Topic: The Last Secret, What Ever it is, Will Be Big (link)

[nemo_83]

1up


"It's a big deal - the implications and possibilities are pretty incredible. I can't wait for E3!"  - 1up editor Sam Kennedy in response to the following:


"Does Nintendo really have a big secret left?  Hardware related?  Interface related?  Display related?  They have a lot to show at E3 but do they have something major still under wraps that affects software?  Are they buying a company, using a PPU to give their CPU a break, doing something revolutionary with the pad/cradle facial mechanics; stereoscopics to compete with HD?  I don't see any reason in waiting to E3 if it isn't something big, bigger than the controller which they showed last year.  If they really want to blow my mind they would make it so the games we download can all be edited with an intuitive point and click game editor, meaning when you download SMB3, you can take the elements, the sprites, music, animations, etc and create your own game setting up triggers as easily as dropping shortcuts or powerups; furthermore you could take elements from the other 2D SMB games and mix them together.  Plus using the remote one can draw 2D sprites and backgrounds, if you are really hardcore, from scratch to put into the game."

Listen to the podcast.

[Dasmos]

y iz implicashuns boldud?

[TMW]

Because its a FNORD.

[nemo_83]

i bolded implications because that is refering to the speculation of what the big secret could be if it were true

[Michael8983]

I think it will be a portable LCD screen.
It will be not be sold with every REV of course but Nintendo will offer two packages like what MS is doing. The core unit and the one with the screen accessory which will also be sold seperately.
It makes the lack of HD more understandable since a sizeable portion of the userbase will use the portable screen. Plus if the REV indeed uses wi-fi like the DS it will make it much more accessible. You could go to public hot-spots or run into other portable REVs on the go.
Nintendo experiemented with a portable screen on the Gamecube but never really did anything with it. It's possible and likely IMO that it was held over to become a key feature for its successor. The small flat REV, unlike its blocky predecessor, is perfectly suited for such an accessory.

[Caliban]

As much as I like the LCD suggestion from Michael8983, it just doesn't make sense. Why? Where are you going to position the sensor bar?

As for the implications, well I really don't care at the moment 'cause I don't know what this last secret is so how can I study the implications if there is nothing to implicate.

[Mario]

I don't think there will be another big secret. It's going to be something like "surprise, Revolution has games!".

How on earth would some 1up editor know anything? If they did, it would mean Sony knew as well, and there would be no point keeping it a secret.

[Bloodworth]

I wouldn't be so surprised if Sam knew something he couldn't print yet.  And I'm also betting that Nintendo does still have something major up their sleeves.

[wandering]

Does Bloodworth know something he can't print yet?

[Mario]

[MysticGohan]

I think he may

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Quote
Originally posted by: Bloodworth
I wouldn't be so surprised if Sam knew something he couldn't print yet.  And I'm also betting that Nintendo does still have something major up their sleeves.

Reggie's mighty armpit.

[nemo_83]

I believe the people at EGM do know something they can't print.  It could be something as simple as both Mario Brothers and Metroid online at launch.  Add in Zelda TP compatibility with the remote and you have the definition of the perfect launch.

[wandering]

I'm sure there probably is a big secret or two. We know so little about what Nintendo is planning. Whenever that's happened in the past, when have then end results ever been not genuinely surprising?

Quote
How on earth would some 1up editor know anything? If they did, it would mean Sony knew as well, and there would be no point keeping it a secret.

There is a point: dramatic effect. Nintendo wants it's E3 show to be spectacular. There's also a point with sharing things with the press: Nintendo wants as much goodwill from them as possible.

And it doesn't really matter what Sony knows at this point...E3 is mere weeks away.  

[BigJim]

The rumblings from GDC that I heard today say there's something else...

There could be an "enterprising" source that'd leak it before E3. But it's as if first borns were on the line and nobody wants leaks tracing back to them. The Wrath of Reggie must work.

I don't know any facts, just rumors. IF true, don't overthink it. It is definitely cool, but don't go nutty with impractical ideas.

Sorry to rumor monger. LOL. But we know so little, so it stands to reason anyway that there is more to learn.  

[wandering]

Quote
There could be an "enterprising" source that'd leak it before E3. But it's as if first borns were on the line and nobody wants leaks tracing back to them. The Wrath of Reggie must work.

Well, why would someone want to both hurt Nintendo and risk not being able to work in the industry ever again?

[Spak-Spang]

When you read several of the comments Nintendo makes about secrets left with the Nintendo Revolution (and even going back to previous systems) you realize that Nintendo views secrets as anything about a system they are not telling us about yet.

The most recent IGN interview is a great example.

paraphrase:

We have several little secrets we have not talked about.  They could be games, or hardware, or just little things.  It really depends on what you are talking about "big secret."  What we have might be considered big and huge, or it might it something simple but still neccessary to keep secret.

Ok, that is borderline writing my own statement, but that is how I read her comments.

So this big secret could be huge.  

A PPU,
An earlier than expected launch,
something magical about the hardware they we don't know yet.

Or it could be something smaller.

The controller now has two big A/B buttons on top.
The controller has a microphone in it.
The New IP "Whatever it Is Revolution" will be out at launch.
The launch lineup

Or it could be something important but ultimately trivial to the gamer

What the costs for games on the virtual console are.
The means that Nintendo allows you to get virtual console games.


I guess the point is not to get your hopes too high on this secret, because it could be the MEGATON!!!  Or it could be just a cool bit of information that we didn't know we should get excited about.

[MaryJane]

I'm guessing the secret will be something big that I don't care about.
Like, the rev is going to use proprietary compression systems so that games downloaded on the virtual console won't take up a lot of space.
Or, the rev will be able to play ds games.

Important, yes, but not so great that i'm going to pee my pants when i hear it.  

[jasonditz]

I'm hoping it's something like an easy-to-use, inexpensive first party amateur devkit available at launch.

They've been talking up ease of programming and the possibility of original content through the VC... what better way than to allow people to make their own games and put them up on the download service? Kind of like how iTunes lets you add your own podcast to it.

Doesn't have to be anything that's just a world-beater either, something on the level of complexity of Saturn Basic would be just fine.

[Ian Sane]

I remember there was a secret about the Cube, too.  It turned out to be "clicky" analog shoulder buttons.  It was neat and original but ultimately wasn't that important of a feature.  I honestly can only think of about three games that even used them.  But it was a secret and it was surprising.

Nintendo thinks EVERYTHING they do is a big deal.  When they keep something to themselves it sometimes turns out to be really major and it sometimes turns out to be nothing spectacular.  There is probably something but that doesn't mean it's huge.

Plus there's so much we don't know.  We don't even know how the battery works with the controllers.  Nintendo might consider that info a surprise.  It might even be a really cool technical achievement in power consumption but it's not really exciting.  The price might be the surprise.  The actual games might the surprise.

One thing I am wondering about is DS connectivity.  You just KNOW they're going to do something to connect the systems together.

[Strell]

It will be an orifice in the machine that you can have sex with.  Repeatedly.  Obvoiusly they had me in mind, since it will be a big surprise.  DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

And if that doesn't exist then I will create one myself.

Subsequently, I'm no longer allowed in Target after picking up my Gamecube a few years ago....  

[The Omen]

VR

[MysticGohan]

I see what you did.... But isn't that already in the planning stages? :p

[jasonditz]

I hope we see some connectivity titles... I love my DS and I bet it makes a snazzy controller too.

[BigJim]

I don't think it's megat0n, but cool. When you get specifics you'd probably think "even cooler." It makes sense to wait until E3 when almost everything is on the table.

No, you won't say "wow". That's reserved for GRAPHICS!