Revolution backwards compatible with GC and WiFi out of box!

[NintendoMan]

All my dreams are coming true today. Just announced is that the DS is going online, well WiFi, and now the Revolution will be Wifi compatible out of the box! As well as be backwards compatible for the Gamecube! GREAT NEWS! This is one of the happiest days ever for this nintendo fan.

http://cube.ign.com/articles/594/594935p1.html

[Super Mario Fan]

All my dreams are coming true today. Just announced is that the DS is going online, well WiFi, and now the Revolution will be Wifi compatible out of the box! As well as be backwards compatible for the Gamecube! GREAT NEWS! This is one of the happiest days ever for this nintendo fan.

http://cube.ign.com/articles/594/594935p1.html

Holy shit! Maybe Nintendo is starting to make some of the right decisions here. Hopefully they will do well with it.

[Humanoid]

Yes! I was undecided on buying revolution, simply because I want online gaming. Well, since it has Wi-Fi, I think it's safe to assume that it will be online.

[SoulBlazer]

I'll bet you anything the WiFi thing is the 'new twist' that was hinted at by Nintendo a few months ago concerning their new console.

One thing concerns me -- if the Revolution is going to be backwards compatiable with the GameCube, does that media is going be limited to the same small CD's they use for the GC? I want the Revolution to use super large DVD media discs for the system.

[Lady Jaye]

Not necessarily so... just like regular CD players can read mini-CDs (except for slot-loading players), my guess is that Revolution could very well use regular-sized discs and that the optical reader will still be able to read GCN discs.

And mark this down as a first: a Nintendo home console that's backward-compatible! @_@ Maybe they are learning from the past after all...

I'm wondering something about the Broadway CPU being developed by IBM: is it a specialized offshoot of the G5 processor?

[gamegirl79]

Let's face it, online gaming is here to stay. In order to keep up with M$ and $ony, Nintendo really needs to have some kind of online support. To not do so would be suicide.

This is a smart move and I look forward to what the future holds. :D

[Promophile]

Iwata explained the reasoning behind each codename. The CPU is called Broadway because, according to the executive, "Broadway is the capital of movie entertainment." Meanwhile, Iwata said that the GPU's name stems from the fact that "Hollywood is the capital of movie entertainment." He added: "


Huh? I hope it's a typo.

[studvicious]

LOL Yeah, I thought that too when I read it.. it really didn't make sense

[goatdan]

I'll bet you anything the WiFi thing is the 'new twist' that was hinted at by Nintendo a few months ago concerning their new console.

It could be, but I doubt that is it. Nintendo has said that developers may not develop for the Revolution because of this twist. I don't know which developer would decide to go elsewhere because you could put your game online.


One thing concerns me -- if the Revolution is going to be backwards compatiable with the GameCube, does that media is going be limited to the same small CD's they use for the GC? I want the Revolution to use super large DVD media discs for the system.

I think that if they do get larger discs, they will again use something other than just DVD media. Nintendo is very committed to making their systems extremely hard to pirate, and has been pretty successful with this. A non-standard media format is a good way to do that.

That having been said, I'll be surprised if the Rev can't play DVDs out of the box...

The one thing that makes me happy to learn that the Revolution will be backwards compatible is that it means that the controllers won't be so wacky that you can't play Cube games on it. That means, at least to me that third party developers that are scared of whatever strange thing Nintendo wants to do with the system won't be forced to use it.


Not necessarily so... just like regular CD players can read mini-CDs (except for slot-loading players), my guess is that Revolution could very well use regular-sized discs and that the optical reader will still be able to read GCN discs.

Actually, even most slot loading players are set up to accept mini-CDs. They have a groove cut in them to keep it in place while loading :D

[GarrettCRW]

What strikes me as most important is that Iwata said that developing for the Revolution will be a lot like developing for the 'Cube. I'm sure that Nintendo's licensees were happy to hear that little nugget.

[NintendoMan]

I want the Revolution to use super large DVD media discs for the system.

I love the smaller discs better! I guess the larger DVD discs so it could play DVD's and the cd's would therefore hold more info??

[GobopopRevisited]

I want the Revolution to use super large DVD media discs for the system.

Maybe revolution will use the same format... just on bigger discs.

[petewhitley]

Congrats Nintendo, on being only one generation late to the online gaming revolution.

