Revolution "a complete failure" if it sells less than the GameCube; a global launch set for April or later in 2006
by Dan Choi 
{ Oct 25th 2005 at 7:46PM }
In an apt development following
our earlier Revolution release-date roundup, Nintendo pres
Satoru Iwata has confirmed that the system will be coming out sometime after March (the end of Nintendo's current
fiscal year), but still within the confines of the 2006 calendar year.
In a more strongly worded statement, Iwata made a distinctly more judgmental estimation regarding the company's sales
expectations for the Rev: "It [the Revolution] would be a complete failure if we didn't sell more units than the Nintendo
GameCube." The GameCube has shipped 18.76 million units as of June of this year.
A "simultaneous worldwide release" will also be attempted ("as much as it's possible"), following in the footsteps of
Microsoft's nearly simultaneous 360 launch window this fall.
[Thanks, Dark Yoshi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Timpac @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
18.76 million units. Shouldn't be too hard to fail, then.
Pyronite @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I like the straight talk from Nintendo. We need more of that.
Psiven @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
It's funny to me that people consider that Gamecube is a failure and yet it's sold only 1.5 million less than xbox. If the xbox weren't so highly pirated, would these figures be the same?
MILES @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I love Nintendo and everything but it seems like they are chucking out half a Console here, no Ethenet port and No DVD playback out of the Box? Not to mention no HD support.
Sure it has a nice controller (Well I hope it's nice) but I don't think it's enough.
I hope it comes with a HDD too, I don't want to buy Memory cards just so that I can download more games.
Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I thought the Xbox shipped something like 21.5 million units...
fush @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
They are going to be supporting DVD playback out of box (they retracted that dongle idea). Hopefully no one will buy any console based on this feature, but it is nice to have.
I think Nintendo is aiming for a massively appealing system here, recalling the days of NES and SNES, but on a broader playing field, attracting new kinds of customers.
This sales objective will be easily accomplished if Nintendo succeeds in drawing new interest to video games.
Don @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
MILES, sure, the Rev doesn't have an ethernet port, but who needs one when it includes Wi-Fi built in? That's a hell of a lot better than the $100 M$ is charging you. Obviously, because of the small size, they will not include an HDD, but instead they have included 512MB built-in flash memory. If you run out of that 512MB, the Rev uses SD cards for memory.
dracula @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
NINTENDO RULES!!!!! w00t to a simultaneous release
BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
They retracted the dongle? I thought they would still need something to activate it, like the Xbox remote.
Courtney @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
why would it need ehternet when it will have wifi man, come one!
Byron Bowerman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Isn't this the kind of thing Sega said about the dreamcast?
And look where it got them
Exactly the last thing Nintendo needs to publicly state. I'm losing hope already.
When a company starts publicising the death of their system months before its release, it tends to scare developers...
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Yeah, I like straight talk too. Cube was a failure though. Look at it's sales compared to the PS2. Those are probably the numbers they're aiming for. Somewhere around the 50mil mark by the end of it's lifetime I'd imagine.
Here's for hoping.
Benz @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
The Nintendo Revolution won't be a failure even if it places last behind xbox360 & PS3. With the exception of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo has always played their cards right with the systems they have produced. The Revolution most likely will not have all the same features as the xbox360 & PS3, but thats a good thing, it makes the system less expensive, Nintendo systems have always been affordable. Price was a factor in my decision to get a GameCube over the xbox. I also own a DS and I've owned a SNES, N64, and GBA SP which leads me to my next point, strong loyalty. Those who have owned or own Nintendo consoles will continue to buy them, I know I'll be getting a Revolution when it comes out!
Oshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Either way i'll probably get a Rev. But wont get one at launch time.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Of course the cube was a failure compared to PS2. What dope releases a console without online capability? Oh wait, I know. Nintendo!
mercatfat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
#10: a system isn't a "failure" just because it isn't #1. the Cube was about as good of a transition out of the N64 era to the new Playstation Standard as you can realistically get.
your enemies friends @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
for 200 bucks, i think the revolution should do fine. although the only games i'm interested are new zelda, mariocart, res-evil, and animal crossing games. i'll also be downloading Super Dodgeball and River City Ransom.
babu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
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"I love Nintendo and everything but it seems like they are chucking out half a Console here, no Ethenet port and No DVD playback out of the Box? Not to mention no HD support."
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They are pretty much chucking out a standard console. Sort of like a cheeseburger at a burger joint. Just like what the xbox 360 is doing, exept you can just buy the other parts alongside the console(ie. lettuce tomato bacon). It would probably total still under 100$ of the xbox 360 with all the bells and whistles. Nothing wrong with that as im sure many who buy the console will have no use of the ethernet port. So why buy a burger with fries if you just want the burger?
