Nintendo confirms Revolution will debut for less than $300

In the shocker of the year, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata decided to let us all know that they are indeed planning on dropping the Revolution for less than the Xbox Core system, no word yet on the rumors of Mario being a plumber. This just confirms the low-cost vibe we've been getting all along from the big N, and seems reasonable given the relative specs they're debuting with, so the main impact of this news is that Nintendo fanboys can officially break out those "our console will cost less than yours" party hats.

[Via Go Nintendo]

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[TheGuyNextDoor @ Dec 30th 2005 7:07AM]

Looks like it'll be a Revolution and a PS3 for me then. I can afford that, and they both look physically smart and presentable enough to appear in my A/V rack. And they should offer two different approaches to gaming and are both sufficiently un-PC like.

[Howl-Z @ Dec 30th 2005 7:22AM]

It better release for sub $300, seeing as the Q1 2006 gen hardware been delayed 11 months.

[Jules @ Dec 30th 2005 7:22AM]

No surprise here, most people have been speculating that it will cost $100 and it will still make a profit. I think $250 (�179) would be a good price for the Rev.

[Alan Erickson @ Dec 30th 2005 7:34AM]

I wonder if they'll still try and charge $50 to $60 buck for their games though?

[Galley @ Dec 30th 2005 8:03AM]

I'd pay $100 just to play World Driver Championship and Beetle Adventure Racing for the N64.

[nln350 @ Dec 30th 2005 8:30AM]

You get what you pay for. It's a rehashed Gamecube after all - nothing 'revolutionary'. Except you can play/download all the old Nintendo games online..

[2kings @ Dec 30th 2005 8:37AM]

ill decied when i see games and so far the ps3 is taking the cake with Mgs4, Gta4, ut2k7 and plenty more



it would be nice to see SOME pics of revo games!

[john @ Dec 30th 2005 8:55AM]

#6,

"nothing 'revolutionary'" except the controller, right?

[Neno @ Dec 30th 2005 9:04AM]

Honestly this is really no news at all. Based on the supposed leaked specs of the Revolution system it would only make sense that it would be cheaper (also adding to the fact that it is being released almost a full year later). But this news is somewhat disappointing also, in all honesty I was hoping that the Revolution would be somewhere in the price of $149 to $199, which would be entirely possible for Nintendo to do. And I think it would make sense, since if the price was at that point It would make it possible for many people to buy it as a second next-gen system. I believe that in this next gen war, the key for Nintendo will be to have consumers think of Revolution of an entirely different entertainment device from Xbox360 and PS3, so as to be able to still sell the product to all the people who have both those systems and the loyal Nintendo fans. Keeping the price down of the Revolution will be the key for Nintendo, and I believe even taking a manufacturing cost hit from selling it at a loss will benefit them in the end, for the reason I stated above.

[andy @ Dec 30th 2005 9:09AM]

Well then. Maybe you guys would like to check out http://ps3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11679 and the size comparison of the consoles. Also, I think the CONTROLLER is what you are forgetting about! Revolutionary! Also, there is the small matter of the Revolution being 3 OR 4 times more powerful than the GC, having as good graphics as the 360 or PS3 because it uses displacment mapping rather than bump mapping, allowing the Rev to use far fewer pixels to create the same graphics!

Also, there will be some brilliant games for the Rev!

There has, however been a point put across to me recently. This also has some relevance with the PSP and DS. They both have their great positives (and negatives), meaning that different consoles will suit different people. Same with this. I think Nintendo are making the balanced and, in my opinion better, opproach to console making.

But, as this point shows, you people will all have to make your own opinions.

Good luck, and find all information you can before judging, I have.



P.S. On the website that I listed at the start, look at only the size comparison at the start, the others are badly done, well out of context and fake/useless.

[Pip @ Dec 30th 2005 9:10AM]

Sounds like a steal. I cant wait for this system to come out and actually play some new games. I look at the 360 library and everything looks like the same boring FPS and racing they had on the XBox1. I dont see any reason to rebuy the exact same thing. PS3 i'll buy just for the Blu-Ray most likely.

