Nintendo also comes clean; acknowledges a new console is on the way & the 3DS did only kinda okay

Seems like all the major video game heads are drinking truth serum (somewhat). First Sony admits that their poorly guarded PSN got hacked into, next Nintendo admits that a Wii successor is indeed for real. Along with how sales of their new handheld did not quite meet expectations.

With all this talk of PSNGate dominating the news, it’s easy to forget how Nintendo also confirmed that, yes, another home system is on it’s way, and will actually be waiting for everyone at E3!

Though Nintnedo is being pretty tight lipped with the specifics. All we know is what the big N’s head honcho has stated: “We would like to propose a new approach to home video game consoles.” Though don’t expect 3D on the big screen because: “It’s difficult to make 3-D images a key feature, because 3-D televisions haven’t obtained wide acceptance yet.” True dat.

The new console will also go on sale in 2012, which is somewhat surprising… Nintendo generally loves to take over the holiday season with a new toy. So Xmas 2011 will be the Wii’s last hurrah, with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword leading the charge. One has to wonder if a souped up version is still being prepped for the new console?

Unfortunately, Zelda is pretty much it, as far as anything exciting on the clearly getting showing it’s age Nintendo platform. The only other big Wii title from them this year is Wii Play: Motion. And that might be it! Though you can expect the usual slew of crappy dancing games from Ubi Soft and company for the rest of the year.

As for their most recent new platform, the 3DS, thankfully the software forecast looks a little better. We all knew Kid Icarus: Uprising is on tap for later this year, along with the Ocarina of Time & Star Fox 64 revamps in 3D. Along with souped up iterations of Mario Kart, Paper Mario, and Animal Crossing. Though most exciting of is a new original Super Mario title which no one knows nothing about, other than the possible reappearance of Raccoon Mario from part 3, an assumption that’s entirely based upon the upcoming game’s logo…

Oh, and the 3DS Shop finally launches new month, and everyone (well, in Japan at least, though the best guess is everyone’s getting one) is entitled to a 3D remake of ExciteBike for free! Though what I really want to know is if I can finally transfer my DSiWare games from my DSi so I can finally trade up.

That might actually be the reason why sales of the handheld fell short of expectations; Nintendo shipped 3.61 units, but they had hoped for around 4. There were several factors stated for missing the target, like the earthquake in Japan, though the President also claims: “We originally expected that the value of 3D images without the need for special glasses would be automatically spread to some extent by many consumers experiencing the device by themselves and … together with people around them.”

It is sorta true; it’s hard not to be impressed by the 3DS once you’ve actually laid eyes upon the thing. Though, again, having games you’d actually want to play would also help. Maybe.

Nintendo Forecasts Profit Short of Estimates, Will Offer Next Wii in 2012 [Bloomberg]

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Iwata: 3DS Selling Below Expectations, Company Recommitting To Promotion [Gamasutra]

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