New Nintendo Console, coming in 2004.

[A Black Falcon]

http://www.gameforms.com/news/?1078

Next piece of Nintendo hardware to debut in March
» More vague-yet-lofty promises made on upcoming product.
News | Tuesday, December 30, 2003 | Ed McGlothlin [Contributing Editor]
During a Christmas Day interview with Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that the company's next major new piece of hardware is now set for debut next March.

If that seems early for a Gamecube replacement, Nintendo agrees. Iwata reiterated that the hardware will function alongside the GC and GBA, replacing neither one. Referred to as Nintendo's third major hardware product, the unnamed item will be later be featured at E3 and released in the second half of 2004. The company previously expressed a plan to release it simultaneously in the US and Japan.

Iwata also stated that Nintendo was looking to cooperate more with both Japanese and foreign companies in hardware and software development. Shimbum quoted the veteran Nintendo executive as saying the product "will be a new type of machine for the 21st century allowing all new types of control and play," following previous quotes declaring the machine "totally different" from anything existing today. Your guess is as good as ours.

If it's been mentioned here before, oh well.

Well... er, strange... they sure are specific.

We'll see. That's about all I can say...

Oh, from Magicbox. Last line is different.

- The Mainichi newspaper reported that Nintendo president Saturo Iwata intends to launch a new console system by the end of 2004, which is neither the successor of GameCube nor GameBoy Advance, the new system will have a new direction, and it will coexist with the successor of GameCube and GameBoy Advance in future. The new machine is said to have wireless data communication via radio.

[Dark Jaguar]

Well the answer is obvious. It's a cybernetic link up between the human brain and games! About frickin' time!

[OB1]

I'm not getting my hopes up, but this is really intriguing me. What could Nintendo have up their sleeves? I've heard lots of rumors, everything from an Eye Toy rip-off to a portable Gamecube.

[A Black Falcon]

Another rumor I've heard is some kind of Western IQue with wireless communication...

[alien space marine]

how powerful will it be? 256 bits?

[Dark Jaguar]

...

Can I kill him now? PLEEEEAASE?

[The Former DMiller]

You've got my permission.

[OB1]

Haha, the GC is actually a 64-bit system, ASM (if I remember correctly), and the X-Box is a 32-bit system. So obviously that's not what matters anymore. Someone else here can elaborate/correct what I just said.

And ABF, why on earth would they release the IQue here? It's a crappy-looking controller that plays SNES and N64 games.

[The Former DMiller]

I'm pretty sure Xbox is 32-bit since the Pentium it uses is hardly modified at all. GameCube is 64-bit for sure. 64-bit processors have just started taking hold in the consumer PC market with the Apple/IBM G5 and the AMD Opteron so it probably will be a while before we see a 128-bit processor.

[OB1]

What about the PS2? I remember reading that it uses a 128-bit processor.

[Laser Link]

That's what Sony originally said, but I don't know if it was true or not.

DJ, make sure you do it in a very violent and messy way, okay?

[Dark Jaguar]

Sure! I'll just shove this mad badger down his throat and strap this steak to his arse.

[Great Rumbler]

Hmm...sounds interesting.

[Dark Jaguar]

At least one component of the N64 was 64 bit, I think (or maybe they just added the two 32-bit parts to make 64) so they have an excuse to call it 64-bit, but let's face it, the N64 was a 32-bit system. Nintendo would NEVER push graphics over gameplay :D, except they named a system after an irrelevent data thing that wasn't even true, and about every game had that same number in it, to say "high tech" rather than "fun". The games were great and all, but let's face it, the whole naming scheme WAS about pushing a false graphical number to wow people rather than gameplay.

[OB1]

Well the same thing happened to most SNES games, although "Super" does sound better than "64". Thank goodness they couldn't do anything with "Cube".

[alien space marine]

I was refering graphically.It better have a hardrive built in.

[A Black Falcon]

http://www.n-philes.com/php/epzfvleluvevkylyfpyp.php

IGN has pointed out an interview with Satoru Iwata of Nintendo in a Japanese newspaper called Gamasutra. A very small part of the interview gives important details that are clearer (but no more revealing) than this whole backwards compatibility business that you’ve probably been hearing about all the time. One quote is especially interesting; Iwata said that the product will "enable fun and movement not seen before." And later “I expect it to become a third pillar, next to GameCube and Game Boy."

Next to GCN and Game Boy? This could be taken to mean that it isn’t a successor to GCN or GBA and isn’t a completely new console of some kind. The product will be unveiled at the Electronics Entertainment Expo that begins in May. Nintendo has hinted before that the machine would be released this year. Meanwhile, Nintendo of Japan has scheduled a press event for a few games in their upcoming lineup such as Custom Robo. It will happen later this month and is for invited press only. Some think they will make a couple announcements then as well.

It just gets stranger and stranger...