[Princess Zelda @ Dec 30th 2005 10:14AM]

I'm really hoping the price point is going to be $200. It's the only next gen gaming machine I'll be able to buy at release with a game and second controller. I have 2 kids and a house, I can't be spending an equivalent of a mortgage payment on a gaming system. I have higher priorities then entertainment. That controller has me really excited. I remember playing Mario 64 for the first time with the anolgue stick and amazed at what Nintendo could do with the 3D gaming. I expect the same feeling of WOW when I use the new controller. I'm looking forward to playing Metroid, Zelda and any Star Wars game that uses a light saber.

[....... @ Dec 30th 2005 11:02AM]

i think they should price it at.......$200 that would be good i mean its not to cheap and its not too expensive....its there choice though.

[Matt @ Dec 30th 2005 11:06AM]

#8: Am I the only one who finds nothing "revolutionary" about a gimmicky controller?

[Chris Leckness @ Dec 30th 2005 11:15AM]

This is great news for me for sure.



Being a MS MVP, I am fairly loyal to MS products, but my wife and I have been gaming with Nintendo since the original console. Now my daughter has a Gamecube and DS so it's a natural upgrade path.



I can't wait to play Mario Golf and the original Zelda on the big screen!

[Chris Whitesell @ Dec 30th 2005 11:18AM]

I like others am hoping for a more $250 or under price tag. One thing we know is that Nintendo does not sell hardware at huge losses like other Console manufactures do. Some of the stats on what Moneysoft lost on xbox hardware and will lose on 360 hardware is unreal. Really other than the controller the gamble N is taking is that there will still be plenty of non HDTV users out there in the next gaming generation. Given the slow adoptation of HDTVs by the masses and the slow penatration of HDTV program broadcasting they may be making a safe gamble. My guess is on a standard TV the Revolution is probably going to look about as good as the other next gen systems. It isn't until you get on HDTV and get games made for 1080i or 720i that you are really going to see a big leap in grafx quality.



I think N has made a great statement with the DS that they can continue to do things differently and still have appeal. I own both psp and DS and the DS's software lineup this year is kicking the PSPs ass. Everything I am playing is on DS right now. Very clever titles that use the touch screen like Under the Knife, NDogs and Meteos have shown the hardware has viability.



I don't think we can understate the importance of N now having an online network for DS. That will surely lead to them having more online savy for Revolution. I think the reason we have all been sad about N not going online yet is they have great great franchinses for online play that could give us something way different from the current onine fare of FPSs and strategy games. The DS versions of Mkart and AnimalX are just lite online titles but are great fun. Imagine SSBM or Metriod or Zelda 4 swords or FF:CC as online titles. Excitebike64 was awesome, imagine that online with better A/V. I don't think they can win the next gen of hardware battles, I leave that to Sony. But I think they can become everyones "alternate" choice console if they play their cards right and have an agressive price point and their "standard" level of excellent software.

[Ryan @ Dec 30th 2005 11:27AM]

It had better release for less than $300.



Nintendo has even said that the Revolution cannot compete with 360 and PS3 graphical and processing power. The "Revolutionary" aspect is the controller, and Nintendo seems intent on 'innovating' rather than attempting to compete with the big dogs.



With that said, I am a happy 360 owner and I personally enjoy Microsofts' first (and second) party titles more than Nintendo. I would rather play Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, Project Gotham Racing 3, Gears of War, and eventually Halo 3 than Mario rehashes (yes, I realize that most of the titles I list by Microsoft are sequals...I enjoy sequals, I just got tired of Mario after Mario64. Same with Zelda.



/note: I have owned every Nintendo console ever released, and will most likely buy the Revolution eventually.

