Final Revolution disc capacity, tentative memory specs, and hopeful price point emerge
by Ben Striegel 
{ Dec 7th 2005 at 5:33AM }
It was only yesterday that the launch of IGN's Revolution channel quenched our insatiable thirst for solid Revolution data with some admittedly underwhelming yet nonetheless progressive technical specifications. The day after, they're following up on their Revolution revelations with even more info gleaned from developers working with near-final dev kits. So while this is all still subject to change, unless the Hollywood GPU ends up utilizing some form of quantum computing, don't expect any radical deviations.
First up, optical media. We've garnered some excellent commentary in our recent thread regarding Xbox 360 disc capacity, with several people citing the Revolution and its supposed 12GB discs. As it turns out, this isn't the case… by a long shot. Single-layered Revolution discs will hold 4.7GBs of data, tops, while the dual-layered variety tops out at 8.5 gigs. What will this mean for the content of Revolution games? That'll depend on the remainder of the Revolution's hardware, as well as the tools that are made available to the developers. For further elaboration, check out that 360 post if you've got an hour or so to spare, or just skip right to the meat.
Next up, memory. Initial appraisals set the Revolution's memory capacity at or around 128MBs; according to IGN, that number's been lowered to 104MBs—88 megs of 1T-SRAM and 16 megs of D-RAM. Developers have also noted that they have access to the Rev's built-in 512MBs of onboard flash memory, though flash is no replacement for dedicated RAM. The amount of memory aboard the Revolution's mysterious Hollywood GPU has yet to be determined, though many developers have placed the number at 3 megs. Of course, the apparent lack of this key hardware component may very well be responsible for the best news I've heard all day: the price.
Out of all the developers that IGN talked to, none expected the Rev to debut at a higher price than $150, with a few venturing as low as a $99 price point. Regardless, even at $200 the Revolution would undercut the cost of the Xbox 360 by 50%, since we all know that Core bundles do not count. And since nobody expects the PS3 to be cheap by any stretch of the imagination, I think I'm truly beginning to believe that Nintendo could pull off this whole "supplement rather than subsititute" thing they've got going on. Will Nintendo's decision to forego bleeding-edge hardware in favor of extreme affordability and ease of use succeed in swaying the untapped nongamer demographic? Perhaps more importantly, will the Revolution set a precedent wherein all future console generations are judged upon interface overhauls rather than polygons per second?
[Thanks, Hutchi]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jago @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
...and here come the stupid anti-Nintendo fanboys in...3...2...1...
The guys who jump all over this and make it sound like having less powerful hardware will mean crappy games are complete idiots...but they will still say it...*SIGH*...
Deth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
$150. all I have to say is WOW! maybe the price is low because a second controller will cost $100? the controller cannot be cheap.
OshKosh @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
A Nintendo console for $99 that comes with some new fangled wand remote thingy, plays a few DVDs, possibly region free, whatever else those Ninty folks have up their sleeves, and the possibility of wi-fi multiplayer for a 20 year library of Nintendo games. Well, by no means is it hardcore, or even even teched-out, but it's an amazingly easy purchase to make. The price point alone will expand market share beyond the failed Gamecube.
LSSLAVE @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
The more I read these specs the less I believe them, now all of a sudden theres more developers breaking their NDAs? Seriously, obviously they are north american developers and they will be in a spot of trouble.
As ive said, if it sucks Ubisoft would pull out in a heartbeat from exclusive game, but they havent. How many developers want to make exclusive games? Even at $200 they could sell it EASILY, know how? Put 1 or 2 NES games, 1 or 2 SNES games, and 1 N64 game on the flash memory with the system. People would get the game with 5 games then, they could even make different packs to sell based on what games come preloaded (until people download more)
My blog update (probably tomorrow) is going to be indepth with these specs and showing how they are so hard to believe. IF they are true ill still get the Revo, because I cant wait to see what fun games will come. I dont even CARE about any other system anymore.
Guru G @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Why.. whyyy... is then nintendo releasing a new console... why doesnt it just release the controller for the gamecube and make the those "innovative" games for the gamecbe.
afterall, nintendo is advocating non hi-def graphics, non next-gen optical storage, low development costs, quality games on low end hardware instead of expensive games on latest hardware.. so doesnt that platform already exist with the name "gamecube"...
so basically, they want to release an "improved" gamescube just because of the controller which will enable me to have sword fights (uhhhhhhh.... okkkkkk) and i can chop vegetables with it pretending like its a knife....hmmmmm.....
i just say, screw the revolution, do everything on the existing gamecube...
