20th April 2006, 10:47 AM
hey anyone here remember when IGN blatently came out and told everyone what the revolution controller was before Nintendo unveiled it, and did so without actually showing the Revolutiion controller?
unfortunately i cant find the article, but most of us remeember it. in it they showed 3 designs, an orb controller that you would move and rotate in 3-D, a classic controller design with a trackball, and something that looked like a remote for a TV. and we all laughed. Well my thinking is, IGN gets news, and they got info of the revcon, and couldn't spill the beans outright, so they released a speculative article litteraly showing us how it will work without letting the cat out of the bag.
still with me?
Check out IGN's newest article: http://revolution.ign.com/articles/702/702391p1.html
be sure to check out both pages, I believe that this article is a glimpse in to what we can expect with some BS for good measure between now and of course E3. i'll copy paste the highlights and post my thoughts in stars ***
Duck Hunt Launch Title
Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but Duck Hunt as a launch title would be freaking awesome. In fact, Nintendo would have a truly killer combination if they could package Duck Hunt with the Revolution. Nobody's launched with a pack-in since the SNES (unless I'm mistaken), and the throwback to old-school gamers would be sweet. It'd be pretty simple really: Throw in some new levels, unlock able Duck Hunt for Virtual Console and a few mini-games a la Point Blank. Who cares if it's smaller than most console titles? It's Duck Hunt dude!
*PLEASE LET ME SHOOT THE DOG, LET ME KILL HIM, PLEASE LET ME KILL HIM, I WANT TO KILL HIM, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO KILL THE DOG i actually just heard a rumor about a new duckhunt not too long ago. if nintendo remade duckhunt you would have instant nostalgia overload for all the 'casuals' who either dropped games around last generation or two or moved away from Nintendo.
Wireless Nunchuck Controller
I may not be the first one to have thought of this, but I'll be the loudest. Why in the hell would Nintendo create the Revmote, which promotes free movement and innovation and tether it to the player's second hand? C'mon baby… hit us with some wireless action! If I'm throwing punches in Fight Night or slashing baddies with Link I'll want all the free movement I can get. Cables are so 2005…
***hinting at wireless nunchuck? makes sense.
DS Interaction
"Bozon! Stop talking about DS interaction. We don't know anything about it yet!" Yeah, well who really cares. Point is, I want it. If Nintendo can find some sweet DS/Rev interaction I'll be a happy man. Let me use the Rev to transmit DS demos, maybe a bit of portable Virtual Console action (NES games at least?) and definitely some Four Swords. It may not happen, but that's why we made the wish list. Nintendo better hit bank with DS/Rev interaction in at least a few different ways. It's really a no-brainer.
***and it's no coincidence that the rev uses SD cardslots in the front that are exactly the same size as DS games.
Arcade Revival
I know I'm not the only one who wants SEGA to hit the House of the Dead and Virtual Cop series on Revolution. Let's get some sweet classic action for the Revmote - it's practically a light gun anyways. I'd personally love to see collection sets for The House of the Dead or Silent Scope. Aside from the light gun games, it would be great to see Nintendo go after arcade classics for the Virtual Console as well as console favorites. Who wouldn't want to mack on some Sunset Riders or Marvel Vs. Capcom? Whether it's a collection on disc or Virtual Console service we need to see an arcade revolution as well…
***never thought of that, alot of sega arcade games could be ported to rev at sega's liesure.
Boxing. Pure and Simple
Sports titles on the Revolution is a must-have genre. I'll drop my entire bankroll on some good ol' fashioned Punch Out or Fight Night. There's something amazingly satisfying about waxing my best friend with lightning quick hooks and jabs. Hell, if we're standing close enough to each other maybe I can "accidentally" grease him with a stray hook. Not only would it be worth the price of the console alone, it's simply priceless. Tyson…you're going down! I… I mean "Mr. Dream."
