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Nintendo To Launch New Machine Next Year?
EvilDonut writes "According to Bloomberg.com, Nintendo intends to launch a new machine in Japan next year, in order "to boost sales". There are no details as to wether the machine will be hand-held or not, but Bloomberg does describe it as a next-generation console. This is pretty odd, as Nintendo has previously stated that the GameCube successor wouldn't be out until 2005, and the GBA is doing so well that I can't imagine they'll replace it as early as next year. The article also mentions the Nintendo iQue, so it's pretty clear this is not just a mix-up regarding the new, China-only system." Update: 11/13 23:44 GMT by S : GameSpot has a very cryptic clarification from Nintendo, that "the new product will be a unique item that is different from any traditional machine", and will be "be [neither] a home console nor a portable machine."
I think that Nintendo's new system will be both a "TV" console, and a portable
2 Comments of the 3 were Intimating that the new console was the IQue. Not reading the article is something I have grown to expect, but not reading the blurb either?
Somebody didnt RTFA did they. The iQue was clearly mentioned in the article as _not_ being the same thing. iQue ships this month. The new console is planed for next year.
It's both -that's the point. The summary says that the "new machine in Japan" (which we know nothing about) is not the same thing as the "new, China-only system" (the iQue)
Of course, the Pr states it's a nextgen console ! It's explicitely said it's there to boost sales, what do you believe ? That they'd call it "old technology, just rebadged console" ?
Recently I read an article about the Ique. Basicly it is an n64 integrated into one chip. They also sais that this chip doesn't consume much power. Because of this I think their next generation console is in fact a next generation gameboy based on the ique.
Maybe they are doing what Sega did with the Genesis... I.E. they think if they get their system out before anyone else has their system out they can corner the system market.
New console was not to be expected till 2005 ? ... So... If they release this thing december next year... Then what is all the fuzz about... 1 month ???
Why don't they just stick to the Gameboy? They're good at that. They've pretty much cornered the retrogame market and the cute-and-fluffy-characters market.
I'd say because not everyone agrees on the "cute-and-fluffy-characters" and sometime "kiddy" angle to be a bad thing, most of the time. Blood, gore, and/or dark environments does not always a fun game make. As Gabe of Penny Arcade says, are you afraid playing a game with bright colors or cute characters in it will make you less of a person?
As long as they keep making games that're fun to go with them, Nintendo can go with a blessing and keep making consoles to the end of time.
-Tom
Why does the next one have to play DVDs? I don't know about you specifically, but myself and everyone I know already has a perfectly good stand-alone DVD player....
There's no reason for DVD on a game console to be a selling point, especially not with how cheap the regular players are these days.
Releasing a new game system would be a smart and bold move for Nintendo, but what about the games?
New systems mean new games, but of course it remains to be seen what this system is, and up until now they had simply been saying they'll make an announcement in 2004, not that they'd actually have a system in 2004 (though that could be the announcement). Of course, if the system comes out late in 2004 in Japan, it could be well into 2005 before it hits the US.
If this new system even "just" offers quality comparable to today's ATI videocards (which it would have to have if it were to go into production for next year), why bother?
More than likely, any video chipset used for a new console would be fairly comparable to video cards that come out around the same time as the console, or slightly afterwards, rather than today. Of course, that's just assuming that it would be anything like the XBox with nVidia's graphics chips.
Nintendo just needs to swallow their pride and just start making games for all of the systems. Sega did it and is no longer fighting bankruptcy. Let some other sucker pony up the money for builing the home systems.
The big difference, though, is that Nintendo is not fighting bankruptcy, while Sega was losing money left and right before they gave up.
Technology is getting to the point where it has actually overtaken the ancient NTSC television. I play my Xbox in 480p "HD" mode on my HDTV for the few games that support it and it's fucking great! It pains to play in the lower "t.v." resolution. Since most people have regular "crappy" t.v.s it really does not make any sense to upgrade to a more powerful game system unless the games are there.
None of this makes much sense when the Cube already does 480p. It's more like you're typing to hear the keys click.
Nintendo's strong arm tactics are finally nipping (no racist pun intended) it in it's ass. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the gamecube and I have had a lot of fun with it, but it has what, a smattering of games at best?
Perhaps. Then again, with the smaller number of games and the high percentage of quality games, it's easier to pick a random game off the shelf and be satisfied with the purchase.
All in all, I doubt anyone will be able to stop Sony at this point. Sony has spent Billion(s) of Dollars on R and D for the PS3 and whereas Micro$oft could actually outspend Sony on R and D, you know they won't, or if they do, they will create something less than inspired, like the Xbox. Once again, I like my Xbox, but really, it's just an 800mhz p.c. with an aging Geforce card in it. Sigh....
No one thought Nintendo could be beat after they overtook the market from Sega back when they released the SNES (and before the Genesis took the market because the SNES came out so much later). As for the XBox, try looking at the system requirements for games some day, and consider the overhead of the OS itself, and try to figure out how many games actually require what the XBox has. The difference between a PC and an XBox doesn't come in the packaging, it comes in the developers' ability to know what the end-user has and build for it, rather than building for a lowest-common-denominator and testing 100s of combinations of hardware. Sony's had their 2 consoles, but the real question is whether or not developers will be as ready to move from them as they were to move to them if they see a better system. Additionally, I think it's rather sad that most of the PS2 ads I've seen lately have actually been for 2 or 3-platform titles, but don't mention that fact because they're Sony ads.
-PainKilleR-[CE]
...I hope they'll have taken a cue from what's been going on around them and adopt some of the features necessary to maintain a substantial presence in the marketplace.
