With the current game almost being over, it’s time to press start and advance to the next level.

Or, at least, the game that is the Wii is drawing (finally) to a close,nearly five years after its release, and Nintendo is more than ready to carry on to the next warp pipe. Just last week, various publications let leak the big N’s plans to announce Project Café – the latest in an illustrious lineage of codenames, joining the likes of Dolphin (later the GameCube) and Revolution (which ultimately became, of course, the Wii) – at the Electronic Entertainment Exposition this June. The company’s sixth console is whispered to feature Wii backwards compatibility, a controller that includes a (touch?) screen for extra input and expanded controls, and a thoroughly beefed-up engine under the hood that would, at the very least, out-perform the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 and, at the very most, give Microsoft and Sony’s next systems a run for their money.

All of which, much like a double rainbow, raises one central and irreducible question: what does it mean? To answer that question and predict the way-too-exciting-for-words future, GameXplain has assembled a legion of Nintendo experts, pundits, and plain, old-fashioned super fans. Following is their fevered, pants-wetting discussion, to the stars and beyond.

Be sure to bring your 1up mushroom along for the ride.

Marc N. Kleinhenz, gaming ronin:

I've had a few hunches the past few years (some dating back to 2005, actually, at the start of the current generation): that Nintendo's new console would release in '12, that it would have a technical load-out comparable to the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 (let's not forget that the GameCube trounced the PS2 in terms of raw horsepower), and that we'd more than likely hear the first official rumblings of it at this year's E3, just like we heard of the enigmatic Revolution at E3 '05.

So far, it seems I'm batting a thousand. Since this never happens – just ask my wife – there's gotta be a curveball in here somewhere. Where do you gents think it might be?

For my money, the only thing that will truly surprise me is if the Wii Too (who else wants to bet that this new system's motion controls will be almost nothing like the Wii's?) is the only console to launch next year. Microsoft is in a similarly dire software boat for this year, after all...

Cranky Craig Harris, Nintendo demigod:

Anyone patting themselves on the back "predicting" this whole 2012 thing shouldn't be gloating. Nintendo's obviously right on track to deliver a new console in its usual six-year cycle... it hasn't missed a beat since the NES days.

The market has clearly changed over the last generation, though, and the company is in a really weird jam: it went after the non-gamer market with the Wii, in turn abandoning the "hardcore" demographic (a term I'm not exactly keen on since I appreciate all sorts of games, from the intense experiences to the casual Wii Sports titles). Those "non-gamers" are not going to be the ones to jump on a new system. They got their Wii Bowling, and that's all they need.

Sure, I'll make predictions on the power of the next Nintendo console: the company needs to regain the trust of the hardcore again, and if Nintendo attempts what it did with Wii again, it'll be all over. There's no way the company can capture that lightning in a bottle a second time (well, the third time, what with the severely underpowered Nintendo DS hardware in 2004), and if Nintendo tries to show us weak, standard-definition hardware this E3, it'll be booed right off the stage.

It needs to produce something that'll gain recognition over the 360 and PS3, and while software will certainly do it, we need the confidence of a system that'll last that next half-decade. Weak hardware won't do that.

But it also needs the hook to bring the masses. The 360 and PS3 are, at this point, identical machines that compete against each other, and Nintendo's not dumb: it's too late to the party to do exactly the same thing. It's why the Wii succeeded – it was different. Now with Move on PlayStation and Kinect on Xbox, there's now an opportunity to try something even more extreme. We'll just have to wait and see what the hook will be – seeing the last year of Nintendo games, casual motion games with a wand-like controller won't be it.

The 3DS is an interesting tease that Nintendo finally gets the current generation, what with the social networking and the persistent online presence, so I will guarantee that the next console will be online-heavy. If I took my speculation all the way to the crazy, I'd say Nintendo could go the Netflix route and offer a subscription model that'd be an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of classics and modern games for a monthly price.