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
i would pay that price to access all of nintendo's back catalogue. Nevermind the back catalogs of games not made specifically by nintendo for old nintendo machines. Downloading Goldeneye and the old Donkey Kong Country games is well worth the price nintendo will be asking. nevermind with free wifi multiplayer of new games, the wicked new dual-analogue-dstroying controller (which will work wonders for FPS), and the final Metroid Prime game for launch. Plus with the gamecube-controller looking cradle, game can be easily ported from the 360 and ps3 and take advantage of the free wifi.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
ok so i wont get a standard controller for all my current backwards compatible games...$50, where do i store my lovely ROM downloads...512mb of flash memory wont be enough (will some be set aside for developlers anyway?).....HD or usb drive $60+
not looking so cheap now is it?
so comparing to a $399 360 which has 20GB HD, headset, high definition gaming which most likely this time next year will be $350 or less is well the was joystiq.com do it ;-)
STEEL @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
good idea to cheapen it and produce a system that is all around almost 2 times beter then the gamecube, also the whole online community is something that if available to the nintendo community in my opinion could hit even more succesful points in its population being that bungie is the lil rookie.
P.S.
For u guys to commmnet on the revs weakness think about the idea of nintendo securing there future in the gaming industry due to the fact that improving overall graphics is important but also to a certain extent, but also consider the innovation taking place which in nintendos view will last much longer than graphics, after that also look at the ps3 and the 360 and telll me where exactly theyll move if they can improve those graphics to make the games just more expensive and boring.(in simple terms by just taking it one step at a time the company can secure their place in the gaming industry such as nintendo who can take advantage of the past systems powers and double or triple them adding a great library of games VERY decent graphics, physics, and AI while altogether leaving room for improving unlike sony and microsoft who in my opinion seemes to have reached a limit in how much they can pull out leaving them out of the plans of the gaming industry in 2010......:)
skibble @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
LSSLAVE, it's IGN, so it HAS to be true. Oh, wait...
And Mike, GCN controllers are backwards compatible with the Revolution, and even if you don't own a cube you can still use the wand as an NES controller by turning it sideways. $60 hard drive? Try $20 memory card. $170? Still cheaper than $350. ;P
Stephen @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
3MB! No, no, no. I don't believe it.
11010010 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
it's a risky move by nintendo but i think a good one that they disconnect themselves from the graphic-powerhouses.. there is definitly no market for 3 hi-dev- consoles. the pricepoint looks very ok and i would definitly get one (if i had a working TV ;) ) ..
i am looking forward to this new "yet undisclosed" feature.. some 3d-screen-extension? that would kick ass!
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
skibble - how can the wand function as a gamecude controller? analogue sticks???
$20 for a memory card? well maybe a 256mb one but they just add up and up when you downloada few more roms then for $60 you could get an HD
Scott i dont beliebe any games will be ported from ps3/360 to the revolution, how can a game be developed for an engine that runs on 256mb of graphics memory and 256mb of main memory to something that totals maybe 120mb in totalmemory wont and couldnt happen
the revolution is being placed as a system that you own in addition to another games console that takes full advantage of todays technology
Laughing Man @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
First of all I want to say that I doubt these are the final, true specs. Secondly, when it comes to the Revolution, I don't care.
As a complete non Nintendo fanboy (who probably uses my CG less than all other gaming devices) someone who is looking forward most of all to Metal Gear Solid 4, I am completely thrilled with this news. Especially if the price point is what it is. I picked up a Gamecube once they hit $99 for Zelda and Twin Snakes alone and no other reason. If the Rev is $150 or less it's a negligble purchase for me.
If it's truly backwards compatible with Gamecube, even better. I spent a lot of last month playing all the original Metal Gears on my PSP. If they really do have access to an online library of all their old titles, even better. That also means an online function - which means Revolution swordfighting games, etc. played with your friends online.
As far as graphical horsepower goes, the GC has always been extremely underrated in 480p mode - superior in my eye to the Xbox's muddy textures. In many, many ways I would say that Resident Evil 4 was the graphics pinnacle of the last generation. I'm fine with the graphics level coming out of the GC and would be content playing another two years at that level. If it's 3x as powerful than that, then I don't see anything wrong.
