Topic: Bloomberg: Nintendo to announce next-gen machine at E3

[Michael8983]

I think it will probably end up being something like the Gamecube SP.
Perhaps a portable version of the Gamecube with a screen attached and the Wavebird as the standard controller. Something like that could really catch on considering how popular those portable DVD players have become recently.
Nintendo actually showed off its own portable LCD screen for the GCN a couple years ago at E3 and I think I heard something about it costing about $50. So considering the current price of the Gamecube, maybe the Gamecube SP could be as cheap as $150.
Something like this would definitly make sense out of Nintendo's recent commitment to LAN play. People could connect their GCSP's up similar to the way GBAs are hooked up for multiplayer games. The split-screen thing just wouldn't work on small, portable screens so LAN play is the obvious solution. It could also allow a lot of the same innovations the GBA connectivity allows without actually requiring a GBA.
A Gamecube SP could serve as competition with the PSP without prematurely ending the GBA/SP's run and give the Gamecube a second launch and a second market which would cause a jump in third-party support and greatly expand its userbase.  
Besides, after the success of the GBASP a GCSP just seems to obvious I find it hard to believe it won't happen. It might not end up being exactly what I've speculated but I'm almost certain it will eventually exist.

[Avinash_Tyagi]

No not a portable or a home console no portable GC or anything.

Oooh maybe a virtual boy 2.  This time its more than seizures.

[The Omen]

Quote
Everyone fails to mention that if nintendo launches this early, in another 2 years the other two would come along then they would be the newest thing thus killing the new nintendo system.

Youre missing a major point-if they released 2 years later, how many casual gamers will wait?  And what happens when Nintendo is ready for their next system, and the PS3 has only been out 2 years?  It handcuffs Sony on so many levels.  That being said, i'm sure its nothing as progressive or aggressive as that.

[Oldskool]

I theorize that Nintend has suddenly shiffted a resonable percentage of it's output of "AAA 1st party" title-making to the new console, so we won't see as many "last hurrahs" as we saw on the N64. They are trying to for once flow with the market and keep creativity at the same time.

Hmmm....

Mario "128" for N5 launch

Too Human for N5 launch

Metroid Prime 2 for N5 launch

Some third party exclusives for N5 launch. (I have a feeling two games from Capcom, one from Konami, one from Square-Enix, and a few others.)


I'm guessing the last "AAA" 1st party Cube title will be Zelda: WW2.

I am guessing that N5 will launch with PS3, or abouat 4-5 months after.

THE MAGIC 8 BALL OF GUESSING SEES ALL!!!

Any one else have their own predictions?

[Oldskool]

I theorize that Nintend has suddenly shiffted a resonable percentage of it's output of "AAA 1st party" title-making to the new console, so we won't see as many "last hurrahs" as we saw on the N64. They are trying to for once flow with the market and keep creativity at the same time.

Hmmm....

Mario "128" for N5 launch

Too Human for N5 launch

Metroid Prime 2 for N5 launch

Some third party exclusives for N5 launch. (I have a feeling two games from Capcom, one from Konami, one from Square-Enix, and a few others.)


I'm guessing the last "AAA" 1st party Cube title will be Zelda: WW2.

I am guessing that N5 will launch with PS3, or abouat 4-5 months after.

THE MAGIC 8 BALL OF GUESSING SEES ALL!!!

Any one else have their own predictions?

[Avinash_Tyagi]

Ok the Cube is not dead, thes losses were primarily due to the strong Yen, only some was due to GCN sales, and this was before the price drop, the GCN is back in production and selling like hotcakes everywhere, they are not going to announce the N5 until later and they are not going to switch over to the N5 yet not when the GC is finally taking off.

Where did you get the idea that there will be no more mario's for GC, that was a rumor started by one editorial on something that was said in an interview, there is no garuntee that their will be no more Mario on the GC.

Metroid Prime 2 will probably arrive on the GC since Retro is working on it right now.

Too Human is pushed back because SK is working on Twin Snakes and another secret project.

