Revolution Kits Arriving Late?

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13 Mar 2006, 09:34 PM
RoleTroll

Revolution Kits Arriving Late?

March 9, 2006 - Nintendo's vice president of sales and marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime, recently revealed that more than 1,000 Revolution controller development kits have been sent out to various software houses in order to familiarize studios with the workings of the device. IGN Revolution had the chance to go hands-on with one of these "kits," and we have new details on its basic setup, including how it looks and feels.

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One thing is crystal clear from the controller-based development kits, though: Revolution will definitely operate as an extension of the GameCube hardware. These preliminary kits include only a wired Revolution controller, a wired nunchuck attachment and a wired motion bar, which some studios have labeled the "wand." So the obvious question is, how can developers possibly hope to test any of this gear out? The answer is simple: the controller and its attachments plug into existing GameCube development hardware.

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Most software houses working with this kit have only a vague idea about what to expect from Revolution where horsepower is concerned. Studio sources regularly reiterate previously reported projections that the hardware will be roughly twice as powerful as GameCube. Development insiders we've spoken to seem unconcerned with power and instead focused on the gameplay possibilities that the new controller may help realize.

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/694/694785p1.html

Is it normal for developers to not have real, full development kits just 8 months from launch?
13 Mar 2006, 09:36 PM
EvilMog

DAMNIT! We might have to wait even longer for the next Mario Party.
13 Mar 2006, 09:47 PM
Rumpy

The Zelda delay makes a lot more sense now. You're choice of 2 new Revolution gimmick games and a Gamecube Zelda title for launch!
13 Mar 2006, 09:47 PM
1CCOSA

Well if it's basically an ext of GC then maybe 3rd party folks are just using GC dev kits before they get the Rev tools? Anyways, I just want a Mario adventure and one new property at launch, that is all I ask for. Pleeeeaase.
13 Mar 2006, 10:25 PM
kedawa

Twice as powerful as GC?
This thing had better be $149 or less.
13 Mar 2006, 11:47 PM
Diff-chan

This thing is sounding more and more like the Virtual Boy 2 every day.
13 Mar 2006, 11:51 PM
avatar

I didn't know the revolution had a visor. Links?
14 Mar 2006, 12:18 AM
Diff-chan

Quote:

Originally Posted by avatar

I didn't know the revolution had a visor. Links?

More like, both are hardware vastly different from their peers (shutting them out from a lot of third party support) and rely on a single gimmick to get them their audience.

Now, will people not named SpoDaddy want to wave a DVD remote around like an idiot? More than they wanted to play an eye-crippling red piece of crap? That remains to be seen.
14 Mar 2006, 01:00 AM
StriderKyo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpy

The Zelda delay makes a lot more sense now. You're choice of 2 new Revolution gimmick games and a Gamecube Zelda title for launch!

...and just about everything Activision, Ubi and EA put out this Christmas.

At least you can download Clu Clu Land.
14 Mar 2006, 09:16 AM
Dyne

this was news like 2 weeks ago. all the "main" devs have gotten the 3rd gen kits by now that don't have hardwired wands an "almost final" specs.
14 Mar 2006, 09:26 AM
sethsez

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoleTroll

Is it normal for developers to not have real, full development kits just 8 months from launch?

It's not uncommon.

And Nintendo still gets the benefit of the doubt from me after the DS. At the very least they're not trying to make something similar to the PS3 or Xbox 360, because they'd fail miserably doing so.
14 Mar 2006, 10:28 AM
Josh

Quote:

Originally Posted by diffusionx

Now, will people not named SpoDaddy want to wave a DVD remote around like an idiot?

laff.
14 Mar 2006, 11:22 AM
Zerodash

Quote:

Originally Posted by diffusionx

More like, both are hardware vastly different from their peers (shutting them out from a lot of third party support) and rely on a single gimmick to get them their audience.

Haven't you been paying attention? Nintendo isn't trying to be like their peers. Thats the whole point.
14 Mar 2006, 11:22 AM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

laff.

OOLAAA! :D
14 Mar 2006, 11:29 AM
avatar

Quote:

Originally Posted by diffusionx

More like, both are hardware vastly different from their peers (shutting them out from a lot of third party support) and rely on a single gimmick to get them their audience.

Now, will people not named SpoDaddy want to wave a DVD remote around like an idiot? More than they wanted to play an eye-crippling red piece of crap? That remains to be seen.

yeah becuase making something identical to the PS3 or Xbox360 will help them.
14 Mar 2006, 12:17 PM
Drewbacca

Diffusionx's points are all based on prior experience with Nintendo releasing gimmicks that didn't quite pan out. I have more faith in Nintendo with this gimmick than I do with them entering another generation like they did these past two and being out classed and out gunned like no tomorrow.
14 Mar 2006, 12:53 PM
Bonestorm

i don't know what the big deal is. They said before the development platform would be similar to the gamecube, so it seems until they get their hardware finalized they are telling people to use the gamecube stuff in the meantime. I'd think most developers are probably still familiarizing and experimenting with the new controller at this point anyway.

this is less of a "gimmick" than the DS, so yes- I think people will want want to wave remote controls around like idiots
14 Mar 2006, 01:03 PM
Wildkat

Quote:

Originally Posted by diffusionx

This thing is sounding more and more like the Virtual Boy 2 every day.

Thats not fair at all really.

More like Power Glove 2.0

yes I know it wasn't a first party accessory