The dearth of the games industry is the slavish drooling over graphics above all else. Xbox 360 has proved this to me. COD 2 plays so much like a last generation game with next generation visuals that it pissed me off to the point of making it a non purchase for me. I'm tired of WWII FPS where you must trigger predetermined scripted sequences, no matter how pretty. I want something richer and more immersive than that. With the graphics on display in COD 2 they could've gone a long way towards building empathy for your squad mates so that when they die you feel a loss. It's all the same old dressed up in a new graphics package that 80% of everyone can't even display anyway. The real killer app for Xbox developers shouldn't be graphics - it should be Live. And COD 2 you can't even play with your friends of choice because of the shitty lobby system.
And one final thing - nothing gets girls into gaming and happy like a DDR and EyeToy party. Have fun with, yet again, with even more futuristic marines in armor suits... I'll be with the ladies, happily, watching them jiggle with glee.
TeddyN @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I consider myself to be what the marketing execs call 'hardcore gamer'. I play a lot of games play on several different platforms. I think what is clear is that I (and I say I meaning 'we' the gamers) are not the main target of this console. I know graphics aren't everything but neither is gameplay. Half Life 2 wouldn't be quite the same if it utilized the Doom 2 engine. The Nintendo guy has made it very clear he wants this to just be a console 'for everyone'; it's cheap, intuitive and easy to get into. I might buy one. But it's not aimed at me. I'm just PRAYING TO GOD THAT THAT AMAZING CONTROLLER IS PC COMPATIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BenR @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Stephen: I would guess that 3Mb is very fast GPU-local frame buffer, that's enough for a double buffered 32bit PAL/NTSC resolution framebuffer. Textures would be in main memory, I guess.
mike - IIRC, the Revolution will come with an addon shell for the wand controller which converts it into a standard Gamecube-like controller. The lower native resolution of the Rev also means lower memory requirements for textures and framebuffer, so porting won't be as hard: if developers are being really lazy, they could just use the next texture mip-map level down for the revolution, I doubt it would make much difference to the gameplay.
Mister Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
A console that's cheaper to buy, cheaper to develop for, less powerful and more innovative than it's competitors? Sounds like the DS. I just hope Nintendo can attract as much developer support for the Rev as it has the DS. If it can, I reckon they could be on to a winner.
supersocialist @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Remember, the NES was less capable than the Atari 7800 or the Sega Master System. It won't be the hardware that wins the market, it will be the games.
supersocialist @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Well, that and marketing.
skibble @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Mike, you implied that you currently own a Gamecube, and you can plug Gamecube controllers directly into the Revolution for use with GCN, N64, SNES, and NES titles. But if you don't own a Gamecube then you can at least turn the wand on its side and... voila! It's an NES controller.
The Rev lacks USB ports (I believe), so I doubt anyone will make a hard drive for it. But the Revolution accepts GCN memory cards, which you can get for cheap. how big do you think NES games are? The cartridge could only hold 512kb, so on a 256MB card that's 500 games.
Leto @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
No offense but this system will be the death of Nintendo as a console maker. People buy consoles to play new games. Backwards compatability is simply a bonus. If you want to play old Nintendo games, download them right now on your computers, plenty of emulators are available.
Not enough people have broadband yet anyway. Xbox's LIVE network has been the most successful experiment with console internet gaming, but even that has only about 2-3 million customers. 22 million Xboxes were sold, so we're looking at only about a 1% console internet gaming market. How are people expect to download Nintendo games into their Revolution?
Ed @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
OH COME ON, Joystiq.
"even at $200 the Revolution would undercut the cost of the Xbox 360 by 50%, since we all know that Core bundles do not count."
A $200 Revolution WOULD undercut the Core Xbox 360 by 50%, you fools. But it would also undercut the Premium by 100%. ETERN-SIGH AT LACK OF Maths skills.
skibble @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
That's 10%, Leto. ;)
And like I said above, old games aren't very big at all. The biggest NES games would take 10 seconds to download via dial-up. Sure, tech savvy kids will go to the lengths of downloading emulators, but how many nostalgic 40-year old men have that kind of time? Now they can relive their memories of playing the original Zelda while downloading classics like Balloon Fight to show their kids what kind of history they have.
BenR @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Leto: Haven't 50% of Mario Kart DS gamers played online already? I think broadband penetration is growing rapidly.
jadnice @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I still say that Graphics is important but game play and the fun factor should always be first. Knowing what Nintendo will do with the Rev. Why wait so long to release the system??? They now have much to prove...so they should have been the first to market. I honestly feel that once PS3 comes out it will eat up the Nintendo market share and be dominant again.
