Nintendo Revolution: the cheap and powerful alternative...

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2005-12-07 05:43pm

December 6, 2005 - Just yesterday IGN Revolution launched with technical details on Nintendo's next-generation console, codenamed Revolution. And today more development sources have come forward with both clarification and even more tech specs. The latest news begins to paint a clearer picture of Nintendo's aim with its next platform.

We cannot stress this enough: Revolution is not being positioned as a competitor to either Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Nintendo has instead chosen to design a console that will be very affordable for consumers. For that very reason, say developers in the know, the Big N has opted out of filling the system with a massive supply of expensive RAM.

In yesterday's article, we wrote that Revolution would include 128MBs of RAM, or possibly less. Developers have clarified the makeup based on officially released Nintendo documentation. Revolution will build on GameCube's configuration of 24MBs 1T-SRAM and 16MBs D-RAM (40MBs) by adding an addition 64MBs of 1T-SRAM. The result is a supply of memory in Revolution that totals 104MBs. That number does not consider either the 512MBs of allegedly accessible (but hardly ideal) Flash RAM or the Hollywood GPU's on-board memory, said to be 3MBs by sources.

Revolution's Broadway CPU, developed by IBM, is an extension of the Gekko CPU in GameCube, according to official Nintendo documentation passed to us by software houses. The Hollywood GPU, meanwhile, is believed to be an extension of the Flipper GPU in GameCube. Since developers have not gone hands-on with the GPU, they can only go on Nintendo documentation, which is limited.

Exact clock rates were not disclosed, but one development source we spoke to had this to say of the Revolution CPU and GPU: "Basically, take a GameCube, double the clock rate of the CPU and GPU and you're done."

We presented that description to another informed studio, which clarified that the clock rates may even fall short of doubling those on GameCube.

"The CPU is the same as Gekko with one and a half to two times the performance and improved caching," said a source. "Our guys experimented with it and think they'll be able to get about twice the performance as GameCube."

"It's a gamble for the Big N," said another source. "It's not about horsepower for them -- it's about innovation and gameplay."

We've also been able to unearth firm details on the storage capacity for Revolution discs. Recent rumors suggesting that the discs can hold 12GBs of data are false. In fact, Revolution discs can store 4.7GBs of data on a single layer or 8.5GBs when double-layered on a single-side. This is a massive jump from the 1.5GB capacity of GameCube discs and more than enough storage capacity for any non-high-definition game.

Readers discouraged by Revolution's seeming lack of horsepower when compared to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 should remember that Nintendo is not interested in competing in the high-definition gaming arena, and as a standard-definition console, Revolution is more than capable. Capcom's Resident Evil 4 remains one of the most gorgeous games this generation and it ran on GameCube, a console at least half as powerful according to developer reports.

Software houses we spoke with also waxed on the immediate advantage to Nintendo's approach with Revolution, which is, of course, system price. Every developer was in agreement that Revolution should launch with a price tag of $149 or lower. Some speculated that based on the tech, a $99 price point would not be out of the question.

Stay tuned for more as it develops.

Twice as powerful as Gamecube with all of the Nintendo exclusives and a price tag of $150 at launch? Hmm...

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-12-07 05:49pm

Fuck yes. I'm definately getting one now.

Cheap. Good and powerful enough. And so fucking innovative to boot.

thecreech · Post by **thecreech** » 2005-12-07 05:50pm

off all the console makers i respect Nintendo the most for making a video game system and not a fucking expensive as multimedia system. I don't care for DVD playing capabilties or Music recording devices. I already have that stuff on my PC and along with my normal DVD player that i have in my house. That fact that it is supposedly "underpowered" wont worry me a bit.

Vanas · Post by **Vanas** » 2005-12-07 05:53pm

Yes. Oh, God yes.
*now desires a Revolution more than ever*

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » 2005-12-07 05:55pm

Hell, even if I wasn't a shameless Nintendo fanboy, the price would be more than enough to convince me.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-12-07 06:03pm

$150? That's it? It may be time to make my first console purchase since I got that used N64...

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-12-07 06:03pm

Well. Fuck.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2005-12-07 06:04pm

What's the price of downloading old games, though?

Wild Karrde · Post by **Wild Karrde** » 2005-12-07 06:05pm

All first party games will be free.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2005-12-07 06:05pm

Master of Ossus wrote:What's the price of downloading old games, though?

None announced for third party. There have been indications first party(Every single game made by Nintendo itself.. The zeldas, the Marios..) will be free.

Oh yes. There's a party in my pants tonight.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-12-07 06:07pm

Even without the older games, at $150 for a crack at the next generation of Zeldas, Metroids and Marios...fuck yeah.

The older stuff is just icing on the cake.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-12-07 06:08pm

Yes, Nintendo is god, there can be no doubt about that now.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2005-12-07 06:10pm

The Revolution is quiet too, the 360 has a jet engine driving its cooling system. I understand it's slight bother.

I'm torn between the PS3 (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and the track record of the PS2) and the Revolution, whith its revolutionary controller, cheap-ass price tag, and the fact that Nintendo always has had a pretty good variety. Never approaching the sheer inmensity of PS2 options, the Game Cube had a sufficient quantity of fun games. Previous track-record is very important to me when deciding what I'm going to buy, wasn't impressed by the X-Box and don't expect to be overly impressed by the 360.

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2005-12-07 06:21pm

Quite nice. I never got the appeal of media center consoles when they already have dvd players and PCs. Plus, knowing Nintendo, it's sure to have some (*gasp*) innovative games (especially with that kickass controller), instead of the shinified rehashed shit on the 360 availible thus far.