[Muscelli]

sounds good, was this the announcement? Also, what good is wifi in a home console? Although its good that there is one less cable...

[Bluteg]

Hopefully with wifi the Revolution will automatically detect wireless connections in your house and will use that to play online multiplayer. That would be great!

[Porkchop]

As well as be backwards compatible for the Gamecube! GREAT NEWS!


Rats! I hate backwards compatible systems, because everyone keeps the old games when the get a new system. No GC games at yard sales or thrift stores. :angry:

[it290]

I think that if they do get larger discs, they will again use something other than just DVD media. Nintendo is very committed to making their systems extremely hard to pirate, and has been pretty successful with this. A non-standard media format is a good way to do that.

That having been said, I'll be surprised if the Rev can't play DVDs out of the box...

True, but if they make it able to play DVDs, that will be a potential weakness for pirates to exploit.

[scooterb23]

I, for one, hope they use square discs.

[tholly]

Finally.....Nintendo learns and hopefully is going to do something right.

[Joelius]

Alright! Now I can justify getting a Revolution. Now if I could only justify getting Microsoft's new system...

[Lothars]

well don't bet on it being easy to justify microsofts new system yet.
but who knows

[Avenger]

Iwata explained the reasoning behind each codename. The CPU is called Broadway because, according to the executive, "Broadway is the capital of movie entertainment." Meanwhile, Iwata said that the GPU's name stems from the fact that "Hollywood is the capital of movie entertainment." He added: "


Huh? I hope it's a typo.

he actually said Broadway is the capital of MUSIC entertainment....just to clear that up

[Zadoc]

I doubt very much that the Revolution will be going online in the same way as we think of online gaming. The Wi-Fi functionality is probably just for "connecitivity" to the DS.

[kainemaxwell]

First the new Zelda shots and now this. Nintendo's going in the right direction!!

[GobopopRevisited]

About Backwards compatability: I think this should completely eliminates many peoples fears of having some completely obscure control device that would make normal gameplay types unavailable. I mean, if you can control all your favorite GameCube games (by way of GCN controller compatability or a Standard Revolution controller) then there has to be a regular control device somewhere for third parties to develop arround, as well as Nintendo to use for Traditional Franchise fare.... So I'm deffinately happy. That last Iwata speech was pretty scary.

[Mitch_Naz]

This is great news, I hope nintendo uses online play somewhat like Mircosoft with Xbox Live. Either way, we will still get online and its great to hear that animal crossing will be the killer app for the DS online function. I cant wait to see what E3 has in store for ever improving nintendo - Keep it up !

[Nature Boy]

Congrats Nintendo, on being only one generation late to the online gaming revolution.

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the wifi thing is just for connectivity to the DS? Ala GC-to-GBA? And (maybe) has little to do with being online?

I'm still not convinced the 'online revolution' exists outside media hype anyway. Nobody ever mentions what % of console owners actually play online.

[studvicious]

That's a good point, and possible making the system able to play GBA(2) games without the need of a future "Gameboy Player" add-on

[Mayhem]

I'm still not convinced the 'online revolution' exists outside media hype anyway. Nobody ever mentions what % of console owners actually play online.

By my calculations (based on total ownership of consoles compared to online subscription figures) between the PS2 and Xbox, 4% total worldwide. Which QED means than 96% of all console owners worldwide have never been online.

[Drexel923]

Congrats Nintendo, on being only one generation late to the online gaming revolution.

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the wifi thing is just for connectivity to the DS? Ala GC-to-GBA? And (maybe) has little to do with being online?

I'm still not convinced the 'online revolution' exists outside media hype anyway. Nobody ever mentions what % of console owners actually play online.

Well that Reggie guy more or less said that it will be online...


In terms of GameCube, I think in fairness we at Nintendo haven't done a great job of providing the Internet capability tools to our developers to create games for GameCube. We need to address that for all of our future systems and we're doing that. In terms of Revolution and its wireless capability, stay tuned -- more to come. We are absolutely committed to the sense of community and the worldwide sense of playing games against each other. We're going to be delivering that on every future system to the best of our ability.

Quoted from:

http://cube.ign.com/articles/594/594834p2.html

Now we won't know that truth until E3 and we have heard Nintendo say things that never materialize, but I don't think they are going to blow this one more than they have already.

