Next Nintendo console VGA compatible out of the box.

[Tebunker]

http://www.1up.com/article2/0,2053,1609306,00.asp

One quote of interest however;

Nintendo's next-generation console, of course, was the hottest topic of discussion. Currently known by the code-name "Revolution," it's still on track for a debut at next year's E3, Iwata reiterated. Echoing Nintendo's party line for the past year, he explained that the company's next console isn't focused on simply improving graphics and sound technology. "However it might have been in the past," Iwata said, "increased hardware efficiency isn't connected to the consumer's enjoyment anymore."

Now this kinda sorta clears up some confusion I was having. In the past it seemed like Nintendo wasn't really going to do anything with more powerful technology, and yet here it seems that from this conference Iwata is saying that we won't just have a more powerful new machine but new/different stuff to do with it as well.

That alleviates some fears I had, as I honestly thought Nintendo was going backwards in the next gen. Of course it still doesn't look like they'll have online functionality though which is dissapointing because I love LIVE.

Also, I think Iwata really hits a big point hard. Better hardware doesn't exactly equal better games. Look at the PS2, it still has some incredibly pretty games coming out now, it's considered the weakest of this gen's machines, but tons of people continue to have great times playing games on it. Even in the face of superior hardware and technology the PS2 has survived and I think that's something that's important to take note of.

Eitherway, the VGA capability out of the box, and from what I've seen about rumored specs and how Nintendo isn't completely abandoning new technology, at the least makes me interested in their next system again. I was ready to write it off after E3 and the past few months.

[Devil]

Yeah, but they're going back to cartridges!!

Mario Kart Quintuple ByPass here we come!!

 :wink:

[Tebunker]

That i don't doubt, Mario kart revolution 64 cubed!

[Devil]

Then we can have:

The Legend of Zelda: The Seeker of Cash

You'll have to daisy-chain 43 of Nintendo's next gen systems together with 17 GameBoy DS:SPs if you want to be able to play longer than 5 minutes or in color.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Back to carts?  Sigh...that means back to high prices.

[Dimmona]

I'll take the next Zelda or Mario on punchcards for all I care; as long as they continue to innovate and be extremely fun (which so far they all have been) and the prices are similar to the rest of the market I'll be there.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Well, the carts caused N64 games to be 64.99 compared to 49.99.  I can only expect it'll be even more expensive as technology has improved and the required amount of memory required on each cart will be higher.  Nintendo...please prove me wrong.

[The Rocketman]

In Europe (or Belgium at least), prices are different it seems:

PC games: 50 €
xbox games: 70 €
cube games: 70 €
n64: 70 €

There are exceptions to this rule off course, but xbox games aren't any cheaper than gc games, and gc ones aren't cheaper than n64 games, in spite of the cartridge difference... And I can't really blame nintendo, it does make copying games a lot more difficult I guess.

[Tebunker]

Ron we were only joking around. They aren't going back to carts.

The only, and I mean ONLY, hard fact we know about revolution is that it will be VGA compatible out of the box.

If you look at the "leaked"  and rumored specs that Nintendo has been considering, it's only disc media and probably a harddrive. Just like Microsoft they're contemplating a dual processor system and a helluva lot of power and ram. In fact the systems that they're both considering seem oddly similiar. Add onto that nintendo's interest in XNA and you can put that in the old rumor pipe and smoke it up !

[Knightshade Dragon]

Well, based on my reaction you can see the cards on the table...I've heard a rumor...

I honestly don't see them going back to carts though.  Maybe the next one won't look like a purse with Playskool controllers.

[Fellow]

Hey now, don't you be dissing on the Cube's appearance. When I first saw the Gamecube, I thought it was the neatest looking console on the block. IMHO, it has the most style of the three and I'm still amazed at just how much power they could pack into that little thing.

Though having said that, the handle hasn't served any purpose for me, but there it is.

[Devil]

Well, based on my reaction you can see the cards on the table...I've heard a rumor...

Wow!! Seriously? Back to carts? I guess we CAN make this stuff up! :lol:

[Eco-Logic]

Rumor mole in OXM says their is talk about Nintendo working with MS on the next Xbox.

I don't believe it, but wouldnt' that be shocking...

[stiffler]

Rumor mole in OXM says their is talk about Nintendo working with MS on the next Xbox.

I don't believe it, but wouldnt' that be shocking...

While I don't believe it either, I think that would be delicious!

Nintendo had a big hand in Sony entering the console market with the aborted CD-ROM addon for the SNES.  So Nintendo has to be a little shaken about the way things have turned out.  I can only wonder if the people running Nintendo hate Sony enough to make a deal with the devil (MS) to try and steal some of that thunder back.  I get excited just thinking about it! :twisted:

Not like it's going to happen, unfortunately.  And I don't hate Sony, I would rather see the market as diverse as possible, with no runaway leader like Sony has (and Nintendo did in the past).

[Knightshade Dragon]

Well, Sony may be the 'runaway leader' but I find that it gets far less love that my Xbox.  FSW, Riddick, Fable, Halo 2, HL2, Vampire (rumored), EA Sports on Live, etc. etc.  Its going to be an interesting holiday...

[Belgedin]

Well, the carts caused N64 games to be 64.99 compared to 49.99. I can only expect it'll be even more expensive as technology has improved and the required amount of memory required on each cart will be higher. Nintendo...please prove me wrong.

That sort of flies in the face of all technological advancements of "older" technology. Prices don't go up, they go down, and the products get better.

I would LOVE it if Nintendo went back to cartridges. And when they do, I'm quite confident that the carts will hold plenty of data and be affordable.

Cartridges are becoming more and more viable in recent years, much larger capacities and much less expensive components. However, I don't think we'll see carts again until the generation after the next (I'd love to be wrong, though).

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/8447

I know it said in "Five years" but that doesn't apply to proprietary devices like game consoles (provided a company can begin producing them). Plus this is older than the article may lead you to believe. I've lost most of my other sources, though Of course most of them were more on the technical side anyway.

Unfortunately I don't remember the read times (certainly faster than CDs/DVDs). But judging by the description of the "read process" it should be comparable to RAM/ROM access times.

I honestly don't see them going back to carts though.

I do. And the sooner the better. These slow, fragile optical medias have hindered gaming too long already.

Maybe the next one won't look like a purse with Playskool controllers.

Mr. Burke, you disappoint me so...  :?


P.S. When I say carts, I'm really just referring to solid state medias like your standard ROM.

[Tebunker]

Personally I think that within two generations we'll have serious large and affordable solid state media. Hell you can get 40 gb HDs for how cheap now?

On top of that IBM has allready developed quarter sized 1 gig drives about 2 or 3 years ago, so I don't see this being too far off.