[Definitive] Nintendo Wii Thread

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Ryan V

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Since all is quiet on the Nintendo Revolution Front atm, here an interesting editorial to take a look at...

Comment: Nintendo's Revolution steps out of the next-gen battle

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Rob Fahey 15:33 13/12/2005

Information leaked about the specification of Nintendo's Revolution console has confirmed that the company's approach is radically different to its rivals' - so much so that it's hard to characterise it as part of the next-gen race at all, argues Rob Fahey.

One of our first reactions upon emerging from Nintendo's conference in Hollywood just prior to E3 this year, where the Revolution console was unveiled for the first time, was that the company had effectively just conceded the next-generation battle to Sony and Microsoft. It was the most triumphant, optimistic concession we'd ever seen, but reading between the lines, it was a concession nonetheless. Nintendo had just told the world that it didn't want to play with the bigger boys any more. The specification battle, the endless bickering over media functionality and parallel processing and teraflops and supercomputing, were of no interest to the Kyoto-based company that had played such a vital role in defining what videogames mean in our culture. Nintendo wanted out.

Last week, our first really solid look at the hardware that developers are working on for Revolution proved that our assumption about the company's intentions was correct. Nintendo is building a system somewhere between two and three times as powerful as GameCube - no parallel processing, no troublesome cutting-edge chips with their inherent manufacturing problems, no next-generation storage devices, no high definition output. It's got a bit more memory, some internal Flash RAM storage, an attractive, slimline case and built in wireless networking. Back of the envelope calculations suggest that it could launch for as little as $150.

Is this next-generation gaming? Not the way that Microsoft and Sony see it, no. Where's the HD Era? The Zen of Gaming? The Blu-Ray? The Cell? The gigaflops, the teraflops? All of the watchwords which Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have made into core parts of their next-generation offering are missing from Nintendo's vocabulary. Fed up of the headlong rush towards huge, expensive, loss-leading systems that pack more punch than supercomputers did a few years ago, the firm that managed to make a fat plumber with dubious dress sense and a Ron Jeremy moustache into an icon for a generation of style-conscious children has stopped the car in the middle of the freeway, Falling Down-style, and gone off for a walk far off the beaten track.

Instead of dazzling graphics and massive processing power, Nintendo is offering innovation that's more in the realm of gadgets than pure computing. Their console is loaded with clever features, from the unobvious - the clever way that the company has built a slot-loading DVD drive that accepts both full-size DVDs and the micro-size discs from the GameCube - to the glaringly apparent - an amazing control mechanism that feels genuinely, radically different to any other method of controlling a videogame. For developers, the challenge is creative, not technical - how to get to grips with these unique features, not to work out how to multi-thread their game code or build assets for games on super-powered consoles using PCs which can't yet hope to match their performance.

All very laudable, but at the end of the day, Nintendo is still offering a system which will fall far behind its rivals in terms of raw power. There will be no direct ports to Revolution as there were to GameCube; there will be no talk of the system boasting the most technically accomplished games of the next-generation, as there was with the Cube and Resident Evil 4. Whatever about the debate that still rages about the relative merits of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 hardware, there's no doubt which console will be in third place in terms of performance.

Is Nintendo mad? That depends on whether you consider it insane for a company to launch a product with low manufacturing costs, easy software development, high margins and strong brands and franchises backing it, at a price significantly lower than its rivals can compete with. If that's considered to be mad, then how do you describe the business of launching a vastly expensive, cutting-edge box, after the investment of billions of dollars in research and development and developer acquisitions, each hardware unit subsidised to the hilt in the hope of clawing back your investment on future software licences? In our insane industry, Nintendo may even be a pillar of sanity.

After all, the last time anyone called Nintendo insane was when the DS was unveiled. Now it's been outselling the PlayStation Portable every week for around nine months in Japan, and you can't buy one for love nor money in the UK, one of Sony's strongest global markets. The most expensive packages on eBay? Pink DS units with copies of Nintendogs. In hindsight, if you can make teenagers think a fat plumber is cool, getting girls to demand games consoles for Christmas probably isn't that tough, but nobody would have believed you if you'd told them this time last year that Nintendo consoles would be facing supply shortages because the female market was tearing them off the shelves faster than they could resupply, leaving the boys scrounging for the odd well-hidden silver unit on which to play the year's top online console game, Mario Kart.

