Miyamoto talks Revolution

By Ellie Gibson Published 25 July, 2005

Games! Pads! DVD! Wi-Fi! Etc!

Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed more details of the next-gen Revolution console, including news that we could well see new Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion games on the platform.

"Nothing's set in stone yet, but the interface we're creating for the Revolution is well suited to Pikmin," Miyamoto told US magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly. "I think it would be a good match."

As for Luigi's Mansion - "The director often says, 'Make another one! Make another one!' and I want to use Luigi," Miyamoto said, adding that Nintendo is 'thinking about' bringing Smash Bros. to the DS as well as the Revolution.

He confirmed the publisher's intention to make its back catalogue of games available for download, revealing that the possibility of making games like Mario Party playable online is currently under consideration.

"If our discussion goes well, and if the technical aspects of Revolution also go well, that's possible," Miyamoto said.

He confirmed that the Revolution won't feature an Ethernet port, but that you'll be able to connect an adapter to the USB socket. "Considering where the machine will be placed in the household, we think it would be difficult for people to route the typical Ethernet line to it," Miyamoto explained.

"Also, we're considering connecting the DS with the Revolution via Wi-Fi," he added - reiterating a point that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had made just prior to E3, which perhaps got lost in the deluge of information at the time.

Unsurprisingly Miyamoto refused to reveal any details of the top secret and much-hyped Revolution controller, but he did say he believed it would prove very popular with gamers and eventually become the industry standard.

And just because the controller features a new design doesn't mean it won't work with all types of multi-platform games: "We designed the controller so it can play any of the different conventional [gameplay] styles," Miyamoto said.

He went on to explain Nintendo's decision to make the Revolution's DVD player an optional extra, telling EGM: "The majority of households already own a DVD player or two. We don't want them to spend extra money just to have a console which happens to have a DVD capability.

"And the DVD player isn't going to be an attachment," he said. "It's going to go inside the machine so you won't even be able to tell the difference." In other words, there will be probably some kind of slot on the console which the attachment slides into so you don't have any big bits of plastic sticking out anywhere - perhaps similar to the way the GameCube's broadband or modem adapters can be inserted.

Miyamoto dismissed critics' claims that the Revolution won't be able to compete with its rivals in the graphics stakes, telling EGM: "Even if you look at Zelda on GameCube, I don't think that looks inferior to what the competition is touting as 'next-generation' visuals."

And there are more important things to worry about than high definition telly, Miyamoto argued. "The majority of people won't be playing our system with an HDTV, though with the Revolution, 480p resolution will be standard.

"We are not making light of graphics and technology - we are trying to make the best-balanced machine that will appeal to the most people."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • weebl #1 7 years ago

    "Even if you look at Zelda on GameCube, I don't think that looks inferior to what the competition is touting as 'next-generation' visuals."

    Yes, but the ground textures are pish...

  • statix101 #2 7 years ago

    "And there are more important things to worry about than high definition telly, Miyamoto argued. "The majority of people won't be playing our system with an HDTV, though with the Revolution, 480p resolution will be standard"

    So that makes it the same as the 360, you can use HD if you have the TV capabale of running it, otherwise 640x480 it is....

    So why did the big N go on about not supporting HD a few weeks ago??????

    I wish they would make their minds up.....

  • KraftWerk #3 7 years ago

    Well, he makes a hell of a lot more sense than Kutaragi, that's for sure.

    I understand and agree with just about everything Nintendo is doing with the Revolution, and the 360 and PS3 just strike me as, well, slightly boring in comparison.

  • #4 7 years ago

    with the Revolution, 480p resolution will be standard.

    Does that mean Rev will have a digital component output? I certainly hope so.

  • abigsmurf #5 7 years ago

    just show us the pad already!

  • onyxbox #6 7 years ago

    It will be like the current gen regarding graphics i.e. Revolution will be comparable to the 360 which will be comparable to PS3 etc.

