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[Acosta]

That and keeping supporting DS are the only logical way.

A portable GC would be big, they would have already a huge catalog of games avaliable, so even if they launch a year after PSP, the difference of games would remain positive for GB next (and if it´s compatible with GBA games, much more). But that needs a good strategy for DS and don´t let it drop to not loose confidence, I dón believe it´s specially hard.

Seems it´s gonna be a tough year for Nintendo, 2005 will mark its future. I still believe that software will drive DS Vs PSP battle, but seeing the last numbers... it´s not gonna be easy for them.

 

[BuddyC]

BUT WHAT ABOUT DONKEY KONGA. MARIO PARTY 6. DONKEY KONG JUNGLE BEAT. DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION MARIO.

 

[Hero]

seems people have wished for this since the GBA days :lol

While I don't think the design of that is that great, it's a nice mock up. Who made that?

 

[soundwave05]

BUT WHAT ABOUT DONKEY KONGA. MARIO PARTY 6. DONKEY KONG JUNGLE BEAT. DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION MARIO.

Touchscreen?

 

[AndoCalrissian]

Or Nintendo could ship GB Next games with round mini dvd shaped plastic cases that hold the dvd's. Similar to those that they use to give with GB and some GBC games.

I wonder if they could release cases for it, that you put the discs in and then put them into the handheld, like a UMD. It would serve two purposes: allowing you to play games on the GCN portable, and also as a protector for the games. Put a couple slots at the "square" end, and sell a little binder for them.

 

[fse]

Dunno, I search on google... :\

 

[GSG Flash]

BUT WHAT ABOUT DONKEY KONGA. MARIO PARTY 6. DONKEY KONG JUNGLE BEAT. DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION MARIO.

I'm pretty sure you can play all these games with a controller (although it's not as fun)

 

[BuddyC]

On a more serious note, what about multiplayer? Would all multiplayer modes be rendered null and void?

I must say, I support this idea, if only to have a portable Mr Driller Driller Land.

Can't forget about memory card support. This thing is going to be a plethora of orifices.

 

[soundwave05]

Since they're also flirting with MP3/MP4 playback on the GBA/DS, I think it'd be cool if they included a Panasonic SD Card slot for that right outta the box for the GB Evo.

Multiplayer for forthcoming games would have to be WiFi enabled, dunno if they could give the GB Evo a programming routine to "trick" older GCN software.

 

[border]

So this thing will have to have a slot for Cube games, a slot for Gameboy games, a slot for a memory card, and possibly a slot for DS games?

 

[soundwave05]

Honestly, I'm thinking they should dump old Game Boy cartridge support. It just takes up too much space.

Maybe they could offer a service where you could download GBA titles via WiFi. I would like DS backwards comp. though. Maybe they could make a "multi-slot" which accepts both DS cards and SD Cards.

 

[DECK'ARD]

Why not just start selling future games with a thin plastic cover? Then you could just throw them into your pocket or backpack without having to have the entire DVD-sized case in tow.

I mean if you're retarded enough to damage your games in the five seconds it takes to pull them out of the case and load them into your Game Boy, you frankly deserve the scratches you get on your discs.

Tell all that to the Pokemon generation. Even taking them in and out of covers, or sliding them into a slot-loading handheld is going to cover them in fingerprints at the very least. It really doesn't sound like a Nintendo approach to me.

Combined with the problem of emulating all the controls, the fact GC games are not designed for maximum performance on a handheld (GC's drive seeks all the time, makes a hell of a lot of noise and generally streams as much as possible to keep loading times down), and I think it's just wishful thinking based on the size of the discs and not much else.

I think Nintendo will stick to solid-state, just with a much larger capacity.

 

[GSG Flash]

I don't think DS compatibility should be added. It would be kind of complicated to work out on one screen unless it's vertical and the DS is meant to be 3rd pillar anyways.

 

[StRaNgE]

seems people have wished for this since the GBA days :lol

holy crap think of that...

a launch with all cube and gameboy games exsisting already working for it.
plus if the revolution is backward compatable then anything made for gameboy would work in revolution as well.

take a game from prtable small screen to home console and then still have the more powerfull newer revolution games as well.

jeez, wonder if that would be affordable?

 

[dynamitejim]

Eh, screw DS and GBA support. Nintendo seems fond of SD cards, so I'd imagine those would be used for saved games. I believe they already have an SD MC card adapter for the GC. I know you have to program GC games to use it, but can you copy games over to it?

