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Nintendo Businesses Entertainment Games

Miyamoto Hints At Second Revolution Secret 146

Posted by Zonk from the more-than-meets-the-eye dept.
Gamespot reports that despite new information on the Revolution, there is still much we don't know about the console. Shigeru Miyamoto hinted at the DIEC that there was yet more to reveal about the Revolution controller. From the article: "At the Digital Interactive Entertainment Conference held in Kyoto, Japan, Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's chief game designer and creator of the Mario and Legend of Zelda franchises, gave the keynote speech. He talked about the history of controllers for Nintendo's various consoles, from the pre-NES systems to current consoles like the GameCube. He ended his lecture with words toward the future, specifically the Revolution, stating that there's more to its controller than what's already known. 'The [Revolution's] controller still has another secret,' stated Miyamoto. 'But it's something that we'll reveal next year.'"
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Miyamoto Hints At Second Revolution Secret More

Miyamoto Hints At Second Revolution Secret

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  • Hmm... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ten000hzlegend ( 742909 ) <ten000hzlegend@hotmail.com> on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:26PM (#14197220) Journal
    I don't believe Nintendo could bank too much on the admittedly unique control interface of the Revolution. Playing the XBox 360 in my local GAME, I walked away disappointed for 3 reasons... graphics weren't exactly a dream away from the latest games for the XBox, it seemed rushed out and the overall launch of the system, shortages and technical issues, just made me think... wait for the Revolution... still, I love my Amiga, I've been through 4 generations of consoles and the last game to completely turn my world on my head was Mario 64 nearly 10 years ago. The Revolution should do the same...
    • I betcha the other thing they are hiding is it will be a universal remote control, too!
    • Hell of course you are going in for a disapointment if you compare anything to Amiga. Amiga rules! (whoever owns it and think they are the future for it doesn't, which is a sad story.)
  • It seems that hits could be one of several things, but i think they might reveal that they are not going to just use a regular gamecube controller for 'normal' games and that the IGN mockup of the shell type design might be previewed sometime soon.

  • With apologies to Dave Barry... (Score:5, Funny)

    by general_re ( 8883 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:27PM (#14197235) Homepage
    ...but the big secret, and the reason it's so cool, is that if you press the buttons in the right combination, a secret compartment opens to reveal an ounce of pure heroin. You heard it here first, and remember - it's on teh intarweb now, so it must be true.
  • Like the analog stick nunchuck thing or maybe something built into the controller. I'd bet on an attachment, because the controller looks to small and simple to hide much.
    • Surely nothing that obvious. A new attachment for the controller no more revolutionary (no pun intended) than bongos or running mats or steering wheels or arcade-style gamepads or anything else that has been previously available. I think we can look for something a little more unexpected from an announcement like this.
      • Thats it! DDR mat included in the controller, it just folds out... Umm oh nevermind.

      • Re:Another Attachment? (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Pxtl ( 151020 )
        Think bigger. VR Glasses? Plug 'em into the controller, give them the same position tracking as the controller has. Instant Augmented Reality gaming. Of course, you'd still have to be in front (or near) to the TV (or wherever you've got the pad locators) and it depends on having the locators be micro-acurate.

        I'm betting the more likely case is the aforementioned storage. Considering that you could easily store NES games on a memory card, imagine holding a library of NES games in the Rev pad - the "turn
        • Enough with the VR glasses! It ain't going to happen this generation. Unless some magical technology has happened that I haven't heard of, VR glasses are too expensive and/or bulky to work in the home environment.

          Yes, it is nice to dream, but you NintendoVR guys are starting to sound like the Segway people did years ago (the ones who said "IT" was going to be a flying car, or teleporter, or unicorn which rides on magic rainbows...).

        • Think bigger. VR Glasses? Plug 'em into the controller, give them the same position tracking as the controller has. Instant Augmented Reality gaming. Of course, you'd still have to be in front (or near) to the TV (or wherever you've got the pad locators) and it depends on having the locators be micro-acurate.

          Actually, that's interesting, because Miyamoto recently said something about wanting to have a new and different type of display, but then said "I can't say anything more about that right now.", or some
    • This is oldnews to, the "nunchacky" (i have no idea how to spell that) controller was a confirmed one from the begining, and they talked about shells.

  • gabbo Gabbo GABBO! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Schezar ( 249629 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:32PM (#14197291) Homepage Journal
    I love Miyamoto, but this is a dirty way to generate buzz. Simply announcing your new feature is one press release. Announcing that you're going to announce your new feature is two! Genius!

