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Revolution Specs May Never be Made Public...

W

WindyMan

Junior Member
...and all of GAF cries foul and complains about not being able to make an official direct comparison on all the hardware.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=61492
http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=6625

In an interview with Dutch magazine [N]Gamer, senior director of marketing Jim Merrick is quoted as saying: "Regarding the specifications, we will probably never 'release' this information as we feel that it is largely irrelevant.

"While some of our competitors enjoy comparing specifications, it has little or nothing to do with how satisfied the consumers will be with the system and the games once they are released."

And there was no budging him, either: "I know people are hungry for information on Revolution and we respect and appreciate that, but we don't want to contribute to the cloud of meaningless information that surrounds the next generation systems."
Click to expand...

While we'd all like to see what the spec sheet is, this is probably the most brilliant move Nintendo could make pre-launch in the face of the 360 and PS3. We all know it's going to be less powerful than the those two, but (offically) we're not going to know how underpowered. I suppose when video and impressions of Revolution games come in, then none of us will really care.

In the end, Nintendo is right about specs being irrelevant, though. I mean, how many of us really care that the PS2 can push 100 million polygons a second?

Oh... right...
 
How is it even possible to keep the specs from getting out? All this information has to be told to developers...

It might be hilarious to see Reggie & Perrin engaging in some Bush-administration-styled question avoidance though.

"How much RAM does it have?"
"At this point our legal counsel has advised us not to discuss the RAM until the end of the generation."
 
Awesome!

I fully support this. Now we'll see how stupid some of you spec/graphic/audio etc. whores are, who have superhuman visual acuity and hearing...

:P
 
Reggie... Perrin....

11038.jpg
 
Amir0x said:
I'm sorry, I care about specs. I wanna know 100% about my product before I invest in it.
Click to expand...

Who cares what the specs are, I care what it DOES. I'm sure all the systems look great on paper, doesn't mean you're going to get those results.
 
human5892 said:
Eventually, the specs will come out, whether Nintendo wants them to or not.
Click to expand...

Of course some specs will get leaked out or estimated by developers (and/or Lik-Sang after they crack open the system), and we'll have a general idea of what's under the hood, but that's not the point.

The point is Sony and Microsoft are touting the raw horsepower and other technical-side features of the PS3 and 360, just as much as they are promoting their games. (In Sony's case, the hardware is getting more press at the moment.) If Nintendo never makes an official comment about the hardware or doesn't post the detailed info on their website, then Joe Average can't use hardware power to make an informed console decision.

To make it easier to comprehend:

Sony and Microsoft - "Look at our hardware! See how powerful it is? Look at the games we can make with this powerful hardware!"
Nintendo - "Look at our games! Look how much fun and enjoyment you can have by playing these games on our hardware!"

A gross exaggeration, yes, but you should understand the point.
 
SailorDaravon said:
Who cares what the specs are, I care what it DOES. I'm sure all the systems look great on paper, doesn't mean you're going to get those results.
Click to expand...

I do, durr. On any other game device on planet earth, knowing how high end or low end your product is is incredibly important. As videogames are an inherently visual medium, this is all the more integral. This is no different for Revolution, however central they feel the new controller is.

Not releasing specs officially (although it WILL come out whether they like it or not) is bullshit, pretty much that simple. If I can't do the research myself that means they got something to hide, which means I'm at least a few percentage points less interested.
 
I'm in the camp who could care less about specs. I don't know anything spec wise about past consoles and I likely won't ever know about the next gen systems.

It's all about the games.
 
ghostface said:
How about, you know, seeing the graphics and playing the games?
Click to expand...

How about they reveal the specs, and I'll decide whether I want to play the games? Remember, systems are an INVESTMENT. Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term. Specs, however, tell us a fairly decent amount. So if I'm going to invest in a system, I wanna know just what it'll be able to push down the line. Because if you blindly adopt a system without knowing everything there is to know, you pretty much deserve to get shafted.
 
:lol you care too much about specs Amir0x. It's not like you're the one making the games you're buying - it's the developers. Maybe you should ask them if they're actually going to spend time optimising their games for each console or not before even bothering wondering about specs.

Especially for Revolution. It's all about interface. If it only used a traditional controller, then I would see it fit Nintendo to release specs.
 
Amir0x said:
How about they reveal the specs, and I'll decide whether I want to play the games? Remember, systems are an INVESTMENT. Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term. Specs, however, tell us a fairly decent amount. So if I'm going to invest in a system, I wanna know just what it'll be able to push down the line. Because if you blindly adopt a system without knowing everything there is to know, you pretty much deserve to get shafted.
Click to expand...

....

Jesus.

Gaming. Hobby. Fun! Anything ring a bell here?
 
I guess you all just plop down cash at the local PC shop and pray your new rig will run well?

This "no specs" thing is ridiculous.
 
