Some Revolution Downloads Will Be Free 130
GamesRadar has the details from an interview with Nintendo of America VP George Harrison, in which he passes on the very good news that certain past-gen Nintendo titles will be free for download onto the Revolution. The article seems to imply that primarily the games available for free download will be Nintendo created titles. From the article: "This is a clever move by Nintendo: regardless of the final power of Revolution and the frequency of new titles, Nintendo knows that its loyal fans will cry tears of joy over a free service that lets them download previous Nintendo classics straight out of the box."
oh yippie (Score:1, Troll)
Fan-fecking-tastic
CJC
Re:oh yippie (Score:2)
but the original.
it's a nice addition that doesn't cost nintendo anything...
and well, at least nintendo hasn't gotten into the pissing contest with sony and ms - both of which taut how freggin awesome their machines will be, showing tech demos.... while not even having real silicon yet(which begs the question, did they use a pc to show how much better their graphics are than pc's? probably.).
Re:oh yippie (Score:5, Informative)
did they use a pc to show how much better their graphics are than pc's? probably.
In case of the XBox 360, they used Macs [anandtech.com]. Which should be kind of embarassing for Microsoft...
Re:oh yippie (Score:2)
Ummm, why? Microsoft is (primarily) a software company. It's not like they could have used Microsoft(TM) PC's - they don't have any products in that market. So they used Apple hardware.
Now, if they were running OSX on that hardware instead of their own custom OS, THAT would be embarassing.
Re:oh yippie (Score:2)
But...
Eh, when you're right you're right. I picked up the rest of the Zelda series up when they released the promotional disk for Wind Waker. There will be a good number of other games released with it too, I'm guessing, besides Zelda, and those might be cool to play. But I have all the old-school Zelda now, I'm thinking, I'm thinking, I'll ever need.
Re:oh yippie (Score:2)
The Zelda Collection was for buying 2 nintendo games out around that time. Me, i bought Mario Kart and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)
Re:oh yippie (Score:2)
Best idea ever (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sorry to say but I'm really burned out on most of today's games, regardless of which platform they're on. I don't have 20 hours to dedicate to a title. A lot of times I'm coming in from work, I want to blow off some steam and a round or two of Punch-Out would be right in line with what I'm looking for.
I know there's a big market for the Epic game title, but it's good to see that someone hasn't forgotten that millions of people loved those old school pixelated 2D games.
I'd buy the console for the old games alone.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
The one feature I really hope they will include in their "emulator" for NES and SNES is the ability to save the state. Not "save game", but really "save state", as in "dump the current status of the memory so I can restore this exact same position". Considering the very very small amount of memory required for those old games, compared to the size of the har
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
I could imagine that Nintendo wouldn't allow infinite savestates since people would abuse them like there's no tomorrow and finish the games in one or two days, then start complaining. Perhaps make the system delete savestates when you load them and quit the game when you write a savestate, makingit impossible to use them for anything except keeping your progress between gaming sessions.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
Heaven forbid people should show some self-control by simply not abusing the feature in the first place.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
Midway arcade collections, Atari 25th Aniversery, Sega Classics, and any other commercial emulator I ever used did not allow state saves.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
What would people complain about if they abuse the save state feature? Nintendo is giving the games away, they shouldn't care about how people use the savestate.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
Alot of people don't care if they got it for free. They are going to bitch, moan, whine and complain as soon as whatever it is that they got suddenly breaks or no longer 'does it' for them unexpectedly. The only thing money does is amplify the amount of complaints there are.
And, the sad part? It doesn't even matter if its their fault. They will STILL demand SOMETHING even if THEY broke it.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
Dang... you're actually right on this one... Somehow, I'm a professional programmer and yet I forget how dumb the
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
Like that doesn't happen already? People have been "omplaining about the various ways in which Nintendo fucked up" in public for years now - go read some of the GameFAQs forums, for example.
Despite it all, they've managed to do pretty well and stay afloat.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
While half the fun of playing those games multiplayer was to be in the same place, it'd still be nice to have the option to play over the internet.