[Chris Whitesell @ Dec 30th 2005 11:33AM]

Lets not rip that controller to much until we see it in action and see how developers use it. So far the DEV community seems quite excited about the possibilties for it. Every kid had sword fights with the gift wrapping rolls when I was young. Just imagine sword or light saber fighting with that "gimick" controller. Remember how N really revolutionized 3D with Mario64 and analog control. I think this controller could procude the same kind of giant leap in gameplay. Really its the first controller to operate in true 3D space (X/Y/Z axises) so I wouldn't write it off as meaningless until you see how it is implemented. I think games like Metriod and PilotWings would be awesome with a true 3D controller.



You were probably in the same crowd that mocked the DS's features and considering it has been out only 1 year a lot of very worthwile games are out using those features. Nintendo is one of the original players that braught us video gaming so lets not write them off as idiots just yet. Really other than the V-Boy they have never had a bad product.

[Avinash Tyagi @ Dec 30th 2005 12:55PM]

I know the reason why the $99-150 dollare rumors will not be coming true:



Bundled stuff, expect the Rev to launch with a bundled game (Mario)and 2 controllers, including shell and Nunchuk attachments for each, and maybe even a pre downloaded Nes or Snes game.



Why?



Simple, Nintendo's going back to their roots and releasing the Rev with everything needed for a family to get together and play right out of the box

[Baumann @ Dec 30th 2005 1:03PM]

I'll start with a parable...



Year in and year out, people vote the whopper better then the big mac. However, McDonald's always makes more money per store. Why? They have better fries.



In the same way, Nintendo always comes out with the lower end systems(GameCube, Nintendo DS), but they still manage to hit their niche. The GameCube couldn't compete with the XBox or the PS2 in hardware, but the system was cheaper and still had great games. The DS has been even moreso. As far as gaming is concerned, the DS has been pumping out far better games then the PSP. Nintendo makes better games. Yeah, occasionally others will come out with better games because of better graphics and sound, but as far as gameplay is concerned, you can't beat Nintendo.

[Avinash Tyagi @ Dec 30th 2005 1:37PM]

Actually weren't the GCN gaphics better than PS2?

[dichromatic fool @ Dec 30th 2005 2:02PM]

Most of you people seem to have missed out on the evolution of home consoles. Nintendo created the industry and much of the innovations of today's consoles came from them. The modern analog joystic, shoulder buttons, and even the modern day controller all evolved from the nintendo's constant evolution of home consoles. The ds is example of innovation over eye candy. The revolution will take the world by storm. Nintendo's new controller isn't a gimmick. It is a new way to enjoy games. A gimmick would be the xbox 360's media functionality and ps3's blue ray. These are truly gimmicks as they aren't thrown in to increase the gaming experience. They are just nice extras because their creators lack the ability to innovate. They wait for someone else tomtka ethe gamble. They are like scavengers waiting for dinner. Not having the balls to try themselves. One million dollars say true 3d controllers will be standard in a few years. It may sound crazy but anyone that remembers the nes launch can understand.

[AudieMurphy @ Dec 30th 2005 2:16PM]

I've read about the unbelievable losses M$ had with the first Xbox, and Sony's struggles recently have been all over the financial pages. (funny how that never gets mentioned in the gaming press; fanboys?) As far as I've read, Nintendo is in the black even while trailing both of them. They've done very well focusing their strategies instead of the Sony "throw everything at it or in it and see what sticks" and the M$ "we'll buy success and make our money through Live charges and micro-transactions". Does anyone know how much Nintendo has actually made or lost on the Gamecube? How about +/-$ on the PS2 and the Xbox?

[mmn @ Dec 30th 2005 3:05PM]

Nothing new. The controller at the moment IS new intresting technology, but it IS NOT, however, revolutionary. In my opinion the controller COULD lead a gaming revolution bringing in thousands of gamers who didn't originally play the games and change the way [certain] games are played, similar to what the DS has done. Or Developers will look at the controller and get cold footed and nothing will happen. The current evidence points to the former. The current evidence being: loads of big name Developer's have come forth and said they like the controller and want/are going to be creating games for it and that the DS has raped its competitor, the PSP a console which costs more and has better graphics plus multimedia capabilities (sounds like 360). However, until the Controller does do all of this, and sells more than the GCN did, it is nothing more than a good idea or a "gimmick".

