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Nintendo Gaming / Revolution - The Exclusive Console
« on: March 14, 2006, 04:31:32 PM »
I don't usually make new threads (especially those that depict my opinion) but I wanted to write this about the Revolution. So here goes..
If everything we have seen so far can be used as an indicator, the Revolution will be an exclusive console. Of course, to anyone who knows about their new controller, this is obvious. Playing with the Revolution will be a drastically different experience than playing with any other competing console. In fact, no other console in history can emulate what the Revolution does. Therefore, it is natural to expect that the control scheme will breed software that utilises it. However, we also have to take into account that the Revolution will not support High Definition and will, in all likelihood, sport weaker hardware. And this is where it gets interesting.
HD is being pushed hard by both Sony and Microsoft. They are both forcing games released onto their consoles to support HD. With this said, most of the multiplatform games for the next cycle of consoles will be designed with High Definition in mind. So how does the Rev factor into all of this? Well, the results could differ greatly. One one hand, multiplatform developers could choose to forgo Revolution development altogether. This is not likely, and most of these developers have already confirmed support for the Rev. A more likely scenario would be that companies wanting to make an easy port will quickly scale back their games and slip them into the Revolution's library. The end result could be an unpolished game which may even look like a GameCube one graphically. This would not bode well for Nintendo. It was often a complaint that the GameCube got the worst multiplatform ports of them all, since they were quick ports and not developed specifically for the Cube. Big selling games like Madden are prime examples like this. The same situation could happen with the Revolution, except potentially worse. Combine this with the GameCube's infamous 3rd party software tie-in ratio and the Revolution is in a tough situation.
And then there's the whole aspect of multiplatform titles trying to use the control scheme. These titles probably won't be developed specifically to cater to the Revolution's features. The same companies wanting a quick port will either use the shell or try to add in features at the last minute. If the control scheme is used as a gimmick and does not add to the game in any way, it will mean trouble. I suspect this that many games will use the NRC in an unintuitive and unimaginative way for multiplatform ports, and this could even make them worse games than they started off as.
Well, this post has been pretty disheartening until now, but now that the negatives are out of the way onto the flip (positive) side. Nintendo has told us that they are going around to major 3rd parties and helping them to implement the control mechanisms into their franchises. This is a brilliant idea, and Nintendo should do all they can to make sure that 3rd parties use the controller effectively and innovate with it. If all goes according to plan, then multiplatform titles could benefit greatly. If the Rev version of one such game is significantly better, then it would be perfect. It would be something that neither the 360 nor the PS3 version can offer, regardless of how many lines of resolution they offer. Consumers would choose the Rev version, and the controller would pay dividends.
And then there's the exclusives, first and third party. We know that Nintendo's own games will push every feature of the Revolution hard, and will be deciding factors in the success of the Revolution. I also believe that third parties will test the waters at first with some exclusive Rev games early on. One or two of these exclusives need to be runaway successes to sell the console. If the Rev can gain the marketshare lead and the tie-in ratio is respectable, then the whole multiplatform issue won't matter at all. The exclusives will come rolling in, and with them flows potential. Potential for innovation. We could experience some of the best games ever made if everything works out.
So how will the Revolution turn out when it's all over? We can only guess. However, one thing is for sure; Nintendo is betting all the marbles on this one..
If everything we have seen so far can be used as an indicator, the Revolution will be an exclusive console. Of course, to anyone who knows about their new controller, this is obvious. Playing with the Revolution will be a drastically different experience than playing with any other competing console. In fact, no other console in history can emulate what the Revolution does. Therefore, it is natural to expect that the control scheme will breed software that utilises it. However, we also have to take into account that the Revolution will not support High Definition and will, in all likelihood, sport weaker hardware. And this is where it gets interesting.
HD is being pushed hard by both Sony and Microsoft. They are both forcing games released onto their consoles to support HD. With this said, most of the multiplatform games for the next cycle of consoles will be designed with High Definition in mind. So how does the Rev factor into all of this? Well, the results could differ greatly. One one hand, multiplatform developers could choose to forgo Revolution development altogether. This is not likely, and most of these developers have already confirmed support for the Rev. A more likely scenario would be that companies wanting to make an easy port will quickly scale back their games and slip them into the Revolution's library. The end result could be an unpolished game which may even look like a GameCube one graphically. This would not bode well for Nintendo. It was often a complaint that the GameCube got the worst multiplatform ports of them all, since they were quick ports and not developed specifically for the Cube. Big selling games like Madden are prime examples like this. The same situation could happen with the Revolution, except potentially worse. Combine this with the GameCube's infamous 3rd party software tie-in ratio and the Revolution is in a tough situation.
And then there's the whole aspect of multiplatform titles trying to use the control scheme. These titles probably won't be developed specifically to cater to the Revolution's features. The same companies wanting a quick port will either use the shell or try to add in features at the last minute. If the control scheme is used as a gimmick and does not add to the game in any way, it will mean trouble. I suspect this that many games will use the NRC in an unintuitive and unimaginative way for multiplatform ports, and this could even make them worse games than they started off as.
Well, this post has been pretty disheartening until now, but now that the negatives are out of the way onto the flip (positive) side. Nintendo has told us that they are going around to major 3rd parties and helping them to implement the control mechanisms into their franchises. This is a brilliant idea, and Nintendo should do all they can to make sure that 3rd parties use the controller effectively and innovate with it. If all goes according to plan, then multiplatform titles could benefit greatly. If the Rev version of one such game is significantly better, then it would be perfect. It would be something that neither the 360 nor the PS3 version can offer, regardless of how many lines of resolution they offer. Consumers would choose the Rev version, and the controller would pay dividends.
And then there's the exclusives, first and third party. We know that Nintendo's own games will push every feature of the Revolution hard, and will be deciding factors in the success of the Revolution. I also believe that third parties will test the waters at first with some exclusive Rev games early on. One or two of these exclusives need to be runaway successes to sell the console. If the Rev can gain the marketshare lead and the tie-in ratio is respectable, then the whole multiplatform issue won't matter at all. The exclusives will come rolling in, and with them flows potential. Potential for innovation. We could experience some of the best games ever made if everything works out.
So how will the Revolution turn out when it's all over? We can only guess. However, one thing is for sure; Nintendo is betting all the marbles on this one..
