DS to go online! Revolution will have built in wifi

Bluevoodu

Bluevoodu

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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/10/news_6120151.html

Iwata: DS going online, Revolution to have built-in Wi-Fi

Nintendo's next-gen console to sport built-in wireless connectivity, IBM CPU, and an ATI GPU; DS to go online later this year; new Zelda trailer and screens inside.

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Hot on the heels of J Allard's keynote at GDC, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata outlined his own company's future plans in even more detail at the San Francisco event.



After walking onstage, Iwata briefly talked about his background in game development. Then he whet loyal Cubers' appetites by showing a trailer for the forthcoming, still-untitled Legend of Zelda. The trailer (viewable here) showed the new, grittier version of series hero Link engaging in a series of The Lord of the Rings-like adventures, including battling orc-like creatures and visiting a cave full of ghostly warriors.


The Legend of Zelda

Check out the new trailer--or else!




After the lights came back up, Iwata announced that, four months after its release, the DS is going online. Starting later this year, Nintendo "will provide users with a link to other players across the country or around the world," according to a statement from Nintendo. DS owners will be able to connect to Nintendo's online service, which will be free, from any wireless hot spot using the DS's wireless connectivity, and play other owners of the dual-screen portable online. He said Nintendo's online infrastructure for the device--like the servers--was "already in place."

As further icing on the DS cake, Iwata also revealed that Nintendo is developing a new Animal Crossing title specifically tailored for online play. He also showed off the DS's offline Wi-Fi capabilities in a "spontaneous" eight-player Mario Kart DS game. Iwata also updated the audience on the DS's sales figures--over 4 million to date.

Last but certainly not least, the at-times controversial executive Revolution. Confirming earlier rumors, Iwata said the device would have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, "which will allow users around the world to connect with one another wirelessly." While he carefully avoided the word "online," Iwata implied that Nintendo will apparently reverse its long-standing policy of abstaining from online gaming with its forthcoming machine, saying it would have sort of the same Wi-Fi functions as the soon-to-be-online DS. He also said development kits for the device would be sent out by the time of the E3 expo in May, and that it would be backward compatible with GameCube titles.

Iwata also let the audience peer into the guts of the Revolution, which he more elegantly referred to as the device's "technological heart." Like the next Xbox, it will be powered by a custom central processor from IBM, in this case code-named "Broadway." It will also sport a graphics card--code-named "Hollywood"--from ATI, which is also making the GPU for the next Xbox. "We're excited to be developing the graphics chip set for Revolution, which continues our long-standing relationship with Nintendo," said ATI president and CEO Dave Orton in a statement.

By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot
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Discuss :)


†B†V† :hat
 
Free's good! Biggest problem I have with Xbox Live is that its kinda expensive unless you use it frequetly (which I wouldn't).
An online Animal Crossing might be a bit more interesting than playing alone...might give that one a shot now.

As for online gaming in general...what I DO NOT want to see is online gaming become almost required. Some of us don't particularly want to play games with a bunch of strangers (sometimes very rude strangers). Some of us just like to play by ourselves y'know. I don't want every stinkin' game to be online to get the whole intended experience.
 
This is great news. I can finally play other people with my DS since nobody in my neighborhood has one. Good move on Nintendos part of making the Revolution Backwards compatible. My faith in Nintendo has gotten stronger.
 
creepindeth04 said:
This is great news. I can finally play other people with my DS since nobody in my neighborhood has one. Good move on Nintendos part of making the Revolution Backwards compatible. My faith in Nintendo has gotten stronger.
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they still should have used my idea...

not just backward compatible to the Gamecube, but at least to the N64.
Then they could have marketed a Snes/NES adaptor for that N64 port.
Then we could have had a gameboy/gba player...

all games covered in 1 system would have been nice :lol

oh well... at least back to the Gamecube is cool.

†B†V† :hat
 
See? Good things come to those who wait.  :)

I'm very happy that it's backwards compatible with the Gamecube.

[edit] You should seriously download the new Zelda trailer if you haven't. Graphically it seems a bit off, but that may be because I downloaded the larger version. But gameplay wise it looks fantastic. I saw some familiar looking things (there was a big spider thing I thought might be Goma). The new Zelda is going to be freaking awesome.
 
