Revolution to support external HDDs & other 3rd party storage devices
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Mar 29th 2006 at 3:55PM }
During a recent conversation with CNN (focused on cheaper
game prices), Nintendo President Satoru Iwata suggested that the Revolution would support a multitude of storage
options. Referring to the console's USB ports, Iwata confirmed that "practically any storage method can be
used."The Nintendo Revolution will not feature an internal hard drive. Instead, the unit will utilize 512 MB of flash memory and built-in SD memory card support. In addition, Iwata's remarks imply that Nintendo intends to, ultimately, leave the best storage solution up to the consumer's discretion — a freedom that could give Nintendo an edge (in terms of consumer satisfaction) over Sony and Microsoft. For example, a quick search on Circuit City's website yields Seagate's 160 GB external drive for only $60 (with rebate). Compare that to Microsoft's $100, 20 GB 360 HDD (also manufactured by Seagate). No contest.
Memory options will be important for gamers looking to stockpile the Revolution's Virtual Console titles. Iwata noted that aside from classic games, Nintendo plans to issue new titles through the download service as well. But does the storage freedom mean a loss of security for Nintendo? That is, will this decision increase the prevalence of homebrew apps, including emulators that already run all of those classic games, on the Revolution? It's a tough call.
[Thanks for the artwork & additional info Rosco!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
joseph @ Mar 29th 2006 4:01PM
nintendo loves us.
Ben @ Mar 29th 2006 4:01PM
l was ready to buy a Xbox 360 this past week...but the Revolution has always appealed to me so much more then the 360 l may as well wait.
ZeldaX @ Mar 29th 2006 4:04PM
Can you say NAS 1Terabye storage attached to a revolution system? *drools at the possibilities*
symmet @ Mar 29th 2006 4:07PM
And we love nintendo.
Colin Robertson @ Mar 29th 2006 4:13PM
AWWESSOMEE!!!!
moomer @ Mar 29th 2006 4:13PM
This is turning out to be the ULTIMATE hack machine of all time:
CPU
GPU
DVD drive
WIFI
USB extensions
Best looking brick under a TV you could hope for
Low Low price
ULTIMATE INTERFACE!!
Sick and tired @ Mar 29th 2006 4:16PM
I want to say this because it is becoming ever more clear, everyday i notice it and in every other new topic i see it. The writers of joystiq are biased in favour of nintendo. I dont know why but serious,we have seen so many unnecessary threads or whtever you call it for nintendo games or character. Not only that but you lot go out of your way to to state how nintendo are making a good decisions such as in this topic, where really all iwata did was SUGGEST. he never said for sure, he never said it will, but he suggested. Yet, you find a way to undermine microsoft and take stab at both companies.
Also in sony psp related threads there is never a good word, such as recent demo disk service. whats up, are you lot getting paid by nintendo, why dont you lot at least try and be, i donk know UNBIASED. The favour towards nintendo and nintendo related threads is becoming a joke. I mean recently a whole new thread(dont know corect title) for your brain age score. Surely if i wanted this i would have went to dsfanboy.com. I know some fanboy is gonna reply and say then dont come here, well, in all right i shouldnt anymore, but i used to like joystiq when it atleast tried to be unbiased, now all ninty have to do is suggest and were ready to put them on the highest pedest stall of inventors and give them gold medals.
Maestro @ Mar 29th 2006 4:17PM
This is a very risky call by big N. If I can use any storage device for "official" Nintendo downloadable content that means the likelyhood of hacking this box will be much higher. For the average consumer, maybe this is okay. However, Nintendo could really lose control of their income as soon as people start trading games online.
Also, if they have any multiplayer story that will also be in jeopardy to hacks.
jason @ Mar 29th 2006 4:20PM
Boo emulators. Seriously, I doubt Nintendo will charge more than a couple bucks per game, so are the 1337 h4x0rz who would opt to use emulators instead really that cheap?
Then again, if they really aren't going to have Goldeneye 64...
Anticrawl @ Mar 29th 2006 4:23PM
Damn Joystiq, you turn down my information. I had this proof months ago. Coulda been the first to report on it but noooo. Don't listen to ole' Anticrawl. He's a loon who only has solid proof to back up his news.
