First Nintendo IQue Reviews

[Sph1nx]

Slatdot Article
http://games.slashdot.org/games/03/12/07/1653228.shtml?tid=127&tid=186&tid=202&tid=203&tid=205

[Sph1nx]

Damn. The english review that slahdot links to seems to be down... and the german one isn't to helpful. Anyone know of any mirrors?

[hezeuschrist]

Terrible translation incoming!

Nintendo announced a new video game console. When close looking fast that neither the console was really new, still that showed up the usual markets (Japan, the USA and Europe) into the benefit of this new video game system would come. Conquering of the ever more lucratively becoming Chinese market, which experiences an economic boom for some years, was planned. Ever more Chinese make good money and would not like without consumer goods from west and east any longer to naturally do. Sony already planned before longer time to insert the Playstation 2 into China feared for however because of pirat copies the conversions and shifted release first times.

The so-called Nintendo IQue Player (about "God toy" translates) should, according to first rumors, when compact GameCube descendant starting from November 2003 conquer the Chinese market. Already in the first official press release it was communicated that Nintendo would set on a Flashkartenmedium. These maps can be loaded then for small money at terminals with authorized Chinese dealers with plays (see picture at the end of the Reviews). This procedure is not really new for Nintendo, because one remembers darkly only in Japan appear-ends floppy disk drive for the Famicom/NES, whose media could be likewise taped with dealers at special automats. When further characteristic is marked that the enclosed Flashkarte is coded directly with a digital signature of the IQue Players sold in addition, i.e. that the map will function only in these a Player. If one buys a new Flashkarte, the own equipment must be brought also into the shop, because first times the map is marked also here first. To this way Nintendo wants to limit the straight robbery copying problem not unknown in China.

2003, Nintendo Ernst and the IQue Player makes nearly accurately two months later, at the 21.November appears in selected cities of China. While foreign Technikfreaks and economical Chinese will have its joy, the Westler only interested in plays might be first rather somewhat disappointed. The IQue Player lets the good old SNES as well as the Nintendo64 again and is suggested not a GameCube Light revive as in all first rumors. However one must mean Nintendo of benefit that already on the TGS 2003 in Tokyo one contradicted to this message. There one announced that the IQue Player would play adapted versions mainly to the Chinese market more differently SNES and N64-Klassiker.

Scope of supply:

- IQue Player
- taped 64Mbit map
- 220V power pack (however with American plug, thus braucht's a plastic distance piece!)
- TV lead (3x Chinch)
- a few so-called Moneykarten with which one in China further plays downloaden can
- a ten-lateral Chinese guidance

Look and Feel

Inside a Dreamcastpad not dissimilar the CONTROLLER from technical view an extended N64 on closest area was blocked. In addition there is an exit for picture & clay/tone (3x Chinchstecker as well as power pack entrance at the end of the cable), a USB connection as well as map plumb bob. The enclosed 220V-Netzteil is suggested by the way, as evenly, not attached at the CONTROLLER directly separates at one at the TV cable led out inserts. That is very practical, because only one cable at the console puts in such a way, as one should actually be also used it from a CONTROLLER. The whole package becomes in China for approx.. 60 euro including to a filled 64Mbit-Flashkarte sells. A play down load shows only 5 euro in the books. By a fixed processor it is possible for the IQue Player to play from Nintendo at the terminals offered SNES Games perfectly. This is something, to which the old N64 would have technically never been able, since SNES and N64 differ technically too much and would not have been sufficient purely the computing power for one software emulation.

The IQue Player is properly blocked and lies well in the hand. It notices to the N64-Freak at the latest with the Mario64-zocken that the z-trigger of the lower surface of the original N64-Pads moved on the left side under the Schulterbutton. That is first something confusing, functioned however after little acclimatizing completely well. At the front is the inconspicuous entrance, which accommodates a memory card memorycardaehnliche from the appearance. Above the kabelausgangs is a USB connection. I speculate times that it concerns here in first LINE a link history. The remaining layout of the Pads is comparably with that of a N64, thus 4 yellow direction keys, similar to as well as digital stick, 2 Hauptbuttons and 2 Schulterbuttons as well as z-Button and the activate button. Only innovation is the Anschaltbutton over the activate button that during playing a RESET releases at the same time. From the form the whole is like already beginning marked rather Dreamcastorientiert and lies well in the hand.

