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[Jumpman23]

Came across this article today that discussed the recent investors meeting:

http://venturebeat.com/2016/02/09/n...tphone-business-before-expecting-big-profits/

There are some tiny nuggets of information in the article. Quotes from Kimishima:

One area [where we would generate Nintendo-like profits first] is our NX business, and another is our business for smart devices. I believe that keeping these two endeavors on track will be key to achieving Nintendo-like profits. I don’t have any further details to share about the next fiscal year at this time, but we will explain about our plan and when we will aim to achieve Nintendo-like profits at a future date.

The previous and current fiscal years have been a period of preparation to launch a number of new endeavors, such as NX development, development for smart devices, and business using our character IP, in addition to driving our Wii U and Nintendo 3DS businesses.

As I have described before, where development was split between handheld and home-console divisions in the past, we have unified these activities for both hardware and software development. And the exciting new ideas coming from development are evidence of the progress being made as a result of that unification.

Gaps in communication that may arise from reorganization could hinder plans that require timely execution. This is why our corporate planning department is also implementing organizational reform that allows for precise understanding of progress across the whole company.

 

[Deleted member 465307]

Came across this article today that discussed the recent investors meeting:

http://venturebeat.com/2016/02/09/n...tphone-business-before-expecting-big-profits/

There are some tiny nuggets of information in the article. Quotes from Kimishima:

Aren't these quotes from the Q&A session that Nintendo posted?

 

[10k]

Nah, they're going to switch from eMMC to a couple of these bad boys. Throw two of them in there and your flash bandwidth almost hits Wii U RAM levels, let alone those measly hard-drives used by the competition.

Do employees have any linkedin profiles from the 3DS era where they said they were working on "next-gen handheld"?

I ask because we've heard Kimishima, Reggie, Tanabe, Koei Tecmo president, and now a bunch of LinkedIn profile referring to it as a console.

Edit: I'll try to gather all the sources referring to it as a console

4Gamer: On one hand, virtual reality requires special machinery to play, and we feel that the current state of "games" is headed to yet another way of playing. It's almost as if it's evolving towards the opposite direction of smartphones, and requires to "only play at that spot," or something along those lines. Lately it seems that [home] consoles haven't been doing too well, but is that the case? At least that's what we're wondering.

Erikawa: "Actually, I think that it'll start doing much better. The PlayStation 4 has recently surpassed 2 million units in nationwide sales, and Nintendo announced a new 'machine' called the NX. From this point forward, I believe that each company will make clear commitments for these machines."

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...think_nx_is_a_home_console_first_and_foremost

WSJ: Sony’s and Microsoft’s consoles have far outsold the Wii U. What’s your strategy to come out ahead?

Fils-Aime: The time frame that these systems are sold is quite long, and right now we’re still at the very early stages of the current generation. The other piece I would highlight is this is a global business. Don’t just look at what’s happening here in the U.S. Look at what’s happening globally.

From a Nintendo perspective, we clearly have strength here in the Americas, we have strength in Europe and we have strength in Japan. That isn’t necessarily true of some of our more direct competitors. We’ve also said publicly that we are already hard at work on our next home console and that’s another element we’ll be talking about much later.

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/06...ls-aime-talks-amiibo-and-the-skylanders-deal/

Speaking to Eurogamer at E3, Metroid Prime series producer Kensuke Tanabe said that due to the amount of content such a game would require, it would probably take several years to develop.

"If we started for Wii U now, it would likely take three years or so. So it would likely now be on Nintendo's NX console," he said.

"It's a long time but it would need to include a lot of content, which would take a lot of work on the development side."

(handheld games don't take three years to make)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-17-next-proper-metroid-prime-would-likely-now-be-on-nx

"As far as NX goes, I've said it's different and obviously a new experience," Kimishima said. "That being said, I can assure you we're not building the next version of Wii or Wii U. It's something unique and different. It's something where we have to move away from those platforms in order to make it something that will appeal to our consumer base."

