Yea baby

a : a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor

b : a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously

c : a group of individuals having contemporaneously a status (as that of students in a school) which each one holds only for a limited period

d : a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type <first of the … new generation of powerful supersonic fighters —Kenneth Koyen>

a : the action or process of producing offspring : PROCREATION

b : the process of coming or bringing into being <generation of income>

c : origination by a generating process : PRODUCTION; especially : formation of a geometric figure by motion of another

: the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring

— gen·er·a·tion&# 183;al adjective — gen·er·a·tion&# 183;al·ly adverb

See generation defined for English-language learners » See generation defined for kids"

You can't claim something isn't next gen simply because you don't think something isn't as capable as you "hope" the thing you support is. Wii U is nintendo's next console leading the new wave of consoles

Seeing that it is the first home console to come out for the 8th generation, I would say yeah. (regardless of its technical specs)

Maybe people should be saying it IS next gen but just not likely to be comparable as far as hardware specs go.

Although, when a new product comes out with higher specs than a current model people say that the previous model is obsolete, not exactly true but it's the way of tech these days. Does that mean if Wii U is 'next-gen' will it be obsolete in the eyes of most if Sony/MS release much more powerful hardware?

Nintendo may want people to see it as the best of THIS gen after the PS4/XB720 hit shelves, rather than the weakest of next gen, just saying.

I like to refer to it as bridge gen, just like the Wii was, its better than last gen consoles (PS2 & Xbox), but not up to par with next gen console (PS3 & 360) I'd expect the Wii U to be the same when compared to next PS and next Xbox. Not in anyway saying that is a bad thing at all.

the most groundbreaking thing about the wiiu imo is seeing nintendo games in Next gen HD

No. At best, it's Current Gen 1.5. It's got more RAM and an upgraded GPU compared to the PS3 and 360; but there's not a single "Next-Gen" specification about it.

Wait till e3 when Nintendo and 3rd partys show off there second wave of games and yes it is next gen but most ms and sony fanboys won't agree cause they know Nintendo is about to kill them in sales again just like the wii lol any one that don't see how great games are going to be on the wii u must be blind come on you can turn off your tv and continue playing on your controller with out losing any buttons inputs that right there alone make it next gen

It is the console to come after the Wii. Logic, and any rational thinking that requires an IQ above 7 say that it is a next gen console.

If you want to prove that your IQ is above 7, then you have to agree.

Does it really matter whether it's a 'this gen' console or not?

far from next-gen Nintendo is now catching up when its too late when ps4 and xbox is around the corner

Yes, as is the 3DS and the PS Vita.

Nope

There isn't any justifiable statement anyone can make to suggest that it is not next generation. It comes a generation after the Wii and to top it off it's more powerful technology than current generation hardware.

In other words, in terms of labels and logic, yes it is next generation.

None of the consoles are next gen other than them all being the 'next console'. The tech doesn't exist for anything to truly be 'next gen', and won't for years, not even on the PC side.

So if PC has to wait 3-4 years to get there, then consoles made to be 'next gen' won't be there for 5-8 years. Unless they want it to cost over a grand and sell it for a loss that dwarfs what Sony took on the PS3 the first couple of years. (and that's to do it in 3-4 years and under the assumption that we don't have hyperinflation, or even stagflation)

But none of this matters, all three consoles WILL be 'this generation done right', and all three will be pretty similar.

The Wii U will just be a PC options tick lower. So think very high settings versus ultra. Hardly a massive selling point on its own to pay more for a system.

I'll be getting all three, but I'm not going to be fooled that any of them will be vastly superior than the others, nor think any of them will be 'next gen' other than in name only.

All the consoles will put out great experiences. All will have hardcore games. All will serve what they want. Except some people grown accustomed to cutting edge will either hate that it's not cutting edge or will lie to themselves that it is.

is a wii upgraded whit a added controller

3 Days we get this crap? Unbelievable.

Technically, yes it's coming out around that time.

However, it's practically all outdated tech with a new controller. It's "next gen" until something else comes out. C'mon.... PS4!

Going in the logical sense.

A lot of people are forgetting that this is Nintendo we're talking about. The developers of the highest rated games on metacritic (Super Mario Galaxy 1/2) of this current generation, using hardware that the other competitors trample over.