The enclosed Flashkarte contains with the purchase in China a complete play (Dr. Mario) as well as temporally generously demo versions of Mario64, Zelda limited four: Ocarina OF time, Starfox as well as Wave Race. Importfreaks fall back to the offer with Lik Sang.com, where the console in the Bundle with in each case 2 or 5 full price titles is sold. The two play Bundle costs here approx.. 82 euro, the variant with 5 titles around the 165 euro. The 5-Titel-Version acquired by me contains the full versions of the Games specified above, speaks all together Chinese located Nintendo64-Klassiker.

Zocken of old Nintendoklassiker

To the plays one does not have to say actually much, because it concerns beads of the Nintendo64-Aera (with the exception of Dr. Mario, a nice play, but no classical author for me), which one still enthusiastically have played a few years ago should, zumindestens however knows as Videospielefreak. The only difference to the in this country appear-end versions is the used Chinese writing with all texts as well as Chinese synchronisation during spoken dialogues, which occur however very meagerly with the Games mentioned. Technical ones in relation to improvements the N64-Originalen could not I constitute.

The IQue Player is attached and started in the Nu at the domestic TV by Chinch. The television should support NT sports club rendition, otherwise the picture might remain black-and-white. Whether it will give times RGB changes or cables, is not well-known me. So one must take first times with the picture qualitatively worse for RGB/SVIDEO delicate eyes before dear. The appearing screen menus of the IQue are completely Chinese. Since there are however only two menu options, plays and administration of change of playing, is not difficult that to control. If one presses directly on the pre-selected first menu option, the list appears on the Flashkarte plays present inclusive clear pictures. After clicking a play Modulzocker might be somewhat irritated, because first times a bar to the data fills now of the Flashkarte into the internal memory of the IQue Players loaded is. This procedure lasts approx.. 15-30 seconds depending upon play. Subsequently, one can loose-put. It is already an amazing feeling, which cost only 270 gram heavy hardware of this complete video game system, nevertheless a 3D-Konsole me times in the import more than 10 years ago 1600 DM to hold in the hand while one goes on the screen again on star hunt with Mario.

Which concerns the future of the IQue Players, remains being waiting first times, as the sales develop in China. Which one with a small price of market shares conquered and/or back-conquered demonstrated Nintendo recently with the radical price reduction of the GameCube hardware. The idea a favorable to throw drilled out N64 on the Chinese market that is compactly blocked and quasi been based on subscriber basis (= play down load), is already times a brillianter chess move. The Chinese werden's hopefully thank, who disparage Importfreaks perhaps rather that Nintendo its N64/SNES-Perlen for this equipment recyclet. Which equally a benediction and a curse on the GameBoy Advance are, Nintendo continues now on the IQue Player first times. One can be strained whether also new plays is developed. Worth mentioning it is still that the hardware, the Freakhandheld GamePark GP32 owing to USB connection and strong technical achievements, could be similar perfect sooner or later a play meadow for hobby developers. The straight GP32 is outside of Korea through seine starke Hobbyentwicklerszene mit unzähligen Programmen bekannt geworden. Die hardware-emulation eines N64/SNES vereint in einem kompakten Gerät machen den IQue Player für Hobbyentwickler dieser Konsolenklassiker daher schon sehr interessant.


Thanks babelfish for the terrible translation! ;)

[hydr0x]

as i'm german i had no problem with the german text ;)

the review is quite good and the iQue also seems to be well made, if anyone needs any specific infos i'll check the review for it :)

[djbeatmongrel]

that translation makes my brain hurt @_@

[hezeuschrist]

Yeah, I didn't even attempt to read it.

[Ed Oscuro]

The English review isn't anything new, but here you go:

http://www.dextrose.com/review/index.php

[Hypnotuba]

I was waffling on whether or not to get an iQue, but once I read above that it has a USB port and a "map plumb bob", I was sold! Thankfully my TV does support "NT sports club rendition".

:) :D

I love Babelfish translations!

[Captain Wrong]

Anyone else think this thing looks like a third party Xbox controller?

[Ed Oscuro]

Anyone else think this thing looks like a third party Xbox controller?

:D

I think it looks interesting, but rather..."un-hip" with the grooves in the top of the unit. The offcenter joystick may have been necessary (ease of construction issues along with worries about damaging the motherboard, possibly, I don't think heat conduction would've been a problem) but that clinches it :D