What is Nintendo's "Revolutionary" weapon?
by Ajari Wilson · in General Discussion · 07/08/2005 (8:33 am) · 166 replies
I know I'm a big geek for starting this thread. Sorry if it has already been talked about. Like most of us here, I've been following the next generation systems and being an owner of all 3 consoles I have to admit that even though not much information has been told about the Nintendo Revolution, I'm not very excited about the system. (not that I'm too excited about anything "real" I've seen for the 360 or PS3 either) I hear it will be under powered compared to the 360 and the PS3. I've seen the little Metroid Prime 3 demo that looked almost exactly like the game cube version. And the Nintendo spokeperson (Regie Fills-Amie?) for that event was boasting about how "powerful" the system is."As you can see, the Revolution can more than hold it's own when it comes to graphical power". I would have been embarased to show that demo. I'm suprised he got that sentence out with a straight face. Nintendo is a stubborn company that always shoots themselves in the foot with their consoles (violence, cartridge, online, DVD, kiddie image and design, and now HDTV) but still manage to survive through Pokemon or the GBA.
"Revolution" so far means I get to play old games I've long forgotten about from an online service (I'm glad the big N is breaking new ground and changing the industry with online play. Now Microsoft and Sony need to get on the boat), I won't be playing the best looking games compared to the 360 and the PS3, and my system will most likeley look like a teched out Poptart. We have a lot to look forward to from Nintendo.
Anyway, despite my dissapointment with Nintendo and my lack of enthusiasm twards their new system, I am very eager to see this "mystery controller" they have up their sleeves. And I would like to ask you what you think or hope it will be.
This is what I hope Nintendo does to "revolutionize" the industry. The controller is obviously going to have some kind of touch screen (whoopee...) device but what I'm hoping for is some kind of VR headset. (Not like Vurtual Boy but a real VR headset) You ever wonder what happened to VR from the early 90's? Hasn't technology evolved far enough so that VR is very much a possability now? Screw HDTV and the limited pariphrial vision TV gives you in games like Halo, Burnout, and Metroid Prime. I'm tired of being hit from the sides by an enemy that I would have seen had I had the wrap around vision I do in real life. What better way to emerse yourself into the game world than to see nothing but the game and hear nothing but the game with 5.1 headphones. The screen can wrap around the inside of the headset slightly past your parephrials up, down, left, and right so you can never quite see the edge of the screen. The VR headset could also flip up when the game is paused or be flipped up manually. Having the headset wireless would probably be the best thing to do as well if it doesn't hurt costs too bad.
If the system came out for around $200 and the VR headset was $150 or less and came bundled with the system, I would pick it up over the 360 and the PS3 even if it had Nintendo 64 graphics. That alone is something I have NEVER experienced before. That would be a true revolution in games as we know them. And also may be why Nintendo is not supporting HD. But again, Nintendo is a very stubborn company that hates to evolve anything until it comes back to bite them in the ass (cartridge, online, kiddie image and design).
(Least paragraph I swear) To keep the cost down I would probably leave the 5.1 headphones optional. And leave the gameplay completley up to the controller, meaning no head movement will effect the game at all. I feel like a stupid 15 year old (not that all 15 year olds are stupid) with a "great" idea but it is fun to speculate and hope (I'm at work bored anyway). And plus I can say to the world "I KNEW IT!!!" if it is true. Well anyway, what do you guys think is this "revolutionary" device Nintendo has up their sleeves?
-Ajari-
"Revolution" so far means I get to play old games I've long forgotten about from an online service (I'm glad the big N is breaking new ground and changing the industry with online play. Now Microsoft and Sony need to get on the boat), I won't be playing the best looking games compared to the 360 and the PS3, and my system will most likeley look like a teched out Poptart. We have a lot to look forward to from Nintendo.
Anyway, despite my dissapointment with Nintendo and my lack of enthusiasm twards their new system, I am very eager to see this "mystery controller" they have up their sleeves. And I would like to ask you what you think or hope it will be.