[JamesP @ Dec 30th 2005 3:40PM]

Personally I think it will be around at least $30 cheaper than the core 360 otherwise it will really struggle.



Nintendo wheeled out all its big franchises for the gamecube and it still came third despite its hardware being the cheapest to buy (at least in the UK) and I dont think the controller will appeal to the mass market in the US or Europe.



I'll wait until its around the �100 to �120 mark before buying (while i'll wait for the PS3 to fall below the �200 mark before I add it to my 360 which I love btw!)

[techyted @ Dec 30th 2005 3:42PM]

Sorry guys, but I did buy a XBOX 360 and I love it, but I can't wait for the Revolution. I agree with #5 Beetle Adventure Racing for the N64 is one of the best N64 games. I am so excited.

[AJ @ Dec 30th 2005 4:28PM]

If the Revolution will allow me to play Internet-connected Mario Kart 64 Battle Mode (circa 1996) against any three players that step up to Toad's plate, then I will pay any price for this machine.

[Jo @ Dec 30th 2005 4:52PM]

he means the price is going to be 299.99

[e=mc2 @ Dec 30th 2005 4:56PM]

Considering how poorly the Nintendo Gamecube sold and the real lack of any decent games and it's aimed towards children demograph. Nothing special here. While the controller is a different approach, only time will time if it will actually work or just be another Virtual Boy.



I am enjoying my 360 now playing games and playing "Live" online gaming. My gain is your loss.

[Stephan Slack @ Dec 30th 2005 6:34PM]

"Nintendo is one of the original players that braught us video gaming so lets not write them off as idiots just yet."



Speaking as a console-gone-pc, I think I can speak for alot of the PC FPS players here that the controller will pwn. I'm also looking forward to all of the Nintendo 1st/2nd party games having online support for the first time. And from all the excitement and popularity surrounding Mario Kart and Animal Crossing DS online, it would not surprise me that Nintendo would find alot more support this upcoming year.

[Ziraba @ Dec 30th 2005 6:38PM]

The price of say 250$ or below a pop is quite sweet considering a big chuck of gamer won't go for the core 360 and Sony's lousy claim "It'll be expensive". I don't know why everyone keeps mentioning the controller. Yes it's quite innovative however the line up of games it's best suited for are few. Would you play Mario with it? I don't think so N should have the traditional pad Along side their rev controller..

[Your Daddy @ Dec 30th 2005 6:38PM]

"

"Nintendo has even said that the Revolution cannot compete with 360 and PS3 graphical and processing power. The "Revolutionary" aspect is the controller, and Nintendo seems intent on 'innovating' rather than attempting to compete with the big dogs.



With that said, I am a happy 360 owner and I personally enjoy Microsofts' first (and second) party titles more than Nintendo. I would rather play Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, Project Gotham Racing 3, Gears of War, and eventually Halo 3 than Mario rehashes (yes, I realize that most of the titles I list by Microsoft are sequals...I enjoy sequals, I just got tired of Mario after Mario64. Same with Zelda.



/note: I have owned every Nintendo console ever released, and will most likely buy the Revolution eventually."

You are an idiot, the next Zelda is only the 4th 3d Zelda game, and all of them have been drastically different

The next Mario is also only the 3rd 3d Mario game EVER, while you say YES I HEART HALO I WAN THEM IN MY BUTT, what is so different about them? Online play? Yay, I can get yelled at by 7 year olds

[Lou Diamonds @ Dec 30th 2005 7:01PM]

$300 CAN right? I DON'T CARE about Nintendo's Magic Wand...it's just sad that they are not even trying to compete with Microsoft/Sony. It's even worst that they once again took a step back and backed out of HD.

[Nate MC @ Dec 30th 2005 7:33PM]

nln350: and for that reason alone is a good enough reason for me to get one, if I can pick it up and then play any games from the NES or SNES I'd be a happy camper.

