Nintendo Revolution Under Wraps Past E3

The next-generation Nintendo console, codenamed Revolution, may not be shown at this year's E3. Eurogamer reports that the Japanese console maker is going to keep the console under wraps to keep the features of the new system out of the limelight a little while longer. From the article: "Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata is worried about rivals nicking all his best ideas at this early stage. That's how revolutionary the new console is, apparently... and also the exact same line Nintendo used to avoid showing Mario 128 at a previous E3."

Re:competition

[Collision891]

Thats odd, considering the DS has sold more than half a million more units the PSP in Japan, and were released only within a few weeks of each other.

Re:not ready

[NanoGator]

"no seriously, i think this just means that theyre not ready to show it."

Or it'd be simple to integrate. The Dual Shock controller came out pretty quickly after the N64 was unveiled.

Re:Lets just hope it isn't too revolutionary

[SchemeHacker]

The mini-disks are used because they avoid DVD licensing issues and the constant velocity drive gives better performance (shorter loading times.)

Not so much as stealing as old

[aussie_a]

When is the new Nintendo system coming out? Before the next E3? If not, then I'd say they don't want to become old-hat before it does come out. They'll let Microsoft and Sony demonstrate all of their new features that will be seen as "older" when E3 comes around next year when Nintendo announces their new features.

Nintendo can also concentrate on their Online component (which would be ignored even more if the new system was unveiled).

The "stealing our ideas" is just PR bullshit.

Having said that, if the systems are to be released before the next E3, I can see this as being a BIG mistake.

Rare?

[Ian Action]

Microsoft has Rare and Bungie.

When's the last time Rare made a good game?

Re:Bad news

[Anonymous Coward]

Nintendo doesn't need to show off their system to let developers get a feel for it. It is 100% backwards compatible with the Gamecube and uses the same development API.

Effectively they can run a more fine grained marketing strategy because of this. No need to shout "you should learn how to program like this." Once Nintendo 3rd parties have the devkits in hand they should already know how to program it.

Remember: This is a TRADE SHOW. You let developers and publishers know what's up. Nintendo has already told them enough to get started. Know your Gamecube and Nintendo DS APIs and you should be good to go for everything Revolution.

Re:Usual Nintendo hype

[N5]

"The N64, which was originally the Dolphin, then the Ultra 64 was delayed almost two years"

Actually it was originally called Project Reality, then Ultra64, which was going to be it's launch name until it got delayed.

"Microsoft has Rare and Bungie"

you may have something with bungie, but all of rare's talent left years ago. How many killer games has rare made since selling out to microsoft? I was happy to see them leave, their games were over-hyped, often delayed, all the talent had left anyway.

Here we go again

[mcc]

Because slashdot just absolutely has to print every single rumor without ever once actually saying the rumor is offered without basis...

Nintendo has said multiple times [google.com] that they will be unveiling the Revolution at E3. They've given warnings along the lines that it may be at an early stage, or that it won't be playable, or that some of the demos may be behind-closed-doors, at E3. But they at least have said they'll be showing it. And this has been said by Nintendo representatives, speaking on the record.

So, what's the source for this article slashdot links, which is saying it won't be?

"Reports". From "Japan".

You'll excuse me if I take repeated statements by official persons speaking for Nintendo more seriously than "reports from Japan".

Re:Lets just hope it isn't too revolutionary

[NanoGator]

Vibrating controllers came to be standard fare when the Rumble Pak came about.

Not long after the N64 was unveiled, Sony released it's Dual Shock controller (complete with 2!! analog sticks and a built in 'rumble' feature.) to the PS1. Then, the Dreamcast had it's own 'rumble pak'. Then the PS2 came with the Dual Shock Controllers. Then the XBOX came along... etc.

Personally, that little tidbit about the Dual Shock controller is what's making me wonder about Nintendo's secrecy, here. I personally think that they did something snazzy with the controller, but they're trying to prevent an imitation of the feature from making it into the boxes of the PS3 and XBOX02's.