Check the blog bitches,
Anticrawl
Mullinator @ Mar 29th 2006 4:23PM
@Sick and Tired
I think it is more likely Sony hired YOU to say bad things about the Revolution rather than Nintendo having hired Joystiq to say good things about the Revolution.
Of course I don't actually believe either. If you don't like how Joystiq is reporting on Nintendo then why don't you find a site that does suit your personal tastes?
spoo @ Mar 29th 2006 4:29PM
I like the idea of USB HDD but I don't mind spending the extra cash for the 360 because lets face it as gamers we just don't have much room under/behind/around our TV sets. The 360 HDD fits nice on the system and you don't need a spot for an external USB HDD. Also with an USB HDD what could it be used for? I am sure it will only be used for music and storage. I know Nintendo doesn't want Emulation/homebrew to be used with the Rev or it will kill the Nintendo quadruple-dipping (long past double-dipping) cash cow.
With a few consoles, DVD player, cable box and surround sound the old lady already complains about too may things under the TV let alone the wires I don't want anymore devices under or around the TV. It is a fire hazard how it is now let alone add a bulky USB HDD to the mess.
A great idea in theory but I would much rather just use SD card or a HDD like the 360 uses.
Jason @ Mar 29th 2006 4:31PM
Nintendo is the most anti-piracy video game company out there. Do you really think they would be so careless? Furthermore, all systems have USB ports. Just because Nintendo does doesn't make them special.
tactics @ Mar 29th 2006 4:31PM
sick and tired:
fuck you.
theiloth @ Mar 29th 2006 4:32PM
I disagree with you Sick, especially about your views on this particular news post. I don't see how you can deem this post irrelavant, the information Iwata has given in his interview clearly suggests Nintendo will implement a proper use of the USB slots, this news is definetely important.
The bias you describe would probably be a result of the nature of blogs, the bloggers can have an opinion and don't have to bend over backwards for GTA-cloneX due to advertising agreements. This, i believe, results in better journalism and quite frankly is simply more interesting to read.
Personally i prefer the methods used here, praising new ideas and looking for the positive sides instead of going after Nintendo because they are doing something different.
Darth Pixel @ Mar 29th 2006 4:34PM
You can't really compare the type of bandwidth your get with a SATA drive with the type of bandwidth you get with a USB 2.0 drive, though.
Also, why would you need 200GB of (low-bandwidth) disk space for the Revolution?
.ed @ Mar 29th 2006 4:37PM
this could be amazing.
i am also curious about the security issues but the possibilities are amazing.
Nintendo is doing everything right.
Turken @ Mar 29th 2006 4:38PM
Is Nintendo risking having their new system quickly hacked by adding storage flexibility? Sure. Is it a major issue? Not really.
A Couple things to consider:
1) All game consoles will eventually be hacked by homebrew enthusiasts. ALL Consoles. Follows the old adage that you can try to make something more idiot-proof, but the world will always make a bigger idiot.
2)Nintendo's target demographic, and the majority of their customer base will not the technology elite... that is, most people buying the console won't have either the know-how and/or the motivation to hack their boxes.
Basically, Nintendo is one of the few companies out there that "get it" when it comes to digital content. Yes, there will always be piracy, but if you build a system that is user-friendly and the media to fill that device is not too expensive, then enough people will choose the legal path that the company can make a healthy profit. Now if only other media/technology companies had half the clue that Nintendo does...
Tony @ Mar 29th 2006 4:39PM
Yeah, honestly, I'm failing to see how this signals anything... least of all an open armed approach for emulation/homebrew.
Nintendo's own systems will all be emulated, as will Genesis anad Turbo Grafx 16; making it easy for people to do what they want on this drive would be moronic and cut into their virtual console money substantially. For all we know the drives will have to be formatted in some odd way when connected to the system.
As mentioned, all the systems have USB ports. Would it really be any easier to set up an exploit on the REvolution through a hard drive rather than through some massive SD card? I really doubt it.
Nintendo, in terms of security, seems to know what it's doing. There will obviously be heavy precautions.
The system will be hacked eventually either way. Hell, the GameCube was hacked and it probably had the least reason to be considering the lack of hard drive options and the disc medium. It's an inventuality.
