as that could cause a backlash for gamers who already purchased a Wii, and it seems late in the game to do so, but they've surprised me before.

Gemini_Red

It'll be just like the DS to DS lite or the DS lite to DSi or the DSi to DSi XL

Another concern for the next wii system I have is keeping the 4 gamecube ports...those are amazing for the n64 games and such...

Also honestly I like the "Eggman hd" simply cause the legs look better...he looks like a actual villian not a black ball...Just saying.

I do not however like the banjo one...I hate the sqaureness factor it fails hard...

Another concern for the next wii system I have is keeping the 4 gamecube ports...those are amazing for the n64 games and such...

silverfire675

what concerns me more is all of the freakin' Games I have downloaded for the System.

[QUOTE="silverfire675"]

Another concern for the next wii system I have is keeping the 4 gamecube ports...those are amazing for the n64 games and such...

LegatoSkyheart

what concerns me more is all of the freakin' Games I have downloaded for the System.

That could be easily solved by finding out your old Wii's Id number and then linking it to a Wiicount for the second wii. Thats one way I could see it working...

[QUOTE="Gemini_Red"]

Done correctly nintendo(and other companies) can and have done it very well. HD doesn't necessarily mean going super realistic. For example, I LOVE the art style in Muramasa and Boy and his Blob. Could you imagine that artwork in HD? Your eyeballs would try to dry hump the screen.

It is something they will have to do eventually, as HD is really starting to catch on........mainly due to the fact that the TV's are becoming much more affordable than they were even 2 years ago. If you mean a WiiHD? Not sure how that would go, as that could cause a backlash for gamers who already purchased a Wii, and it seems late in the game to do so, but they've surprised me before.

LegatoSkyheart

It'll be just like the DS to DS lite or the DS lite to DSi or the DSi to DSi XL

True, but at least with the DS's it felt like an upgrade. WiiHD? I dunno, unless they are putting in a hard drive(even a small one) I probably wouldn't bite. That's just me though. I shrugged off the DSi too, never stopped it from flying off the shelves and the DS lifespan is even longer than the Wii's.

Another concern for the next wii system I have is keeping the 4 gamecube ports...those are amazing for the n64 games and such...

Also honestly I like the "Eggman hd" simply cause the legs look better...he looks like a actual villian not a black ball...Just saying.

I do not however like the banjo one...I hate the sqaureness factor it fails hard...

silverfire675

Dr. Eggman in HD just doesn't look like egg man.

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

[QUOTE="Gemini_Red"]

Done correctly nintendo(and other companies) can and have done it very well. HD doesn't necessarily mean going super realistic. For example, I LOVE the art style in Muramasa and Boy and his Blob. Could you imagine that artwork in HD? Your eyeballs would try to dry hump the screen.

It is something they will have to do eventually, as HD is really starting to catch on........mainly due to the fact that the TV's are becoming much more affordable than they were even 2 years ago. If you mean a WiiHD? Not sure how that would go, as that could cause a backlash for gamers who already purchased a Wii, and it seems late in the game to do so, but they've surprised me before.

Gemini_Red

It'll be just like the DS to DS lite or the DS lite to DSi or the DSi to DSi XL

True, but at least with the DS's it felt like an upgrade. WiiHD? I dunno, unless they are putting in a hard drive(even a small one) I probably wouldn't bite. That's just me though. I shrugged off the DSi too, never stopped it from flying off the shelves and the DS lifespan is even longer than the Wii's.

I'm just referring to Nintendo's next system in general, not an upgraded Wii. Honestly I can't see them making a Wii 2 or Wii HD, they've always made a completely new system.

[QUOTE="silverfire675"]

Another concern for the next wii system I have is keeping the 4 gamecube ports...those are amazing for the n64 games and such...

Also honestly I like the "Eggman hd" simply cause the legs look better...he looks like a actual villian not a black ball...Just saying.

I do not however like the banjo one...I hate the sqaureness factor it fails hard...

Knight-Owl

Dr. Eggman in HD just doesn't look like egg man.

In that particular screen I would perfer a hd-ish eggman vs the original. Not super stylized but just...touched up a bit...

But if Nintendo got an HD console Developers would actually DEVELOP on it.

LegatoSkyheart

How's the weather in Fairytale Land?

Anyway, J_Ford, HD is not a styl3; it doesn't even really determine how good or realistic a game will look. HD is simply a resolution, a number of pixels. Kind of like the difference between a picture taken at 640 x 480 and another one taken at 1440 x 900. The latter would look better on a bigger screen because it would look less pixelated, or less blurry, if you will. One looks much better on a bigger screen but, at the same time, it's the same picture, and they both would look pretty much the same on a smaller screen. Realistic graphics and stuff like that is determined by the number of polygons, lighting effects and other technical mumbo jumbo that the hardware can handle.