I have heard Nintendo previously called the "Apple" of console gaming--that is, an entity that can eke out a continued niche market existence for as long as they please. The analogy isn't perfect; after all, one need not justify one's taste in games, so unless one is composed of an exceptionally weak or impressionable mind, there isn't a lot of pressure for incumbents to switch from the Cube.
However, technology will eventually take its toll. Online gaming is exploding, has already exploded. DVDs and DVD-like formats are the established standard. Third-party support has grown amazingly and is now vital for console survival. Top-end video and audio capability are no longer luxuries, but expected. Even Sony has realized the advantages of hard drives, media players, etc.
Should Nintendo wish to continue, their array of insane geniuses will need to begin to practice just a little conformity.
The coolest voice ever.
how about a GBA update where they put ram in it! :-) .... For those who don't know. There is a 16MB hole where the built in ram goes. The GBA has but 256KB of ram [16-bit bus].
So two big ways to improve the GBA would be
1. More ram [say 2MB at least]
2. Make the data bus larger [so you can run ARM code out of it]
The trick though would be to not kill backwards compatibility. I think a toggle for the ram/bus would be in order [e.g. set bit to get "advanced plus" mode].
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
The summary is speculation, and could be wrong.
There ain't no rules here; we're trying to accomplish something.
Add some extra OAM/BG ram so that the 15 bit video mode can be properly double (or even triple) buffered.... nice.. If they really wanted to they could ramp the speed by 16 times and just down clock for compatibility....
"None of this shit works" -W.Shatner
And Japan has had a DVD-playing Gamecube - the Panasonic Q - for ages now.
Thank you. I'm glad someone else agrees with my view on this... a game console should concentrate on good games, not a whole bunch of features that detract from gaming performance in the long run.
There is one reason - the environmental impact of producing and then purchasing multiple boxes is clearly higher than using a single box.... It's more landfill and more resources....
However - it still doesn't fix the problem of what happens when I want to play F-Zero X and the other half wants to watch Pride and Prejudice AGAIN!!!
"None of this shit works" -W.Shatner
So you are saying what? "GameCube Pro" in essence?
Double (or triple, whatever) the speed of the processor, graphics, etc. Add more memory.
Games can check the system, if it is a standard GameCube then use the standard maps and graphics, etc. If it is a Pro model then load in the higher detail maps with the higher detail textures, etc?
Except that is one of the first thing everyone gripes about... it has to play DVDs because the mass market want that. Even if they won't actually use it they can say "wow, free dvd playback".
To tell another story, one of my friends actually has 3 xboxes in his house, one for each brother. My friend has a standalone DVD player and so bought the xbox for games, however the other two brothers got it for the DVD playback and games were a bonus. So out of the 5 people I know with xboxes, 2 of them got them for the playback - bad sample group I know, but they have to count for something.
oh, when they say 2005 - they mean christmas 2005, which is the broad release estimate that all 3 console makers have been giving for the nextgen gear.
but anyway, this coming out exactly 1 year before the nextgen strongly suggests that it is a refresher for the line. perhaps simply just a repackaged gamecube (here's wishing they add 64/snes backwards compat).
but the one year lead is inline with sony's demonstration of the success of restructuring your existing console to take advantage of lower manufacturing and component costs, and shipping the old product in a new sleek design at lower cost a year before your new design. Nintendo may be trying to bring their costs down to mitigate production losses at their current price. The Gamecube may have made money for nintendo on each sale at $200, but it's very unlikely that it's still a direct profit item at its $100 price.
it has long been rumored that MS is indeed planning the same thing for the xbox, and sony's announced pvr/digital tv tuner/ps2 certainly sounds like they aren't bucking the trend.
Releasing the next gen nintendo box now would be a -bad- move. developer support for the gamecube has been evaporating - but the trend may reverse itself due to the GC's strong sales with its new superlow price. if they keep to the official schedule, they have a shot at getting developers back on board with their refresh product, and actually have some 3rd party games for their next console.
besides, if it was the nextgen console - there'd already have to have been developer kits sent out, and someone would've leaked something - one does not crank out games for nintendo in 10 months. (nintendo not being a fan of shovelware)
// "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
There are plenty of parents out there without enough money to get their kid a dvd player and a console.
Obviously at that point the smart money gets put on the multifunction device which gives the child the best of both worlds (and in a single box which fits happily in even the smallest bedroom.).
People that believe in their opinions don't post AC.
My guess is that, since the PS2 is the lowest common denominator CPU performance-wise and has the largest market share, and that software is now easy to port to every format; then there will be a small evolutionary change to clearly emphasise the value of choosing Nintendo, and to raise profit margin by offering the new unit at a higher price.
Sound support should be improved to dolby digital sound, from pro-logic II. Various wire-free options could be incorporated also. The WaveBird (wireless controller), and the broadband adapter and game-boy player could be integrated into a similar (backwardly compatible) unit, with the expectation that many more multi-player on-line games will be ready soon and since we are all wireless hungry. A wire-free option of the GameBoy and wire-free link to the new console would also be neat.
so now the make makers should spend _more_ time on making the games: high resolution textures, models, etc. are only extra. as the games have to run on the "old cube" as well...
so, is it worth the extra development cost?
Virtual Boy 2?
A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
I'd imagine that all models, etc, start off with higher resultion, as do the textures, and then are cut down until they meet the spec of the hardware. So no big loss there.
Certainly a lot less effort than doing a complete rewrite for different hardware.
I think your analogy only partially works and with a little research you would have found that currently, with Nintendo extending it's price-drop almost world-wide it has furthered it's second place world-wide marketshare lead. If U.S sales continue as they are into the Holiday (which is anyone's guess) they will have quite a lead over the XBox in this country. So, Apple is about 3% of sold computers, the percentage is a bit higher when you consider the number of non-profits and other organizations who continue to use the older models but aren't buying new ones. This is a far cry from Nintendo, who has the biggest selling video-game system in the world (The GBA), and the second-best selling console in the world (The GameCube). And while the latter is trailing the PS2 by a sizeably chunk it is anywhere from being a "niche" player. Such statements can be chalked up to ignorance and lack of research, because a few Google Searches and statistics would tell you otherwise.