(no mention of saying they're not building the next version of 3DS

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/nintendo-nx-release-date-news-and-rumors-1289401

Steven Chith
Software Engineer

I'm currently working on Nintendo's next console, code named "NX"​. It's so secretive that sometimes even I don't know what I'm working on. Suffice to say, I'm primarily doing embedded system development.

Associate Software Engineer Contractor
February 2015 - Present
Nintendo Technology Development via vendor Aerotek
Working on next-gen console, NX.
Part of a 6-dev team coding multimedia drivers.

http://www.stevenchith.com/resume/

Nintendo
February 2014 – Present (1 year 3 months)Redmond
Platform Tools for current (Wii U) and next generation (unannounced) consoles.

(ohh, consoles, it's plural.)
http://nintendoeverything.com/ninte...gen-unannounced-consoles-on-linkedin-profile/

* PD SOC/Timing Lead responsible for ultra high end APU for Game Console.

(NX confirmed to lay the smackdown on PS4 and XB1 confirmed!) (probably is Google AR device or Steam machine)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanandh-ramadass-5b036425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-VYlwzUS-M

And tons of other linkedin profiles lol.

 

[atbigelow]

Entirely random thought here but:

If Nintendo's NX platform and SDK can scale and adapt well, it'd be possible to create a "premium" handheld that had a 3D screen on it. The performance demands for doing 3D are pretty well linear. As long as the hardware had the oomph, you could get people (like me) who would pay more for such a hardware feature.

I just really like the idea of Nintendo experimenting with various hardware shapes and features. If their goal was to make the platform easily adaptable, they could really go hogwild.

 

[Shadoron]

Entirely random thought here but:

If Nintendo's NX platform and SDK can scale and adapt well, it'd be possible to create a "premium" handheld that had a 3D screen on it. The performance demands for doing 3D are pretty well linear. As long as the hardware had the oomph, you could get people (like me) who would pay more for such a hardware feature.

I just really like the idea of Nintendo experimenting with various hardware shapes and features. If their goal was to make the platform easily adaptable, they could really go hogwild.

I'm with you on this. Hated the 3D effect on the original 3DS line, but now am a True Believer after my n3DS. I'd pay a premium to include 3D, even if the base handheld didn't come with it.

I'd also be willing to pay a premium price for a premium product. By that I mean better build quality (not that Nintendo slacks on that to begin with) with premium components and materials, different shape, etc. I literally have my 3DS (or on occasion my Vita) with me everyday. I use it just about every day. If I can want a premium phone product that I use everyday, why not my handheld? I'm not saying get rid of the $199 Nintendo handheld. I'm just asking for a premium product to supplement that base model. And I don't just mean a standard and "XL" model. If people are concerned about "product confusion," just sell the higher tiered NX handheld on Nintendo's website only. I'm an early 30's something internet raised adult... I can figure out how to distinguish between and purchase a premium handheld product. I really think there could be a niche market for this. The WiiU has shown that Nintendo does have a core fan base that will support their niche products (zing).

 

[Guardian Monkey]

Entirely random thought here but:

If Nintendo's NX platform and SDK can scale and adapt well, it'd be possible to create a "premium" handheld that had a 3D screen on it. The performance demands for doing 3D are pretty well linear. As long as the hardware had the oomph, you could get people (like me) who would pay more for such a hardware feature.

I just really like the idea of Nintendo experimenting with various hardware shapes and features. If their goal was to make the platform easily adaptable, they could really go hogwild.

A 3d screen like 3ds? I doubt it if you are going Higher res it is worth it. I would imagine its 2d screen. going 3d would take alot of resources also the console and the handheld games I though are to be compatible.

 

[z0m3le]

As I explained a few pages back, at the TDP Nintendo is likely to devote to the CPU in the NX handheld, A53 cores would actually give them more performance than A72s, even on 14nm/16nm.