I was going to get the Revo without a doubt but now....It's a wait and see thing for me now. I hope that the specs aren't finalized yet. 3mb video card?????????
As great at RE4 was...its foolish to say its on the level of the Xbox360 graphics. Not even close!!!
pakit2 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
revolution, for the price of two xbox 360 games, dude ill get one when it come's out
Macon Cheese @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Ed, whichever way you slice it, 400 = 200 + 200, which means that at $200 the Revolution would be half the price of the 360, a.k.a. 50%. Methinks you are reading into this far too literally.
Macon Cheese @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Oh, and I wouldn't get too excited just yet, people. Remember, these are just developers talking, they might not know anything about how hardware is priced. A brand new console for $150 nowadays just seems waaaay too good to be true.
justchris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Why.. whyyy... is then nintendo releasing a new console... why doesnt it just release the controller for the gamecube and make the those "innovative" games for the gamecbe.
Because it's not a standard controller, so no developer would develop for it. Do you see anyone making Bongo games besides Nintendo? How many dance mat games are there besides new versions of DDR? What about EyeToy games, all 5 of them? By making this the standard controller, developers are more likely to use it, because anyone who has the system, will have one.
Second reason, the gamecube flat out isn't capable of the things the Rev can do. It has no internal memory, it uses memory cards that are inferior to the SD Flash RAM cards the Rev will use, it lacks built in wifi, it would require an add-on to use larger format disks, and expensive add-on if they wanted to get it ot play DVDs. People are comparing this to the gamecube saying it's only going to be 2-3 times more powerful, and graphically speaking, that is correct, but when you take in everything else it has, it's more than thrice a gamecube.
As for the 512MB of Flash RAM being insufficient for downloads, the largest SNES game ever was 64Mb, I believe, which is 8MB, which means it can hold 64 games. Except, only, what, 10 SNES games were ever that large, and I don't think there was a single NES game that even made it into the 1 MB range? Assuming that's also used for save games, that's still plenty of room. On the other hand, those SD Cards cost quite a bit more than $20, at least for anything larger than 128MB. But the advantage there is, they're portable, and if you can copy retro games to them, then you can also copy them to a pc with a standard card reader. Nintendo's likley to put some copy protection in the prevent that sort of thing though (which'll be hacked within 3 months).
I won't say I'm not disappointed in the specs, at least as far as the RAM is concerned. Faster CPU speeds, while nice, really aren't as big a deal in a well crafted, focused system. With a CPU 1/10 the speed of the 360's, the system could still have better games if it had more RAM. But RAM is expensive, I'd be willing to go from a $150 price point to a $200 price point to push that to 256MB main RAM, but Nintendo will likely sell more systems the other way.
Still, one thing a lot of people forget about the gamecube is that the way it was built, developers were able to store more texture information in less RAM than they were on other systems. It handles all the compression and added affects in the background, which was part of the reason it was easier to program for as well. It sounds like this new system is an extension of the old in may ways, so it will have that going for it as well.
I'd say they could solve this by adding a RAM upgrade, but then you run into the same problem that no one will utilize it, because you can't be sure everyone will have it.
Of course, if the Thanksgiving 2006 rumored release date is true, then these specifications are hardly more than idle speculations, since that's nearly a frickin' year. That's enough time for them to change the CPU, change the GPU, change what type of RAM they're using, even go to HD-DVD or Blu-ray format if they feel like it. So, instead of worrying about it, I'm going to petition them to add more RAM while they still have time.
chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
"As far as graphical horsepower goes, the GC has always been extremely underrated in 480p mode - superior in my eye to the Xbox's muddy textures. In many, many ways I would say that Resident Evil 4 was the graphics pinnacle of the last generation."
I don't see the number 360 there jadnice. I do see the words last and generation however.
BenR @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Joystiq is such a funny site: there's such a huge range of comment quality. It goes all the way from barely readable, poorly thought out posts with more exclamations marks than spaces to long, logical dissections of Nintendo's strategy and hardware possibilities :-)
student @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
mmm I don't see the complaints with this. The quality of the system is two or three times the game cube (Imagine getting a new computer two or three times what you own? I'd be happy) for a meager price that offers innovation and a huge game library. This is one of the few systems I'd buy at launch and can even see my family owning two of them. Go ahead and complain, all the easier it will be for me to get a console at launch for 150 dollars.
