SAN JOSE, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today challenged a crowd of game developers to think differently and take a fresh approach to the creation of video games. During his keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Iwata said Nintendo will provide developers with the tools they need to disrupt the traditional methods of game creation, much as the company already has. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050915/LATH122-b) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/2005...NTENDOLOGO) These tools include the controller for Nintendo's next home console (code-named Revolution), which lets users control the action on their television screens through the motion of the controller itself. The controller lets game developers create new kinds of gaming experiences, ones that enhance the experience for hard-core gamers while making video games more accessible and less intimidating to novices. The new forms of innovative software that can be created by any size developer will be made available for download via Revolution's Virtual Console service. "This new approach is like stepping onto an unexplored continent for the first time, with all the potential for discovery that suggests," Iwata said. "No one else can match the environment we're creating for expanding the game experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic." Iwata also announced partnerships with Sega and Hudson to offer downloadable access to their classic games via Revolution's Virtual Console. Revolution owners will be able to relive their past gaming glories from the Sega Genesis console by playing a "best of" selection from more than 1,000 Genesis titles, as well as games sold for the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). These games join Revolution's access to 20 years of fan-favorite Nintendo games from the NES®, Super NES® and Nintendo® 64 eras. Iwata also revealed for the first time that a new game called The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass would be released for Nintendo DS later this year. Iwata, a game developer himself, revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the development of three key initiatives. For the industry leading Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, internal engineers and developers overcame a series of hurdles to make the system seamless and flexible enough to allow players to choose to play wirelessly either with friends or against unknown opponents. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection reached 1 million unique users in just 18 weeks -- nearly five times the adoption rate of the leading online game console network. He described a pivotal meeting in coming to agreement on development of the incredibly popular "brain games" in Japan. A leading Japanese scientist attached a sci-fi-looking wired helmet to a Nintendo staffer and then visually demonstrated stimulation of brain activity as the staffer played prototype software. Finally, he described the hundreds of sketches, dozens of prototypes and company-wide collaboration that led to the final form of the unique Revolution controller system, which resembles a traditional TV remote control. He called the related research and manufacturing costs of the new control system, "...our method to disrupt the market...realizing a new way to connect a player to his game."
Quote:Iwata also revealed for the first time that a new game called The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass would be released for Nintendo DS later this year.
Quote:We are getting some reports from Joystiq staff Vladimir Cole and Christopher Grant while they attend the GDC Nintendo keynote. We'll elaborate more later, but for now here's what we've got:
* "Celda" on the Nintendo DS: Phanton Hourglass?
* Sega Genesis and Turbo Grafx titles will be available on Nintendo Revolution's Virtual console.
* Hudson games, too.
* No announcement about the game--a press release did go out during the conference (as posted in the comments) that still called the upcoming console "The Revolution"
More as it develops--this'll be one of those often-updated posts.
Quote:Dean Takahashi from The Mercury News had a chance to talk to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata on Tuesday night to discuss his GDC keynote. The first comment indicates that Iwata may hold off on most--if not all--new information on the Revolution until E3 (what? no renaming?). However, Iwata did reassert his commitment to having the Revolution playable for E3 attendees. Iwata did have some ambitious words to say about Nintedo's online service: "Our concept is to get 80 percent to 90 percent of the players online"--a huge figure considering the Xbox Live service is used by only around 10% of Xbox / Xbox 360 owners.
Discussing the Xbox 360 shortage, Iwata told Takahashi that he believes Nintendo will not have the same problem: " I think I understand where their problems were. I don’t want to give an answer because I don’t want to give them any help." Iwata also noted that he had heard about Microsoft's rumored portable device, but that he did not have enough information and that "it doesn't have an effect on [them] this year."
If Iwata does, in fact, reveal the new name for the "Revolution" (or just makes the title official), Joystiq will break the news approximately 42 seconds after Mr. Iwata finishes his sentence.
Quote:Even more ironic is that Microsoft has ginned up a new slogan, "People Ready," which apparently is meant to describe its software, or maybe it describes companies that use its software, or whatever. Who knows? It's one of those phrases that means anything, and so means nothing. Who makes this stuff up? Do they actually pay this person? And is Microsoft just figuring out now that its programs are used by — gasp — people?