 

[soundwave05]

GCN games do stream a lot.

This would mean that older games "unoptimized" for the GB Evo would suck more battery power.

*However* Nintendo may have an interesting "trap door" for this problem.

The GameCube was designed in mind with a RAM upgrade (one of its EXP. ports are specifically for this) for the unit's A-Memory.

The point of this upgrade was to (you guessed it) cut down on loading/streaming issues.

Since memory is dirt cheap nowadays, I wonder *if* the GB Evo is indeed a portable iteration of the GameCube chipset that they might opt to go with this higher memory spec.

 

[Acosta]

DS support it´s not practical, DS should remain as "other thing", they can´t overcomplicate GB Next with touchpannel and stylus. If it has GC and GBA support it´s enough.

Now I have the feeling that anything that is not giving, at least, a hint of GB next in E3 would be a huge mistake for Nintendo. I´m not going to play to "If I would be Iwata" and don´t pretend to know more than Nintendo directives, but I don´t think they can give too much advantage to Sony at all, specially if they are certain when they say that DS it´s not the competitor of PSP.

 

[paul777]

Eh, screw DS and GBA support. Nintendo seems fond of SD cards, so I'd imagine those would be used for saved games. I believe they already have an SD MC card adapter for the GC. I know you have to program GC games to use it, but can you copy games over to it?

I'd like to add memory cards as another thing I do not want in my handhelds! If they must pursue this abomination, they need some form of built-in mass storage.

 

[Tiktaalik]

I thought of this the day I bought my gamecube. If this came true, I think the best part would not be that you could play pikmin2 or RE4 on the go, but that new games would be made on the gamecube hardware, so you could pick up brand new games that will most likely be cheaper than regular next gen console prices, and play them on your gamecube at home.

 

[soundwave05]

That's true, you could get GameCube titles at budget prices from many places for cheaper than PSP games.

I mean I saw F-Zero GX for $20 the other day. I'd definitely look to pick up stuff like Tales of Symphonia if this were true.

 

[dynamitejim]

I'd like to add memory cards as another thing I do not want in my handhelds! If they must pursue this abomination, they need some form of built-in mass storage.

Why? SD cards are cheap as dirt. Even a tiny 32MB card is much bigger than the largest GC MC and can be found for $10.

 

[fse]

I see handhelds with hard drives as the future.

 

[soundwave05]

Yeah SD Cards > Memory Sticks.

Much cheaper.

If Nintendo absolutely wanted to kill Sony, partner with Apple and include a HDD. That'd probably cost $400 though.

 

[paul777]

Why? SD cards are cheap as dirt. Even a tiny 32MB card is much bigger than the largest GC MC and can be found for $10.

It's not about price. Why are cell phones becoming a popular medium for games? Because it's convenient. I want to have to carry with me the least amount of stuff as possible. Convenience is what it's all about. And memory cards are inconvenient.

 

[Hollywood]

A triple threat portable line? GBA SP, DS, and GB EV. You got all your bases covered there, every generations graphics with simplicity (GBA SP0), innovation (DS), and technology (Evolution).

 

[soundwave05]

How is a memory card inconvienant?

You buy it, you slide it into your system, and ... that's it.

People do use digital cameras without HDDs you know. If Nintendo did use a HDD, I think they'd have to partner with someone like Apple because that would put them into the media sector and even though they are going into movies, I just don't think they could handle that themselves.

An "i-Games" service for old NES/SNES/GB software would kick ass though.

 

[Speevy]

I just want to know this.

Is it possible or not?

 

[God's Hand]

Does anyone actually believe Matt knows what he's talking about? I'm having trouble believing that Nintendo would make a portable GC that plays the current GC library. It makes no sense.

 

[soundwave05]

Does anyone actually believe Matt knows what he's talking about? I'm having trouble believing that Nintendo would make a portable GC that plays the current GC library. It makes no sense.

Matt probably has closer ties to Nintendo than any journalist out there. When *no one* could get anything on Project: Dolphin, IGN already knew about stuff like the mini-discs and had a pretty detailed knowledge of the machine. They knew about the Zelda in Soul Calibur 2 thing before anyone else and several other things. I would say Matt/Peer/Fran have better contacts at Nintendo than anyone else.

Is it possible?