    Regardless of all that, however, I'm really looking forward to this. The Revolution is honestly the only console I'm even considering this time around. The xBox360 doesn't have a single game I care enough about to spend that much money. (Halo? Bah.. Counterstrike and Natural Selection are all I need.) As for the PS3, I think I'll opt for an uber cheap used PS2 and a pile of cheap used games.

    The so-called "next gen" consoles may be nice, but they don't seem worth the cost. The xbox's super HD whatever video output is useless on my non-HD television, and I don't plan to upgrade anytime soon. The Revolution is going to have innovative new features, and yet will still be SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper.

    The DS was far less powerful than the PSP, not to mention cheaper. Despite this, it completely dominated the market. Never underestimate Nintendo.

    • Re:gabbo Gabbo GABBO! (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      He wasn't generating buzz or giving a press release about a later press release. He made the comment, almost in passing for the conclusion of his speech, while the bulk of his talk was about the history of controllers in general. Everyone's just taking this little hint and running with it since it's the most newsworthy tidbit.
    • Dominated? You say that like the generation is over. True, Nintendo has a huge lead now, but it's not a "dominated", it's a "dominating".

    • Re:gabbo Gabbo GABBO! (Score:3, Interesting)

      by manJerk ( 853898 )
      boy all this cloak and dagger stuff comming from nintendo has got my interest peaked. It just maybe a marketing ploy to generate a buzz, and for some reason its working on me. [must buy nintendo, must drink blood of non-believers]

      Personnally I am a PC gamer, and I have had time to play the 360 and such, and they are not too impressive. they have gfx that ive seen on PC for years(and at higher res), and FPS games should not be played with a stick, it just doesnt make any sence. Not to mention RTS!

      revoluti

    • Lies! All lies. (Score:5, Funny)

      by Amiasian ( 157604 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @06:02PM (#14197529)
      According to this unbiased site [sony.com] the PSP is owning.
    • Does the NDS still outsell the PSP? Here in Sweden I would guess the PSP is much more of a success, but then people are still amazed of whatever sex/nudity on tv, magazines, ... so I guess crap sells here.
      • Does the NDS still outsell the PSP? Here in Sweden I would guess the PSP is much more of a success, but then people are still amazed of whatever sex/nudity on tv, magazines, ... so I guess crap sells here.

        All I know is over here in Québec, I have seen plenty of people with NDSes in public places, while the only PSP I have seen in action belongs to a friend of mine who is terminally ill and has nothing to do but burn all his money for the couple of months he has left (he also has a 360). I've never se

        • I really hope they are, just that over here Sony had quite a few adds then they released the PSP, I don't see much for it now thought. Nintendo run Gameboy Advanced and NDS game ads on TV. The media likes the looks of PSP thought. In stores back then I watched (september) the NDS stuff where always small in content and stucked away in the store, guess it's partly because we always get less software later ;), with all the japanese content it would rock.

  • A list of suspects (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:35PM (#14197311)
    • Shell for converting the remote-styled controller into a traditional controller
    • Multiple game-specific shells into which the controller can be inserted (gun, steering wheel, chainsaw)
    • Controller can carry games, like those 5-in-1 game kits that plug directly into the TV
    • Controller can be linked to the DS
    • Controller has some other sensor (microphone or something unlikely like a "squeeze" sensor or biometric sensor)
    • Force feedback through a spinning disc (not likely - big battery drain)
    • Heat/cooling feedback (not likely - big battery drain)
    • Vibration pack (not sure if this has already been confirmed)

    My money's on the microphone.

    • Re:A list of suspects (Score:5, Interesting)

      by MindStalker ( 22827 ) <mindstalker@@@gmail...com> on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:59PM (#14197507) Journal
      Controller can carry games, like those 5-in-1 game kits that plug directly into the TV.

      This is the one I'm betting on, with all personal info included as well.
      Remember you can download old games into the revolution. What if you can put them and your saved game status and other stuff with you. So you just take your controller with you to your friends house and you can share the game (obviously with some DRM on the non-free games so that game won't stay at your friends house). People will take these controller around with them instead of just leaving them at home, the controller itself will be a status symbol.

      • Re:A list of suspects (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Turken ( 139591 )
        People will take these controller around with them instead of just leaving them at home, the controller itself will be a status symbol.

