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Nintendo's iQue Detailed, Pictured

Posted by simoniker on from the controller-looks-a-little-fugly? dept.

Rocco writes "Over at LikSang.com, they have new pictures and details on Nintendo's iQue, the Chinese-specific controller-style console that plugs directly into the TV, plays N64 games, and comes with a 64 megabyte Flash Memory Card to store them. Included in the hardware bundle are 5 games, while only Doctor Mario is a full version. Zelda 64: Ocarina of Time (10 hours), Mario 64 (7 hours), Wave Race (1 hour) and Starfox (1 hour) are time limited demo versions. Allegedly, the OS of the iQue can also be updated when you 'refill' your flash cartridge, currently only at 'Nintendo partners throughout Shanghai', but rumored to be possible online in the future." We previously featured the unveiling of the iQue a couple of months ago.

37 comments

  1. Re:Doomed to fail by Randolpho · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Arg... mod me down for failing to read before I knee-jerk commented. I deserve it.

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  2. Interesting design. by H0NGK0NGPH00EY · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Am I the only one who sees a striking similarity between the Nintendo iQue and the Sega Dreamcast controller? Just wondering.

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    1. Re:Interesting design. by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1

      It looks like a cross between an N64 controller and a Dreamcast controller. Of course, the Dreamcast controller had the boxy shape (although reduced in scope) that Atari introduced with the Jaguar controller.

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    2. Re:Interesting design. by Mattb90 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree, but I would also say that the original Xbox controller is also similar to the Dreamcast control - similar rounded shape, analogue stick top-left & d-pad bottom left, slots in the top for memory cards (and more), and trigger buttons at the back (rather than traditional shoulder buttons). I think its going to be strange playing N64 games which were designed with a centre-based analogue stick and Z button underneath on a Dreamcast-like controller... Perfect Dark just wouldn't be the same... (although taking note of my other comment, could it be good practice for PDZero? ;))

      --
      Mattb90
      Editor, allaboutgames.co.uk
    3. Re:Interesting design. by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "Am I the only one who sees a striking similarity between the Nintendo iQue and the Sega Dreamcast controller?"

      Which in and of itself was almost a carbon copy of Sega's 3D controller for the Saturn.

      I'm not sure that the shape can be wholly attributed to copying Sega, though. Part of it seems to be design constraints. I don't think a center-mounted stick would work very well with where they're putting the cartridge slot, so they moved it up a bit while filling in the spaces between the prongs on the N64 controller to house the electronics.

      Of course, who else is there for Nintendo to copy? Somebody else already pointed out how Xbox controllers also look like DC controllers, and Nintendo trying to copy PlayStation controllers would cause a loop of Nintendo copying Sony copying Nintendo. I swear in their short time on the market Microsoft has done more in the way of original controller design than Sony has done in the past decade or so...

    4. Re:Interesting design. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I swear in their short time on the market Microsoft has done more in the way of original controller design than Sony has done in the past decade or so..."

      Sony has done their share, although you might be right if you're talking about Microsoft's PC controllers too - I've never used or studied them. Of course Nintendo and Sega are and were, respectively, the big controller innovators. Anyone can tell just by looking at the Famicom pad, the Super Famicom pad, the 6-button Mega Drive pad, the analog Saturn pad you pointed out, the N64 pad, and the GameCube pad.

      Sony introduced the dual analog stick configuration on a pad controller (good, but poorly executed). They also introduced the use of these pads as buttons (pressing down on the hat of an analog stick - bad). Plus, the dual-row shoulder button layout is Sony's (can be good, but poorly executed), as are standard palm handles (mostly good), pseudo-analog digital buttons (mostly bad), and a center-divided d-pad (very bad).

      Note that I think lots of these innovations are crap. But they are Sony's.

      Microsoft's work on the Xbox pads are mostly done much better on other controllers. Compare the Xbox controllers' (either original or Japanese) triggers, analog sticks, button casing texture, button layout, size, weight, and cost to those of the competition to get an idea of what's so mediocre about them. The idea for auto-pause when a controller gets disconnected is nice, as are breakaway cables. But other than that, there's nothing new. Not bad, but certainly not innovative either.

  3. Pronunciation? by Pyromage · · Score: 2, Funny

    Has anyone thought at all about the pronounciation of iQue? To my mind, it seems to compute to about `ick'. Some marketing guy was sleeping on that one...

    (que != cue && que != queue)

    Whatever.

    1. Re:Pronunciation? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      but how will the chinese pronounce it? ikueou? iikee?

      actually.. i guess i should ask the chinese guy who i share this apartment with..

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:Pronunciation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
      has anyone thought at all about the pronounciation of iQue?
      I'd say pronounce it like Manuel would have done: I... Que?
    3. Re:Pronunciation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fawlty Towers reference?

      If so, you are teh God.

    4. Re:Pronunciation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's IQ, as in intelligance quotiatitiaon.

    5. Re:Pronunciation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Quotient? Yep.

    6. Re:Pronunciation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jerkoff.

    7. Re:Pronunciation? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "(que != cue && que != queue)"

      Here in the English-speaking work, perhaps. But you forget we're dealing with two countries that speak different dialects of Engrish.

      At any rate, I'm going to go get myself a can of Bite the Wax Tadpole.

  4. Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by Bob+Bitchen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Ok it has a single-chip design but I don't get it. A N64 can be had for $1.99 on ebay. The only reason I can see for developing this was to alter how games are distributed. Nintendo must have some real concerns about pirated games in China. And those concerns are warranted but certainly N64s must be common over there too?? Why would anyone spend that much for an older technology that can be had for lots less money?

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    1. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by kisrael · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And those concerns are warranted but certainly N64s must be common over there too?? Why would anyone spend that much for an older technology that can be had for lots less money?

