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GameCube (Games) Entertainment Games

Nintendo To Launch New Machine Next Year? 295

Posted by Hemos from the trying-to-regain-the-market dept.
EvilDonut writes "According to Bloomberg.com, Nintendo intends to launch a new machine in Japan next year, in order "to boost sales". There are no details as to wether the machine will be hand-held or not, but Bloomberg does describe it as a next-generation console. This is pretty odd, as Nintendo has previously stated that the GameCube successor wouldn't be out until 2005, and the GBA is doing so well that I can't imagine they'll replace it as early as next year. The article also mentions the Nintendo iQue, so it's pretty clear this is not just a mix-up regarding the new, China-only system." Update: 11/13 23:44 GMT by S : GameSpot has a very cryptic clarification from Nintendo, that "the new product will be a unique item that is different from any traditional machine", and will be "be [neither] a home console nor a portable machine."
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Nintendo To Launch New Machine Next Year? More

Nintendo To Launch New Machine Next Year?

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  • Well (Score:5, Funny)

    by beady ( 710116 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:26AM (#7462909)
    2 Comments of the 3 were Intimating that the new console was the IQue. Not reading the article is something I have grown to expect, but not reading the blurb either?
    • Actually, the article doesn't ever mention iQue by name. It is entirely conceivable, though perhaps unusual, that they will release the iQue in China this month, and in Japan next year. This is November. We're only talking two months here.

  • Next-Gen console (Score:5, Insightful)

    by BESTouff ( 531293 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:32AM (#7462946)
    Of course, the Pr states it's a nextgen console ! It's explicitely said it's there to boost sales, what do you believe ? That they'd call it "old technology, just rebadged console" ?

  • New console is a portable Ique (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:33AM (#7462952)
    Recently I read an article about the Ique. Basicly it is an n64 integrated into one chip. They also sais that this chip doesn't consume much power. Because of this I think their next generation console is in fact a next generation gameboy based on the ique.

    • Re:New console is a portable Ique (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Troed ( 102527 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:06AM (#7463093) Homepage Journal
      That was my guess too - but I'm leaning more towards the next Gameboy to be a Gamecube-on-a-chip. Notice the Sony PSP using 6cm 1.8Gb cds - notice the Gamecube using 6cm 1.6Gb cds. That's why the cube used them from the beginning - building up to the same hardware being used in a portable. Instant selection of great games at launch aswell.

      The cube hardware is being sold (at a profit, most certainly) for $99. Expect Nintendo to be able to buy cheap displays - and off you go.
      • That's why the cube used them from the beginning - building up to the same hardware being used in a portable.

        Though this is certainly a nice after effect. actually, this is not why the GC uses small discs. At the time, there was quite a bit of hemming and hawwing about how N wasn't going to move to discs for the portable, but rather wait for something SD/MemoryStick-ish.

        The reason Nintendo abstained from CDs was loading time. The management of Nintendo at the time believed that the increase in cost and decrease in game volume would be offset by the ten to twenty seconds that they at the time believed that games would require as loading time fairly frequently; apparently, they believed that a situation like Resident Evil's would be the norm, and I find it disappointingly common in early (and occasionally even modern) PlayStation games.

        As things progressed and as Nintendo's error became apparent, they tried to prepare external CD drve after external CD drive, only to be met with fundamental price problems that came from supporting multiple storage formats. Nintendo saw the CD as an albatross, though, and it wasn't until Sega successfully pushed the GD that Nintendo began to believe that a proprietary format was realistic.

        Once they did, however, the load time issue because their primary focus. In order to reduce both seek time and to increase disc resilience to high speed, they came to the decision that a minidisc format, which has significantly less angular momentum, would be the best way to go. Besides, it offered a very strong protection against piracy, as nobody could make their discs without specialized hardware.

        I do hope that they carry the disc format to the new portable machine; that would allow enterprising developers to write cross-platform software, something that currently *none* of the portable manufacturers offer (and really, a game which was intended for portability but which offered editors and maintenance tools on the less cramed home system seems ideal to me.)

