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Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 11:13 AM

This is the first pic which is supposed to be real. Not too shabby, better than the Xbox, not as nice as the PS3.

The official announcement is today.

"Nintendo, whose GameCube sales have lagged, hopes to gain ground, particularly among the fast-growing older-gaming market. Revolution is about the size of a stack of three DVD cases and has no visible knobs, buttons or ports for joysticks. The system will use only wireless controllers, and it sits flat or stands vertically.

With its front-loading slot for discs, it will play games on full-size DVDs as well as older GameCube games on mini-DVDs. Like Xbox and PlayStation 2, it will play DVD movies.

Xbox spokesmen have pointed out that 360's specifications are 10 to 13 times more powerful than those of the original Xbox; Sony said Monday that the processor in Play-Station 3, which will come in several colors and be out next spring, will be 35 times more powerful than the PS2 processor.

Nintendo makes more modest claims that Revolution is two or three times more powerful than GameCube. "It's not all about having 'turbo power,' " Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan says. "It's about what you do with it."

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/product...volution_x.htm

OreoCookie · May 17, 2005, 11:17 AM

The form factor (slimmer than the Mac mini) for sure is awesome. If the processing power is about on par with the other two consoles (not like the Gameboy DS), then I think they could conquer back a nice piece of market share.

Jim Paradise · May 17, 2005, 11:22 AM

I like it's old school vibe. It reminds me a bit of the original Nintendo, but with a modern touch.

turtle777 · 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

The form factor (slimmer than the Mac mini) for sure is awesome. If the processing power is about on par with the other two consoles (not like the Gameboy DS), then I think they could conquer back a nice piece of market share.

IF...

Given the 2-3 times faster than Gamecube is correct, they will be WAY behind the power curve. I'm not sure if anyone needs that much power in a gaming console yet, but for sure, it's gonna look ugly from the marketing side that Nintendo is so far behind.
As we all know, MHz and GHz do count with the common folk !

-t

starman · May 17, 2005, 11:32 AM

Timelined

Millennium · May 17, 2005, 11:38 AM

I doubt that pic is real, if only because of the slot-loading aspect. Getting a slot-loader to accept two different sizes of disc is no mean feat.

OreoCookie · May 17, 2005, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

IF...

Given the 2-3 times faster than Gamecube is correct, they will be WAY behind the power curve. I'm not sure if anyone needs that much power in a gaming console yet, but for sure, it's gonna look ugly from the marketing side that Nintendo is so far behind.
As we all now, MHz and GHz do count with the common folk !

-t

Not if, Nintendo said so in a pre-announcement announcement

Since they also use a PowerPC CPU and an ATI graphics chip, I would say, they can't be that far apart. But we'll know for sure in a matter of minutes.

Agasthya · May 17, 2005, 11:41 AM

They are running so late. It still hasn't started. Reminds me of Steve Jobs in like 2001, he would always come out pretty late.

OwlBoy · May 17, 2005, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Millennium

I doubt that pic is real, if only because of the slot-loading aspect. Getting a slot-loader to accept two different sizes of disc is no mean feat.

Don't worry, it's real.

-Owl

demograph68 · May 17, 2005, 11:47 AM

I'm interested in games, not specs. Everything out there seems to be just sequel after sequel. ... sigh...

OwlBoy · May 17, 2005, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by demograph68

I'm interested in games, not specs. Everything out there seems to be just sequel after sequel. ... sigh...

Sorry, this thread is about the console.

Big Mac · May 17, 2005, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Not if, Nintendo said so in a pre-announcement announcement

Since they also use a PowerPC CPU and an ATI graphics chip, I would say, they can't be that far apart. But we'll know for sure in a matter of minutes.

I can't be sure, but if you're saying that Nintendo already confirmed that "two to three times as fast" figure, I can't find it in that article from the 13th.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

The form factor (slimmer than the Mac mini) for sure is awesome. If the processing power is about on par with the other two consoles (not like the Gameboy DS), then I think they could conquer back a nice piece of market share.

