It's confirmed: Nintendo has a new console at E3

A number of news outlets on the 'net from MCV to VG247 have confirmed that Nintendo's long rumored successor to the Wii is coming out to play at this year's E3. MCV's report, in particular, mentions that the new hardware is slated for a 2012 release.

Now the big question on many players' minds is if it's going to cater equally to both casuals and 'hardcore' gamers.

The distinctions between the two crowds have often been pointed in what games they prefer - hardcores have generally bemoaned the plethora of titles such as Carnival Games and Wii Play, while a game such as Mad World seemed out of place on the console by so-called casuals. It also doesn't help that its shelves have been flooded by shovelware - cheap games with equally as cheap gameplay - diluting the overall quality of its library. Everyone wanted a piece of the huge Wii pie and Nintendo apparently had no problems in letting them grab for it all at once.

Of course, it's way too early to tell. It'll be years before we can see just what the new system is actually capable of and to whom it will mostly appeal to - the games are what will set it apart and we haven't heard too much about those yet. Likely guaranteed are a new Zelda and Mario game sometime in its future. After all, this is Nintendo.

E3 will have more of the answers - and probably provide as many questions. Only one thing's for certain: Nintendo hasn't stopped surprising us yet.