Difference between revisions of "Wii"

From Sega Retro

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The controller is a major departure from the last 20 years of console design. Two sensors near the television allow the controller to sense its position in three-dimensional space; other sensors in the controller itself allow it to sense its tilt and yaw. Players can thus mime actions (and receive "rumble pak" style vibration feedback) instead of simply pushing buttons.  An early marketing video [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html] showed actors miming such actions as fishing, cooking, drumming, conducting an orchestra, shooting a gun, sword fighting, and performing dental surgery. To communicate with the sensors, the Revolution's controller uses Bluetooth technology. [http://www.gamesradar.com/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=37344&subsectionid=2504]
 
The controller is a major departure from the last 20 years of console design. Two sensors near the television allow the controller to sense its position in three-dimensional space; other sensors in the controller itself allow it to sense its tilt and yaw. Players can thus mime actions (and receive "rumble pak" style vibration feedback) instead of simply pushing buttons.  An early marketing video [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html] showed actors miming such actions as fishing, cooking, drumming, conducting an orchestra, shooting a gun, sword fighting, and performing dental surgery. To communicate with the sensors, the Revolution's controller uses Bluetooth technology. [http://www.gamesradar.com/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=37344&subsectionid=2504]
  
A digital directional pad is positioned at the top of the controller face, with a large [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]-styled A button directly below it and a trigger on the underside acting as the B-button. Below the A button is a row of three small buttons: Start, Home, and Select. Near the bottom end of the controller are two additional buttons labeled lowercase a and b (labeled X and Y in promotional videos and likely the final product), suggesting that users can turn the controller 90 degrees and use it like a classic [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] controller.  Beneath these buttons are four lights which indicate what player number the controller is being used for--at present, up to four players are expected to be able to play on a single Revolution console.
+
A digital directional pad is positioned at the top of the controller face, with a large [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]-styled A button directly below it and a trigger on the underside acting as the B-button. Below the A button is a row of three small buttons: Start, Home, and Select. Near the bottom end of the controller are two additional buttons labeled lowercase a and b (labeled X and Y in promotional videos and likely the final product), suggesting that users can turn the controller 90 degrees and use it like a classic [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] or [[Sega Master System|SMS]] controller.  Beneath these buttons are four lights which indicate what player number the controller is being used for--at present, up to four players are expected to be able to play on a single Revolution console.
  
 
The controller can also slip inside or attach to peripherals through a proprietary port on its bottom end. A tethered peripheral with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons (labeled Z₁ and Z₂) will, according to Satoru Iwata, be bundled with the free-hand controller (letting the user play games "nunchaku-style").
 
The controller can also slip inside or attach to peripherals through a proprietary port on its bottom end. A tethered peripheral with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons (labeled Z₁ and Z₂) will, according to Satoru Iwata, be bundled with the free-hand controller (letting the user play games "nunchaku-style").
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[http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651559p1.html]
 
[http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651559p1.html]
  
Nintendo promises a wide variety of peripherals ranging from dance mats to analog game controllers. Peripherals may be cheap enough to be bundled with games much like the rumble pack, expansion pack, and microphone for Star Fox 64, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario Party 64, respectively.
+
Nintendo promises a wide variety of peripherals ranging from dance mats to analog game controllers. Peripherals may be cheap enough to be bundled with games much like the rumble pack, expansion pack, and microphone for Star Fox 64, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario Party 6, respectively.
  
 
===Known specifications===  
 
===Known specifications===  
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** ATI GPU "Hollywood":
 
** ATI GPU "Hollywood":
 
*** The GPU is believed to be being developed by the same team formerly known as the Californian firm ArtX which developed the graphics chip of both the [[Gamecube]] and its predecessor, the Nintendo 64, before being purchased by ATI.
 