Really that's all on ATi's shoulders basically. The GameCube GPU will be five years old this summer though. We're not talking about cutting edge technology anymore and ATi does have experience shrinking down old tech for use in products like laptops.

The GB Evo regardless will have to be significantly more powerful than the PSP anyway if Nintendo is bringing it out a 1-1 1/2 years later, that would put it GCN territory anyway right?

Is it possible? I think it might be one of those "CGI dinosaurs in Jurassic Park" situations. It'd be cutting it close, but I think it can be done.

 

[Speevy]

The Gamecube library has been so overlooked that it would be nice for it to be playable on some other system.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

A triple threat portable line? GBA SP, DS, and GB EV. You got all your bases covered there, every generations graphics with simplicity (GBA SP0), innovation (DS), and technology (Evolution).

:lol

I don't think this is true. Sure would be wonderful though. Would make the DS doubly forgettable as well, which is why I don't believe it.

 

[soundwave05]

Iwata was actually asked directly about a Game Boy that could play both GCN games and GBA cartridges a few months ago IIRC.

I don't remember his exact response, but instead of a flat denial, he said it would be possible for Nintendo to consider but it would depend on battery life.

 

[God's Hand]

Oh yeah, ATi could easily shrink the tech and even improve on it. I'd just be surprised if Nintendo stuck with GC discs for the GBE, instead of going a PSP route with "cartridge discs".

 

[soundwave05]

Oh yeah, ATi could easily shrink the tech and even improve on it. I'd just be surprised if Nintendo stuck with GC discs for the GBE, instead of going a PSP route with "cartridge discs".

To me, it seems like a lot of things are fitting into place.

When the GCN was revealed in August 2000, Mr. Miyamoto or Mr. Iwata flat out said the GameCube discs would "perfect" for a portable game machine "some day".

 

[DECK'ARD]

Surely the better solution is to have an evolution & miniturisation of the GC's chipset, and run off high-capacity cartridges. Which hopefully will be affordable enough by then. An evolution of the current DS cards.

GC or better visuals without the battery-drain and fragility of an optical drive & discs.

 

[Speevy]

Does anyone want to replay Gamecube games on the go? I mean, I love the library, but that's because I've bought just about every great exclusive.

 

[soundwave05]

Does anyone want to replay Gamecube games on the go? I mean, I love the library, but that's because I've bought just about every great exclusive.

R&D resources are finite, fact is most portable games are going to be ports/remixes of existing console/portable software (yes even on the DS).

 

[DECK'ARD]

Also, releasing a new handheld which can already play hundreds of existing GC games isn't necessarily the best business idea for Nintendo or 3rd parties either.

Remember how long games stay in circulation, GC games will be knocking around for dirt cheap by the time it came out. Why buy any new game in any franchise when a version already exists for a few dollars?

 

[Speevy]

Nintendo could rerelease all the games in new packages. :lol

 

[Acosta]

Remember how long games stay in circulation, GC games will be knocking around for dirt cheap by the time it came out. Why buy any new game in any franchise when a version already exists for a few dollars?

Because you do exactly the same when you buy a new entry in a series for your home console. You have plenty of games for cheap but that doen´t stop you of buying new games.

And it´s very convenient for developers, they already know GC hardware, so developing games could be easier and take a better approach to explode it´s technical capacities. And in that way, in that situation would make sense to release Mario 128 and Zelda for GC, imagining a 2005 chistmas release, they could be the games to support the launchment and reinforce GC development to full force with the knowledge of the years knowing that you have a new market for your games.

It almost sound too logical, I can´t foresee other thing if a GC portable it´s really possible (I think it is).

 

[AndoCalrissian]

I think I'd really like to see a USB port being used more for storage media. Its pretty ridiculous how many different memory cards, etc. that there are, when, from what I can tell, USB serves the same purpose.

As far as console USB goes, it could stick out like memory cards do, and its no big deal. As for a portable, it should be recessed into the machine so it doesn't stick out anywhere. This could also facilitate any number of accessories.

 

[soundwave05]

Crazy thought ... but what if GB Evo not only plays GCN titles, but is more powerful than the GCN for GB Evo specific titles?

 

[Chittagong]

I bet it'll still have cardboard packaging in Europe.

 

[soundwave05]

Here's one of the quotes Iwata made on this exact issue just a few months ago ...

http://www.gamespy.com/articles/505/505234p1.html?fromint=1


So why not make a Game Boy Enhanced?

