June Revolution Launch Countdown Gains Momentum: Full Report
Media Create Confirms SPOnG Article
Back in October of last year a source within Nintendo told us that the Revolution would launch across the globe in June of 2006. This information led to not a small amount of investigation, resulting in this article: Exclusive: Revolution to Launch Worldwide in June 2006
From the report:
The report caused quite a stir, though many doubted the timeframe, in spite of the fact that senior sources within Nintendo and its close partners assured us it was the case.
To add a bit of rare background to this piece, at the time the news broke on SPOnG, we were aware that several games media outlets in Japan had been briefed either casually off the record or under terms of non-disclosure that Nintendo's internal target and that of its partners was June 2006. Over the course of several meetings, a long-time SPOnG mole was made privy to these plans, prompting the investigation into Revolution launch plans and netting the comments published above.
Almost half a year has passed since date of publication and SPOnG has monitored the situation closely. Those associated with Revolution's debut within Nintendo and at its partners still indicate that the June date has remained unchanged, though a more protracted cross-territory launch phase is now planned.
The open secret has now made its second escape into the public domain. "There are rumours that the Revolution could be released as early as June," said Akiteru Itoh of Tokyo-based Media Create in the latest Business Week. "If that happens, and Nintendo sells around 1 million units, Sony would have a harder time catching up,” he continued.
An announcement at this week's GDC is a possibility, with Nintendo seemingly planning to reveal the final name of its console on Thursday. An indicator as to the launch plans could also be on the cards, given that E3, the next global platform for game announcement, would be just weeks before the alleged launch.
Keep it locked this week for the skinny from San Jose as it happens.
From the report:
“As of early October this year, we had agreed with all key partners that a global ship date of June 2006 was achievable,” said one of SPOnG 's several sources associated with the Revolution manufacturing process. “Nintendo will get the launch in Japan and America and Europe as close as possible. It will be like the Xbox 360 launch, only tighter.”
“Everyone at Nintendo in all territories is now focusing on a global launch in June of next year,” another highly-placed source told us yesterday afternoon, under terms of anonymity. “The European launch might slip into July, but that’s it. Everyone at Nintendo has been briefed for this date and the official release schedule everyone is working to shows Revolution down for June 2006; this is simply a matter of fact.”
“Everyone at Nintendo in all territories is now focusing on a global launch in June of next year,” another highly-placed source told us yesterday afternoon, under terms of anonymity. “The European launch might slip into July, but that’s it. Everyone at Nintendo has been briefed for this date and the official release schedule everyone is working to shows Revolution down for June 2006; this is simply a matter of fact.”
The report caused quite a stir, though many doubted the timeframe, in spite of the fact that senior sources within Nintendo and its close partners assured us it was the case.
To add a bit of rare background to this piece, at the time the news broke on SPOnG, we were aware that several games media outlets in Japan had been briefed either casually off the record or under terms of non-disclosure that Nintendo's internal target and that of its partners was June 2006. Over the course of several meetings, a long-time SPOnG mole was made privy to these plans, prompting the investigation into Revolution launch plans and netting the comments published above.
Almost half a year has passed since date of publication and SPOnG has monitored the situation closely. Those associated with Revolution's debut within Nintendo and at its partners still indicate that the June date has remained unchanged, though a more protracted cross-territory launch phase is now planned.
The open secret has now made its second escape into the public domain. "There are rumours that the Revolution could be released as early as June," said Akiteru Itoh of Tokyo-based Media Create in the latest Business Week. "If that happens, and Nintendo sells around 1 million units, Sony would have a harder time catching up,” he continued.
An announcement at this week's GDC is a possibility, with Nintendo seemingly planning to reveal the final name of its console on Thursday. An indicator as to the launch plans could also be on the cards, given that E3, the next global platform for game announcement, would be just weeks before the alleged launch.
Keep it locked this week for the skinny from San Jose as it happens.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
majin dboy 22 Mar 2006 11:26
1/11
this would be sooo cool.but is there not an issue with dev kits only being released a month ago or something?
and does that not make a june release impossible?
and does that not make a june release impossible?
darthvader7 22 Mar 2006 12:30
2/11
Of course they would be able because they told all the developers to develop the games on the gamecube dev kits since they were very similar. if they have been devoloping the games they would be getting the finishing development and using the rev. dev kit to make graphics look better then polish the game then off to the mall.
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tyrion 22 Mar 2006 14:40
3/11
darthvader7 wrote:
if they have been devoloping the games they would be getting the finishing development and using the rev. dev kit to make graphics look better then polish the game then off to the mall.
The only problem with that is that it was only a month or so ago that developers received the dev kits for the new controller - you know the bit that makes it different.
TwoADay 22 Mar 2006 14:52
4/11
tyrion wrote:
The only problem with that is that it was only a month or so ago that developers received the dev kits for the new controller - you know the bit that makes it different.
While I personally doubt the June release, it is possible. If I recall correctly, the early releases for the DS were somewhat lacking, mainly little minigames and ports, correct? Everything ended up fine as far as the DS is concerned, so perhaps the Nintendo mentality is to do the same thing this time around.