Re:Best idea ever (Score:1)
Re:Best idea ever (Score:2)
Re:Best idea ever (Score:3, Funny)
Agreed, but... (Score:1)
I also wonder if by "classics" they mean stuff that was just for the NES. Don't get me wrong, I loved those games, but the idea of playing Super Metroid or Ocarina of Time on the Revolution is simply mouth-watering.
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:2)
The question is how hard is Nintendo going to swing. Are they going to play it conservative, and make a bit of money off the old games, or are they going to swing for the fences, put together a package that just screams buy me, and actually go for the jugglar.
Because frankly, any package that comes with SMB3, Super M
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:2)
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:1)
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:1)
Re:Agreed, but... (Score:2)
How long it takes me to buy one after initial release is dependant on price of the console, of course, but of all the info I've seen of the next-gen consoles, the Revolution is the only one that has caught my interest, and that's because of the "downloadable nostalgia" feature alone.
....
Vertex shaders and polyg
'Cube games NOT downloadable - DISCS compatable (Score:2)
The announcements about downloading and playing older games mentioned only NES, SNES, and N64 games as candidates for download.
Not only has GameCube game-downloading not been announced, I'd say it's an infeasible thing to expect at this time. N64 cartridges, at their la
been there done that (Score:3, Informative)
Re:been there done that (Score:4, Interesting)
Namco Classics (Galaga, Dig Dug, and Pole Position) is 15 bucks, and you can't buy the games seperately
i downloaded a few demos, but the price was too high for the games, $2 would have been my limit for most of those
Re:been there done that (Score:2)
Re:been there done that (Score:2)
Re:been there done that (Score:2, Insightful)
Keep dreaming.
Re:been there done that (Score:1)
Re:been there done that (Score:2)
Both are just marketing announcements of 'plans'.
Nice, vague, noncommital.
Nice move (Score:2)
This also combats the fact that I run all of these emulators on my current xbox. They are effectively taking back their own games.
Re:Nice move (Score:2)
Thanks for the orgasm
Re:Nice move (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nice move (Score:2)
Not going to happen - Might as well get that disappointment out of the way now.
Otherwise, I will never buy this system, as I was planning on doing anway.
Surely Nintendo will be crushed, now that the mighty "stinkjones" has declared his intention to avoid them!
Whenever i hear the name "revolution" I just can't help but think, "the main feature they're talking about now is something I can do using my softmodded xbox and the BIG ASS EMULATOR
Interesting strategy... (Score:2, Interesting)
Smart move in my book.
Re:Interesting strategy... (Score:1)
Re:Interesting strategy... (Score:2)
Most of my game-playing time is spend playing roms. I rarely have the time to get into most of the newer games, and there aren't that many new games that really interest me, in general I prefer something I can just sit down and play for a little bit (Katamari Damacy is great for this). I still own all my old consoles and games, but the largest problem with this is that between my nes, snes, genesis, saturn, n64, dreamcast, ps1, ps2, gamecube, and DVD player th
N64 Support? (Score:1)
Re:N64 Support? (Score:1)
1) NES (download)
2) SNES (download)
3) N64 (download)
4) GameCube (disc)
5) Revolution (disc)
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
Just have to let you know.
Re:N64 Support? (Score:1)
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
That may require more space than the 512MB the Revolution comes with though...then again, Mario 64 was a mere 8MB. Hard to say.
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
Personally I've never been a huge fan of Nintendo, so the ability to play their older games wont affect my decision as to which next gen console I'm going to be buying
CJC
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
Well, actually, it scores major points with me. I have an N64, but it's a pain in the ass to get it to work. Mine has problems, my second one has problems, all my friends' N64's have the same problems -- the damn thing never starts up, and when it does, it tends to just turn off within a few minutes. Sure, the GameCube and Gameboys are all impr
Re:N64 Support? (Score:3, Insightful)
Speak for yourself. I'm only 24 - hardly old (I hope?), and i'm giddy at the thought of being able to play NES, SNES, and N64 games while sitting on a comfortable couch instead of my desk chair.
Particularly stuff like Mario Kart, Starfox, Super Metroid, Pilotwings, etc. that I hope they figure they've gotten enough profit out of in GBA re-relea
Re:N64 Support? (Score:2)
This is a system seller. Plain and simple. Everybody I talk to about this WANTS one right now. If it was out now? It would be flying off the shelves, just for the classic game aspect.