*** The GPU is believed to be being developed by the same team formerly known as the Californian firm ArtX which developed the graphics chip of both the [[Gamecube]] and its predecessor, the Nintendo 64, before being purchased by ATI.
** Nintendo has stated several times that t
+
** Nintendo ha
he Revolution's focus is not power, but innovation. While this may lead some to say that the Revolution will be graphically inferior, nothing is officially confirmed.
+
s stated several times that the Revolution's focus is not power, but innovation. While this may lead some to say that the Revolution will be graphically inferior, nothing is officially confirmed.
 
* Memory:
 
* Memory:
 
** 1T-SRAM by MoSys
 
** 1T-SRAM by MoSys
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Nintendo has announced that Revolution will have the ability to play all the Nintendo-produced Nintendo 64, [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]/Super Famicom, and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]/Famicom games; the software may be recompiled or [[Emulator|emulated]] but will be offered via the Nintendo online download service. Satoru Iwata refers to this feature as the "Virtual Console". According to a Japanese press release, "all downloaded games will be stored on the 512 flash memory built into the system."[http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1118165596] To prevent illegal copying, downloaded games will feature a proprietary DRM system.
 
Nintendo has announced that Revolution will have the ability to play all the Nintendo-produced Nintendo 64, [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]/Super Famicom, and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]/Famicom games; the software may be recompiled or [[Emulator|emulated]] but will be offered via the Nintendo online download service. Satoru Iwata refers to this feature as the "Virtual Console". According to a Japanese press release, "all downloaded games will be stored on the 512 flash memory built into the system."[http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1118165596] To prevent illegal copying, downloaded games will feature a proprietary DRM system.
  
Nintendo announced that the downloadable games may be redesigned. It was also sa
+
Nintendo announced that the downloadable games may  
id that although the gameplay would stay the same, it would be possible "that with Revolution, we may be able to see the old games with new looks." Some 3D games may "look sharper when played on Revolution." [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3141582] If the technical aspects of Revolution also go well, "[Nintendo is] discussing the possibility of having older games like ''Mario Party'' playable online."
+
be redesigned. It was also said that although the gameplay would stay the same, it would be possible "that with Revolution, we may be able to see the old games with new looks." Some 3D games may "look sharper when played on Revolution." [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3141582] If the technical aspects of Revolution also go well, "[Nintendo is] discussing the possibility of having older games like ''Mario Party'' playable online."
  
 
Although no specifics have yet been released, there will be fees associated with the "virtual console" feature. Nintendo has suggested that they may give some of the downloadable games away with Nintendo products or through other special offers.[http://www.cnet.com.au/games/hardware/0,39029706,40055184,00.htm] It is also unknown what specific titles will be available or whether other [[third-party developer]]s may release their older games for the Revolution, although it has been said that Nintendo is in talks with these developers for this purpose. [[Yuji Naka]], the designer of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' at [[Sega]], said in an interview with Famitsu, "It's also great that we'll be able to play Famicom and other games via download. I hope Sega games will be playable as well." He also said similar in a recent interview with Nintendo Power. Currently, Nintendo could release more than 200 potential titles (and if, like it has been rumoured, the Revolution is indeed compatible with the Game Boy Player accessory, then Nintendo's entire back catalogue could be playable on the system).
 
Although no specifics have yet been released, there will be fees associated with the "virtual console" feature. Nintendo has suggested that they may give some of the downloadable games away with Nintendo products or through other special offers.[http://www.cnet.com.au/games/hardware/0,39029706,40055184,00.htm] It is also unknown what specific titles will be available or whether other [[third-party developer]]s may release their older games for the Revolution, although it has been said that Nintendo is in talks with these developers for this purpose. [[Yuji Naka]], the designer of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' at [[Sega]], said in an interview with Famitsu, "It's also great that we'll be able to play Famicom and other games via download. I hope Sega games will be playable as well." He also said similar in a recent interview with Nintendo Power. Currently, Nintendo could release more than 200 potential titles (and if, like it has been rumoured, the Revolution is indeed compatible with the Game Boy Player accessory, then Nintendo's entire back catalogue could be playable on the system).
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==External links==
 