Can Nintendo win the next-generation war without even taking part? Instinct says no. The hardcore will still gravitate to the powerful consoles, and the PlayStation brand - in no small part due to Sony's incredible work on expanding its appeal in recent years - is as strong as it's ever been. However, can Nintendo make billions of dollars, sell tens of millions of low-priced consoles, hundreds of millions of games, and reinvigorate the entire industry with an influx of new customers? They can, and they just might.

Source: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13579

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Erich

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i don't think the steering wheel option will be possible :wacko:

Sure it is, the controller detects roll, pitch and yaw and all movement in a 3d space. Essentially, any movement in any direction with this controller is detected.

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nav1

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ya it is. these idiot kids just assume cause something is shiny and white that its a ipod ripoff lol

I wouldn't say it's a ripoff, but you can't deny they're definitely taking cues from Apple. And that's not bad. It'll be a kick to all people who said the GCN looked like a Fisher Price toy (which I can't still understand, but whatever).

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Bant Veteran

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most of the people that criticized the look of the gamecube will be the same people who criticize the look of the revolution and controller, they dont do it because of the design, they do it because they are immature preteens that want to be growed up and CANT play nintendo anymore because it would mean they are still a kid.

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Rising Star

blowMeNeo

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All the talk going on here is amazing. Let's wait and see. Example: Xbox fan boys bragging Xbox up before it was released and now none of them can get their hands on ones. The ones that did get one are having problems with it overheating etc. Nobody here will know exactly what the Revolution can do until they see it for themselves. Plus, there will be some changes before this is released. Right now, Revolution (if thats even the name that it will end up with) is in the, I'll call it the "beta" stage. As we all know, the final product is usually a little different from the beta.

Edited by todbran
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nav1

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^^ But you see, that's the beauty of Nintendo. Since they never overhype their consoles the way the others do, normally what they do say is what you get. That's the way it has been for me personally since the NES, and I've owned pretty much every Nintendo console since, so I (and possibly many others) feel pretty confident because of it.

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savedandfamous

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Nintendo Revolution: Double Dutch.

Here's my idea for a game involving fierce physical action. It requires at least one player, and two controllers.

The add on would be a secure cradle that also act's as a wrist/leg/torso band. Securing the controller to your body, it'd be alot like the ON, only using the Rev technology.

Can you guess? Jump rope, and hopscotch. Holy crap. Imagine you've got the two controllers strapped to your wrists, and you're jumping up and down moving your arms swinging an imaginary jump rope, or two other people are there turning the rope for you. Or you simply have the controller around your torso, and you do hopscotch.

I suppose this could also make way for other games using intese physical action, have any ideas?

EDIT// I have one, it takes one person, four controllers, one strapped to each arm, and one strapped to each leg...FREESTYLE DDR MODE!

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HideAndGoatse

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Nintendo is the oldest console gaming industry, they have been watching and learning, I doubt they would just throw some silly old thing out there that no body will get and think is stupid. People may now think it is stupid but when they go home alone and go to their room were no one else is, they will like it. Think of playing a cooking game were you have to use the controller as a knife or something like that, it may sound stupid but I bet it would be an addiction game that people will publicly say sucks then go home and play. GO NINTENDO, YOU WILL BEAT MICROSOFT (but not SONY lol)

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Ryan V

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Rumor: Matrix coming to PSP and all next-gen consoles?

Source: Several job listings on the Shiny Entertainment Web site.

The official story: Atari reps did not respond to requests for comment. As for Shiny...see below.

What we heard: This morning, Shiny sent out an e-mail blast to the games press announcing that it was hiring new programmers. But unlike most hiring spam, two of the job listings listed in the e-mail garnered interest beyond the usual job-seekers and headhunters.

First up was a listing for a "PSP Programmer." Though the listing gave no information about the game, it would be Shiny's first for Sony's portable. Given that most PSP games to date have been ports of existing PlayStation 2 games, odds are this listing is for an as-yet-unannounced portable port of the recent multiconsole release, The Matrix: The Path of Neo.