Amir0x said:
Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term.
Click to expand...
That's right. And specs tell us shit about games support long-term.
krypt0nian said:
I guess you all just plop down cash at the local PC shop and pray that it will run well?
Click to expand...
Seeing as how specs are the ONLY thing differentiating two PCs, I would say your comparison to consoles is invalid.
 
They never released specs for the DS that I know of, and it sure hasn't seen to hurt them any.

Also, it's probably beacuse they're laughable. (maybe)
 
Amir0x said:
I'm sorry, I care about specs. I wanna know 100% about my product before I invest in it.
Click to expand...

Amir0x, for your statement to hold water you need to say that you still care about the specs for the PS2, Xbox and GameCube, at this very second.

Here are the specs for the PS2:
http://www.us.playstation.com/consoles.aspx?id=2/info/PlayStation2/415007657.html

And here are the specs for the GC:
http://www.nintendo.com/techspecgcn

Just by the specs alone, the PS2 should be the superior piece of hardware. Yes, it's market leader, but that doesn't mean it's the better overall hardware.
 
miyuru said:
:lol you care too much about specs Amir0x. It's not like you're the one making the games you're buying - it's the developers. Maybe you should ask them if they're actually going to spend time optimising their games for each console or not before even bothering wondering about specs.
Click to expand...

This post is the most hilariously misguided I've read in weeks. It is because I'm playing the games that makes this important. I want to know just what games down the line will be able to show. Don't give me that "You care too much about specs" shit. If you don't care about what visuals you get for a inherently visual medium, then you're simply not demanding enough and you deserve low quality products. I want to know what the system will offer, and I want games that look at the absolute best. It's already bad enough Rev will likely be the least powerful. Now it's time to know HOW much less.

miyuru said:
Especially for Revolution. It's all about interface. If it only used a traditional controller, then I would see it fit Nintendo to release specs.
Click to expand...

No, it's PARTLY about interface. It's PARTLY about visuals. Anyone telling you otherwise is, frankly, an idiot.
 
The first time ever I came across system specs was in an ooold EGM where they were compared Snes, Genesis. an average PC and another system I can't remember. My reaction..."mmm ok". I really didn't understand what all the numbers meant so I didn't care. I didn't care about specs last gen either.

Though this gen changed that, and that mostly cause of gaming forums.



Amir0x said:
How about they reveal the specs, and I'll decide whether I want to play the games? Remember, systems are an INVESTMENT. Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term. Specs, however, tell us a fairly decent amount. So if I'm going to invest in a system, I wanna know just what it'll be able to push down the line. Because if you blindly adopt a system without knowing everything there is to know, you pretty much deserve to get shafted.
Click to expand...
Holy shit :lol :lol :lol
 
ghostface said:
Seeing as how specs are the ONLY thing differentiating two PCs, I would say your comparison to concoles is invalid.
Click to expand...


Seeing as how a controller that can be replicated by the PS3/360 is a moot point potentially, you'd be incorrect.

And guess what? Not every game will be wave your magic stick.

EDIT: Nevermind, threads like these are why Nintendo fans are mocked openly.

Carry on.
 
Amir0x said:
How about they reveal the specs, and I'll decide whether I want to play the games? Remember, systems are an INVESTMENT. Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term. Specs, however, tell us a fairly decent amount. So if I'm going to invest in a system, I wanna know just what it'll be able to push down the line. Because if you blindly adopt a system without knowing everything there is to know, you pretty much deserve to get shafted.
Click to expand...


Here's an idea: 'INVEST' in a system when you want to play its games. As weird as it may sound specs won't matter in that case.


krypt0nian said:
I guess you all just plop down cash at the local PC shop and pray your new rig will run well?

This "no specs" thing is ridiculous.
Click to expand...


...

Are people TRYING to be dumb? How the hell does knowing a console's specs play into the machine itself working or not whenever you buy one? Geez.
 
SailorDaravon said:
....

Jesus.

Gaming. Hobby. Fun! Anything ring a bell here?
Click to expand...

Don't be condescending to me. Visuals are PART of the immersive process involved with games. Period. There's literally zero debate behind this. Power doesn't only have to do with visuals; it can help things like physics too. These things add to, enhance, create more fun.

It is BECAUSE of fun that we're even having this discussion.

Ghostface said:
That's right. And specs tell us shit about games support long-term.
Click to expand...

No, it tells us how great or lame my games are gonna look in comparrison to other systems. Because it is a huge, integral part of gaming.

GhaleonEB said:
They never released specs for the DS that I know of, and it sure hasn't seen to hurt them any.

Also, it's probably beacuse they're laughable. (maybe)
Click to expand...

We have specs for DS.

yoopoo said:
Holy shit
Click to expand...

Are you gonna contribute with anything except smilies and vague vulgarities? Because if not...
 
