Author Topic: MoSys: Revolution Launching in Mid-2006 (Read 15194 times)

Jonnyboy117 · « **on:** May 10, 2005, 08:28:32 AM »

The memory provider for both GameCube and Revolution has predicted a launch window for the next system. Also, first details on the Revolution's enhanced RAM technology.

In a conference call about the company's financial status, Monolithic System Technologies (MoSys) has revealed that their 1T-SRAM memory technology has been licensed to NEC for use in Nintendo's Revolution game console. NEC's 90nm chip technology will be used to enhance the 1T-SRAM design over the version currently used in the GameCube.

MoSys also mentioned that the Revolution is expected to launch in mid-2006. This is easily the most detailed, official information about the Revolution's launch date ever announced. Nintendo is expected to reveal more information about the Revolution next week at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, and Planet GameCube will be there to bring you all the latest coverage.

Famicom · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2005, 08:45:10 AM »

Sounds exciting. If it holds up to be true, should Ninty hold back the information on what makes the Rev "revolutionary" this E3, next E3 would be far too late to premiere it. I suppose a Spaceworld may be in order....

TheYoungerPlumber · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2005, 08:55:01 AM »

One month's notice sounds a bit "late," but showing finished goods like BAM before it comes out could create a big stir and prevent stealage. They'd really have to be working behind the scenes with third parties, though. So yeah, we may see a Spaceworld this year, or perhaps Nintendo will finally attend TGS.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2005, 09:13:33 AM »

We are definitely ready for another Spaceworld...Show off some footage at E3, and blow the lid off there...

stevey · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2005, 09:14:56 AM »

DO'H! I was hoping a 2005-2006 fall-winter launce DO'H!
Why you little **choking reggie**

Ian Sane · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2005, 10:00:28 AM »

Mid-2006 just makes sense for what they're trying to accomplish. They want to launch before Sony. If they go with November again the odds of them beating Sony to the market are pretty much nil. They have to launch earlier in the year. And summer is a great time to launch because kids are home from school. Summer is always a dead zone for games and I have never understood why because that's when elementary, secondary, and college students have free time.

Of course a mid-2006 launch would mean the Cube wouldn't quite make the five year mark before getting replaced but I think it's close enough being the same calender year and all. Plus with the N64 we got the last first party game around May or June and then got nothing until the Cube launch in November. Odds are we'll get a similar drought with the Cube so if we get nothing after May anyway then they might as well move the Rev launch up for a smoother transition.

So if they launch in mid-2006 what do they have to show at E3? Spaceworld 2000 was the debut of the Cube and it occured in August 2000, over a year before the Cube launch in November 2001. So realistically at the least they should show something comparable at E3 which would actually be closer to the next launch than Spaceworld 2000 was. At Spaceworld we saw the console itself, the controller, and some video demos so I think Nintendo should at least show the same stuff at E3. Yes that means showing the fabled wacky new controller. Cut this "they'll steal our idea" crap. The Xbox 360 launches this year. They CAN'T steal the idea and odds are it's too close to launch for the PS3 to steal the idea as well.

E3 2006 is too close to launch to debut the launch lineup. They could possibly get away with that being the playable debut but we need to know what the games actually are sometime this year. I say they should just do what everyone else does and attend TGS. It would be good PR to mix in with the rest of the industry instead of doing everything different for no good reason. Whatever they decide to do that we need to see Rev games some time in 2005.

Now how does this work with the Japanese launch? Usually they launch first over there. I suppose they could pull another DS launch but I was pretty underwhelmed by that launch lineup so I don't think it's a good idea. With the DS they launched first in North America but it was clear Nintendo's Japanese dev teams were aiming for the Japanese launch so we got, well, pretty much nothing. It seems to be working out okay for the DS from a sales perspective but the Rev has a bigger fight ahead of it and a really weak launch isn't going to cut it. They can launch first in North America but it has to have been part of their plan all along so that the games are ready.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2005, 10:57:57 AM »

With this information. Nintendo better be showing more than just videos at E3, specially if they aren't doing Space World. I mean it would be cool to have a special Nintendo only show for the press, but Nintendo really needs to be giving every developer FREE, 100% FREE, No strings attached Development kits and showing them everything about the Revolution. And they mind as well show the public too.