        I definitely wouldn't be surprised if this is both the feature and response to it that Nintendo is aiming for. What better way to market to the non-gmaing crowd than to make part of the console "cool" to carry around with you. Non gamers would see you carrying your controller around, become interested, and would not be scared away by its simple interface. Just like that N
        • What better way to market to the non-gmaing crowd than to make part of the console "cool" to carry around with you.

          I would also add that it could be possible that the controller might act as a memory card for your saved games/profile. Going to a friend's house to play some games? All you need is to carry your controller and everything is in there. Fitting something like 128 or 256MB in a small form-factor is hardly a challenge anymore.

      • People will take these controller around with them instead of just leaving them at home, the controller itself will be a status symbol.

        I forget where it was, and I can't seem to find it, but ISTR Nintendo mentioning at one point something along the lines of being "similar to the iPod". I have to agree; I think the GP is on to something!
      • Or...

        Maybe the controller secret have something to do with the Nintendo DS. If I recall correctly the Gameboy Advance could be connected to the GameCube to improve its functionallity.

        Think about connecting your DS to the Revolution to take all your pre N64 (mmm or even the N64) with you on the DS.

        And aside of that, they will have a touch pad input device for the Revolution.

        I think something among these line will happen.

    • Re:A list of suspects (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Turken ( 139591 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @06:13PM (#14197635)
      Controller can carry games, like those 5-in-1 game kits that plug directly into the TV

      Actually, I think you're really on to something here. Not so much that it is a X-in-one game kit, but that the controller also comes with memory built in standard. Your controller is your memory card. It keeps track of all your controller preferences such as any motion calibrations, etc so that it will always be easy to play on any Revolution console with any game and doesn't need a new motion input each time.

      Or, downloaded games can be saved to your controller. Carry the controller to a friends house, and they are available to play as soon as your friend's console finds your controller. Or treat memory the way that they did with the N64. One game that comes to mind was Tetris (forget which version) where they encouraged each player to have a memory pack in their controller so that they could "take home" the lines that they won when playing on someone else's console.

      Really, including a memory function so that your controller becomes your controller wouldn't be too surprising.
      • That sounds like a fantastic idea, not to mention a great marketing concept. You wouldn't have to buy extra memory cards. You'd be able to take your own controller preferences anywhere. I would totally dig taking my own Rev controller to my friend's place to play on his machine with my own personal settings. Hell, they might even be able to market it in such a way that people who don't even own a Rev would buy a controller so they could have "their" controller when they play on other friends' machines.
        • You wouldn't have to buy extra memory cards.

          They'd still need to allow for external memory cards though. "Controller memory" size might be enough for most people, but for some other who will want to keep saves from over 50 games (and multiple saves per game), I wouldn't expect those people to buy many controllers just for the memory.

          • Maybe the revolution will store your settings on a server somewhere? Your controller just has an ID number tied to our settings stored remotely?
            • Maybe the revolution will store your settings on a server somewhere? Your controller just has an ID number tied to our settings stored remotely?

              That would totally suck... what if I want to bring my console to a friend's house who has no Internet connection? I don't think game designers should rely on an internet connection for the offline portion of games.

      • Re:A list of suspects (Score:4, Funny)

        by Max Nugget ( 581772 ) on Wednesday December 07, 2005 @02:48AM (#14200228)
        Your controller is your memory card

        (Gets angry at impossible-to-beat final boss on the last level of the game)

        (throws controller at wall in fit of rage)

        (realize I'll have to start the entire game over again because the memory card had my saved game on it)

        (throws Revolution system at wall in fit of rage)

        (sighs in relief that the Revolution only cost $149)

        Yes, I think me and the Nintendo Revolution will get along just fine.
        • Mod parent down for cluelessness. ;)

          It's Nintendo we're talking about. Their devices are made of Nintanium and are nearly impossible to break. Stories about wavebirds flinged 2 rooms away and getting hardly scratched and a gameboy that survived a bombing in Iraq exist. The burnt gameboy is on display in the Nintendo museum someone in the US.

          Just last month my friend pulled out his NES and it was still functional :)

          It's more probable the wall will crack rather than the controller/console.
    • Everything you just said and especially the temperature simulation stuff. I'd love to feel the weather in Mushroom Kingdom/Zebes/Hyrule/whereever they be now (though Desert Land in Super Mario Bros. 3 better not feel too intense).