Something intelligent here.
However - it still doesn't fix the problem of what happens when I want to play F-Zero X and the other half wants to watch Pride and Prejudice AGAIN!!!
Buy her the book. It's better than the film anyway.
Nintendo has made and remade their old systems. Mostly its to include cheaper parts, and sometimes it also includes a size reduction. Gameboy goes thru the most facelifts. Therefore, I'm guessing it's either: a new design for the cube (perhaps smaller/lighter?), a new design for Gameboy Advance with a mobile phone imbedded (that's where my money is), or a new phone with yet another set of cartridges for games. I suppose another possibility is a super Game-N-Watch system, but how unlikely is that?
Jennifer Ehle smiles sooooo winsomely...
"Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
Read this story on maxconsole earlier today.
;-)
...
iQue seems cool, but IMHO you can get an N64 cheaper these days from places like eBay, and the iQue is more or less the N64.
Some cut/paste from the maxconsole story:
Nintendo 64 Nano-Technology inside It is now confirmed that the iQue player is a Nintendo 64 console that makes use of similar Nano-Technolgy that is used in Sony's PSX: the technology used will allow the unit to have a single chip solution containing CPU, Graphic Engine, GPU etc. Positive side-effects are a doubled operating speed, reduced electronic noises and very low power consumption. Regarding Nintendo/iQue spokespersons in China, the iQue will be the first gaming device on the market that makes use of that technology, followed by Sony's PSX which is due to release in December. This statement at least gives us hope that the unit might still be released before Christmas
What's in the box, including games The unit released first contains a 64MBytes Flash Card, the AV cable, a power supply (220V), the power cord and 5 games pre-recorded on the card. Included 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 Star Fox (1 hour) are time limited demo versions. It's a "very new" distribution system, indeed. No other titles have been officially confirmed to us as of yet, but the N64 has got lots of great titles. Full versions of games cost 48 Yuan, that's approx US$ 6. In-game text and manuals are in simplified Chinese language, in-game voices are in mandarin. The box also contains a serial number and password that allow you to download new titles to your system at Nintendo partners throughout Shanghai, and possible also through the Internet. The card maintains a download log, so users can regain the previous game titles again free of charge if they want to play them again.
The sales only increased after they dropped the price to $99. This is cutting into the profit margins on console sales (but those pesky games are still $50).
IGN ran interviews with key Nintendo executives and they're still pissed about being the last to market with the GameCube. Lots of talk about how this won't happen again. So, make a new console with extra power and features. If it's backward compatible, you still don't disrupt the current cash flow from games and have bragging rights over the PS3 and Xbox2.
One part says: Nintendo intends to launch a new machine in Japan next year Then the next part says: So it's pretty clear this is not just a mix-up regarding the new, China-only system.
It's both. iQue is currently China only (may be released in europe too, uncertain right now), and the nex-gen console (let's call it "gamecube2") is Japan first release.
The confustion is due to the story covering two consoles.
but how about the storage size then? storing two versions of the same models might mean that the games do no fit into one disc. two discs, one for old cube and one for the new?
the games could use algorithms to scale down the models and the textures from the high quality versions on the old cube, but this would make the old cube games slower (at least the loading and level init times).
but would it be worth it? the new cube v1.5 might be killed by the next generation sony and m$ consoles...
The article also mentions the Nintedo iQue, so it's pretty clear this is not just a mix-up regarding the new, China-only system.
I read thru the article and did not spot anything about iQue. I even did a search for it in the article and did not see anything. From the reading, it sounds like they are talking about the iQue, not a new console that will be world wide.
From the article:
The company will start selling the next-generation video game machine next year in Japan. It didn't say whether the machine would be hand-held. Sales of consoles will begin in China this month, Nintendo said.
That sure sounds like the iQue being launched in china and spreading to Japan next year.
Nintendo is known for spreading more pre-launch hype than any other console company. They hyped Project Reality (PR) years before it was ready, they hyped the Dolphin from day one... Just about the only thing they didn't grossly overhype was the Game Boy Advance, and that was because their stopgap Game Boy Color was so popular they felt they would alienate part of the market if they did.
The hypemeter around this is low, so the likelihood of a next-generation console is quite slim. More likely, they will announce a GameCube compatible DVD player from a 3rd party company, or possibly (and this is the one I'm hoping for) a GBA built into a proper Game Cube controller.
Until they start trotting around Miyamoto shouting about the second coming of Mario, they're not launching the next console yet. Until they have hardware in the hands of developers, they're not ready to launch.
The ______ Agenda
How do you know it's "cutting into the profit margins"? Maybe the bill of materials dropped by a similar amount and their profit per machine sold is the same as before.
Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
No, "customers" want a cheap games console that is portable and has a good selection of games. I, for one, couldn't care less for video playback and mp3 for a games machine, I have separate devices for that. What you're advocating is Nintendo copying Sony' strategy of creating a portable entertainment centre. Although I believe Sony will produce an excellent product (PSP), there is no way, given the price point they're aiming for, that it's going to be as popular as the GBA.
Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
I hope that Nintendo considered the folks at Garmin when considering its naming scheme. Be original. Copy someone else.
Huh?! MP3 I'll give you. 3D acceleration really demands higher resolution than a portable can give you to have big advantages over sprites, but perhaps kids are too stupid to realize that. But video? Where is it coming from? What portable video players are on the market today that make this seem like a standard? I've read nothing but bad review of the Archos and its kin. Do you think the average GBA user is prepared to rip their DVDs, compress them to a GBA-screen-sized divx file and dump them to compactflash?