        Whereas I hope this happens, I really don't think that was the original reasoning.
        • I'd say that Nintendo has always used excuses like that to justify an ironclad grip on producing the games that run in its consoles. The hard drive model as executed in the XBox tends to be faster, and the Gamecube could certainly have been outfitted with a little more RAM for buffering if load time was really the concern (granted the super-compressed textures are condusive to fast loading...and lower data capacity). Agreed that Gamecube doesn't use small discs for potential portability, since they have n
      • That's why the cube used them from the beginning - building up to the same hardware being used in a portable. Instant selection of great games at launch aswell.

        I've thought about this, and I don't really think it's going to happen, ever. I don't think they'll want to make a portable with as many buttons and sticks as the GameCube controller. It's probably not an efficient use of space.

        I hope I'm wrong though.

  • next year (Score:5, Insightful)

    by __aahlyu4518 ( 74832 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:36AM (#7462963)
    New console was not to be expected till 2005 ? ... So... If they release this thing december next year... Then what is all the fuzz about... 1 month ???
    • Consoles are not generally released in January. It is not a high sales month. Gamecube, XBox, PS2, and I think even the N64 were all fall releases, in anticipation of the holiday rush. The PS2 was released in October, which is a little early for the November shopping extravaganza, but it also had the unique position of being the first of the next-gen consoles to be released, and hype is a company's best friend. So, to answer your question, it's more like 10 months, not 1.

      • Re:next year (Score:2, Insightful)

        by PainKilleR-CE ( 597083 )
        The PS2 was released in October, which is a little early for the November shopping extravaganza, but it also had the unique position of being the first of the next-gen consoles to be released, and hype is a company's best friend.

        Just a minor correction, the Dreamcast was released in September the year before, and is definitely part of the current generation despite it's support being cut off very early. Sony built up the PS2 hype and released the redesigned PSOne around the same time to counter (successf
      • Is your math correct?

        If it was released in Nov of 2004 that would only be 2 months before 2005, wouldn't it?

        Or if it was released in Oct of 2004 that would only be 3 months before 2005.

    • Re:next year (Score:5, Insightful)

      by LeoDV ( 653216 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:43AM (#7463001) Journal
      Most consoles are released towards the end of the year to cash in on the holiday seasons. So if they release this thing december next year, the fuzz is more about 10 months.

    • It's a refresher product. a souped up cube (Score:4, Insightful)

      by *weasel ( 174362 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:26AM (#7463218)
      oh, when they say 2005 - they mean christmas 2005, which is the broad release estimate that all 3 console makers have been giving for the nextgen gear.

      but anyway, this coming out exactly 1 year before the nextgen strongly suggests that it is a refresher for the line. perhaps simply just a repackaged gamecube (here's wishing they add 64/snes backwards compat).

      but the one year lead is inline with sony's demonstration of the success of restructuring your existing console to take advantage of lower manufacturing and component costs, and shipping the old product in a new sleek design at lower cost a year before your new design. Nintendo may be trying to bring their costs down to mitigate production losses at their current price. The Gamecube may have made money for nintendo on each sale at $200, but it's very unlikely that it's still a direct profit item at its $100 price.

      it has long been rumored that MS is indeed planning the same thing for the xbox, and sony's announced pvr/digital tv tuner/ps2 certainly sounds like they aren't bucking the trend.

      Releasing the next gen nintendo box now would be a -bad- move. developer support for the gamecube has been evaporating - but the trend may reverse itself due to the GC's strong sales with its new superlow price. if they keep to the official schedule, they have a shot at getting developers back on board with their refresh product, and actually have some 3rd party games for their next console.

      besides, if it was the nextgen console - there'd already have to have been developer kits sent out, and someone would've leaked something - one does not crank out games for nintendo in 10 months. (nintendo not being a fan of shovelware)

  • I don't think this is news....... (Score:5, Informative)

    by TomHandy ( 578620 ) <<tomhandy> <at> <gmail.com>> on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:43AM (#7462998)
    Nintendo had previously said at E3 this year that they are working on a new machine for next year, but they also made it pretty clear it was something they wouldn't classify either as a console or handheld. I think that is what this article is really about, and therefore isn't really news. But it seems that Nintendo has already made it clear that whatever this new machine is, it is something they consider to be a new type of device that they wouldn't classify as anything like a GameCube or GBA successor.