      A "+1, Future/Present Nintendo Employee" mod is in order here.
    • What about a built in display? Like the way you can use GBAs as controllers on the Cube (Final Fantasy, Crystal Chronicles?). That could be a really cool feature. It could even be a touch screen like the DS and maybe a sliding cover to hide it when not used.

      Now, imagine combining that with another feature discussed here- Flash Memory. You could use the controller as a stand alone console! Battery powered, it has a "D" pad and a few buttons on it. Just flip up the built in screen and play NES/SNES games di
    • Wow, squeeze sensor, that'd be cool...

      But I also put my money on the mic.
    • "Heat/cooling feedback" was interesting. Mainly because if you wanted cooling feed back you could only do it in conjunction with simultaneous heat feedback on another part of the controller!
    • Controller can be linked to the DS

      This will happen between the Revolution and the DS, anyway, whether it's the controller or not. Anyone who's activated the "Tingle Tuner" in Zelda -- Windwaker knows Nintendo "cross sells" their products this way.

      This sounds like the sort of business M.O. we'd all be cynical about, but by gum it genuinely is fun.

    • Controller has some other sensor (microphone or something unlikely like a "squeeze" sensor or biometric sensor)

      This would be pretty cool. I mean, you could easily use this to log onto the system and have a specific profile for EVERY game. If Nintendo has a centralized online system, they could store that information and you could log onto a friend's Rev without even bringing your memory card.

      A bio-sensore could be used to moniter your heartrate too. Play Resident Evil or (hopefully) a new version of Ete

  • I'm Going To Hell for this (Score:5, Funny)

    by robbway ( 200983 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @05:37PM (#14197329) Journal
    The big secret is that it caters to the gamergrrl. It's ribbed for her pleasure.
    • It better have a hole, too, and a pack of disposable velvet surfaces. Or else I'll go Link on it and slice it with my...uh...other Revolution controller, yup, that's it. Now Nintendo must cater to both sexes, for fear of having their controllers imaginarily sliced!

      Nah, I really want to see the whole Revolution thing anyway, even sans the surprise. The controller seems a bit gimmicky already, but I'm drawn to gimmicks. ;)
    • The Revolution version of Nintendogs would take on a whole new twist... or thrust...

  • Strange announcement (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Strokke ( 772031 )
    It is strange timing on this announcement, shortly after the xbox 360 was released. With people having hands on experience with the revolution controller http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143782 [1up.com] what could the secret possibly be? Perhaps there was an add-on that they didn't use because there were no games to showcase it? I'm also thinking that the somewhat mixed reactions have resulted in Nintendo revising the controller and realizing that there needed to be more to it. I do however agree on waiting
  • Imagine being able to keep your game saves on the rev's controller, then strolling over to your friends house and all you need to carry is the game and controller. You could upload high scores, your nes games you've purchased... Play them there. Once the controllers gone the revolution won't play them any more. There's a lot that could be done if the controller stores information on it.
    • Hey you stole my post.. Thats alright I'll forgive you!

      Also it would be cool if free games could be left at your friends house when you visit (they did hint at free games being available) Even better allow someone to purchase and keep a copy of a non free game. Definatly marketing potential there, they man check out this game I bought.. Wow I want a copy.. Well its only 5 bucks and you don't even have to waste the time to download it.

      On that same vein even if the controller has a small amount of flash it co
      • Sorry, but the Xbox 360 does much of this already with the Live Arcade games. You can copy any game that you've purchased onto a memory-unit, then bring it over to a friend's house and transfer it to his box. If you're logged in, then both of you can play the game for free. When you leave, the game does revert to a trial-version, so you can still play it, but will need to spend 400 points or whatever to unlock it. And yes, once you purchase a game, you can download it anywhere again.

        That said, Nintendo shou
        • I wasn't aware of that. However having the controller be the "memory stick" hasn't been done before far as I can remember. It's all speculation, maybe the controllers can "talk" to each other and you can share information by just having a revolution and controllers nearby. I could see an idea like this being a bridge for people without the intertron.
          • I think the Dreamcast controller did some of what you're referring to, with embedded MUs and the like. Then again, having the controller be the "memory stick" doesn't seem all that different than just bringing your MU to your friend's house. Or better yet, leave the MU in your controller, and bring that over. The Dreamcast and other consoles (Xbox and GC, I believe), do this already.

