Author Topic: ATI making chip for Xbox2! What about Nintendo? (Read 4970 times)

Rob91883 · « **on:** August 14, 2003, 04:07:36 PM »

Hey dudes, ATI announced today that it was going to have a techonological agreemant with Microsoft next Xbox system. They arent really specific, but its not hard to assume that they might make a graphics chip. will ATI make a chip for Nintendo and Microsoft? Will Nintendo work with Nvidia? Im still thinking about it.

LinkNews from Gamespot, Read on it dude

NintendoFanGirl · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:12:31 PM »

As it stands now, ATI is making chips for both M$ and Nintendo. I think this is a conflict of interest, but what do I know.

Perfect Cell · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:17:47 PM »

Ati is making chips for both systems.... We will see what happens. M$ will be working directly with the ATI engineers to develop the chip from what i understand so ATI Will make 2 different chips.... It would be a smart idea to invest on ATI Now...

Mingesium · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:24:01 PM »

I believe ATI has two teams. Nintendo will mostly get the guys that worked on GameCube, ArtX, and Microsoft would get the other team.

Inkwell · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:25:57 PM »

I would't doubt it if Microsoft has the better graphical chip out of this relationship. Since they helping to develop the chip along side ATI alot of money will be thrown around. I wonder what what Nintendo will try to do? Hmm....probably nothing.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:28:08 PM »

Excellent deduction there, inkwell. :|

The Omen · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2003, 05:26:27 PM »

I don't like the idea of two competing systems using the same manufacturer for their chip. Even if there are 2 different factions within ATI. If i were Nintendo, i would call Nvidia and tell them it would be worth their while to develop a chip that surpasses anything ATI can do...of course ATI would be under the same direction from M$, so ..um,... oh well.

Sirmorphix · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2003, 05:34:40 PM »

The whole is issue concerning to me, but at the same time Nintendo doesn't have a lot of different choices to work from. NVidia is often a questionable company to work with. But then again, so is nintendo. Who knows what's going to come of this, all I can say is that nintendo better bring some serious cash to the table so that they can get a graphics proccessor of at least equal power to the XBox2.

ThePerm · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2003, 05:36:41 PM »

well even if they had different GPUs they would still have different CPUs.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2003, 05:36:48 PM »

Nintendo keeps saying it doesn't care about graphics and is all about gameplay so I don't think it would mind the less powerful chip.
It actually might want it to keep the production costs down.
The PSX beat the N64 and now the PS2 is beating the GCN and XBox. So I think it's safe to say having the most powerful hardware isn't that important.

dafunkk12 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2003, 06:01:46 PM »

Don't think there are "two seperate factions" at ATi, what with ArtX being behind the non-original Radeons. But I think that since TVs, even HDTV's don't have too many pixels to offer, raw fillrate won't be too much of an issue anymore. Just throw in some modern T&L processors and rework the Radeon to once again have superior texture processing (1 texture one each of 8 pipelines vs GeForce FX's two per 4 pipelines; Radeon just using brute force, in this case). I found it kind of odd that the 9700 and its subsequent releases actually downgraded the priority of texturing when that was ArtX's claim to fame on Flipper.

Rob91883 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2003, 06:13:13 PM »

Well Microsoft had to work with someone other than Nvidia, Because of the pricing disputes they had about the GPU for Xbox. The next best or better company to do it is ATI. If this becomes a conflict of interest for Nintendo, maybe they can make an agreemant with Nvidia. But I dont know if Nvidia is a company ot be trusted. So what can Nintendo do to make sure that they have a powerful system? Maybe consoles in the future will give developers such powerful hardware that it wont matter wich one is the most powerful!
Nvidia and Xbox dispute

Berto2K · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2003, 08:37:25 PM »

This isn't a conflict of interest. As of today, you can buy an IBM computer running OSX, UNIX, or Linux, or Windows. Now that might be conflict of interest, but IBM and ATI are making all the dough from the deals. And nobody is telling them they can't do it. Nintendo would have to drop millions to oust MS from their deal. But it would still take ATI changing their minds and risking losing other possible profit from another system.

ThePerm · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2003, 09:22:18 PM »

really considering what youll be able to do on any next gen system power IS less important. As long as they look about even no one will care. I doubt graphically most people will be able to tell the difference. Next gen systems will be able to make that realisim gamecube does in rouge leader and resident evil and make it even more realistic. Complex character models, high rez textures, smooth shading and lighting effects. Look at games like half life 2 for todays pc and think in 2005 youll be able to do more then whats best on a pc(right now) on a console.

Bishman · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2003, 09:33:07 PM »

Remember what Denis said. I really hope that ATI makes the same chip for the 'N' and M$. Then it will be all about gameplay.

Darc Requiem · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2003, 09:37:12 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Bishman
Remember what Denis said. I really hope that ATI makes the same chip for the 'N' and M$. Then it will be all about gameplay.

Neither Nintendo or MS would allow that. I don't think MS forked over an 18 million advanced payment to fund the development of Nintendo's GPU. Besides from what I gather the GC2 is much farther along than the XB2 at this point. GC2 chip is probably being developed by the ArtX guys that designed Flipper. The XB2 GPU will probably be an off shoot of the Radeon successor currently in development. So they will probably be two different chips. Also IBM has partnered with Sony and Toshiba for the CELL processor. Nintendo will most likely be using a G4 or G5 based CPU. So unless they contract with Motorola they will most likely be using IBM again. Besides I don't think IBM wants to give up all the cash they are making off Nintendo.