    -Tom

  • If they launch one, whenever they do... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Faust7 ( 314817 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @08:51AM (#7463030) Homepage
    ...I hope they'll have taken a cue from what's been going on around them and adopt some of the features necessary to maintain a substantial presence in the marketplace.

    I have heard Nintendo previously called the "Apple" of console gaming--that is, an entity that can eke out a continued niche market existence for as long as they please. The analogy isn't perfect; after all, one need not justify one's taste in games, so unless one is composed of an exceptionally weak or impressionable mind, there isn't a lot of pressure for incumbents to switch from the Cube.

    However, technology will eventually take its toll. Online gaming is exploding, has already exploded. DVDs and DVD-like formats are the established standard. Third-party support has grown amazingly and is now vital for console survival. Top-end video and audio capability are no longer luxuries, but expected. Even Sony has realized the advantages of hard drives, media players, etc.

    Should Nintendo wish to continue, their array of insane geniuses will need to begin to practice just a little conformity.
    • I respectfully disagree.

      As long as the experience provided by the game is unique, enjoyable and has a low dollar to playable time ratio, they will do just fine, and will continue to be the choice of discriminating gamers.

      Form follows function. If the functionality of enough of their proposed new games requires a hard drive, then one should be added. A hard drive should not be included, and then programmed for, merely for the sake of 'conformity.'

      I don't really enjoy online gaming. I think it's cost pr
    • If Nintendo is the apple of gaming systems, them I must have some severe suicidal tendencies.
    • I think your analogy only partially works and with a little research you would have found that currently, with Nintendo extending it's price-drop almost world-wide it has furthered it's second place world-wide marketshare lead. If U.S sales continue as they are into the Holiday (which is anyone's guess) they will have quite a lead over the XBox in this country. So, Apple is about 3% of sold computers, the percentage is a bit higher when you consider the number of non-profits and other organizations who co
    • Well, I think you've got a skewed perspective due to Microsoft's willingness to flush money down the crapper on XBox. Gamecube is graphically more powerful than the PS2, but otherwise I'd say the machines are fairly comparable (except the lack of DVD playback -- a conscious antipiracy decision this time that probably hurt console sales, although with commodity DVD player prices, people no longer care about their console playing movies).

      The XBox's integrated ethernet, harddrive and processor power is impre

    • already exploded. DVDs and DVD-like formats are the established standard.
      You mean like the 3" DVD that the GameCube uses?
    • However, technology will eventually take its toll. Online gaming is exploding, has already exploded.

      Nintendo has online adapters available, and are even using it for LAN play, but no one else is developing online capability on their console. Why not talk to EA and ask why they're not putting the online component of their games out on the GC versions? If it's already exploded, Nintendo shouldn't have to talk about it or put it in all of their games, the 3rd parties should be supporting it to sell their gam
    • Oh, that's like calling GM a niche player. Nintendo has the highest selling game system in the world, and the second highest selling television console not only in the world but in each major sector.

      Also, "foo and foo-like are standard" is a silly thing to say. If foo is standard, foo-likes don't exist. Besides, the GC *does* use a dvd-like standard; it's very close to a mini-dvd.

      As far as sony having realized the advantages of hard drives, erm, no, they haven't. Their baseline model doesn't come with

  • ooh ooh I know (Score:3, Insightful)

    by tomstdenis ( 446163 ) <tomstdenis@gma[ ]com ['il.' in gap]> on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:06AM (#7463089) Homepage
    how about a GBA update where they put ram in it! :-) .... For those who don't know. There is a 16MB hole where the built in ram goes. The GBA has but 256KB of ram [16-bit bus].

    So two big ways to improve the GBA would be

    1. More ram [say 2MB at least]
    2. Make the data bus larger [so you can run ARM code out of it]

    The trick though would be to not kill backwards compatibility. I think a toggle for the ram/bus would be in order [e.g. set bit to get "advanced plus" mode].