    I mean I have a PS2, NGC and an XBox and there's not much in it, XBox has the upper hand but not a significant enough difference to rate one system 'generally' better than the other.
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/05 @ 12:23

  • chronom4n #7 7 years ago

    And there are more important things to worry about than high definition telly, Miyamoto argued. "The majority of people won't be playing our system with an HDTV, though with the Revolution, 480p resolution will be standard.

    probably because no one willbe buying one!!!

  • Dizzy #8 7 years ago

    "Considering where the machine will be placed in the household"

    That is a bit weird? Where does he want the Rev? In the kitchen?

    "It's going to go inside the machine so you won't even be able to tell the difference."

    Doesn't that point more in the direction of the original XBox solution? An optional "doggle" or something to enable DVD playback. I though Rev would have a DVD disk format? If not, Nintendo is crazy.
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/05 @ 12:43

  • FairgroundTown #9 7 years ago

    It is sounding very-much like it will require a connection to a Windows PC to play on-line. :( (Please someone tell me I'm wrong!)

  • Gurgeh #10 7 years ago

    "It is sounding very-much like it will require a connection to a Windows PC to play on-line. :( (Please someone tell me I'm wrong!) "

    ...which makes the Revolution-ary controller a keyboard + mouse.

  • gibbondrives #11 7 years ago

    fairground town: my money's on it being wi-fi enabled (with the USB dongle) which you then use with a wireless router. so you wouldn't have to have a pc on to use the revolution online that way. unless of course you only have a USB modem plugged into your pc/mac, there you would need wi-fi in the pc/mac with it switched on to route the connection.

    or something.

  • Pirotic #12 7 years ago

    Reading between the lines they are basically making the console as cheap to produce and sell as possible, no modem, no hard-disc not even a bloody DVD player (but the hardware is probably in it, just needs a remote to unlock so they can avoid the dvd player tax thingy).

    I like the way he thinks the new joypad will 'become the standard', after they came up with the trigger buttons, the analogue stick and the rumble pack you're not going to argue with that.

    But Zelda, despite looking great for a gamecube game just cannot hold up against the lush textures and insane poly counts of next gen hardware.

  • gibbondrives #13 7 years ago

    "...which makes the Revolution-ary controller a keyboard + mouse."

    ah yes of course. just like the Xbox. Exactly.

  • Cloudane #14 7 years ago

    It seems to me that Nintendo are playing it safe, yet again.

    All the online malarky, high-definition resolutions, different DVD formats, loads of connections in the back of the consoles for the PS3 and Xbox 360 make it equipped for the future, therefore is future proof. On the other hand, Nintendo seem to ignore all these again, similar to the GameCube being just a games console.

    The controller stuff is not bothering me anymore, once they show it they have shown it.

  • KraftWerk #15 7 years ago

    "It is sounding very-much like it will require a connection to a Windows PC to play on-line. :( (Please someone tell me I'm wrong!)"

    You only need a normal wireless internet connection, but if you don't have one of those, you'll need a snappy USB-adaptor in your pc that takes your wired Dial-Up/ISDN/Broadband line and transfers signals wirelessly to the Rev. That's how I understand it at least. That USB-thingamobob might require Windows though, but that's just speculation.

  • Eraser #16 7 years ago

    I can play DVD's with my PC and a DVD player, why in gods name would I want my console to be able to play DVD's as well?

    Why would I want it to be able to function as a media center?
    Why would I want it to be able to connect to my PC?
    Why would I want it to do HDTV when I don't have a HDTV enabled television set?
    Why would I want it to do a gazillion polygons when all those polygons are used to create the exact same games all over again?
    Why would I want it to toast my bread?

    You see, I buy a gamesconsole to play games with, nothing else. If I don't have to spend hundreds of extra euros for all those useless features, then that means I can buy a few games more.

  • Yaz #17 7 years ago

    "It will be like the current gen regarding graphics i.e. Revolution will be comparable to the 360 which will be comparable to PS3 etc."

