The C-E staff give their views on gaming's most important issues.

Alright, the 'N5' (or whatever it'll be called) won't be here for good while yet, but there's no harm in some pre-emptive discussion, is there? Especially when the topic is the core design of the console.

N5: do you want it to be all-in-one or games-only?

Tom:

I want the N5 to be an all singing, all dancing, does absolutely everything machine. This is the only way it will suceed along side Microsoft and Sony. The market is shifting away from games only, and people want a box that can do everything, including to play games. the current console war has clearly shown that people dont buy a console purely based on price, the ps2 has been the most expensive console ont he market for many months now, yet is still selling in huge quantities. why? backwards compatability and dvd out the box.

If Nintendo want to suceed they have to appeal to the masses, rather than the sort of people they hope would make up the majority of the market, who are in it for pure fun and want innovation. While there are many people who want a pure games experience, its the innovation of nintendo, along with its well known characters that sets it apart and sells the most consoles. The n5 needs to retain these characteristics, as well as adding extra features to make it a total entertainment machine. Nintendo need to learn from the problems of the current console wars, and build a console for the masses, while retaining hte classic Nintendo style.

Jayseven:

The term "all-in-one" is not what I think needs to happen, but I think the machine needs to broaden its horizons a little -- backwards compatibility has been announced, I've no idea if it's been confirmed, but it is a step in the right direction.

I reckon that a hard drive of sorts could come in handy, it really doesn't have to be that massive (and maybe shouldn't/wouldn't be, just to avoid piracy) I'd just appreciate the ability to have more save file places! Having nearly filled my 251 and given away my "spare" 59 to my 8yr old cousin I'm rapidly running out of room.

I really don't think CD compatibility is necessary, or DVD for that matter, BUT it's more than likely that the nextbox (I made that up! Well, maybe I heard it somewhere before...) and the PS3 will be DVD compatible, even DVD-RW and all those majiggies, chances are due to Ninty's piracy policy that won't be the case, but I imagine they'll HAVE to come up with something to add to the console, and knowing Ninty they'll add something that will actually aid the game side of things, not just something tossed on top of the gaming unit it self; something that'll be a vital part of the console. Very Ninty.

Of course, I've no idea how they could do this with anything, but we have to consider that the DS will still be around when the N5 comes out (most likely), as will the GBA or its successor (most likely the latter here), somehow Ninty will want to link these babies up. We've all heard about the DS possibilities -- touch screen? Built in camera? Motion sensitive? -- Well these could be utilised for the GC2 in some way...

Small detour here -- back to the point; Do I Want N5 to Be All-In-One? Personally... I'm really not bothered! I may sound like a right fanboy, but I really just want good games. Whatever comes with the console would just be a bonus. From Nintendo's perspective I can see this being a difficult decision to make; follow the trend setters and risk piracy or stay true to their company policy and provide a solid gaming system?

Speculating about these sorts of things as we do on roundtables each week is all very well and fun, but it really annoys me that we won't actually know the answer for such a long time! E3 is more-or-less just around the corner and it should hold the answers to several of our recent roundtables, so it'll be interesting to see how right/wrong some of us staffies really were!

Bas:

If Nintendo wants to offer some serious competion to the PS3 and Xbox Next, it should be all in one, because Sony and Microsoft are going to deliver fully equipped home entertainment machines. Just look at Music mixer for Xbox and the PSX (rip CD's, store photo's and record TV on a harddisk) for an idea of things to come.

Though these features are appealing, they're not essential for me as a gamesplayer. I already have many of the features on other media, so I'd be comfortable with a games-only machine - not in the last place becauase of the lower price. I'd very much appreciate a hardrive though, because with the money I've spent on memory cards I could've bought a 120GB disk...

bas:

It wouldn't hurt nintendo to have at least dvd playback on its next console, its probably the only way to stay afloat in the console business.

But the real question for me is how many exlusive titles would Sony gather for the next console. Final Fantasy, Jak, GTA are all titles that I will welcome with open arms should they be available on the N5.

So personally I would rather see a games only console with a good software line-up then an all-in-dvd-games-dishwasher-karaoke-microwave-vacuumcleaner console

Iun:

I agree with bas, if the machine has a kick-ass line up of software available, I believe that people would ignore functionality. I mean, if GTA Vice City had initially been Cube-Exclusive, there would be a cube in every home in the world and the PS2 would be limited to Japan and those quirky RPGs.

But, in reality, Nintendo just aren't going to make an exclusivity bid for something like GTA. They believe they don't need it, it doesn't figure in their "game" plan (do you see?).

I would like to see the N5 with extra functionality, like the DVD player, hard disk storage. Maybe snap-on covers to personalise it? I don't know, just something -anything, to make it a real contender in the next battle of the War.

Conor:

Lets talk about one thing for a second: the games.

When I think of extra features on a console I'm not concerned with a Tivo TV recorder or a disc burner, I'm interested in the features that can enhance the game experience. The hard drive that offers downloadable extra levels and gets rid of the need for memory cards. The broadband adaptor that allows me to take on gamers worldwide. I honestly don't understand the prejudice a lot of Nintendo fans have towards a multi-feature Nintendo console - being games-only doesn't somehow ensure game quality, it only restricts the options.

Exploitation of different games avenues should be high on Nintendo's priority list. Nintendo have always been about taking chances and coming up with new and exciting ways to experience games - why are they so tentative then about issues like this? If they implemented other features into 'N5', and took full advantage of them, it would be incredibly exciting. They just have to give them a chance.

And so do Nintendo's fans

So what do you think? Games-only, or otherwise? Reply with your thoughts!