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[Stinkles]

(It's from GDC so it has 8% more truth than regular kind)


Dude I know (and he's legit) is at GDC and swears blind he just heard that Revolution and GBA 2 are the same thing - a v. powerful handheld console with other features (a-la PSP) but with a dock featuring a video-out function for TV so that your handheld and home console are one and the same.

He said there was talk of that your handheld would function as a controller with a lovely built-in screen, using the dock as the "console" and that the dock used diff. media than the handheld - ie, cart on handheld, disc on dock. Wireless would be standard, and you'd charge and sync when plugged into your dock. That's all he said, and he acknowledges it could have been garbage.

Sounds semi-plausible, but reeks of fanboy (who are in plentiful attendance at GDC).

Main reason it sounds dumb to me is that it would be way too expensive for a Nintendo handheld.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Dude I know (and he's legit) is at GDC and swears blind he just heard that Revolution and GBA 2 are the same thing - a v. powerful handheld console with other features (a-la PSP) but with a dock featuring a video-out function for TV so that your handheld and home console are one and the same.

I swear there are controllers that do that. I think it plays atari games(?). They cost like $20.

 

[dog$]

Fucking do it, Nintendo.

your handheld and home console are one and the same

This was awesome when NEC did it 15 years ago (in terms of software library, at least).

Non-proprietary handheld software = no bitching from me.

 

[AndoCalrissian]

I'm pretty sure we discussed this a few weeks ago. It's one of the more persistent rumors out there, but I don't think its going to happen.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Thanks, Society.

Wrong thread.

 

[TekunoRobby]

That's a pretty cool rumor, I love the idea.

Oh well, hopefully Nintendo produces something that's as exciting as this or exceeds it at E3.

 

[Lionheart]

Sounds a little like the 'Nintendo Home' thing from other rumours. With a base unit and 'other' devices communicating with it for free (wireless network I guess).

 

[AndoCalrissian]

Wrong thread.

Yeah, apparently I suck. At least I edited it though, right?

 

[DrGAKMAN]

-This fits in with other rumors
-would be pretty revolutionary
-would be a one-two combination effort against competing portables & consoles

But how would it work...I've thought of this since the small GCN with it's small discs was introduced...and now even moreso 'cos of the PSP threat. But, if there's revolutionary ways to play with gyroscopes and whatnot...how can that be played practically with a handheld without dropping/breaking it? What about BC with GCN? What about peripherals? What about the cost & making it practical...I mean would every player have to have this new GameBoy in order to play? What about hooking it up to the TV & PC screens like already suggested?

Off the top of my head I'm thinking there would be a base unit that's a powerful WiFi HUB that contains the chipset and the media drive and communicates wirelessly to area controllers & displays (or in the case of the next GameBoy, it's display & controls) for instant LAN. It could also wirelessly connect to your PC and use it to "piggyback" it's way online as well. The chipsets of the base unit and the next GameBoy would have to be pretty similar only the chipset of the base unit (the Revolution "deck") would have to be powerful enough to communicate and "broadcast" to Revolution controllers, next GameBoy's, TV & PC screens (as well as the internet) and be able to do it in HD mode while the next GameBoy's chipset would only have to worry about it's own (non HD) display.

But I just don't see it happenning. I can see something similar like the idea of being able to not only use the next GameBoy as a personal screen/controller for Revolution games, but also to download a lower-resolution version (or chapter) of a Revolution game into the GameBoy for on the go play though. This would take extra effort on the developement end, but in doing so they'd reach two markets with one game and it would certainly be less of a hassle than the above paragraph.

 

[koam]

So basically, if this is true, then the Revolution is less powerful than the Gamecube. Yes, this makes sense.

 

[ThongyDonk]

doesn't tie in with the 3 pillars, Nintendo is spouting

 

[DrGAKMAN]

Just tried to draw out an idea on paper, but even then it seems highly impractical. Basically I was thinking that the HUB or base unit would handle all the communication between player controllers, new GB's, the net AND have to be powerful enough to hook up to multiple displays (TV & PC screens) which...would...just...be too much for a simple "HUB" to handle. The media drive, memory, communication, output & chipset would HAVE to be in this "HUB" basically meaning it's not a HUB, but an actual system. The chipset would have to be in it 'cos it certainly isn't going to be ALL inside the next GameBoy 'cos that would drive up costs/limitations and drain it's battery life indefinatly.

I can see such a system communicating with the next GameBoy in a way to where the player could use the new GameBoy as not only a controller, but broadcasting to it's screen for personal use...but making the next GameBoy handle the processing of Revolution games *and* wirelessly broadcasting the data back to a super hub to display onto other screens throughout a home is...impossible to me. Much more possible is having the Revolution deck and the new GameBoy seperate, but being able to work on their own and in tandem. Maybe they could sell them together or have it to where their software is interchangable, but even then both systems would have to have their own sets of powerful chips.

 

[Spazbiohaz]

doesn't tie in with the 3 pillars, Nintendo is spouting

how so. GBA2 + Rev + DS... GBA2 is the new Rev player. This would explain why the system is not all about the graphics.

 

[Azih]

I do not think that any handheld would feature an IBM chip and an ATI GPU (all confirmed) thing would run too hot and take too much battery power.

 

[Che]

Worst rumor ever! I don't think Nintendo is that stupid. If it's a portable too the hardware will definately be inferior, plus it's not the "revolutionary" idea I want. I mean big deal. A portable that turns into an inferior console. BS rumor indeed.

 

[GDJustin]

For multiplayer, that would mean that everyone would have to have a Revolution. That's the biggest reason why this isn't practical.

 

[Bboy AJ]

For this to be true, it would be a weak console system or a very expensive handheld. I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[SomeDude]

BS