Topic: Revealing the Revolution

[thepoga]

How do you guys think that the Revolution will be revealed? (controller and everything). I think around next fall, just as the XBox 360 is releasing. That would throw off some of the people who might buy it so it would be a sneaky move. But at a Spaceworld, or what? Fall Gamer's Summit? I just wish Nintendo had released all the info at E3...

[Ian Sane]

"I think around next fall, just as the XBox 360 is releasing."

Well that might actually be when Nintendo reveals it but in my opinion that's too late.  At that point no one is going to suddenly change their mind and not buy an Xbox 360 so they can get a Rev.  By then people will have already pre-ordered their Xbox 360.  The anticipation and the hype will be there.  Nintendo can't derail a console with the launch lineup is revealed with their own console's debut in which case we'll probably not know much about the games and there will still be too many questions.  There's going to be a point where people are going to decide "do I buy an Xbox 360 now or wait for the Rev?"  If they don't know enough about the Rev the Xbox 360 is going to be the only choice unless they really like Nintendo but Nintendo's going to grab the fans anyway.  They have to catch the gamers that don't have any specific loyalty and will go wherever they want.  The time to grab those gamers is right before they pre-order an Xbox 360.  So I think the time to reveal the Rev at the latest is July or August but earlier would be better.

However that's not when I think the Rev WILL be revealed.  Nintendo is focusing on Sony (they said they're waiting for Sony to finalize their design) so they'll probably reveal the Rev in October or November where they can be sure Sony can't steal their ideas but it's not so late that they're totally screwed.  They're not paying enough attention to Microsoft (Iwata is probably basing decisions for the whole world market on the Xbox's performance in Japan) and they'll probably not reveal the info before the 360 launch if they're still afraid Sony will steal their idea.  I hope they reveal sooner though because otherwise they'll lose a fair chunk of their userbase to MS, much like how they did with the Cube.

[jasonditz]

But again, it comes down to target markets. From all Nintendo has said about their strategy this gen, the kind of person who would pre-order an Xbox 360 is not likely to buy a rev anyhow.

[mantidor]

"Iwata is probably basing decisions for the whole world market on the Xbox's performance in Japan"

I disagree, it happens that for Nintendo the priority market is the japanese one, since, you know, they are japanese.

[Ian Sane]

"From all Nintendo has said about their strategy this gen, the kind of person who would pre-order an Xbox 360 is not likely to buy a rev anyhow."

But they should be.  That's part of my point.  The Rev should appeal to all gamers including those interested in the Xbox 360.  Two of the Xbox 360's announced games are Perfect Dark Zero and Too Human.  Both of these were original going to be on a Nintendo console.  They are games that Nintendo fans were interested in.  Therefore anyone buying an Xbox 360 for these games is a potential Rev buyer.  There is probably a fair bit of Cube owners who will jump ship because of that (the original Xbox stole more of Nintendo's market share than Sony's).  They shouldn't jump ship.  Nintendo should try to prevent that.

A good console should have games for all gamers.  So if the Rev is a good console it should appeal to all gamers.

[Mario]

I think before they show the console at the end of the year (or early next year, depending on Sony), they should drop us a Super Smash Bros 3 teaser movie or something, like the opening movie to SSBM.

[Arbok]

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I think before they show the console at the end of the year (or early next year, depending on Sony), they should drop us a Super Smash Bros 3 teaser movie or something, like the opening movie to SSBM.

Fully agree, and the SSBM teaser was one of the best ever... I played that thing to death the moment I got it. Still have watched it on occassion even after the game had been released too, was glad to see it included with the game itself.

[King of Twitch]

Show it a month before 360 is out, so it'll be plastered on the front page of magazines at the same the 360 is out (Sony will still have 4-5 months to copy the controller, however). Anyways, along with the Zelda blowouts that will no doubt make it to the front page (and release the same time as 360), and the DS going online, the 360 would have to share the limelight if they timed these announcements correctly.

Buy out some simple ads, showing a Mario glove and Link triforced hand about to punch each other, with the words "SMAAAASH" plastered across the page, alongside "online, for revolution members only". Get more specific ads as the release date is closer. They definitely should release some demo reels  in the next several months so the specs aren't ragged on and given bad press. Or even offer bonuses for those who preorder the Rev and not the 360, if they could somehow make that work. Should provide for some good momentum

[Bren]

Ian I think you are wrong.  Anybody who is a big enough fan of a company to preorder there system is going to buy that system regardless, or has enough money to own multiple systems.  I think it is much more likely that people will want to wait to see what the final PS3 and Rev systems look like, and that the XBOX will only get those gamers who were already big fans and who are not going to be converted anyway.  The big deal is that Nintedo has all there specs out before the holidays so that people know they want to wait.  Right now I get the feeling that Nintendo is going to keep revealing parts at a time.

I also agree with people who are saying the XBOX launch is going to be subdued a little by the GameCube and DS games.  Go look at all the really good looking games comming out in the last three months of this year.  I am a little curious if the XBOX launch games will really look much better then Zelda...

[thepoga]

Bren: I don't know about that. Shock and awe has a much better effect in my opinion