E3 2005: Revolution Details Revealed

Wii News | This one's a puzzle alright! Details direct from the conference.

The Revolution is indeed the name of Nintendo’s next console. However the images we’ve seen so far are only of a prototype. The final version will be even smaller than this. Since it’s a prototype, Nintendo have stated that they want YOUR input on what you think of the colour of the console. Feel free to add this to our comments section in case Iwata drops by.

Key Details:
- The console can lie horizontally or vertically in its stand.
- It will take 12cm optical discs, along with the GC discs, CDs and standard DVDs all through same drive. However a small internal attachment will be needed to play movies and DVDs.
- The console will have 512MB onboard flash but this can be extended with SD cards.
- Game creation will be the most developer friendly of all past consoles
- Capable of playing every Nintendo game ever created as it act as an emulator for all past systems!
- Confirmed that all Nintendo content from NES, SNES and N64 will be available for download on the console.
- All controllers will be wireless and very unique. However no details of these were revealed.

However this is where the puzzle starts;
No details of the core technology were revealed. Iwata did say; “When you turn on revolution and see the graphics you will say WOW!” but this will have “No direct bearing on game-play.”
He then went on to explain how the traditional trifecta of the controller, console and TV, will be extended with Internet access in the Revolution. However how they interact will be different in Nintendo’s design, than they are in their competitors. This will make the Revolution a device appealing to non-gamers. “Right for everyone”.

There will be Wi-fi games on key Nintendo characters ready for launch – including Smash Brothers however it will be the game experience that will separate revolution from it’s competitors. There will also be a new Miyamoto creation to debut with Revolution – something revolutionary itself but no details were given. Next gen Mario, Zelda, Metroid and an WiFi enable Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles title are all underway. No gameplay footage or tech demos were shown.

Images of the console can be found here.

Expect more details over the next 3 days.

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37 Comments

Gtpod

7 years ago

Can you say PS2? Vertical stand? DVDs? I want a GameCube successor please...

MondayX

7 years ago

I don't have a problem with NES, SNES, and 64 emulation.. ha, now I can do it legally!

Cerebral

7 years ago

Contrary to what I said in the other thread, I stayed up for the press conference.

Me in some other thread wrote

Basically it was:

Here's a new Game Boy. It's not different at all. Just really small.
Here's a prototype Revolution. We don't have a controller, or any game footage. That's about it.

I'm extremely underwhelmed by their showing. Even their display of GCN games was poor. Full of all this Charlie and the Chocolate factory and Madagascar garbage.

The Rev will have 512 megs of flash memory. Considering they're offering game download services, no way you'll get any decent milage out of half a gig of storage space.

Edit: Must've missed the bit about SD expansions. Not the best way to go about things, but minor victory here

And of course no controller, no games, not cool. Especially since their competitors are already showing their full arsenal.

Reggie going on about what they want to do with the Rev is all well and good but they're telling us, not showing us. And that makes a world of difference.

segax

7 years ago

Couldn't agree with your more CerebralAssassin, I was expecting at least one tech demo on the revolution.

They probably still haven't given developers any development kits to create any games for the system. Anybody got an idea when the system will launch ?

Its a shame that they weren't able to show us any substantial footage on what the revolution could do, given the amount of hype the console has generated since last years E3. In my opinion sony had the best press conference this year.

Andronicus

7 years ago

But, but...

Why didn't they show much of their Revolution system?
Microsoft and Sony did.
We don't even know where the Rev stands compared to these 2 systems...

I thought we'd at least get a video of a new Super Mario game... I thought they were going to show that this year...

Qbert

7 years ago

I thought they said last time that they wouldn't let Sony get the headstart again - looks like they allready have with a mid 2006 launch.

gameman

7 years ago

dont be so sure about sony getting out first. reportedly, the revolution will come out dec. 1st this year

Andronicus

7 years ago

Where'd you hear that?
I didn't hear that...

armageddon12

7 years ago

I very much doubt the Rev will be out this year. Especially if it is only a prototype they've shown.

The colour of the console is fine. - just in case Iwata stops by. I especially like the blue media bay.

Half a gig of flash memory? If they are offering game downloads it should be at least two gigs. *Sigh* I thought for sure they'd include a hard disk because of the notion of game downloads.

Underwhelmed by this press release. I thought they would at least show some demos, maybe the controller. And stop being so damn mystical.

Hyperworm

7 years ago

Exobably not this year

I still think they won't release after PS3 (or if they do, only by a few days, maybe a week). All their statements have pointed to it being one of their most important criteria for a Revolution launch... to not let their competitor get the headstart on them.

