Project Cafe?

If you've been keeping up on video game news like a good little nerd, you'd have heard by now that there are some rumours and information circling the internet about something called Project Cafe (i.e. Nintendo's next console).

It's interesting that news has come out now regarding a successor to the Wii, particularly after a few execs of the Big N had been questioned about the next console just recently, and mentioned that it wasn't in the works for now. Clearly they've been playing things down, as it seems that a fair amount of juicy info has been leaked across the net from multiple sources (third party companies and the like.) Here are the basics:

a) The system is supposedly capable of graphics equal to or greater than those displayed by the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

b) The controller is quite basic, with dual-analog control and a design that's not unlike that of the GameCube controller or Classic Controller for the Wii. An interesting choice, but I'll cover that later.

c) The interesting thing: reports are saying that there's a screen built into the controller that's about 6 inches in size (diagonally, I assume) and capable of high-def video...not to mention it's also a touch screen. The controller is able to receive information from the console itself, including the apparent ability to stream game content.

d) The system will be backwards-compatible with Wii software.

First thing's first: despite the fact that there are gamers out there that don't care too much about graphics, there are also those that do, and they were let down by the Wii's graphical capabilities. Pumping up the graphics to rival, or even outdo, those of the other two major console companies is a good plan, and it's a path I always thought Nintendo would take. Spending the time to capture so many new people and non-gamers with the Wii's resounding success, simple as it may have seemed, will pay off. More people will be interested in Nintendo's new console now than would have been if they hadn't released such a product...and at the same time, pumping out those (apparently) amazing graphics will be cheaper overall. In the four and a half years since the Wii was released, technology has advanced significantly, and strong graphical components will be cheaper as a result. Not only will this be better for the production of the system on Nintendo's part, but it will also likely be sold at quite a reasonable price point. A pretty good plan, when it comes down to it.

Second: The controller. I find it interesting that Nintendo is switching the controller style up so much. They pretty much made motion control a success when the Wii was first revealed, even inspiring Microsoft and Sony to follow a similar path...so why the heck are they planning on changing the control around so much? Well, I personally believe that they're not abandoning motion control, despite the fact that it seems like they could. Fact is, the system is backward-compatible with Wii software, which means that the Wii Remotes would have to be able to connect wirelessly to the system. With this connection already in place and established, it wouldn't be unfeasible that the Wii Remote will also be used with new games for Project Cafe (or whatever the hell it'll really be called). Having motion controls alongside the seemingly standard-layout controller that Cafe is being designed with would be a great plan. It would not only draw more traditional gamers back in that didn't really like the Wii's motion controls with the Cafe's standard controller, but also keep the possibilities open to those that Nintendo have just introduced to gaming as of this generation.

Third, and final point: That damn screen in the controller...man, I can't figure that part out too well. So it'll apparently be capable of streaming games from the system. Does this mean that when you buy the Cafe, you're not only investing in a console, but also a handheld at the same time? What about the fact that this could potentially allow you to play console games without a TV at all? That's a weird idea, but it seems like it's a possibility with this new piece of hardware Nintendo's got lined up. However, with all these features, what will the cost of a controller be? Let's think about it for a moment: a HD-capable 6-inch touchscreen (that's larger than any handheld screen out there at the moment) and a strong wireless connection to the console (it'd have to be, if the idea were to stream games directly between the console and the controller), probably a rechargeable battery, because I can't imagine standard batteries running a controller such at that for too long...how will these potential components affect the cost? Additionally, what kinda stuff does Nintendo have planned with this crazy idea? I guess only time will tell. Or E3. Probably E3.

Either way, I'm excited. What about you?