This is what I hope Nintendo does to "revolutionize" the industry. The controller is obviously going to have some kind of touch screen (whoopee...) device but what I'm hoping for is some kind of VR headset. (Not like Vurtual Boy but a real VR headset) You ever wonder what happened to VR from the early 90's? Hasn't technology evolved far enough so that VR is very much a possability now? Screw HDTV and the limited pariphrial vision TV gives you in games like Halo, Burnout, and Metroid Prime. I'm tired of being hit from the sides by an enemy that I would have seen had I had the wrap around vision I do in real life. What better way to emerse yourself into the game world than to see nothing but the game and hear nothing but the game with 5.1 headphones. The screen can wrap around the inside of the headset slightly past your parephrials up, down, left, and right so you can never quite see the edge of the screen. The VR headset could also flip up when the game is paused or be flipped up manually. Having the headset wireless would probably be the best thing to do as well if it doesn't hurt costs too bad.
If the system came out for around $200 and the VR headset was $150 or less and came bundled with the system, I would pick it up over the 360 and the PS3 even if it had Nintendo 64 graphics. That alone is something I have NEVER experienced before. That would be a true revolution in games as we know them. And also may be why Nintendo is not supporting HD. But again, Nintendo is a very stubborn company that hates to evolve anything until it comes back to bite them in the ass (cartridge, online, kiddie image and design).
(Least paragraph I swear) To keep the cost down I would probably leave the 5.1 headphones optional. And leave the gameplay completley up to the controller, meaning no head movement will effect the game at all. I feel like a stupid 15 year old (not that all 15 year olds are stupid) with a "great" idea but it is fun to speculate and hope (I'm at work bored anyway). And plus I can say to the world "I KNEW IT!!!" if it is true. Well anyway, what do you guys think is this "revolutionary" device Nintendo has up their sleeves?
-Ajari-
#22
I like nintendo. i'm not a fanboy, but to me as a gamer i think they're the only console manufacturer that "get it" MS and Sony are on the second generation of their pissing contest about better graphics, and each "new" announced feature brings the systems one step closer to being something we all have, a computer. I don't want something that emulates what I already have. I just want something that plays games, or at least lets me play them in a "new" way. thats the message i get from them that I dont from the other two.
07/12/2005 (5:09 pm)
I hope the "secret weapon" is force feedback analog sticks. I couldn't think of many games that couldn't benefit from that. Won't happen though, and I can almost guarantee it'll have something to do with making them more friendly to non-gamers. the VR thing was speculation prior to E3 this year with this fake promo.I like nintendo. i'm not a fanboy, but to me as a gamer i think they're the only console manufacturer that "get it" MS and Sony are on the second generation of their pissing contest about better graphics, and each "new" announced feature brings the systems one step closer to being something we all have, a computer. I don't want something that emulates what I already have. I just want something that plays games, or at least lets me play them in a "new" way. thats the message i get from them that I dont from the other two.
#23
-Peter
07/13/2005 (12:38 am)
Shoot! That was an anazing video! I was ready to buy. I always wondered though. If something like that was ever made, how would they keep people from walking into walls? Anyway the video was cool. Same with the Zelda vid. I never bought that game but if I had seen that movie instead of the real one I think I would have.-Peter
#24
07/13/2005 (4:25 am)
Matthew, perhaps not technical, but very much comparative. When there's such a huge vocal push for online play (even though less than ten percent of console owners use it) I think it'll play a large part. 
#25
People are getting all excited about VR, 3D displays, gyroscopic devices, etc. It's going to be a letdown when it's something fairly mundane like the stylus input with the DS. My bet is when they announce we'll hear a collective "Oh. That's it?" from gamers everywhere.
07/13/2005 (4:02 pm)
I think Nintendo is shooting themselves in the foot a bit with all the secrecy. Whatever the new controller is, it won't be as exciting as what the potential of the controller could be.People are getting all excited about VR, 3D displays, gyroscopic devices, etc. It's going to be a letdown when it's something fairly mundane like the stylus input with the DS. My bet is when they announce we'll hear a collective "Oh. That's it?" from gamers everywhere.