[AMG]

I was going to pick up the new Nintendo console anyway.

But knowing I can play Gamecube games on it means I'll be picking it up sooner.

[Lady Jaye]

If they do provide online connectivity, I hope that it'll be possible to also use a wired modem instead of wi-fi. Y'know... put the emphasis on Wi-Fi but discreetly include an Ethernet connector as well.

[Drexel923]

If they do provide online connectivity, I hope that it'll be possible to also use a wired modem instead of wi-fi. Y'know... put the emphasis on Wi-Fi but discreetly include an Ethernet connector as well.

You know, thats a good point that I never thought about. I don't see why they wouldn't. But even if they don't, by the time the system comes out, you should be able to get a good wireless router for pretty cheap.

[digdug]

I must be one of the few that could care less about nintendo. Until they have more 3rd party support, and games that aren't kid oriented I won't waste my time on buying anything.

Dig Dug

[NintendoMan]

I'm still not convinced the 'online revolution' exists outside media hype anyway. Nobody ever mentions what % of console owners actually play online.

By my calculations (based on total ownership of consoles compared to online subscription figures) between the PS2 and Xbox, 4% total worldwide. Which QED means than 96% of all console owners worldwide have never been online.

This is very true though, NOT that many people (I mean compared to how many people own systems) have been online through their consoles. That's why Nintendo has stated before as one of the reasons why they have not done that. And hasn't MS always lost money through their XBOX LIVE? (MS might be doing and the up now, but know at one point they were always losing money)

[NintendoMan]

If they do provide online connectivity, I hope that it'll be possible to also use a wired modem instead of wi-fi. Y'know... put the emphasis on Wi-Fi but discreetly include an Ethernet connector as well.

What would be the difference between both?

[Lady Jaye]

Hmm, one would be wireless and the other one wired? I don't have a router, wired or not, and don't want (nor need) to buy one. My DSL Modem works just fine thank you, and I personally don't need Wi-Fi connectivity.

[Poofta!]

Hmm, one would be wireless and the other one wired? I don't have a router, wired or not, and don't want (nor need) to buy one. My DSL Modem works just fine thank you, and I personally don't need Wi-Fi connectivity.


evolve or die!




nintendo has been a generation late for everything, adapting optical media a generation late (making the n64 a failure more or less and losing them the crown) and poor 3rd party support and no internet in the gamecube.

[petewhitley]

I'm still not convinced the 'online revolution' exists outside media hype anyway. Nobody ever mentions what % of console owners actually play online.

By my calculations (based on total ownership of consoles compared to online subscription figures) between the PS2 and Xbox, 4% total worldwide. Which QED means than 96% of all console owners worldwide have never been online.

In a recent interview, Halo 2 developer Brian Jarrard revealed that the Xbox has sold around 11 million units worldwide, and Xbox Live has 1.4 million paid members. That doesn't necessarily mean your figures are off at all (almost 0% of GC owners are onilne), but it does show that Microsoft has created a very compelling online experience (one worth paying for) for over 10% of their installed user base. That figure is fairly impressive for a first-generation push, and would indicate the makings of a revolution.

[Jasoco]

I hope they keep it small and make it look as nice as the Cube. If I'm gonna be retiring my Cube, I want to be replacing it with something worthy. The PS2 IMHO didn't live up to that. I'd rather have the look of the PSX and PSOne. So I'm hoping the Revolution will look as nice as the Dolphin.

As for DVD's. Who cares about DVD playing? Geeze. I already have enough stupid DVD players. I don't need another! An Xbox, PS2, two computers and a DVD Recorder are more than enough! Screw Revolution DVD Playback. I don't need it. Keep it small and simple and I'll be happy.

Just make sure you place the Z button somewhere easy to reach this time. Don't take after Sony again.

[Hep038]

And hasn't MS always lost money through their XBOX LIVE? (MS might be doing and the up now, but know at one point they were always losing money)



I have never heard where Xbox has lost money on live. Where did you read this? Because if Xbox lost money on live charging 60$ a year subscription, Sony must be taking a beating with their free online games. I always thought Xbox live was a high profit margin product for them.