No one ignored PS1/2 sales and facts during Sony's dominated periods, so why are they now with Nintendo and their Wii console?

The only people who say it isn't next gen are people who play video games for graphics.

@Smashbro29 The people who say it is not next gen say it because of the launch title graphics, They never bring up all those stuff you mention if they did that means it would be next gen because the Wii U has better tech then the 360 and ps3.

Sigh.. Again with this, people on here claiming that the next PS/XBOX will be "true next gen" and be a major upgrade from the Wii U, you're fooling yourself and are living an illusion. Jeez! They won't be a bigger step up from current consoles than the Wii U is.

And again, the Wii U is hardware wise many times more potent than the PS360, it's not hard since they are built on 7 year old tech, which are ancient in computer terms. Stop with this mindless fanboyism, it's stupid and uneducated! (I own no console just to get that out of the way)

jesus, just reading through the comments is like WW3.

back and forth...over and over again. same topic: gargle, rinse,repeat...

As far as I can see it's hard to convince people that have made up their minds.

the technical side of the games, FPS/screen tears/ native resolution etc, these will show that even a port running more smooth with little time the system is capable. So lensoftruth will surely doing some overtime soon.

Of course it is.

god damn kids trying to be wisemen while they're a bunch of wise asses "me me" spoiled brats.

until we see the full specs and what the console is capable of then simply no one knows but if it offers the same shit we have now then no it isn't, if it's better then yes it is. finished.

there's the answer to your "astronomically" hard question.
now stop recycling the same waste of time.

Nintendo is on their own cycle in comparison to SONY/MS. The Wii U is in fact and not an opinion next-gen. The Wii U is the next generation of consoles for Nintendo. How it compares to the current-gen and next-gen of Sony/MS is another story.

People thinking that PS4/720 will make the WiiU look like the Wii is very funny! How far advanced do people think these systems will be to make the WiiU look SD in graphics comparison? The WiiU is already capable of running high resolution textures uncompressed, so how is this just on par with the PS3?

Better question is are we done with this discussion yet?

Beating a dead horse on N4G every day.

The Wii U is without a doubt a next gen console.

Now if i may here for a minute. Allow me to explain my faded dream but might very well come true. I believe the Wii U will be the start of a mainstream aspect called "User Generated Content" now i know what your thinking. This is where my faded dream comes into play but i have hope that many games on the Wii U will add this as a feature. Pushmo on the 3DS allowed us to create our own Stages, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will also feature a Stage creation system (I at least hope its still in from the first trailer back at E3 when the Wii U was first announced). Now just open your mind on this for a min and think. Wouldn't it be awesome if Nintendo would create a Next Gen Mario game that would allow us to create our own Courses for users to play through, Rate, and recommend via Miiverse. That would increase the life spawn of that game. Now of course DLC will still play a part but this time around it will take more a backseat this time around. Now just think, playing an RPG that would allow us to draw on our characters Armor or even draw out tattoos to make your character stand out more. Yeah that's my faded dream but hey you never know. Right? :(

I can agree untill specs of each of the consoles are released, we really cant judge what next gen console standards are to be.

IT's a upgraded version can't say for sure its a next gen. It's because Nintendo didn't want a HD CONSOLE because the number of HDTV'S is in consumers homes. But they should of realize that already theirs lots of HDTV's in homes PS3/XBOX 360 play FULL HD 1080P games. They want to create another new controller like their successor of the Wii remote. Plus they want to make more money the two only good things i like bout the new Wii U is the finally a HD CONSOLE from Nintendo and their tablet control which I'm really excited bout

WHY WHY WHY are people so fuckin stupid ha lol and how come only a few people know what they are talking about damn and stop talking about the 720 and ps4 could nobody doesn't know anything on it but you can be a dumbass and go off of rumors which can change in the 1 or 2 or more years the 720 comes out and the 2 or 4 or more years the ps4 might come out and a lot of the stupid people need to read on gaming history then do research on the wii u and its games

Next gen hardware? No. Next gen console? Can't be argued.

Beyond: Two Souls Looks Better Then any game Ever!!!!!!

(Take a Look)

http://24.media.tumblr.com/...