Jeff @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
"Remember, the NES was less capable than the Atari 7800 or the Sega Master System. "
It was certainly not less capable than the Atari 7800, unless you believe some of the real hardcore Atari zealots out there who will tell you that the 7800 would have been the most powerful console ever made IF ONLY *any* of the dozens of developers making games for it had used that ONE GRAPHICS MODE that apparently nobody knew about, including Atari themselves.
Of course, everybody knew about the 7800's higher-res modes, and they were not useable in real life because the system wasn't powerful enough. Here's a comparison of what real games looked like on both systems: http://doubledragon.classicgaming.gamespy.com/ddnes7800comp.htm
The point being, *this* is the choice consumers had to make. Regardless of the "theoretical" power of the two machines, which do *you* think looks better? What would you buy?
The same was true of the NES/Master System for the most part, although the Master System did have a few games (like Sonic) that the NES probably couldn't have done. Those came late in the system's life, though.
The difference between the PS3/Xbox360 and Revolution is a lot greater. It will be immediately obvious to anyone with an HDTV, at the very least, because the Revolution just won't be capable of those resolutions at all. It should also be pretty obvious as far as texture quality and polygon throughput is concerned.
I'm still going to buy a Revolution and it's always possible Nintendo could hit on some cultural phenomenon again like the original Mario. But if you're just talking about comparing the systems on raw power and you're trying to make the point that this is the same as the NES/Master System/7800 battle, well no, it isn't. It isn't like that at all.
Mazinkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
First off,
these are not the offcial specs, so its hard to comment on a dev kit that isn't a final version of the hardware.
However,
if this is true or close to the real specs, then Revo will be severly underpowered compared to the other 2. The argument of "not being HD will require less powerful hardware" will not fly if the system is this significantly under powered.
The bright side,
you will have Nintendo games which are typicaly fun and only on Revo. For those of you that like the new controller, you will have that to feel like you're doing something different then in the last gen. The price will be a big selling point and possibly encourage owners of X360 or PS3 to purchase a Revo as a 2nd system.
Its not all doom and gloom, but there are some dissapointments and price advantages. Things will be very interesting if the specs don't change much once the final hardware is made. I for one can't wait to see how this next-gen plays out!
Kuroshi @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I think the post are more interesting than the story itself. I think it's funny that after the 360 beat'um up, "no killer app, graphics no good, have you seen MGS4" that posters rush in with blind support for the rev. We still have not seen 1 single game for the system, not to mention a killer app. Killzone video was the new standard that the 360 can't match and now graphics don't matter. The controller is the greatest thing since the wheel, but now you can use the old controller. Too bad all this blind support didn't translate to sales or the gamecube would not have been such a failure ( word of nintendo's CEO)
Merus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
The Revolution has been a complete headjob for me, but I think I see what Nintendo are trying to do. It makes the crazy risks Nintendo seem to be taking far less crazy, but then it also reveals the crazy risks Nintendo actually ARE taking.
Essentially: they're trying to create a SECOND console market in which they are the only players, a console market where machines, and probably games, are priced more where the Game Boys are priced, sort of like how there's a market for entry-level DVD players and premium DVD players, except the PS3 is the premium DVD player and the Rev the entry-level. They're positioning themselves to be halfway between the HD consoles and those plug-in Atari games that have really taken off over the past few years. That's why price is critical, to send the right message to parents that this isn't supposed to be a crappy Xbox; that's why there's no HD, because Nintendo is trying to build a new market and they need every house they can get, so they're trying to lower the barrier to entry; that's why they can afford a non-convential controller, because they're trying to split developers in two to develop for two different markets; that's why they're investing so much in emulators, because they're basically making a super-premium Atari 20-in-1 joystick; and that's why they're pulling a worldwide launch, because they need the marketing juggernaut in order to create a market that doesn't exist.
That's not to say that it's not completely insane - Nintendo, after all, are trying to create a market that doesn't exist, which on its own flies in the face of basic economics - but they've done it twice if not three times by now so they probably know what they're doing.
Nintendo will be absolutely and unequivocally screwed if they're seen to be competing with the Xbox 360 and the PS3. The cornerstone of their strategy is to establish that second market, and if the market doesn't see it that way, the Rev will die. Which means that in territories where Nintendo no longer advertises, like Australia, the Rev will be dead unless Nintendo gets lucky with the retailers.
funkyflea @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I'll be coming back to nintendo for this console.
bandit @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
the question becomes if the 360 10x the power of the original xbox is 1.5 does this make the revolution Gamecube 1.1?
