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Yer according to an interview with "Toyota" Ken Toyota, Nintendo Japans PR man,
"E3 will be the starting point for the Revolution. [We haven't decided] whether we will show the real machine, videos, or unveil the concept. ... We want to receive some level of evaluation, but releasing too much information is also another issue. We don't have the slightest intention of making a machine that follows the same path as conventional game hardware. Right now, we are thinking of how we can accurately convey to people at E3 the different path that the Revolution will take and how it will change the way that games will be enjoyed."
With PS3 and Xbox 2 confirmed playable, it would be an idiotic move by Nintendo not to have some sort of hands on demonstration of the Revolution. If the reason that they keep everything movie form is because they don't have any actual playable games, then Nintendo are in trouble. With Revolution's Launch pencilled in (by us) for 12 - 18 months time, no playable software, indeed no playable hardware is a worrying sign.
If 3rd parties don't get a chance to get to grips with Revolution soon, the launch will be another 3 game Nintendo only affair, and up against stiff competition from Sony and Microsoft (despite what Nintendo like to think), their own Revolutionary games won't be enough to carry the console.
"E3 will be the starting point for the Revolution. [We haven't decided] whether we will show the real machine, videos, or unveil the concept. ... We want to receive some level of evaluation, but releasing too much information is also another issue. We don't have the slightest intention of making a machine that follows the same path as conventional game hardware. Right now, we are thinking of how we can accurately convey to people at E3 the different path that the Revolution will take and how it will change the way that games will be enjoyed."
With PS3 and Xbox 2 confirmed playable, it would be an idiotic move by Nintendo not to have some sort of hands on demonstration of the Revolution. If the reason that they keep everything movie form is because they don't have any actual playable games, then Nintendo are in trouble. With Revolution's Launch pencilled in (by us) for 12 - 18 months time, no playable software, indeed no playable hardware is a worrying sign.
If 3rd parties don't get a chance to get to grips with Revolution soon, the launch will be another 3 game Nintendo only affair, and up against stiff competition from Sony and Microsoft (despite what Nintendo like to think), their own Revolutionary games won't be enough to carry the console.
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I'm not taking anything as fact. I'm saying that if Revolution is only videos of games, it's hardly going to set the world alight, is it? People's first glimpse of it will be as movies of games with inferior graphics to the PS3 and the XB2 (allegedly called the Xbox 360 now), and they'll all think "It's just another gamecube". If the Revolution is so revolutionary then just videos isn't going to do it justice. In fact, it will do more harm than good, as it will appear inferior to the other two consoles.
Obviously that is assuming that it has less raw power, but that's something that Nintendo have suggested themselves.
You can't deny that having a solid Revolution console for people to look at, or have a demonstration of the new controller, or whatever, will cause a major amount of hype. A lot more than just some talking heads saying "Revolution will revolutionise gaming as we know it, it will have this this and this". Having it playable on the show floor isn't necessary, but having it in some tangible form would be a major boost, I feel.
My worry is that, 18 months before launch, if the hardware isn't ready to be shown, developers can't have accurate dev kits. If the controller isn't finalised, and if it is so revolutionary, developers won't have time to create proper games for launch, I feel. My example is the DS, which seems to be in the same boat as the Revolution, in that it has a new control mechanism and a new viewing mechanism. As handheld development times are shorter generally, I think it is fair to give the comparison between E3 2004 DS - DS release and E3 2005 Revolution - Revolution release. Look at the DS release. There were only tech demos at E3, and our launch games were not exactly awe inspiring or must have games. FTM uses the hardware most fully but is a very shallow game. Mario is a port.
If revolution doesn't even have tech demos, that smacks of unfinished hardware, and that means that games cannot get truly underway in development until the cores are finalised. I think that the deve kits you refer to are most likely just G5s with similar specs to what Nintendo expect the Revolution to have, rather than a tool to actually create the games.