***IGN hinting at a new Punch Out? miyamoto's talk about 'Holding two controllers could be like punching gloves for a boxing game" starts to ring a little bell
Star Wars
Everyone's thinking it, so consider this a plea for the people. Nintendo…Lucas Arts…Whatever weak-sauce beef you have with each other (we've noticed the lack of love guys) you better work it out, Star Wars on Revolution is an absolute must. Interactive force powers, light saber duels, it really doesn't get much better. If this doesn't happen, consider the Revolution useless. I know it's extreme, but it's entirely true. This system was designed for FPS games, light gun games and swordplay. Nintendo really couldn't have made it any easier for a Star Wars revival on Revolution. We'd love to see something at E3, even if they have to pull a death star on us. "Sorry IGN… it isn't fully operational yet." No worries here… just get it done.
***Nintendo lost factor 5, but you know they're looking for a replacement. First Person Star Wars games are a must for revolution, again it looks like IGN is giving us a winkwink nudgenudge.
Collectors Controllers
This one may cause some hate mail, and I know Casamassina thinks I'm crazy, but I'd love to see Nintendo release a collectors series of Virtual Console controllers for NES, Super NES and N64. I in no way want these controllers to be mandatory, but they would be an amazing collectors item. I know I'd personally buy two of each, maybe even four of the N64 ones. If you're going to have a master system of retro love, why not make special edition collector controllers for each generation. Wireless control, retro look, a sweet instruction booklet, maybe a collectors tin? It's a total consumer whore move, but I admit I'd bite. You all know you would too. Nintendo's best play right now is to work the innovation angle as well as the retro scene. What better way is there?
***Nintendo releases a shell for rev that looks exactly like the N64 controller or a revcon painted up to look like the original NES controller. This is definitely going to happen.
Budget Games Series
Before you start shooting one down on the boards, hear me out. I'm certainly not saying every Revolution game should be basic little gimmicks. Revolution needs to prove it can hang with the big boys, but simple games would be a blast for a budget price. Who here could turn down high-quality genre games such as Ping Pong or Sports packs? Throw a few sweet games in a set like batting cages, three-point b-ball challenges and an addictive tennis game and people would surely bite. Seeing some solid show-off games at launch that give players a unique experience for $9.99-$19.99 would be sick. Buy them in-store or on Virtual Console… either way it'd sell systems. Simple can be good.
***No brainer,, nintendo already said that smaller d/l rev games will be available. I could also see 15 dollar budget games of tennis and the like at stores.
No Region Lock
I personally am an importing fanatic. I love playing import games, and with the pending popularity of the Revolution in Japan (we all know it's bound to happen, look at the DS) there are going to be tons of amazing Japanese games that I'll be dying to play. DS didn't have region lock and we've been in heaven with games like Ouendon, Band Brothers, Prince of Tennis, Eyeshield 21 and Cooking Mama. If Revolution allows importing, it'll be my pleasure to feature the top import titles for you all. Trust me, it really will be my pleasure…
*** this is also a no brainer imo.
New Retro
While the Virtual Console will be a great addition to the Revolution, allowing gamers to download classic titles from the best systems in history, I want to see some new legends created as well. There's something awesome about the concept of a "lost title" from GBA developers. Imagine the retro goodness that could be had with new Super NES games or NES titles. It would be awesome to see the best of the pocket world brought back to the big screen. I'd go crazy for retro sequels to Drill Dozer, Shantae, Golden Sun. Maybe a "lost version" of Mega Man, Castlevania or Final Fantasy? The possibilities are endless.
***entirely plausible and logical, wouldn't you spend 5 bucks for Zelda Extreme that uses the 8 bit graphics but has rediculously hard dungeons and new items? how abouut chrono trigger: Side story? same 16 bit grahpics, but a whole new adventure? i dunno about you guys, but i would d/l that without thinking.