The 14nm process that Nintendo would be using isn't mature. Samsung's early 14LPE process which was used pretty much exclusively for Apple and Samsung SoCs was used in shipping products this time last year, but the 14LPP process that will replace it (and is being used by AMD) will only start to see product launches in the next few months. If the NX handheld uses a 14nm SoC and launches late this year, then it's probably only about 6 months into the life of the process. That's not to say they shouldn't use 14nm (I personally think they should, but only for the handheld), but that they probably won't.

You assume that they would need to stick to 500mWatt for the CPU and lower, then point out the clocks for such a dual core A72 with the assumption that they will use 28nm, mine is based on 14nm, and it would be 800mhz on that chart with the old 16nm process, even if we took that as a direct reflection of samsung's 14nm, the 14LPP process reduces power consumption by 15%, you'd get 1Ghz dual core A72 at 500mWatt. It would also only take up about 4mm^2 of space at 14nm, now if they do happen to go with the 5 year old 28nm process, then yes A53 makes more sense, but sense isn't the word I would use for using such an old process.

I would also be extremely surprised if 10nm chips "take over the mobile market" in 2017.

http://www.fudzilla.com/news/processors/37829-samsung-10nm-ramp-expected-in-late-2016

https://newsroom.intel.com/news-rel...eter-manufacturing-process-technical-details/

I don't know why you'd be surprised, the time line fits with 14nm in 2015 perfectly.

Honestly even Wii U used a newer process when it was launched in 2012 (the 45nm process launched in 2008) The process was forced on Nintendo by NEC since that was the best they had, Nintendo isn't in that same position at all, so the logic of going with 28nm seems to be lacking, instead what I see is expectations based on pure assumption, if I'm wrong and there is real logic to it, I'm all ears.

I love reading your posts, don't get me wrong, you are often insightful but I have enough knowledge about these subjects to reject those ideas as assumptions and not based in any logical sense. If they were launching this last year, 28nm might make some sense as 14nm was flooded as a new process with a lack of quantity, but that isn't where it is at by the end of this year.

 

[blu]

You assume that they would need to stick to 500mWatt for the CPU and lower, then point out the clocks for such a dual core A72 with the assumption that they will use 28nm, mine is based on 14nm, and it would be 800mhz on that chart with the old 16nm process, even if we took that as a direct reflection of samsung's 14nm, the 14LPP process reduces power consumption by 15%, you'd get 1Ghz dual core A72 at 500mWatt. It would also only take up about 4mm^2 of space at 14nm, now if they do happen to go with the 5 year old 28nm process, then yes A53 makes more sense, but sense isn't the word I would use for using such an old process.

http://www.fudzilla.com/news/processors/37829-samsung-10nm-ramp-expected-in-late-2016

https://newsroom.intel.com/news-rel...eter-manufacturing-process-technical-details/

I don't know why you'd be surprised, the time line fits with 14nm in 2015 perfectly.

Honestly even Wii U used a newer process when it was launched in 2012 (the 45nm process launched in 2008) The process was forced on Nintendo by NEC since that was the best they had, Nintendo isn't in that same position at all, so the logic of going with 28nm seems to be lacking, instead what I see is expectations based on pure assumption, if I'm wrong and there is real logic to it, I'm all ears.

I love reading your posts, don't get me wrong, you are often insightful but I have enough knowledge about these subjects to reject those ideas as assumptions and not based in any logical sense. If they were launching this last year, 28nm might make some sense as 14nm was flooded as a new process with a lack of quantity, but that isn't where it is at by the end of this year.

You're reading too much into those. 10nm getting to mass production by the end of 2016 does not mean it will be the dominant node for 2017. A factory offering a process does not necessarily make that process monetary viable. Remember 20nm? A really simple way of knowing what fabnodes give best bang for buck is to look at the large Asian SoC vendors whose parts are not used only in premium devices. When you see them moving from 28nm to 14nm, you will know 14nm has become the better price/performance node.

Bottomline being, 28nm is alive and kicking, and will be for at least a couple more years.

 

[mrklaw]

What is the power consumption of a current 3dsxl or vita? I can't imagine Nintendo using a CPU that consumes over 1W. Nor can I imagine AMD providing 14nm Polaris chips for them. That node isn't mature enough, Polaris isn't available yet, and it wouldn't be easy for them to integrate it onto a single die with the CPU - which would presumably be the preferred option to keep costs down.