    Well, given the size of Revolution, I very much doubt that. Nintendo's focus with Revolution is more about the WAY gamers will interact with their games (via the 'Revolutionary' controller) and less about graphics and power. It's a change of direction for Nintendo in terms of their console hardware, and follows on from their recent success with the DS (less powerful than the PSP, but more innovative).

    The CPUs and GPUs in X360 and PS3 will generate quite alot of heat, hence cooling is very important and is reflected in the size and design of the consoles. There is just no way that Nintendo can squeeze the same amount of power as the X360 or PS3 into a box the size of the Revolution prototype shown at E3! And they say the final console will be even smaller!!!

    So imo, the rumours of 2 to 3 times the power of the Gamecube squeezed into the small box they call 'Revolution' is a much more realistic expectation. Hence Miyamoto is keen to suggest that Zelda looks as good as any next-gen game, rather than to say Revolution will be just as powerful.

    We'll see. :)

  • Dizzy #18 7 years ago

    >Why would I want it to be able to function as a media center?

    Because you want to record TV shows a la Tivo in the future? Maybe you want to show the pictures of your holiday to your friends/potential new girlfriend? (no you don't invite them to your geeky, messy "PC" room... you don't want them to see those action figures of Master Chief and your gaming/anime posters).

    >Why would I want it to be able to connect to my PC?

    Stream all those mp3s to that game with a crappy glam metal soundtrack (yeah I am looking at you Sega). Play all those nice downloaded movies that you will be able to buy in the furure from iMovies on you nice fat TV?

    >Why would I want it to do HDTV when I don't have a HDTV enabled television set?

    Because you will probably own a HDTV in a couple of years (unless you still have a black and white TV.. who needs color anyway?)

    Media center stuff is the future... but there is abviously still room for a console like the Rev for people who do not use the media center features (and that's probably the majority next few years. But you know how people are, when they see these Media centres ina ction they might all want one. Just look at mobile phones and digital cameras.
    Edited by 2 at 25/07/05 @ 13:37

  • captain-future #19 7 years ago

    I think 90% of the "revolution" is already out there - mainly: backwards compatibility to 20 years of Big N fun.

    If I had to make an assumption about the "controller" it would be something like this:
    similar to dreamcast's visual memory with a big customizable display to arrange the buttons for the different systems (nes, snes, n64, gc, rev) - again underlining that backwards compatibility is the main part of "revolution". may contain a touchscreen function (I doubt it) and is wireless.

  • Blerk #20 7 years ago

    *sigh*

    Just unveil it, already!

    /gets impatient

  • McGeeza #21 7 years ago

    I just don't get Nintendo these days.

    Do they actually think that anyone is excited about the prospect of a Luigi's Mansion sequel on a next-gen machine?...bizarre.

    BTW - before the flaming begins, i'd love to see Nintendo stick it to MS and Sony. Unfortunately, it's just not going to happen.


  • SirScratchalot #22 7 years ago

    Wi-Fi enabled, obviously digital outputs if the standard is to become 480p, dongle option for using your old trusty TP cables if you want to run them through to the living room(Although my girfriend won´t let me... for some reason she thinks TP cables clash with the sofa), a controller that actually seems meant to play games with. A cheap USB addon for the PC if you don´t want to invest in a WLan router. I must say I´m liking the sound of the revolution more and more as it gets more meat on the bones of those rumours....

  • tpfkanep #23 7 years ago

    "Even if you look at Zelda on GameCube, I don't think that looks inferior to what the competition is touting as 'next-generation' visuals."

    Yes, but the ground textures are pish...
    ------------------------
    As if the ground textures affect gameplay.

  • Darkedge #24 7 years ago

    ninty rolls out their hype master to say some tiny non details.
    Wow.