All joking aside, the strategy is absolutely brillant. All they really need is a directx 9.0+ compliant gpu and 1-3 GHz processor to be competitive thanks to new software and programming techniques, which mean the Rev can and will hold its own on a standard def TV. The true beauty of it is their strategy, if the releases with its rumored side-screen, you heard right, basically making it a portable DVD player with plays next gen games for 100 dollars a pop, then it will be the hottest console of winter 2006. The ability to play back catalogs and the optional usb cartriage reader means suddenly flea markets are a great place to pick up games, if the online play is similar to the DS wifi then you have an unbeatable combination for the casual gaming market. The ironically will utterly destroy Sony, The playstation brand name is equated to the causal gamer because of its library of games and price point. The revolution can definitely steal the casual gaming market now. The xbox was known for its graphic fidelity and thus it was muych more of a hardcore gamers system. MS has placed official policy that games run at a minimum of 720P and AA applied. Sony has yet to develop such policy, nor do they have a unified online environment, nor do they have decent documentation and development tools. Even nintendo has jumped on the online wagon, Come-on Sony, NINTENDO has an online service. In my opinion the revo, 360 combination can effectively box the ps3 out of the market. The revo for the kids which can also play dvds on long car rides, and the 360 for daddy which connect to the media center in his office via the home network and provides guaranteed high-def graphics with AA. To me the only the Ps3 will succeed is if someone actual WANTS a blu-ray player.
Chris2fur @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I'm no expert on this, but doesn't the fact that the Revolution only displays games in 480p cut down greatly on the amount of RAM needed? Shouldn't the ~120MB of RAM be a pretty good ammount to create some sweet looking albeit non-HD games?
Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Nintendo stole my heart back with the DS and i'll deffinetly buy a Revolution on launch day... it probably be the only console i'll get on launch day or atleast try to get.
Mike Street @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I have to agree with #20. If you want to play the back cataloge of Nintendo game you can download just about all of them for FREE via the internet. I have about 200 old school titles not taking up to much space on my HD and can play anytime. So with that in mind it makes me less wanting to buy a $200, $150, or $99 system from Nintendo when all they will pump at us is more of that GOTDAMN Mario. I say kill Mario!
Princess Zelda @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I read the specs last night and was a bit disappointed...but then I saw the price point. My only thought was I can afford to buy it. I don't buy a console unless it's around $200 and comes with at least a free game. Gaming is my hobby, I can't spend the same amount as my morgage payment on a console (Premium 360=$500 CDN).
It doesn't matter to me how powerful the other two systems are I won't be buying them untill the prices come down. But I can buy a Revolution . It's just like my other hobby cars. The latest italian super car goes faster then my North American 1983 sports car but I can't buy the super car so it does not matter to me. I'll have fun with my older sports car, just like my Revolution.
If Nintendo adds free online gaming I'll be very very happy.
RageOverdose @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Why do people have to be so negative? This should turn out well, and I expect that Revolution will still be comprable to the competition.
First, look at this generation. As justchris had said a few posts above, the Gamecube had better texturing techniques, and that really helped it. Sure it is stronger than the PS2, but it helped the Gamecube against the graphical prowess of the XBox. RE4 looks great, we all know, but look at MP2. The first Prime had great graphics, but being an earlier Gamecube game, the textures were a bit blurry. Polygons were really what it was trying to push, and it did a good job at that. With MP2, most people will look at it and say that the graphics are exactly the same, but when you play it, you realize how wrong you are. Still pushing the same (maybe a bit higher) poly count, the textures were cleaned up consiberably. Just look at Samus's suit, and you can see the difference. Really, it is probably best looking console game this generation, even better than RE4 IMO, even though the character models were beyond great in RE4.
So, what is my point? Well, if the devs kits on the Revolution are supposed to be simalar to the Gamecube's, then many of the old techniques will surely be used, but now with more power (and likely a few new tricks) so the developers that showed how powerful the Gamecube was can do the same with the Revolution. Besides, the only real advantage the XBox had on the Gamecube were things like bump-mapping, so if that was added to the Revolution (why wouldn't it?) then we have a good deal.