Nintendo are conservative. They'll go for an established, safe, cheap node like 28nm and look to migrate smaller during the lifecycle to being costs down.

 

[ramparter]

Entirely random thought here but:

If Nintendo's NX platform and SDK can scale and adapt well, it'd be possible to create a "premium" handheld that had a 3D screen on it. The performance demands for doing 3D are pretty well linear. As long as the hardware had the oomph, you could get people (like me) who would pay more for such a hardware feature.

I just really like the idea of Nintendo experimenting with various hardware shapes and features. If their goal was to make the platform easily adaptable, they could really go hogwild.

If you think about it, 2DS could be an experiment of that idea. We could have the base NX handheld at say 200$ and the 3DX that has more power to support 3D at 250-280$.

 

[AmyS]

Do employees have any linkedin profiles from the 3DS era where they said they were working on "next-gen handheld"?

I ask because we've heard Kimishima, Reggie, Tanabe, Koei Tecmo president, and now a bunch of LinkedIn profile referring to it as a console.

Edit: I'll try to gather all the sources referring to it as a console

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...think_nx_is_a_home_console_first_and_foremost

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/06...ls-aime-talks-amiibo-and-the-skylanders-deal/

(handheld games don't take three years to make)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-17-next-proper-metroid-prime-would-likely-now-be-on-nx

(no mention of saying they're not building the next version of 3DS

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/nintendo-nx-release-date-news-and-rumors-1289401


http://www.stevenchith.com/resume/

(ohh, consoles, it's plural.)
http://nintendoeverything.com/ninte...gen-unannounced-consoles-on-linkedin-profile/

(NX confirmed to lay the smackdown on PS4 and XB1 confirmed!) (probably is Google AR device or Steam machine)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanandh-ramadass-5b036425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-VYlwzUS-M

And tons of other linkedin profiles lol.

AMD shouldn't have any trouble swapping Zen for ARM in the case of Nintendo's handheld and console.

 

[Hermii]

Do employees have any linkedin profiles from the 3DS era where they said they were working on "next-gen handheld"?

I ask because we've heard Kimishima, Reggie, Tanabe, Koei Tecmo president, and now a bunch of LinkedIn profile referring to it as a console.

Edit: I'll try to gather all the sources referring to it as a console

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...think_nx_is_a_home_console_first_and_foremost

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/06...ls-aime-talks-amiibo-and-the-skylanders-deal/

(handheld games don't take three years to make)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-17-next-proper-metroid-prime-would-likely-now-be-on-nx

(no mention of saying they're not building the next version of 3DS

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/nintendo-nx-release-date-news-and-rumors-1289401


http://www.stevenchith.com/resume/

(ohh, consoles, it's plural.)
http://nintendoeverything.com/ninte...gen-unannounced-consoles-on-linkedin-profile/

(NX confirmed to lay the smackdown on PS4 and XB1 confirmed!) (probably is Google AR device or Steam machine)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanandh-ramadass-5b036425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-VYlwzUS-M

And tons of other linkedin profiles lol.

Ultra high end you say? I have a hard time believing that lol.

Also belive that guy in the video was wrong when he said the PS4 didn't have an ultra high end APU, because Im pretty sure it was the highest end gaming APU on the market when PS4 released.

Edit: Or like you said it could be google AR or Steam machine, but I thought those were considered PCs and not consoles.

 

[DrROBschiz]

this thread is getting sexy again

I wonder when the next big piece of news will come along. Wouldnt mind a small leak

 

[blu]

AMD shouldn't have any trouble swapping Zen for ARM in the case of Nintendo's handheld and console.

That's the fake leak, IIRC. AMD have stated first Zen APU is scheduled for 2017.