I doubt Nintendo is stupid enough to try producing their own video content. My money is on the phone/GBA combo.
Maybe, just maybe, there is an iQue add-on for the GCN. Perhaps, using an iTunes-type store, we'll be able to buy older Nintendo ROMs over the Internet (using the broadband or modem adpaters, perhaps?) and put them on Flash cards, which we can then use on the iQue add-on for the GCN.
That makes sense. A new console doesn't.
If they release one now it'll be about a year before the Xbox2 etc, reducing sales for Nintendo in the long run.
Just like the PS2 (released a year before XBox and GCN) has reduced long-run sales for Sony? I don't think so...
Initial retail price was $200 and now the console sells for $99. I'm sure reducing the cost of the BOM helped with the price cuts, it's unlikely (not impossible) that they had to reduce the profit margin on the console.
Seeing how Nintendo was sitting on full warehouses, I'm sure reducing the cost freed up their working capital enough to offset the loss, but now they're locked into offering the console at $99. Over a longer development time, this is going to hurt profits more than help.
Look at Sega and how they always were the first to launch the first next gen. console.
It gives the competition a chance to check out what you've made and make theirs that much better. I predicted for years that Sega would eventually fold because of their practices, and I think Nintendo is next up to bat unless they do something incredibly revolutionary with the next system.
We have secretly replaced these Slashdot mods' sense of humor with a rusty nail. Let's see if they notice!!
I really doubt a "gamecube pro" is in the works. If it is, the games won't change. I'd instead look for an integrated BBA (wireless?), built-in wavebird receivers, and some sort of prologic II -> 5.1 hack.
The Xbox is too large for the smallest bedroom.
(Not a troll, just a joke)
:wq
But could anyone explain to me how this could be anything but the iQue? #1 iQue is not listed anywhere in the article. #2 iQue launches next month in China, which the article states is the launch date for this new console #3 iQue hype and rumors have hinted that it will launch globally next year, which is what the article says about the console and the Japan market. Could the article have been changed since it was submitted to /.? That's the only thing I can reason out that would explain the discrepancy between the post and the article itself.
I honestly hope that iQue doesn't actually look like that, it's bigger than the original Xbox controller!! There is no way that the average hand will be able to hold that thing, and certainly not the average Chinese or Japanese hand.
The current GameCube controller is a nice size, and the wireless controller is pushing it a bit. This thing just looks way too big for comfort.
Heh, thank god for playstation2. My standalone DVD player is great, it has digital and componant out and lots of good features, but it doesn't play DVD-R (or DVD+r for that matter), whereas the PS2 does.
sig?
It will be a sad day when "gamers" won't play games just because they don't have 3D graphics, DTS sound, and a $15 million budget.
However - it still doesn't fix the problem of what happens when I want to play F-Zero X and the other half wants to watch Pride and Prejudice AGAIN!!!
That's what the GC price drop is for, assuming you have another TV. Then again, I told my gf I was buying it both for the bedroom and the Zelda bundle.
-PainKilleR-[CE]
I assume it because that is how you do game development. Half of the work is in reducing the models, etc, enough to create an overall playable game.
... so that GameCube functionality could be in a lot more DVD players, etc, than just that expensive Panasonic cube device. That would do a lot more for Nintendo's bottom line in my opinion, as people would get a "free" gamecube with their DVD player. Still, they should have done this a year ago or more.
I still doubt that there will be a GameCube Pro (at least one with faster hardware, etc - consoles thrive because of the fixed hardware platform) myself (although it would be nice). However Nintendo should integrate the broadband adaptor by default I agree.
Another good idea, in my opinion, would be for Nintendo to offer a GameCube logic board to OEM
Titles says enough
How do you get iQue from "next-generation video game machine"? iQue is based on the LAST generation's technology, NOT the next.
And why would Nintendo release a system in Japan that they pretty much already released years and years ago?
I call it the computer. I'll sell it to you now, if you have $699 licencing fee for SCO...
Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!
Please mods, if you can't chew bubble-gum and walk at the same time, don't go near the moderation system.
Will code a sig generator for food
Yes, Nintendo could release a more powerful console, but users' discs don't have the data to take advantage of it. The developers do, no doubt -- but they'd have to rerelease the games in a higher-capacity format with the hi-res art. This is not a completely ludicrous idea ("Gold Edition" or similar marketing BS), but it'd be a very niche product. I suspect it'd flop, and I think Nintendo realizes this (esp. after the success they've enjoyed recently by making their product cheaper).
You can play F0X for 8 hours.... I've done it several times! I have a friend who is as addicted to it as I am. Several times we have played all the way up to 999 points (yup - that's a lot of racing)....
I felt very strange afterwards and couldn't stop dreaming about F0X for several weeks!
"None of this shit works" -W.Shatner
Why does the next one have to play DVDs? I don't know about you specifically, but myself and everyone I know already has a perfectly good stand-alone DVD player....
But devices such as TVs don't have an infinite number of inputs. Many just have two independent sources: a coaxial connection (for Cable) and an RCA connection. So in that case the single device is better.
Perhaps this new device is an enhanced GameCube, with the ability to play full DVDs (and even have games with a full DVD worth of data) and 720P support, but otherwise the same API or a superset thereof, so developers don't need to do much different at the moment.
Nintendo's real failure with the GameCube was not having a Pokemon title at or near launch. Now the Pokemon phenomenon has faded, it's not such an issue, but people would have bought the console just for a GameCube game like Pokemon Gold/Sapphire/etc.
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
But devices such as TVs don't have an infinite number of inputs. Many just have two independent sources: a coaxial connection (for Cable) and an RCA connection. So in that case the single device is better
Does it really take that long to swap out a set of RCA input cables? If you can seriously say that it does, then maybe you have a point, but otherwise i'm not really sure.
