Nintendo's GameCube console is far from dead, but that hasn't stopped the company from announcing that it is underway with a next-generation successor, codenamed "Revolution." The system has been given an appropriate codename if Nintendo is to be believed: the publisher says that the console will revolutionize the way people play games. No easy challenge, but if any company can do it, Nintendo can.
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Q: What is the Nintendo Revolution?

A: The official codename for the successor to GameCube.

Q: Is 'Revolution' the final name of Nintendo's new console?

A: No. Nintendo confirmed at E3 2005 that the title 'Revolution' is a codename. A final name for the new console has not yet been selected. It should be noted, however, that the company said the same thing of Nintendo DS, which ultimately proved to be the handheld's official name.

Q: How long has the Revolution been in development?

A: Preliminary development on Revolution began shortly after the release of Nintendo GameCube.

Q: Will Revolution feature more powerful hardware than GameCube?

A: Duh.

Q: What are Revolution's technical specs?

A: Mostly unknown. Click here for a summary.

In March 2005, both IBM and ATI confirmed that they have been making the CPU and GPU for Revolution respectively.

In April 2005, MoSys, which supplied RAM for GameCube, announced that it would also be providing the memory solution for Revolution.

At E3 2005, Nintendo said that with Revolution it is aiming to make a "small, quiet and affordable console." It stressed this point and avoided direct questions about technical specifications. Nintendo executives also stated that the company is not interested in engaging in a technical battle with competitors Sony and Microsoft.

In an interview with IGNcube, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto offered further insight:

"You know, in regard to the power of the Nintendo Revolution versus, say, the Xbox 360, we're looking at making a small, quiet, affordable console," he said. "If you look at trying to incorporate all that, of course we might not have the horsepower that some other companies have, but if you look at the numbers that they're throwing out, are those numbers going to be used in-game? I mean, those are just numbers that somebody just crunched up on a calculator. We could throw out a bunch of numbers, too, but what we're going to do is wait until our chips are done and we're going to find out how everything in the game is running, what its peak performance is, and those are the numbers that we're going to release because those are the numbers that really count."

In an interview with the Seattle Post Intelligence, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata elaborated on the company's philosophy where next-generation technology is concerned:

Nintendo Revolution :: Click to show image

"Sony and Microsoft are taking about the same approach for the future by making machines with powerful and sophisticated technology. Nintendo is taking a little bit different approach, and I think this is an interesting contrast," Iwata said. "Of course, we are applying advances in technology. But when you use those advances just to boost the processing power, the trade-off is that you increase power consumption, make the machine more expensive and make developing games more expensive. When I look at the balance of that trade-off -- what you gain and what you lose -- I don't think it's good. Nintendo is applying the benefits of advanced technology, but we're using it to make our machines more power-efficient, quieter and faster to start. And we're making a brand-new user interface. I think that way of thinking is the biggest difference."

Reports from development studios seem to second these statements. Software houses in the know have suggested that Revolution will not be as powerful as Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Nintendo has revealed that Revolution will be backward compatible with GameCube, play both GCN discs and proprietary new 12cm discs, go online via Wi-Fi connections, be able to download software from the Internet, use 512MB flash memory to save data, and feature wireless controllers. In addition, the console will boast two USB 2.0 ports.


Q: Is Revolution "two-to-three times more powerful than GameCube"?

A: USA Today reported this news based on a comment from Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan. The information was later determined to be false. We do not yet know how much more power Revolution wields over its predecessor.

Q: Will Revolution be able to play DVD movies?

A: Yes. However, DVD-movie playback will not be available out of the box. Revolution owners must buy an additional dongle that inserts in front of the machine in order to watch Hollywood DVD movies on the platform.

Q: How will Revolution be unique?