    • Add some extra OAM/BG ram so that the 15 bit video mode can be properly double (or even triple) buffered.... nice.. If they really wanted to they could ramp the speed by 16 times and just down clock for compatibility....
    • Actually, this isn't accurate. GBA puts everything into a linear address space. It has two primary blocks of user ram: IWRAM, 32k, starting at 0x03000000, and EWRAM, 256k, starting at 0x0200000. There is room to expand *both* to 16meg. The BIOS and System ROMS (0m), IO registers (4m), Palettes (5m), video ram(6m) and OAM (7m) each have similar available ranges. 1m is completely unused.

      Better still, the top 4 bits of the address bus are completely unused (10m-FFm).

      There's a *tremendous* amount of spac
    • The trick though would be to not kill backwards compatibility. I think a toggle for the ram/bus would be in order [e.g. set bit to get "advanced plus" mode].

      This sounds a lot like real mode vs. protected mode. Protected mode (and extended memory) helped extend the DOS lifespan by many, many years, so I don't see why it wouldn't work with the GBA. They'd just have to maintain backward compatibility as they have been.

      Oh yeah - and add two more buttons! How can the GBA release SNES remakes with only A

  • Maybe it's... (Score:2, Redundant)

    by Andy_R ( 114137 )
    Virtual Boy 2?

  • New Means "Not Currently Available" (Score:3, Interesting)

    by robbway ( 200983 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:47AM (#7463340) Journal
    Nintendo has made and remade their old systems. Mostly its to include cheaper parts, and sometimes it also includes a size reduction. Gameboy goes thru the most facelifts. Therefore, I'm guessing it's either: a new design for the cube (perhaps smaller/lighter?), a new design for Gameboy Advance with a mobile phone imbedded (that's where my money is), or a new phone with yet another set of cartridges for games. I suppose another possibility is a super Game-N-Watch system, but how unlikely is that?

  • iQue info (Score:3, Informative)

    by muffen ( 321442 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:49AM (#7463351)
    Read this story [maxconsole.com] on maxconsole earlier today.

    iQue seems cool, but IMHO you can get an N64 cheaper these days from places like eBay, and the iQue is more or less the N64.

    Some cut/paste from the maxconsole story:
    Nintendo 64 Nano-Technology inside It is now confirmed that the iQue player is a Nintendo 64 console that makes use of similar Nano-Technolgy that is used in Sony's PSX: the technology used will allow the unit to have a single chip solution containing CPU, Graphic Engine, GPU etc. Positive side-effects are a doubled operating speed, reduced electronic noises and very low power consumption. Regarding Nintendo/iQue spokespersons in China, the iQue will be the first gaming device on the market that makes use of that technology, followed by Sony's PSX which is due to release in December. This statement at least gives us hope that the unit might still be released before Christmas ;-)

    ...

    What's in the box, including games The unit released first contains a 64MBytes Flash Card, the AV cable, a power supply (220V), the power cord and 5 games pre-recorded on the card. Included are 5 games, while only Doctor Mario is a full version. Zelda 64: Ocarina of Time (10 hours), Mario 64 (7 hours), Wave Race (1 hour) and Star Fox (1 hour) are time limited demo versions. It's a "very new" distribution system, indeed. No other titles have been officially confirmed to us as of yet, but the N64 has got lots of great titles. Full versions of games cost 48 Yuan, that's approx US$ 6. In-game text and manuals are in simplified Chinese language, in-game voices are in mandarin. The box also contains a serial number and password that allow you to download new titles to your system at Nintendo partners throughout Shanghai, and possible also through the Internet. The card maintains a download log, so users can regain the previous game titles again free of charge if they want to play them again.
    • iQue seems cool, but IMHO you can get an N64 cheaper these days from places like eBay, and the iQue is more or less the N64.

      How many Chinese people do you think buy video game consoles off Ebay?

      Even if they could get a used n64 a little cheaper (which I doubt), don't you think they'd rather spend a little more to get a game in their native language?
  • The article also mentions the Nintedo iQue, so it's pretty clear this is not just a mix-up regarding the new, China-only system.

    I read thru the article and did not spot anything about iQue. I even did a search for it in the article and did not see anything. From the reading, it sounds like they are talking about the iQue, not a new console that will be world wide.

    From the article:

    The company will start selling the next-generation video game machine next year in Japan. It didn't say whether the machine
    • How do you get iQue from "next-generation video game machine"? iQue is based on the LAST generation's technology, NOT the next.