It is obviously just my opinion but I think that if Revolution is only shown as mere videos and tech demos, with Reggie shouting "It'll be REVOLUTIONARY!", the console will come out the worse for it, up against the competition.
It would also be foolish, I feel to hype Zelda and Mario above the Revolution, as Zelda and Mario only concern fans of the series or genre, whereas a major new console annoucement affects the entire gaming population of the world. It's almost as if Microsoft were to hype their latest version of Word over their new operating system - it just wouldn't make sense.
Obviously that is assuming that it has less raw power, but that's something that Nintendo have suggested themselves.
You can't deny that having a solid Revolution console for people to look at, or have a demonstration of the new controller, or whatever, will cause a major amount of hype. A lot more than just some talking heads saying "Revolution will revolutionise gaming as we know it, it will have this this and this". Having it playable on the show floor isn't necessary, but having it in some tangible form would be a major boost, I feel.
My worry is that, 18 months before launch, if the hardware isn't ready to be shown, developers can't have accurate dev kits. If the controller isn't finalised, and if it is so revolutionary, developers won't have time to create proper games for launch, I feel. My example is the DS, which seems to be in the same boat as the Revolution, in that it has a new control mechanism and a new viewing mechanism. As handheld development times are shorter generally, I think it is fair to give the comparison between E3 2004 DS - DS release and E3 2005 Revolution - Revolution release. Look at the DS release. There were only tech demos at E3, and our launch games were not exactly awe inspiring or must have games. FTM uses the hardware most fully but is a very shallow game. Mario is a port.
If revolution doesn't even have tech demos, that smacks of unfinished hardware, and that means that games cannot get truly underway in development until the cores are finalised. I think that the deve kits you refer to are most likely just G5s with similar specs to what Nintendo expect the Revolution to have, rather than a tool to actually create the games.
It is obviously just my opinion but I think that if Revolution is only shown as mere videos and tech demos, with Reggie shouting "It'll be REVOLUTIONARY!", the console will come out the worse for it, up against the competition.
It would also be foolish, I feel to hype Zelda and Mario above the Revolution, as Zelda and Mario only concern fans of the series or genre, whereas a major new console annoucement affects the entire gaming population of the world. It's almost as if Microsoft were to hype their latest version of Word over their new operating system - it just wouldn't make sense.
gerrid wrote:
> My problem is that no plyable software or hardware indicates that
> there are no games in playable form on the revolution. 18 months is
> not a particularly large amount of time to get to grips with
> completely new hardware and create deep, involving games with. Just
> look at the DS. That was shown only 10 months ago WITH playable
> software and the release games were shallow affairs, with the best
> one being an N64 port.
Nintendo have already released dev kits. 2 years is plenty of time to create a set of launch titles. Nintendo will have started even earlier with the planning stages of games. 6 months after recieving the dev kits and you expect all the major third parties to have playable software? I'm putting good money on the fact we won't see much on PS3 and Xenon other than tech demo's. The same tech demo's we saw for the DS last year. Note the DS dev kits were sent out January 2004 console released in November. Whilst the Revolution kits are already heading out.
> Having the specs for a machine just means that developers can
> simulate creating games on their computers, but without any actual
> dev kits, they cant make games. SEGA said that they had to scrap
> their initial game ideas for the Nitro, based on a spec sheet, when
> they got a development kit because it was so different to what they
> had envisaged. No playable software 18 months before a consoles
> launch is NOT a good sign, no matter how much you try to sugar coat
> it.
I can't think of a console launch where games are even remotely ready 18 months before launch. Not one... nope... still can't think of one.
> Also Upwire announced that Sony said PS3 will be playable, I didn't
> just pull it out of my ass, and with XB2 planned for 2005 release
> playable at E3 is almost gauranteed.
Xenon'll have some games ready. PS3 will have some tech demo's. Perhaps a Metal Gear Solid level or a car going around a GT track. None of them will be real games. I'm betting the PS3's hardware is far more complete to be shown. So the console you see will look like that 18 months down the line. I do believe we'll see what the Revolution will look like. Although I still think it's a tad early for that.