And no HD support, I'm not going to cry over that, you wont notice much of a difference... its like eatign a burger with swiss or cheddar. Sure swiss tastes a bit better, but theres holes in it - sure hd is great, but the point of the cheese is the protein and calcium, and if you're losing out on some protein and calcium just because you wanted a more tasteful(looking) product... is it really worth it? My point being you miss out on gameplay when developers are concentrating on a graphically stimulating game.
Nintendo Gal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I don't own an HDTV so it's no skin off my nose that there's no HD. I know many individuals who do not own an HD set.
And I also don't feel the GameCube was a 'failure' since they're not in debt because of it. Sure their projected earnings are down slightly but they are still in the black/green. :)
Cyborg771 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Um what do you mean by no ethernet port? You don't need one since it's Wi-Fi moron. And it comes online out of the box. What do you want, Wi-Fi for free or ethernet with a cost? Think things trough.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
the gamecubes biggest failure or more bluntly nintendos failure was virtually no 3rd party support
the gamecude was a failure due to the fact theat MS sold virtually no xboxes in japan but still so a fair few millions more, taking into account nintendos prevuois pretigue in the games market aswell
mr.karmalicious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"They are going to be supporting DVD playback out of box (they retracted that dongle idea). "
Link please?
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I don't think cube was a total failure. At least it had more than 5 exclusive games that were worth it (Not just Halo 1 & 2, Ninja Gaiden 1 & black, Fable).
Also, if it was a failure, Xbox was too, considering Xbox was sleeker looking, had a DVD player, had one more button in its controller, much more power, microsoft's wallet, and microsoft's marketing & hype department. By today, the cube should be coming close to 20 million, and Xbox a little more than 22 million, considering its production was shut down already, and that 360 is almost out the window. I hope that nintendo reaches 22 or 23 million and reaches a laughable at Xbox and ironic 2nd place, at least if Zelda is their last breath of hope.
I have a PS2 too. Things would have been much different in sales if PS2, GC and Xbox launched at the same time, and if GC used DVD. Common mistake in nintendo (lower media storage). If nintendo had gone for Panasonic's Q, they would have definitely sold more than Xbox at least, and would have had more third party support. Oh well, at least revolution has some now.
your momma @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"And no HD support, I'm not going to cry over that, you wont notice much of a difference..."
yeah there's no difference between a plasma 720p vs your 25 inch RCA.
dumbass...
If Nintendo is already mentioning their sales goal and using the gamecube as their benchmark...they sound just like Sega circa: 2000
But yeah, I can't wait to play another version of "Pokeman 40 baby-shit-green" either with that control, I'm gonna look so cool...
scaryface @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
How can you download retro games without an ethernet port? External attachment maybe?
How will you store them for that matter without a HDD? I thought it would come with HDD.
Seeing as Nintendo isnt really going for the best graphics this round, I don't think im going to miss HD, unless i wanted to experience my jaggies in great detail.
Now, I pray for good launch titles, and more than one.
vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"it seems like they are chucking out half a Console here"
Hopefully we'll get some confirmation and specs soon, but it seems that it will be nearly half the cost, too. That'll help sales a ton.
We basically know that it won't compare with the PS3 and 360 graphically. But I kind of think it will be comparable to the RE4 debate going on now, some hate the lower graphics, some don't care. I'm personally tired of having rehashes. I only found about ten games on each system this generation that I felt were must-haves, compared to about 20 on the PS and 15 on the N64. If the new Nintendo can create must-haves, it will be successful. I do agree that they need more 3rd party support to get this done; Mario Super-Duper 5 Sport Extravaganza won't.
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Thanks for that, Nintendo Gal, I forgot. On nintendo's not so much of a failure:
Even if it doesn't exactly matter to gamers, it's worth mentioning that gamecube made a similar amount of money in sales than PS2 (I don't know how Sony amounted for such high cost), let alone Xbox's loss of 4 billion dollars. I do matter because that reflects the philosophy of a company on how eager is a company to dominate our living room... we all know who's the most, and who could give a damn about pwning living rooms. I don't trust a company that is investing too damn much, because surely they want their money back, and if they win, which I hope not, they'll get it by ripping us off. I'm sure the words *trojan horse* have something to do with it.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
To #10
You know why the PS2 sold so many...cause their quality sucks and each PS2 owner has probably bought 3 since its release. This is not fanboyism, it is fact. My gamecube was bought the day it was released and is still working like new. That has to say something.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
the gamecubes biggest failure or more bluntly nintendos failure was virtually no 3rd party support
--
Uhm. See marketshare numbers + wacky 1.8GB disc format.