A second Shiny job listing is of particular interest to those watching the next-gen console race. Though ostensibly for an "Xbox 360 Programmer" position, the listing also asks that applicants be able to work "together with PlayStation 3 and Revolution programmers on converting existing code base to run on Xbox 360." Since CEO Bruno Bonnell told a 2004 investors' conference that a next-gen Matrix game was likely in the development pipeline, the Shiny ads seemed to confirm Neo would jack into all three consoles.

Bogus or not bogus?: Given the ease of porting from PS2 to PSP, Atari would be crazy not to make a handheld Matrix. However, Path of Neo's underperformance may stop the franchise from going next-gen. That, or Shiny may simply not be working on the project....

Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_ent...pic_id=24063485

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Grand Master

x-byte

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In the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine (February 2006), developers and publishers from around the globe offered their insight and comments concerning the Revolution's controller and creating games for Nintendo's next-generation console.

John Schapper

Senior VP/Group Studio General Manager, Electronic Arts Canada

"As a longtime Nintendo fan, I applaud the spirit of innovation and creativity of the Revolution controller. Being wireless and designed similarly to a TV controller, it's an innovative, ergonomic winner right out of the box. The beauty of the controller is that possibilities for new game ideas are limitless... You can build an entire game concept around the controller's features or find ways to intregrate them into existing franchises. Right now at EA, we're exploring both of these paths. Our developers are inspired and excited by the new controller's features."

Steve Pearce

VP of Technology, Activision

"Anyone present at Iwata-san's unveiling of the controller at TGS has imagined what future visions of Nintendo classics will be like. Envisioning Link's spin attack, Mario's triple jump and Samus' gunplay on Revolution is an intriguing exercise. Similarly, the Activision design teams are creatively charged as they determine how the controller can best be used on our titles. How will Spider-Man's Revolution webs be cast, Tony Hawk's deck be flipped and Call of Duty grenades be thrown?"

Rod Cousens

CEO, Codemasters

"The Revolution controller is very intuitive and immersive and should allow the character to become more of an extension of the player... it should also inspire creators to explore innovation and bring back bored consumers to gaming."

Jack Sorenson

Excecutive VP, Worldwide Studios, THQ

"Think about how many players you know that move controllers upward when pressing the jump button or turn it while steering in a racing game. With Revolution, these movements can be made to affect gameplay. Any genre that's suffered from traditional controller limitations stands to initially benefit the most, particularly ones with too many complex button combinations. Also, mouse-oriented PC genres (RTS, adventure games) could become much more console-friendly with the Revolution controller."

Bill Petro

Senior VP of Product Development, Sega of America

"Role-playing games will be greatly enhanced, due to new control styles. Pointing will make moving in large environments very simple, and twist- and position-senging will allow for dual weapon wielding or gesture-based spell-casting."

Michael Ryder

VP of Worldwide Production, Buena Vista Games"

The Revolution controller is truly innovative and will enable game designers to take advantage of gamers' full range of hand motions. Much as we've seen with the Nintendo DS, the Revolution control interface with lead to gameplay innovations."

Noah Hughes

Director of Design, Crystal Dynamics

"In the landscape of primarily linear evolution, it is refresing to see a product like the Revolution that truly strives to redefine game design. As a game designer, I am always excited to see products...which open the door to so many new possibilities."

Jean-Marcel Nicolai

Senior VP of Worldwide Content, Atari

"Nintendo has created an innovative new controller, fully immersing the gamer with a revolutionary interface. The controller should expand the marketplace by appealing to the mass audience as well as avid gamers. And the development community will have as much fun exploring the power of the Revolution controller as consumers will playing it."

Nicolas Eypert

Creative Director, Ubisoft

"The Revolution controller breaks the 'push button' experience of other platforms, where the player must go through an abstract action--pushing a button--to complete an action. With the Revolution, the action is completely natural and physical. We can propose new types of interactions that are easy and fun, as they rely on a simple gesture. We can translate into video game interactions all the tools you manipulate with your hand: the sculptor's tool, the doctor's scalpel, the fireman's hose...imagine you are a doctor curing patients or an architect who builds his own house! It opens up so many possibilities that we already have too many ideas. All the designers that I've spoken with at Ubisoft are buzzing with amazing ideas."