Perhaps this new device is an enhanced GameCube, with the ability to play full DVDs (and even have games with a full DVD worth of data) and 720P support, but otherwise the same API or a superset thereof, so developers don't need to do much different at the moment.
Except for the DVD games thing, this already exists, and it's called the Panasonic Q, a version of the Gamecube that can play regular-size DVD movie discs. Quite expensive at the moment, though.
Nintendo's real failure with the GameCube was not having a Pokemon title at or near launch. Now the Pokemon phenomenon has faded, it's not such an issue, but people would have bought the console just for a GameCube game like Pokemon Gold/Sapphire/etc.
I think it was more a failure not to have a Zelda or Mario title available for launch...A mistake that I don't think will be repeated.
Let's look at some numbers from Japan, courtesy of The Magic Box.
Thus far in 2003, sales of the GameCube have lagged very far behind those of the PS2 and GBA(the XBox is not a contender in Japan). The PS2 has 2.2 million units sold and the combined GBA/GBASP has 2.8 million units sold. The GC has sold 590000 units. In 2002 the numbers are a little better(3.7/3.3/1.0 million), but Nintendo certainly isn't coming out on top.
Of course, as everyone (should) know, game sales are more important than hardware sales. Let's see what we find. Looking at the top 100 bestselling games for the first half of 2003 we see that the first GC games is at number 26(Zelda: Baton of Wind, 190000 sold in 2002, 660000 sold total). Note that this is actually a popular game from the previous year still clinging on. The next GC game, Kirby, is at number 36 with similar circumstances. The conclusion? That the GC hasn't had a major hit in Japan this year. The Wario game currently looks to be selling okay, and might get there. Resident Evil 4 probably will too. But compare to the other systems! In the top 20 there are 14 PS2 games and 6 GBA games.
In 2002 the GC has three games in the top 20(Mario Party 4, Mario Sunshine, and the same Zelda game mentioned above). Again, better, but not by much.
Note that all of the above games are made by Nintendo themselves.
In America, the situation is better. The GC is in fourth place, but still has 4.7 million sales. There are three games in the top 20, two of which are made by third party licensees. However, it's still not much compared to the commanding lead held by the PS2(and ever-increasing competition from the XBox).
So given that the GC is basically on the bottom in the high-end console market, it's not surprising that Nintendo would try to get a new system out earlier. Given the extremely strong sales of the GBA, I don't think it's likely that their new system will be portable, either. If Nintendo gets their system out a year before anyone else, they'll have time to build up momentum and, more importantly, third party licensees. Nintendo's strength over the past couple generations has been in their in-house games, but those aren't enough to sustain the system. If they play their cards right, Nintendo might just pull a Sony and take the lead in the next generation.
Visit the
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. - Anais Nin
..because its sooooo much of a bother having to play my dvd's in a dvd player
I never saw the point of bundling dvd players in consoles...
Does it really take that long to swap out a set of RCA input cables?
Depending on your set-up, the connectors may be hard to access. If you have a 25"+ TV in a cabinet, for example, you may have to move the cabinet just to get the cables. Front panel jacks are a lot easier, but require more visible cables and many people are still using TVs that don't have them. Also, my 6-year-old definitely couldn't do it, whereas she could press the video/TV button on a remote and she can put in a DVD.
Except for the DVD games thing, this already exists, and it's called the Panasonic Q
It's mind-bogglingly expensive for what it does relative to a standard 'Cube. Maybe Nintendo had a contract with Panasonic that has terminated, and now allows Nintendo to build their own DVD player version.
You could also conceivably "theme" a DVD player. What it displays when no disc is playing, or how it handles long pauses, could be done with a Mario or Zelda theme -- no normal player could do that.
I think it was more a failure not to have a Zelda or Mario title available for launch...
They did have Luigi's Mansion, and the Wind Waker has at least been out for a while. Pokemon clearly was going to fade before too long, as it now has.
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
Remember that in Japan, public awareness of technology far exceeds the US. Everyone in Japan has a cell, a digital camera, etc, etc. Even their toilets are high tech.
So it wouldn't surprise me if because of Nokia's N-Guage, that Nintento got into the cell phone market with the Gameboy Advanced.
I seem to remember a Sega-branded expansion card that came with a controller.
Jon Acheson
All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
Heaven forbid that a gaming system that will presumably use standard DVD format actually be able to play standard movies in that format.
That's apparently "a whole bunch of features that detract from gaming performance in the long run." You know, since playing a DVD movie casts the magic Degrade Game Performance spell whenever you insert Mario Sunshine 2.
"Sufferin' succotash."
2.5 ?????
bah!*@%!
>So you are saying what? "GameCube Pro" in
>essence?
"GameCube Advance" is a much plausible name, I think.
On the other hand, you don't want to release your console too far ahead of the pack. Just look at the Dreamcast. I believe it came out a full year ahead of the PS2. It seems that skipping, or riding in between a generation may not be the best strategy.
P.S., I still love my Dreamcast.
Mmmm, -funroll-loops
And what 'hell' would that be? Being the number one selling console? Being the one with the most games? Being the one in the most homes? The only real problem they are seeing is that they are reaching saturation point.
If thats hell then whats heaven?
Here's some news: the next Nintendo console will have some type of mechanism to hook it up to the next Game Boy device. Your argument is that because you don't have money, Nintendo shouldn't sell a add-on to their consoles but instead should only sell games. But you know what, in order to play Gamecube games - you need a...GASP television!!! Perhaps Nintendo is in cahoots with the television manufacturers! It's a plot against you!! Run away!
