Revolution Details

[Crash]

Sleek system to play standard DVDs, says Nintendo. More inside.

May 12, 2005 - The Electronics Entertainment Expo 2005 is still days away, but that hasn't stopped Microsoft from debuting its Xbox 360 console on MTV. And now Nintendo has followed suit, revealing some new meaty details about its next-generation console, codenamed Revolution.

Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs Perrin Kaplan describes the console as "very, very sleek." The system, which is reportedly tiny, will stand horizontally. Its width will reportedly be no more than three DVD cases stacked flatly on each other, or slightly more than an inch.

Revolution will play standard DVD media this time around. No word yet if the console will be able to play DVD movies.

It will also be able to play high-definition games and go online.

More details to come at E3 2005. Stay tuned.

[Teuthida]

Whoa. Standard DVDs, hi-definition games, and online? Welcome to 2001 Nintendo. :mad:

And that quote from Perrin Kaplan must have been the most amount of information she's ever given out ever. Perrin Kaplan can go jump into a river full of radioactive guppies for all I care. Actually if Reggie revealed this I'd probably be excited. I have such fiery disdain for Perrin.

It be tiny though. Always a plus.

[GameMaster]

Tiny is good. So is sleek.

[gekko]

So is DVD, so is HD, so is online. But like Danny said, that's only playing catchup.

[Crash]

So is DVD, so is HD, so is online. But like Danny said, that's only playing catchup.

catch up to xbox 360?? they are saving big $$ by doing this dvd format is juuuuuuuust fine

blu-ray is overkill....

[gekko]

No, catchup to the original Xbox.

You can use DVD-9, which holds 8.54GB. Or, if you want to use the current HD-DVD disc as an example, you could have a disc that could be 15, 30, or 45GB depending on how many layers you have. Is that too overkill?

On top of that, it's not like HD-DVD is forced upon anyone. The entire point is having the disc backwards-compatible, which means if Revolution opted for an HD-DVD drive, they could put games on a single or double layered DVD, DVD9, or single or double or triple layered HD-DVD. Have as much room for expansion as they need, and only pay for what you need.

But then again, this is supposed to be the HD-Era. DVDs helped sell PS2 and Xbox, why not have HD-DVD playback sell Revolution? I don't have a 1080p TV, I would if I wasn't in the Corps but that's another story. Point is, I'll have one at some point during the 5 year lifespan of the new consoles, and personally, I'd like to take advantage of native 1080p and not just upconversion. By including HD-DVD playback in a console, it would actually get HD-DVD to people who don't have it, unlike at the time when PS2 was released, when DVD was already fairly popular in America.

1920x1080 takes up a ton of space to store. A simple movie trailer is almost 200MB in size. Figure all the cut scenes in an RPG, plus all the rest of the content. DVD9 ain't going to cut it, and it shows.

Just look at Xbox 360, HD-era this, HD-era that, and guess what? 720p for games. It supports 1080i, but the standard is 720p. Could space requirements have something to do with it? I don't know the answer, but it's a possibility.

[thatmariolover]

I agree and disagree. I think Nintendo should definitely invest in a high density medium. However, the arguement about high def cutscenes is slowly going to become obsolete because the real-time cut-scene abilities of a console will be extremely high. The gap between in game and real-time cutscenes gets bigger with every generation. So unelss high def video is used (i.e. a Star Wars game that uses footage), it's really going to be unnecessary.

But, as Nintendo's older consoles have shown, a bigger medium is definitely a source of bigger support. Square says they'd like to support Nintendo this time around. Well, they said the same thing before the N64 came out, showing a 3d version of FFVI on the N64 dev units. And the day they found out the system would use cartridges, Square formatted the HD on that puppy and sent it packing back to Nintendo.

So I see the arguement. I just think that eventually there will be methods of negating it.

[Xantar]

Is there actually anything that makes it impossible for the Revolution to use dual-layered DVDs? Most any DVD player out there can play dual-layered discs nowadays. And you can tell whether a DVD is dual-layered by a brief pause in the middle of the movie. The Revolution may play "standard" DVDs, but I can't imagine that dual-layered ones will be impossible. And if that's the case, then the Revolution has just as much capacity as the Xbox 360.