Either that or have a Space World type show about a week before the Xbox 360s launch and invite the media for one day and the public for 2 days to make a special 3 day event. Have games playable, and on that day announce the true launch date of the system, hopefully that will buy you enough time to find out when the Sony Playstation 3 will be launched and beat it by a few weeks.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2005, 11:08:03 AM »

Sorry to double post (two in a row)

I completely agree with Ian here. We need to see something this year, and Nintendo would do better to attend shows that already exist. It would make other developers feel better because they can just add Rev games to the displays and booths they are already spending money on at TGS.

Nintendo could be shooting for a simutaneous launch. Simply put have games that do not need much translation or have built in multilanguage support so you can launch quickly by just changing the default language of the game. If Nintendo was aiming for a simutaneous launch then all the developers would be shooting for the same time frame.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2005, 11:53:39 AM »

It's not the Nintendo norm but a mid-year launch could work wonders.
Since Summer is an expected slow time for games, people won't be too pissed off about the usual post-launch game drought and Nintendo can save the MAJOR games in time for Christmas when it should have a huge stock of Revolutions ready to sell.

BigJim · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2005, 02:39:37 PM »

Sounds like a good compromise, IF it's true. Xbox this fall. Revolution in the summer. PS3 = summer/fall? Nobody will have a full year's advantage, so this can wipe out part of Xbox's lead, other than the first holiday season.

However, Nintendo may have internal goals... but they have slipped *every* time.

Galford · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2005, 02:45:32 PM »

I kinda figured this was going to happen. When NEC first said they were relicensing 1T-SRAM again, I kinda figured it would be for Revolution. Isn't XBox 360 also using 1T-SRAM?

joshnickerson · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2005, 02:51:04 PM »

The REVOLUTION will NOT be televised!

Sorry. Just felt like saying that.

jasonditz · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2005, 03:25:53 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
One month's notice sounds a bit "late," but showing finished goods like BAM before it comes out could create a big stir and prevent stealage. They'd really have to be working behind the scenes with third parties, though. So yeah, we may see a Spaceworld this year, or perhaps Nintendo will finally attend TGS.

I agree. What's the point of hyping a console 12+ months before anyone's going to be able to buy one anyhow? I'd much rather they quietly start manufacturing, put together a solid launch lineup, and next year at E3 just pull back a curtain and say "See this? You'd better pre-order, because its here in a month".

I could honestly care less if we see a video of it at E3 this year. What's even the point? We know the graphics will be better... and they're probably not going to reveal much else. Its a big yawn without th Revolutionary aspect being revealed.

This year's E3 should be all about software for Nintendo. A good showing for Zelda is key. Some surprise titles like we got last year would also be much welcomed.

ThePerm · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2005, 03:49:05 PM »

ps2 launched in april in japan..which is a holiday season in japan. Kidas say "buy me that' parents feel like crap ifthey dont

BigJim · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2005, 03:50:31 PM »

Well Nintendo at one point believed that purchasing decisions are made within 90 days, so I think Nintendo will have at least a 90 day marketing window, similar to GameCube. But the Cube was a $199 product... within the impulse purchase range.

If the Revolution is more expensive, I think we'll see a more aggressive pre-launch campaign. No way will there only be a month or so, if they're serious about competing.

Still, that mid-2006 could easily slip, like all of their system launches have.

jasonditz · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2005, 03:58:01 PM »

They can always market it before unveiling, if they so choose. If its as incredible a design as they're trying to convince us, a marketing campaign shrouded in mystery is a reasonable possibility. Nintendo characters "plotting the revolution" with some kind of tagline like "The Revolution Will Begin July 4th" (or whenever launch is, but that's a great date for the US launch).

I still have a hard time understanding the "90 days" things though. Does it really take you guys that long to figure out if you want something or not?

SgtShiversBen · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2005, 04:01:47 PM »

No, but it takes some of us a LONG freaking time to save up 300+ dollars especially when it's not a real priority [cough] BILLS [cough].

jasonditz · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2005, 04:25:16 PM »

I don't see how "time to save up" neccesitates earlier demos. Most people don't buy consoles at launch anyhow.

nickmitch · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2005, 04:44:18 PM »

Quote
The REVOLUTION will NOT be televised!