Oh, and to talk about the part that was lost, yes, I know that the price would be higher here than in China because we can afford to pay more. However, given the format and distribution method of the media, I'm sure that games would still be significantly cheaper than normal games. Maybe not $1 or something, but very cheap.

Oh... from Magicbox today.

- Nintendo confirmed to Famitsu magazine that they will present a new game system at E3 2004 in May. The machine is not a successor to GameCube or GameBoy Advance, this product can play back existing game titles. (Editor's note: Further hint that the new machine is a variation of iQue Player?)

Hmm... :)

[OB1]

This quote right here leads me to believe that it's definitely not the IQue:

"enable fun and movement not seen before."

If that's an honest quote and not a "the secret device in Mario Sunshine will revolutionize gaming!" kind of Nintendo quote, then it can't possibly be the IQue. If it's just a controller that plays SNES and N64 games then of course it's the kind of fun and er, movement seen before.

[The Former DMiller]

Sounding less and less like the mystery product is the iQue. Some statements from Iwata:

Nintendo’s president continues his interview with a Japanese newspaper talking about their new product to be revealed at E3, Nintendo’s business, and now, gasp, a possible mention of the next generation console. But first, Iwata says that the iQue console launched in China is expected to turn into big business within 3-5 years.

Iwata further indicates that the product which will be announced in May at E3 is not the successor of the GameCube and GBA. He feels that games have been reaching their limits now in the kind of experience they give you; this product will somehow be about giving you an experience you’ve never had before with games. He says that the concept is a hint of next-generation game machines (without specifically saying Nintendo’s, it could mean future consoles in general).

N-Philes

Some experience we've never had before tells me this sure ain't the iQue. I'm pretty sure I've experienced years-old games.

[OB1]

That's what I've been saying. Releasing the IQue here would be a very stupid move on Nintendo's part.

Someone sent in a letter to ign cube and their theory was actually pretty interesting:

Hey IGN,

There have been a lot of comments made regarding the mystery product that Nintendo will unveil at E3. When IGN mentioned Iwata's statement (link: http://cube.ign.com/articles/460/460563p1.html) of how the product will "enable fun and movement not seen before", I thought about the investment Nintendo made with Gyration Inc. (link: http://www.gyration.com/pr-nintendo.htm) Nintendo used the RF technology Gyration developed for the Wavebird controller I believe, but Gyration also was developing a motion-sensing technology. This motion-sensing technology, called MicroGyro 100, is according to the company "a revolutionary new gyroscope sensor which can accurately sense the motion of your hand or body". Could this have something to do with Nintendo's mystery product? Maybe the "movement not seen before" is a new controller that senses the motion of the user to allow for more interaction between the player and the game. Miyamoto mentioned (link: http://cube.ign.com/articles/461/461576p1.html) how he'd like gamers to become more involved with a game instead of having the game perform the actions for the player (ex: pulling a lever with the control stick instead of the press of a button). Nintendo is know for their innovative controllers (D-Pad, Shoulder Buttons, Joystick to just name a few) and maybe they will once again push the boundaries of gaming and offer a new way to play games.

Matt responds: Nice theory. You could be onto something. Then again, it might just be conga drums.

That's the best theory I've heard so far. I remember that gyro thing a long time ago and was curious what would come of it. I'm getting pretty excited about this.

[Weltall]

Nintendo did not invent the D-Pad.

[Weltall]

Here:

Nintendo is know for their innovative controllers (D-Pad, Shoulder Buttons, Joystick to just name a few)

I missed joysticks the first time, that's even more ludicrous.

[OB1]

Who said that?

[Weltall]

Whatever moron that was who wrote the letter to IGN.

[OB1]

Haha, yeah that is pretty funny.

[Dark Jaguar]

[Great Rumbler]

Secret of Mana?

[A Black Falcon]

Yes.

[javapimp]

+ + = MEGATON!!!

PS: I LOVE THE POWER GLOVE, IT'S SO BAD

[OB1]

Sent the argument to the dumpster vol. 2

[Great Rumbler]

Iwata says more mysterious things:

Update: Iwata said they will put up a serious fight with the product starting in this year.

Nintendo’s president continues his interview with a Japanese newspaper talking about their new product to be revealed at E3, Nintendo’s business, and now, gasp, a possible mention of the next generation console. But first, Iwata says that the iQue console launched in China is expected to turn into big business within 3-5 years.

Iwata further indicates that the product which will be announced in May at E3 is not the successor of the GameCube and GBA. He feels that games have been reaching their limits now in the kind of experience they give you; this product will somehow be about giving you an experience you’ve never had before with games. He says that the concept is a hint of next-generation game machines (without specifically saying Nintendo’s, it could mean future consoles in general).

I want to know what it is!!

N-Philes

[A Black Falcon]

It just gets more mysterious... I wonder what it'll be. I really have no idea at this point...