[thatmariolover]

Is there actually anything that makes it impossible for the Revolution to use dual-layered DVDs? Most any DVD player out there can play dual-layered discs nowadays. And you can tell whether a DVD is dual-layered by a brief pause in the middle of the movie. The Revolution may play "standard" DVDs, but I can't imagine that dual-layered ones will be impossible. And if that's the case, then the Revolution has just as much capacity as the Xbox 360.

No, as a matter of fact if it's capable of playing DVD movies it has to be capable of dual-layering because many movies use them. In terms of DVD storage, the Xbox 360 has nothing on the Revolution right now.

[Neo]

What does it mean to stand horizontal? It either stands vertical or lays horizontal.

[Ace195]

Oh neo, you so silly,!!!
*helps neo to the corner to sit in his "thinking chair" again*


It's all gonna be alright neo.. it's all going to be alright!!

[gekko]

Is there actually anything that makes it impossible for the Revolution to use dual-layered DVDs? Most any DVD player out there can play dual-layered discs nowadays. And you can tell whether a DVD is dual-layered by a brief pause in the middle of the movie. The Revolution may play "standard" DVDs, but I can't imagine that dual-layered ones will be impossible. And if that's the case, then the Revolution has just as much capacity as the Xbox 360.

Nope.

My first port was partially incorrect. DVD9 is a dual-layered DVD. I always mistook it for a larger 1-layer format, but it is the traditional single-side, dual-layer disc.

DVD9 is also what Xbox used, exclusively. Don't know if they ever used more than one layer, but they didn't use single-layered discs because those were (back then) the only ones consumers could burn.

Revolution, Xbox, Xbox 360, and I believe even PS2 all are on the same disc now.

Question is, who is willing to take it to the next step? Most likely, Sony. But fearing Microsoft Sony announced that a 2005 release is still possible.

My guess is, no one. HD-DVD won't be ready in time for them to add it to the consoles.

Brings me back to my old theory, these console are being rushed out a year early, and because of that, we'll be stuck with junk until 2011.


EDIT: Journalists need to be fired. Even IGN can't do it right. I knew standard DVDs didn't look right, so I looked it up. I was right. Never said a thing about standard DVDs, never ruled out HD-DVD.

"Unlike GameCube, the new system will play DVD's," Ms. Kaplan said, "and will feature a wireless controller. It will play GameCube games as well as a new class of high-definition games, with new emphasis on online play."

Didn't say whether it would play movie or games off DVDs, didn't say whether they were DVD or HD-DVD.

I think IGN just got rather embarrassed that they have to take the first few Revolution details from a NY Times article, and they didn't get it themselves. So in an attempt to add something to a simple statement, they started re-writing it, and made assumptions.

This is the worst journalism I've seen come out of Matt Casamassina in a long time.

Read the real article yourself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/technology/13xbox.html?pagewanted=2&oref=login&oref=login

[BreakABone]

Well it looks like Revolution games will be on dual-layered DVDs as it comes straight from the horse's mouth.

Thanks to Nintendo's hardware development partners IBM and ATI, the small system will be packed with power that will enable it to wow players with its graphics. Nintendo's legions of loyal fans will be happy to learn that Revolution will be backward compatible, playing both Nintendo GameCube 3-inch disks along with its own standard, double-layered DVD disks in the same self-loading media drive.

Here's the rest of the article...

http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=9594f668-5342-4b38-8eb1-d6bf479c4139&page=home

[gekko]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Now Nintendo can join the list of mistakes made this generation. And I assume self-loading means tray, because I'd like to see a slot-loading drive accept both full-size and 8cm discs.

NOOOOOOO!!! :(

One year too early...

[BreakABone]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Now Nintendo can join the list of mistakes made this generation. And I assume self-loading means tray, because I'd like to see a slot-loading drive accept both full-size and 8cm discs.

NOOOOOOO!!! :(

One year too early...

