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[Sandfox]

It seems to me at least digital only would make running things between platforms a hell of a lot easier than supporting physical media.

The issue with that is people obviously not wanting a digital only platform though.

 

[boutrosinit]

Reads like an iPad with controller buttons, that streams to a TV as well.

 

[WiiRevolution1]

Only one screen for the handheld. And with constantly forcing different console concepts, there's only so long you can carry BC. At some point a clear cut is inevitable.

Why does everyone just assume there won't be two screens on the handheld? Nintendo isn't going to cut something as big as that. Quote me on it, there will be two screens and the screen in this home console will likely be so that games that require two screens will be compatible.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Whatever it is , I hope they have tons of first party games ready, third parties are not going to fill those gaps.

 

[GDGF]

Why does everyone just assume there won't be two screens on the handheld? Nintendo isn't going to cut something as big as that. Quote me on it, there will be two screens and the screen in this home console will likely be so that games that require two screens will be compatible.

Nintendo wont be dropping the two screen format methinks. I do believe they'll drop 3D though.

 

[Elfforkusu]

Just for good measure:

You guys keep thinking downloadable, but they're going back to carts.

.

 

[Jigorath]

Guess Nintendo is giving up on western 3rd party support for good now. Probably for the best. They were never coming back.

 

[NoLongerALurker]

The all digital age is coming and that's fine with me.

 

[Neoxon]

Why does everyone just assume there won't be two screens on the handheld? Nintendo isn't going to cut something as big as that. Quote me on it, there will be two screens and the screen in this home console will likely be so that games that require two screens will be compatible.

Unless they ditch backwards compatibility for the NX Platform as a whole to demonstrate a clean break from what came before.

Whatever it is , I hope they have tons of first party games ready, third parties are not going to fill those gaps.

Square-Enix will be there, as will Nintendo's other remaining buddies (Sega, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Atlus). But Nintendo has a lot of work to do to win everyone else back.

 

[Obliterator]

The issue with that is people obviously not wanting a digital only platform though.

True but its growing more and more. At some point we are going all digital as an industry I'd bet a lot on it. The question is just a matter of when.

Look how big mobile is in Japan. That's a digital only marketplace

 

[udivision]

Which would be fine considering ps4 and xbox one pretty much got the same games and same graphics other than some resolution differences.

It'd be fine if there was a truce for the next gen not to advance beyond the PS4, or for this gen to last 8 years...

 

[FyreWulff]

But that's an optimized version of UE4 for mobile. While that would cover the NX Handheld, it wouldn't work as well for the console. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

You could run UE4 on the 360 and PS3, if someone really wanted to.

Modern engines are more about the middleware/developer assistance aspect than outright providing features, like the original Quake/Unreal releases.

If you had a slightly underpowered hardware, you'd just scale down or enable/disable certain bells and whistles, just like we currently do for PC releases that have to accomodate multiple levels of capability.

 

[DeuceGamer]

It'd be fine if there was a truce for the next gen not to advance beyond the PS4, or for this gen to last 8 years...

Or if Nintendo truly plans on adapting the Apple model where they don't have traditional console generations but release new hardware every 2 years or so. Not saying it will happen but with them going for a single architecture it's possible.

 

[Komo]

When can we realistically expect for this system to be officially revealed?

 

[ec0ec0]

Just for good measure:

But, for now, that's still an assumption, because i think that the patent says nothing about:
a. instaling the "game program" into a hdd from a sd card
or
b. reading the "game program" from a cartridge (like with a handheld)

 

[GDGF]

True but its growing more and more. At some point we are going all digital as an industry I'd bet a lot on it. The question is just a matter of when.

Look how big mobile is in Japan. That's a digital only marketplace

Once platform holders figure potential cost savings are greater than potential losses of customers not connected to the internet they will go all in. They're watching growth markets like China like a hawk before committing. Gotta see which way the winds are blowing first.

 

[Obliterator]

Or if Nintendo truly plans on adapting the Apple model where they don't have traditional console generations but release new hardware every 2 years or so. Not saying it will happen but with them going for a single architecture it's possible.

You know that is an interesting concept. With the NX concept there is nothing preventing them for really going with this method of hardware releases

 

[Scum]

When can we realistically expect for this system to be officially revealed?

Fingers crossed for a Jan/Feb "Project NX" Direct.

 

[Terrell]

People in this thread really think high density memory cards are a financially viable distribution method for a home console...? Come on guys. I can go on Amazon right now and buy 50GB BD-Rs for $2 a disc (Wii U is using single-layer BD-derived 25GB discs). Even a shitty 32GB SD card is going to run you $9. To actually beat a dual layer in storage you're going to need $20 a pop for a barely decent card. In what world is a company going to jump on a storage medium that's 10 times more expensive for similar storage? That's a massive cut.

