2011 is certainly the year of the 3DS. But could 2012 also be the year of the Wii 2?

Right now all eyes are on Nintendo's revolutionary 3DS handheld, ready to set the gaming scene on fire in just little over a month. Barring a possible Christmas clash with Sony's recently revealed NGP handheld, 2011 looks to be the undisputed year of the 3DS.

But what will Nintendo do for the following year? There is still the matter of their Wii console, which continues to drop in sales. While everyone is busy admiring the slick visuals and glasses-free 3D technology of Nintendo's handheld, their motion-controlled console is struggling to keep the people's interests; it also doesn't help that it uses technology that's been obsolete for almost a decade now.

With the push Nintendo has made to embrace the modern era with their handheld, it only stands to reason that they would give their next console the same kind of attention, yes? That's what Colin Sebastian, an analyst for Lazard Capital Markets believes. In fact, he is confident that Nintendo may be using the 3DS hardware to "pave the way" for their successor to the Wii as early as 2012.

While Sebastion was eager to list both Nintendo and Google as the dominant winners for 2011′s gaming scene (the latter which continues to expand its Android technology, and may come up with their own 3D variant to combat the 3DS), he also notes that the strong sales launch of the 3DS also guarantees the merciful execution of its predecessor, the DS. Since Nintendo has never been one to have just one piece of hardware generating sales in the gaming market, the timing does seem perfect to start talking about their next (and hopefully high-def) console.

Or is it? Recently, Michael Pachter claimed that Nintendo has already "blown it" by waiting too long to announce their Wii successor. While the gaming analyst hasn't always been spot-on with his predictions, it is starting to feel like the Wii has outstayed its welcome, especially with the newest handhelds completely trouncing its tired technology. Will Nintendo be able to make their next console move before Sony and/or Microsoft beat them to the punch?

The 3DS's cameras allow the portable to take 3D photos, though their functionality could be enhanced in the future. In an Iwata Asks interview, Shigeru Miyamoto commented that Iwata is looking into 3D video recording for the handheld. Following that remark, Iwata noted that this would need to be done through a system update. Nothing is confirmed just yet, but I'd say this is a pretty good sign.

With the Game release in all areas(Japan,America,Australia and Europe) are you enjoying it.With me im already 60:11 in the game and i love everything about it.There is more to come in the Series and maybe adding Light and Dark element.i i love this engine and i cant wait to see how they improve it on the 3DS in maybe 3-4 years time.What about you?what do you like and hate about Golden Sun Dark Dawn.

Whilst it has previously been rumoured that worldwide chip-manufacturer Marvell Technology is to be the company that is to supply the CPU for Nintendo's upcoming 3DS handheld, there is an even bigger piece of information that has surfaced.

Chairman, President and CEO of the company, Dr. Sehat Sutardgja had attributed an increase in production of their Armada line to a "major customer preparing to launch a new gaming platform," with leaked technical specifications, which Nintendo are refusing to confirm, showing that the 3DS won't be utilising something as powerful as the Armada chip.

Throw into the works that another Marvell executive has commented that Sutardgja was in fact referring to the latest quad-core Armada, which requires far too much power for it to be used within a mobile device, and things are starting to look a little more console-bound. If you don't believe us on that front, Engadget confirm it.

If the details are indeed true, Nintendo have themselves a large quantity of powerful chips that aren't able to be used within portable systems, and could very well be the core of a next-gen gaming system. E3 2011, my eyes are firmly fixated on you now.

WOW!! i hope it does happens.what does nintendo have on their sleeves?

i have always loved RPG's and Golden sun,final fantasy and good old legend of the dragoon on the PS1.but as time went on the RPG's have slow turned into action RPG's.look at final fantasy.Its will be nice to see traditional RPG is back again in golden sun dark dawn.i hope this is not the last of Golden sun i hope its continous to 3ds.Think of it the Graphics,possibilities,if you can mix jinns to make new skills and summons why not combine elements to create new powers moves or combine summnos to create new summons.i could only wish.can't wait to get it.