SpliceVW @ Mar 29th 2006 4:39PM
Spoo: I think that's the idea. Freedom. If you'd rather use a SD card, use a SD card. If you have the room for a HDD, buy a HDD. Brilliant move, Nintendo.
bryan @ Mar 29th 2006 4:41PM
1 terabyte? Every game ever released on a Nintendo (excluding the gamecube) would probably fit on a 20gig hard drive.
I think they would have to allow the Rev to format your hard rive with some wacky copy protection, and restrict using that hard rive for anything else, or on more that 2 revolutions (that way if your system gets knocked across the room in a dramatic Mario Tennis induced dive, you can keep your purchased games on the replacement rev. They may just keep a list of games you have purchased and allow you to download them once per reformatted drive.
Jason @ Mar 29th 2006 4:42PM
Nintendo is not doing everything right, considering the lack of even low High-Defintion support. I just don't understand why they can't include it. I'm not a technology expert or anything, but computer graphics card can produce insane resolutions, so why can't consoles for a reasonable price?
Lou @ Mar 29th 2006 4:43PM
DRM will prevent the files from running on other Revolutions until Revolution is hacked and your key is exposed. Revolution should be hacked quickly via it's GC compatibility. If the wifi connection is seemless to the GC side (ala just acts like the broadband adapter) - the PSO hack will now be wireless!
Also, Usb cables can be 3-6 feet, so your usb drive can sit out of the way. Flashdrive don't take up much space at all. This is WIN-WIN!
To the hate-mongers who complain about Nintendo's smart moves and joysttiq's coverage: cry me a river! I didn't moan when the 360 was released about how much coverage it got during launch. I'm sure when ACTUAL/factual PS3 news becomes available, it will be covered as well.
I see Joystiq as a "pro-gamer" site. They point out the good AND bad in regards to what affects us gamers. Right now Nintendo isn't looking too stupid. MS admits their poor decision to launch globally, software is released with bugs (typical for MS platforms), and PS3 is just trying to copy anything MS and Nintendo announce. Who's fault is all of that? Not Joystiq's.
Squiggle @ Mar 29th 2006 4:44PM
Wait a second, people are saying that by allowing consumers to choose their storage medium Nintendo is risking people passing around games online?!
This has been happening for YEARS!
If you want a good Nintendo game, or even a crappy one, chances are you can find it online already, in an easy to use ROM file. The only difference is that now someone can play those games on their television. All Nintendo has to do is use a similar technique to Apple's DRM and allow a game to play on a limited number of systems and they will be just fine.
Pirates will always exist, but the casual user is willing to pay for convenience. Apple has proven this, and Nintendo (a.k.a. Apple Jr.) was listening.
I applaud Nintendo for at least giving the consumer the illusion of freedom.
DG @ Mar 29th 2006 4:45PM
I can't wait to see the Nintendo-branded USB drives. Mushrooms and stars and goombas, all with a USB drive. That's fun.
Smack042 @ Mar 29th 2006 4:48PM
Nintendo loves us yes indeed. I would be worried about Nintendo's possible problems with game copying but given their history with piracy, I trust they know what theyre doing. Besides all of Nintendos catalog is out there on the net already and pirating Rev games is retarted because you cant use the controller on your pc, so ill just sit back and let Nintendo awe me once again.
Oh and what kind of dumb ass reads a tread pertaining to a specific company then bitches about that thread being positive about what its about? Get over it.
Brandon @ Mar 29th 2006 4:49PM
Sick and tired, if you don't want biased video game news, don't come to a BLOG. A BLOG is a good place to express OPINIONATED responses to news, a NEWS SITE, such as gamespot, ign, or a slew of others is where you should go for the straight news.
squirtle @ Mar 29th 2006 4:50PM
If nintendo handles it well.
They can create a new format.
To hell with NTFS and stuff.
Just don't make it windows compatible.
and if people can download the illegal rom of PD, Banjo, Goldeneye.
Nintendo should make a usb connection for their controller, so they can send it over to the Revo.
They will have the excuse: this is for people who want to listen to their own music.