#26
-Peter
07/13/2005 (10:42 pm)
I think the secrecy is a great idea! Its generating free publicity. I mean, just look at how long this thread has lived. You can only talk about MS's new graphics for so long, but people never get tired of talking about this. Whenever they do, Nintendo will just leak a little more info to feed the flames. I must addmit I'm at a lost for what they have cooked up and it could be a real let down. But then again, maybe not. Its a mystry to everyone...-Peter
#27
07/14/2005 (7:58 pm)
Brian, they're keeping it hush until Microsoft and Sony are far enough into their dev cycle not to copy it :) They have confirmed it's not a stylus, nor touch-screen based. In fact, they've confirmed it's more or less completely different from what everyone has suggested. So who knows?
#28
I still think VR would be the best choice. All it would do is replace the TV and HDTV and give you a wider field of vision and come with built in surround headphones. You wouldn't need to move your head or stand up or move anything but your thumbs. And for those who don't want to use it can still play on a traditional TV. I'm telling you, it'll be amazing. You guys aren't trying to hear me...
-Ajari-
08/06/2005 (9:05 am)
Ok so it's not VR. It's not gyroscope based. It's not touch screen. It's not a huge NES controller :p Well Nintendo did create or at least was the first to use almost every function of the controller we use today for consoles so if anybody is to create the next one it should be them. I just hope they don't make something so different that they split the console gaming world in two. People that use the traditional controller and people who use the new one. That may open the flood gates for companies to try to be "innovative" themselves and then we'd have like 20 very different controllers on the market. I still think VR would be the best choice. All it would do is replace the TV and HDTV and give you a wider field of vision and come with built in surround headphones. You wouldn't need to move your head or stand up or move anything but your thumbs. And for those who don't want to use it can still play on a traditional TV. I'm telling you, it'll be amazing. You guys aren't trying to hear me...
-Ajari-
#30
Maybe next generation?! ;)
- Ronixus
(Go figure, MS would go with the name 360 and I call my controller 360^3!)
08/06/2005 (11:00 am)
I doubt it's the fully 3D capable analogue controller I've designed...Maybe next generation?! ;)
- Ronixus
(Go figure, MS would go with the name 360 and I call my controller 360^3!)
#32
Nintendo seems to be pushing wi-fi technologies a lot, eh? Maybe their new system isn't bound by the "4 controller" limit? I don't recall seeing controller ports other than the Gamecube ports. (Which, I was under the impression, was being treated almost as a seperate entity from the Revolution, despite being built right in.) As for their lack of HDTV... I could care less. I can't afford one anyway. I hope Nintendo really pushes to the budget gamer crowd, frankly. The cheaper the system is, the more likely I am to snap it up and buy a bunch of my favorite oldies. (As well as 512MB memory cards, unfortunately.)
Ya know, the way Nintendo and Sega seem to be holding hands anymore, I'd say it's possible that Sega's library will open up through Nintendos emulation setup. If they added Master System/Genesis/Sega CD/32X/Saturn/Dreamcast titles... How could they NOT take back a large market share? Further, is it possible that their support of Indie titles will be related to their downloadable games store?
Also, while Nintendo's stance on "More power doesn't mean better games" is probably just a desperate marketing tactic, I applaud them for it. It HAS been sickening listening to the big guys slugging it out over who has the better hardware... Especially when most of their games look pretty much the same!
Anywho, I'm back on the Nintendo hype machine as much as I was with the N64. I pray the Revolution does not share it's fate.
08/11/2005 (8:14 am)
I just hope it can play all the NES, SNES and N64 games with ease. I'm SO glad that Nintendo is taking the first steps into legal emulation. It really should have been done years ago. (I just hope they keep it on the cheap... I don't want to pay $20 for a game that is up to 20 years old.) I do, however, think it was a mistake to not include a hard drive. (My guess is MS lost a lot of money they could have been making on all the too-small memory stick garbage. Now it seems nobody will include a hard drive.) *sigh*Nintendo seems to be pushing wi-fi technologies a lot, eh? Maybe their new system isn't bound by the "4 controller" limit? I don't recall seeing controller ports other than the Gamecube ports. (Which, I was under the impression, was being treated almost as a seperate entity from the Revolution, despite being built right in.) As for their lack of HDTV... I could care less. I can't afford one anyway. I hope Nintendo really pushes to the budget gamer crowd, frankly. The cheaper the system is, the more likely I am to snap it up and buy a bunch of my favorite oldies. (As well as 512MB memory cards, unfortunately.)
