Broken Saints Revolution Rumors
Fresh, right out of the oven speculation!
by Juan Castro
April 25, 2005 - In the middle of last week, the Broken Saint's website posted claims they knew the secret behind Nintendo's upcoming console, codenamed Revolution. Now, if it's one thing the Web isn't short on, it's people claiming they know what drives Nintendo's Revolution. What makes the claim on Broken Saints compelling, however, is that Brooke Burgess, the man behind the site, is actually in a position to know. Or at the very least, in a position where savory strips of information may be floating around, just waiting to be picked up by wary ears.
Well, it looks like Broken Saints has gone and posted its much-anticipated theory on what makes the Nintendo Revolution revolutionary. At the core of the theory sits how Revolution will display games: through a form of real-time 3D projection. That's right folks, along the lines of a classic 50s monster movie. Nintendo itself has stated that what it plans to use on Revolution isn't all that unique, only that it has never been applied to videogames. Taking that into account, plus recent patents filed by Nintendo, and it doesn't sound all that far fetched, argues Burgess.
If that's not enough, he goes on. During the ShoWest film conference, a panel featuring George Lucus, Robert Zemekis, James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, and a satellite feed from Peter Jackson discuss their plans to integrate cheap digital stereoscopic 3D into major theater chains by 2007. Here's where things get interesting: Burgess claims to know an agent who spoke to Robert Rodriguez, stating they knew of a game machine that would exploit this new wave of 3D entertainment well before Hollywood could jump in on the market.
Burgess goes on to say he spoke to an industry friend about his new theory, to which the industry friend said that Nintendo had shown a real-time 3D add-on for GameCube behind closed doors. When? At last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Burgess claims the Revolution will certainly sport wireless controllers, among other, unknown wireless capabilities. Also, according to Burgess, the Revolution controller will feature either a touch-screen or some form of proprietary PDA device.
As for gyroscopic controllers, the Revolution will indeed use them. Burgess references several inside "sources" who claim they know Revolution controllers will support positional shifts as experienced in Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble. Not all games will support the feature, but Burgess states that at least one Revolution launch title will.
This is all speculation, of course, but there you have it.
Stay tuned for more.
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From Brokensaints:
NOTE***: The following post is SPECULATION and EXTRAPOLATION based upon available information and industry connections. Please do not take what’s written below as FACT or GOSPEL…otherwise, you do so at your own reputational risk ;)
Well, after reading through yesterday’s posts and seeing that a couple of you were already pretty damn warm, I figured it was time to put an end to ‘dancing the cooch’ and just give up the goods. As you’ve read in the last couple of posts, I’ve yapped with journalists and developers who are pretty confident regarding some of the Revolution’s features. I had been hearing about these bits and bobs for months, but as a diehard Nintendo fan there was nothing to really spark my passion - especially considering the Cube’s lacklustre software showing several YEARS into its life cycle. But, for the sake of the lazy multitudes, here’s a quick feature recap:
GYROSCOPIC CONTROL: Several sources have suggested that the new control scheme will SUPPORT positional shifts a la Kirby’s Tilt ‘n’ Tumble. This means that not EVERY game will require you to pull a Pisa, but that Nintendo is championing the integration of this feature into at least one of their launch games. Talking with several developers, we agreed that this could work well for navigation games and maybe some sports experiences…but it’s nothing they’d be eager to program for.
TOUCHSCREEN INTEGRATION: I’ve heard from more than one reputable source that either a DS style touchscreen or an actual proprietary PDA device with be part of the new controller. As you discussed yesterday in COMMENTS, this makes sense with Nintendo’s technology partners, the creation of the DS, and Nintendo’s push towards ‘tactile’ experiences. Not a hard thing to program for and most likely a smart move, as Microsoft and PS3 will almost assuredly support some sort of integrated screen/handheld configuration.