It Doesn't Matter

[superpulpsicle]

They are diluting themselves in the market. If they launch systems this close, they need to drop support quicker. For example, they should only make only DS and GBA games in 2005.

???? Revolution
2004 DS
2003 Gameboy Advanced
2001 Gamecube
1999 Gameboycolor
1998 Gameboypocket
1996 N64
1995 Virtualboy
1991 SNES
1989 Gameboy
1985 NES

Re:Hmmm...

[Osty]

Hmm, so people are more impressed by the PSP than the DS, but the DS is the one with higher sales figures?

The market has spoken, the DS is a success

Care to provide numbers and sources? What games are driving DS sales? In my opinion, it's too early in the cycle for either handheld to call one or the other a success or failure yet, but if the DS doesn't get better games it's fate is pretty well sealed.

And about the revolution online comment, nintendo has already confirmed it will be, and it will be FREE, and it that it ISN'T the revolutionary aspect. And Xbox Live is a step backwards over PC online, and it's a pay service, if it weren't for Halo2 it would be a total failure too.

Whoopee! PS2 online play is also free, but it's not much of a strategy. Compare:

PS2 online

• Free
• Supports narrowband connections, though many games require a broandband connection
• No voice support unless a game explicitly designs for it
• Each game (or set of games from a single publisher like EA) is self-contained. Different logins, friends lists, etc.
• Cheating is rampant
• No central feedback mechanism

Xbox Live!

• Costs less than $5 per month
• Requires broadband (narrows the potential market, but makes the experience so much better)
• Universal voice support in all Live! games, for "free" (in the development sense)
• Every game is interconnected. My sign-on is the same for every game, and I can see when my friends are online, and what they're playing, and send them cross-game invites and messages
• Cheating happens, but Microsoft does attempt to address it (modified Xboxes are banned from Live!, cheaters are often banned based on feedback, games are patched as necessary)
• A central feedback mechanism exists, and while the results of the feedback are not public, it is not ignored (read through the Bungie forums sometime, and you'll see Microsoft representatives talking about feedback and what they do with it)

As I see it, the only positive mark in the PS2 list is price, but for less than $5 a month, you get a cohesive online vision across all games with Xbox Live!. I'd give up a latte a month for that.

As for Live! only being a success thanks to Halo 2, were you not paying attention last summer when they cracked the 1 million subscriber mark? Halo 2 didn't ship for months after that, and yet Live! was still doing quite well. I'm sure Halo 2 helped Live!, but it wasn't on its deathbed before Halo 2, and if there was no Halo 2 it'd still be alive and kicking. But then, perhaps I measure "total failure" differently than you do.

Note about "Free"-ness: both PS2 and Xbox allow developers to charge for access to their game above and beyond the subscription price (example: Phantasy Star Online, or Final Fantasy XI). I'm only comparing the basic rates here. As well, Xbox Live! does open up interesting for-pay channels to developers for additional content. Would you rather pay $20 for an add-on disk or expansion (typical PC tactic) to get a few new maps/cars/weapons/wathever, or $5 to download a new set of maps/cars/weapons/whatever?

Re:Bad news

[Anonymous Coward]

Four controller slots built into the system: Featured in all big systems that came afterwards (except Sony for god knows what reason).

Technically Nintendo didn't do that one first. [videogamecritic.net]

Re:It Doesn't Matter

[darkain]

GBA was 2001, not 2003. in 2003 was the GBA-SP. Also, you noted the GameBoy Pocket on there, which featured no technical features (CPU, RAM, sound/rendering engine) over the GBA. it was merely a slimmed down remodel of an existing system. the SP in 2003 is the same. there was also a remodled version of the NES to be top-loading, remodeled SNES to be smaller (and lacked the RF connector as i recall), and a special release Pikachu N64. Also in japan was the "GameBoy Light", which was a front-lit version of the GameBoy Pocket, and featured a 2-tone case (i think orange and blue?) The revolution will most likely be '06 tho, putting it 5 years after GCN which is 5 years after N64, which is 5 years after SNES, which is 5 years after NES. Nintendo is right on track with their home console systems. The VirtualBoy was an side-line product that only featured 14 games, and doesnt really count twards anything. If this is counted, then what about arcades, Game & Watch, etc? The DS, while being able to play SINGLE PLAYER GBA GAMES does not replace the gameboy line at all.

