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[ThongyDonk]

Just some random questions I have, someone might be able to help me.

1. How long before GC/DS releases did we know full final specs?


2. How long before GC release did we see the first game shots?


3. With the Revolution being a virtual console for all previous one’s, with online capabilities, wouldn’t mobile games (Which are increasing fast) developers be able to make their games and release them to play on the Rev (e.g download from web). We know Mobile games are popular and there’s plenty of dev’s in this arena and some big one’s too (Sq-En?)


4. We know the Rev pad is Wireless, so we know any new interface it has CAN’T be power hungry, so why do we think force feedback gyro’s (Which would eat power no doubt) will be in there, surely it must only be the Controller/Human interface that changes?


5. I keep hearing how the DVD add on for the rev will be an internal add on. Not a dongle or anything else as Iwata has stated it would be unsee-able and you wouldn’t notice the difference between a revolution with one and with out one? Surely for this you have to replace drives, or open up the Rev itself?


6. We know the Rev has a stand it sits in and I’ve heard a few people say it can draw power from the base whilst its in there. Can anything else be in there? More memory, power etc? (Silly question I know but surely feasible??)

 

[Mandoric]

I haven't followed the rumors at all, but the DVD player function sounds like it could be handled by installing/unlocking playback software.

 

[Timen]

wouldn’t mobile games (Which are increasing fast) developers be able to make their games and release them to play on the Rev (e.g download from web). We know Mobile games are popular and there’s plenty of dev’s in this arena and some big one’s too (Sq-En?)

Exactly, I expect this to be true because a small time mobile game developer with ambitions for Nintendo development (like myself) are being accepted for authorized developer statusses.

I guess they would allow new NES, SNES, N64 and Cube releases.

 

[ThongyDonk]

Exactly, I expect this to be true because a small time mobile game developer with ambitions for Nintendo development (like myself) are being accepted for authorized developer statusses.

I guess they would allow new NES, SNES, N64 and Cube releases.

This is what i thought
Its a massive increasing market the mobile arena, and games can be made quickly by any developer. Its give people who can't afford or don't want big games a chance to buy little games which are normally quick and can be played for just a few minutes.
Square Enix are big on this market, and i think they'll use this option too.
Also allows smaller dev's to make games that aren't necessarily Next Gen but people want to play (NES SNES N64 GC standard)

 

[Shogmaster]

1. How long before GC/DS releases did we know full final specs?

For GC, about a little over a year before. It was unveiled (name, design and specs) in August of 2000, and it came out in September of 2001.

 

[Timen]

The same thing however is happening on X360 where developers can creat all kinds of small games with a $1 to $5 pricetag. Some of these games i've seen in development definitely look better than most current gen Xbox games since they still benefit from 360's power.

So at least in Microsoft's case and probgably in Nintendo's too, small time developers are allowed (and encouraged) to bring their games to a virtual "marketplace"

For GC, about a little over a year before. It was unveiled (name, design and specs) in August of 2000, and it came out in September of 2001.

Didn't Iwata stated at this years GDC that releasing specs is something they don't want to boast with because the console's features will be more important?

 

[ninjapanda]

I do believe the stand is just there to hold the system upright, it does not provide power, additional memory or anything else (though I could be wrong).

 

[ThongyDonk]

I do believe the stand is just there to hold the system upright, it does not provide power, additional memory or anything else (though I could be wrong).

Thats what i thought, but i read in Nintendo Mag in UK that the base will be used to provide power when in it, , so wondered if it could do anything else?

 

[ThongyDonk]

For GC, about a little over a year before. It was unveiled (name, design and specs) in August of 2000, and it came out in September of 2001.

So we really can expect them at TGS (There or there abouts) if Nintendo are hoping for a Q2/Q3 Japanese release?
I know they aren't to boast but they know people want to know.
I also expect anyone they want games from must be making them now (3rd parties etc) must have specs etc, so they'd leak so enough anyway. ALTHOUGH even if they did, everyone will think its a fake anyway!!

 

[ninjapanda]

I believe the whole concept of the base being able to power up the system was derived from some journalists who believed they saw Mr. Iwati simply place the Rev into the stand, which activated the slot LED. However, on closer inspection he actually plugged it in. If however I am mistaken, I do not believe there will be any additional memory upgrade in the stand itself due to the inability for this memory to be used should the Rev be stored in the horizontal position.