I might be missing something.. or completely honestly don't give a damn but what is this big hang up with HD-DVDs?

[Dark Samurai]

The versatile Revolution will play either horizontally or vertically, allowing the user total flexibility in setting up a gaming session wherever they have a television.

Why, Nintendo, why...

[gekko]

Let's recap what happened with PS2...

Went on sale in Japan for less than a stand-alone DVD player. Sold like crazy. .25 games per console. The Matrix DVD sales sky-rocketed, and outsold every PS2 game.

Now HD-DVD is supposed to be out next year, and should be at consumer prices by some time in 2007. Considering we'll only get these console in late 2006, that means shortly after. These consoles have the power to display 1080p, because the technology is expensive and they're sold at a loss. That's why it takes longer for stand-alone players to drop in price.

With HD-DVD becoming more popular, so will 1080p compatible TVs. New DLP chips are supposed to do 1920x1080 resolution, and with that are supposed to start supporting 1080p. I know some LCDs on the market right now already do.

Anyway, in the first couple years after these console are released, HD-DVD and 1080p TVs will be a reality. But will you get it on that console you just dumped $400 on? Nope, because it came out just months too soon.

If Nintendo or Sony was willing to push back the release of their console even until spring 2007, they could likely add support for HD-DVD playback, which unlike DVD which was already popular in America, HD-DVD won't be common in any region.

HD-DVD playback, supporting HDMI and DVI output, as well as making 1080p a supported resolution for gaming, and you've just taken your console to a completely different level. For a console that is supposed to be the best technology available, and last for 5 years (6 from now), I'd like to know that it supports features that will be out in 2 years.

If you're going to do it, do it right.

[Jonbo298]

Only dual layer dvd's? Jeez, Sony is pumping out Blu-Ray for a massive 50 gigs on disk (possibly, depending ;) ) and I think MS is using eiter dual layer dvd or HD-DVD (I cant remember :cry: )

Go with a nice large format. The reason 3rd parties hate porting games to a Nintendo console is because Nintendo shafts the size of their medium used and forces developers to have to make cuts. But with a nice large format, thats not an issue,

Wake up to 2006 Nintendo. Bigger medium is great. Not puny things like you have done in the past and still continue to do so to this day...

[Xantar]

I think you're all overestimating the market penetration of next generation disc formats. Right now, they haven't even settled on whether it's going to be Blu-Ray or HD-DVD (or some hybrid thereof). Yeah, I hear Sony and Toshiba are working out a compromise, but when do you suppose we'll find out the results of that?

Besides that, people have just gotten done moving from VCR to DVD. Do you really think they're going to jump all over a new format so soon? The only reason to use a next generation disc is to have high definition movies. The problem is HDTV isn't catching on so quickly. I certainly have no interest in getting an HDTV. They're too expensive, and the increased resolution doesn't justify the cost. And it most certainly isn't catching on so quickly in Europe or Japan, either.

And besides that, if Nintendo is behind the times and using a puny medium, then so is Microsoft. They've never struck me as being unwilling to spend the cash to have the latest and greatest technology. If it's good enough for Microsoft, why isn't it good enough for Nintendo?

[gekko]

I think MS is using eiter dual layer dvd or HD-DVD (I cant remember :cry: )

MS is using dual-layered DVDs, the exact same format they used on Xbox.

Sony has announced Blu-Ray, but that has since been ruled out by the merging format. They might go back to DVD. They might wait it out.

As for the results, early next week we're supposed to hear what they agreed upon. From there, it'll be a while before the disc is ready, but it'll be a while before these consoles are released too.

Actually, from what I'm hearing, HDTV is much bigger in Japan than it is here. Same with broadband internet. Europe... is on its own program.

DVD is one of the fastest growing technologies ever. HDTVs are slowly but surely getting into homes. You have to keep in mind, it took forever for digital cable to set a standard, and owning a HDTV, digital cable box, and HDTV receiver is not appealing to people. Now, slide in a cable card and you're set. Only recently have TVs began adding support for digital cable and HD signals.

