Nintendo has said in a number of interviews now that if you want to know what the revolution in "Revolution" is, look at DS...
...i.e. it'll all be in the interface. Revolution, at least, shouldn't just be "another 3D machine".
edit:
Here's one specific quote from a Reggie interview in issue 143 of Edge:
"
What does the DS reveal about Nintendo's vision for the future of the home console?
What we are saying, and I passionately believe this, is that
the future of gaming is about the interface and the innovation in the interface that we provide for gamers. That's what's going to get the future gamers excited versus simply focussing on technology for technology's sake. So when we look at DS and the various input devices - touchscreen, voice activation, wireless, two screens -
that's certainly a model for how we're thinking about our entire business. Just like how we look at the innovation around Donkey Konga and the bongos as an input device, that's how we see the future of gaming."
And another quote from an interview with Jim Merrick in the same issue:
"
With the N64, Nintendo was criticised for having too few games which took too long to develop. You've addressed that with the GameCube. But the N64 had two Edge 10s, the GC has had none. Have you lost something with your new policy?
I don't think so. Look at Mario64. A phenomenal game, 10/10 as you say - thank you very much! - but it was a revolutionary game. It was the first game where 3D gaming really worked.
GameCube isn't offering that kind of revolution. It's an evolution of 3D gameplay in the same way that the PS2 is an evolution of the PS1. Historically we've gone from revolution to evolution. NES was a revolution, SNES was an evolution. N64 revolution, GC evolution, hence "Revolution is coming". So where does that revolution come from?
We don't have a fourth dimension handy, waiting in the wings, so what you're going to see is Nintendo experimenting with human interface technology...I think Nintendo can show its leadership there."
Don't think it could be clearer than that..
Now, y'all get your speculation hats on, rev your patent search engines, and try and figure out what they might be brewing!