PS2/Xbox always got those ports together, it seems because they were such similar system.. the 1.8GB disc really stunk on the Cube.
If Nin has sold 30 mil systems, of course developers would go for it.. Nin had to pay guys like Capcom to do exclusives..
At the end of the day, Nin chalked it up to timing.. the PS2 got out way ahead and got an installed base.. and then.. never really looked back.
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"But yeah, I can't wait to play another version of "Pokeman 40 baby-shit-green" either with that control, I'm gonna look so cool..."
Well, go ahead and play GTA to look cool and fit in with your playground friends. Maybe you'll look so cool, that girls will want to get laid with you.
Ominojacu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
You guys are right about the lack of 3rd party support. its thier biggest problem. people are often distracted by bright, shiny objects.(ps2,xbox) with the ps2 actually very dissapointing graphically. check out re4 for gc and you can see its potential. kojima's hint at a revolution game could be the best thing for
nintendo.
mercatfat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"Maybe you'll look so cool, that girls will want to get laid with you."
i'm totally tired of the mature games debate (on both sides), but this was a fresh ray of crude-with-intellect sunshine. bravo.
matt @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"Um what do you mean by no ethernet port? You don't need one since it's Wi-Fi moron. And it comes online out of the box. What do you want, Wi-Fi for free or ethernet with a cost? Think things trough."
you, my friend, are an idiot.
ninty's Wi-Fi is free ONLY if you are near a ninty wifi point (e.g. take your rev to mcd's - I THINK NOT) or if you buy a ninty adapter for your pc (comes with Mario Kart DS and some rev game i s'pose) and use it with your internet you already have to pay for.
idiot preteens these days...
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"http://ruliweb3.dreamwiz.com/ruliboard/read.htm?main=ps&table=img_screen_con&page=1&num=8547&find=&ftext=&left=h&time="
Ominojacu, this is a comparisson between PS2's and GC's RE4. Judge for yourself, I don't know what does better mean. I noticed that GC is better at polygon count, objects on screen, and color. But I think PS2's is better at mipmapping (I mean when an image is close or far, how well is it calculated so it looks good on screen I think) but i'm not sure though, you tell me what you think.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
You know why the PS2 sold so many...cause their quality sucks and each PS2 owner has probably bought 3 since its release. This is not fanboyism, it is fact. My gamecube was bought the day it was released and is still working like new. That has to say something.
---
I remember playing Onimusha 2 and 3.. and we had to 'punch' the PS2 to get the disc to read..
*sigh.. fun times..
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
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"much more power"
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Actually the Gamecube wasn't that far behind the Xbox in terms of hardware. The Gamecube could easily hold it's own when developers used the hardware properly.
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"Cube was a failure though. Look at it's sales compared to the PS2. Those are probably the numbers they're aiming for. Somewhere around the 50mil mark by the end of it's lifetime I'd imagine."
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wtf? If you're gonna use that retarded analogy then you might as well say that the Xbox was a failure too. Think about this...the Xbox was 2nd and it had strong first and third party support. The Gamecube on the other hand had very little third party support but really strong first party titles. If the Cube would have had the same third party support as the PS2 or Xbox, then the margin between it and the Xbox would have been next to nothing.
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"Nin had to pay guys like Capcom to do exclusives.."
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Sony and MS do that as well...Capcom and Namco have always developed games for Nintendo platforms.
S @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I honestly can't see the Revolution doing that much better than the GameCube. I mean, think in terms of the average, stupid, casual gamer. The GC had incredible graphics and was capable of insanely good textures (imho), and that's what drew me to it. Didn't work much for other people, though, did it?
So the controller is going to decide everything. That, or 3rd party support if Nintendo has the foresight to get some this time around. Either the casual gamer will be scared away by a new, unfamiliar idea (more likely), or will be drawn to trying something new.
Picture it. Think of the little kids you hear talking about games all the time. For some reason I can't see many of them being attracted to this, and Nintendo already has a spoiled reputation in videogame land (key: among casual gamers with the "kiddy-game" mentality)
I'll be getting a Revolution, though. The problem is, many of us embracing this idea of "innovation" are in the overwhelming minority.
Glenn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
The Gamecube never set the world on fire, and would be considered a disappointment compared to how well Nintendo has done in the past with both sales and perception.
From the beginning there were design opportunities missed, such as lack of a DVD player.