      I would guess that the N64 hasn't been distributed much there, never mind the new stuff. Unless you're part of some elite or something. It's not such an open society you know. (Or maybe I'm wrong, I am kind of guessing, but it makes sense.)

      I don't get how this kind of distribution system is more pirate proof than old fashioned carts. It seems that someone could crack the encryption, and then people are already used to download-only games anyway..

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    2. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by dogbowl · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why would you assume N64s are common over there? As I understand it, this is the first video game console to ever be officially released in China. Sure, there are imports and the plethora of PS, Famicom knock-offs, but I don't beleive that China has ever had a console released specifically for that country.

      And of course they're worried about piracy. China is the hotbed of piracy .. Its harder to find an official version of a game (or software) than a pirated one.

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    3. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by DrEldarion · · Score: 1

      $2? Try 15 times that much. They go for at least $30, and that doesn't include shipping. Anyways, I'm sure this will be cracked quite quickly (knowing the Chinese) and people will see plenty of pirated games.

    4. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "The only reason I can see for developing this was to alter how games are distributed."

      Why isn't this enough for ya?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    5. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It might also have something to do with the games having chinese dialogue and, maybe eventually, cultural relivancy(Chinese-centric games). If they can make it cheap enough and tap into the chinese culture - that spells success to me.

      There have been no mainstream console games made and marketed specifically for China. I think this is a test by nintendo more than anything - to see if there's a very large asian gold mine that has yet to be found.

      Being cheap enough to avoid piracy is important, though, hence the old hardware. If they sell 1 game to half the teenagers in China for $1 each - thats still a whole lotta dollars.

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      FUNK!
    6. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "A N64 can be had for $1.99 on ebay."

      The price of an N64 is one thing. The price of shipping an N64 to BFE China is something else. And lets not forget about tariffs, customs and excise, etc... That, and most N64 games and consoles speak a different language than most Chinese people and televisions, respectively.

    7. Re:Is Nintendo concerned about pirating in China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that what your said to your gay lover when he asked, "Is it in yet?"

  5. And yet neither of you point out..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the fact that it looks like an xbox controller to me.

    1. Re:And yet neither of you point out..... by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      I agree... You'd think they would've adapted the N64 controller to have a Flash port or something.

      --
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    2. Re:And yet neither of you point out..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Welcome Back Mr. Anderson.... We misssed you" Isn't it "Mr. Anderson, welcome back?" I think you have it reversed.

    3. Re:And yet neither of you point out..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would they point out what it looks like to YOU? :)

      Besides, the discussion was moving backwards in time, from Dreamcast to Jaguar. The Xbox controller is obviously derived mostly from the Dreamcast controller.

    4. Re:And yet neither of you point out..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The best quote is still "Hiya, fellahs!"

  6. 10 hours for Zelda OoT? 7 hours for Mario 64? by MilenCent · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Those are actually rather generous time limits. I could beat both games within those time limits, though I've had the advantage of excessive play of both games. But a dedicated player who wasn't interested in finding secrets could possibly get through Zelda 64 in ten hours with a printout from GameFAQs in hand.

    The time-limit system may work out well, or it may not work at all. I know if I was only the last boss away from beating a game when the machine conked out I'd be reluctant to buy it just to beat Ganon/Bowser.

    This sounds like a hardcore version of a store demo's auto-reset feature. I wonder if game play time is saved on the flash cart?

  7. Re:10 hours for Zelda OoT? 7 hours for Mario 64? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

    yeah well.. but the thing is that you're probably already played mario64 way much more than 7 hours. you could spend 7 hours easily emptying the first 5 levels or so..

    however were it games like call of duty, max payne or unreal 2 than can be beaten really in those sub 7 hours without ever playing the game before.

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  8. Re:Doomed to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That wasn't off-topic, especially considering he was retracting his previous statement.

    Somme of you dudes with mod-points are overly zealous with the off-topic button. Moderations are not off-topic as they affect the visibility of one's post.

  9. But the name... by Coppit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They'll probably have to change the name though...

    1. Re:But the name... by YomikoReadman · · Score: 1

      Only if they plan on marketing it over here. I am not sure on this, and IANAL, but I believe that due to US restrictions on export of US developed GPS tracking software, Garmin is prohibited from selling GPS technology overseas due to gov't restrictions, as well as their ownership of the GPS NavSats.

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  10. linux port? by aminorex · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Ok, it's got non-volatile storage now,
    and a MIPS CPU. If we could get an easy
    homebrew ethernet interface, this would make
    a sweet little router/firewall box.

    --
    -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
  11. Re:Doomed to fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's the kind of moderation I expect to see on front-page stories. I guess the Games crew aren't any more well-adjusted than the usual gang of idiots.

  12. Multiplayer? by Bagels · · Score: 2, Insightful

    One of the N64's forte's was the first-party games. Obviously, that base has been covered here. However, its other major strength lay in multiplayer gaming - it allowed for four players at once, and it had some of the best multiplayer games (from Mario Party to Goldeneye). How is multiplayer going to work here? As the console appears to be built into the controller (making it look rather ungainly and XBox-ish, might I add), would this mean that each player has to buy a separate *console*, as with the GBA, or are they simply going to get rid of multiplayer entirely? The answer should come out soon, at least, as I believe that StarFox has (or had?)a multiplayer mode.

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    --- Bwah?
  13. Re:10 hours for Zelda OoT? 7 hours for Mario 64? by MilenCent · · Score: 1

    Yea, you speak truly. (I think I mentioned that, though.)

    I also think it's likely that the games included are limited in some other way as well. But the full versions aren't very expensive anyway. It'll be interesting to see if new N64 software ends up getting made for the iQue.