Hard-drive support
Nintendo has touched upon this topic in interviews, but it has never elaborated on the specifics. What we do know is that Revolution will very likely be able to support external hard-drives through one or both of its USB 2.0 ports. But where Revolution is concerned, a solid, set-in-stone confirmation may as well be a myth. There are, of course, a number of questions still left unanswered. Microsoft supplies its own hard-drive for Xbox 360. Will Nintendo do something similar? My guess is no. I suspect that the Big N will instead leave it up to consumers to connect whichever hard-drive they desire to Revolution and call it a day.
***that means rev will not ship with a HDD and if you want one, buy one from any of the 11 million companies who make them or...
Hard-drive support makes my wish list because I've seen it grow from a bonus addition on Xbox to a necessary tool on Xbox 360. Revolution's virtual console download service is, in my mind, done a disservice by Nintendo's chosen storage format, which is an acceptable but hardly flexible 512 megabytes of internal flash RAM.
***there is, however, a rumor that Nintendo will be upping th internal RAM from an interview where Iwata said that nothing is set in stone until E3.
The Big N seems to think that if people want more space than that - and trust me, sooner or later they will - they can simply upgrade their storage capacity with additional SD Cards. Thing is, a 10 gigabyte hard-drive is actually cheaper than a 4 gigabyte SD Card. So why go with the latter?
With old and new games arriving on Revolution's virtual console, the space will eventually run out, but not if users have a decent-sized hard-drive to fall back upon. Plus, if the Big N ever decides to offer bonus content - movie trailers, Revolution game demos, etc. - on its service, the extra space a true hard-drive affords could prove invaluable.
***matt is either complaining or hinting that Nintendo is going to up its internal memory or is in talks with companies like Datel to release third party HDDs on the cheap. The SD card thing comes in to play later... or actually above. you d/l your NES and SNES and maybe even N64 games to the SD card and then play it on DS
Progressive-Scan, 16:9 and Dolby Digital Mandate
GameCube supports progressive-scan display and 16:9 widescreen games. Revolution offers roughly twice the horsepower. I therefore have no worries whatsoever that the technology will be there. What does concern me, though, is whether or not Nintendo will mandate that all developers run their games in all of the above. What I don't want to see are some titles that run in pro-scan and widescreen and others that don't. That's sloppy and there's no excuse for it. More and more people are buying 16:9, high-definition-ready televisions. Clearly, the Big N has no intention of jumping headfirst into the so-called "HD era." But neither should it turn its back on gamers who value enhanced visual presentations in their games. Fact is, progressive scan offers a clearer picture and widescreen modes are preferable to players with 16:9 televisions.
Dolby Digital support was a feature sorely missed on GameCube. Some developers like Factor 5 managed some wonderful aural feats in Pro Logic II, but it was never quite the same as real, true audio separation. Dolby Digital seems to be an obvious must on Revolution because the disc capacity is finally here for some crisp, clean soundtracks, dialogue and special effects, all without the compression commonplace on smaller GCN optical discs. The original Xbox pulled this off so there's no reason that Revolution shouldn't be able to do the same while retaining an affordable price point.
***No brainer; pro scan, wide screen and true surround sound will be the standard. there's no reason for it not to be. Especially with Nintendo touting immersion as its largest selling point, true surround and widescreen proscan are a must
The Return of Kid Icarus
It's time, Nintendo, and you know it. Last year, I asked Shigeru Miyamoto about a Revolution Kid Icarus sequel. He said that Nintendo had received a lot of interest in such a game. Then he asked me if I'd buy it, and I said yes. Miyamoto's response was surprising. He said, simply, "Okay, we'll get the Eggplant Wizard coming back." Was he joking? I really can't say. But whether Miyamoto is serious about the return of Kid Icarus or not, it's a franchise that is still known and loved by Nintendo fans and an obvious choice for a famous IP that can be re-launched and enjoyed by a new generation of players.
Icarus is also one of those rare Nintendo franchises that could be remade into something designed for adults. The Big N has a longstanding relationship with Capcom. I expect Shinji Mikami and crew could give the "kid" a facelift more befitting of today's style without sacrificing the tried-and-true core gameplay mechanics that made the franchise a winner to begin with.