Until Nintendo debuts the hardware, we can just sit here guessing. Only Nintendo knows what its next strategy will be. No one predicted the Wii’s success when Revolution made its debut, and I doubt anyone short of being a Nintendo employee knows exactly what's going on behind the scenes or what direction the company's heading.

Marc N. Kleinhenz, gaming ronin:

While it's true the SNES (1991) released six years after the NES ('85), the N64 ('96), GCN ('01), and the Wii ('06) all shipped only five years apart. (Wow – is that sentence really that confusing to read?) Having the Wii Too return to the inaugural six-year cycle is something of a gamble for the company. Then again, maybe it's not – just when will the Wii outsell the PS2 and become the Most Ubiquitous Console again?

I love your point about Nintendo needing to step up its game in regards to technical horsepower, Craig, not only because it's of course true, but also because no matter what the big N does, it seems to perpetually be trapped on the precipice of hardware irrelevance. Given its track record over the past 26 years, I'm not certain whether this can be completely ridiculed or lambasted, but still... it's odd.

Is it a given now that all three of the next-gen next-gen consoles will ship with a built-in camera? And, just maybe, a pack-in game? (Maybe not for the new Xbox, actually; Microsoft will probably, if anything, offer some free XBLA software to get all new adopters on the same online page as all the old diehards.)

Blake Anthony DiBari, Nintendo super fan:

The prospect of HD-capable hardware from Nintendo is one that I’ve been looking forward to ever since the Wii launched back in 2006. While the Wii got a whole lot of playtime from me this generation, seeing how gorgeous games like Mario Galaxy 2 and DKC Returns are just made me want to see what Nintendo’s devs could do on modern hardware. The Wii is a good platform with some awesome games, but the hardware is really showing its age at this point. I’m not one of the people who cares about all the extra things the other systems are capable of, like Facebook or Netflix (really, do we need all that when it’s available on just about every other electronic device?), but I do want a Nintendo system that has an actual online infrastructure and HD video output. I want a PSN-style account, which all my digital purchases are tied to. The 3DS is a step in the right direction, allowing for the transfer of digital content between units, but I want to see Nintendo take the next step into the online waters.

In 2011, that’s not a whole lot to ask for, is it?

Ryan DeLaRosa, Game Over Nation co-founder/co-host:

The new Wii sounds pretty awesome with everything rumored so far. It sounds powerful, and a return to form. The addition of a touch screen to the controller sounds amazing. So long as it’s easily accessible when holding the controller, I could see developers using that space as a sort of customizable interface for their games. It throws out the need for your game to conform to the functions allowed by the controller. That being said, the damn thing better still have the standard buttons and layout that we’re used to: dual thumbsticks, triggers/shoulder buttons, and a few face buttons. It sounds like a lot to cram into a space, so I’m curious to see how it all fits together. If thumbsticks are imposed on a screen like in many mobile games today, I’m probably going to buy one just to break it. I mentioned on our podcast that I could see something like a Metroid Prime using the touch screen to switch between beams, alerting you to items to scan in a room, or letting you know when a missile pod is around. Also, maps will probably be a big hit on that screen.

Where I really think Nintendo could fail us is with their online setup. Like… come on, guys. Get your stuff together. It’s going to be 2012 when this thing is supposed to launch. Microsoft has had a model for setting up an online system since 2002. Friend codes might be the worst idea ever. I know my Gamertag, my steam ID, my PSN name, my Words with Friends ID, but there’s no way I’m remembering that friend code. Also the idea of having to exchange friend codes makes no sense. If you’re going to use that system, at least only make one of us acquire a code from the other person. A friend request isn’t exactly a new thing. By sending that request, am I not then saying, “Hey – have my friend code and be my friend”? Why can’t you send the data over, Nintendo? Oh, and then after you fix your online system, go ahead and support it. Give us games to play online. I know you love your whole social aspect, but not everybody lives with everybody they want to game with all the time. Those social gaming interactions happen online with a headset now. They aren’t any less valuable to us than having somebody sitting there on the couch hogging up half a screen. Couch co-op/multiplayer is great when available, but at least give us another option for when it’s not… and do so in a less annoying way.