 

[Eradicate]

this thread is getting sexy again

I wonder when the next big piece of news will come along. Wouldnt mind a small leak

I've got nothing. Saw a Nintendo alarm clock/QoL things in some Japanese patents today (click Full Text or Drawings tabs):

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021236

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021235

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021361

Looks like you can plug a phone or something in it and Mario will tell you to get out of bed and give you coins for not being lazy.

I've got nothing. Hopefully some neat tidbits come out before the weekend!

 

[DrROBschiz]

Realistically the waters will remain calm until the April/May rollercoaster to E3 begins

This summer is going to be ridiculous

 

[spekkeh]

That's the fake leak, IIRC. AMD have stated first Zen APU is scheduled for 2017.

Also, I doubt Nintendo would go with tech that released the same year. (as in I'm sure they won't).

 

[Hermii]

I've got nothing. Saw a Nintendo alarm clock/QoL things in some Japanese patents today (click Full Text or Drawings tabs):

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021236

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021235

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2016021361

Looks like you can plug a phone or something in it and Mario will tell you to get out of bed and give you coins for not being lazy.

I've got nothing. Hopefully some neat tidbits come out before the weekend!

Maybe the sleep, fatigue sensor isn't scrapped after all, even though it sounded like it based on kimis recent q&a.

 

[Rösti]

Just a reminder:

Ubisoft Q3 Sales

Thursday, February 11th, 2016

This webcast is due to begin at 6:15 pm CET

Source: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/i75gcv6w

At best we'll get an analyst to ask a question about NX.

Maybe the sleep, fatigue sensor isn't scrapped after all, even though it sounded like it based on kimis recent q&a.

A patent is, as always, not a confirmation or denial of a product's development status. I believe there are a few earlier QOL-related patents as well.

Of course this patent is very clear with its drawings what it concerns, so hopefully the development of QOL continues.

 

[Hermii]

Just a reminder:


Source: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/i75gcv6w

At best we'll get an analyst to ask a question about NX.

A patent is, as always, not a confirmation or denial of a product's development status. I believe there are a few earlier QOL-related patents as well.

Of course this patent is very clear with its drawings what it concerns, so hopefully the development of QOL continues.

If ubi had devkits, we would already know all about the NX

 

[DrROBschiz]

If ubi had devkits, we would already know all about the NX

LOL

Yeah...

 

[Jackano]

Just a reminder:


Source: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/i75gcv6w

At best we'll get an analyst to ask a question about NX.

If ubi had devkits, we would already know all about the NX

As I imagine it, Ubi/Guillemot have something else to deal with right now instead of playing that game again with Nintendo.
And even if the Wii U fail wasn't enough for them to avoid some sort of early support this time, Bolloré will eventually come up and say 'lol, cancel everything" as early as he gets enough voting rights.

 

[maxcriden]

I think some component of Ubi must have devkits. How else will they make Just Dance in time for launch? And, hopefully, Rayman. I imagine with the tighter NDA this time they just really did tighten up their ship.

 

[Rodin]

(probably is Google AR device or Steam machine)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanandh-ramadass-5b036425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-VYlwzUS-M

Ultra high end APU doesn't mean 6700K+980ti. Even the PS4 APU is "ultra high end", considering that when it came out AMD stated that it was the "most powerful" APU they had developed to date. I'm also pretty sure i read here that an ex Qualcomm guy was in charge with the SoC design, so it's definitely NX related. Google AR and Steam machines are not even consoles.

 

[10k]

Ultra high end you say? I have a hard time believing that lol.

Also belive that guy in the video was wrong when he said the PS4 didn't have an ultra high end APU, because Im pretty sure it was the highest end gaming APU on the market when PS4 released.

Edit: Or like you said it could be google AR or Steam machine, but I thought those were considered PCs and not consoles.

Well industry leading chips would paint a picture of a powerful APU. But industry leading chips is so vague it could mean latest generations of CPU and GPU or APU but Nintendo could use the lower end versions of those things.