***GUFAW! I WONDER WHY HE MENTIONS CAPCOM DEAD PHEONIX MAYBE This is a total hint, I expect to see it at E3.
Legend of Zelda Fighter
When Namco released Soul Calibur II starring Link of Zelda fame for GameCube, Nintendo fans rejoiced - and snapped up the fighter like crazy. Soul Calibur II sold better on GCN than on any other platform. So when Namco returned a year later with an exclusive sequel for PlayStation 2, just about everybody in the industry - Nintendo fan or not - was baffled. We suggested it then and I'll do it again: make an all-Zelda fighter for Revolution, Namco. It will be a guaranteed hit.
I personally envision a game that is part Soul Calibur, part Bushido Blade and all Zelda. Nintendo's acclaimed franchise has so many worthy fighters that coming up with a playable cast of characters is almost too easy. Link, Ganon, Goron, Zelda, and naturally, the whipping boy himself, Tingle. With base Soul Calibur fighting mechanics and the ability to control swordplay with the Revolution controller, I know a lot of Nintendo fans would go nuts. Which is why I'll continue to hold out for this pipedream, even if it is just that.
***wtf? Look at it logically, Namco announces support for revolution, says its a fighting game, we know this much for sure. What was namco's most successful outing on Nintendo hardware? SC with Link, this looks like another hint from IGN - a Zelda themed fighter on revolution.
A Clean, Organized, Intuitive Interface
In other words, don't make me enter friend codes to find my buddies on the virtual console. I realize that Nintendo is with Revolution going for something different than its competitors, but that doesn't change the fact that Xbox 360's Live interface is doing a lot right and very little wrong. Nintendo would be wise to use it as a starting point for its own service. Live is slickly organized, neat, and intuitive. I can easily find my friends, download demos, preview trailers, or buy arcade games. If Revolution's virtual console is going to be anything more than a compilation of classic downloadable titles - mind you, that's already pretty awesome - Nintendo needs to make every effort to ensure the interface is accessible and the options flexible.
The Xbox 360 enables users to download skins of their favorite games, which in turn change the look of the interface as a whole. It's one thing to download a FIFA skin. But imagine if you could modify the virtual console to look like a scene from Metroid Prime. As a big fan of Nintendo and its licenses - I've got a render of Samus as my desktop background on just about every computer I own -- few things would please me more. And this is only a miniscule example of the real customization possibilities on the virtual console.
***I completely agree, when i d/l final fantasy or Donkey kong country i want to have avatars, desktops, dashboards you name it with the characters drawn all over them. I'm willing to bet this is exactly what Nintendo is doing, mirroring the live service.
Something Shocking
I imagine this will be an opinion to which some people disagree, but I really want Nintendo to internally develop a game so unexpected - so fundamentally unlike it - that it alone makes people take notice. I don't know if it's right to suggest that the game be dark and gory, which seems to be the popular thing to do, but honestly, that would probably do it. People are so accustomed to a certain style of Nintendo games that something that lands firmly in "mature" territory would generate a lot of interest just because it's from the Big N. That might be enough to help change the perception that Nintendo caters to younger audiences. That noted, I am by no means stating that this is the only means for Nintendo to accomplish this goal. An epic new franchise with a complex, engaging storyline could just as easily pull it off.
I'm expecting the next Zelda. I'm looking forward to the next Metroid. But I will not be surprised when either franchise shows up at E3 2006. Something new and completely unanticipated - a game different from the Nintendo norm - might be just the thing to make me and others say wow.
*** .......how specific. remember that shot of 'Gumshoe'? rated M, had a shot of a body in the street? With George harrison's shadow over the projector? yunno, that pic was never confirmed as fake or not... nintendo had major success changing their image with Eternal Darkness, a mature Nintendo game developed with silicon knights, Nintendo could be poised to repeat that performance with a 100% nintendo-made mature game and offer a new IP (or one that's been dead for centuries, though the original gumshoe had nothing to do with detective work)
So there it is, IGN's rant and my thoughts. if this article was made with the same 'Lets let them in on it' mentality like that revolution controller article was, I think we're gonna shit our pants this E3.
unfortunately i cant find the article, but most of us remeember it. in it they showed 3 designs, an orb controller that you would move and rotate in 3-D, a classic controller design with a trackball, and something that looked like a remote for a TV. and we all laughed. Well my thinking is, IGN gets news, and they got info of the revcon, and couldn't spill the beans outright, so they released a speculative article litteraly showing us how it will work without letting the cat out of the bag.
still with me?