            But anyway, I see where you're going. There is probably something cool that can be done with the controller. Maybe they can co

    • Re:Games saves on the revolution controller (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Very intriguing! My only question is why would the Revolution have 512 internal flash memory then? I thought that was going to act as the memory card. Maybe the controller has a smaller amount of memory (e.g. you can put 1 or 2 games on it or something instead of 50)? I think this would be a VERY cool feature, but I just don't know how well it meshes with what we already know about the console...

  • It's obvious! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Kirsha ( 201264 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @06:15PM (#14197657)
    It is a crystal array and power cell attachment to turn the controller into a light saber.

    How can you be so blind? =)

  • Game Glove? (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by Jtheletter ( 686279 )
    I know it's probably not what he's referring to, but I'd love to see a rebirth of the original NES game glove. That was well ahead of its time, and given the advances in computer and gaming technology we should be able to implement it even better these days. Could add things like flex resistors to sense each finger as it bends, could add all sorts of force feedback. Anyone ever heard of electro- and magneostatic fluids? Essentially they are liquids that turn solid in the presence of electric or magnetic fie
    • um hello, asshat mod, I was discussing possible next-gen controllers, specifically nintendo ones - NES Power Glove. I would say that's ON-topic, now is a good time for them to re-introduce such an interface. And since when was a post at '2' something that needed to be modded down? try modding down crap that's made it to 3 or, I dunno, using your points for something like modding up an insightful post. Sheesh.
    • You can get "pretty good" touch feedback by using piezo elements in the fingertips. You can get very good and very reliable flex feedback by using fiber optics, as you bend them the permissivity decreases. This would all be pretty cheap, too, and it's technology currently in use in military simulators and such.
  • They're going back to cartridges?

    In all seriousness, I'm expecting this to be something about the online play for the system. I'm personally hoping they do something to rival Live, but for free. If they do that (and it's good), they just nailed Microsoft to the wall.

    Either that or there's additional peripherals for the controller that'll be included in the box so we don't have to shell out for them at a later date.

    Last guess would be more of a clue about the pricing.

    If anything this was a nice way to keep
    • I believe Nintendo's already announced that they're going to have some sort of online presence (finally!). The big news, actually, is that Sony continues NOT to have anything, and lets/forces developers to do it themselves. (That has both pros and cons though)

      As for keeping it free, remember that the 360 Silver account is free, and has most Live features enabled (Gamertag, profiles, achievements, marketplace, etc.). The only thing you don't get is actual multiplayer functionality. It would be interesting to
      • Blizzard has been offering Battle.net for free since the mid 90's. I don't see why Nintendo couldn't do something similar with a few strategic partnerships (a la Battle.net which is hosted by AT&T and other companies).
      • I believe Nintendo's already announced that they're going to have some sort of online presence (finally!).

        They already sorta have that with the DS now. I've been playing Mario Kart DS on their WiFi thing for a while now. Pretty nice.

    • Just an FYI but pricing is pretty much known to be $249. A number of Best Buy Nintendo reps have leaked this info and it has made it out to reputable sources. I'd bank on it being $249 or right around there.

      Also on a related note, the same N reps. have stated that the in-store "kiosk" will not be a traditional Kisok and will require a specific amount of space. Now, this isn't "groundbreaking" or anything based on what we know now, but they did state it will be quite non-standard.
      • $249 eh? I was hoping it'd be closer to the $199 tag. At least that's the impression I got from them saying that the system will be cheaper than the 360 or PS3 ($249 is only $50 cheaper than the base 360 model... not that big a difference IMHO), and that they're hoping to undercut the price of the other two systems to some degree.

        I'd imagine they're going to need a larger amount of room for the kiosk with the way the control system works. There'd be injuries if they just flung it in the aisle like all th
        • According to a recent IGN article [ign.com] where they talked to developers about the hardware specs, it looks like the price might actually be a lot less than $200:

          "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."

          This might be a little optimistic, but I don't think there's any way it will sell for more than $200. It looks like Nintendo has decided to put very little focu
          • The DS was preselling for 200 bucks before Nintendo cut the price to 149, and the earlier this year cutting the price to 129, and Mario Kart DS bundles selling for 149, which cuts the system price to 115. So I can see a Revolution announced at 200 or 249, released, and prices come down to 100-150 dollar for each system. For a hard core gamer, where a single game for the Xbox 360 costs 70 dollars, I can see them picking one up in addition to their Xbox 360.