The difference between DVD and HD-DVD is like night and day. There's no reason someone who invested in an HDTV wouldn't want to get a HD-DVD player, especially if the hybrid discs go into effect, with DVD and HD-DVD on the same disc.

And Microsoft isn't behind the times. Blu-Ray is ridiculously expensive right now, and a format that is essentially, dead. The largest, single-sided disc-based format is back to DVD9. But that's what MS gets for rushing their console out.

[DarkMaster]

http://www.vandal.net/foro/cache/238896_1.htm


:O




;-)

[gekko]

What... in god's name... is that?

[Dyne]

"This file has been downloaded 666 times already."

On Friday the 13th?

I CAN NOT SEE ANY GOOD OUT OF THIS.

Edit: Well it was pretty impressive for a mockup. Too bad the Revolution's game character models were so crappy.

Regardless, the Mario 64 Castle montage was very, very impressive.

[GameMaster]

http://www.vandal.net/foro/cache/238896_1.htm


:O




;-)

OH MY GOD! If that is the first peak at Nintendo Revolution, God grant mercy to PS3 and Xbox! The Revolution can play 512 million Super Mario 64s at once, building them into one giant ultra mega Peach castle. The revolutionary headset allows people to walk in the characters of Samus and Mario! That video was ****ING AMAZING!

[DarrenMcLeod]

That was the craziest thing I've ever seen. I'm not even sure what to think yet.
EDIT: IGN claims it's fake. http://cube.ign.com/articles/613/613578p1.html

[The Germanator]

That was pretty crazy and pretty cool. I really don't think that I would like to play games with a headset on. What if I'm playing in a very small room and I can't afford to walk around?

[Dark Samurai]

That was impressive... I like the music... hated the graphics...

[Teuthida]

*sniff* some day...

[GameMaster]

Umm...why are we taking IGN's word for this? Do they possess an all-knowing eye? Nope.

They can't prove it false or true, only Nintendo can.

Until we hear word from Nintendo, this video is true.

[BreakABone]

Well rather weird, it seems like Nintendo has changed the wording on their website a lot...

Thanks to Nintendo's hardware development partners IBM and ATI, the small system will be packed with power that will enable it to wow players with its graphics. Nintendo's legions of loyal fans will be happy to learn that Revolution will be backward compatible, playing both Nintendo GameCube 8cm disks along with its own 12cm optical disks in the same self-loading media drive.

[gekko]

Umm...why are we taking IGN's word for this? Do they possess an all-knowing eye? Nope.

They can't prove it false or true, only Nintendo can.

Until we hear word from Nintendo, this video is true.

Because, you give the PR rep a quick call, and confirm it. And Matt is likely on some sort of Revolution board. Key members are the industry are always consulted about certain things, and a new console would be one of them.

[Stray_Bullet]

I watched that video. It looks real. I can't imagine someone putting that much professional effort into a fake.

+hopes

[Jason1]

Would Nintendo really mention Virtual Boy when they look back at their former consoles?

That right there tips me off that its a fake.

[Crash]

gotta be fake, but cool idea none the less... SUPER freaking cool

[gekko]

I watched that video. It looks real. I can't imagine someone putting that much professional effort into a fake.

+hopes

True, it's not your average joe, but there are plenty of hobbyists out there that could put it together.

Get someone who is big into Nintendo, but also into 3D modeling and animation, and they could do it. It could be someone's college project, just added the Nintendo twist to it.

The biggest PC game mods out there are made by hobbyists, some are still minors, so what makes this such an impossibility?

[GameMaster]

Gekko and I could do something like this if we wanted. We're knowledgable of multimedia and share a common love for video games.

[DarrenMcLeod]

Gekko and I could do something like this if we wanted. We're knowledgable of multimedia and share a common love for video games.
COULD do something like this, or DID do something like this?!?!

We've found the culprits!

[Canyarion]

Hello people, I'm back from the Czech Republic, just in time for E³.

So what's the conclusion of this thread? Is DVD good or bad? Didn't read all the posts!