==External links==
* [http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-15143-2567-x-x-x GameSpot: T
+
* [http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST
he Revolution Revealed]
+
-15143-2567-x-x-x GameSpot: The Revolution Revealed]
 
* [http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651224p1.html IGN: Revolution Controller - The Possibilities]
 
* [http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651224p1.html IGN: Revolution Controller - The Possibilities]
 
* [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html Video of controller usage]
 
* [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html Video of controller usage]

Revision as of 17:48, 7 November 2005

Nintendo Revolution

Nintendo Revolution is the codename for Nintendo's fifth home video game console and the successor to the Nintendo GameCube. Its main innovation will likely be its controller that responds to its own position and orientation in 3-D physical space in front of the television. Its previous codename was N5 (alluding to the fact that it is Nintendo's fifth home system).

The system was unveiled at Nintendo's 2005 press conference and the game controller at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show by Satoru Iwata during his keynote speech [1]. Based on information revealed at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo intends to release the Revolution in the later half of 2006. [2]

Nintendo has had a tendency to be coy with release of information regarding the Revolution, leaving some media outlets with the idea that Nintendo was not prepared to compete with [Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Top executives at the company denied that and insisted that they were simply protecting their ideas, designs, and intellectual property from imitation by competitors before the system is released. Prior innovations (such as the inclusion of an analog stick as standard, wireless controller technology, and vibrating feedback for controllers) have been widely disseminated following their mainstream arrival on Nintendo's machines.

Confirmed hardware and technology

Nintendo has announced that IBM has been working with the development of the CPU, codenamed "Broadway." IBM was previously involved with the development of the processor in Nintendo's current system, GameCube. Nintendo has also announced that Canadian graphics card maker ATI Technologies is involved with the GPU, which is codenamed "Hollywood". Before the GameCube's release, ATI had bought ArtX, the company responsible for the GameCube's GPU and whose members were made of former Silicon Graphics employees involved with the Nintendo 64. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also announced that the Revolution will be backward compatible with GameCube games and have built-in Wi-Fi for online playing, provided by Broadcom Corporation [3]. Nintendo has announced they will provide an optional PC-compatible wireless router for use by consumers that do not already have access to a wireless connection. The accessory is reportedly compatible with both the Nintendo DS and Revolution. While no ethernet port is planned, Nintendo has suggested ethernet may be possible for the system with USB via an adaptor. MoSys, whose 1T-SRAM memory technology was used in the GameCube, will again provide the random access memory technology for Revolution.

Nintendo has gone on record as stating that the Revolution will use standard DVD/CD size optical discs. Nintendo would not be specific when asked about which format would be used. It will also have the ability to play DVD movies with an undisclosed add-on (most likely a hardware dongle). Presumably this is to avoid paying royalties and lower the cost of the system. While all Nintendo consoles to date have expansion serial ports, none have been announced for Revolution. Other information states that Revolution will be able to hook up to a computer monitor as well as a TV, dating back in May 2003. However, Nintendo has confirmed that at this point in time, they are not supporting HDTV output for the Revolution, however, 480p will be standard. [4] This may mean that the system will be unable to output HDTV at all, or it may mean that HDTV support will be at the developer's discretion.

Nintendo also has said the console will be "sleek", approximately the thickness of two DVD cases (pictures are of the prototype, which is three DVD cases large), considerably thinner than the Xbox 360 and [[PlayStatio n 3]]. It will stand both horizontally and vertically. This new industrial design will also address remarks regarding the GameCube's unique look which some have complained does not fit in amongst most home entertainment components. [5].

Controller

The Nintendo Revolution controller, unveiled at Tokyo Game Show 2005, is shaped like a simple television remote control and operates like a mouse in three-dimensional real-space.

