When does it start?

Nintendo Revolution looks like it will own. I have a feeling it'll be what brings Nintendo back.

Nintendo Revolution looks like it will own. I have a feeling it'll be what brings Nintendo back.

Nintendo, the world leader in video game innovation, has stated loud and clear that they are not to be overlooked in the next generation home console race with the revelation of several unique features of the company's next console system, code name Revolution, to key media outlets.

According to the early information, Revolution will combine powerful technology and gaming-focused features in Nintendo's smallest home game console yet.

In its final form, Revolution will be about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer. 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.

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.

In the next generation, the addition of the Internet will be important to all consoles and particularly important to Nintendo. Revolution will be wireless Internet ready out of the box.

There's much more to Revolution that will be revealed over the coming months, but the combination of its compact size, wireless Internet, backward compatibility, quick start-up time and quiet, low-power operation add up to the start of a great game system. Get ready for the Nintendo Revolution in 2006!

Revolution confirmed for 2006; will play DVDs
Nintendo's next-gen console will also be around an inch tall; will support GameCube and DVD discs.[/b]

Speaking to GameSpot several weeks ago about the imminent launch of the Xbox 360, Robbie Bach, Microsoft's chief Xbox officer and senior vice president, weighed in on the next-console race. He said he largely saw the next several years as a two-party conflict between Microsoft and Sony.

"Nintendo is good and cute...and there's nothing wrong with that," he said. "They'll be a competitor, but in a different category almost. I don't think they have the same ambition that either Sony or Microsoft does in the more mainstream interactive entertainment space."

Bach's words were presumably based on Nintendo's long-standing policy that game consoles should be for games, period. This philosophy was at the core of the company's current-generation console, the GameCube, which uses a proprietary three-inch disc format, versus the DVDs used by the PlayStation 2 and the current and next-gen Xboxes.

However, it appears that will soon change. In a statement on its official Web site, the company "stated loud and clear that [it is] not to be overlooked in the next-generation home console race." Nintendo announced that its new console, code-named the "Revolution," will play DVDs and be backward compatible. "Nintendo's legions of loyal fans will be happy to learn that Revolution will be backward compatible, playing both Nintendo GameCube three-inch discs, along with its own standard, double-layered DVD discs in the same self-loading media drive," said the company.

Speaking of DVDs, Nintendo also mentioned that the Revolution "will be about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer." This would make it the Japanese game giant's smallest console to date, as well as making it barely larger than Sony's new slimline PS2, which is about two times as thick and about an inch-and-a-half longer than a DVD case. Like the PS2 and the Xbox 360, the new Revolution will be able to lie on its side or stand on one end for horizontal or vertical display.

Unfortunately, Nintendo's statement, which appeared strategically timed to deflate some of the hype surrounding the Xbox 360's unveiling, had few other specific details. It reconfirmed details revealed in Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's 2005 Game Developers Conference keynote address. Namely, it reconfirmed that the Revolution will be "wireless Internet ready out of the box" and will be powered by an IBM CPU and an ATI GPU.

That said, the statement concluded with a tantalizing tease for Nintendo fans. "There's much more to Revolution that will be revealed over the coming months," it read, "but the combination of its compact size, wireless Internet, backward compatibility, quick start-up time, and quiet, low-power operation add up to the start of a great game system."

Nintendo also confirmed what has been long suspected...that the Revolution won't arrive until next year. The last line of the statement read, "Get ready for the Nintendo Revolution in 2006!"

When does it start?

I'm really looking forward to it this year. Not only is there news on the 3 major new consoles, but there's a load of great new games too

It'll all boil down to the games for the consoles.

A console should have a good game library when it's released.

Problem is there are more and more crap games that copy each other every year. We need something to spark the imagination once again. I remember playing games for 12 hours sometimes when I was a teenager, now I rarely play console games at all. My kids find the mascot type games the best lately, and the new StarWars Ep3 games is awesome!

That's why I love Nintendo. While Microsoft and Sony seem to be fixed on relying on sequels (Final Fantasy, Halo), Nintendo seems to be focused on making original games (Pikmin, Animal Crossing).

If rumors prove to be true, the specs look to be very similar to XBox 360, will be interesting to see what exactly the "Revolution" is.

True... but the point Nintendo is missing here is that they should cater to the 14+ age group with more mature titles. I seem to notice that PS and Xbox games are more geared towards the older age groups and Nintendo gears it games towards the younger generation.

The older group tends to be the ones keeping track of what's being released, which creates a buzz/hype for the game... which in turn leads to more sales.

Also, the older age group would likely buy a game outright. The younger age group would have to pester mommy and daddy to get the game for them

I've got something that should interest you ...

http://forum.virtualcafe.fr/index.php?act=...type=post&id=10

!!!

And for french gamers, you can see the rumors around this video here : http://forum.virtualcafe.fr/index.php?showtopic=163

In its final form, Revolution will be about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer. 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.

True... but the point Nintendo is missing here is that they should cater to the 14+ age group with more mature titles. I seem to notice that PS and Xbox games are more geared towards the older age groups and Nintendo gears it games towards the younger generation.

The older group tends to be the ones keeping track of what's being released, which creates a buzz/hype for the game... which in turn leads to more sales.

Also, the older age group would likely buy a game outright. The younger age group would have to pester mommy and daddy to get the game for them

Nintendo can release games fun for all ages, while Sony and Microsoft seem to release games ONLY for older gamers.

I'm going to have to disagree.

Sony:
-Jak and Daxter Series
-Ratchet and Clank Series
-Gran Turismo
-Sly Cooper Series
-ATV Offroad Fury Series
-Ape Escape Series
-EyeToy + Games
-Hot Shots Golf Series
-Monster's, Inc
among others. Sony can release games fun for all ages, too.

not sure about Microsoft, but I know ALL of their games aren't for older gamers only.

I love the Jak and Daxter Series & Ratchet and Clank Series. Speaking of the Jak and Daxter Series & Ratchet and Clank Series they are making new ones Ratchet : Deadlocked & Jak X: Combat Racing and Daxter is getting his own game on the Sony PSP looks cool Daxter PSP

Looks cool. I like the Jak series too. I never really got into the Ratchet & Clank Series but the demo disc that was sent to me was fun

IT'S HERE! Sony's presentation on the PS3 and their other new hardware is at 11:00PM UK time, if anyone can find a live video link that would be much appreciated. This link might be of use to fans, too

Nintendo Revolution looks like it will own. I have a feeling it'll be what brings Nintendo back.

It's going to own because it's the size of three dvd cases.

IT'S HERE! Sony's presentation on the PS3 and their other new hardware is at 11:00PM UK time, if anyone can find a live video link that would be much appreciated. This link might be of use to fans, too

Link don't work

Hmm someone better video it for me

I'm really looking forward to it this year. Not only is there news on the 3 major new consoles, but there's a load of great new games too