Nintendo Revolution, not a next generation console?

[Julius Seeker]

Well, it certainly will not be able to compete with Sony with the projected specs that have been received from developers and IGN speculation:

Processor - around 1Ghz
104 MB of RAM
512 MB of flash RAM (which is used mainly for game saves though it can be incorporated itno other processes but probably won't)

Pricetag is believed to be between $99 and $149

Development costs are supposed to be quite low for the system

Existing games from all previous Nintendo systems will have online multiplayer capabilities: Secret of Mana or Gauntlet for example. This is not new, emulators allowed this 8-10 years ago, but now there will be some organization to it.

Overall, I think the system will have a very different base of games than the PS3 and Xbox2. Companies won't be able to just simply port games from system to system with Revolution. First of all, a totally different control scheme for the revolution going one way, and second, the power difference going the other way. Of course, variations could be made. Capcom stated that Resident Evil 5 could easily be done for the Revolution at a lower resolution; but I do not think a game which might have thousands of different characters on the screen at once could be done; or maybe it can, I don't know. Either way, it seems like Revolution is a system which is capitalizing on 20 years of videogame history, and allowing for new games that look slightly better than this generation; but it is certainly not a next generation system as Sony and Microsoft's systems are. I think it is safe to say that games on the system will be cheaper than the other two systems, and likely the system will be between 1/3rd and 1/5th the price of the other systems considering how much easier it is to produce it. No one really knows until an official announcement is made.

Oh yeah, revolution.ign.com for more detailed information.

[Don]

Secret of Mana online is going to be awfully boring for the final battle if you're not the hero.

[Lox]

Very interesting.

That pricetag, if true, will be a humongous selling point to families and parents. Heck, it's a selling point to me in terms of possibly getting it at launch.

If this thing can give me graphics as good as what is being shown for Twilight Princess, then I am happy. I don't know how the general videogame population will react.

I'm intrigued. This sounds like a very high-risk move. Hmm.

[Kupek]

If it debuts at $99, it may be the first console I buy less than a year after release.

[Julius Seeker]

Secret of Mana online is going to be awfully boring for the final battle if you're not the hero.

The final battle is boring anyways =)

It's also something between 0.2% and 1% of the total game.

[Flip]

Well, even the GC never had a lot of ports that the X-Box and PS2 had... Nintendo is just carving out its own piece again with something different, it will be interesting.

[Tortolia]

If it retails at $99 or $149 I will break my "never buy a console at launch" rule.

[Eric]

Absolutely, Nintendo doesn't have the largest library of games that I can't get on the other systems, but if it sells for that cheap it's more then enough(or in this case less then enough) for me to go out and buy one for my Mario/Zelda fix.

[Torgo]

I'm sold.

Has it been decided if they're going to charge for downloading games from previous consoles? And does that include only first party titles, or are we allowed to choose from every game released on a Nintendo console in the past twenty years?

[Nev]

Sounds good to me.

With good architecture and good programmers, less powerful hardware isn't the massive roadblock to quality that everyone seems to think. Working on mobile phones has repeatedly taught me that. And Nintendo does, at this point, have a reputation for maintaining certain key studios with amazing coding and design talent. I wouldn't be too surprised to see titles for the Revolution with multimedia elements that are competitive with XBox 360 titles.

As all of you mentioned, a low price point could easily create massive penetration for the system.

On the whole, from a business standpoint, I'm really impressed by the decisions I've seen them making for this console. And as a gamer, I might even be looking forward to it more than the PS3 - I'd say it's about a tossup at this point. If I had to pick one and only one next-gen system for myself, I'd even give the edge to the Revolution (though, unless crushing poverty or nuclear war hits, reality will almost certainly see me buying both).

If I can slip out of educated-business-toned-discussion mode for a bit...I think that shit may be tighter than the pants on a gay bodybuilder.

[Nev]

Secret of Mana online is going to be awfully boring for the final battle if you're not the hero.

I disagree! Unless one is a prima-donna, I think playing a supporting role could be really quite neat. I'll take an interesting support character role over a generic hero any day of the week.

[Zeus]

I'm sold.

Has it been decided if they're going to charge for downloading games from previous consoles? And does that include only first party titles, or are we allowed to choose from every game released on a Nintendo console in the past twenty years?

Nothing final yet, but they've basically come out and said it's a pay-per-d'load system, not a virtual arcade. BUT, you may get bonuses, such as getting a free-d'load if you buy a game or something (why they don't just stick the game on the disc is beyond me).

Also, you'll be able to d'load free demos which, to me, is brilliant. I've never understood the whole making people pay for demos or making them scarce (like that ridiculous Viewtiful Joe demo). They should want to get the demo to me in the biggest distribution possible so I try the games out. Best way to make people want your game IMO.

As for this thread, I'm still not overly sold on the effectiveness of this strategy. I've said for a while that graphics are not the main selling point of the next gen, but this is basically ignoring what a good majority of casual gamers want: more power and better graphics. You can be weaker and still be effective (see the PS2), but this gap is going to be ridiculous...