I can't fathom why you're so down on a smaller GBA. As small as the SP is, there are still times when I wish it were smaller. My wife also has an SP and carries it around in her purse with her Ipod, cellphone and everything else women tote around, she'll love the chance to micronize any part of that and lighten the load.

9:27 am: Iwata: Convinced game development on Revolution will be easier and far less costly than for other machines. "Big idea can prevail over big budget." Revolution is a solution to help maximize creative freedom. Iwata then talks about backward compatibility. "Redefining term of backward compatability." It's a virtual console, able to download 20 years of Nintendo content. You will be able to Download NES, Super NES and N64 games. You can get every Nintendo game ever made. "Revolution shares a vision with DS. The machine is just a tool for software."

This is off from ign.com website at a e3 nintendo conference today i cant wait to get my hands on it.

It is also listed in post 190 as has been discussed for many of the posts since

I was really worried at first that Revolution might be light years behind PS3 and XBox 360 but the approach they are taking is unique and I think will work. Hopefully they can receive enough third party support to keep the system alive for a long time.

I will for sure be buying one at launch

Is it really necessary to go smaller than the SP? No. But go them.

I'm really down on the design. This and the DS look like crap. For as much styling they used for the Revolution, it looks like they spent 5 minutes on MS Paint to creat this. It looks horrible.

I wonder if you have to buy totally new Revolution Bonga drums for Donkey Konga since the system is backwards compatible.

Unless there is some kind of wired-to-wireless adapter, you're going to be out of luck. There are no controller ports that I can see.

Duh!

I'm sure the adapter will be possible. I think they are doing that same kind of thing with X-Box 360.

I agree it's not necessary, but there's a market for tiny electronics. Everyone wants tiny mp3 players, tiny cell phones, tiny digital cameras etc. so they can carry them easily in any pocket.

I"m not one of those really, hell I just replaces a relatively small cell phone (samsung SCH-310) with a pretty big one (LG-VX8000).

This does looks pretty crappy. I like the DS design though, both because of the clamshell design negating any need for a case or screen cover like with the PSP and I like Silver electronics.

So I take it the name "Revolution" is the official title for the machine or is it still a code-name?

Yeah, because companies like Sony don't redesign their hardware to boost sales.



Nintendo will keep making them as long as people keep buying them.

Pixy, I don't think they said anything about that one way or the other.

I hope they keep it personally. Nice name for marketing.

Edit: just found this on www.1up.com:

"Revolution appears to be the confirmed final title for the machine, as the console itself is branded with the name."

But that's still nothing solid as in the interview they also said the final machine would be even smaller and that they were just showing a concept piece.

from nintendo.com

Nintendo's Compact Console Will Turn the World of Gaming on Its Side

May 17, 2005

New System Will Be Forward-Thinking, Yet Backward Compatible

Each generation of video game consoles builds on the past to set new standards for the future. As the company with the strongest heritage of innovation, Nintendo redefines expectations for all next-gen systems by employing a wide-ranging strategy to attract more kinds of gamers to more kinds of games. When Nintendo’s new console, code-named Revolution, arrives in 2006, everyone will discover the meaning of All-Access Gaming.

"We will show the world what a next-gen system can be. Revolution marries the strongest heritage of innovation to the future of gaming," says Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. "With backward compatibility and the 'virtual console' concept, the stylish, compact body provides maximum gaming power. It will not only take home entertainment into another dimension by expanding the definition of video games, but it also will give you access to the great history of gaming."

Some of the system features that wowed the crowd at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles include:

The cool look: The new console boasts high-quality materials and a smart, compact design, approximately the size of three standard DVD cases stacked together. A variety of prototype colors are being showcased during E3. It will come with a silver stand that makes the system a welcome, artistic component of any multimedia setup, whether it’s displayed vertically or horizontally.

Backward compatibility: The new console plays all games from the current Nintendo GameCube generation. But there's more…

The secret weapon: The console also will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Easy expansion: A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory.

Two disc formats, one slot: Instead of a tray, a single, innovative, self-loading media bay will play both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system as well as Nintendo GameCube discs. Owners will have the option of equipping a small, self-contained attachment to play movies and other DVD content.