Still, if PS3 ends up launching in Q1, Revolution will have to launch before next E3... so I'm not quite sure what they'll do about hype...

thechu

7 years ago

No specs, no gameshots, not even a new pic of the Revolution at a different angle

If the NDS is anything to go by, then the final product shouldn't be a major revamp in design, just more refined. I get the feeling from Nintendo's attitude, the way they're withholding information on the specs that it will probably be underpowered in comparison to the other next gen consoles. We'll know soon enough though.

What I really want to know is if the games on the revolution will support High Definition (I don't even know if PS3 games do), it would be really sweet, cuz I want to get a HD plasma or LCD TV before I get a next gen console. I know the technology isn't nearly as pervasive enough right now (hell, even a basic CRT widescreen TV isn't a common household item even though they're cheap enough).

Hey, I have an idea!

Why don't you guys here at PALGN do an article on the ramifications of next gen HD games? You could explain to us the difference we'll see between standard definition and high definition games. Although you'll probably have to get your hands on a next gen console and game first!!!. But there are a few games out there at the moment on the XBOX that support high definition. Just a suggestion.

James

7 years ago

Revolution will definitely NOT launch in 2005. The offical press release does state 2006 - but no more specific than that. At best we can hope for a launch in line with the PS3, but certainly no earlier.

David

7 years ago

there are also gamecube and PS2 games that work on high definition. (although not many PS2 games!)

I still think High def is way off. The TVs still cost thousands, and most people spend as little as possible on a TV - look at how well all these non-flat chinese made TVs are doing.

It's like all these reviews that complain about no 5.1 support in a game, and cut 10% off the review score for it. Guess what techno-snob? only 1% of people play games in 5.1!

ObsoletE

7 years ago

^ i do...

David

7 years ago

you get my point, though, right?

ObsoletE

7 years ago

yeah i do, i was being pedantic...

i don't know if i agree with your scoring comment though... if it came to sound being better in 2 otherwise similar games, why shouldn't the one with 5.1 be penalised?

Cerebral

7 years ago

This means the Rev controllers may not necessarily be compatible with the GCN games. I don't like where this is going... <_<

David

7 years ago

Why not? That's awesome! I was wondering where the memory card slots were....

Also, don't you think it's funny that more and more pictures are dribbling out by the hour? And they're all pro pictures. THis is very controller leaking.

mrcivic

7 years ago

CerebralAssassin wrote

This means the Rev controllers may not necessarily be compatible with the GCN games. I don't like where this is going... <_<

I think that looks terrible! ugh! Just make the revolution controllers backwards compatible and save money by removing those ports. And those memory card slots could be placed elsewhere imo. Lucky this is only a prototype.

thechu

7 years ago

David wrote

I know, that's what I meant, HD is still far off, there's not much HD content being offered at the moment to warrent anyone switching to it.

And techno-snob? That hurts, tech-geek woud have been much nicer, I've only just registered with this awesome site recently and already I'm subject to name-calling. Okay I really feel upset now

Oh, why are people so mean!

Unless it was a term of endearment, but then I don't know anyone long enough.

ObsoletE

7 years ago

^ He wasn't calling you the snob, but people who review games and deduct marks off for not including this feature...

ie: Wowee Games (not a real company, made up for illustration purposes) reviews Call of Honour (made up game) and says it would have gotten a 9.3 score if it had 5.1 support, but it didn't so it gets a 9.2

personally i think it's fair enough, especially in genre's where there are many games available, sound might be an important deciding factor... and 10% is not much of a penalty...

unless of course you do work for Wowee Games, in which case, yes, he was calling you a snob

(BTW: welcome to the board

)

thechu

7 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

^ He wasn't calling you the snob, but people who review games and deduct marks off for not including this feature...

unless of course you do work for Wowee Games, in which case, yes, he was calling you a snob

(BTW: welcome to the board

)

I see, my bad, the word snob was in singular form, but David was referring to the review snobs.

Sorry Dude, I thought you meant I was the snob. I feel better now

Don't mind me, I get emotional at things.

I don't usually trust reviews anyway, and no I don't work for Wowee Games.

Thanks for the welcome ObsoletE! BTW, is that pic really you?

ObsoletE

7 years ago

^ nah it's Peter Russell Clarke... if you don't remember him, ask your parents

David

7 years ago

9.3 to 9.2 is a 1% difference. It would actually be 9.3 to 8.3.

1% I can handle - if say, it were two versions of the same game, onw without.

But IGN will go to great lenghts to complain about no dolby 5.1 and 1080i support, when you really need a $30,000 setup to make the most of those features!

--------------------------------------

And yeah, it was a hypothetical snob, not you, new guy!

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