You don't need cards to have the maximum storage capacity. Smaller games get a cheaper card due to smaller capacity requirements. They load faster. And, if the games have the handheld and console versions on the same card, that's still cheaper than manufacturing 2 different sets of media. They'll already be making carts for the handheld version anyways, remember. This is a whole SKU that's eliminated in the process. There's a lot of money saved merely in SKU reduction.

if nintendo's aim was to make something where the gimmick was multiple form factors for a single 'platform', there were very few choices since dvd/cd/blu-ray disc sizes would be too difficult for handhelds.

so it really just makes the most sense. not running dvd/blu-ray probably won't be a knock against it as long as streaming services are up and running on the machine(s).

You'd be surprised, I was railed against pretty hard in other threads for the mere suggestion of moving away from discs.
The only real handicap is the lack of backwards compatibility for Wii U physical media, but there's always the option for external drives via USB-3 or USB Type-C for those who really care about that, among other options.

Or if Nintendo truly plans on adapting the Apple model where they don't have traditional console generations but release new hardware every 2 years or so. Not saying it will happen but with them going for a single architecture it's possible.

I'd say it's more likely that they will just utilize the flexibility so that their hardware schedule isn't defined purely by the time from when their last hardware was released.

Case in point: If PS5 comes out in 2018, Nintendo releases a new console in 2019, ensures the older model has support for the following 3 years to give it a full 5-year cycle.

 

[Obliterator]

When can we realistically expect for this system to be officially revealed?

I think its entirely possible we see it unveiled either before the year is over or January - March. Has to be soon one would think if they are looking at launching in 2016.

 

[Elfforkusu]

But, for now, that's still an assumption, because i think that the patent says nothing about:
a. instaling the "game program" into a hdd from a sd card
or
b. reading the "game program" from a cartridge (like with a handheld)

Well, aren't the 3DS/DS cartridges glorified SD cards?

I imagine they'll do the same thing here.

 

[Jigorath]

It'll probably be revealed early next year if they're shooting for a holiday 2016 release.

 

[DeuceGamer]

I think its entirely possible we see it unveiled either before the year is over or January - March. Has to be soon one would think if they are looking at launching in 2016.

Wouldn't announcing before Xmas hurt sales this year? I'd say Feb-April????

 

[ec0ec0]

You'd be surprised, I was railed against pretty hard in other threads for the mere suggestion of moving away from discs.

It seems that now there's more people that like the cartridge idea (compared to before). I definitely do. i hadn't even thought about it until i read it in some of those threads

 

[Sammy Samusu]

The all digital age is coming and that's fine with me.

Microsoft got scared but Nintendo will pull through, as they always do.

Spoiler

I doubt they are going full digital, they don't have the servers to do it. As others have mentioned, they are probably using cards.

 

[Kouriozan]

When can we realistically expect for this system to be officially revealed?

This fiscal year for sure (ending March 31st)

 

[Captain Europe]

I think its entirely possible we see it unveiled either before the year is over or January - March. Has to be soon one would think if they are looking at launching in 2016.

Why January-March?

Reveal at E3 and holiday 2016 release sounds more realistic to me.

 

[GDGF]

It'll probably be revealed early next year if they're shooting for a holiday 2016 release.

Some kind of explaination is gonna happen before the end of the year I think, even if it's just an announcement of the announcement. I think more will be said during the upcoming DeNA account showcase (even if it is OS level stuff) because the abstract is out there now and folks are gonna dig for answers. Nintendo has to get ahead of that to create a clear message.

 

[Neoxon]

Microsoft got scared but Nintendo will pull through, as they always do.

Spoiler

I doubt they are going full digital, they don't have the servers to do it. As others have mentioned, they are probably using cards.

That's another issue right there. If Nintendo's servers got hammered because of Smash 4 DLC, I doubt they'll be ready for a digital-only platform.

 

[Interceptor]

You're assuming that the model is 1 SD card for every game box, which isn't what should happen.

You should just buy a Nintendo SD card and you can put as many games on it at the store (or on your NX at home) as you have space on the card. The stuff you buy at retail should just be a code for the game.



Yeah, the more I think about it the more I like the concept. You've got a captive audience while the game downloads that can be shown trailers, can play demos of upcoming games. It's perfect for the loyalty programs that Iwata hinted at last year.

Third parties would definitely be more likely to support the console when they don't have to worry about losing money on inventory. People could buy eShop games from Gamestop, download them right to their Nintendo Card, load it up with a few games and take them to a friend's house to play.

The actual kiosk could just be a custom NX with a multi-TB HD with all the game data, plus a TV/audio. That week's new games & updates could be either downloaded over the net to the kiosk or some sort of physical device could be shipped weekly with the new data for the week.

Game codes could be activated by cellular in areas where Internet access is crappy.

Exactly. The focus is still on just downloading it via the eshop, but this is the best way to keep a presence at retail.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Question, I've noticed there are MicroSD cards that hold like a whooping 200GB, why would that not be a suitable media format for a console? Wouldn't that be a huge amount of space, and severely shorten load times?

 

[Sandfox]

Question, I've noticed there are MicroSD cards that hold like a whooping 200GB, why would that not be a suitable media format for a console? Wouldn't that be a huge amount of space, and severely shorten load times?

Probably because they are expensive.

 

[LOCK]

Digital/media card is the only way to share the same game on a console and handheld. It makes sense.