  • Wouldn't it be hilarious if... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Swimmin' Pants ( 911939 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @06:28PM (#14197763)
    What if Nintendo's strategy was to make an announcement that they're hiding a Revolution feature that will change the gaming world, then go onto the intarweb, read peoples' speculation, pick the best ideas, and implement them?

    Seriously, they've announced features, without actually announcing what they are, about three times now since the Revolution was first announced.
  • Builtin vibrator for wireless pleasure of your non-existent girlfriend!

    Or an assvibrator for you.
  • I'll buy it, since I'm a huge Nintendo fan. The casual gamer won't be so accomodating. Nintendo needs to build some hype around the system if they want to actually change the video game industry. Right now, even some hardcore Nintendo fans are skeptical. Nintendo - shooting ourselves in the foot since 1990...

    • Nintendo - shooting ourselves in the foot since 1990...

      Like they did with the DS right? 2 screens, the touch screen, wifi and the mic where all just pathetic gimics right? There are no good games for it, Nintendogs and it's ilk are just a fabrication of our colective imagination. It's also not outselling the PSP at all, the figures we have are just lies fabricated by Nintendo's marketing department.

      Do you honestly believe that?

      As a disclamer I will state that I am a Nintendo fan, but not an old one. I be

    • The hype is that we are talking about it at all. What surprises are in store for the PS3? Better graphics? Better sound? Been there. Done that. If it's like the Xbox 360 then there will be no surprises at all. Okay, maybe there was some new fancy antialiasing when playing old Xbox games. Pardon me if I don't blow a load in my shorts.

      There is anticipation with the Revolution. HOW will it change gaming forever?

  • The console wars have changed (Score:3, Interesting)

    by pattokun ( 834182 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @07:03PM (#14197985)
    When the DS was announced people thought Nintendo were insane. Two screens? What a stupid gimmick! I read an particularly scathing piece in Edge by Mr Biffo, who seemed to think the console would be a failure or Rise of the Robots proportions.

    A lot of the argument was based on the fact that the DS had graphical muscle roughly equivalent to the N64, while the PSP was more like a PS1.75 or something. All this kerfuffle took place before the touch screen was revealed.

    (On a side note, people who claim the DS is gimmicky with its touch and dual screens seem to be missing an obvious point: Nintendo must have originally decided to use touch-sensitive control on its new handheld. At some point in the development process it would have become clear that the hand being used to hold the stylus will cover up some part of the screen. A second, non-touch screen is the obvious solution.)

    Look where we are now: killer titles released regularly on DS, with the system outselling PSP worldwide. Despite its relative lack of power and absolute lack of built-in media convergence features, the DS has, for now, won the next-gen handheld war.

    And now we find ourselves in this situation: XBox 360 and PS3 have or will have graphical power far and above that of current generation consoles, the 360 can manage all your media, etc. And the Revolution will be "only" several times more powerful than the GameCube. Sound familiar? But, bearing in mind Nintendo's announcement that they will not be making public the exact specifications of the Revolution, remember what Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said:

    "Tech specs don't matter. The time when horsepower alone made an important difference is over, and from this time forward we must create unprecedented experiences."

    You know, I think he may just be on to something.

    • The PSP is a very different product from the DS. About the only thing they share is their insane size. For its tiny screen the DS sure is a big clunk compared to the gba.

      However the PSP also can display movies(if you don't mind that the lcd is not exactly super responsive), and do such things as play music.

      But more important the games are totally different. Lots of action racers for the PSP with exactly 1 puzzle game (in dutch stores) while the DS has mostly "cute" games with relative slow pace. Personall

      • Re:Handheld market is totally different (Score:4, Insightful)

        by mrgreen4242 ( 759594 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @09:46PM (#14199007)
        1) Calling the PSP vs DS 'undecided' is pretty hopeful, at best. Thus far the DS has outsold the PSP in hardware and software worldwide, and looks like it will continue to do so. You don't hear much about the PSP anymore, and games are coming out a trickle (not that the DS has had a torrent of games, mind). It's not over yet, but PSP is going to need a big surge of momentum pretty quick here.

        2) I don't buy that "Nintendo bombed with casual gamers with the GameCube". The GC wasn't aimed at casual gamers in anyway. Maybe at kids and/or new gamers, with the easy to use control layout and abundance of party games. I also don't know how you define "bombed", but to me, a company who sells (until recently) only 2 products, and makes more money than any of it's competitors over the lasts two years (they actually made more money than MS and Sony combined, of course MS lost money, but they made nearly twice what Sony Games did) didn't have any products that 'bombed'. See here [pcvsconsole.com] for numbers.