A: That is the big question. The console is codenamed Revolution for a reason: Nintendo expects it to be revolutionary. The system will, according to Nintendo, fundamentally change how games are played. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said in recent interviews that the dual-screened Nintendo DS offers a hint of what to expect from Revolution. DS players can use a stylus pen to input control data into the portable device. It's always possible that Revolution may feature similar functionality.

Nintendo believes that technology alone cannot advance videogames, which is why it plans to take Revolution into a dramatic new direction.

Iwata in June 2004 described Revolution as a videogame machine "of a different nature that does not follow the conventional path of new game systems that increase speed and visual quality for making elaborate games." He added: "The rule of satisfying customers by increasing specifications worked once, but no longer applies now."

At E3 2005, Nintendo unveiled the Revolution console. It is the company's sleekest unit to date. The tiny-sized system is designed to be quiet and affordable. The revolutionary aspect of the machine -- it's input device -- remains a secret.

Q: Will Revolution hook up to a television?

A: Yes. It will also be able to interface with a computer monitor. In June 2004 Nintendo engineer Genyo Takeda said: "You'll be able to play [Revolution] not just by linking up to a television but to a computer monitor as well."

Q: Will Revolution go online?

A: Yes. The Revolution console will feature online play out of the box. Nintendo at the March 15, 2005 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco announced an aggressive new Wi-Fi strategy for both DS and Revolution. Wi-Fi enables wireless, high-speed connections to the Internet using such popular standards as 802.11b and 802.11g. Company executives made strong statements about Nintendo's belief that gamers should be able to wirelessly go online and play against each other.

"We intend to incorporate wireless technology in all we do," Iwata announced at the event. "Therefore, Nintendo Revolution will be Wi-Fi enabled, built into every system."

Q: Will Revolution owners be able to connect online and download classic Nintendo games?

A: Yes. Nintendo announced at E3 2005 that Revolution would be able to go online wirelessly and download classic Nintendo games. Nintendo has not yet announced what titles will be available for download. However, it has confirmed that Revolution owners could theoretically download every NES, Super-NES and Nintendo 64 game ever made. The publisher is reportedly already working with third party publisher to ensure that popular third party games are also available to download.

At E3 2005, Shigeru Miyamoto said: "We have not set a price or determined a list of software for the Nintendo Revolution download service. But, we're looking at this as a consumer service and not so much from the business end. What we want to do is provide the product that is going to make the Revolution the console that people want in their homes. So it actually might be driven from the consumer end rather than from us. You know, the games that they most want might be the ones that we do. From a technological point, we can do any of them. It's just, we haven't determined which ones we'll do yet."

Q: Will Revolution be backward compatible?

A: Yes. At the March 2005 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that Revolution would be backward compatible.

"Contrary to much speculation, I can announce today that Revolution will be backward compatible. The best of the Nintendo GameCube library will still be enjoyed by players years from now," Iwata revealed.

Q: How are discs inserted into Revolution?


A: The unit features a slot-loading drive that accepts both GameCube optical discs ands proprietary 12cm discs. Users simply insert the disc into the front of the unit and the drive does the rest.

Q: Does Revolution have a hard drive?

A: No.

Q: How will games be saved on Revolution?

A: It depends on the game. The machine plays Revolution and GameCube titles out of the box. A GameCube docking station located on one side of the unit features four GCN controller inputs as well as two Memory Pak slots. Data for GameCube titles will be saved to standard Memory Paks. Meanwhile, Revolution software data will be stored on 512MB flash memory, according to Nintendo.

O_O ALL HAIL NINTENDO REVOLUTION!

heh yup its the best out of the three and for second ps3. BUT watch out there is a better thing coming to store soon after the ps3 and will defete all.

*bows to the revolution*

i have to create a time machine and go to the future and get it

no it whont

time machins can only go to the past be cos the fucher hesint hepind yot

Ew my brother showed me the controller for the Revolution and it is ugly and retarded.

It is a freaking remote control!! Wtf?!

I KNOW IT IS RETADIED ISINT IT