Sharpshooter · Post by **Sharpshooter** » 2005-12-07 06:34pm

You know, this makes those biblican/divine allusions I had regarding Nintendo on another board a few days ago all the more creepier. I'm starting to think I'm a fuckin' messiah now, what with a few other "revelations" I've had in the past few days. The second Nintendo starts taking reserve orders, I'm shipping out my one-fifty and marking the calender - fuck, I might order one for both me and my brother, depending on the whole on-line gaming aspect of the system.

I'm comin' home, pappy!!! I'm comin' home!!!

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-12-07 06:35pm

God damn...

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2005-12-07 06:48pm

SirNitram wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:What's the price of downloading old games, though?
None announced for third party. There have been indications first party(Every single game made by Nintendo itself.. The zeldas, the Marios..) will be free.

Oh yes. There's a party in my pants tonight.

It'd be nice if Nintendo could make arrangements with Sega to allow Revolution to download and play old games for the SMS, Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast. After all, Sega's not a competitor any more, yet they have an extensive library of old games that should run just as well on Revolution via emulation as the old Nintendo games do.

Thnk about it.

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2005-12-07 06:48pm

fucking beautiful.....

-wipes away tear-

I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed by Nintendo....maybe once people get past the "hi-def" hype of the PS3 and the 360.. could we perhaps see the re-rise of Nintendo in the Console Wars?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-12-07 06:51pm

Is it just me or is Nintendo starting to become the Google of videogaming? Just from the sounds of their plans?

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2005-12-07 07:18pm

A next-gen console at less than half the price of the competition? Fucking brilliant. Now they just need some good controllers and I'll happily relinquidh my Xbox-fanboyism in favor of the Revolution.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2005-12-07 07:37pm

How is this so wonderful? If the hardware isn't much more powerful than an Xbox, why is it so great that it's $150? After all, an Xbox can be bought right now for $150.

I guess it's pretty clear now that all those who believed that the Revolution could compete hardware wise with the X360 and PS3 were wrong. Even I didn't think that it would be this bad, but it does show that Nintendo is still unwilling to sell its consoles at a loss despite some people's opinions to the contrary.

EDIT: Plus, if rumors are to be believed about the launch date (and given the unveiling at E3 2006 it wouldn't surprise me), then Nintendo will be looking at a release around Q4 2006 if they are lucky. By that time Microsoft could drop the Core system to $199 if they feel the Revolution is a threat. Obviously the PS3 can't compete, but the X360 certainly can expect a price cut by next Christmas.

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-12-07 07:51pm

What I find appealing is all of the shit like the controllers etc.

Instant Sunrise · Post by **Instant Sunrise** » 2005-12-07 07:56pm

I was considering getting one in addition to the xbox 360 I have, this seals it. I'm definately getting one now.

Of course the price point will probably shift the sales demographics towards a younger age, and thus the games that will sell on it will be meant for younger kids, and this console won't do much to help the "kiddy" image that Nintendo ha built.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2005-12-07 08:06pm

The Kernel wrote:How is this so wonderful? If the hardware isn't much more powerful than an Xbox, why is it so great that it's $150? After all, an Xbox can be bought right now for $150.

It's twice as powerful as the Gamecube, which was (IIRC) only a tad less powerful than the Xbox.

Being "only" 2x powerful than the GC will still allow them to make games more impressive than anything I've played thus far.

Honestly, my only gripe is the Revolution controller. It doesn't impress me.

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2005-12-07 08:06pm

The Kernal wrote:I guess it's pretty clear now that all those who believed that the Revolution could compete hardware wise with the X360 and PS3 were wrong. Even I didn't think that it would be this bad, but it does show that Nintendo is still unwilling to sell its consoles at a loss despite some people's opinions to the contrary.

Nintendo has stated for sometime, that the Revolution wasn't looking to compete against the X360 or the PS3, since thier press conference at E3 2004. They've stressed that point in nearly every interview I've seen since then.

Personally, I have beleived the "Console Wars" was always about innovation of gameplay in the next generation, not just being able to slap a new face on a old product.

Take the leap from the "16 bit" console days to the "32/64 bit" consoles - where before we were limited to a primarily "2d" path along a "3d" world (in the sense that the game world had it's own internal three dimensions, but we were limited to seeing it in two), we were able to have "true" three dimensional game worlds (Crash Bandicoot, Super Mario 64, Resident Evil). The current generation gave us more realistic physics ingame, more lifelike explosions and effects, etc.

The next generation, what does it offer us? It doesn't offer us much in the way of new gameplay, it offers us High Definition resolutions. Where is the innovation? The fact that the systems are more multimedia centers than game consoles? If I want a multi-media center, I will purchase hardware designed for that, if I want to rip music or surf the web, I will use a computer. Sony and Microsoft, this generation, has given us hi-def graphics. This isn't something to rave and exclaim worthy of a new generation in my eyes (emphasised to make sure you see it's my opinion).

Nintendo, in this instance, is moving thier console into the next generation, not based on Graphics (which they have already shown with the Gamecube, they can pull off with the very best of them), but which giving us a innovative way to play the games, as well as finding a way to keep the pricepoint down to acceptable levels for both the consumer and the developer.

Until we see the console in action, we can 'oh' and 'ah' and grumble as much as we all desire, but to outright put down the system without seeing it? Just by going on the limited information we have, and automatically becoming disgusted because it doesn't live up to your expectations?

I beleive it is a bit premature. But, what do I know. I'm just a guy who likes to play games.