It is not, so far it seems that it is very underpowered compared to the other 2 systems. They made 10x faster leaps when the NR has made 2-3.

I am one of the people that believes "Graphics do not make a game" but processors are useful for other things like AI and multiplayer. It is also a marketing disaster to come out with way less then half the power of the other system.

Also, people do buy games based just on the way they look.

Apple Pro Underwear · May 17, 2005, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

I'm not sure if anyone needs that much power in a gaming console yet

-t

1. the game developers have not maxxed out the graphics yet. if you consider pixar movies to be the pinacle of 3-D digital entertainment, then until the latest console can render real-time cinema graphics then we have not maxxed out.

2. if for the reason of a game never having to load, then that is a great reason it itself.

OreoCookie · May 17, 2005, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I can't be sure, but if you're saying that Nintendo already confirmed that "two to three times as fast" figure, I can't find it in that article from the 13th.

The link was just about the size.

I don't know about the speed (yet

), all we know is that it uses a PowerPC CPU and an ATI GPU.

finboy · May 17, 2005, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

I doubt that pic is real, if only because of the slot-loading aspect. Getting a slot-loader to accept two different sizes of disc is no mean feat.

right. And isn't it going to be tough to get a drive that reads DVDs and the smaller proprietary format?

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:11 PM

I really hope Nintendo and its fans aren't going to take the stance of "well it might be 10x less powerful than the other systems but Nintendo is the only one who knows how to make good games anyway. And they can make games look just as good with much less power". Most likely they will just throw a Metroid or Mario demo at them and they'll be happy.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:14 PM

Another pic:
Looks like a giant SD card with that notch.

http://www.1up.com/do/imageDisplay?id=1897381

OreoCookie · May 17, 2005, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

It is not, so far it seems that it is very underpowered compared to the other 2 systems. They made 10x faster leaps when the NR has made 2-3.

I am one of the people that believes "Graphics do not make a game" but processors are useful for other things like AI and multiplayer. It is also a marketing disaster to come out with way less then half the power of the other system.

Also, people do buy games based just on the way they look.

Don't know, but this would fit Nintendo's history. E. g. the GPU in the PSP is ten times as powerful as the Gameboy DS'. Nintendo tries to compensate with funny and ingenious games, but many titles are cross-platform titles which don't look as good on Nintendo systems.

I don't know how fast the systems will be relative to another, I'm always a bit careful with the marketing figures (e. g. the PS3 is twice as fast as the XBox 360, etc.), but you do have a point. Also, the ability to play DVDs really helped selling the PS2 in the beginning, so I hope Nintendo learnt from this and includes HD-DVD playback.

Hawkeye_a · May 17, 2005, 12:14 PM

Honestly, i'll be happy if it's as powerful as the XBox360 as far as gaming goes...... what im waiting for is the 'revolutionary' aspect....... and yeah thats the console. high res pics @ http://www.cubed3.com/viewnews.php?storyid=3861

King Bob On The Cob · May 17, 2005, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Honestly, i'll be happy if it's as powerful as the XBox360 as far as gaming goes...... what im waiting for is the 'revolutionary' aspect....... and yeah thats the console. high res pics @ http://www.cubed3.com/viewnews.php?storyid=3861

From the article:
"According to reports, although the console itself maintains a modern, stylish quality with hardware features that have already been used, the controller is again said to be the "Revolutionary" aspect of the unit. Those who have seen the machine in action also say that it should be more powerful than Microsoft's XBox2 in terms of visual performance, and potentially on-par with Sony's Playstation 3 hardware specifications. "

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Honestly, i'll be happy if it's as powerful as the XBox360 as far as gaming goes...... what im waiting for is the 'revolutionary' aspect....... and yeah thats the console. high res pics @ http://www.cubed3.com/viewnews.php?storyid=3861

Well the report above seems to say it will be far less powerful than the 360. Even if it is up to the task visually with less power the AI won't be half as good nor will there be 50 players playing at once.