And what does having a large installed base get you? Quite simple. The beancounters at various publishers see how they can make money by making games for your system. So then your system gets the new games as well. Success breeds success in this business.
Re:N64 Support? (Score:4, Insightful)
First off the Revolution will very likely be cheaper than the Xbox 360. Also picture the parent holiday shopping for their child. The clerk at the video game store says, well you can buy this Xbox 360 for $300 (Pulled the price from my ass) and then you can buy the games for it for $50-$60, or you can buy this Nintendo Revolution for $250 (again out of my ass but maybe it will also only be $200) and while the games cost $50 you can also connect it to the internet and download classic games (with some of them possibly being free). Think as a parent for a moment. Little Johnny could have a new game console with a new game or two and have the ability to play older games that he just downloads, or you could pay more without having the classic games download option? And while you might not be a fan of Nintendo you have to admit after playing some of their games that they are innovative and their games are just simply fun which is all that really matters in the end.
Re:N64 Support? (Score:1)
I am, and at the same time feeling sorry for little Johnny because his parents most likely had an NES/SNES and he won't get any time to play it.
I'll be honest and say that if older games are downloadable for free (or even cheap) it's going to be the first next-gen system in my media cabinet.
Re:N64 Support? (Score:1)
Most parents will just buy what their kids tell them to buy. When I worked at Target I tried everything I could to convert all potential Xbox or PS2 buyers to buy a gamecube. Especially those with little kids (hey I'm an anti-microsoft nintendo fanboy - what do you expect?). I succeeded maybe two or three times. I failed dozens of times, despite the $50 price difference.
I would also warn parents that they probably shouldn't be buying Grand Theft A
Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:2)
I don't blame her though. I miss the NES. You only needed to know A, B, Start and Select.
Don't forget... (Score:1, Funny)
Then B, A, and Start.
Re:Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:1, Funny)
If your wife is not a gamer, I wonder what mine is. She would say something along the line of:
"Err, exactly, who is Nintendo ?"
Re:Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:2)
Re:Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:1)
Because a lot of people quit playing videogames because they've become more complicated.
Mario? All you needed was one button. Sonic? Same thing. Pacman? Simple as hell. Eat all the little dots, and millions played.
But when you get all the camera angles, managing inventory, 10 different buttons that do 10 different th
Re:Makes the Revoution Sell (Score:1)
Why not read the original interview? (Score:5, Informative)
Here at Gamespot [gamespot.com]
Don't you love it when an interview conducted by a first-tier site is rewritten by a second-tier website a week later, then posted to Slashdot? I know I do.
Re:Why not read the original interview? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Why not read the original interview? (Score:2)
Great Move Nintendo (Score:1)
This move by Nintendo, on a console that is likely going to cost less, is brilliant marketing...Not only do they fill the die-hard Nintendo fans, but they entice all the families that don't spend £300-400 on a console plus 40 pound a game to but a £200 consol
Re:Great Move Nintendo (Score:1)
At the very least they'll also be attempting to penetrate the other market. Because... Who that was around for the NES era doesn't have plesant nintendo memories they can now relive.
I just wonder if they'd end up allowing older GB and GBC titles. While they wouldn't look great on a TV... They could allow re-writeable carts for the DS wh
Re:Great Move Nintendo (Score:2)
Re:Great Move Nintendo (Score:2)
Re:Great Move Nintendo (Score:2)
Uh. It's probably more likely that daddy will be playing the old nostalgic games while the kids play the latest Super Smash Brothers.
I know the whole reason I got an Xbox was for emulation. Finally having a bunch of emulators which work consistently with a decent controller.
Classic NES, SNES and N64 game free... (Score:2, Insightful)
While how many Nintendo titles will be free and how much it will cost for others remains dubious, any number of quality games for free would be a true boon.
