Updated Revolution specs on IGN

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/699/699118p1.html

Here's the basics for those that don't want to wade through the article:

Originally Posted by IGN

Components are extensions of the Gamecube's
CPU: 729MHz (Gamecube: 485MHz)
GPU: 243MHz (Gamecube: 162MHz)
Main System RAM: 88MB (Gamecube: 24MB)

Personally, I'm a bit surprised at this. The CPU and GPU basically just had their clockrates increased by 50% (Gamecube 1.5, lawl), and they added another of 64MB main RAM (which strangely is seperate from the other 24MB). I expected the CPU to reach at least a GHz and for the GPU to be based on a somewhat newer design. On the other hand, this means that backwards compatability with Gamecube games is pretty easy for them to do, since the updated hardware should work just like the Gamecube did. This also explains how they were able to fit the console in such a small space: the Gamecube was already pretty small, so creating a system 5 years later with basically the same technology makes it easy to be made smaller.

Of course this is just the raw numbers and doesn't reference how much more efficient the components are compared to their Gamecube counterparts. But supposedly the final development kits are coming out in June, so we'll see then if the specs have been upgraded any more or if they've added anything else to the hardware.

Just shy of the XBOX? I just hope the Revolution will be just several times more powerful than the XBOX, just power wise. I really don't want them to fall behind that much, I mean, sure innovation and costs play a big factor..but..hell..

I don't care. If the games are good, that's all that matters to me. This is going to reduce the cost of the system immensely. It's going to be a real easy system to buy now, instead of a mortgage-inducing and broken shitmachine like the PS3 or 360.

Bravo, I say. Who cares how powerful it is, give me the games!

Specs mean relatively little until we see the games for the thing.
Granted, this is a bit depressing: multi-platform games might never make it to the Revolution due to the amount of reworking that might need to be done. Then again, it doesn't cost as much as the others...

Ok, Acer needs to either open the Revolution thread, or this needs to be closed.

We can't have a thread for every single Revolution announcement from here until November.

I guess they weren't kidding when they said "it's like an upgraded xbox."

Wow, that thing is seriously lacking in the performance area. They better damn well make sure that the games for the system are great - but we all know that the kiddy graphics whores are going to migrate to the 360 and PS3. I think that Nintendo may have shot themselves in the foot.

Originally Posted by Mucknuggle

but we all know that the kiddy graphics whores are going to migrate to the 360 and PS3. I think that Nintendo may have shot themselves in the foot.

Possibly, but I'll bet ALOT of people are going to look at the system in action and want to atleast try it out. We still haven't seen the thing in action with real games. Once that happens, I think people are going to cream themselves.

I don't think they've shot themselves in the foot... They're running 7 systems in 1, using brand new gameplay technology, and it's going to be cheap. It's the best buy out of all the systems, unquestionably (for gaming anyway).

Originally Posted by Neogin

Just shy of the XBOX? I just hope the Revolution will be just several times more powerful than the XBOX, just power wise. I really don't want them to fall behind that much, I mean, sure innovation and costs play a big factor..but..hell..

Well, if the original Gamecube was nearly as powerful as the Xbox, then with these specs they'd be a bit more powerful than it. The RAM isn't a huge improvement (the extra 14MB is pretty inconsequencial, although the RAM is a bit faster), but the CPU and GPU should noticably better. But with these specs, I can certainly see why the system doesn't have HD support: this system wouldn't even be able to run previous generation games in HD, let alone newer ones.

I'm almost surprised they didn't follow through with the idea of making the controller an accessory for the original Gamecube like the article mentions they tried. I mean really, this system is getting into the "why not make an addon for Gamecube instead of making a new console" relm. Aside from the extra RAM (which they almost could've offered as an addon...Expansion Pak mark 2?), the console doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to need to make an entirely new console over. Although they did add onto it in other ways such as storage space and wi-fi support, so it seems like their reason for making a seperate console wasn't for hardware power.

Originally Posted by sprouticus

Who cares how powerful it is, give me the games!

And if it's more powerful, then more developers would be willing to make games for it, and games can have more features in them. These things are not mutually exclusive.

Originally Posted by Solis

And if it's more powerful, then more developers would be willing to make games for it, and games can have more features in them. These things are not mutually exclusive.

Ehhh I dunno about that. Devs have been doing constant bitching over how much of an expensive pain in the ass it is to work with the PS3 and I think the 360 too. Making games for the Rev is going to be not only easy, but cheap as hell. Developers would be dumb not to make games for the Rev.

Ultimately, it comes down to what system pushes more games. However, if they cost less to make, they don't need to push as many games to make a profit. I think that's something that will attract developers.

How is Revolution going to succeed. No, seriously.

1. Developers look at 360 and PS3 specs. They are spoiled by the friendly amount of RAM and other resources. Then they look at Revolution's specs. ::everyone laughs::

2. Developers aren't going to deal with it because they can't port their games.

3. If a developer had a choice of creating the same shit on a system with immense power, or trying to gamble and create something entirely new but with crap resources, what do you think.

4. No one in the real world is going to care about Genesis and TurboGrafx games. No, really. Can you picture your EB or Gamestop dude going "Gotta get me dat external USB HD so I can load up some classic gamez."

5. People may even be confused as to what Revolution even is, just because it doesn't carry the standard controller type. No, seriously, it could end just because of this.

I'll buy it.