The controller is a major departure from the last 20 years of console design. Two sensors near the television allow the controller to sense its position in three-dimensional space; other sensors in the controller itself allow it to sense its tilt and yaw. Players can thus mime actions (and receive "rumble pak" style vibration feedback) instead of simply pushing buttons. An early marketing video [6] showed actors miming such actions as fishing, cooking, drumming, conducting an orchestra, shooting a gun, sword fighting, and performing dental surgery. To communicate with the sensors, the Revolution's controller uses Bluetooth technology. [7]

A digital directional pad is positioned at the top of the controller face, with a large GameCube-styled A button directly below it and a trigger on the underside acting as the B-button. Below the A button is a row of three small buttons: Start, Home, and Select. Near the bottom end of the controller are two additional buttons labeled lowercase a and b (labeled X and Y in promotional videos and likely the final product), suggesting that users can turn the controller 90 degrees and use it like a classic NES or SMS controller. Beneath these buttons are four lights which indicate what player number the controller is being used for--at present, up to four players are expected to be able to play on a single Revolution console.

The controller can also slip inside or attach to peripherals through a proprietary port on its bottom end. A tethered peripheral with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons (labeled Z₁ and Z₂) will, according to Satoru Iwata, be bundled with the free-hand controller (letting the user play games "nunchaku-style").

A "shell" peripheral is also slated to release for the Revolution that will be "very similar in style and form to the Wavebird" [8]. The official name for this is the "Classic-Style Expansion Controller". According to Iwata, it is meant for playing "the existing games, virtual console games, and multi-platform games" (TGS 2005 keynote, 40:43). The freehand controller will slide into a hole in the top of the classic controller, and thus it will retain the freehand controller's position sensing capabilities. IGN has an article called "Understanding the Revolution Controller", which discusses the shell as well as includes a mock-up of what the shell might look like. [9]

Nintendo promises a wide variety of peripherals ranging from dance mats to analog game controllers. Peripherals may be cheap enough to be bundled with games much like the rumble pack, expansion pack, and microphone for Star Fox 64, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario Party 6, respectively.

Known specifications

Due to the relatively early stages of development, specifications may change before the console's final release.

  • Processors:
    • IBM PowerPC CPU "Broadway":
      • No further details.
    • ATI GPU "Hollywood":
      • The GPU is believed to be being developed by the same team formerly known as the Californian firm ArtX which developed the graphics chip of both the Gamecube and its predecessor, the Nintendo 64, before being purchased by ATI.
    • Nintendo ha

s stated several times that the Revolution's focus is not power, but innovation. While this may lead some to say that the Revolution will be graphically inferior, nothing is officially confirmed.

  • Memory:
    • 1T-SRAM by MoSys
      • No further details.
    • 512 MiB built-in flash memory
      • Replaces the function of an internal hard drive.
      • Will be used to store:
        • Revolution game save data
        • Downloaded games
        • Game demos
        • Patches or upgrades
  • Ports and peripherals:
    • Two USB 2.0 ports.
    • No proprietary serial ports announced.
      • All Nintendo consoles to date have a serial port.
    • Wireless controllers.
    • A single proprietary output for video and audio.
    • A dongle enabling DVD playback.
    • 4 × Nintendo GameCube controller ports and 2 × Nintendo GameCube memory card ports (for compatibility).
    • Optional USB PC-compatible 802.11b wireless router.
  • Media:
    • Slot loading optical disc drive compatible with both 12 cm and 8 cm proprietary optical discs (again, for GameCube compatibility) as well as standard DVD discs.
    • 2 × front loading SD memory card slots.
  • Networking:
    • Wi-Fi by the Broadcom Corporation]]:
      • Built-in 802.11b & 802.11g support.
    • No Ethernet port.
  • Final version could be smaller than the presented E³ prototype, "about the size of three stacked standard DVD cases" (as quoted from the conference).