WIRELESS: I popped up some clues yesterday regarding what I’ve heard about their wireless plans, and can most assuredly state that the unit will ship with wireless controllers like X-Box 2. But as IGN and others have pointed out, Nintendo’s pushing hard with their wireless technology and partnerships, and my sources support that it will go well beyond mere controller connection and into the realm of some serious data transfer: touchscreen/pda and machine, player-to-player, Rev to DS, Rev to PC, and Rev to Rev (both in-home and with locally based wireless ‘tribes’).
Okay. No major revelations there, but I bet its got you thinking about future game design and interactive potential, yes? Yes…but for me, the first twinge of excitement regarding this machine didn’t come until the final pieces of the long-rumoured DISPLAY puzzle fell into place:
- the IGN boys posted this regarding a patent for Nintendo’s upcoming display technology, which I linked to a few days ago. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to glean that this conceptually portrays a form of 3D image projection.
- at a major film conference called ShoWest just last month, a panel featuring George Lucus, Robert Zemekis, James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, and a satellite feed from Peter Jackson has studio reps, journalists, and theatre owners seriously jazzed about their plans to integrate cheap digital stereoscopic 3D (like recent IMAX features or the oldschool Captain EO experience at Epcot) into ALL major chains by 2007. Lucas even showed several minutes of the original STAR WARS with remapped visuals that popped off the screen and hovered in front of audience members. When an agent friend of mine was chatting with Rodriguez (there to pump Sin City and discuss his experiences with Spy Kids 3D), he mentioned how they were aware of a game machine beating them to the mainstream 3D market.
- the next day, I contacted another strangely influential industry pal/pundit and shared my thesis purely for fun’s sake (and perhaps some extremely lame bragging rights). The final shiny block of tetrisy knowledge slid into place when he excitedly shared the following - that the Big N had shown a real-time 3D add-on for Gamecube behind closed doors…AT LAST YEAR’S E3. It has since gone MIA. This is the sound of four rows dropping.
More details and potential software discussion to follow…for now, I’m eager to hear YOUR thoughts. How will stereoscopic 3D gaming usher in the ‘Revolution’ that Nintendo has been trumpeting? Will it end up nothing more than a Virtual Boy style gimmick, or will custom 3D glasses become the big fashion accessory of 2007 and beyond? With graphics chip codenames like Hollywoood and Broadway, does this signal Nintendo’s plans to make more cinematic games that mimic the upcoming 3D theatrical experience? If (and, from what I’m hearing, this will be a VERY big IF) Nintendo shows their hand at this year’s E3 by giving everyone at their annual press conference a pair of 3D glasses to wear, will players care?
Here is a pic of the patent that Nintendo filed for on July 21st 2004.
This doesn't look like a patent for glasses... this looks like a patent for imaging technology. More like goggles or a cabinet.
Hmm, Revolution is Virtual Boy II? :D
Really, I don't know... the rest of that is all stuff we've heard before, pretty much, but 3d goggles or glasses? ... kind of weird... and not something that has had a whole lot of success in the market, to say the least. :)
From IGN, regarding new patent:
Revolution Rumor 4
From U.S. Patent filed on July 21, 2004
This rumor centers on new technologies that would change the way a gamer actually watches a game. To start, here's a brief intro: a fixation point is whatever a gamer stares at most of the time when playing a game. Thing is, most games feature several of these fixation points, so developers have needed to devise methods of including every object on screen at all times. When this wasn't possible, the display needed to shift and prioritize objects according to the action. Developers accomplished this by zooming the image up or down, to help gamers re-focus their attention. Just look at any number of sports games. The camera invariably follows the soccer ball, baseball or football. The document argues that the constant change in perspective makes playing games tougher than it should.
The patent describes a technology that would prevent a fixation point from moving and prevent the display area from changing in size. Regardless of where a player sits, he (or she) would command a deep view of the happenings on screen. This would also carry over into multiplayer gaming, where multiple players would normally require multiple fixation points. The new set of technologies would eliminate the strain associated with split-screen gaming. In summary, this would all make for excellent game sessions thanks to unparalleled view of the display. Changing the way a gamer watches the action unfold on-screen would be somewhat revolutionary, but again, it's too early to tell exactly how Nintendo plans on using the tech described in the patent. Unless, of course, they already have to some degree...