    "Considering where the machine will be placed in the household, we think it would be difficult for people to route the typical Ethernet line to it,"

    Childs bedroom then - and that explains the lack of DVD and HDef as kids won't need/have those.
    The controller will probably be just drool proof as it'll be designed for 2-5 year olds as thats the only market Ninty i'll have a chance in.

  • O-Fox #25 7 years ago

    Eraser: You answered almost all your own questions with that last statement - 'because I don't have gazillions of euros to spend'. Someone looks at, say, the xbox and thinks 'hey if I buy this I won't need to buy a DVD player as well' - in other words, more features = better value for money. Having a games console that can do all kinds of things that would take many different expensive things to do otherwise is good value. And, as others have already said, watching a film/listening to music/doing anything is much more comfortable (and sociable?) on a sofa in the living room than up in a study in an office chair.

  • kalel #26 7 years ago

    Nintendo considering recycling old IP? Really? You sure?

  • Psi #27 7 years ago

    It's quite plainly clear to me what the next gen controller will be, you just need to use your loaf. Most gamers are men.... most gamers use two hands to operate them.

    Now what feels great to blokes and you use both hands to feel them with?

    Nintendo breast controllers! You can sit there for hours mashing a pair of double d's all day and night playing your fave games.

  • Jmog #28 7 years ago

    "So that makes it the same as the 360, you can use HD if you have the TV capabale of running it, otherwise 640x480 it is....

    So why did the big N go on about not supporting HD a few weeks ago?????? "

    Er, they are still not supporting HD. 480p is just regular 640x480 in progressive. The same as the majority of Gamecube games. The Xbox 360 and PS3 will run in true HD, 720p and 1080i. The Revolution will not.

    Oh, someone mentioned digital component. There is no such thing. Component is analogue. If it's digital it has to be either DVI or HDMI. If they dont support HD resolutions (which they've said they won't) then it's highly unlikely that it will have DVI or HDMI.

  • ST.. #29 7 years ago

    "And if your extra mega good.........we'll bring out a MARIO themed game on it!!".

    Audience: Umm but we sort of expected that anyway? what else have you got?

  • ruttyboy #30 7 years ago

    I have a horrible feeling that the controller is just going to include a tilt sensor...

  • smelly #31 7 years ago

    "Well, given the size of Revolution"

    The cube is much smaller than the ps2, but significantly more powerful.

    See?

  • smelly #32 7 years ago

    "*sigh*
    Just unveil it, already! "



    Well blerk.. If you look at the big N's previous unveilings, they dont like to do it without REAL games for them to show at the same time and not just pre-rendered tech demos.

    They wait until they have something to show on both hardware and software before showing the public.

    I think that is the RIGHT thing to do. Well i'd rather that than the other bull we heard/saw at e3.



  • Dizzy #33 7 years ago

    >Nintendo breast controllers! You can sit there for hours mashing a pair of double d's all day and night playing your fave games.

    Surely they will include a way to use your girlfriends breasts in party games and to save money?

  • onyxbox #34 7 years ago

    they will include a way to use your girlfriends breasts in party games

    does she have big 'uns?

    /rubs knees and grins

  • abigsmurf #35 7 years ago

    I'm beginning to doubt the control method is 'just' a tilt sensor. Afterall the reason the controller is such a big secret is to stop Sony and MS announcing a similar controller near their console launches. MS made a controller with a tilt sensor so that reason would make no sense if thats all it is.

    The sensor talk was because Nintendo licenced a patent from a company that produces gyroscopic systems. I'm pray this means a controller with gyroscopic feedback. Imagine a console which doesn't just rumble when you fire but actually simluates the kickback of the gun....

  • Tonka #36 7 years ago

    Imagine a console which doesn't just rumble when you fire but actually simluates the kickback of the gun....

    Now that would be nice. I'm not too keen on tilt controll since I have a bad habit of tilting a lot as it is. My old ways might be completely wrong and you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks...