I never understood how it's fair to compare different systems. Because of the different layouts etc., isn't it more like comparing apples and oranges? Like, this system can produce better lighting effects etc., but this console has more raw polygon pushing power. So comparing is very subjective.

And comparisons only become even more irrelevant as it's the games you'll be playing, and no, even the prettiest games are shit if they play like shit. But even barring that, like my last argument, no game will ever justify the console's specs unless the developers are talented enough, are given a long enough development cycle, and optimise the game for that system.

You know, at the time, I bet Jaguar had the best specs of any system until Saturn launched (it was out before the Saturn right?). Or 3DO, perhaps in the same shoes. Yet, those systems weren't very popular, they didn't have many games on them. Even if you have the most powerful system, it's not an accurate predictor of what games will appear on that console at all.

I don't see why you care this much about specs...

EDIT: Probably the main reason I'm saying specs don't matter so much is because all next-gen systems' games will probably look similar enough for it not to matter. That's my biggest beef with you Amir0x - the specs really won't matter in that sense. Yes, visuals are very important. But between the systems themselves, there probably won't be very important *differences*.
 
Amir0x said:
How about they reveal the specs, and I'll decide whether I want to play the games? Remember, systems are an INVESTMENT. Launch games tell us shit about the capabilities long term. Specs, however, tell us a fairly decent amount. So if I'm going to invest in a system, I wanna know just what it'll be able to push down the line. Because if you blindly adopt a system without knowing everything there is to know, you pretty much deserve to get shafted.
Click to expand...

Most people are going to respond, "games >> specs". But if I'm taking your point correctly, you are basically saying, "better specs >>> better games", which has been true every generation. Looks like the comment is getting reamed, but some people here would have you believe that specs don't matter. If that's the case, we'd still be playing Atari.
 
This sucks. It's like a computer company selling a pc and says its great but won't tell you the specs. the revolution could be a atari 2600 packaged in the box and some of you would jerk off saying nintendo is uber smart. :|

I want specs.
 
krypt0nian said:
Seeing as how a controller that can be replicated by the PS3/360 is a moot point potentially, you'd be incorrect.

And guess what? Not every game will be wave your magic stick.
Click to expand...
Funny I wasn't even thinking about the rev controller, but more about the games.

You lose.
 
Chrono said:
Are people TRYING to be dumb?
Click to expand...

This could honestly be applied to these stroke fest topics. :lol

ghostface said:
Funny I wasn't even thinking about the rev controller, but more about the games.

You lose.
Click to expand...


Yes all consoles have games. Now what? The difference is some will be next gen games and some won't obviously.
 
Amir0x said:
We have specs for DS.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize we did. I know the PSP's are well know (clock speed, etc) but I have not seen comparable for the DS. I thought Nintendo released a pretty bare-bones 'feature' list and not a full spec sheet. Got a link handy? I'm curious.
 
GhaleonEB said:
Most people are going to respond, "games >> specs". But if I'm taking your point correctly, you are basically saying, "better specs >>> better games", which has been true every generation. Looks like the comment is getting reamed, but some people here would have you believe that specs don't matter. If that's the case, we'd still be playing Atari.
Click to expand...

We'd all be playing NeoGeos thank you very much.
 
f_elz said:
This sucks. It's like a computer company selling a pc and says its great but won't tell you the specs. the revolution could be a atari 2600 packaged in the box and some of you would jerk off saying nintendo is uber smart. :|

I want specs.
Click to expand...

Oh come on. PC's are entirely different in regards to specs. All PC software have certain requirements that knowing the specs of your computer is important. With consoles there is no need to actually know the specs unless you want to feel superior knowing your favorite console is more powerful than X.

This thread won't serve any other purpose than for Nintendo haters to come in and say stupid shit like Revolution sales - 1 when they never planned on buying one in the beginning.
 
krypt0nian said:
This could honestly be applied to these stroke fest topics. :lol




Yes all consoles have games. Now what? The difference is some will be next gen games and some won't obviously.
Click to expand...
Which is not even what the debate is about. :/
 
GhaleonEB said:
Most people are going to respond, "games >> specs". But if I'm taking your point correctly, you are basically saying, "better specs >>> better games", which has been true every generation. Looks like the comment is getting reamed, but some people here would have you believe that specs don't matter. If that's the case, we'd still be playing Atari.
Click to expand...

To put it on the table: It is because certain fans are nervous about the direction their company is taking in comparrison to other systems that they feel the need to so religiously undermind the importance of visuals. THIS is a generalization, naturally. Not all of them do this, and if other fanboys/fans/fanatics were in the same position they'd likely do the same (hell, PS2 fans have tried to do this all gen). But it is no surprise that when discussions of lighting and barrels and flopping titties arose about a certain recent title, the better visual edition was eventually declared the definitive edition by those who actually played both versions (read the thread). Immersion and visuals is pretty much critical to a gaming experience. So much of it hinges on how we connect with our eyes.
 
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