[Scarlett.]

Nintendo has explained why it is keeping details of the next Wii secret.

Worldwide president Satoru Iwata said that as well as preventing imitation from rival companies, announcing products as late as possible will surprise people.

"Speaking of other products, we are of course studying and developing the next console to Wii," he told shareholders at a company meeting.

"However, there is a big difference between studying a product and announcing what it is and when we will release it. I am afraid to say that the history of entertainment is also the history of imitation. A great idea will promptly be copied unless protected through patents.

"At the same time, it is really important for our business to positively surprise people. Will you be surprised by our completed product if we told you how it is surprising three years in advance? Therefore, we basically disclose information on our products as late as possible."

He continued: "We believe this is the best approach for the entertainment products we are developing. Again, we are planning the next products for Nintendo's continuous growth, but we cannot tell you what, when and how we will release it here. Thank you for your understanding."

Iwata also said that Nintendo is constantly working on new products, and that the 3DS has been in development for six years.

"Our development departments are dedicated to developing new products. Once we release a product, we will soon move to the development of the next," he explained.

"Since the launch of the original Nintendo DS, the company has introduced you to several new models, but we have to anticipate the life span of the Nintendo DS series will eventually come to an end someday.

"We have been studying and developing the next product for that day. In this context, Nintendo 3DS has been under development for the six years [since the release of the original Nintendo DS]."

A new Wii has been rumoured for a 2011 release for some time.

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