People need to stop worrying about the cube, its going to be around for a while.  And with Sales as strong as they are Nintendo is going to post a profit for the second half of the fiscal year.

[seven_chaos]

i LOVE the virtual boy!!!!!!

[mjbd]

Yea, nintendo has itself situated to have a very profiatable holliday season.  Cubes are flying off the shelves, and they have alot of good software out there.  We all know that Mario Kart is gonna sell like crazy, and 1080 will probably sell very well also.  Not to mention previously released titles such as Zelda, F-Zero, and Metroid.  It wouldnt suprise me to see Mario Kart sell a million copies before the end of the year, and 1080 to sell over a half million.  I am big on the players choice deal, even though I rarely wait long enough for them to become players choice titles, I think it helps pull people in who have yet to purchase a Cube.  Its pretty tempting to see that you can buy a Cube with Super Smash Brothers, Metroid, and Mario Kart for a about $200.  

[Nintendo Gamecube]

I think I read an article on IGN that stated that this new piece of hardware WILL NOT BE A SUCCESSOR to any current hardware.

Edit: Here's a link from Gamespot to proove it CLICK HERE

One thing I noted is when he (forget his anme) was asked if this new hardware was portable or home, he said NIETHER.

What else is left?

[Berny]

Oh yeah. My subscription to NP ended but my brother still has it. There was another crazy interview with Dyack (The Almighty Equivocator). He was up to his old tricks again. NP asked him if he wanted to do a movie or book adaptation of a game and he was like 'I like this one book but it wouldn't make a good game. We are working on something though. But I can't get into that. I might get in trouble.'

That is a paraphrase so don't b!tch at me for getting a quote wrong. Well, hate to start the rumor mill churning but the way the article was written made it look like the next game is a book or movie adaptation. I'm stuck between anxiety and hope right now...

I can provide a scan on Saturday if anyone wants to see the article.

[Bill Aurion]

It means that this piece of hardware will be an accessory...That doesn't bother me at all, but you just know there are people here who are going to have high expectations and bitch when they find out that their wet dreams aren't real...*looks around suspiciously*

[Cap]

i just hope it doesnt turn out to be something like marionette. i'm still keeping my hope alive for a portable gamecube though.  

[The Omen]

Quote
People need to stop worrying about the cube, its going to be around for a while. And with Sales as strong as they are Nintendo is going to post a profit for the second half of the fiscal year.

Who said anything about worrying?

Quote
It means that this piece of hardware will be an accessory...That doesn't bother me at all, but you just know there are people here who are going to have high expectations and bitch when they find out that their wet dreams aren't real...*looks around suspiciously*

If its a gimmick accessory, then every person in here should be disappointed.  Its got to be something incredible for them to leak info about it because Nintendo know the uproar any rumors will cause.

[Ian Sane]

"If its a gimmick accessory, then every person in here should be disappointed. Its got to be something incredible for them to leak info about it because Nintendo know the uproar any rumors will cause."

Well it still may be a gimmick accessory.  Nintendo's definition of a gimmick and our definition are quite different.  Nintendo thought the waterpack in Super Mario Sunshine was so innovative that they were afraid to show it too early in case other developers might steal it.  They also think that the GBA/GC conncetion is like the wave of the future.  They've been pushing gimmicks as industry changing innovation throughout the Gamecube's life.  If this is a gimmick accessory odds are Nintendo doesn't think it is.

I really doubt it will be a portable Gamecube but that would REALLY kick ass and would not only greatly increase the Cube's market share but would provide as a suitable competitor to the PSP.

[thecubedcanuck]

"Well it still may be a gimmick accessory. Nintendo's definition of a gimmick and our definition are quite different. Nintendo thought the waterpack in Super Mario Sunshine was so innovative that they were afraid to show it too early in case other developers might steal it. They also think that the GBA/GC conncetion is like the wave of the future. They've been pushing gimmicks as industry changing innovation throughout the Gamecube's life. If this is a gimmick accessory odds are Nintendo doesn't think it is."

well said

[BlkPaladin]

Its not like anything has changed. Nintendo has always pushed gimmiks and a lot of them work. (Analog Stick, Rumble, Sholder Buttons, Power Pad, Light Gun.)