"Some time in the future we may be able to combine the technologies of Game Boy and GameCube in a unit that will be small and light with a long enough battery life and a low enough price for the market," Iwata said. "We [will] need to find a reasonable balance between the high-functionality and the other requisite features in a portable system.

"Timing is very important. Even if there are new technologies that will make portable games more fun to play, if the price is too high or the other requisites are not met, we say it is premature."

 

[DECK'ARD]

Crazy thought ... but what if GB Evo not only plays GCN titles, but is more powerful than the GCN for GB Evo specific titles?

Crazy indeed!

That would put it at about twice as powerful as PSP, disc-based (and scratchable), backwards-compatible (meaning it would need all the GC's buttons/triggers/dual-analog) ...

It's Sony who usually release the non-profit making breakable hardware, not Nintendo!

 

[dynamitejim]

Crazy thought ... but what if GB Evo not only plays GCN titles, but is more powerful than the GCN for GB Evo specific titles?

I would think the point is more that developers wouldn't need new hardware kits and any new Portable GC games could also be played on the backwards-compatible Revolution. Hence, no need need for a GB Player piece of hardware and it would be quite an advantage over PSP. Which I don't believe has any type of video out.

 

[border]

This whole idea has been a fanboy fantasy that really gained most of its steam when the PSP was announced. It seemed to be based around 1-2 concepts:

1. GameCube discs are small (uhhhh, nevermind that they use heavy streaming)
2. ATI has previously shrunk their chips down for laptops (uhhhh, nevermind that the laptops have batteries as big as a GBA and 5 times as heavy....and still only get a couple hours of life).

The "nevermind" bits were why I tended to disregard the idea, but this is the first time a semi-legit media outlet has reported on it. So maybe there is something to it, but I think there are more technological hurdles than some believe.

It will be particularly tough if Nintendo wants to keep having their fat hardware profit margins, and PSP is down to sub-$150 levels by that point. The question becomes whether the Cube library is important enough to have to jump through all these hoops. Which is to say that if these games couldn't make the console a huge favorite with consumers, what good will it do for the handheld version? Is it worth it to spend all this time and money engineer a way to make it handheld?

 

[soundwave05]

Here's another quote from waaay back when the GCN was unveiled. I'll try and see if I can get the specific quote from Genyo Takeda, but I do remember him saying to the effect that the GameCube media would be "perfect for future portable devices" ...

http://www.nintendoexpress.com/news/00083.shtml

Nintendo's general manager Genyo Takeda, in his Space World speech, commented that the 8cm discs would be the future of interactive entertainment. Seeing as how they're so small, is there any chance that we'll see them in a future handheld from Nintendo?

Jim: He kind of alluded to that, didn't he?

Perrin: We know someone was going to ask that question.

Jim: I think that's one of those "please stay tuned" type questions. But yes, Nintendo doesn't want to invest in a media format for the short term.


I have a feeling the Nintendo DS was never supposed to come out honestly. They had the Nitro chipset laying around and decided to bring it to market because they knew this Game Boy Evolution (the real successor of the Game Boy line) wouldn't be ready in time to counter PSP directly.

 

[DECK'ARD]

"Some time in the future we may be able to combine the technologies of Game Boy and GameCube in a unit that will be small and light with a long enough battery life and a low enough price for the market," Iwata said

Combination of GC and Gameboy = GC chipset + GBA screen/cartridges

That's still my bet

 

[Speevy]

This whole idea has been a fanboy fantasy that really gained most of its steam when the PSP was announced. It seemed to be based around 1-2 concepts:

1. GameCube discs are small (uhhhh, nevermind that they use heavy streaming)
2. ATI has previously shrunk their chips down for laptops (uhhhh, nevermind that the laptops have batteries as big as a GBA and 5 times as heavy....and still only get a couple hours of life).

The "nevermind" bits were why I tended to disregard the idea, but this is the first time a semi-legit media outlet has reported on it. So maybe there is something to it, but I think there are more technological hurdles than some believe.

It will be particularly tough if Nintendo wants to keep having their fat hardware profit margins, and PSP is down to sub-$150 levels by that point. The question becomes whether the Cube library is important enough to have to jump through all these hoops. Which is to say that if these games couldn't make the console a huge favorite with consumers, what good will it do for the handheld version? Is it worth it to spend all this time and money engineer a way to make it handheld?

If Need for Speed: Underground Rivals is a must have PSP title, why aren't all three other games from the series must haves?