[tholly]

And hasn't MS always lost money through their XBOX LIVE? (MS might be doing and the up now, but know at one point they were always losing money)



I have never heard where Xbox has lost money on live. Where did you read this? Because if Xbox lost money on live charging 60$ a year subscription, Sony must be taking a beating with their free online games. I always thought Xbox live was a high profit margin product for them.


i have no info to back this up...but i could have swore that i heard MS lost money on Live for a while there too...i dont know if thats true, and i dont know if they still do or are making money with it now, especially with Halo 2

[goatdan]

I have never heard where Xbox has lost money on live. Where did you read this? Because if Xbox lost money on live charging 60$ a year subscription, Sony must be taking a beating with their free online games. I always thought Xbox live was a high profit margin product for them.

i have no info to back this up...but i could have swore that i heard MS lost money on Live for a while there too...i dont know if thats true, and i dont know if they still do or are making money with it now, especially with Halo 2[/quote]

Actually, to back this up I read somewhere that it was recently that Microsoft started to make a profit with Xbox Live -- within the last 6 months. Remember -- MS had to make the back end to play their games and maintain the network, which is something the individual companies do for the PS2. MS wanted a network with value added.

By the way, if the Revolution is only wireless, people will adapt to it. Remember how pissed people were when Microsoft announced the Xbox wouldn't have a modem? People who wanted to play online adapted. The same thing will happen.

[Poofta!]

And hasn't MS always lost money through their XBOX LIVE? (MS might be doing and the up now, but know at one point they were always losing money)



I have never heard where Xbox has lost money on live. Where did you read this? Because if Xbox lost money on live charging 60$ a year subscription, Sony must be taking a beating with their free online games. I always thought Xbox live was a high profit margin product for them.



the difference is that with sony, you are the host, people connect to you, thats why the server is shit. xbox live has no lag, microsoft hosts the servers and all downloads, they charge very little for it in comparrison to how much bandwidth they are using up.

[Hep038]

Well I know when my friend signed up for xbox live when it first came out it was a one time fee. He has never had to pay a yearly subscription. And now its a yearly fee. I just never thought it would cost MS that much to maintain servers for Xbox live. :/

[NintendoMan]

I just never thought it would cost MS that much to maintain servers for Xbox live. :/

Well, it's not just for maintaining the servers, but also to make money on the service itself. They are a company trying to make money.

[NintendoMan]

i have no info to back this up...but i could have swore that i heard MS lost money on Live for a while there too...i dont know if thats true, and i dont know if they still do or are making money with it now, especially with Halo 2

Yeah, I am sure they are doing fine now, finally, due inpart WHOLELY to Halo 2. But before about 6 months ago, they were losing money. (I will try and find where I found that article, it's was mentioned numerous times in various game sources)

[Mayhem]

In a recent interview, Halo 2 developer Brian Jarrard revealed that the Xbox has sold around 11 million units worldwide, and Xbox Live has 1.4 million paid members. That doesn't necessarily mean your figures are off at all (almost 0% of GC owners are onilne), but it does show that Microsoft has created a very compelling online experience (one worth paying for) for over 10% of their installed user base. That figure is fairly impressive for a first-generation push, and would indicate the makings of a revolution.

IMO the one thing Microsoft have got right this generation is Xbox Live. Sure they're losing money on it hand over fist, but it's a start.

And remember my online figures include PS2 owners here... which is why the overall figure gets dragged right back down from the 10% of Xbox owners ;)

Most of them are only online to play SOCOM and FF11 btw...

In truth, Live might have 1.4 million paid users, but more interesting would be figures for how many people regularly use Xbox Live (in my terms, at least once a month). I think you'd find it a lot less. Many people have signed up for the free trial and not continued for example.

[DeputyMoniker]

I want the Revolution to use super large DVD media discs for the system.

Thats what I'm sayin'!! Laserdisc sized DVD's! Thats like a terabyte, man!

[DeputyMoniker]

Nintendo really needs to have some kind of online support. To not do so would be suicide.


And we all know Nintendo has never been one to turn their back on common sense.
...wait...maybe that was Microsoft.

Anyway...yay, online gaming. I'll have a PS3 for that. I'm having a hard time playing games online. I get so sick of people cheating or using cheap tactics to win. I guess I should just play with a crap load of people and pick the ones who dont bother me...then I'll just keep playing with them for the months to come.
Hopefully Nintendos "Mario doesnt have to kill a hooker for it to be fun" strategy will work out in the long run.