I remember seeing that image before...
Nintendo filed for it last year.
Maybe the revolution is that you won't need to wear glasses?
You mean you still didn't fight the good fight to find that damn patent out of that godforsaken database after I gave up and went to bed? Hang your head in shame lazyfatbum, hang your head in shame.
Oh you can so eat my shit, there is no way i'm going to look through the 900 something patents for Nintendo to find that particular one.
Yeah we talked about this thing last year.
The Broken Saints thing, remember that it's all speculation. This guy is in the industry, but he's still just making educated guesses. If he were told anything then certainly he would have had to sign an NDA.
The 3D stuff sounds interesting, but I don't buy any of the touch screen rumors.
I don't know, I read another rumor from a supposed ex-EA employee a while ago that says the touch screen will be part of a VMU type device that plugs into the controller. So maybe it is for real.
Is
this the patent you were looking for lazy?
I just can't believe any touch screen rumors since Iwata and several other Nintendo reps and employees flat-out denied that the system would feature any touch screen device. Nintendo usually gives a "no comment" response to rumors, but with this they bluntly said "NO".
I really don't know anymore... could be any of those things, or all of them, or none... I'll just wait for the real announcement. Going over the same guesses over and over doesn't get us very far when we aren't getting any new info...
The controller will definitely have some sort of screen. An LCD touch screen isn't that far fetched.
Smoke, that looks like that patent for Donkey Konga. But my pooter is messing up and I cant see the pics, is that weird picture in that patent?
What makes you think it's definite? I think there's a far greater chance of some sort of gyroscopic feature than a touch screen.
Look in the patents. The controller will have a built in mic, speakers, camera and VMU like device. There's a pic of it too.
But they file like a million patents every week.
It's completely possible that the controller in the patent wont be the final version. But almost all of Nintendo patents are used to some degree, sans their 64 DD devices like the TIVO recorder. The DD never gained momentum. But these new patents are explained as "for new console". Not "existing console". The patents for their next console are there as well, you should check it out. There are some major revelations, if you can decipher their legalese.
woopsy, this controller was filed by Nyko:
United States Patent 6,881,147
Naghi , et al. April 19, 2005
Video game controller with integrated microphone and speaker
Abstract
A video game controller for a game console configured for playing an on-line game over a network. The video game controller includes a plurality of control elements suitable for receiving input from a user. An interface circuitry is used for communicating with at least one other game console through the game console over the network. A built-in microphone converts voice into an electrical signal output to be transmitted through the interface circuitry and the game console to at least one other game console. A built-in speaker converts an electrical signal output from at least one other game console received through the interface circuitry and the game console into an audible signal. The video game controller may also have a built-in video camera for taking video images and transmitting them through the interface circuitry. The video game controller may be coupled to the game console over a cable or over a wireless communication channel such as radio frequency channel or BLUETOOTH.TM.. An expansion module having a built-in microphone and a built-in speaker may be used with a standard video game controller.
Inventors: Naghi; Herschel (Los Angeles, CA); Erickson; Craig (Stevenson Ranch, CA)
Assignee: Nyko Technologies, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)
Appl. No.: 833819
Filed: April 28, 2004
1. A video game controller for a game console configured for playing an on-line game over a network, the video game controller comprising:
a plurality of control elements suitable for receiving input from a user;
interface circuitry for communicating with at least one other game console through the game console over the network;
a built-in microphone for converting voice into an electrical signal output to be transmitted through the interface circuitry and the game console to said at least one other game console; and
a built-in speaker for converting an electrical signal output from said at least one other game console received through the interface circuitry and the game console into an audible signal.
2. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a built-in video camera for taking video images to be transmitted to the game console.
3. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a slot or a port for receiving output from an external video camera.
4. The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the built-in video camera is a digital camera.
5. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a remote transceiver coupled to the interface circuitry for wireless communication with the game console.
6. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the video game controller is configured for coupling to at least one selected from a group consisting of a standard controller port, a parallel port, a serial port, and a universal serial bus port of the game console.
7. An expansion module for a video game controller of a game console configured for playing an on-line game over a network, such controller having an expansion port or slot for receiving the expansion module, the expansion module comprising:
a built-in microphone for converting voice into an electrical signal output to be transmitted through the video game controller and the game console to at least one other game console over the network; and
a built-in speaker for converting an electrical signal output from said at least one other game console received through the video game controller and the game console into an audible signal.
8. The expansion module of claim 7, further comprising an adapter for interfacing with the video game controller.
9. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the adapter can be physically separated from the rest of the expansion module, and wherein the adapter has at least one plug for interfacing with the rest of the expansion module to transfer digitized sound signals between the adapter and the rest of the expansion module.
10. The expansion module of claim 7, wherein the expansion module is electrically coupled to the video game controller through an adapter.
11. The expansion module of claim 10, further comprising an extending portion for physically plugging into a first expansion slot of the video game controller, wherein the adapter plugs into a second expansion slot of the video game controller.
12. The expansion module of claim 7, further comprising a built-in video camera for taking video images to be transmitted to the game console.
13. The expansion module of claim 7, further comprising a slot or a port for receiving output from an external video camera.
14. An on-line game system for playing an on-line game over a network, the on-line game system comprising:
a plurality of game consoles, each said game console running software for the on-line game; and
a plurality of video game controllers, each said video game controller being coupled to a corresponding one of the game consoles, wherein at least one of the video game controllers is a first video game controller having a first built-in microphone and a first built-in speaker or a second video game controller coupled to an expansion module having a second built-in microphone and a second built-in speaker.
15. The on-line game system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first video game controller and the expansion module has a built-in video camera.
16. The on-line game system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first video game controller and the expansion module has a slot or a port for receiving output from an external video camera.
17. The on-line game system of claim 15, wherein the built-in video camera is a digital camera.
18. The on-line game system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second video game controllers includes a remote transceiver for wireless communication with the corresponding one of the game consoles.
19. The on-line game system of claim 14, wherein the first video game controller further includes:
a plurality of control elements suitable for receiving input from a user; and
interface circuitry for communicating with the corresponding one of the game consoles,
wherein the first built-in microphone converts voice into an electrical signal output to be transmitted through the interface circuitry, and
wherein the first built-in speaker converts an electrical signal output received through the interface circuitry into an audible signal.
20. The on-line game system of claim 14, wherein the expansion module further includes:
an adapter for communicating with the video game controller,
wherein the second built-in microphone converts voice into an electrical signal output to be transmitted through the adapter, and
wherein the second built-in speaker converts an electrical signal output received through the adapter into an audible signal.
It's quite possible that this is a Nyko controller for the XBox360, though I doubt it.
OB1 Wrote:I just can't believe any touch screen rumors since Iwata and several other Nintendo reps and employees flat-out denied that the system would feature any touch screen device. Nintendo usually gives a "no comment" response to rumors, but with this they bluntly said "NO".
I read on GAF that that was a mistranslation. I believe what he actually said is that the controller wouldn't have dual screens like the DS.
... but Reggie said the same thing...
Yeah, it seems like there have been fairly convincing denials of the touchscreen idea. Gyroscopes, though... who knows. As for this 3d thing, that's new, so ... no idea there.
Dammit, lazy, you realize that means that all that awesome speculatin we did yesterday just got completely shot to shit. I'm pretty sure that there's no way there'd be a touch screen on the Revolution controller. It just doesn't make sense to do so. We have the DS, the DS will connect to the Revolution, if we need a touch screen we'll use the DS.
How would DS connect to Revolution? Wirelessly?
Of course it will be wirelessly. DS has wireless already and we know the Rev will too.
The Revolution could come with hardware [or software] that detects any nearby DS's that are turned on. It wouldn't be that difficult.