5 Features We Want in ‘Wii 2′

Nintendo’s ubiquitously popular Wii has been tearing up sales charts and one-upping the competition for the last two years.  However, the world doesn’t stop spinning just because you’re #1.  It’s safe to say that the creative minds at Nintendo are feverishly dreaming up its next console, and if the company’s drastic shift towards casual gaming and motion controls is any indication, the Wii’s successor will undoubtedly deliver something unique and fresh.  Sure, it’s probably a few years off, but that didn’t stop us from brainstorming our very own list of what we’d like to see in the Big N’s Wii follow-up.

Better (and more!) Motion Controls

Nintendo unveiled its Wii MotionPlus peripheral at E3, which will deliver true 1:1 motion sensing.  This is a step in the right direction, but it’s just the beginning.  Nintendo’s next console should feature 1:1 motion sensing out of the box.  If Nintendo continues its trend of two distinct controllers (a la Wii remote and Nunchuck), then both pieces should support 1:1 sensing.

Another nifty idea would be a wearable motion sensor.  Imagine a Bluetooth-like ear piece that could track your head’s movements in real time.  Nintendo could single-handedly reinvent the FPS genre, accomplishing what Metroid Prime 3: Corruption only hinted at: Complete immersion.  Turn your head and Samus Aran would do the same.  If you thought Resident Evil games are scary now, consider the tension of having complete freedom to look wherever you want but not knowing where you should be paying attention.  Sure, zombie dogs may burst through those windows at any moment, but you can’t keep your eyes off that fresh blood trail leading through an ajar door…

Gamecube and Wii Backwards Compatibility

Nintendo may be new to the concept of Backwards Compatibility, but it’s a feature that has quickly become standard; the PS3 and Xbox 360 both support BC to some extent, and their future iterations will likely follow suit.  Nintendo took the concept one step further with their Virtual Console, allowing users access to some of the best classics and even a few previously Japan-only titles, but its next console will be the true test of its dedication.

And yes, we’re talking the whole shebang: Gamecube and Wii games should play flawlessly, as well as Virtual Console and WiiWare titles (which would be carried over via SD cards).  It may not seem like a big deal, but if you consider that Nintendo is typically averse to packing their hardware with multi-media functionalities (like DVD playback), the least they could do is deliver an enormous quantity of games, all available on day one.

Built-in Hard Drive

Mild dissatisfaction turned into fiery nerd rage when Nintendo basically ignored the Wii’s memory problem at E3.  For months, gamers have heard rumblings about a storage solution, even in the midst of some “friendly” jabs from Nintendo PR, referring to those who needed more space as “geeks and otakus.”  Yes, by now we’re all aware that we can simply delete Virtual Console or WiiWare games that we aren’t playing to make room for new games, but come on - it’s 2008 and there is no reason we should have to, especially when the PS3 and 360 come packed with gigs and gigs of hard drive space.

Nintendo’s next system needs a built-in hard drive, though even external hard drive support would suffice.  At least 10GBs, please; we know how you like to keep your hardware costs down, and in a few years 10GBs should be very inexpensive.

High-Definition Graphics

This one should be a no-brainer, but lately Nintendo has a thing for going against the grain, so who knows.  Let’s not mince words: Wii graphics are a small step forward from last-gen, which means they’re a huge step backwards from what we see on the PS3 and 360.  To put it bluntly, Wii games often look like crap.  While Nintendo has been able to get away with it (mostly) thanks to their focus on motion controls, they may not get another free pass when the next round of consoles arrives.

We want the next Wii to support 1080p resolution and be at least as powerful as a 360.  Though Nintendo seems disinterested in having a graphics pissing contest with its competitors, they still need to show the videophiles what they can do.  Graphics are becoming more and more important to gamers, and Nintendo can’t afford to be left in the dust twice in a row.

New Online System

No one likes Friend Codes. No one.  Online gaming should be quick, easy and comprehensive, not a chore of typing in long strings of random numbers for each game.  The lack of proper voice chat mars an already flawed experience.  Sure, Nintendo’s online service works, but so does a 56k modem.  Of course, no one would want to go back to dial-up after experiencing the glory of high-speed broadband.  Nintendo needs to completely revamp its online service in time for its next platform.  We want full voice chat in all games, the death of friend codes, a robust online ranking system, and we want it completely free of charge.  Get crackin’, Nintendo.