For example, 14nm is currently the industry leading fabrication node is it not? So if Nintendo is using that process that would qualify as industry leading.

this thread is getting sexy again

I wonder when the next big piece of news will come along. Wouldnt mind a small leak

You're welcome ;p

 

[Bots are better than you]

I think some component of Ubi must have devkits. How else will they make Just Dance in time for launch? And, hopefully, Rayman. I imagine with the tighter NDA this time they just really did tighten up their ship.

Someone with GIF making skills should take this GIF, and add the text "Well, this is our very special Ubisoft NDA, common stuff" and "This is our normal NDA, who were you working for you said?" when he holds up that single sheet of paper.

 

[methodman]

With Microsoft releasing most exclusives on pc and Xbox one at the same time, I really hope that's Nintendo's goal with the console and handheld.

 

[maxcriden]

With Microsoft releasing most exclusives on pc and Xbox one at the same time, I really hope that's Nintendo's goal with the console and handheld.

I'll take it a step further. Microsoft should dedicate some teams to new handheld games (for Nintendo).

 

[Neoxon]

So this thread is now under the belief that the NX is only a home console? Then what of the 3DS's waning support from Nintendo?

 

[doop_]

So this thread is now under the belief that the NX is only a home console? Then what of the 3DS's waning support from Nintendo?

Since when ?

 

[atbigelow]

With Microsoft releasing most exclusives on pc and Xbox one at the same time, I really hope that's Nintendo's goal with the console and handheld.

So this thread is now under the belief that the NX is only a home console? Then what of the 3DS's waning support from Nintendo?

Huh?

 

[Neoxon]

Since when ?

I just saw 10k's post when I checked in & saw it quoted a lot. Then again, a single dev kit would make sense for a shared platform that's meant to scale the games being played.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

So this thread is now under the belief that the NX is only a home console? Then what of the 3DS's waning support from Nintendo?

It's always been the believe it's both a handheld and a console. It's a hardware suite of different form factors. I feel like every new NX thread has this discussion over and over again

 

[Neoxon]

It's always been the believe it's both a handheld and a console. It's a hardware suite of different form factors. I feel like every new NX thread has this discussion over and over again

I'm of the same belief. It's just 10k's post being quoted a lot gave me a different impression.

 

[Machina]

I'll take it a step further. Microsoft should dedicate some teams to new handheld games (for Nintendo).

This would legit shock me. If MS is ditching the console scene soon, they don't have any reason to compete with Nintendo. It's perfectly feasible that this is the direction the industry is going, especially now that Sony are just owning the console space, which means very interesting times aren't that far away.

 

[Hermii]

I'm of the same belief. It's just 10k's post being quoted a lot gave me a different impression.

This thread consists of multiple posters with different beliefs and perspectives. That's what makes it a fun discussion. But I believe most of us agree it's both.

 

[DaSorcerer7]

Ultra high end APU doesn't mean 6700K+980ti. Even the PS4 APU is "ultra high end", considering that when it came out AMD stated that it was the "most powerful" APU they had developed to date. I'm also pretty sure i read here that an ex Qualcomm guy was in charge with the SoC design, so it's definitely NX related. Google AR and Steam machines are not even consoles.

Yup, pointing towards nx.

 

[Mr Swine]

What is the power consumption of a current 3dsxl or vita? I can't imagine Nintendo using a CPU that consumes over 1W. Nor can I imagine AMD providing 14nm Polaris chips for them. That node isn't mature enough, Polaris isn't available yet, and it wouldn't be easy for them to integrate it onto a single die with the CPU - which would presumably be the preferred option to keep costs down.

Nintendo are conservative. They'll go for an established, safe, cheap node like 28nm and look to migrate smaller during the lifecycle to being costs down.

If they are going cheap, isn't it better to go with an even older node/CPU? Why not go with a super clocked CPU that Vita has?

This would legit shock me. If MS is ditching the console scene soon, they don't have any reason to compete with Nintendo. It's perfectly feasible that this is the direction the industry is going, especially now that Sony are just owning the console space, which means very interesting times aren't that far away.