Features

Online arguments commenced when Nintendo of America's Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Perrin Kaplan, announced there would be no HD support for their upcoming system. Kaplan stated beautiful graphics and innovative gameplay could be achieved without HD and that abstaining from the technology would help keep the cost of games down. In reaction, major Internet based magazines like IGN.com organized letter writing campaigns to protest against Nintendo regarding the decision and urging consumers to take action [10]. A website called 1080up.org was also formed specifically for lobbying Nintendo to include the feature but so far nothing clear has come from it.

Backward compatibility

The Nintendo Revolution has reportedly been designed to be compatible with Nintendo GameCube software and most peripherals. Standing vertically, the top of Revolution has four GameCube controller ports that will allow the system to be compatible with ordinary GameCube controllers, Nintendo's wireless Wavebird controller, the DK Bongos, the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable, and the Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix dance pads. It also features two memory card slots that should be fully compatible with all generations of GameCube memory cards ("Memory Card 59", "Memory Card 251", and "Memory Card 1019") and the Nintendo GameCube Microphone. The Nintendo Revolution is designed to accept the tiny Nintendo GameCube discs through the same slot-loading disc drive that will accept standard-sized Revolution game discs and DVD movies; this is a first for slot-loading disc drives, which typically only accept discs of one standard size. However, it is unclear if it will have the high-speed port required for use with the Game Boy Player accessory, but is unlikely because of the difference in the Revolution's and the GameCube's size (a rectangle against an almost quadratic footprint with different measures).

Virtual console

Nintendo has announced that Revolution will have the ability to play all the Nintendo-produced Nintendo 64, SNES/Super Famicom, and Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom games; the software may be recompiled or emulated but will be offered via the Nintendo online download service. Satoru Iwata refers to this feature as the "Virtual Console". According to a Japanese press release, "all downloaded games will be stored on the 512 flash memory built into the system."[11] To prevent illegal copying, downloaded games will feature a proprietary DRM system.

Nintendo announced that the downloadable games may be redesigned. It was also said that although the gameplay would stay the same, it would be possible "that with Revolution, we may be able to see the old games with new looks." Some 3D games may "look sharper when played on Revolution." [12] If the technical aspects of Revolution also go well, "[Nintendo is] discussing the possibility of having older games like Mario Party playable online."

Although no specifics have yet been released, there will be fees associated with the "virtual console" feature. Nintendo has suggested that they may give some of the downloadable games away with Nintendo products or through other special offers.[13] It is also unknown what specific titles will be available or whether other third-party developers may release their older games for the Revolution, although it has been said that Nintendo is in talks with these developers for this purpose. Yuji Naka, the designer of Sonic the Hedgehog at Sega, said in an interview with Famitsu, "It's also great that we'll be able to play Famicom and other games via download. I hope Sega games will be playable as well." He also said similar in a recent interview with Nintendo Power. Currently, Nintendo could release more than 200 potential titles (and if, like it has been rumoured, the Revolution is indeed compatible with the Game Boy Player accessory, then Nintendo's entire back catalogue could be playable on the system).

Some see Nintendo trying to pattern the most successful strategy used by the music industry against illegal music downloads. Since computers have been powerful enough to emulate past-generation home consoles and the Internet provided an easy, fast, and widely accessible distribution path for ROM images (a file which contains the data for a game which can then be played via an emulator), illegal ROM downloading has been common among a segment of fans of old games. The music industry's most successful method of reducing illegal music downloading has apparently been to offer consumers a way to download music legally for a small cost. If Nintendo is successful at utilizing this model, they may be able to reduce illegal ROM downloading and open up a new revenue stream. This backward-compatibility feature also stands as a new unique selling point against the Revolution's competitors.

The unveiling of the new controller has also shed some light on the functionality of the backwards compatibility; specifically, when held sideways, the controller resembles the NES controller.

See also

References

External links

-15143-2567-x-x-x GameSpot: The Revolution Revealed]