[Sacred Jellybean]

In defense of the author of the e-mail to IGN, he didn't say that Nintendo invented the joystick and d-pad. He said "Nintendo is know for their innovative controllers", and he's correct in that Nintendo first introduced the d-pad into home video game consoles, and reintroduced the joystick (in a smaller form to be manipulated by the thumb instead of the entire hand) with the N64 controller.

[OB1]

I bet this whole thing is just big joke on Nintendo's part. It's probably going to be a useless Pokemon peripheral.

[A Black Falcon]

In defense of the author of the e-mail to IGN, he didn't say that Nintendo invented the joystick and d-pad. He said "Nintendo is know for their innovative controllers", and he's correct in that Nintendo first introduced the d-pad into home video game consoles, and reintroduced the joystick (in a smaller form to be manipulated by the thumb instead of the entire hand) with the N64 controller.

I'm not sure, but I think Nintendo might have invented the crosspad... and it obviously didn't invent the joystick but it was the first one to put a mini one on on a system as far as I know.

[N_A]

Hmmm, you never know, it sounds like Nintendo is running some kind of crazy experiment, but if its something thats not at all conventional.... maybe its crazy, but what if they do something as insane as revolutionize the Power Glove for example to fit modern gaming (taking off from the pictures posted above and the VR system). I could imagine that that would be one way to break away from these conventional systems and give people a completely new experience.

Whatever it is, hopefully they don't dig their own grave.

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, there's a fine line between revolutionary and a just plain bad idea... :) The Virtual Boy was across that line. And the Power Glove.

[OB1]

More bizarre comments from Iwata:

anuary 13, 2004 - Yesterday, we published quotes provided by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in an interview with Japan's Mainichi Shimbun newspaper. Today, we have more quotes from the man in charge of the big N, this time via the Kyoto Shimbun paper.

When asked the cleverly phrased question, "The 'new product of a different nature' that will be unveiled this Spring -- what kind of game is it?", Iwata responded to the newspaper with a lengthy sermon on game creation. "Game creation has in various ways, met a deadlock," he said. "Over the past twenty years, games have followed a straight path in development that have made them more complex and good looking. This law of growth and success is no more. Put frankly, games have stopped selling."

He continued, referring to the new product, "We want to offer to customers a play experience that they've never had before. We're not expecting everyone to cheer following the announcement. It's okay if ten percent of the people say the product is 'interesting' and word spreads with people finding themselves wanting to try it."

Continuing on the specific nature of the product, Iwata stated: "We want to make a game that returns to the point that anyone can play it. However, our company does not support a product that combines software and hardware into one. The product uses a platform, but it does not fit into the specifications of the current hardware platforms."

That still leaves plenty of room for imagination, so keep imaginating!

Games aren't selling anymore? Wow, I guess Nintendo's never heard of the GTA series...

And that last comment seems a bit more realistic. It looks like he's downplaying the machine some with that "It's okay if ten percent of the people say the product is 'interesting'" comment.

[A Black Falcon]

I'm definitely interested.

Just more in that 'What are they doing NOW' kind of way... the one that says "Nintendo you say you are trying to change but keep acting clueless"...

[OB1]

I think they've all gone mad up there.

[A Black Falcon]

I'd like to think that, it would explain their eccentricity and cluelessness in a good way...

[OB1]

Or maybe they've seen into the future and found out that Sony and MS are going to blow up in 2005, so they don't even need to try.

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah! :D

[javapimp]

Hmmm, you never know, it sounds like Nintendo is running some kind of crazy experiment, but if its something thats not at all conventional.... maybe its crazy, but what if they do something as insane as revolutionize the Power Glove for example to fit modern gaming (taking off from the pictures posted above and the VR system). I could imagine that that would be one way to break away from these conventional systems and give people a completely new experience.

Whatever it is, hopefully they don't dig their own grave.

I'm amazed someone took my collage half seriously. I posted that just to say it could be something totally off the wall that, at the right price point, I'd be willing to try. Also, in response to ABF, the Virtual Boy was stupid, but the concept isn't. Oh and the Power Glove really is awesome.

I remember playing Bad News Baseball on NES with that and a wiffle bat in my hand, the Glove was set to swing when I fully closed my hand. Great times. Besides, if Captain N wore one why shouldn't I? Although I'd never were a NES controller for a belt unless it could really stop time ;)

[OB1]

Could you imagine how great it would be if Nintendo did release a really cool, unsucky Powerglove-type thing that actually worked really well? I could finally live my dream of playing "Girly Slap Fight 2000"!!!

[Great Rumbler]

Or what if they released a really cool Virtual Reality visor! Then I could do all the crazy things they did in Johnny Neumonic and The Lawnmower Man!!

[OB1]

Yeah! We can fly through crappy 3D graphics like Silver Surfer!

[A Black Falcon]

Sounds ... fun ...

[Great Rumbler]

And it is!

[OB1]