Re:Bad news

[tepples]

And Playstation's features that Nintendo later copied? Optical disk format.

Who copied it from 3DO, who copied it from Sega (Sega CD) and NEC (PC Engine CD).

Re:It Doesn't Matter

[Anonymous Coward]

that number is closer to 6 million right now, and the DS broke all intial sales records for any console or hand-held in europe. if that isnt "stellar", then i dont know what is.

Re:It Doesn't Matter

[GFLPraxis]

" So far, it looks like everything Nintendo has tried releasing with 2 screens has been a flop. I seriously doubt the new GBA will be DS compatable, yet alone continued production of DS games."

What the heck?

Considering that the DS had the highest launch sales of any console in the UK EVER, and has been outselling the PSP by 2x, I wonder how you are defining "flop".

Re:Shhh!! Secrets.

[Anonymous Coward]

Uhhh, nice try at sarcasm, but Gamecube outsold Xbox in worldwide totals. Oh, and more importantly, Nintendo MADE MONEY on the Gamecube. Get a clue.

Re:It Doesn't Matter

[kyojin the clown]

i would have thought it is outselling the as-yet-unreleased-in-the-uk PSP by more than 2x...

Re:It's all about genres, actually

[Moraelin]

I'm not sure exactly what deal was there between Sony and Square. All that mattered as a gamer was that suddenly the good games (for my taste) were on the Playstation, whereas the N64 had zero games I was interested in.

However, I do know that:

- a lot of other developpers just preferred the Playstation. I don't think Sony paid them all off.

- Making games for the Playstation was more profitable. Nintendo has a long history of trying to make others foot the bill. E.g., see how once they tried to announce a GameCube price cut to a level barely above what the retailers paid to Nintendo for it. Basically trying via hype to make the retailers take all the price cut, to help sell Nintendo's crap.

In the case of developpers, developping for Nintendo's cartridge format didn't leave you with much money out of selling those games. That went a long way to convince developpers jump ship to Sony.

- Nintendo's snotty attitude did not help, either. Nintendo still hadn't gotten past it's SNES times ego trip.

(You'd think that the anti-monopoly gang on /. wouldn't forget this easily the way Nintendo tried to bully developpers into submission, and tried to enforce contracts that basically said "If you want to make games for our console, you peon, sign here that you're never ever allowed to make games for any other system.")

Nintendo didn't even try to meet those third party developpers half way, or at least listen. The attitude was "Fuck, you. We're the Big N, you're the peon. You're the one who'll be sorry you left."

Re:It's all about genres, actually

[Anonymous Coward]

In the end Square wound up back with Nintendo and making good RPGs for Gamecube, or so I hear.

You hear wrong. A subsidiary SquareEnix company ended up making FF:Crystal Chronicles for the 'cube which, looked absolutely awesome until it hit the shelves. It;s sort of like Zelda's Four Swords Adventure thing, in that you need three other people to play it properly. It's not a console RPG in the traditional sense.

Konami made a good 'cube RPG, Tales of Symphonia, which has been one of my favourite RPGs of this generation though. Aside from the first party Mario stuff (I hear good things about it but I'm not interested) and card/strategy RPGs like Baten Kaitos, I think Tales is pretty much the only 'classic' console style RPG the 'cube has.

Re:makes no difference to me...

[Anonymous Coward]

PRO TIP: No one cares about mathletes. Do not try and use this fact to impress people over the internet or women. Both groups of people will respond with equal apathy.