GC-GBA connectivity is a nice feature that you don't need to play any of the games that support it. For instance, with Metroid Prime, you can get Samus in the Metroid Fusion suit if you have a GBA and a copy of Metroid Fusion. So if you can't afford that extra, big fucking deal - Metroid Prime is still a great game. Whine about companies trying to make innovative uses of their hardware and you'll get what you deserve - nothing but 'Enter the Matrix' clones.
I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
I'm glad you mentioned the number of inputs on a typical TV.
I have a standalone DVD player, and I own an Xbox. I haven't used the standalone player in about a year- why would I screw around with the cables?
Someone else mentioned that it doesn't take long to switch the cables. True- but it takes even less time NOT to switch the cables.
No reason to lie.
How true that is. Consoles are turning into the latest commodity market. IMHO, Nintendo should keep the GameBoy but ditch the console. With the Xbox and PS3 moving to IBM chips, it's turning into the same hardware. The key is going to be games and Nintendo has some killer titles.
Cause Game-Septahedron just doens't have a ring to it.
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
Anybody remember when GBC (GameBoy colour) came out? It was better than your old monochrome gameboy, and eventually prices made it drop into the same range.
I'd be looking for something in the future, but as a replacement to GBA (GameBoy Advanced). Perhaps an upgraded processor, more 3d support, a few extra options. The initial cost will be more than GBA, but it should tone down over time... and eventually games will move towards supporting the newer GB.
Just a hypothesis, but based on past-history not entirely unlikely
The *other* advantage of having small discs is a small foot print when it comes to putting a unit together. I'm starting to believe that choosing to use the smaller discs was part of a longer term plan to transition Nintendo's products to be all-mobile/hand held. I have heard something about a new GameBoy featuring an FX chipset at various 3D conventions...but we'll have to see how that pans out.
As part of their deal to make optical drives for the Gamecube, Panasonic garnered the right to make their own version of the Cube.
4 28r ticl e=gamecubeq
It's called the Panasonic [Gamecube] Q. It's a rather stylish looking Gamecube with dvd capability. But of course it runs about $450 so I'd say it's more for the hardcore Nintendo enthusiast.
Links:
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=2
http://www.fullyindependent.com/article.php?a
A late 2004 release in Japan would coincide with an early to mid 2005 release in the US. This is plausable, but it's ridiculous to debate at this stage anyway.
Yes GC does 480p, but GC is still FAR FAR behind PS2/XBOX for ONLINE GAMING. More and more people are into ONLINE GAMING. GC's online gaming is too pathetic to even consider it a rival of PS2/XBOX. Hell even Dreamcast's online capability (Unreal Tournament) is better than GC.
You're confusing online capability with online games, as evidenced by your inclusion of UT in parens after mention of the Dreamcast rather than mentioning that the Dreamcast came with a 56K modem installed (and could be upgraded to a broadband adapter if you could find the thing). The capability of the GC for online gaming is on par with the PS2. The games available is the problem.
If a new console for Nintendo means real online gaming on par with PS2/XBOX, I am all for it.
But with that said, I think if they just put money into making GC an ONLINE GAMING console, they can actually compete with XBOX/PS2...until then, I'll be playing Ghost Recon and Crimson Skies on XBOX LIVE and Socom 2 and Madden 2004 on PS2 ONLINE...no way do I buy a GC version of a game that is online on another console...
Two of the games you mentioned are 3rd party games. Why don't you ask the people that developed Ghost Recon and Madden 2004 why those games aren't online on the GC? Because the online adapter doesn't come with the console? Neither does the adapter for the PS2. Because they don't have a 'Live'-style service? Neither does the PS2, and MS is losing money on it. Because Nintendo isn't using it themselves and they aren't hyping it? Neither did Sony until they decided to do an EQ game on the PS2 (subscription revenue is sweet when you already have the infrastructure). What GC needs to become an online console is an exclusive title that people actually play online. Right now Nintendo doesn't see a reason to do it themselves and isn't willing to give incentives to other developers to do it, either.
Could you imagine Mario Party being an ONLINE game? Mario Kart?
Mario Kart I could imagine as working quite well, though my best memories of the series are always going to be playing on the SNES with my friends in the same room. Mario Party doesn't seem like it'd be nearly as interesting online, as most of the minigames are about the interaction between the players. Then again, Mario Kart may very well be online, as it's LAN capable and there's been a lot of talk about the GameSpy tunnelling software that Nintendo contracted.
The possibilities are endless, but NO, Nintendo KNOWS GC is for kids and THAT'S WHY they have NO interest in making GC an online gaming console, because kids don't make enough from their allowance to get a cable modem/dsl...Nintendo blows...
Right... Which is why my youngest step-brother was the first person I knew to put his console online (though of course I had to help my parents set things up to share the cable modem). I wouldn't be surprised if my gf's 10-year-old brother put his PS2 online this XMas since he's been playing Madden 2004 so much and most of his friends have it as well. That's what people don't seem to get, the games that sell the best on the PS2 are appealing just as much to the kids everyone says Nintendo's marketing after as to the teenagers and the 20-somethings. Sony would not have a piece of the console market if they hadn't realized one simple thing: teenagers are more afraid of what other people think of them than they are interested in actually having fun. A large number of the people playing those games online on the XBox and the PS2, just like PC games, are not the people footing the bill for those consoles (and PCs) and for them to be online.
-PainKilleR-[CE]
How is this insightful? The Japan machine isn't the china machine, and this guy asks which is it?
Are the metamoderators asleep?
StoneCypher is Full of BS
The Xbox console cannot play DVD movies out of the box; that's a $30 attachment, where most of the money goes to MPEG-LA, Dolby, DVD CCA, Macrovision, and other holders of DVD-related patents and trade secrets.
Will I retire or break 10K?
There are plenty of parents out there without enough money to get their kid a dvd player and a console.