Douglass C. Perry, Metacafe editorial director:

Craig, interesting analysis. I agree with everything you said, except for the whole business about the hardcore angle. Nintendo went way out on a limb with the Wii – to snickering, laughing critics – but those same hardcore critics bought a Wii anyway. And any other remaining Nintendo fans bought a Wii, too (okay, like, whatever – 90%). So, Nintendo can essentially do whatever it wants and the hardcore will come. Nintendo fans have come out in droves with every system so far (except the Virtual boy), and they will continue to do so.

Nintendo's biggest competitor isn’t Sony or Microsoft – it's Apple. Satoru Iwata's GDC's not-so-subtle digs at Apple clarified that, in case anyone didn't already know. I think Nintendo's next machine will aim itself to compete with the iOS family of Apple systems, gaining once again the casual market and bringing its classic franchises back, because they appeal to both hardcore and mainstream gamers. I hope Nintendo will go online, too, and the 3DS's Netflix angle is definitely a foreshadowing of a broader entertainment tactic.

I've been thinking a long time about this next generation, and it's an interesting clusterf*ck. It's perhaps the most daunting next-generation cycle I've witnessed. Because the market has splintered and exploded with mobile, casual free-to-play, and Facebook games, and even OnLive, the current console is essentially a dinosaur. The next consoles, including Nintendo's, will stream more content, enable more downloadable content, and have to rely on persistent online connections that connect all systems, which Nintendo has always been very good at. I expect the Nintendo to go social in a big way, with the 3DS's free bundled games (AR, Mii and Wii stuff) as a foreshadowing, but also a focus on HD games. I wouldn't predict that the next system will be 3D because I'm just not sure that 3D games are as popular as 3D movies (which aren't as popular as Hollywood wants them be).

Rus McLaughlin, Bitmob features columnist:

I actually started writing an article about this last night. Craig's absolutely right about Nintendo not catching lightning in a bottle again, so if they're smart about this, they won't try. This new console, whatever it is, will cater to the more hardcore contingent, while continuing to support the Wii for the casual install base it's built up. Is it financially feasible to support two console platforms (plus handhelds)? Possibly...given how few games you actually need to produce to keep casual Wii gamers happy. Put that sucker on cruise control and give the hardcore market a console specifically geared towards them.

Assuming they haven't already given up on Nintendo…

Marc N. Kleinhenz, gaming ronin:

So, this would be Nintendo's "third pillar" strategy from the initial days of the DS revisited?

Interesting...

Sir Gordon Wheelmeier, TotalPlayStation guru:

Everyone seems to be ignoring two (interconnected) things here...

First, rumors say the Wii 2 is about as powerful as an Xbox 360. That's great, but when the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 also launch in 2012 (and don't tell me that it won't happen – no one wants to be last anymore), Nintendo will still be a generation behind in terms of graphical prowess.

Secondly, and part of the same argument, Nintendo does not sell its hardware for a loss. They stopped doing that a while ago, and so, assuming that the system costs no more than $299, don't expect cutting-edge components to be in it. When the XB720 and PS4 launch at $399, they'll cost $500 or so to manufacture at first as both makers are willing to lose upfront to win later. In other words, that's at least (if my guesstimates are even close) $200 more machine in each of Nintendo's competitors. That'll buy you a hell of a graphics chip when you're shopping OEM...

Now, the Wii 2 could very well be a fantastic, industry-altering machine in a way that the Wii only sort of arguably was (different topic), but everyone should stop pretending that Nintendo will actually be competitive from a hardware perspective within 12 months of its launch (and that's assuming it's out first).

Rus McLaughlin, Bitmob features columnist:

Ah, but if they're still supporting the Wii and selling it at profit to its specific market, they might be willing to sell Cafe at a slight loss to get ahead of the game. That's assuming the specs we've heard to date are somewhat overblown... and that there's been some kind of sea change at Nintendo. I wouldn't put either past Iwata. He’s a smart guy, and he knows the way forward isn’t simple repetition.