Microsoft execs also talked about "Impacting People," then they dragged out fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who seemed very "impacted" as he sang praise for Microsoft programs. Actually, he was reading meaningless statements from a TelePrompTer. Here is one of his quotes, verbatim: "When you combine people and technology, you have a very powerful combination." Think about that. Just let it sink in for a minute.
What’s the deal with all the hype over fifty cents? People idolize him because he’s (1) a felon, (2) gets shot a lot, and (3) gets lots of money because of 1, and 2.
Well, I gotz some news kiddies, being a felon and getting shot a lot doesn’t make you cool…
It makes you a dumb ass!
In his case a dumb ass who can’t sing. People give him lots and lots of money in record deals because they think he’s cool, yet in the eyes of the lord he is not. He makes money on sin!
Why doesn’t every one rob a jewelry store and make me a grif (which buy that way is horrable english), and see how in real life how successful they become. He’s teaching young children to be stupid!
What the hell is wrong with the world?
When did doing stupid things and being ignorant make you rich and admired?
Furthermore he’s using a powerful medium “music”, to preach his message of dumb ass. I’m just saying someone should take away his mike and replace it with a brain.
[indent]There I said it.
This is THE game to own for the Xbox360, bar none.
As someone who really enjoyed Morrowind, Oblivion is everything I could have hoped for and more. Every single element has been upgraded and improved upon. The graphics are stunning and the draw distance is now almost unlimited. Things at extreme distances don't look all that great though, but at least you can see beyond 100 feet unlike in Morrowind. The music is better too. In Morrowind it was kind of loud and repetitive, but in Oblivion it's a lot more understated as well as being of very high quality. Almost all dialogue now is voiced, although it's still repetitive at times. The combat system is a bit faster and has some more variety in it than in Morrowind.
Oblivion is great. Really great. If you don't have it then you need to go out and get it right now.
Like a bat out of hell I'm bursting back on to the scene with rumor from GDC that makes me want to Riverdance if true.
The rumor at the show is that MS will be announcing a $100 dev kit today.
I've done some speculating with others on this already and here's what we believe it will be.
Via the power of XNA you will develop your game on the PC and download it to a 360. We think that the $100 dev kit will actually be a set of libraries that will be needed by the code and a retail 360 will be needed to download code to.
I've emailed my contacts who are at the show and am awaiting any word on this one.
Revolution's real name to be revealed at GDC? Plus, those residual rumours of a June release re-examined
16:33 Over in the US of A (we hesitate to use 'good' or 'old'), the annual Game Developers Conference is starting to get into full swing and we've got a couple of juicy Nintendo rumours for you to chew over this afternoon, concerning the big N's next-generation machine.
First up is a strong whisper that the Revolution's real name will finally be confirmed this week at the show, probably as part of Nintendo president Saturo Iwata's keynote speech on Thursday. Long-standing Nintendo watchers will know that each console the company produces labours under a codename during its development period, and so it's assumed that Revolution won't be the final name.
According to our sources, this week will be the week when the Rev finally gets its new moniker, but what it might be is still anyone's guess. We'd welcome your suggestions in the forum below, so delight, dazzle and tantalise us with your insight - and since the announcement will probably come on Thursday, if you come up with a corker, there's still time for Nintendo to change its mind yet.
The other persistent rumour which has been doing the rounds is that Nintendo may launch the Rev as early as June. It's a fair old long shot this one, comparable to us suddenly being called up by Sven for the England World Cup squad on the strength of a good five-a-side game at the weekend. However, its shelf life has been slightly extended by Akiteru Itoh from Japan's Media Create.
Speaking to BusinessWeek, Itoh said, "There are rumors that the Revolution could be released as early as June. If that happens and Nintendo sells around one million units, Sony could have a harder time catching up."
We mention it not because it's true, but because it's an interesting quote. However, you can cover us in strawberry jam and call us Susan if Nintendo launches the Revolution (or whatever it's called by then) in June. Still, what a magnificent prospect to contemplate and what a massive coup it would be if it'd managed to keep that one under wraps to astonish a waiting world. Now that would be the biggest GDC surprise of all.
Hey--I recall that one of you folks (Sacred Jellybean?) goes to Drexel University; I'll be here for the rest of the day. If you're around, what better time for a historic rendezvous between two Tendites? Leave replies here persuant to this topic. I'll be here until later tonight.
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