There are plenty of things coins can't buy. For everything else, there's WarioCard.
Will I retire or break 10K?
Then what do you do when you want to switch from the Xbox to your Super NES, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, or VHS player? My solution is a $20 five-input A/V switch from Pelican Accessories. It even has a built-in RF modulator/switch for older TV sets.
Will I retire or break 10K?
I think it was more a failure not to have a Zelda or Mario title available for launch
Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are playable characters in the launch title Super Smash Bros. Melee. Everybody raise your hand if you bought a Cube for Melee.
(At least yerricde's hand goes up.)
Will I retire or break 10K?
"That's what I thought would happen, what with the Gamecube price drop. I hope this next one can play DVDs, etc."
I just paid $40 for a DVD player at Walmart. If my next game console plays DVDs, I'd be surprised if I ever used it.
"Derp de derp."
Switches cables? Haven't you people ever heard of a switch box? Here comes the science...All your devices A/V outputs go into your switchbox and your switchbox gets plugged into the A/V input on your TV. Then you just press a button on your switchbox that corresponds with the device you want to use and that device's A/V signals go into your TV? I have TiVo, PS2, Dreamcast and a VCR going into one box that plugs into my TV's only A/V port.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
What I've seen of Super Monkey Ball Jr. is not 3D acceleration at all. It's software 3D in 120x80 pixels; notice the flat shading.
Will I retire or break 10K?
The sales only increased after they dropped the price to $99. This is cutting into the profit margins on console sales (but those pesky games are still $50).
You do realize it used to be that the base bundle was $150 with a free $50 game, and now the base is $99 with no game? Think about that for a moment.
I don't think a lot of people here have any clue how long it takes to develop a game these days.
Top-tier, blockbuster games take 18-24 months minimum with very large teams (40+ people in development alone). A well managed team can shrink the time down to 12 months by inflating the team to 70+ levels, but they have to start with an established technology, lots of experience, and great management.
You can't just release a console next year - you need tons of time to get developers up to speed on the hardware, and start their game designs. It's not a 12 month proposition folks!
The game didn't cost $50 to include in the bundle. Development costs for most software comes from a small fraction of the customers that purchase the software. Give away a decent game that will have enough consumers to offset development costs. Thus:
1) More hardware platforms have been sold.
2) The only costs include disc, packaging and distribution (Not even close to $50).
Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime, Viewtiful Joe, Hitman 2... definitely kid's games.
My mother has way more fun playing Animal Crossing on her recently-purchased GC than my kid sister. Me, I like to settle down with a beer and a pipe with all the lights out while my rooomates are at the bar and creep myself out with Eternal Darkness. The last 2 weeks have been 4-player Super Monkey Ball minigame fests with my friends and roommates (and even a roommate's boss!)
Just because you're too afraid to been seen as playing a 'kid's console' doesn't ruin the fun for us adults.
"...but perhaps kids are too stupid to realize that."
Exactly. I don't say it all these things be of much benefit, but a few cool demos and clever advertising can make people believe the *need* 3d and whatever else.
For Video -- I see music videos as a good idea for content (easy to compress enough to fit on a CF or similiar card, especially considering the relatively small resolution of no more than 320x320).
And if the whole device is compatible to GBA, it could slowly replace it.
I don't need a signature.
Mobile phones are getting better and better for playing. So are PDAs. They have fast processors (well, relatively) and large color screens.
Therefore the GBA may become obsolete. If Nintendo isn't careful and offers some extra value (like 3D acceleration-- should be cheap, no?), there soon might be no reason left to buy a Gameboy.
I don't need a signature.
... so everybody prefers a Toyota?
Your Quote (insults ignored):"the GBA and GBA-SP even Outsell the Xbox!"
"play super monkey ball on it" (insults ignored).
The existence of a 3D game does NOT necessarily mean there is 3D acceleration. Fricking old idiots like me know that since Doom and Quake I.
Play this strange Star Wars game (forgot the name) on the GBA at 5-10 fps and you'll see there is NO hardware 3D acceleration.
I don't need a signature.
I agree totally. All this talk about how the portable market HAS to go 3D is certainly sad. The GBA has one of the best game lineups (especially if you like strategy or RPG games) on the market, but yet everyone is demanding 3D on a handheld. I'll stick with the current GBA, thanks.
Except for the fact that the next-gen console won't be comming out until 2005.
This isn't the replacement for the gamecube, it's something else.
I've been called a "Fucking Dick" by better people than you.
I think the phrase "next generation console" has got out of hand. Consider this: before the current batch of consoles was released, the makers were calling them their next-gen consoles. Now, people continue to call them next-gen consoles, even though they are the CURRENT generation.
Now the media are telling us that Nintendo's next console will be a next-gen console. Of course it is THEIR next-gen console, but it's not A next-gen console.
I wish people would stop referring to the current generation of consoles as next-gen as if it were a spec.
The second thing that comes out of this article is a quote from Nintendo saying that the GC is the most popular console among younger gamers.
Well, duh! For a start, that's who most of their games are targeted at and because it's the cheapest console, parents who are low on cash are more likely to buy their children the cheapest console they can.
They might be surprised to see how many people are still buying old segas and old nintendos for their kids from auction sites for $20 or less. Low income families, or catholic families who have to budget for 8000 kids are going to go for the cheapest they can which will still provide entertainment for their children.
The reason girls and Windows users don't understand UNIX is because all the documentation is in Man files.
One of the big plot points in the "Will XBox survive" debates was that Nintendo was actually able to sell their machine at a profit, until MS, which was/is taking a bath. A comment earlier up mentioned that they may not be taking a profit at the new lower price, though, which is the reverse of the usual trend you mention.
It sounds like you are actually being overcharged for gamecubes.