Still, lack of HD could hurt it, but it is hard to tell. If HD-TVs somehow start taking off insanely well in the next 3 years, then the Revolution could be in trouble, but I think it will be the generation after this new one when HD will be required if a console has any hope of doing well.
Look people, be optimistic. Just because the games won't be photorealistic (really, when does Nintendo make those kinds of games: when they make Zelda and look at the current one) they obviously suck? I mean, do you really want photorealism? Really, the style is so boring, just look at real life.
Logicus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
If this thing costs less than 250, i will b there. perhaps 2 yrs later i will pick up the p3 if the games live up to the hype.
Sense @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I figured there would be way more memory to compensate for the overall lack of computing power (relative to 360/PS3).
Still, I can see the Revolution being the NES of a new era. I remember even my uncle had an NES. If Nintendo can make this novel idea a truly great one, they will have a winner on their hands. They could turn video games into something new again.
Despite anyone's bias, Revolution is looking like a hard deal to pass up.
I was hesitant about the DS (I even bashed it in IGN's letters section), but now I have one and am very impressed. Much more so than I was with my PSP. Hell, I'm spending more time with my DS than my Xbox.
As long as the price is right, I'll definitely be picking up a Revolution. Viva!
ry @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
with any luck, all 3 systems will sell very well, and create some nice and healthy competition that will stimulate the industry with lots of innovative games that many people can enjoy. Here's to hoping everything gets split 33/33/33.
As for the whole HD situation, the only people that know enough to care are the people that read these blogs and the online game sites twice a day. The average person is otherwise just going to see the ads and in-store displays, and something tells me that the Rev will make for one helluva kiosk at Toys R Us...
Enemtee @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I don't see a problem at all with the specs, if it really is a fact, that's not sure. Gamers have a hard time to understand that everyone don't want HD-resolution graphics, everyone ain't into this system war. A huge chunk of people just want to have some fun in front of the television after a days work or a long day at school. The fun-factor is the center of everything when it comes to pure gaming. Sure, some ramp up in the specs are nice, but I'm not awaiting some kind of monster.
I want the pure fun that I know Nintendo can deliver. Plus a controller that will change gaming forever, downloadable retrotitles, wifi right out of the box (360 doesn't even have that one), and a bunch of quality franchises.
I don't care if Nintendo can't come up from being third place or something. It's not about competing all the time. Though, they compete in being profitable, not having the strongest machine in the market. That ain't gonna sell systems automatic. Nah, good marketing, good ideas, good games and a good price. Don't forget the image. Nintendo Revolution, I like that image rather lot.
Dnice @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Nintendo needs to come out and set the record straight. No matter how you take this info that, for some strange reason, only IGN have... will hurt them more so than drive interest in their new system. I for one have lost some interest in the system and I am sure many other fans feel the same way......
Where is Jim Merrick words of wisdom when you need it?
Lou D @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
The 3MB of texture cache figure is what the GC's Flipper chip has now. I expect ATI to make an enhanced Flipper with 12MB.
They should run atleast with a 200MHz bus instead of 162.5MHz. Let's hope for even faster.
Hopefully the main T1-mosys RAM is much faster as well. It was already better than the memory in the PS2 and Xbox. Probably 96MB (24x4). Wonder if there will be separate ARAM again maybe 32MB of DDR2 instead of 81.25MHz SDRAM.
For cpu, expect a 1.8GHz G5-based chip with the SIMD instructions added for Gekko backwards compatibility. It runs cool compared to other cpus. Large cache and excellent branch-prediction. The GC had more cpu cache than the Xbox and PS2. This boosts cpu performance.
For the drive, probably just getting a dual-layered version of the one in the Panasonic Q with slot loading capability.
There are rumors of a physics chip with 32 MB of dedicated RAM. This could be integrated into the new Flipper and replace the DSP and 16mb of ARAM. Makes sense to me.
All in all, the GC was fast because it was efficient. I see Revolution as an evolution of the GC. It takes every feature the GC had and multipies it by 2-5 times.
Simply, if you liked the GC, you will love the Revolution. It should be just as easy to put a mod chip in there too.
I'm still praying for atleast 480p support. Love the cube games that support this.
yay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Nice, Gamecube 1.2, enjoy Nintendo fanboys.
hydrogen_wv @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
You know how many roms you can fit in 256mb? I'd guess the whole NES and SNES would fit in 256MB... Another 256mb and you can fit all the good N64 games. No big deal.