Check out IGN's newest article: http://revolution.ign.com/articles/702/702391p1.html
be sure to check out both pages, I believe that this article is a glimpse in to what we can expect with some BS for good measure between now and of course E3. i'll copy paste the highlights and post my thoughts in stars ***
Duck Hunt Launch Title
Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but Duck Hunt as a launch title would be freaking awesome. In fact, Nintendo would have a truly killer combination if they could package Duck Hunt with the Revolution. Nobody's launched with a pack-in since the SNES (unless I'm mistaken), and the throwback to old-school gamers would be sweet. It'd be pretty simple really: Throw in some new levels, unlock able Duck Hunt for Virtual Console and a few mini-games a la Point Blank. Who cares if it's smaller than most console titles? It's Duck Hunt dude!
*PLEASE LET ME SHOOT THE DOG, LET ME KILL HIM, PLEASE LET ME KILL HIM, I WANT TO KILL HIM, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO KILL THE DOG i actually just heard a rumor about a new duckhunt not too long ago. if nintendo remade duckhunt you would have instant nostalgia overload for all the 'casuals' who either dropped games around last generation or two or moved away from Nintendo.
Wireless Nunchuck Controller
I may not be the first one to have thought of this, but I'll be the loudest. Why in the hell would Nintendo create the Revmote, which promotes free movement and innovation and tether it to the player's second hand? C'mon baby… hit us with some wireless action! If I'm throwing punches in Fight Night or slashing baddies with Link I'll want all the free movement I can get. Cables are so 2005…
***hinting at wireless nunchuck? makes sense.
DS Interaction
"Bozon! Stop talking about DS interaction. We don't know anything about it yet!" Yeah, well who really cares. Point is, I want it. If Nintendo can find some sweet DS/Rev interaction I'll be a happy man. Let me use the Rev to transmit DS demos, maybe a bit of portable Virtual Console action (NES games at least?) and definitely some Four Swords. It may not happen, but that's why we made the wish list. Nintendo better hit bank with DS/Rev interaction in at least a few different ways. It's really a no-brainer.
***and it's no coincidence that the rev uses SD cardslots in the front that are exactly the same size as DS games.
Arcade Revival
I know I'm not the only one who wants SEGA to hit the House of the Dead and Virtual Cop series on Revolution. Let's get some sweet classic action for the Revmote - it's practically a light gun anyways. I'd personally love to see collection sets for The House of the Dead or Silent Scope. Aside from the light gun games, it would be great to see Nintendo go after arcade classics for the Virtual Console as well as console favorites. Who wouldn't want to mack on some Sunset Riders or Marvel Vs. Capcom? Whether it's a collection on disc or Virtual Console service we need to see an arcade revolution as well…
***never thought of that, alot of sega arcade games could be ported to rev at sega's liesure.
Boxing. Pure and Simple
Sports titles on the Revolution is a must-have genre. I'll drop my entire bankroll on some good ol' fashioned Punch Out or Fight Night. There's something amazingly satisfying about waxing my best friend with lightning quick hooks and jabs. Hell, if we're standing close enough to each other maybe I can "accidentally" grease him with a stray hook. Not only would it be worth the price of the console alone, it's simply priceless. Tyson…you're going down! I… I mean "Mr. Dream."