  • Bruno #37 7 years ago

    "Even if you look at Zelda on GameCube, I don't think that looks inferior to what the competition is touting as 'next-generation' visuals."

    What the hell is that guy smoking ?
    Must be all those mushrooms finally getting to his head...

  • ruttyboy #38 7 years ago

    What I meant by my 'tilt sensor' comment was that I'm afraid it will be a big anti-climax :( I mean if they just bring out a Ninty branded trackball or something then sure it could 'revolutionise' console gaming, but it wouldn't be quite the epoch making development they've led us to believe :)

  • gamesb*tch #39 7 years ago

    None of which matters as there will be no games for naughty Europe (again) anyway LOL

  • evak #40 7 years ago

    Not having a DVD player is not the same as not having a DVD drive, Xbox didn't have a DVD player as standard and you originnaly had to buy the kit seperately. Mainly because it cost almost $20 to licence DVD playback which is a significant additional cost.

    Shouldn't worry about the stated lack of DVD player :)

  • Teeth #41 7 years ago

    " None of which matters as there will be no games for naughty Europe (again) anyway LOL"

    LOL

  • AtomicBanana #42 7 years ago

    ' don't you just hate it when someone makes complete sense in the games industry'

    I see no evidence of that so far. Each to thier own I suppose, I can see some peoples arguments for the Rev, but it all seems so short sited. The media centre stuff on the other consoles isn't quite as useless as a lot of you seem to think. I sure as hell know I use XBMC on my modded xbox literally every day for one reason or another.

    I think nintendo is just something some people 'get' and some don't. I'll never understand how people can play most of ninty's finest games, to me and my friends they seem really out of touch, I do own a GC as I got it cheap, but it gets rather a lot less use than my xbox's and ps2. Oh, and before anyone jumps on it, no I'm not talking about making every game full of violence and sex because it's cool and ninty is kiddy for not doing that. I think it's more fundemental with that.

  • Darren #43 7 years ago

    I don't think the Revolution supports high definition simply because the hardware itself isn't powerful enough for it to run the games at 720p or higher. The machine is only said to be two to three times more powerful than the GameCube.

    Makes you wonder what third party developers will make of it since most games are developed on one platform and ported down. It sounds like they'll have their work cut out for them trying to squeeze a PS3 or Xbox 360 game onto the Revolution. The GC suffered from poor third party support so how will the Revolution fare? Worse?

  • Darren #44 7 years ago

    As for Twilight Princess looking as good or better than next-gen games - that's a completely ludicrous statement! Sure the GC game looks very nice but it looks unmistakenly like a current gen complete with aliasing and low-res textures (especially on the ground). The artwork and design lifts the game above the norm though and makes it look amazing but it still can't compete with the likes of Killzone 2 or Gears of War for sheer graphical Wow-factor!

  • RobTheBuilder #45 7 years ago

    But does that not make the point for HD.
    If Zelda doesnt look far off from new gen games, its the HDTV that will make all the visual difference...

  • sumanai #46 7 years ago

    I don't see how 480p as standard means 480p only. 50Hz is after all the standard on all european games right now, but many also have 60Hz.It doesn't bode well, but I've had my doubts about Rev multiple times. Actually, I'm rather through with guessing, Not enough info, and frankly, good deal of it tends to be rumours.

    And yeah, anyone heard of S-video? Isn't it digital?
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/05 @ 07:40

  • smelly #47 7 years ago

    "The machine is only said to be two to three times more powerful than the GameCube."

    If you look thru all the crap being spouted by the other two, i think you'll find...

  • Kafeen #48 7 years ago

    like the way he thinks the new joypad will 'become the standard', after they came up with the trigger buttons, the analogue stick and the rumble pack you're not going to argue with that.

    The vibration feedback (Rumble) was created by Immersion Systems.

    The first analog stick was on an Atari console.

    I don't know of anything before the SNES off hand that used trigger buttons.

    They did invent the cross D-Pad though. Noone else is still allowed to use it.