Code name REVOLUTION! - A new Nintendo is on the way
Tech Beat
By Brandon Allwood Observer TeenAge writer Kingston College
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Almost 29 years after the advent of the Atari in 1977, teens and adults alike are still addicted to the phenomenon of video games. And gaming consoles have come a far way from Atari's cartridge-based start, and each generation of consoles tends to achieve new heights.
Last May at an E3 press conference, gaming industry super-giant Nintendo unveiled its newest gaming console, code name: Revolution, set to hit stores in 2006. Incidentally, the console's controller was so hot, that it had a separate unveiling at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show in September.
And according to Nintendo's executive vice president of sales and marketing, the Revolution may be the cheapest next-gen console to hit the market, which he said should make up for the lack of hard-drive space when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3. Here's a look at what the Revolution will have to offer:
. High-quality equipment, a compact design (about the size of three standard DVD cases stacked together), a stylish stand and the ability to display the console vertically or horizontally.
. Gamers will be able to watch movies and other DVD content, as well as play all GameCube games, with the added bonus of the ability to download 20 years' worth of fan-favourite titles, from the Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and the NES.
. Expandable internal flash memory (512MB) to replace the function of an internal hard drive, wireless controllers, two USB 2.0 ports, and built-in Wi-Fi access and a new technology IBM 'Broadway' processing chip and ATI 'Hollywood' graphics chip set.
The Revolution is undoubtedly the most mysterious of the three next-generation gaming systems, but if the console's new single-handed game controller design is an example, the Revolution should live up to Nintendo's promise to provide 'All-Access Gaming'.
The Nintendo's new controller is definitely revolutionary. According to a Game Spot article gamers will hold the controller like a remote, but it can be waved around to control the action on the screen. There will also be an analog stick that can expand the functions of the controller.
