Revolution specs, price sort-of revealed. Ma

[Sauza12]

most developers have said that a launch price of $149 is viable, and some have even said that a launch price of $99 is a possibility as well

If this is true, the Revolution goes back on my pick-up-at-launch list.  Controller be damned.

[yap]

20 points from Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation today:


http://www.next-gen.biz/i...&id=1825&Itemid=2

Speaking to delegates made up from the world's media industries, Fils-Aime talked up Nintendo' need to innovate as well as the market and demographic forces which were driving this strategy.

He offered some stats showing Nintendo's strength in the handhelds market and he also pulled some quotes from third-parties about Revolution.

These are the 20 main points from his PowerPoint presentation...

1. Quote from the movie industry: “It makes no sense to continue aiming all your films at the same demographic quadrant. Eventually, they become stale and lack originality.” Hollywood is suffering from a lack of originality.

2. Similarly, Sony and Microsoft are going in a straight line. Nintendo is taking a new turn, seeking new audiences.

3. Hardware and software sales in Japan have decreased significantly in the last decade. In 1997 the market was worth nearly 800 billion Yen. It's now worth less than 500 billion.

4. The majority of sales have traditionally been earned through very strong second half sales. This pattern has been consistent throughout the console industry's history, but second-half sales have been decreasing for the past three years, showing a weakness in the market.

5. The 8-bit market was worth 31 million hardware units followed by 16-bit (42M) and 32/64-bit (48M) and current generation of 53 million units.

6. Despite increased sales of units, household penetration of game consoles has hardly risen from around 30% in the 1980s.

7. The number of U.S males in the target demographic for games consoles has been rising through this decade, but has now peaked (at 10.86 million) and is declining.

8. A year ago, 29% of U.S. teenagers said their interest in videogame was increasing. That number is now down to 25%. 75% say their interest is declining.

9. Quoting a business guru: Expand market boundaries. Create new demand. 'What can be,' not 'What is'.

10. Iwata quotes:

"If we cannot expand the market, all we can do is wait for the industry to slowly die."

"It is our responsibility to make games for all skill levels...including people who are not playing games now."

"Technology alone can't advance videogames...which is why we plan to take Revolution in a dramatic new direction."

"Revolution...does not follow the conventional path of new game systems."

11. Quote from management guru Jack Welch: In real life, strategy is actually very straightforward.   You pick a general direction—and implement like hell."

12. GameBoy unit sales have increased from 1.5 million units in 1995 to 7.5 million in 2004; peaking at 8 million in 2003.

13. Nintendo DS is a Technology and Market 'Disruptor' offering two screens, microphone and touch screen. It's the market leader.

14. Total U.S. / Japanese retail sales are at 6 million, compared to PSP's 4.26 million

15. Likewise, Nintendogs has opened up new markets. "Not a Traditional Game - Social Appeal  - U.S. Sales: 950,000+. 2x Female Purchase Rate."

16. August to October handheld units sales (USA). GBA has 41%; DS has 31%; PSP has 28%.

17. Benefits of WiFi and success of Mario Kart DS / Animal Crossing  explained.

18. Revolution: is all about "New Players / New Thrills. Backward Compatibility makes it a  "Virtual Console" catering both to a market for  Nostalgia and for something Brand New.

19. Third party reaction:

Creative Liberation
Easy to Port
Traditional Controller Cradle
Developer Enthusiasm

20. Third Party Quotes:

Sega: "I don't think there's a creator who doesn't get tickled after getting their hands on this."

Square Enix: "You have to start by looking back at your play as a kid and think of what kinds of things you could do…you will be able to make a completely new form of play."

Namco: "There are great possibilities hidden within this controller."

EA: "Our sports titles might be the first to immediately take advantage of what this controller has to offer. It's a brilliant controller, and as usual we can credit Nintendo with being innovative and neat and fresh and fun.  They continue to pioneer in our industry…they make some of the best games in the industry…and we look forward to partnering with them."

Activision: "It's designed with an eye on enticing new players to the industry…something we firmly support."

THQ: "THQ is very focused on creating unique and innovative game play in this next console generation…and Nintendo's new controller fundamentally alters the interface between gamer and game in a unique and compelling way."


Ubisoft: "We were among the first publishers to see it in action, and are looking forward to taking advantage of it…"

[TraderJake]

http://www.tecmo.co.jp/product/pangya/

First screenshots and website of a Revolution Game (Pangya Golf). Kinda makes you wonder just how far along the other games are, and when exactly the system will launch in Japan, given that Tecmo jumped the gun on revealing screens.

[Izret101]

Hmmm i am slightly impressed.
I want to see more shots still though.

Nothing seemed too "new" from those pics.

[TraderJake]

I am impressed that there are actually screens on the internet, but I won't be truly wowed until the game is seen being played. I am sure I will not be the only one with their jaw on the floor when this game and all others are seen in real time at E3, or perhaps even GDC.

[Izret101]

I concur.

I can't wait to see it in action.
Especially with a game that interests me.
(Super Smash Bros 3)

[Arrrhalomynn]

Those screens look like they could come from an xbox. Then again, they are really tiny, so it's hard to tell.

[captain_nintendo]

I think they look fine. And as with any new "next gen" release, I wont expect much better graphics until the system has been out for a while.

[Tynstar]

Those screen shoots tell me nothing. Of course it is going to look good. I want the price, the release date and in game footage.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Oh boy, more Nintendo golf.

[Izret101]

Just read this:

There are many fans who have wanted Super Mario RPG to be re-released for either the Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS for quite some time. However, it seems Nintendo and Square Enix are not inclined to do so. Disappointed fans have created an online petition and obtained over 20,000 signatures, but no action has been taken by either company. However, the Nintendo Revolution will offer NES, SNES and N64 games via download, and President of Marketing for Nintendo of Europe, Jim Merrick, announced that Europeans would be able to download games from other regions, such as Super Mario RPG, although nothing has yet been official announced by Nintendo. It is rumored that Super Mario RPG will be included among the Revolution's downloadables.

[Izret101]

Just got this link from hardcoregaming forums:

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148776

[Odonadon]

Developers have pointed out that the Revolution's design will put it at a very affordable price to consumers - most developers have said that a launch price of $149 is viable, and some have even said that a launch price of $99 is a possibility as well.

Excellent!

OD

[TraderJake]

GDC Keynote Revolution Summary:

Virtual Console to play Genesis and TurboGrafx games, be extremely similar to iTunes. Not all Genesis and TurboGrafx games will be playable, but the extremely popular games will be. Hudsonsoft games will also be playable. Nintendo Expects 60-90% of all Revolution owners to utilize the Nintendo Wi-fi Connection. More to be divulged at E3.


http://www.planetgamecube...m/newsArt.cfm?artid=11219

[Tynstar]

I am really starting to look foward to this console.