 

[Neoxon]

Probably because they are expensive.

They aren't that bad online, but it's at retail where the SD cards can get expensive.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Question, I've noticed there are MicroSD cards that hold like a whooping 200GB, why would that not be a suitable media format for a console? Wouldn't that be a huge amount of space, and severely shorten load times?

Load times aren't necessarily going to be better. Everything on disc on PS4 and XBox One now installs entirely to the harddrive. They're basically just data delivery mechanisms.

Like all things, it depends entirely on harddrive/card read speed, which can vary.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Probably because they are expensive.

Well it only matters for Nintendo and whoever is manufacturing them, but you'd think a MicroSD chip would be much cheaper than a disc of the same capacity, FAR less plastic and whatnot to make and produce.

Not to mention the costs of manufacturing boxes, like Vita cases are ridiculously small, we can go deeper!

AND, the disc drive is a major factor in console size, wouldn't such a tiny media reader allow the console to literally be like a Vita TV but with more ports and such for what's necessary? Hell, maybe you only need HDMI and such like the Vita TV. Edit: And USB ports, 4 should work again.

 

[AJSousuke]

I somehow got the feeling that this may be just a new version of the Wii U.

Edit: And maybe the card slot is just to make it able to play 3DS games.

 

[plutoknight]

Well it only matters for Nintendo and whoever is manufacturing them, but you'd think a MicroSD chip would be much cheaper than a disc of the same capacity, FAR less plastic and whatnot to make and produce.

Not to mention the costs of manufacturing boxes, like Vita cases are ridiculously small, we can go deeper!

AND, the disc drive is a major factor in console size, wouldn't such a tiny media reader allow the console to literally be like a Vita TV but with more ports and such for what's necessary? Hell, maybe you only need HDMI and such like the Vita TV. Edit: And USB ports, 4 should work again.

Yeah. Exactly. So it's made cheaper, smaller (which keeps it competitive with Xbone/PS4 price wise), the carts load fast, and Nintendo can probably get them for about as cheap as a Bluray en masse (the mark up on cards at retail is insane).

A cart based console in this day and age is significantly m ore feasible.

 

[Nesther]

So no physical BC. Bummer.

 

[Prince Karo]

Ehhhh, I don't like the idea of a digital only console.

It's nice to have that option, but Nintendo is going to get some backlash if they go with no physical copies whatsoever.

 

[Branduil]

I really don't think the storage size will be a big issue. Most games do not use nearly all of the space available on BDs, and there are many nearly unnoticeable compression techniques that can be used if necessary.

 

[OmegaDL50]

That's what I was thinking. If that memory card is their new physical format, then it needs to be 32-64GB in able to keep up with the space needed for current-gen games.


Look closely, there's a memory card that looks to be taking the place of the usual disc.

It's not impossible, I mean if the carts themselves were some heavily encrypted read only variant that is based on the SDXC media format.

SDXC currently go up to 512GB and max out at 2TB once they are introduced.

So using modified versions of a 64GB SDXC cards should be comparable to the Bluray storage medium and have decent read speeds.

Of course I expect it to be more expensive then equivalently sized Bluray media discs.

 

[Neoxon]

GameXplain did a discussion on this patent, & specifically referenced this thread.

 

[QaaQer]

True but its growing more and more. At some point we are going all digital as an industry I'd bet a lot on it. The question is just a matter of when.

Look how big mobile is in Japan. That's a digital only marketplace

game boxes with pictures and kids begging their parents for said boxes is what is going to keep retail around for a long while yet; or at least until f2p totally kills consoles for people who need their parents to buy their games for them. People ignore download cards unless they are specifically looking for them.

 

[JeffZero]

Cartridge. Nuts. Just bonkers. Just bonker-nuts. Like. I don't use such terminology loosely.

But that would be bonker-nuts.

 

[Sandfox]

game boxes with pictures and kids begging their parents for said boxes is what is going to keep retail around for a long while yet; or at least until f2p totally kills consoles for people who need their parents to buy their games for them. People ignore download cards unless they are specifically looking for them.

They could always put the cards/codes in boxes.

 

[QaaQer]

Load times aren't necessarily going to be better. Everything on disc on PS4 and XBox One now installs entirely to the harddrive. They're basically just data delivery mechanisms.

Like all things, it depends entirely on harddrive/card read speed, which can vary.

It is actually seek times that make hdd so much better than optical.

 

[bomblord1]

We are way past the point where the format is the deciding factor of game prices. It cost the developers pennies to ship that $60 game.

 

[QaaQer]

They could always put the cards/codes in boxes.

good point.

 

[Obliterator]

Wouldn't announcing before Xmas hurt sales this year? I'd say Feb-April????

Maybe but, not trolling at all, the Wii U isn't gonna be moving much hardware no matter what anyways. Especially with the lineup it has this holiday. I guess depends how early Ninty wants to drive hype

Why January-March?

Reveal at E3 and holiday 2016 release sounds more realistic to me.

E3 announcements for consoles rarely, if ever happen. If they are launching in 2016 it will be announced before June