***IGN hinting at a new Punch Out? miyamoto's talk about 'Holding two controllers could be like punching gloves for a boxing game" starts to ring a little bell
Star Wars
Everyone's thinking it, so consider this a plea for the people. Nintendo…Lucas Arts…Whatever weak-sauce beef you have with each other (we've noticed the lack of love guys) you better work it out, Star Wars on Revolution is an absolute must. Interactive force powers, light saber duels, it really doesn't get much better. If this doesn't happen, consider the Revolution useless. I know it's extreme, but it's entirely true. This system was designed for FPS games, light gun games and swordplay. Nintendo really couldn't have made it any easier for a Star Wars revival on Revolution. We'd love to see something at E3, even if they have to pull a death star on us. "Sorry IGN… it isn't fully operational yet." No worries here… just get it done.
***Nintendo lost factor 5, but you know they're looking for a replacement. First Person Star Wars games are a must for revolution, again it looks like IGN is giving us a winkwink nudgenudge.
Collectors Controllers
This one may cause some hate mail, and I know Casamassina thinks I'm crazy, but I'd love to see Nintendo release a collectors series of Virtual Console controllers for NES, Super NES and N64. I in no way want these controllers to be mandatory, but they would be an amazing collectors item. I know I'd personally buy two of each, maybe even four of the N64 ones. If you're going to have a master system of retro love, why not make special edition collector controllers for each generation. Wireless control, retro look, a sweet instruction booklet, maybe a collectors tin? It's a total consumer whore move, but I admit I'd bite. You all know you would too. Nintendo's best play right now is to work the innovation angle as well as the retro scene. What better way is there?
***Nintendo releases a shell for rev that looks exactly like the N64 controller or a revcon painted up to look like the original NES controller. This is definitely going to happen.
Budget Games Series
Before you start shooting one down on the boards, hear me out. I'm certainly not saying every Revolution game should be basic little gimmicks. Revolution needs to prove it can hang with the big boys, but simple games would be a blast for a budget price. Who here could turn down high-quality genre games such as Ping Pong or Sports packs? Throw a few sweet games in a set like batting cages, three-point b-ball challenges and an addictive tennis game and people would surely bite. Seeing some solid show-off games at launch that give players a unique experience for $9.99-$19.99 would be sick. Buy them in-store or on Virtual Console… either way it'd sell systems. Simple can be good.
***No brainer,, nintendo already said that smaller d/l rev games will be available. I could also see 15 dollar budget games of tennis and the like at stores.
No Region Lock
I personally am an importing fanatic. I love playing import games, and with the pending popularity of the Revolution in Japan (we all know it's bound to happen, look at the DS) there are going to be tons of amazing Japanese games that I'll be dying to play. DS didn't have region lock and we've been in heaven with games like Ouendon, Band Brothers, Prince of Tennis, Eyeshield 21 and Cooking Mama. If Revolution allows importing, it'll be my pleasure to feature the top import titles for you all. Trust me, it really will be my pleasure…
*** this is also a no brainer imo.
New Retro
While the Virtual Console will be a great addition to the Revolution, allowing gamers to download classic titles from the best systems in history, I want to see some new legends created as well. There's something awesome about the concept of a "lost title" from GBA developers. Imagine the retro goodness that could be had with new Super NES games or NES titles. It would be awesome to see the best of the pocket world brought back to the big screen. I'd go crazy for retro sequels to Drill Dozer, Shantae, Golden Sun. Maybe a "lost version" of Mega Man, Castlevania or Final Fantasy? The possibilities are endless.
***entirely plausible and logical, wouldn't you spend 5 bucks for Zelda Extreme that uses the 8 bit graphics but has rediculously hard dungeons and new items? how abouut chrono trigger: Side story? same 16 bit grahpics, but a whole new adventure? i dunno about you guys, but i would d/l that without thinking.
Hard-drive support
Nintendo has touched upon this topic in interviews, but it has never elaborated on the specifics. What we do know is that Revolution will very likely be able to support external hard-drives through one or both of its USB 2.0 ports. But where Revolution is concerned, a solid, set-in-stone confirmation may as well be a myth. There are, of course, a number of questions still left unanswered. Microsoft supplies its own hard-drive for Xbox 360. Will Nintendo do something similar? My guess is no. I suspect that the Big N will instead leave it up to consumers to connect whichever hard-drive they desire to Revolution and call it a day.