Millennium · May 17, 2005, 12:22 PM

The relatively low power of the system will force developers to focus on gameplay, and that makes me happy, but the fact is that the 3-G formula does sell consoles, unworthy though the games tend to be. This has me worried.

What does intrigue me is this 'all-access gaming' thing, as it sounds as though they're going to open up to independent developers. That's a bold step, and it makes me wonder if Nintendo is trying to move in a new direction.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:23 PM

" Metroid, Mario, Animal crossing DS, Nintendogs, new Zelda (people flipped out, but it’s old footage), Mario Kart DS, another Veiwtiful Joe, some Football game. It’s really unclear what of those were on Revolution and what were on existing platforms."

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:28 PM

"Satoru Iwata Prez of Nintendo is on stage; the Revoltution has been revealed, and he’s making this clear that this one is only a prototype. It’s a small black box (we know) but he calims it will be even smaller in the final iteration, and it’s backwards compatible. “Clearly the Revolution is by far the smallest console we have manufactured. In its final form, it will be even smaller than this, about the size of 3 DVD cases stacked together. It will play either horizontally or vertically.”"

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:32 PM

For those missing out:

Nintendo has unveiled the Micro Game Boy. It's a tiny tiny Game Boy Advance.

Nintendo won't show of Revolution Games.

However, they have verified they are working on bringing all the major franchises to it, and adding a new one. Smash Brothers, Metroid, Mario, and Zelda were all mentioned.

Nintendo showed some new DS games. There are a few new Mario brothers games coming, in addition to some other stuff the crowd cheered at that I didn't get a chance to see.

Nintendo says the Revolution will have jaw dropping graphics...

ort888 · May 17, 2005, 12:33 PM

The Revolution will be able to download classic NES, SNES and N64 games.

Hawkeye_a · May 17, 2005, 12:37 PM

THIS IS NUTS. they havent shown us anything new at all !!!! all they did was take a black box out on stage and tell us stuff we already knew !! no new footage or anything.....

ort888 · May 17, 2005, 12:39 PM

That black box isn't even the final design.

OreoCookie · May 17, 2005, 12:41 PM

I don't think this is a good sign …

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

The Revolution will be able to download classic NES, SNES and N64 games.

Big whoop, a 5 year old Mac can do that. And for free.

"Iwata says it will be easier, faster and cheaper to develop for the Revolution than any of the other consoles. He wants to big idea to prevail over big budget. On masterpieces: “Not everyone sets out to create an expensive, time-consuming masterpiece. Here, Revolution also earns its name. We are convinced that the Revolution will be most developer-friendly. In this next generation, development costs will move easily into 8 figures. We have created a solution to allow them to exercise creative freedom … this is a system where a big idea can prevail over big budgets.”

They said 100% the same damn thing about the GameCube. We saw how much the developers cared.

Agasthya · May 17, 2005, 12:43 PM

Wow, no specs. Nintendo had a lot to live up to and didn't come through.

turtle777 · May 17, 2005, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Nintendo says the Revolution will have jaw dropping graphics...

Better than a 10x faster PS3 ?

I want to believe !

-t

ort888 · May 17, 2005, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

They said 100% the same damn thing about the GameCube. We saw how much the developers cared.

Pretty much every developer says this about their new console. It never means anything.

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:45 PM

I'm a little mad they aren't showing, but honestly, I can wait. It's not like I'm going to be running out today and buying a console.

ort888 · May 17, 2005, 12:45 PM

but hey, we are getting Super Mario Strikers, Mario Baseball, Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, and Mario Party 7 for the Cube.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:46 PM

Ok so where does the "Revolution" part kick in? So far this is a Cube with twice as good graphics and a wireless mystery controller. NOTHING so far makes it better than the other systems. Well except for the Mario and Zelda they are working on but I am sure it would be even cooler if they made it for PS3.

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Better than a 10x faster PS3 ?

I want to believe !

