Rumors peg Nintendo's next console as having "iPad with buttons" for a controller; Wii backwards compatibility reportedly confirmed.
What we heard: Yesterday, the game-industry news matrix was roiled by rumors that Nintendo may unveil the Wii's successor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. Hot on the heels of that speculation comes new purported details about the new console, the existence of which has not been confirmed by Nintendo.
According to CVG's sources, the new console's controller will sport "built-in" HD video screens. "Nintendo's plans sound unreal," the source said. "Publishers are already planning launch titles, and it's all very exciting. The hardware is even more powerful than current HD consoles and backwards compatible with Wii."
But that's not all. According to 01net.com, the controller will be a tablet, or an "iPad with buttons." The French site also reports the console--apparently code-named Project Cafe--will have a beefy triple-core IBM CPU, not unlike that of the Xbox 360, making porting games to the console easier than before. Indeed, the site reports that Nintendo is making third-party outreach a major priority for its next console, given the perception the Wii was slanted in favor of first-party software.
The official story: Nintendo had not commented as of press time.
Bogus or not bogus?: Not enough evidence to go either way. However, the sudden onrush of information points to a leak somewhere--whether it's legit will be determined in the coming weeks.
What we heard: Yesterday, the game-industry news matrix was roiled by rumors that Nintendo may unveil the Wii's successor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. Hot on the heels of that speculation comes new purported details about the new console, the existence of which has not been confirmed by Nintendo.
According to CVG's sources, the new console's controller will sport "built-in" HD video screens. "Nintendo's plans sound unreal," the source said. "Publishers are already planning launch titles, and it's all very exciting. The hardware is even more powerful than current HD consoles and backwards compatible with Wii."
But that's not all. According to 01net.com, the controller will be a tablet, or an "iPad with buttons." The French site also reports the console--apparently code-named Project Cafe--will have a beefy triple-core IBM CPU, not unlike that of the Xbox 360, making porting games to the console easier than before. Indeed, the site reports that Nintendo is making third-party outreach a major priority for its next console, given the perception the Wii was slanted in favor of first-party software.
The official story: Nintendo had not commented as of press time.
Bogus or not bogus?: Not enough evidence to go either way. However, the sudden onrush of information points to a leak somewhere--whether it's legit will be determined in the coming weeks.