[Ian Sane]

Analog sticks and shoulder buttons are NOT gimmicks.  Those were legitimate innovations that revolutionized the industry.

[bigbrownbear]

i think that a gamecube sp-like device would solve a lot of the issues nintendo faces in launching the next console. imagine this if you wil.....

 nintendo has to know or at least pretend to know (heh) that theyhave to match hardware with sony and microsoft in order to compete on an even playing field next go round. they are always looking to cut corners and save a few bucks while designing a new console. what do we know is going to be standard on the next console? i think hard drives and some form of dvd drive and built in modems/broadband connections and backwards compatibility. nintendo wants to be the cheapest, but at a cost to losing a hardware feature. a GCSP would kill 2 birds with one stone, if u want to play gamecube games, you can own the GCSP, seeing how they have to compete with the psp in some form, they dont even have to spend money on r&d, so that frees up more money so maybe that will not remove any features other consoles are offering. also by doing this, nintendo isn't restricted to sub par graphics that dont take full advantage of the connection feature. think about it, a portable game system with GC quality graphics, with a large user base, thats like a drunk prom date, the temptation is to tempting not to do it .

back to reality, i dont know what it'll be, but we know one thing for sure, it'll be something.

[thecubedcanuck]

what on gods green earth would you power a portable gamecube with? 75 AAA's??? How long would batteries last with so much power being needed? Wouldnt the weight of this be outragious?

[Ian Sane]

I imagine a portable Cube wouldn't use standard batteries.  It would probably have it's own rechargable battery like the GBA SP.  I don't know how feasible this would be though.  What do laptops use for power?

While a portable Cube is a really cool idea and I've love it if Nintendo released one when you think about it would be pretty hard to make small since the controller itself has a lot more buttons than a GBA (and two analog sticks) and you also need at least one memory card slot.  That's not including features that people would want to have included like the ability to hook it up to the TV and join additional controllers to it.  Plus it has to support the modem which takes up a fair bit of space.  In order to pull it off they would probably have to make a seperate "home usage kit" that attached to the unit and allowed you to have the ports at the bottom and attach four controllers.

Even as a barebones unit a portable Gamecube would at least be the size of a Cube controller with a flip up screen like the GBA SP.  That alone is too big to fit in someone's pocket so such a device would likely be marketed a little differently than the GBA.  It would still be super convenient but more like a laptop than a GBA.

[Michael8983]

"It would still be super convenient but more like a laptop than a GBA."

Exactly. It would be like a laptop or a better comparison would be one of those trendy little portable DVD players.

When I picture a portable Gamecube, I see it being shorter and (if necessary) wider than the standard Gamecube with a folding portable screen attached to the top. It would only need a single memory card slot and a single controller port since the screen would be too small for multiple players to view anyway. Instead, the idea would be that each player would have their own Gamecube (portable or standard) and connect them together just like with GBAs. Actually it wouldn't have a traditional controller port, just the Wavebird frequency dialer thing. The Wavebird would be perfect for a portable Gamecube because it not only eliminates the clumbsy cord but also allows you to play in basically any position you want. Maybe Nintendo could even design a smaller version of the Wavebird or at least give it retractable analog sticks.
The key to making a portable Gamecube work would be just keeping it as simple as possible even if it means Nintendo going against the wishes of some of its more hardcore fans who'll want it packed with every cool feature you can think of. It's the casual gamers that Nintendo could really win over with a portable Gamecube afterall and they'll only want it if it's inexpensive and accessible. Nintendo could of course offer a lot of those cool features as accessories though.

[KDR_11k]

Quote
Originally posted by: thecubedcanuck
what on gods green earth would you power a portable gamecube with? 75 AAA's??? How long would batteries last with so much power being needed? Wouldnt the weight of this be outragious?

This is said to last 2.5 hours with an attached LCD. I'm sure if N used more modern (i.e. smaller, less consuming) parts for that GCP they could give it a battery life well above that of the PSP.