Chocobo Rally @ Mar 29th 2006 4:50PM
I think this opens the way for a Revolution stand with a built in iPod dock. Keep all your games on the iPod, use your own tunes in custom soundtracks, download some software to use your Revmote to control your iPod for listening to music or watching movies on your TV.
Sounds good to me.
obo @ Mar 29th 2006 4:51PM
O_O
I wonder what else that USB port will handle... keyboard and mouse, perhaps?
Squirtle @ Mar 29th 2006 4:51PM
or use wireless USB dongle :P
Greg2k @ Mar 29th 2006 4:52PM
Just because the Virtual Console games are in ROM format doesn't mean they'll be in a raw format. I'm pretty sure there will be a shitload of bit scrambling going on, with the key having something to do with the system's serial code. Dead sure someone will be able to bypass the security system, but I'm sure Nintendo is doing all this in a way that won't comprimise their IP unless the user mods his/her system. I don't think you'll be able to swap ROMS over the Internet with this thing.
Remember, Nintendo can only make money out of system and games sales; they have no Blu-Ray licensing or rootkits to back them up. So if they're opening up the possibility for USB mass storage, it's because they know how to do it without comprimising their wallets.
JW @ Mar 29th 2006 4:56PM
Hope I'm not late, but HOLY CRAP JOYSTIQ.
The 360 already does this TOO!
Many 360 case mods have external HDDs built into some extra room in the case with a USB connection.
While you can't save downloaded content to it, you can load it with all of your music and videos.
Nintendo loves rebranding old news as new.
geonificent @ Mar 29th 2006 4:57PM
Although there will be anti-piracy methods in place if Revolution becomes the ultimate hackable system that actually means MORE sales for the console then people think!
Paul @ Mar 29th 2006 4:59PM
I imagine that the files for virtual console will be in some kind of proprietary compressed format, thus not giving you the ability to just stick roms on your thumbdrive and plug it in. Probably mark it when you download it with a unique code that is decrypted in the particular Revolution to let it run, preventing you from sharing the files with others, or something.
Nintendo has always been the hardest consoles to pirate, and they've always been very worried about it(especially after Dreamcast), so I'm sure they have something up their sleeve to protect their interests(as well as consumer interests).
Mullinator @ Mar 29th 2006 5:07PM
@Jason
Increasing the resolution on computers from 800x600 to 1152x864 can often halve the FPS in games. Increasing it again to 1600x1200 can halve the FPS in games once again. I believe Nvidia has said in the past that the biggest difficulty facing graphics card makers is dealing with high resolutions.
So yes it is a big deal, it is a major problem. Increases in resolution can drastically increase the required costs of graphics cards.
Jamie @ Mar 29th 2006 5:10PM
I've gotta say sick and tireds comments annoy me. The amount of crap Nintendo have had to take over the past ten years, for kiddies etc. Annoying.
Soon as a Playstation fanboy doesnt get the attention he wants, goes on a strop.
All videogame programs here in the UK are playstation biased and I get "sick and tired" of it. All I hear is Sony.
The difference is Nintendo deserves it, Sony does not.
Keep up the good work Joystiq!!
Refreshing to have a site say nice things about Ninty
Kimosabae @ Mar 29th 2006 5:15PM
Jason:
"Nintendo is not doing everything right, considering the lack of even low High-Defintion support."
By "low High-Definition support" I'm assuming you mean progressive scan? If so, given Nintendo's history with the Gamecube I'm quite sure the system will support a minimum of 480p. While it's dissappointing that they won't support true HD, honestly, that's good enough for me (and should be for most).
Have you seen Melee in 480p? Breathtaking.
-SynikaL
jay @ Mar 29th 2006 5:16PM
Some pretty ridiculous people here.
I'm planning on getting a regular 30gb HDD, probably cost about a fiver nowadays. get a cheap 15 external case with USB2, one styled similar to the Rev (was looking at that one designed by Ferrari, but 250gb is overkill). Jobs a good un. Maybe 60 just to be safe. I already have a 200gb external drive for my PowerBook so yea. If I really NEEDED some more space I could always partition that. haha. this is just top. Cheers to Nintendo for making my backing up dreams come true! No more wiped memory cards.