However, I think console markets are different, for obvious reasons, and it may be a mistake to do this sort of thing. DS has the obvious benefit of playing GBA games, whereas we know nothing about the back systems stuff being available at launch...
is it possible? sure. should they? that remains to be seen.
jadnice 22 Mar 2006 16:31
5/11
There are two keys to the great success of the Revo. One, a very strong launch line up (It's no secret that at this time since nothing have been seen from the Revo, that its the underdog this coming gaming Gen)is needed and two... they have to be out the gate before PS3. For some reason I am not worried about Xbox360 since so far all the top games that are out for the system is also out for the PC so u don't have to get the 360 to play the few great games it has.
Will they be out in June... don't think so... but sometime before November very possible.
Will they be out in June... don't think so... but sometime before November very possible.
jadnice 22 Mar 2006 16:31
6/11
There are two keys to the great success of the Revo. One, a very strong launch line up (It's no secret that at this time since nothing have been seen from the Revo, that its the underdog this coming gaming Gen)is needed and two... they have to be out the gate before PS3. For some reason I am not worried about Xbox360 since so far all the top games that are out for the system is also out for the PC so u don't have to get the 360 to play the few great games it has.
Will they be out in June... don't think so... but sometime before November very possible.
Will they be out in June... don't think so... but sometime before November very possible.
soanso 22 Mar 2006 17:25
7/11
between now and may I'd expect to see a lot of info on revo. I think there is a lot of interest in what has been shown so far but from now until E3 I think is when the revo will sink or swim.
I reckon there will be drip fed info before E3 but surely they have to show everything at E3?
no more "there's some surprises left"
I don't expect to see games before may but can june really be realistic? maybe june is the target for code to be finished before a couple of months of bug fixing?
The bad things about all these consoles coming so soon is that there are no games. A few hasty conversions and some good games that probably could have done with a bit more time to polish them
I reckon there will be drip fed info before E3 but surely they have to show everything at E3?
no more "there's some surprises left"
I don't expect to see games before may but can june really be realistic? maybe june is the target for code to be finished before a couple of months of bug fixing?
The bad things about all these consoles coming so soon is that there are no games. A few hasty conversions and some good games that probably could have done with a bit more time to polish them
Smelly 22 Mar 2006 18:19
8/11
Bear in mind the revo is backward compat to the cube, and has the whole of nintendos back catalog available to download.
So having lots of launch title is less important.
Also look at how many (decent) launch titles the 360 had. If the rev can get just a handful of big name STRONG games (i.e. mario/smash bros/metroid) out at launch, it'll already have a better launch line up than other machines we could mention (without 3rd party software).
But of course, just speculation.
So having lots of launch title is less important.
Also look at how many (decent) launch titles the 360 had. If the rev can get just a handful of big name STRONG games (i.e. mario/smash bros/metroid) out at launch, it'll already have a better launch line up than other machines we could mention (without 3rd party software).
But of course, just speculation.
OptimusP 22 Mar 2006 19:35
9/11
What's everyone whining about dev kits... the final 360 dev kits only came out like 2 months before the damn thing released and that thing had great launch games right....right?
The thing is... when next E3 hits Nintendo has already been working longer then a year on its revo games (or at least Smash Bros anyways, MP3 maybe 2 years). That's some decent time to get some games cracking up + EA and Ubisoft multiplatform extravanganza, could work out.
The thing is... when next E3 hits Nintendo has already been working longer then a year on its revo games (or at least Smash Bros anyways, MP3 maybe 2 years). That's some decent time to get some games cracking up + EA and Ubisoft multiplatform extravanganza, could work out.
Joji 22 Mar 2006 22:34
10/11
Vaguely still remember Nintendo's Reggie saying June 2006 last year, post E3. Love it when a plan comes together.
If everything goes to plan there will be fight over my tv for the World Cup or some Rev gaming.
Indeed I see no reason why there couldn't be a healthy launch line up for Rev. If the DS can be first displayed at E3 and be out by the end of that year with a few games, I'm sure developers can manage twelve months to whip up launch games with advanced GC tech.
I expect the playable games list will be at E3, and hopefully be better than 360's luke warm line up. We'll see soon enough.
If everything goes to plan there will be fight over my tv for the World Cup or some Rev gaming.
Indeed I see no reason why there couldn't be a healthy launch line up for Rev. If the DS can be first displayed at E3 and be out by the end of that year with a few games, I'm sure developers can manage twelve months to whip up launch games with advanced GC tech.
I expect the playable games list will be at E3, and hopefully be better than 360's luke warm line up. We'll see soon enough.
ann0uk 22 Mar 2006 23:13
11/11
The next mario game has been in development for a good 5 years, I expect that to be a launch title. Every new nintendo console must come with a new Mario platformer.
I do agree that Nintendo need to get this console out before PS3, and I somehow feel that Revolution is far more developed than the PS3. Sony will still be tweaking the PS3 as there is a lot of technology in the box, Nintendo on the other hand have a less powerful machine that will be both simple in technical terms and familiar to the developers.
I do agree that Nintendo need to get this console out before PS3, and I somehow feel that Revolution is far more developed than the PS3. Sony will still be tweaking the PS3 as there is a lot of technology in the box, Nintendo on the other hand have a less powerful machine that will be both simple in technical terms and familiar to the developers.