> Perhaps you are more excited about new gamecube software, but the
> rest of the world isn't. Mario 128 and Zelda are BIG, but they'll
> easily be overshadowed in the press by PS3 and XB2, and that's
> plainly obvious, as they affect more people. This E3 is not about
> games, it's about new hardware. That's what the press is expecting,
> that's what the public is expecting. Downplaying the Revolution in
> the face of the PS3 and the XB2 in favour of pushing GC software is s
> obviously foolhardy. Maybe you don't get excited by new hardware but
> I'm pretty sure everyone else is more excited by new hardware than
> new games, that's just the way it is. Hardware points the way to the
> future, whereas games aren't the same.
Oh yeah I forgot, that quote which told us that Nintendo might show it fully or might not meant the Revolution isn't going to be there at all. Of course Gamecube software needs to be shown. I bet every newspaper, magazine and website in the country will have a feature on the new consoles and you know what, Revolution will be there as well. It doesn't have to be playable to be in a magazine. It can be shown via videos. Via brief displays. It can be shown in anyway. It doesn't matter as long as it's there and it will be. The good think with Nintendo is that they've got Gamecube software to boot.
> I agree with you that an unfinished, unpolished Revlution would lead
> to bad press, but that's not what I'm saying. What I was saying was
> that with no decent playable software at this stage Nintendo need to
> work faster if they want a really good launch, something that will be
> extremely important come 2006.
18 months is a period it takes to make a good solid game. It's 10 months longer than it takes EA to make a game. Look at the Gamecube launch. There were tonnes of games, SEGA, Factor 5, EA, Activision, Nintendo, THQ and Konami all had titles ready for launch.
Don't assume that just because Nintendo aren't keen to show off the hardware playable that there isn't much playable software.
Seriously if the ideas are as great as they say they will be borrowed by the competiton, and Nintendo won't want that to happen. Especially if the PS3 can be re-designed with it before launch and the Xenon can add it in before Revolution even hits the shelves.
> My problem is that no plyable software or hardware indicates that
> there are no games in playable form on the revolution. 18 months is
> not a particularly large amount of time to get to grips with
> completely new hardware and create deep, involving games with. Just
> look at the DS. That was shown only 10 months ago WITH playable
> software and the release games were shallow affairs, with the best
> one being an N64 port.
Nintendo have already released dev kits. 2 years is plenty of time to create a set of launch titles. Nintendo will have started even earlier with the planning stages of games. 6 months after recieving the dev kits and you expect all the major third parties to have playable software? I'm putting good money on the fact we won't see much on PS3 and Xenon other than tech demo's. The same tech demo's we saw for the DS last year. Note the DS dev kits were sent out January 2004 console released in November. Whilst the Revolution kits are already heading out.
> Having the specs for a machine just means that developers can
> simulate creating games on their computers, but without any actual
> dev kits, they cant make games. SEGA said that they had to scrap
> their initial game ideas for the Nitro, based on a spec sheet, when
> they got a development kit because it was so different to what they
> had envisaged. No playable software 18 months before a consoles
> launch is NOT a good sign, no matter how much you try to sugar coat
> it.
I can't think of a console launch where games are even remotely ready 18 months before launch. Not one... nope... still can't think of one.
> Also Upwire announced that Sony said PS3 will be playable, I didn't
> just pull it out of my ass, and with XB2 planned for 2005 release
> playable at E3 is almost gauranteed.
Xenon'll have some games ready. PS3 will have some tech demo's. Perhaps a Metal Gear Solid level or a car going around a GT track. None of them will be real games. I'm betting the PS3's hardware is far more complete to be shown. So the console you see will look like that 18 months down the line. I do believe we'll see what the Revolution will look like. Although I still think it's a tad early for that.