Today's UK-to-US exchange rate is 1.686. Which means your price list looks like this in dollars:
XBox with DVD remote: $168
PS2: $202
Gamecube: $134.88
So, the UK XBox is cheaper (probably because they aren't selling well over there) and the UK gamecube is around $35 more. In the US, it's cheaper to get a gamecube and a cheap DVD player. In the UK, apparently not.
I bought a Daewoo DVD player at Sam's Club last weekend. It cost $39.95. It plays DVDs as wells as CD-R with MP3s and JPEGS, and VCDs. So a GCN + DVD player is about $139.94.
Lasers Controlled Games!
But one big problem with the Saturn/Dreamcast was backwards compatibility. You can't play Saturn games with the Dreamcast.
So you've spent over $400? The console was probably $150 or less. But if they made controllers and GB-GC connectors backwards compatible as well, then it wouldn't be as much of a problem for you, would it? Maybe they would also build a GB Player and BBA in, plus built in hard drive for game storage.
I can't really see a fan of Nintendo being upset with more powerful hardware, especially if there is BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY. This is a key factor I think for a new Nintendo console to have a chance of being successful, no matter when the release. Otherwise, there is no chance of it being competitive vs Sony and Microsoft.
I don't think a Gamecube 1.5 would stand a chance. I think they should go all the way with a kick-expletive next-gen system for holiday 2004. They would definitely have a decent-sized game library by the time the PS3 comes out.
The hardware will be outdated by then, but they could release another system within 1-2 years of the PS3/XBN release. That would still be about 4 years between consoles.
I do agree that if Nintendo doesn't make the RIGHT moves, they could be forced out of the console business. If all they do is simply follow Sony's lead, they are dead. They have to not only hold onto their niche, but reach a larger fanbase as well. Maybe a 1st or 2nd party line of sports titles?
What I'd want in a VB2...
1. Cool LCD glasses with built in head phones.
2. At least N64 level, I'd really like photoreal, but I think we are 2 or 3 generations away for that.
3. Rechargable battery that comes with the cords for AC/and car DC
4. $100 price with $20 games
5. Basic PDA software
6. Basic CellPhone with a $5-$10 monthly plan for "unlimited" local calls.
7. E-book Reader.
8. USB port that could attach to i-pod...
Now on the truly original topic, it seems Nintendo is concerned about being out of the gate first with their GC successor. They should be cautious with that approach, because it won't necessarily make the company more successful. The Dream Cast was out of the gate quickly as the first of its generation; aside from the piracy problem, it also didn't have the marketing clout needed to exploit its lead. By the time the market really started heating up, no one cared about Sega anymore. (I also wonder whether the accurate perception that Sega again wouldn't support its console properly had an appreciable impact on sales.)
The next generation console wars won't be much of an advance from the current crop, but it will be defined by content and marketing. Sony is the market leader, but MS' assimilation of game developers may change the face of the competitive landscape. (Gates must be throwing a lot of money around in order to get Japanese developers on board.)
It's really time for Nintendo to do something bold in order to elicit support for the GC and its offspring. Unfortunately, the trend in developer support is working against the company-many titles are being released for the crapBox and PS but not for the GC. Maybe it's time for a strategic venture of some sort between Sony and Nintendo as a reaction to MS' bid for yet another monopoly.
Part of the hardcore faithful who believed in Apple long before it was cool again to do so
Erm, What makes you think the next console will utilise a TANDARD DVD format? The gamecube uses DVD's, but they are not standard and cannot play DVD movies, so what makes you think they will change their view? Also, as far as I know, neither of the other consoles play DVD's out of the box either, they both need attachments that must be purchased seperately. Do you actually read the things you write, or is it just your brain running out your nose onto the keyboard?
Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
Just for the record, I didn't mean this as flamebate. I like retrogaming and cute characters, and you can't really beat the Gameboy for that (well, except for maybe MAME or real old games). I just think that's what they should focus on.
The thing about why Nintendo never included DVD playback was because of one thing - they do games, and they do them well. They know games better than they do DVD support or anything like that, whereas Sony and Microsoft have experience in those arenas, so their systems are able to offer that kind of feature to people who buy them. Personally, I wouldn't want a Nintendo branded DVD playback device, because I know that's not what they do best.
The game didn't cost $50 to include in the bundle.
So? The point is, by including a $50 game in with the system, that's $50 of the customer's money that you're not getting for that game, even if the disc itself costs a pittiance.
In contrast, with the $99 bundle, customers will most likely buy $50-100 worth of games when they buy the system...The shiny new Cube isn't much use without a game or two to actually use it with, right?
Personally, I bought the $150 bundle with a free game back in July, and got another $30 game along with it, with a couple more not long after.
Anyway, seems to come out about the same in the end...I wouldn't be suprised if they're actually making a bit more average profit per customer (because of game sales) at the $99 price point, though. I do know Nintendo is still forecasting a profit for the second half of the fiscal year, too.
Don't need to keep that old DOC PC around to play Star Control 2 anymore - try the open source remake, The Ur'Quan Masters. This is actually built from the source of the 3D0 version, so includes all the niceness that made the 3D0 version superior.
or for 15 bucks a month you can rent games for it and not have to worry about late fees, ever.
| - | - |
Actually, the PS2 can play DVDs out of the box, while the XBox requires an addon for DVD playback. I don't know if that's changed in later revisions of the XBox, but I highly doubt it since the DVD kits are still being offered for sale.
But then you still have to get up!
It reminds me of a Consumer Reports review of a voice-activated remote control and a letter responding to said review. The CR report said that it didn't seem as effective as the old-fashioned technique of pressing buttons on the remote. The letter writer wrote that he didn't think he was that old, but he thought the old-fashioned way of changing channels, etc. was actually getting up and turning knobs on the set...
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.