      And why would Nintendo release a system in Japan that they pretty much already released years and years ago?

  • Hypemeter = Low (Score:3, Interesting)

    by cgenman ( 325138 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @09:57AM (#7463405) Homepage
    Nintendo is known for spreading more pre-launch hype than any other console company. They hyped Project Reality (PR) years before it was ready, they hyped the Dolphin from day one... Just about the only thing they didn't grossly overhype was the Game Boy Advance, and that was because their stopgap Game Boy Color was so popular they felt they would alienate part of the market if they did.

    The hypemeter around this is low, so the likelihood of a next-generation console is quite slim. More likely, they will announce a GameCube compatible DVD player from a 3rd party company, or possibly (and this is the one I'm hoping for) a GBA built into a proper Game Cube controller.

    Until they start trotting around Miyamoto shouting about the second coming of Mario, they're not launching the next console yet. Until they have hardware in the hands of developers, they're not ready to launch.

    • Actually, such a device (third-party DVD- and GameCube-playing console) already exists, though not in the US. It's called the Panasonic Q [boxite.net]. At least some import sites used to offer a modded version which could play both US and Japanese games.

  • It's not a new console! (Score:3, Informative)

    by gamgee5273 ( 410326 ) on Thursday November 13, 2003 @10:11AM (#7463500) Journal
    There is basic evidence pointing to this: there have been no developer machines sent out. There's no way in hell Nintendo's going to launch a new console three years after launching the current one without sending out development kits.

    Maybe, just maybe, there is an iQue add-on for the GCN. Perhaps, using an iTunes-type store, we'll be able to buy older Nintendo ROMs over the Internet (using the broadband or modem adpaters, perhaps?) and put them on Flash cards, which we can then use on the iQue add-on for the GCN.

    That makes sense. A new console doesn't.

    • Anybody remember when GBC (GameBoy colour) came out? It was better than your old monochrome gameboy, and eventually prices made it drop into the same range.

      I'd be looking for something in the future, but as a replacement to GBA (GameBoy Advanced). Perhaps an upgraded processor, more 3d support, a few extra options. The initial cost will be more than GBA, but it should tone down over time... and eventually games will move towards supporting the newer GB.

      Just a hypothesis, but based on past-history not en
  • Let's look at some numbers from Japan, courtesy of The Magic Box.

    Thus far in 2003, sales of the GameCube have lagged very far behind those of the PS2 and GBA(the XBox is not a contender in Japan). The PS2 has 2.2 million units sold and the combined GBA/GBASP has 2.8 million units sold. The GC has sold 590000 units. In 2002 the numbers are a little better(3.7/3.3/1.0 million), but Nintendo certainly isn't coming out on top.

    Of course, as everyone (should) know, game sales are more important than hardware sa
    • In 2002 the GC has three games in the top 20(Mario Party 4, Mario Sunshine, and the same Zelda game mentioned above). Again, better, but not by much.

      It should be noted the 2002 numbers are fiscal year, and end 3 months before the 2003 numbers you quoted. In other words, the slow months from March to the end of July are counted in the 2003 numbers while the end-of-year numbers are counted in the 2002 numbers. Then again, I can't be sure that the summer months are as slow in Japan for games as they are in t
  • At least according to an article at Gamespot [gamespot.com]:

    Nintendo also revealed today that it plans to

    unveil its next-generation console at E3 in May next year. Nintendo's executive director Jinyou Mori stated that the company hopes to release the unannounced next-generation console during the next fiscal year in Japan, and also commented that a simultaneous worldwide release would be ideal.

    So unless "next generation console" is supposed to be the next gameboy, we might be looking at the new cube next Christmas. I

  • A late 2004 release in Japan would coincide with an early to mid 2005 release in the US. This is plausable, but it's ridiculous to debate at this stage anyway.
  • I don't think a lot of people here have any clue how long it takes to develop a game these days.

    Top-tier, blockbuster games take 18-24 months minimum with very large teams (40+ people in development alone). A well managed team can shrink the time down to 12 months by inflating the team to 70+ levels, but they have to start with an established technology, lots of experience, and great management.

    You can't just release a console next year - you need tons of time to get developers up to speed on the hardware

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