        3) Will the Revolutions controller be the greatest thing ever? Maybe. Hopefully they will be smart and bundle a 'standard' controller cradle with every wand style controller sold. At the very least you can have a regular console controller that knows where you are pointing it. Give me NHL 2k7 where I can point where I want the puck to go when I shoot it and I'll call it the greatest thing ever.

        4) My money is on Nintendo making the most money of any game company this time around. Just like last time. Sony will probably move the most units, and MS will be lucky to break even. Nintendo will quietly sell millions of systems and games, all at a profit, and will continue to make boat loads of cash.

      • Mouse+wasd+1-10 keys still hasn't been beat.

        Sure it has. dzxc is far superior to wasd, because it puts less strain on the middle finger.

  • I'd Guess... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Dr. Eggman ( 932300 ) on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @07:26PM (#14198162)
    1. It doubles as a Universal Remote with automatic setup.

    2. You can (easily) interchange the functions of the buttons. ie. A becomes B, ect.

    3. Interchangable faceplates

    4. Revolution's going fully 4D and all games with be constant, even when your not there. The controller will light up when your missing something good.

    I can see it now, your out on the town when your Revolution controller begins flashing the bat signal. You excuse yourself saying: "I must go, the Joker is at it again."
    • Controller is a lightsaber.
    • About point 4.
      This has already been done in Zelda: Ocarina Of Time for the N64. There was an item you could find called the Stone Of Agony. What it did was make the controller pulse vibrate as you moved near a secret area of some sort. There were no other clues for the secret, no flashing, no sound, no screen shaking. Only the controller, vibrating in your hands.
      That was an excellent use of the rumble feature and somewhat like what you described in point 4.
  • I bet the super-ultra secret is that the DS can be used as a controller. The touch-screen so far seems to work as a gaming gig so why not tie in the DS with the revolution?
    • Why not have the DS download the NES and SNES games you bought on your Revolution...similar to the Demo's you can download now (at least in Japan)...works until you poweroff. That would drive sales of the DS in addition to NES/SNES game sales on the Revolution...
  • ... it doubles as one of those, you know, 'pumps' they sell. For guys who... wear big diving watches...

    Mods: Its funny, not a troll! I'm first in line to get one!

    The revolution, that is, not the pump.

  • It's a pulse monitor... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Nenorin ( 901104 ) <struthersneil@ya ... co.uk minus poet> on Tuesday December 06, 2005 @08:01PM (#14198415) Homepage
    I'll betcha it's some sort of biofeedback, so that games can monitor a player's levels of agitation and excitement. Imagine: you have a nice little 'Survival Horror' game where your own heartbeat thumps out of the speakers; if you get too excited, the hellhounds will be able to hear you. Or, you know, something like that.

    OR...

    Maybe it will recognise a given player by their pre-recorded bio-profile - skin conductivity, etc - and tailor the gaming experience for them.

    How hard would it be to incorporate something along those likes? Not a vast technological hurdle, anyway. Folks are thinking feedback, feedback, feedback - but I'll bet my eye-teeth (they're fantastic for seeing what you're eating while otherwise blind!) that the big gimmick will be an additional dimension of control.
  • It's my bet. Given the odds I would probably get, I would bet a 20... Not sure if this secret is it but eventually this is coming to the revolution. It's the only true reason non hi-def graphics are being witheld from the system that makes any sense.
  • A professor at ISU (where I am) is currently doing research with eye tracking: http://hcvl.hci.iastate.edu/ [iastate.edu]
  • Nintendo just made some math based on the American sales of the xbox360 and the preorders in Japan for the PS3 and realized they really have to gather some attention to their console or they might lost a pretty considerable share of their OWN market by the time the revolution is out. Therefore they are teasing their fans with some "unknown feature" ( a common practice for Nintendo) so they can stay in the spotlight a little longer and hopefully distract them long enough so they wont consider buying another
  • The secret Nintendo details were so much more effective before the PS3 team went into lockdown. Every time the PS3 lost one of its promised features, Nintendo was there to announce something new about Revolution.
    My guess is that they'll sit on this new announcement until journalists start talking about the PS3 again.

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