***that means rev will not ship with a HDD and if you want one, buy one from any of the 11 million companies who make them or...
Hard-drive support makes my wish list because I've seen it grow from a bonus addition on Xbox to a necessary tool on Xbox 360. Revolution's virtual console download service is, in my mind, done a disservice by Nintendo's chosen storage format, which is an acceptable but hardly flexible 512 megabytes of internal flash RAM.
***there is, however, a rumor that Nintendo will be upping th internal RAM from an interview where Iwata said that nothing is set in stone until E3.
The Big N seems to think that if people want more space than that - and trust me, sooner or later they will - they can simply upgrade their storage capacity with additional SD Cards. Thing is, a 10 gigabyte hard-drive is actually cheaper than a 4 gigabyte SD Card. So why go with the latter?
With old and new games arriving on Revolution's virtual console, the space will eventually run out, but not if users have a decent-sized hard-drive to fall back upon. Plus, if the Big N ever decides to offer bonus content - movie trailers, Revolution game demos, etc. - on its service, the extra space a true hard-drive affords could prove invaluable.
***matt is either complaining or hinting that Nintendo is going to up its internal memory or is in talks with companies like Datel to release third party HDDs on the cheap. The SD card thing comes in to play later... or actually above. you d/l your NES and SNES and maybe even N64 games to the SD card and then play it on DS
Progressive-Scan, 16:9 and Dolby Digital Mandate
GameCube supports progressive-scan display and 16:9 widescreen games. Revolution offers roughly twice the horsepower. I therefore have no worries whatsoever that the technology will be there. What does concern me, though, is whether or not Nintendo will mandate that all developers run their games in all of the above. What I don't want to see are some titles that run in pro-scan and widescreen and others that don't. That's sloppy and there's no excuse for it. More and more people are buying 16:9, high-definition-ready televisions. Clearly, the Big N has no intention of jumping headfirst into the so-called "HD era." But neither should it turn its back on gamers who value enhanced visual presentations in their games. Fact is, progressive scan offers a clearer picture and widescreen modes are preferable to players with 16:9 televisions.
Dolby Digital support was a feature sorely missed on GameCube. Some developers like Factor 5 managed some wonderful aural feats in Pro Logic II, but it was never quite the same as real, true audio separation. Dolby Digital seems to be an obvious must on Revolution because the disc capacity is finally here for some crisp, clean soundtracks, dialogue and special effects, all without the compression commonplace on smaller GCN optical discs. The original Xbox pulled this off so there's no reason that Revolution shouldn't be able to do the same while retaining an affordable price point.
***No brainer; pro scan, wide screen and true surround sound will be the standard. there's no reason for it not to be. Especially with Nintendo touting immersion as its largest selling point, true surround and widescreen proscan are a must
The Return of Kid Icarus
It's time, Nintendo, and you know it. Last year, I asked Shigeru Miyamoto about a Revolution Kid Icarus sequel. He said that Nintendo had received a lot of interest in such a game. Then he asked me if I'd buy it, and I said yes. Miyamoto's response was surprising. He said, simply, "Okay, we'll get the Eggplant Wizard coming back." Was he joking? I really can't say. But whether Miyamoto is serious about the return of Kid Icarus or not, it's a franchise that is still known and loved by Nintendo fans and an obvious choice for a famous IP that can be re-launched and enjoyed by a new generation of players.
Icarus is also one of those rare Nintendo franchises that could be remade into something designed for adults. The Big N has a longstanding relationship with Capcom. I expect Shinji Mikami and crew could give the "kid" a facelift more befitting of today's style without sacrificing the tried-and-true core gameplay mechanics that made the franchise a winner to begin with.