The Wii U is the next console from nintendo, so it is the next generation of their consoles. Is that so hard to understand?!?!

Even if the next PlayStation or Xbox was less powerful than they are now they would still be the next generation of those systems...

Bubbles for PopRocks359

The wiiu rocks i have played it and it knocks the socks off current gen.

"Without a doubt, the Wii U successfully differentiates itself from that popular predecessor to earn the title of a next-gen system. From bullet-point graphical details to the “Holy S&!t, The Controller’s Like a Tablet,” the Wii U is something new."

Well said!

I think you guys are confusing specs with actual video gaming generations.

Anybody who thinks differently should read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

it has 4x the ram of ps3/360

hopefully 3x the cpu of ps3/360

and hopefully 4x the gpu of ps3/360

so yes, it is going to kick ps3/360 nasty, 720p or less, jaggie riddled, pop-in infested A$$

....i hope

I expect a new Wii to be announced by the time PS4 and the next Xbox drop.

Yes, next question

As far as I'm concerned, no.
With what it does and doesn't do, and the lack of a wow factor, I'd consider it current gen.

Although it probably technically would be considered next gen.

Just gonna have to wait and see. From all accounts developers and publishers have said not to expect a huge graphical upgrade on the PS4/720 but games like the Unreal Engine 4 look like current gen cutscenes so that might just be them talking themselves down to impress us more.

I mean Im judging from online videos but everything I've seen from the Wii U puts it just about where the current gen is. I think it has capability to be better but that's up to devs to figure out how to make the most of it.

But I think my ps3 is my standard for 3rd party games. The only reason I'd buy a Wii U is for the promise of good 1st party and exclusive titles. Would LOVE to see Star Fox HD, Metroid, a Mario Action RPG, the next Zelda, a non-side scrolling kirby, F-Zero, a decent 3-D pokemon title, DOnkey Kong 64 U, SMash Bros of course, and hopefully some decent new stuff from nintendo!!

I just played the Wii u a couple of days ago at best buy. They only had that rayman game to play. And to bring honest. I loved it. The only thing that I was concerned about was the feel of the controller. The Xbox 360 controller felt better in my hand. But I'm sure I'll adjust to it.

next gen yes.. current tech no..

no.

Since when have crazy powerful specs made a console next-gen? As long as something is being innovated or improved upon, (imo) it's next gen. The Wii U seems to be doing both of those things, so what's up with the debate as to whether it's next-gen or not? It's obviously next-gen and only retard fanboys would think otherwise.

i am going to have to say no. But it is a step in the right direction. 1080p should have already been added and thats pretty much whats makes the Wii U besides the selection of games coming out for it worth getting.

I might be crazy but if its was not for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate coming out on the Wii U i would not buy one. But since MH is my weak point. Nintendo has my money.

article wont stop writing about the same sh*t. if ppl are going to start b*tching about next gen dont buy one, damn i get to this website and what i founf the most its the WII U a next gen, if u dont like it dont buy it.

yes. is the most powerful console ever (until PS4/720 arrives)

It's math people. 2GB RAM vs 512MB.

Jeez, did the Dreamcast get called not "next-gen" despite having four times the RAM of the N64?

Even if Microsoft and Sony both charged $600 for whatever they come up with, the hardware would still be behind in terms of most ideal modern performance for high quality graphics + physics + resolution + additional features.

In other words, I wish it was possible for "next-gen" consoles to have the TBA Ivy Bridge-E i7-3930, TBA OC 3Gb GDDR5 8970 or OC 3GB GDDR5 GTX 780 equivalent and 64GB of at least 1866Mhz 9-10-9-28 RAM and at least a 1TB high end SSD.

Imagine exclusive video games running, well optimized, on a configuration like that? I live in America, where one can dream!

Wii U is current Generation Version 2.

Sure as the n4g ad spam it is,this message was no brought to you by dishonored.

The whole "is it next gen" debate makes no sense because the generations mean different things to different people. Someone says it's obviously next gen just because it's released in 2012 or has a gimmicky new controller. To me neither of those matter and it's all about how powerful it is. Therefore, in my opinion, it's last gen or perhaps somewhere between gens but I'm not gonna start arguing if someone disagrees with me because we're both right by our own criteria.