[petewhitley]

In truth, Live might have 1.4 million paid users, but more interesting would be figures for how many people regularly use Xbox Live (in my terms, at least once a month). I think you'd find it a lot less. Many people have signed up for the free trial and not continued for example.

I'm quite certain that's the case. More than a few households have more than one account as well. The 1.4 million figure is paid subscribers, another article quoted MS as saying Xbox Live had over 2 million users, which I would assume is inclusive of all those free trials.


the difference is that with sony, you are the host, people connect to you, thats why the server is shit. xbox live has no lag, microsoft hosts the servers and all downloads, they charge very little for it in comparrison to how much bandwidth they are using up.

As much as I love Xbox Live, that bit about servers and no lag is hogwash. Most (but not all) games require a player to host, and depending on their connection you can very well experience lag. I do ALL the time in certain games. It's still a great service, leaps and bounds over the PS2 online infrastructure, but it's not quite that perfect.

[GobopopRevisited]

Blah Blah Xbox Live... Blah Blah PS2... Blah Blah

"Revolution", WiFi, and GameCube Backwards compatability...

[hezeuschrist]

Some of the rampant fanboyism in this thread is really astounding. I'd expect more out of the people here.

Every system this generation has it's merits, and is worth owning for everyone. Every single system has at least a handful of triple A titles that are fantastic games regardless of what kind of games you play. Don't have a reason to own a cube? If you like games, you have a reason to own a cube unless it's a monetary issue. I dunno about you but when I initially buy a system (rarely at launch) I pick up the couple games I bought the system for and I always end up finding a bunch of other worthwhile titles that i would have totally missed out on. I garantee the revolution, Xbox 2 (especially with it's specs anounced, oh man) and PS3 will all be worth having a year or two into their lives.

And about the Xbox live thing, I know they were just throwing money at it right from the start. I initially read that the server farm used to do all of the work was almost twice the size of the microsoft.com server farm. That's insane. I'm sure it's far larger now with the release of Halo 2.

[goatdan]

I do ALL the time in certain games. It's still a great service, leaps and bounds over the PS2 online infrastructure, but it's not quite that perfect.

Xbox Live has everything to do with the fact that Microsoft wants to convince people to start paying for services like it in such a way so that in the future, they have the upper hand on getting tons of fees. Microsoft is banking on high speed internet connectivity becoming the entertainment of the future, and MS wants to be like the cable company for it.

That's why they are willing to lose a bazillion dollars this generation.

That's also why their network is so much better right now.

And I'm not knocking them in any way -- it's a great strategy. If it works in twenty years is another story.

[sabre2922]

Backwards compatibility is a big plus in my opinion.
I guess Ill have to have 2 systems in the next-generation once again a PS3 and Revolution sounds like a good set up to replace my current little gaming combo PS2 and DC.

[Chronodriftersx]

About Backwards compatability: I think this should completely eliminates many peoples fears of having some completely obscure control device that would make normal gameplay types unavailable. I mean, if you can control all your favorite GameCube games (by way of GCN controller compatability or a Standard Revolution controller) then there has to be a regular control device somewhere for third parties to develop arround, as well as Nintendo to use for Traditional Franchise fare.... So I'm deffinately happy. That last Iwata speech was pretty scary.

Will the controllers be backwards caompatible as well as the games? YES!

[NintendoMan]

Some of the rampant fanboyism in this thread is really astounding. I'd expect more out of the people here.

I don't see any at all. I mean this is a Nintendo topic, and people are just stating how cool it is too finally see somethings they have always wanted from Nintendo come true.

[Jasoco]

Some of the rampant fanboyism in this thread is really astounding. I'd expect more out of the people here.

I don't see any at all. I mean this is a Nintendo topic, and people are just stating how cool it is too finally see somethings they have always wanted from Nintendo come true.Agreed. A Nintendo thread with Nintendo fans. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[Nature Boy]

After posting my first reply I read that the DS will have a few online games itself, so my comment about 'just' connectivity with the DS is likely garbage already. Although I'd still wager heavily that they'll push DS to Rev connectivity - it's a great way to move units.

Thanks to everyone who bore out my speculation with statistics. I'm not buying the 'online revolution' for consoles until I see things start happening, and I refuse to slam Nintendo or anybody else for not adopting it until that point. If anything it's a smart move - they're reducing their costs by not pandering to less than 10% of the market.