RUMOR #1: The Nintendo Revolution and its controller will be fully unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show on September 16.
Source: The scuttlebuttlicious SPOnG.
The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on speculation."--Nintendo of America spokesperson.
What we heard: Adopting its typical--and not always unwarranted--self-congratulatory tone, SPOnG this week trumpeted the fact that it had learned exactly when the Revolution and its vaunted controller would be revealed. However, its assertion that the deed will be done at TGS next month wasn't quite as surprising as the site made it out to be. Rumors to the same effect have been swirling ever since Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced he would be delivering a keynote at the event. SPOnG's "exclusive" echoed that speculation, saying that Iwata will offer "an explicit outline of the [Revolution] hardware and its controller and input mechanic" and will "illustrate exactly how it will work." The site says executives will also show off several games on the console, including the title popularly referred to as "Mario 128." Indeed, TGS seems like an opportune time to finally take the wraps off the Revolution, which is supposed to launch sometime next year. It would also make sense strategically, as Microsoft is planning a pre-TGS conference where it is expected to reveal the Xbox 360's price, and Sony says the PlayStation 3 will be present in some form at the event. Iwata's very presence is also noteworthy. Although he addressed TGS two years ago, his company traditionally eschews the event altogether, meaning he likely has a special reason for turning up. But is there any evidence of the Revolution unveiling other than Iwata? According to SPOnG, "Nintendo is assembling key media to attend this year's show." However, "assembling" is a bit much, as the company has not been waging a major media campaign promoting Iwata's speech. That's probably because they don't have to, as every game journalist worth his or her salt is trying to get in to hear what Iwata does--and doesn't--say.
Bogus or not bogus?: We'll see next month, but sources close to Nintendo say a next-gen Mario demo is a strong probability.
RUMOR #2: The Revolution controller's secret feature is...gyroscopic tilt resistance!
Source: The fine fellows over at Ferrago.
The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation."--Nintendo of America spokesperson.
What we heard: When Nintendo intimated that the truly revolutionary aspect of its next-generation consoles was in its controller, rumors began to fly fast and furiously. One of the very first was that it would incorporate gyroscopes, which would allow players to control games via physical movement of the controller. Later rumors said the controller would sport everything from a touch screen, which would allow for configurable virtual buttons, to there not being any controller at all--just a visor and floor-mounted motion sensor. Now the spiral of speculation has come full circle, with Ferrago saying that the controller will have tilt control, which will provide directional force feedback when a player moves the device. "Details are still sketchy as Nintendo works on perfecting the controller, looking at ways of balancing the revolving effect with the drain on the batteries of the console's wireless controllers," said Ferrago. Such an innovation would be in line with technology Nintendo has already developed, most notably the "Acceleration Sensor" the company patented in 2003, which would allow players to control 3D movement onscreen by moving the entire controller. And while tilt control may not be as revolutionary as some people had hoped, it would be an improvement over the nonspecific vibration function current-generation console controllers have. But until Nintendo makes it official, this still remains a rumor.
Bogus or not bogus?: Hopefully Iwata's speech will clear up the confusion.
By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot
POSTED: 08/26/05 03:46 PM PST