Nintendo at GDC

[Asher]

It's just a fact of life that debris gets on it, large or not.

When I scratched mine I didn't even see the debris until I looked very closely after I felt it scratch.

[Bkeela]

At least Revolution is going to be backward compatible. I just hope whatever gimmick it arrives with isn't too silly.

[ixnay]

More firm info about the Revolution from N-sider:

"Supposedly Nintendo has two sets of benchmark specifications they're working with, and one will be chosen when they are closer to actual development. We'll talk about both in the analysis.

System 1:

* 2.7 Ghz PowerPC G5 Processor
* 512 Megs total Ram (128 for video, 64 for sound)
* 600 Mhz graphics chip

System 2:

* Dual 1.8 Ghz IBM G5 PowerPC processors
* 256 Megs DDR Main memory (64 dedicated to sound, using a 7.1 sound system at 196 Khz)
* 128 Megs GDDR3 Video memory
* 500 Mhz graphics chip (ATI developed, 16 Pixel Pipe, 220 Million transistors)

Shared Information:

* Built in 15 Gigabyte harddrive
* Blue-laser disk technology
* Potential DVD playback
* Case design philosophy more like the N64, less like the GameCube"

[Asher]

Looks like another no-contest case...

The Xbox2 is to have a tri-core G5-based chip, @ 3GHz.

[Nostromo]

Yep, the Xbox 2 and the PS3 will eat it alive. That said, Nintendo already said that they're not playing the my-console-is-more-powerful-than-yours-game. They want to do things differently this time, just like the DS. I'm still curious about what's so revolutionary about the Revolution... Btw, is the DS selling well, or is the PSP eating it alive?

[Asher]

They tried the "different" game before with Gamecube.

Sony marketed the huge game library, Microsoft marketed better experience, and Nintendo marketed...Mario?

[DrSpike]

But Mario rulezorz.

[ZargonX]

Microsoft marketed better experience

Out of curiosity, what makes you think Microsoft marketed "better experience?" The Xbox was their entry into the market... they had no experience...

[Nikolai]

Originally posted by ixnay
More firm info about the Revolution from N-sider:

"Supposedly Nintendo has two sets of benchmark specifications they're working with, and one will be chosen when they are closer to actual development. We'll talk about both in the analysis.

System 1:

* 2.7 Ghz PowerPC G5 Processor
* 512 Megs total Ram (128 for video, 64 for sound)
* 600 Mhz graphics chip

System 2:

* Dual 1.8 Ghz IBM G5 PowerPC processors
* 256 Megs DDR Main memory (64 dedicated to sound, using a 7.1 sound system at 196 Khz)
* 128 Megs GDDR3 Video memory
* 500 Mhz graphics chip (ATI developed, 16 Pixel Pipe, 220 Million transistors)

Shared Information:

* Built in 15 Gigabyte harddrive
* Blue-laser disk technology
* Potential DVD playback
* Case design philosophy more like the N64, less like the GameCube"

Sounds good. But the most important thing for a console is the quality and, to a degree, the number of games, not the hardware. That's the main flaw in most console and computer games developer's focus...

[Asher]

Originally posted by ZargonX
Out of curiosity, what makes you think Microsoft marketed "better experience?" The Xbox was their entry into the market... they had no experience...

Better user experience -- Dolby Digital 5.1, support for high-definition, built-in harddrive for custom soundtracks, Xbox Live, etc.

[ZargonX]

Better user experience

Ah, sorry. Though you meant "better market experience"."

[Nostromo]

The Xbox2 is to have a tri-core G5-based chip, @ 3GHz.

What is the highest clock speed of PowerPC CPUs right now? Are 3GHz cores a realistic aim for Q4 2005? The CPU and the GPU will generate a lot of heat. How will they cool that damn thing without making it sound like a hair dryer?

[ZargonX]

What is the highest clock speed of PowerPC CPUs right now? Are 3GHz cores a realistic aim for Q4 2005? The CPU and the GPU will generate a lot of heat. How will they cool that damn thing without making it sound like a hair dryer?

You'll have to keep it in your liquid-filled Xpool, purchased separately for $59.99.

[Asher]

Originally posted by nostromo
What is the highest clock speed of PowerPC CPUs right now? Are 3GHz cores a realistic aim for Q4 2005? The CPU and the GPU will generate a lot of heat. How will they cool that damn thing without making it sound like a hair dryer?

The G5s clock at 2.5GHz right now, but by the end of the year they plan to implement other technologies to reduce heat/increase frequency (such as strained silicon).

3GHz is generous, though. I'd look at a 2GHz tri-core chip, realistically.

[Gamecube64]

It has a bigger hardrive than my computer
Depressing... something that only holds save games has a larger capacity than my PC.