Games like Metal Gear Solid and Modern Warfare on the HD consoles are actually displayed at sub-HD resolutions, but they still look great, because all the polygons and lighting effects are there. Hell, Ghostbusters on the PS3 is, if I remember correctly, displayed at 576p, which is the same resolution as PAL Wiis.

I remember reading a story about some blind tests with Blu Ray movies, and the results were that average Joes couldn't really tell the difference between a Blu Ray movie displayed at 720p and the same movie displayed at 1080p. It's not that there's no difference, it's just that the difference can only be appreciated on an abnormally big TV screen.

Anyway, J_Ford, HD is not a styl3; it doesn't even really determine how good or realistic a game will look. HD is simply a resolution, a number of pixels. Kind of like the difference between a picture taken at 640 x 480 and another one taken at 1440 x 900. The latter would look better on a bigger screen because it would look less pixelated, or less blurry, if you will. One looks much better on a bigger screen but, at the same time, it's the same picture, and they both would look pretty much the same on a smaller screen. Realistic graphics and stuff like that is determined by the number of polygons, lighting effects and other technical mumbo jumbo that the hardware can handle.LordQuorthon

This, actually you can get anime with full hd resolution, they look awesome and still are cartoons.

Well, a few things.

One; I commend your sentiment and like that you're thinking that remain SD retains some form of purity. In some senses it's true :)

Two; thosepictures don't represent any "switch" from SD to HD in any form. Those are not game captures. They are not in-game character models. Those are renders for marketing and packaging purposes. Do Banjoe and Kazooie in the 64 game look like they do in that "N64" picture? Negative. Those are promotional and irreivent.

Three; if the HD versions of these games don't play a well as the previous gen games then it has nothing to do with the quality of graphics. It's the game, how it's produced, and the way they programmed it.

And four; yes Nintendo should go HD!!!!! You've played Uncharted 2....imagie if the next Zelda looked as good as that game but played like a kick-ass Zelda adventure. Imagine if Metroid Prime looked as good as Gears of War?....'nuff said :P

They changed the art style of the characters. It has nothing to do with being "HD".TheLordMagnus

I mean, look at Banjo & Kazooie for example.

Before/After

Maybe it's just me, but Banjo & Kazooie looked a lot better when they were on the N64. Honestly they just look ugly now, after being upgraded to HD on the XBox 360. I have nothing against Banjo & Kazooie either, Banjo Tooie is one of my favorite N64 games.

Here's another example, Dr Eggman,

Before/After

I think Dr Eggman looks much better in the first pic. The first time I played Sonic the Hedgehog on PS3 and I saw Dr Eggman, I thought to myself, what the heck did they do to him? He's not supposed to look like that. As far as I know he only looks like that in Sonic the Hedgehog 06, but still. He looked ugly in that game. I'm really glad they didn't make him stay that way permanently. Maybe that's why they kept his original design in every other Sonic game to come out after that one.

I guess it just got me thinking. What if Nintendo does upgrade to HD for their next system? Do you think they'd ruin characters like Mario and Link, the way that Microsoft and Sony ruined Banjo & Kazooie and Dr Eggman?

Here's what Mario currently looks like, in New Super Mario Bros Wii. Now imagine if he was upgraded to HD, he could look something like this...

Before/After

Of course this is just speculation. But imagine if Nintendo upgraded to HD and Mario looked something like that. That thought just scares me. Honestly I don't think it'd be good for Nintendo to upgrade to HD, not if they'd have the same results as Microsoft and Sony. I would however like to play games in HD if it could be done without ruining the characters or the experience.

Personally I prefer the way games look on the Wii right now, they look perfectly fine. If they did get anymore advanced and upgraded to HD lots of other characters could be ruined too. I'd hate to see that happen to Mario and Link. I think graphics for a game should make it look like a game. Not super realistic and high tech.

Uncharted 2 on PS3 is a perfect example of that. Sure, it's a beautiful looking game, but scenery in real life doesn't even look that nice. It doesn't feel as much like a videogame when it gets that realistic.

I guess I just think that if Nintendo upgraded to HD they could ruin the gaming experience by making things look to realistic. Certain characters and games are meant to look more cartoony, and less realistic. Is it possible for Nintendo to upgrade to HD without ruining a character's image?

J_Ford

This is a joke topic right ? To do accurate comparisons you have to use actual screen shots of the game characters. The characters look a hell of a lot different in game then just some drawn out images. Oh and that last one of Mario isn't what he'd look like HD. Nintendo would still keep the characters looking as animated as possible. And as for Uncharted 2 not feeling like a video game, when did cartoon animations make video games what they are ? Video games are just games you play on screen usually using a controller or keyboard and mouse.