Would never happen and they won't support their competitor (even if they did it early DS live)

 

[Jackano]

I'm sure this guy's linkedin has been posted already. ( a banned site did a topic on this yesterday) But I stumbled across this dude whole resume online. Must. Resist.. urge.. to.. contact.

What's interesting is that he is from Digipen, and work on multimedia drivers.
I'm myself at work right now, can't search for hours.

 

[10k]

Quoting my posts are a mistake. They're nothing but trash.


The point of the post was to see if anyone who does LinkedIn searches can find resumes of individuals referring to the 3DS or PS Vita or any handheld really as a "console" because all these LinkedIn profiles keep saying console and gaming execs call it a console as well.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Dont we know for sure that NX encompasses both a handheld and a console?

 

[Neff]

Dont we know for sure that NX encompasses both a handheld and a console?

Nope. We know that Nintendo intends to consolidate architecture and development between consoles and handhelds, but we don't yet have hard evidence that NX will benefit from this plan.

 

[mrklaw]

If they are going cheap, isn't it better to go with an even older node/CPU? Why not go with a super clocked CPU that Vita has?

At some point the really old/large node fans would be ramped down and actually start to be more expensive. 28nm is nicely mature and I think it'll be a solid node for several more years until 14/10nm gets more cost effective.

 

[10k]

14nm will be mature by next year if it's not already. Save the headaches and go for it now.

 

[DrROBschiz]

14nm will be mature by next year if it's not already. Save the headaches and go for it now.

Would be nice but wouldnt they already be years in the development of the hardware spec by now?

How late in R&D can such things be locked down or changed?

 

[benedictm]

Dont we know for sure that NX encompasses both a handheld and a console?

Everyone seems obsessed with this - because history - but I don't think it'll happen.

What about if the NX was one box you plugged in at home and to your broadband then you could stream the game playing on it to anywhere - the TV next to it, the handheld shell you could buy to go with it. Maybe even - sharp intake of breath - your PC or phone?

Feels like that would fit every single 'fact' that we know about the thing.

(maybe the NX would get 'help' from online servers to keep the gameplay experience when you were out an about.)

 

[DrROBschiz]

Everyone seems obsessed with this - because history - but I don't think it'll happen.

What about if the NX was one box you plugged in at home and to your broadband then you could stream the game playing on it to anywhere - the TV next to it, the handheld shell you could buy to go with it. Maybe even - sharp intake of breath - your PC or phone?

Feels like that would fit every single 'fact' that we know about the thing.

(maybe the NX would get 'help' from online servers to keep the gameplay experience when you were out an about.)

I dunno. 3DS is old. They still have a great handle on the Handheld market and likely dont want to exit it

Plus they would need a 200 dollar SKU to stay in the game there while also having a competitive console

I know there is no explicit confirmation yet but my money is that NX is two SKUs on a unified architecture

 

[Hero of Legend]

A hybrid is such a bad idea since it'll be both a weak console and a very expansive powerful handheld, if you know what I mean.

I feel it's a much wiser idea to just make the two separate units that are what they are and are good at being such. I think we can go full-on hybrid when graphics don't need to be that much improved really, but I don't see that for at least a decade.

Don't forget the 3DS at launch and Vita as a whole failed due to their prices at $250. I REALLY don't see that ever working in this day and age when mobile is even more powerful of a competitor than it was 5 years ago. $200 max for a handheld seems good as long as it has uses that justifies it. $150 would be even better.

And if the console will use the same carts, it won't use a disc drive and thus will be a tiny, quiet, but hopefully powerful box that could be $200-$250 depending on the handheld (Vita TV is $100 standalone to compare vs a $200 Vita, but that doesn't provide any additional graphical power).

 

[Hermii]

14nm will be mature by next year if it's not already. Save the headaches and go for it now.

Next year is to late if it's coming out this holiday. Besides if the NX is designed to be forward compatible we will probably see more incremental and more frequent hardware improvements rather than traditional generations.

 

[mrklaw]

14nm will be mature by next year if it's not already. Save the headaches and go for it now.

Or go 28nm to be conservative and then reap cost savings next year