Ya know, the way Nintendo and Sega seem to be holding hands anymore, I'd say it's possible that Sega's library will open up through Nintendos emulation setup. If they added Master System/Genesis/Sega CD/32X/Saturn/Dreamcast titles... How could they NOT take back a large market share? Further, is it possible that their support of Indie titles will be related to their downloadable games store?
Also, while Nintendo's stance on "More power doesn't mean better games" is probably just a desperate marketing tactic, I applaud them for it. It HAS been sickening listening to the big guys slugging it out over who has the better hardware... Especially when most of their games look pretty much the same!
Anywho, I'm back on the Nintendo hype machine as much as I was with the N64. I pray the Revolution does not share it's fate.
#33
Thankfully, it looks like the Revolution will use common SD cards for their memory, not a custom card. The 512 was internal storage, but they've hinted at being able to store downloads on the SD cards as well. Still, I'd rather have an actual HD... the XBox has spoiled me in that respect. Thankfully it looks like the XBox 360 WILL have a HD included at launch.
08/11/2005 (6:37 pm)
Actually, it WAS done years ago... Activision and Midway were using emulation technology to bring their old games to the PC back in the 90's, and Nintendo used it on the GBA and GC for the NES games in Animal Crossing, the NES e-Cards and the Classic NES collection.Thankfully, it looks like the Revolution will use common SD cards for their memory, not a custom card. The 512 was internal storage, but they've hinted at being able to store downloads on the SD cards as well. Still, I'd rather have an actual HD... the XBox has spoiled me in that respect. Thankfully it looks like the XBox 360 WILL have a HD included at launch.
#34
Maybe it'll be a ball with a gyroscope in it and buttons on it. You could hold one in each hand and rotate them to control games and it'd still have standard buttons ... preferably with some sort of rubix cube design so you could move the buttons where you want.
Whatever it is I hope it's configurable so that the controller can become something different for every game.
As for the rest of everything.
A) For complaints against Metroid Prime 3. Metroid Prime looks better than any game I have on my Xbox right now ... and also all the 360 demos I've seen so if Prime 3 looks the same then yes I'd be impressed still.
B) Sony does have Fanboys
C) Stop complaining about Nintendo's fumbles ... that's what happens in life, make a mistake and learn. At least they attempt to fix problems and at least they aren't push overs. When they're good and ready to adopt a new technology/policy they do it.
All the new systems are great, they all have their strengths and weaknesses ... I'll buy and love them all.
08/11/2005 (7:11 pm)
I think the new controller will include custom setup abilities via some sort of touch technology. It probably won't work like the DS touch screen exactly but something where you can place your A, B, X, Y and analog sticks wherever you want ... maybe it'll be open for developers to put new controls (as many as they can fit) onto the controller which itself will just be one big touch sensor ... with a gyroscope built in.Maybe it'll be a ball with a gyroscope in it and buttons on it. You could hold one in each hand and rotate them to control games and it'd still have standard buttons ... preferably with some sort of rubix cube design so you could move the buttons where you want.
Whatever it is I hope it's configurable so that the controller can become something different for every game.
As for the rest of everything.
A) For complaints against Metroid Prime 3. Metroid Prime looks better than any game I have on my Xbox right now ... and also all the 360 demos I've seen so if Prime 3 looks the same then yes I'd be impressed still.
B) Sony does have Fanboys
C) Stop complaining about Nintendo's fumbles ... that's what happens in life, make a mistake and learn. At least they attempt to fix problems and at least they aren't push overs. When they're good and ready to adopt a new technology/policy they do it.