Lekko @ Mar 29th 2006 5:29PM
@Spoo #12
The revolution is tiny. If you want to see small, take 3 DVD cases, stack them atop each other.. and it's about that. I'm fairly sure you know just how big an external HDD is as well. The combined volume of an external HDD and the Revolution itself is still smaller than a core 360.
As far as security.. I have no idea. Keeping games on portable mediums sounds like you can take them all with you and play them anywhere on any system (speculation). But that could lead to easy piracy. I can also see Nintendo making a proprietary medium that can directly play your back catalogue on the go, as well as externally store them. Yet another portable (would be awesome).
DMON @ Mar 29th 2006 5:31PM
to 14
my thoughts exactly
Aztech @ Mar 29th 2006 5:34PM
Is it safe to assume one of those ports will be taken up by the sensor that detects the revo control?
Jago @ Mar 29th 2006 5:41PM
WOW...now that is a some great news. If it does indeed allow you to use USB hard drives I hope that includes 2.5" notebook drives (they sometimes require 2 ports on a PC to be used for power.) Either way though you can easily buy a 2GB USB drive for ~$50-60 right now but those will most surely drop in price a little by the end of the year.
pr0cs @ Mar 29th 2006 5:42PM
You'd have to be really foolish to think that Nintendo is going to let you use your own device to store their game content.
Take off the fanboy blinders guys, there is no business sense in putting your content in the hands of the enemy. Especially for a company like Nintendo that is so focused on protecting it's IP.
Alfred @ Mar 29th 2006 5:44PM
I think the piracy might be going in another direction. If the Revelution is built for Emulators, what is stopping some one from making a patch for the PlayStation 2 or the X-Box. It would be nice to have one system, That plays all these games.
Of course if the games are boughten then both sides are winning really.
If this is true. Then all the really nice games for The PS2 and the X-Box that are being shown off, are also being prepared for the Rev. How odd.
monkeypox @ Mar 29th 2006 5:46PM
um, I was under the impression that the 360 has USB ports that allow it to access external USB drives.
Glenn @ Mar 29th 2006 5:53PM
If we can run games from our own storage that would be great, but I don't see him saying that. We'll see.
epobirs @ Mar 29th 2006 5:55PM
The USB standard supports cable length of approximately 5 meters or a bit under 18 feet. So the drive need not in close proximity to the console. (Wireless USB will also be a growing option around the time Revolution is building its installed base.
Still, I'd find it more aesthetically pleasing to have everything on SD cards that can completely contained within the unit. Especially if I might relocate it frequently.
Once you have USB ports the storage options are endless. The real question is what DRM Nintendo will impose. Piracy issues have long been one of their stated concerns when it comes to distributing software on anything other than ROM media. Allowing consumers to use any type of storage device that looks like a standard IDE drive through USB means they give some control and must impose it elsewhere.
I expect one thing they'll do is tie downloads to the console used to download them. They will be a unique ID code in each unit and game's wrapper will be generated at the time of the download to incorporate that ID code. We won't just be downloading ROM files like we would for MAME. Nintendo needs to do everything they can to keep people honest. (Low prices are the best way but we'll see how that part works out.)
The wrapper will probably also include the game's manual with changes to reflect the controllers on the Revolution, including the legacy GameCube controller for games best suited to it. (N64) Alternatively, they could just have the manuals as PDFs on the web site and leave the decision to print them up to the consumers but I think it is more Nintendo's style to have it all wrapped up in one neat package at download. If their emulation system is designed well enough, it should be possible to pause the emulator and look up something in the manual at any time.
Neko Tsukimi @ Mar 29th 2006 6:08PM
When I saw the pictures of the Rev from GDC, all I could think about was ramming my thumbdrive into one of its two rear USB ports... Mmmm, that's gonna be a good feeling.
Jdoki @ Mar 29th 2006 6:16PM
If this pans out it's great news.
It's hugely annoying seeing MS charging 70quid for a 20GB HDD, which most people are starting to fill rapidly (mine's half full), and there's no doubt in my mind that MS will release a larger capacity HDD by year end which will really hack off the people who line dup in the cold to pick up a system!
I already have an old 80GB HDD floating round in a USB 2.0 external caddy which I never use - storage problem solved!! :)