Update: Nintendo has revised some of the text in their website post, removing the reference to "standard double-layered DVD discs", and replacing it with the following.
"Nintendo's legions of loyal fans will be happy to learn that Revolution will be backward compatible, playing both Nintendo GameCube 8cm disks along with its own 12cm optical disks in the same self-loading media drive."
At this point, we don't know why the change was made, but it could unfortunately be due to the confusion as to whether or not Revolution will be able to play DVD Movies as well as games. GameCube's GD-ROM discs are based on DVD technology, but with key anti-piracy features and other differences. It now seems that the Revolution media will have more in common with the GameCube discs than the "standard" DVD media.
The original quotes from the website are below ...
Nintendo updated their website this morning with a few more details, building off of Perrin Kaplan's statements to The New York Times from yesterday.
"In its final form, Revolution will be about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer. The versatile Revolution will play either horizontally or vertically, allowing the user total flexibility in setting up a gaming session wherever they have a television."
"Thanks to Nintendo's hardware development partners IBM and ATI, the small system will be packed with power that will enable it to wow players with its graphics. Nintendo's legions of loyal fans will be happy to learn that Revolution will be backward compatible, playing both Nintendo GameCube 3-inch disks along with its own standard, double-layered DVD disks in the same self-loading media drive."
Nintendo goes on to off-handedly mention quick start-up times, quiet and low-power operation, and of course, wireless internet included.
Four days left ...
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Damn, with matsushita backing blu-ray I was hoping they would influence Nintendo to go with blu-ray. I suppose though it would really push the price of the revolution up considering you still cant buy a blu-ray player. Oh well, if nintendo is releasing revolution in 2006 the price of a blu-ray drive might be cheap enough for them to change it.
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Oh for God sake! Listen up! Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are one in the same now. Toshiba and Sony have combined both together and the final specs will be released within the next month.
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Originally posted by: bubicus
Hmmmm.... slightly longer than a DVD case.......... could there be a portable LCD screen in the near future so we can watch DVDs on the go with the Revolution or take it anywhere for gaming?
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Don't bet on the hard drive happening
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Originally posted by: RickPowers
It is the last statement that truly interests me, however. "Self-loading media drive" sounds a lot like a slot-loading drive, similar to the Apple Mac Mini and Powerbook. How could they do that with the smaller GameCube discs? I guess we'll find out in just a few days.
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Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
"Nintendo goes on to off-handedly mention quick start-up times, quiet and low-power operation, and of course, wireless internet included."
(And I SERIOUSLY doubt Ninty would ever consider going with a competitor's media...That's absurd...)
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On another subject, I do hope that Nintendo will put 4 gcn controller ports on the system as well as have 2 GCN memory card slots for complete backwards compatibility. I also hope that I can play PSO and LAN games through the wifi setup.
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Originally posted by: SaviorQuote
On another subject, I do hope that Nintendo will put 4 gcn controller ports on the system as well as have 2 GCN memory card slots for complete backwards compatibility. I also hope that I can play PSO and LAN games through the wifi setup.
Thats kind of my concern as well... If its so tiny AND Backwards compatible? can it all fit?
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Originally posted by: Grant10kQuote
Originally posted by: SaviorQuote
On another subject, I do hope that Nintendo will put 4 gcn controller ports on the system as well as have 2 GCN memory card slots for complete backwards compatibility. I also hope that I can play PSO and LAN games through the wifi setup.
Thats kind of my concern as well... If its so tiny AND Backwards compatible? can it all fit?
well, they'd have to have at least one memory card slot, and worse case senario, it would only accept wavebird controllers, but GC controller ports arn't all that big, so i don't think there will be a problem.
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Originally posted by: RickPowers
Wait, did I say something about internal storage? Scratch that.
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GameCube's GD-ROM discs are based on DVD technology
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Originally posted by: RickPowers
Laptop hard drives are pretty small ...
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Originally posted by: Nile Boogie
About the Memory card: Expect the card to be the same size and format as the Ds gigabit card. Why? Have not the slightest idea but thats what I have foreseen. I bet a cold drink that I'm right on both fronts.!!!
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Originally posted by: jasonditzQuote
Originally posted by: Nile Boogie
About the Memory card: Expect the card to be the same size and format as the Ds gigabit card. Why? Have not the slightest idea but thats what I have foreseen. I bet a cold drink that I'm right on both fronts.!!!
That's a very cool idea. Maybe for instance a Metroid game could unlock Super Metroid for the DS as a playable bonus if you beat it with 100%, then you could just plug the card in directly.
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Originally posted by: BiLdItUp1
I know this is gonna sound, but weren't GD-ROMs what the Dreamcast used, and G.O.D.s what the GC used?
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Originally posted by: RickPowers
"What if they had a wireless multitap 'wave-tap' that you plug conrollers into and the multi-tap just pretends each contoller is a wave-bird, and communicates with the system.
The system sounds way too small to have 4 contoller ports anywhere on it, I like this idea alot better."
Sigh ... the Revolution controllers will be backwards compatible as well. You'll use them to play GameCube games. No controller ports are necessary.
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Originally posted by: BlackNMild2k1
What about accessories? what about the bongos or the upcoming dance pad? they gotta come out with some kind of wireless tech to allow you to use those attachment.
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Originally posted by: JB
Actually at the press-conference an image was shown in the background of four controller ports on the front of the Revolution. They are located behind a small door on the unit.
EDIT: Here it is. It is the image on the background, you can clearly see four GameCube controller ports(plus a few ports which are difficult to see).