All the new systems are great, they all have their strengths and weaknesses ... I'll buy and love them all.
#35
08/11/2005 (7:18 pm)
Oh, Ajari, to address your point in your first post about MP3 looking like it was run on GC hardware, well, it was ;) Nothing indicative of the final performance of the Rev has been anywhere near revealed at this point.
#36
-Ajari-
08/12/2005 (12:01 am)
So Matt then why did he talk about the "Revolution" as being "able to more than hold it's own when it comes to graphical power" while he showed that clip? Also on Gamespot and IGN they show that same clip as Revolution footage, not Game Cube footage. Where are you getting your sources from?-Ajari-
#37
As the Revolution hardware wasn't/isn't ready the clip was running on GameCube. IGN confirmed this a while back and we posted a news story about it on my gaming site a while back:
www.gameburst.com/fullnews.php?&newsId=109
-Greg.
08/12/2005 (12:50 am)
They talked about the Revolution when showing that clip because the game will be on Revolution. This is the same reason IGN/GameSpot have it listed as Revolution footage.As the Revolution hardware wasn't/isn't ready the clip was running on GameCube. IGN confirmed this a while back and we posted a news story about it on my gaming site a while back:
www.gameburst.com/fullnews.php?&newsId=109
-Greg.
#38
All in there, if you can get access. I can't, because I'm not in the US/Canada :(
Even going by facts (as hard as facts can get), the Rev has been touted as two to three times more powerful than the Cube. A cutscene showing Samus and her ship? Incredibly easy to create on the Gamecube. Take the poly count of RE4 where Leon is battling a dozen enemies, remove everything that's not being called up and put all the grunt to graphical processing. It is strange how stubbornly you think it's indicative of the Revolution's final output, if only by the fact the system is still 12 months away.
08/12/2005 (1:11 am)
Http://www.luminothtemple.com/index.jspAll in there, if you can get access. I can't, because I'm not in the US/Canada :(
Even going by facts (as hard as facts can get), the Rev has been touted as two to three times more powerful than the Cube. A cutscene showing Samus and her ship? Incredibly easy to create on the Gamecube. Take the poly count of RE4 where Leon is battling a dozen enemies, remove everything that's not being called up and put all the grunt to graphical processing. It is strange how stubbornly you think it's indicative of the Revolution's final output, if only by the fact the system is still 12 months away.
#39
If Nintendo does offer indie support as has been speculated, it will be hard for them to fail.
Now, about that controller...
08/15/2005 (12:44 pm)
If only they would appeal to the HD and HDD fans out there. I don't care about HD-TV, but I am a fan of Hard-disk drives in consoles. Both technologies included would put Nintendo in a much better position in terms of tech. (At the sacrifice of price, unfortunately.) I would like to see a HDD for sure, if only to support all the classics I plan on getting. (Nintendo's ace-in-the-hole is a VERY strong one this time around.) I very much hope Sega teams with Nintendo on the retro scene... They have everything to gain from it, really.If Nintendo does offer indie support as has been speculated, it will be hard for them to fail.
Now, about that controller...
#40
08/16/2005 (5:18 am)
I Just now thought to ask, if the Revolution is going to be opened up to indie game developers, will they also be pushing indies on the Nintendo DS? Could prove to be a smart move, considering the success of the PSP and DS on illegal "homebrew" scenes. If people wanna make games, sell them all the tools, I say. 
Torque 3D Owner Matthew Langley
Torque
No offense, but with statements like that I usually block out the comment completely... thats hardly any technical or comparative data.
Nintendo has a good past. I haven't seen anything too great in the recent years, though I am a huge fan of a lot of the old NES and SNES games. Though the credit for that has to go to the game developers as well.
If Nintendo allows me to play the old NES and SNES classics on the new system then I'd probably buy it. Though I'd really like to see something new and innovative out of them, well at least something new and innovative that I would appreciate. Sure they have been innovative with Nintendo DS and a few other things but in all honesty that doesn't impress or really interest me that much *shrug*.