I'd like to see some more details on this before I'm fully convinced this is the holy grail of online. Nintendo still isn't using the word "online" for a reason. Whether its to cover their own arses by refusing to go "online" in the first place, or whether its because it's going to be some new fangled deal that may not pan out, I'm going to wait for the other shoe to drop.

It is good that Nintendo is finally taking a step forward though. Having no online capability at all for the Revolution would have been suicide.
 
stealth toilet said:
I'd like to see some more details on this before I'm fully convinced this is the holy grail of online. Nintendo still isn't using the word "online" for a reason. Whether its to cover their own arses by refusing to go "online" in the first place, or whether its because it's going to be some new fangled deal that may not pan out, I'm going to wait for the other shoe to drop.

It is good that Nintendo is finally taking a step forward though. Having no online capability at all for the Revolution would have been suicide.
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well... supposively the DS will be online... playable at ANY hotspot with WIFI.

It has to be "online" in some fashion :lol

BV :hat
 
I found this post on one of the LJ communities very helpful.

There was a lot of confusion about what Iwata meant about Wi-Fi and the future of the systems. So I'd like to give a small crash course on what Wi-Fi technology is, and how it will relate to you in the future. Wi-Fi is, simply, Wireless internet. Here's how it will work, and undoubtedly this is something that is already possible for many of you.

A Wi-Fi hotspot is the same as broadband internet being transmitted with a wireless router. Many of you out there who have a laptop probably already have a wireless router. I use wireless with my desktop. So, if you have broadband (cable or DSL), all you'll need to do is purchase a wireless router, just like this one.

A wireless router takes your broadband internet and transmits it wirelessly over radio waves to nearby recieving devices such as computers or Pocket PCs (or Nintendo systems). After you purchase your router, you can continue to hard-wire your computer right into one of the router's ports for no additional cost, or, if you'd like to fully utilize your new wireless freedom you can purchase a wireless network card like this for your laptop, or a wireless PCI card like this one for your desktop PC. Installation for either one is very easy. Given, wireless does have it's drawbacks. A wireless card is significantly (but not necessarily noticeably) slower than hard-wiring. The Nintendo Revolution will come fully integrated with 802.11 wireless compliant Wi-Fi technology built right in. That means, the system won't require any special cards or adapters to locate a network that is being transmitted in your home. That being said, once your Nintendo Revolution or DS locates a network, it will be able to access the internet just like your PC... and furthermore... other gamers who want to play!

I suspect the Nintendo Revolution will require a router, rather than feature an ethernet port (Like the Gamecube's Broadband adapter) So that's pretty much it. There won't be monthly services charges for this... the DS and Nintendo Revolution will be simply "piggybacking" on your existing internet connection to find other gamers in the blink of an eye. So for many of you, an additional one-time fee of $50.00 (approximately the price of a router before the rebate) will get you and your Nintendo systems connected for good.

Hope that answers your questions.
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Here's the link for the actual post, so you can click on the links that he is talking about.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/nintendopower/135651.html
 
I heard about this the other day. I...am...so happy!!! The DS may be worthwhile after all :) You posted to the wrong board though blue, I almost didn't see this cuz I don't usually go to the gamecube board much.
 
Aprilsrain said:
I heard about this the other day.  I...am...so happy!!!  The DS may be worthwhile after all :)   You posted to the wrong board though blue, I almost didn't see this cuz I don't usually go to the gamecube board much. 
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Except.. this had Revolution information :)

I was torn on which board to post it :lol


†B†V† :hat
 
Yay retro! Join the darrrk sidddeee! As a "retro" guy, you'll be happy that "retro atari classics" is coming out tomorrow iwth 10 atari games!!
 
also... SUPPOSIVELY the Revolution is to come with standard with wireless controllers.

Of course, we haven't seen the final design... but IMO thats cool..... except what are they going to do with the vibrate feature and battery life?

The revolution is shaping up to be a cool system so far.... ESPECIALLY with backward compatibility.
If Nintendo didn't have that, they would shoot themselves in the foot.


†B†V† :hat
 
That would be cool if they had some kind of rechargeable battery for the controllers. Otherwise, well, I'd like a non-battery required alternative.
 
stealth toilet said:
That would be cool if they had some kind of rechargeable battery for the controllers. Otherwise, well, I'd like a non-battery required alternative.
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exactly... lithium ion batteries in the controllers :)

Kind-of like GBA SP's.. you know? and Each controller could have a docking station to recharge :) that'd be cool.

†B†V† :hat
 
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