***GUFAW! I WONDER WHY HE MENTIONS CAPCOM DEAD PHEONIX MAYBE This is a total hint, I expect to see it at E3.
Legend of Zelda Fighter
When Namco released Soul Calibur II starring Link of Zelda fame for GameCube, Nintendo fans rejoiced - and snapped up the fighter like crazy. Soul Calibur II sold better on GCN than on any other platform. So when Namco returned a year later with an exclusive sequel for PlayStation 2, just about everybody in the industry - Nintendo fan or not - was baffled. We suggested it then and I'll do it again: make an all-Zelda fighter for Revolution, Namco. It will be a guaranteed hit.
I personally envision a game that is part Soul Calibur, part Bushido Blade and all Zelda. Nintendo's acclaimed franchise has so many worthy fighters that coming up with a playable cast of characters is almost too easy. Link, Ganon, Goron, Zelda, and naturally, the whipping boy himself, Tingle. With base Soul Calibur fighting mechanics and the ability to control swordplay with the Revolution controller, I know a lot of Nintendo fans would go nuts. Which is why I'll continue to hold out for this pipedream, even if it is just that.
***wtf? Look at it logically, Namco announces support for revolution, says its a fighting game, we know this much for sure. What was namco's most successful outing on Nintendo hardware? SC with Link, this looks like another hint from IGN - a Zelda themed fighter on revolution.
A Clean, Organized, Intuitive Interface
In other words, don't make me enter friend codes to find my buddies on the virtual console. I realize that Nintendo is with Revolution going for something different than its competitors, but that doesn't change the fact that Xbox 360's Live interface is doing a lot right and very little wrong. Nintendo would be wise to use it as a starting point for its own service. Live is slickly organized, neat, and intuitive. I can easily find my friends, download demos, preview trailers, or buy arcade games. If Revolution's virtual console is going to be anything more than a compilation of classic downloadable titles - mind you, that's already pretty awesome - Nintendo needs to make every effort to ensure the interface is accessible and the options flexible.
The Xbox 360 enables users to download skins of their favorite games, which in turn change the look of the interface as a whole. It's one thing to download a FIFA skin. But imagine if you could modify the virtual console to look like a scene from Metroid Prime. As a big fan of Nintendo and its licenses - I've got a render of Samus as my desktop background on just about every computer I own -- few things would please me more. And this is only a miniscule example of the real customization possibilities on the virtual console.
***I completely agree, when i d/l final fantasy or Donkey kong country i want to have avatars, desktops, dashboards you name it with the characters drawn all over them. I'm willing to bet this is exactly what Nintendo is doing, mirroring the live service.
Something Shocking
I imagine this will be an opinion to which some people disagree, but I really want Nintendo to internally develop a game so unexpected - so fundamentally unlike it - that it alone makes people take notice. I don't know if it's right to suggest that the game be dark and gory, which seems to be the popular thing to do, but honestly, that would probably do it. People are so accustomed to a certain style of Nintendo games that something that lands firmly in "mature" territory would generate a lot of interest just because it's from the Big N. That might be enough to help change the perception that Nintendo caters to younger audiences. That noted, I am by no means stating that this is the only means for Nintendo to accomplish this goal. An epic new franchise with a complex, engaging storyline could just as easily pull it off.
I'm expecting the next Zelda. I'm looking forward to the next Metroid. But I will not be surprised when either franchise shows up at E3 2006. Something new and completely unanticipated - a game different from the Nintendo norm - might be just the thing to make me and others say wow.
*** .......how specific. remember that shot of 'Gumshoe'? rated M, had a shot of a body in the street? With George harrison's shadow over the projector? yunno, that pic was never confirmed as fake or not... nintendo had major success changing their image with Eternal Darkness, a mature Nintendo game developed with silicon knights, Nintendo could be poised to repeat that performance with a 100% nintendo-made mature game and offer a new IP (or one that's been dead for centuries, though the original gumshoe had nothing to do with detective work)
So there it is, IGN's rant and my thoughts. if this article was made with the same 'Lets let them in on it' mentality like that revolution controller article was, I think we're gonna shit our pants this E3.