Regardless, I highly doubt Nintendo will charge $9.99 for all but the most insanely good NES and SNES games (such as Legend of Zelda), and only pass that for some N64 titles. In fact, I find it far more likely that most titles for all three emulators will be either free or excessively cheap, un
Re:Classic NES, SNES and N64 game free... (Score:2)
Game images for older systems are really not all that big - you could easily fit almost all the NES games ever made into 200 MB or so, and most SNES games aren't very huge either. N64 images would be a bit space-hungry, though.
Could be that they'll use some sort of compression, too - most of the decent NES and SNES emulators can run games straight from a *.zip file, for instance.
Re:Classic NES, SNES and N64 game free... (Score:1)
Although some rapid radicals like myself will probably have a closet full of carefully indexed flash memory cards storing all the old games.
Re:Classic NES, SNES and N64 game free... (Score:1)
nintendo.net (Score:2)
Now if that architecture is open for 2nd/3rd party devs (and comes standard in the dev kits) there should be no reason for backcatalogs and connection fees (unless you're doing an MMO at which point you have persistent server fees, GMs, and all that).
If Nintendo is truly doing this, then what we have here is a console battle.net system. And if Nintendo is doing this for free (at least for their games) that's got the potential to throw
BS (Score:4, Informative)
Here's the quote:
Wait, wait, I've got this one... (Score:2, Funny)
XBox fanboy: "Nintendo R teh sUxX0rZ, d00d. XBox graphics R sick, w/ redder blood +
Re:Wait, wait, I've got this one... (Score:1)
a) watch movies
b) play games
and I plan on using it for the Revolution!
(although didn't I read they arent supporting high def...wtf!?!)
Re:Wait, wait, I've got this one... (Score:2)
Sony fanboy: "I'm glad that you enjoy your cutesy games about fat, mushroom-eating plumbers. In the meantime I'll be enjoying emulated NES and SNES games on my PSP."?
Re:Wait, wait, I've got this one... (Score:2)
Re:Wait, wait, I've got this one... (Score:2)
XBox Fanboy: Nintendo is for kids. They proved that with Windwaker and Twilight Princess is a desperate and failed attempt to keep up with today's market. We've been playing online for three years, and it'll be another 2 years before Nintendo makes their first game online. (Obligatory leet).
Playstation Fanboy: This is futher proof that Nintendo is living in the past. "Dur, lets pay money for old games that we already bought whe
Nice! (Score:2)
Or sometimes --like with GTA & GTA2, you can even get the oldies without owning the lastest.
What about rom trading (Score:2)
Hardly abandoned. (Score:1)
"Don't call it a comeback; I've been here for years..." --James Todd Smith
N64 (Score:3, Insightful)
What will really bring the value (Score:2)
An addon for the system that would let you insert an N64 cartridge to play the game would also be great.
Third party support (Score:2, Interesting)
Sold! (Score:1)
Refreshing! (Score:1)
Why not... (Score:2)
Then people can choose their favourite games and "buy" those instead of getting dredetermined free games, and feel like they're saving $50 off the Revolution.
any relation? (Score:2, Funny)
Where's the rest of the staff? John, Paul, and Gringo?
Re:any relation? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:any relation? (Score:2, Funny)
They're just targeting their audience (Score:2)
Re:BOGUS: Downloadables Not Free! REDUX (Score:2, Interesting)
Past-Gen Nintendo-Created Titles will not be downloadable for free.
From the original interview:
1) They contradict that it will be free:
"GS: Do you plan on having like a per-download pricing model along the lines of the microtransactions that will be used in the next-gen Xbox marketplace?
GH: Well, we can use it in a variety of ways. We've used some of the older games already as little bonuses, either
Re:BOGUS: Downloadables Not Free! REDUX (Score:1)
1) First party games, which would be games produced/owned by Nintendo, COULD be free, and likely there will be alot of free ones out there.
2) Thrid party games, which would be games NOT Produced/owned by Nintendo, COULD be free IF the company who made it/owns the rights allows it to be such. However, they could also cost money if they felt they wanted to make money on it.
Not very hard here. There's already several games out there for the GameCube that have older N
Re:BOGUS: Downloadables Not Free! (Score:1)
"Harrison then confirmed that past-gen, Nintendo-created titles will indeed be downloadable for free.
Re:BOGUS: Downloadables Not Free! (Score:1)