That HD Mario is scary...

this is mario hd (i resized it which makes it look better right click to see it at 1280x960), while it looks better i personally wouldn't upgrade, as i'm fine with sd wii graphics. the next nintendo console i think must have hd/more powerful graphics card, and i think they will.

Wow, tons of peaple in here which have no clue at all xD A higher definition has absolutely nothing to do with the graphical way the devs decide :/ Just because There are some examples like Eggman which lost some color, doesn't mean everyone will. Just look at Prince of Persia, even if it is in HD, it stays colorful/cartoon-style

this is mario hd (i resized it which makes it look better right click to see it at 1280x960), while it looks better i personally wouldn't upgrade, as i'm fine with sd wii graphics. the next nintendo console i think must have hd/more powerful graphics card, and i think they will.

Mckenna1845

that's not really HD... it's just a pic from mario galaxy... with some details missing.

BrunoBRS

it's mario galaxy at 1280x960, it very much is hd. that is what wii games would look like if they released a wiihd, as they would still make the games for the wii graphically, and then on the the wiihd they would display at native 720p or 1080p.

we are too far into the gen to release a wiihd, as the ps4/720 will be (probably) releasing in a couple of years, and releasing a wii with hd would be pointless. what people are actually asking for when they say wii hd is a ps3 graphical wii, which is absolutely ridiculous, as nintendo will never dual develop all their games to work on two consoles, you would essentially split the userbase in two (unless they have some dsiware type exclusive games, but again who would buy a console for a few extra games?)

next gen though i think nintendo will graphically rival their next console with the 720/ps4. right now though we should enjoy the wii for what it is.

[QUOTE="TheLordMagnus"]They changed the art style of the characters. It has nothing to do with being "HD".KHAndAnime

I think he knows exactly what HD means :P

The point I got is that he's simply wondering, if Nintendo did release a HD Wii, could they do so without screwing up the characters image?

The pics prove my point, the image of the characters changed and in HD they're ugly.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"] that's not really HD... it's just a pic from mario galaxy... with some details missing.

Mckenna1845

it's mario galaxy at 1280x960, it very much is hd. that is what wii games would look like if they released a wiihd, as they would still make the games for the wii graphically, and then on the the wiihd they would display at native 720p or 1080p.

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"][QUOTE="TheLordMagnus"]They changed the art style of the characters. It has nothing to do with being "HD".Knight-Owl

I think he knows exactly what HD means :P

The point I got is that he's simply wondering, if Nintendo did release a HD Wii, could they do so without screwing up the characters image?

The pics prove my point, the image of the characters changed and in HD they're ugly.

nothing wrong with this cartoony character in HD, looks exactly like he always looked like :|

i just wish i could use some nintendo characters as examples >.>

J_Ford

That's hot.

And in 3-D, when the camera angles...his nose hairs will make you jump out of your seat in terror.

Haha, I think Dr. Eggman looks cool in that pic. But I'm not a huge sonic fan.

[QUOTE="Mckenna1845"]

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"] that's not really HD... it's just a pic from mario galaxy... with some details missing.

BrunoBRS

it's mario galaxy at 1280x960, it very much is hd. that is what wii games would look like if they released a wiihd, as they would still make the games for the wii graphically, and then on the the wiihd they would display at native 720p or 1080p.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]

[QUOTE="Mckenna1845"]

it's mario galaxy at 1280x960, it very much is hd. that is what wii games would look like if they released a wiihd, as they would still make the games for the wii graphically, and then on the the wiihd they would display at native 720p or 1080p.

JuarN18

the so called "HD pic" looks exactly like the game on my TV, and i don't even use component cables. explain that.

Hell no. We had powerful Nintendo consoles in the past, they were called Gamecube and Nintendo 64. Did their power guarantee their dominace in the console market? Of course not! 3rd parties always found an excuse not to develop games for Nintendo. If Nintendo did create an HD console, who's to say they'll even support it?

InfinityMugen

[QUOTE="JuarN18"]That Pic is in HD, look at this pic in SD and see the difference

BrunoBRS

the so called "HD pic" looks exactly like the game on my TV, and i don't even use component cables. explain that.

It would be a great idea for Nintendo to upgrade to a better graphics chip with HD capabilities, and I think you gravely misunderstand what it means. And worse, you used promotional pictures and not in-game screenshots to prove you point. Here's a better comparison:

That's the difference between Modern Warfare Reflex and Modern Warfare, the Wii's graphics are noticeably outdated. The look of your favorite characters being changed has nothing to do with the graphics and everything to do with poor design choices.