-t

Well, considering the report above says that the graphics are on par with the PS3, I'll go ahead and believe for now.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Pretty much every developer says this about their new console. It never means anything.

I remember all the fuss when the PS2 came out because it was VERY hard to develope for and everyone bitched that it didn't have enough vram.

What happened in the end? PS2 has the most 3rd party support for the console market and GT4 supports 1080i.

OwlBoy · May 17, 2005, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Ok so where does the "Revolution" part kick in? So far this is a Cube with twice as good graphics and a wireless mystery controller. NOTHING so far makes it better than the other systems. Well except for the Mario and Zelda they are working on but I am sure it would be even cooler if they made it for PS3.

Ok, so your gonna say that it being backwords compatible with EVERY nintendo console ain't anything special?

Yeah, and a 5 year old mac playing N64 games? hah. G5s cant even do it properly.

-Owl

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Ok so where does the "Revolution" part kick in? So far this is a Cube with twice as good graphics and a wireless mystery controller. NOTHING so far makes it better than the other systems. Well except for the Mario and Zelda they are working on but I am sure it would be even cooler if they made it for PS3.

So far, the design, the addition of a new franchise, and the content from other consoles has impressed me. Nintendo's whole talk about games shows they've learned from the Gamecube. They aren't going to rely on the same old games.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Well, considering the report above says that the graphics are on par with the PS3, I'll go ahead and believe for now.

I thought graphics don't make a game? Also if the CPU is working so hard on graphic it can't handle 50 players at once and good AI.

Hawkeye_a · May 17, 2005, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

I'm a little mad they aren't showing, but honestly, I can wait. It's not like I'm going to be running out today and buying a console.

Utter disappointment. Sony and Microsoft have shown their cards, XBox is coming out at the end of the year, PS3 has game developers making demos and showing off optomized ingame footage. And Nintnedo ? a black box, no specs, no footage, just obscure high-level goals and aspirations. BS !!!! They have firmly planted themselves in third place imo, and its sad..... comeon even a 60 second video of ingame footage of a bunch of games theyre working on or something. But they pactically revealed nothing newabout the revolution.

turtle777 · May 17, 2005, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Well, considering the report above says that the graphics are on par with the PS3, I'll go ahead and believe for now.

Yeah, the Easter Bunny has designed it, and Santa Claus will deliever ! SURE !

-t

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

I remember all the fuss when the PS2 came out because it was VERY hard to develope for and everyone bitched that it didn't have enough vram.

What happened in the end? PS2 has the most 3rd party support for the console market and GT4 supports 1080i.

Thats great. You might have an HDTV that supports 1080i but most people don't.

goMac · May 17, 2005, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Yeah, the Easter Bunny has designed it, and Santa Claus will deliever ! SURE !

-t

Honestly, I would take Nintendo's word over Sony's. We all know Sony has been completely honest with graphics.

Because, so far, I haven't seen the PS2 render Toy Story or the Final Fantasy movie.

turtle777 · May 17, 2005, 12:52 PM

Ok, so from the FACTS we know about Nintendo, they are DEAD.

-t

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 17, 2005, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Thats great. You might have an HDTV that supports 1080i but most people don't.

How is that even close to my point? I mean all the bitching about how developers hate developing for it and it doesn't have enough RAM yet in the end it can do 1080i?

Developers don't give a **** how hard it is to develop for if it will sell like nuts.

OwlBoy · May 17, 2005, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Ok, so from the FACTS we know about Nintendo, they are DEAD.

-t

So is apple.

ort888 · May 17, 2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

So far, the design, the addition of a new franchise, and the content from other consoles has impressed me. Nintendo's whole talk about games shows they've learned from the Gamecube. They aren't going to rely on the same old games.

They said this about the Cube as well. "We learned from the N64 and won't make the same mistakes!"

Yeah, too bad thhey made the same mistakes and added a bunch of new ones on top.

This thing had better be damn revolutionary when it finally arrives or they are screwed. Come on Nintendo! You can do better then this.