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Once the sole giant of the home video game industry, Nintendo is now making moves to stay in the game. With Xbox 2 and Playstation 3 possibly due out within the next year and a half, Nintendo is betting on a revolutionary new approach instead of trying to muscle the next generation consoles with power. Nintendo’s next console is internally code named N5, rumored to be have been Gamecube 2 and Nintendo 21 with the majority of us believing it will be called the Nintendo Revolution. On a new note, it has been reported that the Revolution may not be a successor to the Gamecube as Nintendo has claimed that support and software for the Gamecube will still be available after the Revolution launch. Could this be Nintendo’s strategy to combat the PS3? Would having the established Gamecube and the new Revolution simultaneously available somehow bring Nintendo closer to the front of the pack? Nintendo’s R&D department has increased spending approx. 39% ($209 million) over last year.
Here’s a list of current rumored info about the Revolution:
- Internal hard drive - The Revolution will have a two-sided, 8mm disk with a 5.4 GB capacity.
- Powered by two IBM central processors - code named “Broadway”
- ATI Graphics card code named “Hollywood”
- Online Gaming support
- No DS connectivity but will link up with Nintendo’s next handheld
- Some game studios already have pre-dev kits
- Apparently work has already begun on three of the launch titles - A Mario title , Zelda and Super Smash Bros.
- Will use IEEE protocol to act as a wireless hub in the home. This will allow interaction with other Revolutions in the area.
- Play games on your TV or computer monitor
The word is that the Revolution controllers won’t feature our trusty D-pad and buttons. Motion and tilt-sensing gyroscopes will be used in the controllers. Additionally these controllers will feature pressure sensitive “buttons” that will respond to rubbing and other stimuli. Other rumors are the possibility of a touchpad like the DS or an evolved trackball controller. The new controllers will not be wireless but the Revolution will have four controller ports just like the Gamecube. Nintendo also has a patent on a technology dealing with “fixation points”. Nintendo’s new technology will create a frame and a virtual frame. The idea is basically that designated objects that have priority in the game space will always be featured prominently despite the line of site. This happens when the object moves into the virtual frame. The image will be “deformed” to always include designated objects and provide greater detail and depth of field without having to zoom, or alter camera angles abruptly. Though this is all speculation, it would seem this new feature would be relatively transparent to the user. It would simply facilitate a clearer, and overall more enjoyable, visual experience for gamers. We shall soon see. Toyoda Ken, Nintendo of Japan PR Office Manager, told the Japanese publication ITmedia, “We are still looking at E3 as a launching pad for the ‘Revolution’ platform, and are deliberating if we should feature the actual console, visuals, or simply illustrate the concept behind it.”
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We knew it was coming, after all, the battle started before both systems were even available in the United States. Now that they’re both here, its time to look at the stats. Read them, and let us know your opinion. Who wins the battle between the two biggest handhelds in gaming history?
Click to continue reading Sony PSP vs. Nintendo DS
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This seems to be a Japan exclusive, but who knows – maybe Sony will surprise us (April Fools!). Either way, this unit looks just awesome. The Gran Turismo logo in the corner does detract just a bit. However, with this one the headphones and strap match the PSP’s color.
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For one of a number of possible reasons, the Sony Playstation Portable is just not selling out in the United States. Sony predicted they would sell 1 million PSP’s by or on launch date. They’ve sold roughly half a million since launch one week ago, and stores are not experiencing widespread shortages. Whatever the case, it’s an amazing piece of tech gadgetry, so go out and pick one up. They’re in stock. They’re shiny. You won’t be disappointed. We do not work for Sony.
Read More | engadget
As it turns out, the Nintendo Entertainment System controller is pretty easy to mod. Basically, all you need to do is extend the leads, and you can put any enclosure around the internal circuit board. The crew at Attack of the Show decided to build what they believe to be the largest NES controller of all time. It is eight feet long, and works perfectly.
Read More | Attack of the Show
Windows users have enjoyed the luxury of syncing content from their PC’s to their PSP Memory Sticks to enjoy it on the go, while Mac users have waited patiently for the same opportunity. PocketMac For PSP has arrived, and allows Mac users to do just that.
PocketMac For PSP is the first program to allow Mac users to sync their contacts, music and photos from their machine to their PSP. And it’s fully integrated with iSync as well!
One interesting note about the software - it includes a technology that allows you to put your contacts on the PSP, yet the PSP does not have any contact management built-in. Very cool. Grab it for $9.95 USD.
Read More | PocketMac For PSP
If those dead pixels on your PSP have your frustrated, Sony has stepped up and said that they will replace any PSP that has two or more dead pixels. They request that you give the unit a try for a couple of weeks to see if it still bothers you. If so, contact them and they will hook you up with a new one. While replacing units with two or more dead pixels is a nice gesture, Nintendo replaces DS units that have only one dead pixel. That’s customer service.
Read More | Gamespot
Bungie finally shed some light on the rumors about a possible Halo 2 multiplayer expansion pack. There will definitely be an expansion pack which will include nine new multiplayer maps, scheduled will be available on June 28th. Seems like a long time from now, however Xbox Live users will be able to download the maps sooner than that. Starting in late April the first four maps will be available for download. Here’s the twist though – two will be free and the other two will be available for purchase. How much is not clear, but we can probably expect to pay $4.99 for the pack (much like the rest of downloadable packs). The remaining five maps will be made available on Xbox Live the day the retail pack is made available (June 28th). For all those of you that actually have patience, ALL the maps will be available for free by late summer. Here’s a quick list of the first four maps:
- CONTAINMENT - A massive, mostly outdoor, and somewhat symmetrical environment set in the frozen tundra near Sentinel Wall, on Delta Halo.
- WARLOCK - Set in the rain-soaked ruins of an ancient Forerunner structure, nobody knows if Warlock is a temple, a castle or even a dwelling.
- TURF - The surrounding streets and evacuated buildings of Old Mombasa make it a dangerous warren, with potential assassins lurking in every shadow and around every corner.
- SANCTUARY - A walled grotto defines the center point of this Forerunner habitat, from which aqueducts span out, like the hands of a clock.
These maps look and sound amazing. I know I can’t wait to do some major slaughtering on these maps.
Read More | Bungie
Sony Ordered to Pay $90 Million To Immersion
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Video Games,
Sony has been ordered by the US court to pay up $90 million in damages and halt Playstation and Playstation 2 sales in the US due to patent infringement.
SCE said it will continue US sales of the products ordered to be halted, which include PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles, two game controllers and 47 software titles, as the court order will not go into effect before until Sony’s appeal. Sony will also be paying compulsory license fees to Immersion, the company who filed suit, an SCE spokeswoman said.
Immersion, a California-based developer of tactile feedback technology, claimed Sony Computer Entertainment infringed on its technologies that make a game controller vibrate in sync with actions in games.
(Thanks Veronica!)
Read More | CNN International
One of the nuances with the PSP as far as memory goes is that you need to use the more expensive Duo sticks, rather than the standard Sony Memory Stick. It looks like someone has found a nice workaround in this area, as they have figured out a way to have the PSP recognize regular Memory Stick media. It takes a little bit of time to get it working, and certainly doesn’t look practical, but it is still very cool nonetheless.
Read More | PSP Vault