The specs: The system boasts 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, wireless controllers, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi access. A worldwide network of Nintendo players can gather to compete in a comfortable, inviting environment. Revolution’s technological heart, a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway," and a graphics chip set from ATI code-named "Hollywood," will deliver game experiences not previously possible.

The stars: Introduction of a number of new franchise properties will add to the world’s richest stable of stars, including Mario, Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Donkey Kong and Metroid.

Wireless freedom: A number of Wi-Fi-enabled launch titles are in development that will employ Nintendo’s newly announced wireless gaming service, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. A worldwide network of Nintendo players can gather to compete in a comfortable, inviting environment.

Freedom of design: A dynamic development architecture equally accommodates both big-budget, high-profile game “masterpieces” as well as indie games conceived by individual developers equipped with only a big idea.

"Our next console proves small in size but big on ideas," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales & marketing. "We’re throwing open the doors of gaming to wider audiences, from casual players to hard-core gamers who live for the thrill of defeating an endless army of wireless opponents."

Nintendo's All-Access Gaming philosophy covers the spectrum. The next console fits anywhere. It brings together new games and old. It gives people worldwide access through wireless Wi-Fi connections. And it opens the world of video games – to everyone. Software for the new console will even attract people who don’t consider themselves players. Adults, kids, men and women around the world will have access to the most popular video game characters, the best game franchises and the most engaging experiences yet developed – only with Nintendo.

Keep your browser pointed to www.nintendo.com for all the latest news on Revolution.

Oh, also want to mention that I love that DVD playback is an addon. Glad I don't have to pay for that (or them eat more losses) for something I don't need.

I love that line more each time I see it.

The nice thing about SD cards is they are cheap. You can find the 1GB ones for $50-$60 easy and by the time this is released the 2GB ones will probably be that price.

I already have a 1GB one so no extra expense there.

Probably won't even need a memory card at first unless you download a lot of games for the system.

With them making movie playback an add on I really see them releasing this console at a lower price than the competition. Could make owning two consoles easier to manage. Especially since I can trade in my PS2 and GameCube to get them.

Yep, I'd be very suprised, as I said earlier, if they're not $100 less than the others again.

Sony designs their hardware to lower production costs and extending the market lifespan of a product. The PSTwo came out because Sony combined the two chips used in the PS2 into one chip and used 90nm instead of 130nm. This new chip was required to put into the new PS3 in order to gain backwards capability. So why would you continue to make two different types of chips? You don't. You only make one. Same thing with the PSOne.

Nintendo already made a smaler GBA.. mostly to fix design problems with the original. I'm not sure what that point in making it smaller will do besides drive sales. Incuring production costs to make something smaller without gaining by eliminating redundancy sounds like bottomless marketing to me.

I also have to say the downloading old games bit is really awesome. Wonder if they'll be able to get VirtuaBoy games to work

You know, I could sorta take your first argument about the PS2, and apply it to the new GBA. What if it's just in exercise in design? Rather than let it sit in some lab for the rest of it's life, why not put it out there and see who bites? Might as well make some money off of it, plus, as you said, maybe it will help them learn new ways of designing chips?

Now if I could just get a fully backwards compat Nintendo DS...

They could do that and still keep the same case design. Microsoft did with the Xbox. Sony released the PSone and PStwo for the same reason Nintendo released the SP and Micro to boost sales on older hardware with a different design. New colors and designs almost always boost sales. Everyone does it.

New chip means new board and memory as well. They began issueing PS2s with Network adapters standard, so they needed to integrate that to stop production of those. New memory comes with new board. Replace more expensive tray loader with cheaper top loader. You are talking about major modifications to the existing design just to work with the new chip. At that point, the cost to redesign it is minimal compared to getting the old design to work.

New styles and colors boost sales. As I said earlier everyone does it. Sony launched the redesigned console to boost Christmas sales. They did the same thing to extend the life of the PSone. Microsoft combined chips and lowered costs on their Xbox, but it didn't require them to redesign the console. You don't have to change the case just because you change the insides.

Please stop acting like Sony is on some higher level than everyone else. They all pull the same marketing gimmicks.