Ryan DeLaRosa, Game Over Nation co-founder/co-host:

Nintendo couldn't afford to sell the Wii at a loss; the GameCube wasn't exactly a success regardless of how good of a system it was. They needed to make money right away with the Wii to survive, and it worked. They have so much money in the bank, I could see them taking a chance and selling at a loss. But, of course, this all has to be speculation at this point.

Marc N. Kleinhenz, gaming ronin:

Some of the rumors are pointing to a 360-caliber system; others, to a 720-level console. My money's squarely on the latter.

Blake Anthony DiBari, Nintendo super fan:

The 360 is over five-years-old, and the PS3 is over four-years-old, so I doubt that Nintendo can afford to play hardware catch-up this time, especially if they want to get “core” gamers back like they said. It’s not unreasonable to expect a significantly more powerful console than what the competition has on the market at this point in time. Also, Ryan has a point about Nintendo’s last couple home consoles; they weren’t huge sellers like the PSX and PS2 were. But now that they have so much excess cash, selling better hardware at a loss is much more viable for them this time around.

Rob Keyes, Game Rant editor-in-chief:

It's no surprise that we're going to start seeing the next set of home consoles in 2012; the only surprise is that it hasn't happened already. The current generation of consoles was able to provide "updates" to their hardware through new models (PS3/Xbox 360), improved motion controls (Wii Motion Plus), or simply adding motion controls and big system updates (PS3/Xbox 360) to extend their lives. In that sense, the Sony and Microsoft systems act as upgradeable PCs, from extending hard drives to downloading operating system patches.

With Nintendo having the inferior system, one that was dated not long after it came out in terms of horsepower, it makes sense that they try to get a jump start on the next generation of consoles. The big question here is whether or not their new home console will actually be of the "next gen" or if it's playing catch-up with the competing models. Reports indicate that the "Wii 2" will be more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3, but they're five- to six-years-old, so of course it would need to be stronger. How will it compare to the new Xbox and PS4 when they're announced?

Sony made it rather clear that the PS3 is here to stay, pointing towards a 10-year plan for the system. Microsoft, on the other hand, despite having the best motion control device of the current gen, doesn't have a handheld gaming platform to compete against the 3DS and NGP, nor do they have many big exclusive titles this year, which begs of the question of what they're going to show off at E3.

They certainly won't go in empty-handed, so it's possible they're holding back the announcement of the next Halo and a Gears of War Kinect title, but is that enough to compete? They won't give up on the Kinect so soon, so it's possible they can also announce a new console, also for 2012, one that would use the same Xbox Live accounts and a similar operating system (allowing cross-platform play between the Xbox models), supporting the same controller and Kinect peripherals, but offering a far more powerful system with Blu-ray support. Sony, on the other hand, will be focusing on showcasing their next handheld device, and I'd expect them to be the last to launch a new system.

I'll wait for confirmed details on the new Nintendo's controller design(s) and online capabilities before commenting on that, as I won't be too interested if it's another friend-code thing and casual gamer-centric controller. If I can't play the triple-A multiplatform titles on it, the ones that make headlines and win awards, I'm not sold on jumping in again on just another similar iteration of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc., HD or not.

Previous roundtables:

Nintendo in the Third Dimension… and Beyond!

Our first (official) week with the 3DS, headaches and all.

The Day the Music Died 

Rock-n-roll legends never die – they just fade away. Or something like that.

3DS Announcement Edition

The gang's all here – in threeeee deeeeeees!

Xbox Li$e 

GameXplain, TotalPlayStation, and IGN join forces to take on the high cost of (online) gaming.

BioShock: Infinite

To walk among the giants in the clouds…

Marc N. Kleinhenz is a roaming gaming ronin as well as a freelance videographer. You can find his latest literary foray in the print anthology Eye of the Dagger, available here.