Revolution specs have been explained for many reasons: affordability, easy to develop for, stonger focus on the gameplay, etc.
But there's been one reason missing: Nintendo decisions must always be considered with the handheld market in mind.
Videogames - and handhelds ones in particular- are their main source of revenue, unlike Sony.
With the PSP Sony released a handheld machine, which will last for a looong time:
1) with this machine they can already bank on their movie business with UMDs, on their online music store with memory sticks, and on their PS2 library which can easily be ported to the very capable PSP console.
2) for technical reasons, monster powerful PS3 games aren't likely to be ported to a handheld for years and years (and years) to come.
Even if the DS is doing great, Nintendo must think of its next generation handheld. Let's call it GBA2. Let's say GBA2 will have GC level performance, making it compete with PSP and its PS2 level technology. Despite Nintendo franchises, GC library will not be able to compete with PS2 one, making it harder for Nintendo to impose its console.
Thus comes the Revolution, and thus come its not totally next gen specs: Nintendo console specs can't be out of reach for their handhelds!
Unlike PS3 games, Revolution ones will easily be ported on a GBA2 with GC performance.
If Nintendo is wise, they'll play this card: tell 3rd party developpers the investment they make for games on Revolution will also be bankable on GBA2.
That would ensure a constant flow of new games, unlike on the PSP, which will mostly have old PS2 ports once developpers abandon this platform for the PS3.
Of course you'd wonder how GBA2 could reproduce the revmote gameplay, and that's when I'd answer you this could be emulated with a standard touchscreen stylus or with a more elaborate tiny wand! This would make games cooler to play than on PSP and its dpad/analog nub.
This rather long post can be flawed, but I'm sure there's some truth in it. Businesswise, it just makes sense. When Sony & Microsoft think escalation, Nintendo thinks transition. And that is because of their lucrative handheld market.
But there's been one reason missing: Nintendo decisions must always be considered with the handheld market in mind.
Videogames - and handhelds ones in particular- are their main source of revenue, unlike Sony.
With the PSP Sony released a handheld machine, which will last for a looong time:
1) with this machine they can already bank on their movie business with UMDs, on their online music store with memory sticks, and on their PS2 library which can easily be ported to the very capable PSP console.
2) for technical reasons, monster powerful PS3 games aren't likely to be ported to a handheld for years and years (and years) to come.
Even if the DS is doing great, Nintendo must think of its next generation handheld. Let's call it GBA2. Let's say GBA2 will have GC level performance, making it compete with PSP and its PS2 level technology. Despite Nintendo franchises, GC library will not be able to compete with PS2 one, making it harder for Nintendo to impose its console.
Thus comes the Revolution, and thus come its not totally next gen specs: Nintendo console specs can't be out of reach for their handhelds!
Unlike PS3 games, Revolution ones will easily be ported on a GBA2 with GC performance.
If Nintendo is wise, they'll play this card: tell 3rd party developpers the investment they make for games on Revolution will also be bankable on GBA2.
That would ensure a constant flow of new games, unlike on the PSP, which will mostly have old PS2 ports once developpers abandon this platform for the PS3.
Of course you'd wonder how GBA2 could reproduce the revmote gameplay, and that's when I'd answer you this could be emulated with a standard touchscreen stylus or with a more elaborate tiny wand! This would make games cooler to play than on PSP and its dpad/analog nub.
This rather long post can be flawed, but I'm sure there's some truth in it. Businesswise, it just makes sense. When Sony & Microsoft think escalation, Nintendo thinks transition. And that is because of their lucrative handheld market.