Bill Gardner

President/CEO Eidos

I can certainly see lots of opportunities for classic-style games like platformers that new and old gamers will really enjoy. We've thought of several titles that we're planning that will fit in well. Any game that has the flow of motion in three dimensions will benefit with Revolution. Flying games will be wild and more fun than ever."

Toshihiro Nagoshi,

Producer of Super Monkey Ball and F-Zero GX/AX, Sega

"I was just as surprised by the look of the controller as I was by playing with it. I was really struck by Nintendo's bold direction. All game creators will be inspired by seeing it in motion."

Koichi Ishii

Producer of the World of Mana project, Square Enix

"It'd be a shame if developers only transferred existing games to this system. They've got to envision a more creative route then buckle up for a wild ride."

http://revolutionreport.com/articles/read/229

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majortom1981

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Well IF Nintendo comes out with games like animal crossing then they will have a better showing then the gamecube.

All my friends on my list on animal crossing wild world are over 30 . Its really weird. Most of them are guys too.

That game seems stupid and boring but once you start playing you get hooked. then you have mario kart ds.

Its so aggrivating because 2 extremely addicting games.

IF the rev turns out like the ds I am in some serious trouble. lol

All they need to do is make an animal crossing thats liek the ds version and make sure the adds mention that.

Be able to go into your town on the ds from the rev .

Nintendo could actually create another market .

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blowMeNeo

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Nintendo is the oldest console gaming industry, they have been watching and learning, I doubt they would just throw some silly old thing out there that no body will get and think is stupid. People may now think it is stupid but when they go home alone and go to their room were no one else is, they will like it. Think of playing a cooking game were you have to use the controller as a knife or something like that, it may sound stupid but I bet it would be an addiction game that people will publicly say sucks then go home and play. GO NINTENDO, YOU WILL BEAT MICROSOFT (but not SONY lol)

They may be the oldest of the current gaming consoles, but they weren't the first. This is interesting. The history of gaming consoles: http://darkwatcher.psxfanatics.com/console/yearindex.htm

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Grand Master

x-byte

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Reggie Reveals New Revolution Details After Taking Names In Mario Kart

Those who were lucky enough to play Mario Kart DS against Reggie at Bellevue Square's McDonald's in Bellevue, were also treated to some new Revolution tidbits.

According to Reggie, Sega is intrigued by the Nintendo Revolution's "backwards compatibility," however he stopped just short of a confirmation that classic Sega games will be included.

He also stated that the Classic Controller expansion for the Revolution's controller will look similar to the GameCube's Wavebird.

Although this news isn't the "surprise" everyone is waiting for, the ability to play classic Sega games would without a doubt, be a huge addition to the Nintendo Revolution.

http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1135058230

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Dale

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-bYtE' date='Dec 20 2005, 02:41' post='586946157']

http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1135058230

maybe the twist is it can play dreamcast games while downloadable content from sega's past :huh: :cool: :| if it could download sega games, that would be something you would just flat out announce, but if it could play dreamcast games, then you would hide that.

just the ultimate backward compatible system is a revolution alone!

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Laughing-Man

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So two news tidbits:

Mario Kart For Nintendo Revolution In The Works

Apparently there is a new Mario Kart game in the works for the Revolution. No real suprise there, but according to the latest issue of Nintendo Power, Hideki Konno discussed his thoughts on the future of the franchise. They are only in the early stages of the game's planning, but it is indeed coming.

Source: GamersReports

Sega ?Intrigued? By Revolution Backwards Compatibility

Those who were lucky enough to play Mario Kart DS against Reggie at Bellevue Square's McDonald's in Bellevue, were also treated to some new Revolution tidbits.

According to Reggie, Sega is intrigued by the Nintendo Revolution's "backwards compatibility," however he stopped just short of a confirmation that classic Sega games will be included.

He also stated that the Classic Controller expansion for the Revolution's controller will look similar to the GameCube's Wavebird.

Although this news isn't the "surprise" everyone is waiting for, the ability to play classic Sega games would without a doubt, be a huge addition to the Nintendo Revolution.

Source: Nintendojo

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