My threshold for truly next gen is having 60 fps and 1080p as standard quality. Wii U sure as hell isn't gonna achieve that and if PS4 and Nextbox can't either then they're dissapointing 7.5 gen consoles as well.

Not this again.

no

of course it is.

if it releases next, its a next gen console....

The PS3 has just been completely maxed out in the last 3 years, and the Wii U is doing what that can at launch. I love PS3, and read how the Vita and PS3 combo can do what Wii u can do and that just is not the case. Where are the games if the combo can do the same as Wii U. If not from 3rd part then at least 1st party games. Look at launch games on Wii U some are BETTER on Wii U because it is a more capable Console. Gearbox say this http://www.nintendolife.com...
Now with Gearbox which makes awesome looking games is not complaining I am not going to. So if when PS4 comes out and is a power house (over a year from now) I doubt that ports to Wii U that are on the PS4 are going to look bad at all. This Next Gen Simply put is NOT going to be the graphical leap for Sony and Microsoft some may think it is...It will not be PS1 To PS2 graphically. Gamers say graphics don't matter, well Nintendo Wii U Will have very nice graphics SO if its GAMES you want and your a "gamer" well Why the heck would you not want one? I kind of understand why a "gamer" would not have wanted Wii, BUT I do NOT understand why they would not want Wii U. The ports are mostly better, the Exclusives are going to be AMAZING, Metroid, Zelda, Bayonetta2, Galaxy, Fatal Frame, Zombi U, and all of the other Wii U games being worked. CryEngine3 is running on Wii and Crytek is supposed to be working on a Wii U game, though it is not Crysis 3. http://wiiudaily.com/2011/0... Wii U is VERY capable of AMAZING games and if that is what you care about, shut up and buy one!

I have no doubt that the next Sony and Microsoft consoles will be more powerful than Nintendo's. However I imagine that people are grosely overestimating how much of a leap that will be. Younger gamers who only know the Nintendo from the Wii believe Nintendo always goes with lo fi tech. However, this gen marks the only gen where Nintendo didn't release a powerhouse. Furthermore this gen marks the first gen where Sony has gone for power. The PS1 and PS2 weren't exactly super cutting edge.

The Wii U is a next-gen console for Nintendo, and it will probably deliver slightly better performance and visuals if the developers dont have any problems writing code for it.

There are articles allready about bad porting to the Wii U (Mass Effect 3) and that is something we just have to expect now in the start. It will take some time for most developers to get the hang of it, just look at early X360 and PS3 games and compare them with new games.

The "problem" is that by the time the Wii U really starts to show it's muscles Sony and Microsoft will either have announced or launched their new consoles and it will probably out performe the Wii U in a big big way.

Personaly I dont care, it's the exclusive games and the new exciting controller that will make millions of people buy it. Cant wait to get mine :)

Just tried the demo at Best Buy and although I got to play a couple minutes of Rayman Origins(no other demo was availible for some stupid reason) the graphics were gorgeous for a cartoonish game and the tablet screen looked nice although it wasn't clear how to get it on JUST the screen. I need more time with it..hopefully with a non 2D side scroller to really feel the power but Im looking forward to it..not gonna be a day 1 purchase at all though

After seeing a couple of demo games and trailers at the Sydney Games Expo I'd say a definite no.

Some game titles are about even while some only just better compared to the PS3 and XBox 360.

I personally define "next gen" as "able to offer an experience significantly more advanced than what is currently available". I could care less about timing, or raw power -- its all about the game experiences.

By that definition, the only worthwhile definition in my eyes, the Wii U is not "next gen", whereas the Wii was, because it offered something new. The controller pad just isn't the Wiimote, in terms of new experiences.

I would say it is more "next" in the "gen" of Nintendo consoles. As far as being next gen its hard to say. Since its first out the gate before the Xbox whatever it will be called and PS4 I guess I would say yeah its next in this new generation of gaming within a six or seven year span which seems to be how long a "gen" lasts in console "freshness" :)

The Wii U is not Next Gen. Gaming graphics should leap ahead graphically not limp along. The 360 and ps3 were way ahead of the xbox and ps2. The wii U put all of it's technology into a stupid controller. It is a sad excuse for next Gen tech. it should of been called Wii 1.5...... pitiful.