> Perhaps you are more excited about new gamecube software, but the
> rest of the world isn't. Mario 128 and Zelda are BIG, but they'll
> easily be overshadowed in the press by PS3 and XB2, and that's
> plainly obvious, as they affect more people. This E3 is not about
> games, it's about new hardware. That's what the press is expecting,
> that's what the public is expecting. Downplaying the Revolution in
> the face of the PS3 and the XB2 in favour of pushing GC software is s
> obviously foolhardy. Maybe you don't get excited by new hardware but
> I'm pretty sure everyone else is more excited by new hardware than
> new games, that's just the way it is. Hardware points the way to the
> future, whereas games aren't the same.
Oh yeah I forgot, that quote which told us that Nintendo might show it fully or might not meant the Revolution isn't going to be there at all. Of course Gamecube software needs to be shown. I bet every newspaper, magazine and website in the country will have a feature on the new consoles and you know what, Revolution will be there as well. It doesn't have to be playable to be in a magazine. It can be shown via videos. Via brief displays. It can be shown in anyway. It doesn't matter as long as it's there and it will be. The good think with Nintendo is that they've got Gamecube software to boot.
> I agree with you that an unfinished, unpolished Revlution would lead
> to bad press, but that's not what I'm saying. What I was saying was
> that with no decent playable software at this stage Nintendo need to
> work faster if they want a really good launch, something that will be
> extremely important come 2006.
18 months is a period it takes to make a good solid game. It's 10 months longer than it takes EA to make a game. Look at the Gamecube launch. There were tonnes of games, SEGA, Factor 5, EA, Activision, Nintendo, THQ and Konami all had titles ready for launch.
Don't assume that just because Nintendo aren't keen to show off the hardware playable that there isn't much playable software.
Seriously if the ideas are as great as they say they will be borrowed by the competiton, and Nintendo won't want that to happen. Especially if the PS3 can be re-designed with it before launch and the Xenon can add it in before Revolution even hits the shelves.
gamesfreak wrote:
> If Nintendo fail to show anything or something as generic as a video
> then they'll be screwed, big time. Journalists and what not influence
> gamers worldwide, having something to touch and review will boost the
> machines image and generate interest.
>
Oh no your life must be so lonely.
If Nintendo show a video that'll be splashed accross the gaming press. Along with the PS3 and the Xenon.
The console isn't being released for ages. Why take attention away from other things with something we're not gonna see for an age.
For crying out loud you do make a fuss over the smallest things.
> If Nintendo fail to show anything or something as generic as a video
> then they'll be screwed, big time. Journalists and what not influence
> gamers worldwide, having something to touch and review will boost the
> machines image and generate interest.
>
Oh no your life must be so lonely.
If Nintendo show a video that'll be splashed accross the gaming press. Along with the PS3 and the Xenon.
The console isn't being released for ages. Why take attention away from other things with something we're not gonna see for an age.
For crying out loud you do make a fuss over the smallest things.
My problem is that no plyable software or hardware indicates that there are no games in playable form on the revolution. 18 months is not a particularly large amount of time to get to grips with completely new hardware and create deep, involving games with. Just look at the DS. That was shown only 10 months ago WITH playable software and the release games were shallow affairs, with the best one being an N64 port.
Having the specs for a machine just means that developers can simulate creating games on their computers, but without any actual dev kits, they cant make games. SEGA said that they had to scrap their initial game ideas for the Nitro, based on a spec sheet, when they got a development kit because it was so different to what they had envisaged. No playable software 18 months before a consoles launch is NOT a good sign, no matter how much you try to sugar coat it.
Also Upwire announced that Sony said PS3 will be playable, I didn't just pull it out of my ass, and with XB2 planned for 2005 release playable at E3 is almost gauranteed.