Even the original look of the machine, with it's purple color scheme, and a controller with green, yellow, red, and grey buttons came off as childish.
That a lot of the early games targeted younger players, didn't help matters either.
Sales weren't as high as expected. Suddenly in the US market where they were once 1st or 2nd, they were now 3rd.
Third party support waned.
That's not to say Nintendo didn't have quality titles. They did.
But had it not been for a price reduction midlife, the Gamecube would have sold a lot worse than it did.
So for the Revolution to do worse than the Gamecube, would not be good.
Nintendo will survive no matter what. They're still strong in the portable game market. And they have a loyal following, even if there numbers aren't as great as they were during the NES and 64 days
1up_clock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
22.
Ah, the classic, no-IQ-required Pokemon-insult from every single person who thinks Nintendo sucks. If I'm not mistaken, Sony's European VP has used the same childish tact about the DS. Well, takes a jerk to raise a crowd of jerks, I guess.
FIRST OFF- The resolution whatever argument- GUESS WHAT. NOT EVERYBODY'S NAME IS RICHIE RICH. I'm still playing my Gamecube on a mediocre TV that's about a decade old, and it's still fine for me. BUT I GUESS I'M LYING BECAUSE YOU SAY I AM BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION LEANING IN FAVOR TO SONY.
SECOND- Pokemon - ARGH. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIAL FORCE LEADED BY CHUCK NORRIS TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF YOU PEOPLE WHO USE THAT LINE. It's like people playing Advance Wars or Castlevania and some "l33t" white "thug" who pretends he's from the ghetto because he has a PSP comes up and says "DOOD WHY THE UNNECESARY SWEAR ARE YOU PLAYING THAT FAGGEH POKE CRAP, YO?" and then the guy's like "I'm playing the new Castlevaina, which, aside from the soul system, is nothing like-" "SHUT UP POKEFAG.". GOD. Anyway, I'll be laughing when I'm playing an honest-to-God SWORD-FIGHTING GAME ONLINE FOR FREE and you're not. And having to pay for online.
And now I guess you're going to make a lousy comeback about sales, using Sony's numbers of how much they've SHIPPED.
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I think nintendo's revolution has as much third party support as it can get by now. I've seen that almost every major company or developer/producer supports/liked it (Kojima and Sakaguchi loved it), and even universities are getting the development kits, as I've been hearing. This could mean that it's not that expensive and that small developers could be more tempted to get one to begin instead a PS3 or 360 development kit. Maybe that way we will see more games from the little people.
S @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
if revolution got a bunch of independent games, that would be amazing. if they were good.
I'M TYPING IN ALL CAPS PAY ATTENTION TO MY COMMENT ABOUT HOW ANGRY I AM, THAT I HAVE TO USE ALL CAPS LIKE THIS. CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL.
Chris Maguire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"How can you download retro games without an ethernet port? External attachment maybe?
How will you store them for that matter without a HDD? I thought it would come with HDD."
Scaryface, you will download retro games using the Revolution's built-in Wifi -- it's just like a ethernet port, without the wires.
You will store the retro games on either the Revolution's 512mb of built-in flash memory, or on an even bigger expansion memory card.
In case you forget how small games used to be, know that you could easily fit the ROMs for *every NES game ever* into a 512mb space.
vakerorokero @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"It's funny to me that people consider that Gamecube is a failure and yet it's sold only 1.5 million less than xbox. If the xbox weren't so highly pirated, would these figures be the same?"
I wonder what microsoft considers a failure if losing $4 billion is doing great.
I don't think the gamecube is a failure. It couldn't beat the Ps2. The gamecube has no piracy so they get money from hardware and software. A failure is something more in the likes of the PSP.
Third party biggest failure? nonesense. Lack of games for the nintendo crowd is more like it. Look at Batallion Wars. Its a nintendo title but no recognized characters so it sells less. Look at EA, they know nitendo owners like itendo so adding nintendo characters to their annual updates sells their games. and seems EA is seeing this trend as a good one. Look at that boxing game from a few motnhs ago. If it didn't carry punchout it would have not sold as it did. Nintendo people need name brands for them to like a game. Castlevania, megaman, resident evil, etc, etc. I like old school games with a 3d twist. I'm not a fan of the crimefilled or gangstastory or FPS (which sadly are the most popular genres) so a system lacking these is not popular with the "in crowd" or commonly known as "kids with their cap sideways (which in my days, was a very sign of dorkyness unlike today, now it means "those who stared at death and live to tell") but mostly, if third parties want nintendo people to buy their games they must offer quality, which is want we want. For crappy cheap gaming I carry my cellphone. Nintendo fans are a very tought crowd that's why even nintendo has suffered selling some of their games (custom robo).
