Revolution Rumblings

[Fryguy64]

It's March... in just over two months we will be seeing the first solid information on the Revolution. We know that Nintendo is planning some kind of transformation in how we play games in order to attract that portion of the market that doesn't usually play them.

What about those of us who do play them? Those of us who have honed our Control Pad/Analogue Stick skills over many years? Remember the Control Pad was invented by Nintendo to revolutionise 2D game play, and the analogue stick was invented to revolutionise 3D game play. Nintendo has now adapted the tried and tested touch-screen method to a new world of games. Do we need another new method without another entirely new kind of game to play in?

Nintendo often uses its current consoles to test the ground for what the next-gen should use. The SNES was a testing ground for 3D, but when it couldn't do a proper 3D adventure we got the N64... which was used to test things such as force feedback (Rumble Pak), voice control (Pikachu Genki Dechu), internal clock (Doubutsu no Mori) and connectivity (Pokemon Stadium and loads more). Many of these have now been implemented into the basic Gamecube hardware (with the exception of voice control, part of the DS). The Gamecube has tried perfecting connectivity to somewhat disappointing effect... but what has been tested?

Wireless controllers, online services (though Nintendo have been abysmally lax on this), and... err... bongos. So what can't Nintendo do now that they would like to do with their next generation?

I, personally, am pleased to hear that Nintendo is serious about making their games look great. I'm not a graphics whore, but I do understand that with substandard graphics a console will never become as popular as it could be. I love a great looking game so long as it is atmospheric. I was also surprised recently to see (and hear) how dated SSBM is nowadays. It's still an awesome game, but I can already see how it could look and sound so much better.

I'm throwing the questions out, time to discuss. Revolution is coming... but what is it going to revolutionise? Nintendo has already revolutionised 2D and 3D gaming, and now handheld gaming. It's hard to imagine what is missing... what can't Nintendo do aside from perfect voice recognition? Connectivity works, but it's not popular... force feedback and analogue control are industry standards now... what ARE we missing?

Discuss.

[The Almighty Narf]

From the way Reggie and Iwata have been talking lately, it sounds to me like Nintendo will be taking online gaming in directions that it hasn't been taken before.

[Doubutsu80]

The said:

From the way Reggie and Iwata have been talking lately, it sounds to me like Nintendo will be taking online gaming in directions that it hasn't been taken before.

Yeah, I have a feeling with that as well

[TrustTheFungus]

Fryguy, in your post you mention all these amazing innovations Nintendo has created, but you forgot the most important:

[glow=red,10,000]ROB[/glow]
Revolution should come with a new ROB.

[Fryguy64]

I said that they've used previous platforms to test all-new concepts and ideas. ROB was indeed one of those concepts... ROB was also a dismal failure at the time. That's why he's so darn lovable and collectable - no-one gave him a second glance at the time.

Besides, everyone knows that Nintendo did create a new ROB, and set it to work in Port Town loading space freighters. ;D

[magna17]

they did?

[Doubutsu80]

magna17 said:

they did?

Haven't you played F-Zero GX? on Novice Mode

[mrmolecule]

I think they'll come out with a 4D controller (that'd be cool!) About the joystick...Nintendo pushed the joystick backwards a bit, because Atari had joysticks. So it wasn't until the mid 1990s that joysticks became popular again

[kirbychu]

4D? A controller that sprays water and air into your face depending on the in-game situations? ;D

[Fryguy64]

Well, seeing how one of the challenges of the gaming industry is to entice those without the time to play games, it would be a smart move on Nintendo's part if their 4D Controller encapsulated the player in a time bubble, so when they emerged after completing the game no more than a moment will have passed in real life.

Quite how this would work with games such as Animal Crossing is a harder question... Bring on the Revolution 2! ;D

[Doubutsu80]

I have a very sick feeling that Nintendo will go bank rupted in the near future. I don't know why but my senses tell me.

[The Almighty Narf]

Why on Earth would Nintendo go bankrupt? They make a good amount of profit and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.

[Fryguy64]

Yep, despite the mediocre sales of the Gamecube, the systems still sell on the strength of the software... and it is the only one of the three systems to turn a profit on hardware (and not by requiring regular replacements like certain Sony based systems).

And don't forget that the GBA and Nintendo DS have proven themselves to be massive sellers already, and we still have the Revolution and next GB to look forward to. Satoru Iwata seems to have the industry hooked on his ideals, and there's no sign of slowdown.

Basically, I'm firmly of the opinion that despite growing competition, Nintendo hasn't been in a position as strong as this for years.

Besides, worst comes to worst, at least five more years down the line if all goes topsy-turvy and Nintendo starts looking in poor shape (much poorer than it has done with the Gamecube - and across the board) then it's likely it'll be bought up or merged rather than go bankrupt. I'm positive even Sony and Microsoft realise what important work Nintendo does in keeping the game industry alive and interesting, and neither of them, nor any other publisher or developer, would want to see the talent, credentials and contacts of Nintendo vanish into thin air.

But even that is the extremely unlikely worst case scenario.

[Andronicus]

Fryguy is absolutely correct.

Nintendo is in a re-emerging strong position, and if all goes well with it's new offerings, it ought to be in an even stronger position over the next few years. If the worst happens, Microsoft seems quite keen on purchasing Nintendo, and it would then probably focus on handheld technology and Nintendo software.

Nintendo isn't likely to disappear any time soon...

[Fryguy64]

Just like Yamauchi wouldn't let Nintendo deal with Squaresoft until he was firmly retired, I suspect he'll be dead and buried before he lets a competitor purchase 'his' company.

But like I say, no chance of that happening until Nintendo makes some quite serious errors of judgement... and with the current leadership, plans to improve the European and Chinese markets, and increasing chances for innovation throughout the gaming industry, that day will be a long way off.

Now stop grumbling about Nintendo's possible future and start discussing their definite future. Revolution! Whoo! (I just hope they come up with a different final name).

I also wanted to add that with Nintendo's decision to make the Revolution backwards-compatible with the Gamecube, I suspect we may still see some advanced, yet existing, features on the Revolution - such as connectivity, for example. This also provides us with a clue as to the Revolution's control pad - it must contain at least as many buttons as the Gamecube, or at least the Revolution will use the same controller ports as the Gamecube.