And I'll love it too. Fancy graphics has nothing on enjoyable gameplay. I also know many more will buy it for the same reason as me. Enough? I don't know but one can hope can't one? It would be seriously bad if we ended up with only Sony and microsoft in the major console market. Thats dangerously close to a monopoly situation for the ones with the lead.

It really seems Nintendo has sacrificed far too much for the controller. Sure, it might innovate input, but with such a small improvement in system specs they are pretty much making it impossible to improve gameplay anyway else other than though the controller.

Revolution owners are going to miss out on any type of new gameplay elements enchantments in AI, physics and such that developers might come up with using much more powerful hardware available elsewhere. I think Oblivion is just a nice sample of the type of things powerful processors are going to be able to bring to games this generation. But, only time will tell if the controller is going to bring enough to make up for this weakness.

The controller is a HUGE gameplay improvement. They don't even need insane processors, the controller itself is a big enough change as it is.

And as far as we know, those aren't the final specs yet.

CPU: 729MHz (Gamecube: 485MHz)
GPU: 243MHz (Gamecube: 162MHz)

That's all relative. a 500MHz Pentium 2 isn't as fast as a 500MHz Pentium 4. Who knows how fast the Hollywood and Broadway chips actually are.

Originally Posted by Solis

I'm almost surprised they didn't follow through with the idea of making the controller an accessory for the original Gamecube like the article mentions they tried. I mean really, this system is getting into the "why not make an addon for Gamecube instead of making a new console" relm.

Because addons have never ever turned a profit for any company in the history of gaming?

Quote:

Aside from the extra RAM (which they almost could've offered as an addon...Expansion Pak mark 2?)...

Because the Gamecube lets you switch out the RAM with an expansion pack just like the N64. Oh, wait.

Quote:

...the console doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to need to make an entirely new console over. Although they did add onto it in other ways such as storage space and wi-fi support, so it seems like their reason for making a seperate console wasn't for hardware power.

Meh, I think I'll wind up buying it because it's cheap as hell. I'm a college student, and I need bang for the buck. And honestly, my PC provides a LOT more functionality than either the 360 or the PS3 will, and I have no interest in Blu-ray or HD-DVD. And the games outside of Oblivion, which I bought for the PC, just don't interest me. *shrug*

Wow, so it didn't have the rumored PPU in it after all. See, my take on this is that Nintendo basically stopped trying somewhere between the Gamecube doing poorly and the DS becoming widly sucessful. Why play with the big dogs when you can be cheap and wind up as a companion console because of it?

Want orgasm-inducing graphics, unnecessarily accurate physics and AI that borders on insane? Play a PS3 or Xbox 360 game. When you're done with that just hop on over to your Revolution where you can play older titles or quirky 5 minute games.

The big problem is, will the mass market eat it up? It could come in at $200 or $150 and people would not buy it if it were perceived as outdated or toy-like. Another issue would be launching anywhere near the PS3's supposed launch.

Originally Posted by sprouticus

And as far as we know, those aren't the final specs yet.

CPU: 729MHz (Gamecube: 485MHz)
GPU: 243MHz (Gamecube: 162MHz)

That's all relative. a 500MHz Pentium 2 isn't as fast as a 500MHz Pentium 4. Who knows how fast the Hollywood and Broadway chips actually are.

But they specifically mention that those two chips are based on the Gamecube's architecture. So basically it's the 50% clockrate increase plus whatever optimisations they add. It isn't an entirely new design, so speeds should be fairly comparable.

And I'm pretty sure a 500MHz P2 would be about as fast as a 500MHz P4. Especially since a P3 would be FASTER than a P4.

Originally Posted by Murdercrow

Because addons have never ever turned a profit for any company in the history of gaming?

The Eyetoy and DDR dancepads seem to be doing pretty well.

Quote:

Because the Gamecube lets you switch out the RAM with an expansion pack just like the N64. Oh, wait.

And who says it's impossible? You don't think they might've thought ahead and given enough bandwidth to one of the many expansion ports on the console that it could support RAM? Yeah, I'm sure that Serial Port 2 is really getting a lot of use otherwise. Just like the Saturn cartridge slot was up to a certain point...

No shaders? WTF? I hope this is an early April fools day joke.

Personally, I think current Gamecube games look fine as is...Games don't need to look any better than the current generation, IMO. The problem is Gamecube doesn't have enough games and I can't say I see that changing with the Revolution on its' way.

Nintendo better support this system a lot better than they've supported Gamecube the last year or so...

I'm going to be pretty pissed off if the Revolution doesn't have a 4 inch thick cartridge slot for NES games.

But seriously, this is hilarious. Megadrive and TurboGrafx roms on the Revolution? What, do they have doubts that their mainstream launch titles won't sell very well? People would buy Superman 64 2 if it were a Revolution launch title.

I think Megalith has a point here. Developers will decide to make money from distributing their titles to the 360 and PS3, but not the Revolution. The same thing reminds me of Capcom vs. SNK 2 - it was on the Dreamcast, PS2, xbox, and Gamecube. And the Gamecube one was garbage, didn't have online capabilities, and you simply couldn't play proper fighting games with the Gamecube controller. If you have to buy a device for fighting games on the Revolution, well, that's just more money down the drain.

Most games which are ported to all 3 major leading consoles don't rely on their own controllers, so a company like Ubisoft making a Prince of Persia title with the current Revo controller, I just don't see it happening. It doesn't make sense unless they fix that controller.