spike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"Um what do you mean by no ethernet port? You don't need one since it's Wi-Fi moron" This kind of talk irritates me... Ethernet in my experience is far, far better than wifi on every level... transfer speed we're talkin 1GB/s with good cabling, there's no problems with security like on wifi, for a home console having a couple of wires isn't an issue if the controllers are wireless... wireless networking is nowhere near the standard of ethernet yet and wifi is just one in a long line of wireless networking standards - although I'm a nintendo fan and will certainly be getting a revolution having to use wifi will be a bummer... if there's any way i can get some kind of adapter to make it ethernet i will.
e2 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
By the numbers...
PSOne sales: 100,900,000
PS2 sales: 74,000,000
NES sales: 61,780,000
SNES sales: 49,020,000
Genesis sales: 35,000,000
N64 sales: 32,930,000
2600 sales: 25,000,000
Xbox sales: 22,000,000
Gamecube sales: 18,760,000
Dreamcast sales: 10,000,000
gokou20 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
27. Posted Oct 25, 2005, 9:28 PM ET by mike
the gamecubes biggest failure or more bluntly nintendos failure was virtually no 3rd party support
--
Uhm. See marketshare numbers + wacky 1.8GB disc format.
PS2/Xbox always got those ports together, it seems because they were such similar system.. the 1.8GB disc really stunk on the Cube.
If Nin has sold 30 mil systems, of course developers would go for it.. Nin had to pay guys like Capcom to do exclusives..
At the end of the day, Nin chalked it up to timing.. the PS2 got out way ahead and got an installed base.. and then.. never really looked back.
to mike, nintnedo never paid capcom for resident eveil exclusive, becasue the made and agreement that the make res evil for them , then capcom can make a nintnedo franchise. which was legend fo zelda minish cap. also if capcom was paid, there would be no res evil or viewtiful joe on ps2.
also i can't beleive how stupid some people here are.
the rev comes with a wifi in buit, if you as a gamer no nothing about wifi then you should quite playing games.
the rev haqs 512mb of flash memory which is a damn lot, you can save games , buy retro games and store on there, and if you want more space, slide in you SD card and you ar eall set, heck SD cards cost like 30 for 1gig. at least its not like the xbox 360 retard pack for 300 that has no way or option to save games.
on the graphical aspect, wait and see what nintendo has to offer, nintendo never cheaps out on graphics, look at donkey kong jungle beat, a game that was buit for innovative use of drums and game play has better graphics than most ps2 and xbox games. so wait till you see the games.
Chris Maguire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
In my experience, wifi's speed is more than sufficient for gaming. My apartment serves five PCs from a single wireless router, and I often play extremely fast games like Quake 3 with my friends with no problems at all. I also enjoy streaming movies from one PC to another connected to my television, again without any lag or framedropping.
I'd argue that wifi is most definitely ready for prime time, and I'm excited to see what Nintendo does with it on the Revolution.
watchingred @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Revolution is gonna rock. Nintendo makes the best games hands down. I'll use my PC for all the fps's and stuff of that sort. I can't wait for these great titles coming to my DS too. Mario Kart DS, Mario Paint DS, FF3DS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH crazy good stuff coming my way. Thanks big N.
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"43. Posted Oct 25, 2005, 10:40 PM ET by e2
By the numbers...
PSOne sales: 100,900,000
PS2 sales: 74,000,000
NES sales: 61,780,000
SNES sales: 49,020,000
Genesis sales: 35,000,000
N64 sales: 32,930,000
2600 sales: 25,000,000
Xbox sales: 22,000,000
Gamecube sales: 18,760,000
Dreamcast sales: 10,000,000"
Sources? The Genesis and Dreamcast numbers seem inflated. I don't think there are 10 million Dreamcasts out there, considering it was supported by sega 2 years only.
Also, as I remember what I read, SNES had 65% market share (almost 50 million), while Genesis the rest, so that would be roughly 26.5 million, but I could be wrong.
PS2 has already surpassed 90 million, and 100 millon PSOnes? Do you have numbers for the last years of the 32 bit era? It'd be interesting to know, not only total sales, but sales per month, per year, per game release, etc.
JPRacer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Spike,
first, it's not 1GB/s it's 1 Gb/s Ethernet (difference of 8). Second, with Wi-Fi you can have ~54 Mb/s (twice that with some version) wich is plenty enough. I don't think your broadband modem go much higer than 8 Mb/s (1 MB/s), so what's the point of 1 Gb/s?