Darc Requiem

Matrix · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2003, 10:38:43 AM »

What's the big deal? ATI is fully intending to continue it's relationship with Nintendo. Nintendo is still getting it's chip, so what's the problem? I don't hear you guys complaining about IBM doing stuff for Sony and MS while working with Nintendo at the same time.

Honestly, you guys take things way too seriously. Not much has changed for Big N.

As for Nintendo working with Nvidia, that's down right stupid. Nvidia likes to do something called "screwing over it's partners." Why do you think Microsoft dropped them?

Darc Requiem · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2003, 10:48:48 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Matrix
What's the big deal? ATI is fully intending to continue it's relationship with Nintendo. Nintendo is still getting it's chip, so what's the problem? I don't hear you guys complaining about IBM doing stuff for Sony and MS while working with Nintendo at the same time.

Honestly, you guys take things way too seriously. Not much has changed for Big N.

As for Nintendo working with Nvidia, that's down right stupid. Nvidia likes to do something called "screwing over it's partners." Why do you think Microsoft dropped them?

While I agree it would be stupid for Nintendo to work with Nvidia. They didn't screw over MS, MS screwed them over Matrix. Nvidia gave MS a price for the XGPU based on the number of units MS told them they would sell during the fiscal year. MS missed their target by 40%. This caused the XGPU to be more expensive for Nvidia to produce. So instead of MS doing the right thing and paying Nvidia for the increases cost they refused. Thats like if I'm building a car and you are supplying the engine. I tell you I will sell 5000 cars by the end of the year and you say well if you are selling 5000 cars I can give you the engines for $1000 a piece. Now if I only sell 3000 cars and its cost you $1200 to make the engines because of this. I should at least pay you $1300 an engine. Not pay you a $1000 an engine and wonder why you'd refuse to work with me in the future.

I'm not a huge Nvidia fan but they got royally screwed by MS. For each X-box sold they are losing money, thats not how its supposed to work. They are supposed to be making money like ATI is with GC. Why do you think ATI's terms with MS mirror the terms they currently have with Nintendo? They don't want MS to screw them like they screwed Nvidia. They know if cost to produce goods increase due to an error by MS, MS wont pay them the difference.

Darc Requiem

Rob91883 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2003, 03:03:09 PM »

I dont see any barriers when it comes to ArtX working on the next Xbox console. ArtX and ATI had different designs for a GPU, but When ATI bought them they worked togethor to make the Radeon 9700. If microsoft is going ot make their next console based on PC hardware, why wouldnt ArtX help out? Unless indulges on hows its being made( They shouldn't give out too much info right on NES5) ArtX could be working on both platforms. There are 3 desing teams put togethor by ArtX's Orton was named president and chief operating officer of the merged company. Unless ATI or Nintendo Indulge us on some info all we can do is speculate.

Or maybe its going to be an evolved version of the flipper?

Darc Requiem · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2003, 10:02:50 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Rob91883
I dont see any barriers when it comes to ArtX working on the next Xbox console. ArtX and ATI had different designs for a GPU, but When ATI bought them they worked togethor to make the Radeon 9700. If microsoft is going ot make their next console based on PC hardware, why wouldnt ArtX help out? Unless indulges on hows its being made( They shouldn't give out too much info right on NES5) ArtX could be working on both platforms. There are 3 desing teams put togethor by ArtX's Orton was named president and chief operating officer of the merged company. Unless ATI or Nintendo Indulge us on some info all we can do is speculate.

Or maybe its going to be an evolved version of the flipper?

I concur with what you are saying but MS wants a slightly customized PC setup for their PC ports. Nintendo always goes for the custom architecture. MS isn't gonna do anything that will curb the source of a lot of its Software....which are PC ports or in the case of Halo and games like Knights of the Old Republic X-box exclusives. PC games that look excellent that they can buy as exclusives to their console. Saves them the trouble of having any actually homegrown titles to support their platform. Nintendo is probably gonna stick with the type of architecture they have with the GC. The GC's architeture is near flawless in design...only lacking a slight bit with RAM. The only thing that really hurts the GC is that 3rd parties don't take advantage of the GC's strengths....especially when it comes to multi-platform titles.

Darc Requiem

AgentSeven · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2003, 11:19:31 PM »

There's no conflict of interest here. I have stated before, and it is already a well known fact, that both Nintendo and M$ have what's called "A Gentleman's Agreement." One that states that since they both have relatively seperate goals, they will "unofficially" work together against their common foe, $ony. Kind of like the U.S. and The Russians did against the nazi's.

I stated this month's ago and I was scoffed at by almost everyone here, including the head of the site, Rick Powers.

Now, has anyone noticed that there seems to be a ton of RARE games headed for the GBA? But wait a minute, I thought M$ bought Rare? We all know that's true. We also know that the GBA Rare games are being distributed by a thrid party. Still doesn't it seem strange that a company M$ owns would be producing so many games for their "rival" Nintendo? Gee, it's almost like they have some sort of agreement....

Oldskool · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2003, 11:53:39 PM »

Only one thing to do...

Oldskool puts on his leather jacket, grabs his shotgun, smashes down nvidias HQs door, and says "Nvidia, it is time"

ThePerm · « **Reply #22 on:** August 16, 2003, 09:38:51 AM »

art x is no more...they are merged with ATI. The next sytems chips prolly will be ralated but they'll have different custom features. Hopefully the same clockspeed depending on when they launch. of coursew they'll be dealing with sony at the same time. Overall you prolly wont notice a difference in graphics.

News:

Author Topic: ATI making chip for Xbox2! What about Nintendo? (Read 4970 times)