 

[Nightbringer]

January 2004: A Press release of NOA tells that Nintendo is working on a portable console with 2 screens on it.

E3 2004: Nintendo shows technical demos and games of the console running on a prototype, the press and the developers could see how the consola runs.

Autumn 2004: Nintendo makes demostrations in the Japanase Streets and in the US Streets for showning to the people the characteristics of the new console.

November-December 2004: The console is launched.

 

[ziran]

1. How long before GC/DS releases did we know full final specs?


2. How long before GC release did we see the first game shots?

iirc the ds was officially announced jan 04 and was released at the end of the year, and ds screenshots were available around e3.

 

[ThongyDonk]

i was trying to establish if there is a pattern in how long between Nintendo unveiling something and releasing it there is.
It seems roughly one year.
11months with DS (Although it wasn't officially shown, we knew what we where gonna get)
and 13months with the GC between full unveil and release.

So i expect 12months with the Revolution to be what we will get.

 

[Timen]

The point of announcing a new product is to create awareness with the public, since expectations are high allready, Nintendo can afford to announce the final product pretty close before releasing because it will most definitely get lots of coverage world wide.

 

[ThongyDonk]

The point of announcing a new product is to create awareness with the public, since expectations are high allready, Nintendo can afford to announce the final product pretty close before releasing because it will most definitely get lots of coverage world wide.

Will it though, if PS3 and XBox 360 are out and everyone is spending cash on them, Nintendo need to let people know before hand why they should want to wait for the Revolution.

I expect a lot of Rev/DS connectivity next gen

 

[WordAssassin]

4. We know the Rev pad is Wireless, so we know any new interface it has CAN’T be power hungry, so why do we think force feedback gyro’s (Which would eat power no doubt) will be in there, surely it must only be the Controller/Human interface that changes?

Gyros aren't some huge mech ball that guzzles power, they can be insanely tiny. Look at Yoshi Topsy Turvy and Wario Ware Twisted. They have little gyros (Very basic, they only detect left and right tilts - aka, tilt sensors) and they don't even use batteries, they just leech off the GBA/DS. The Wavebird already uses batteries, so if Nintendo makes the Rev controller have a rechargeable battery akin to the GBA/DS then there won't be a huge hit on the lifespan when using a gyro. It'll just be instead of sensing only left and right, or XY, it'll sense up and down too, so it'd be XYZ.

But that's for a tiny one. If they were to make it big enough to give force feedback, I'd guess they'd make it about the size of the current rumble motor. Again, since you'll likely be able to plug the controller into the system to charge it, battery usage shouldn't be too big of a deal. Just, whenever you're done playing, plug in your controler and it'd be ready to use the next time you boot up.

 

[Azelover]

1. How long before GC/DS releases did we know full final specs?

For GC, 13 months prior. For DS I could be wrong but I don't think Nintendo ever released official specs for it, and I think they're gonna repeat that for Revolution. But the DS was announced and first shown 6 months before it launched.

2. How long before GC release did we see the first game shots?

13 months before.

3. With the Revolution being a virtual console for all previous one’s, with online capabilities, wouldn’t mobile games (Which are increasing fast) developers be able to make their games and release them to play on the Rev (e.g download from web). We know Mobile games are popular and there’s plenty of dev’s in this arena and some big one’s too (Sq-En?)

I don't think so, afterall the backward compatibility is only supposed to be a plus, if they open it that wide it might drift interest away from Rev games IMO.

4. We know the Rev pad is Wireless, so we know any new interface it has CAN’T be power hungry, so why do we think force feedback gyro’s (Which would eat power no doubt) will be in there, surely it must only be the Controller/Human interface that changes?

Good point, that's what I think too.

5. I keep hearing how the DVD add on for the rev will be an internal add on. Not a dongle or anything else as Iwata has stated it would be unsee-able and you wouldn’t notice the difference between a revolution with one and with out one? Surely for this you have to replace drives, or open up the Rev itself?

There's a drive at the front for the DVD add on. I'm guessing it goes all the way in like a VHS tape. No need to open the system though.

6. We know the Rev has a stand it sits in and I’ve heard a few people say it can draw power from the base whilst its in there. Can anything else be in there? More memory, power etc? (Silly question I know but surely feasible??)

That's BS. It's just a stand. There's an inclination on it so some people thought the wire went on the stand, but it's on the console. You have to look closely at the pictures to understand the inclination though. But trust me, it's probably just a stand.