NOOOOOOOO!!!

SgtShiversBen · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2005, 05:19:42 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
I don't see how "time to save up" neccesitates earlier demos. Most people don't buy consoles at launch anyhow.

But for the people that do, and don't know what the systems cost, that 90 days (when you have bills and all that junk [speeding ticket]) tends to seems like not enough time. If they announced that the Revvie was going to be 350$ (I hope not) a year early, I'd be able to save up for it with my skills and all that. But 90 days with that price tag won't do it for me.

TheYoungerPlumber · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2005, 06:18:35 PM »

lol no, the next Nintendo system will not be $350, even if htat is the price of the competition. $200 vs $300 made some people think the PS2 is a more powerful system. $300 vs $350 would make people think, "Damn, these things are expensive--that one's a little easier on the budget, at least, and I don't need another DVD player."

jasonditz · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2005, 06:50:11 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: SgtShiversBen
Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
I don't see how "time to save up" neccesitates earlier demos. Most people don't buy consoles at launch anyhow.

But for the people that do, and don't know what the systems cost, that 90 days (when you have bills and all that junk [speeding ticket]) tends to seems like not enough time. If they announced that the Revvie was going to be 350$ (I hope not) a year early, I'd be able to save up for it with my skills and all that. But 90 days with that price tag won't do it for me.

And again, there's no reason they need to show us early demos or anything about the system to give us a ballpark of the launch price.

I can say, without too much fear of being wrong, that its going to be somewhere between $200 and $400 and that its going to be available between May and November of 2006. I can also safely say its going to be great, and in all likelihood, you're going to want one.

So there you have it... you've got your 12-18 months lead time.... start saving

Ian Sane · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2005, 07:32:30 PM »

"I'd much rather they quietly start manufacturing, put together a solid launch lineup, and next year at E3 just pull back a curtain and say 'See this? You'd better pre-order, because its here in a month'."

And everyone will say "See what? We're too busy playing Xbox 360 and drowning in PS3 hype." By E3 2006 everyone will have already made their decision for next gen and the choices will be Xbox 360 now or PS3 later. It's ALREADY viewed as a two man race. No one is even going to notice the Rev if Nintendo doesn't reveal it until then.

Us who are excited about the Rev are in the minority. Most people already have written Nintendo off and waiting until E3 2006 to reveal the details is just going to give the impression that Nintendo's a non-factor.

BigJim · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2005, 07:44:37 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
They can always market it before unveiling, if they so choose. If its as incredible a design as they're trying to convince us, a marketing campaign shrouded in mystery is a reasonable possibility. Nintendo characters "plotting the revolution" with some kind of tagline like "The Revolution Will Begin July 4th" (or whenever launch is, but that's a great date for the US launch).

I still have a hard time understanding the "90 days" things though. Does it really take you guys that long to figure out if you want something or not?

Re: 90 days. For the masses, it can. Not necessarily individuals. It takes time to get the message out. Much more than that and you face diminishing returns. (Note the millions MS spent promoting Xbox for a full year in advance, and sold only a million or two more than GameCube overall).

But exactly how Nintendo acts is up in the air because Reggie is now in charge of marketing, and Revolution may not be the $199 sweet spot for home electronics.

jasonditz · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2005, 07:47:40 PM »

Either the Revolution is Revolutionary or it isn't. If it is, people will take notice. If it isn't, showing it earlier isn't going to make a difference anyhow. The PS3 won't be out yet either way, and the sort of person that's going to jump on the Xbox-360 at launch isn't going to have his mind changed by what at this point is presumably going to be a very incomplete demo.

The DS wasn't harmed by the PSP's media hype, and if people want the Revolution, all the Gamestop employees in the world aren't going to make them pre-order a PS3.

Until launch, there is absolutely nothing Nintendo can do about the view that they are going to be a non-factor. This year's E3 is better spent pumping this year's products. That means Zelda, and DS online games.

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Author Topic: MoSys: Revolution Launching in Mid-2006 (Read 15194 times)