Perhaps you are more excited about new gamecube software, but the rest of the world isn't. Mario 128 and Zelda are BIG, but they'll easily be overshadowed in the press by PS3 and XB2, and that's plainly obvious, as they affect more people. This E3 is not about games, it's about new hardware. That's what the press is expecting, that's what the public is expecting. Downplaying the Revolution in the face of the PS3 and the XB2 in favour of pushing GC software is s obviously foolhardy. Maybe you don't get excited by new hardware but I'm pretty sure everyone else is more excited by new hardware than new games, that's just the way it is. Hardware points the way to the future, whereas games aren't the same.
I agree with you that an unfinished, unpolished Revlution would lead to bad press, but that's not what I'm saying. What I was saying was that with no decent playable software at this stage Nintendo need to work faster if they want a really good launch, something that will be extremely important come 2006.
Having the specs for a machine just means that developers can simulate creating games on their computers, but without any actual dev kits, they cant make games. SEGA said that they had to scrap their initial game ideas for the Nitro, based on a spec sheet, when they got a development kit because it was so different to what they had envisaged. No playable software 18 months before a consoles launch is NOT a good sign, no matter how much you try to sugar coat it.
Also Upwire announced that Sony said PS3 will be playable, I didn't just pull it out of my ass, and with XB2 planned for 2005 release playable at E3 is almost gauranteed.
Perhaps you are more excited about new gamecube software, but the rest of the world isn't. Mario 128 and Zelda are BIG, but they'll easily be overshadowed in the press by PS3 and XB2, and that's plainly obvious, as they affect more people. This E3 is not about games, it's about new hardware. That's what the press is expecting, that's what the public is expecting. Downplaying the Revolution in the face of the PS3 and the XB2 in favour of pushing GC software is s obviously foolhardy. Maybe you don't get excited by new hardware but I'm pretty sure everyone else is more excited by new hardware than new games, that's just the way it is. Hardware points the way to the future, whereas games aren't the same.
I agree with you that an unfinished, unpolished Revlution would lead to bad press, but that's not what I'm saying. What I was saying was that with no decent playable software at this stage Nintendo need to work faster if they want a really good launch, something that will be extremely important come 2006.
Dringo you are so naive.
Like people have stated below, if Nintendo fail to show the Revolution in action, who is going to want one? Seeing as Nintendos current home console market share (in Europe) is pretty minimal, people are looking forward to the next set of machines.
You know how much mass hysteria is generated around the release of a new machine, so unveiling at something as big as E3 is a good way to get gamers excited.
I'm pretty certain Xenon will be there in some form, it'll be on every games website and covered in every detail in magazines. It's the same with the PS3.
If Nintendo fail to show anything or something as generic as a video then they'll be screwed, big time. Journalists and what not influence gamers worldwide, having something to touch and review will boost the machines image and generate interest.
I just hope Ninty have something up they're sleeve to wow us all.
Like people have stated below, if Nintendo fail to show the Revolution in action, who is going to want one? Seeing as Nintendos current home console market share (in Europe) is pretty minimal, people are looking forward to the next set of machines.
You know how much mass hysteria is generated around the release of a new machine, so unveiling at something as big as E3 is a good way to get gamers excited.
I'm pretty certain Xenon will be there in some form, it'll be on every games website and covered in every detail in magazines. It's the same with the PS3.
If Nintendo fail to show anything or something as generic as a video then they'll be screwed, big time. Journalists and what not influence gamers worldwide, having something to touch and review will boost the machines image and generate interest.
I just hope Ninty have something up they're sleeve to wow us all.
Dringo wrote:
> It is a massive over reaction from the Nintendo public.
It's not suprising though considering the first class c*ck up Nintendo have made with the Gamecube.
> It is a massive over reaction from the Nintendo public.
It's not suprising though considering the first class c*ck up Nintendo have made with the Gamecube.
and that's a woosh.
Jungle beat is excellent, whether the Bongo drums are a gimmic or not.
"That's it tip the gyro-drum to make Mario walk, GOOD Timmy! Now play a tune to make him hop, skip and jump, oh welldone Timmy!"
A Boomerang with teeth. So it would come back and bite Nintendo in the ass like their other gimmicky peripherals.
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