[Silver @ Dec 30th 2005 9:25PM]

It's readily apparent, and Nintendo� has even said that they are not going to be able to compete graphically with the it's next-gen competitors, that they are going for innovation. They are trying to put the spin on an old concept to make them fun again. They want to change how games are played, but not necessarily what they look like.



Sure you can have all the dynamic lighting you want, but that doesn't make a game have better gameplay. Hardware and software developers need to start understanding that. You need to build fun games, not necessarily just technologically impressive games. Hopefully developers will catch on for the next-next-gen consoles.

[mh @ Dec 30th 2005 10:34PM]

ill pay $300 just to play goldeneye for the n64 with that controler

[Daniel @ Dec 31st 2005 12:40AM]

Sorry to disappoint you all but that reported price tag is inaccurate. When Iwata spoke with Yahoo! Japan, he commented that the Revolution will cost a bit less than the Japanese Xbox 360(the Premium package which is the only package available in Japan) and hinted around Yen 39.795 (Euro 287 / USD 340). Here is the link:

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20051227-00000168-jij-biz

[Cyod @ Dec 31st 2005 4:33AM]

Actually the Gamecube is a lot more powerful than the PS2, but your point is valid in a different way.



The thing with Nintendo is that they are targeting the 10-13 year old crowd with their games even though games targeted for 16-23 are making more money, with games like the GTA series and Resident Evil 4 (which is one of the best selling games for gamecube).

[Lynsanity @ Dec 31st 2005 9:51AM]

I believe Nintendo's lack of an online plan killed them this generation. Think about how many online games were taken offline for the cube, and how many of Nintendo's own franchises could have been online.



Offline: Mortal Kombat Deception, NFL 2k series, NBA 2K series, Madden, NBA Live, Fight Night, Golden eye: rogue agent, NBA street volume 3, Need for Speed, Tony Hawk, XIII, etc.



Potentials: Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Golf, Pokemon RPG, Metriod, Wario Ware, Mario Baseball, Mario Strikers, Cruisin USA/World, NBA Courtside, Punchout, etc.



People always talk about Nintendo having a kiddie system, but that wasn't what hurt them with sports games or online enhanced games. It was the fact that you could get the same game on a different system with better multiplayer modes. Why play split screen on a Gamecube when I can play my brother two states away on a Playstation 2? What's more, why buy a sports game on the Gamecube when I can't even download current rosters?



Only 10% of console buyers play online, right? Well, none of them are playing on the Cube, and Ninendo could have had a higher saturation point with their many franchises. Think about how HUGE a Pokemon RPG be if done correctly.



As far as the Revolution goes, it needs to be cheaper, and the games need to be inexpensive as well, cause we are basically playing for Gamecube V1.25, an innovative controller, downloadable online content, and Free Internet games.

[Lenbot @ Dec 31st 2005 3:30PM]

Aight well most of you are looking at the shear raw power of the xbox 360 and PS3 Might I remind everyone that, that power is still untapped. Ya sure there will be alot of sequals coming out for the xbox 360 and PS3 but that will be almost it. Why might you ask? How about the fact your programming for 3 multithreaded Processors or a Cell Processor with 7 Threads. I am not saying that it's not possible but I would think and I am sure we will see alot of New Titles come out for the revolution because it doesn't try anything Insane, when I first heard of the Xbox 360 and PS3's Power behind It I was in amazment also but let's face the fact's that with that much power and well since it's never been really done before we can be sure for a ride of Unpredictability. Everything I have seen launch for the Xbox 360 really hasn't impressed me at all, Perfect Dark Look's really no better than an Xbox Game.I know some might think otherwise but if you look deep inside you will realize that there is nothing Amazing about it's Graphics. And Microsoft Even said the games coming out for the Xbox 360 with launch will not harness the full power of the xbox 360. Coupled with the problem on launch and the somewhat High price well what can I say it seem's as though Microsoft and Sony have Overstepped a bit. They brought to much unharnessed power to the market and the PS3 is so expensive I don't know who will be able to afford it on launch except those who save specifically for it or have plenty of extra Cash. Nintendo on the other hand has stuck with Awesome Power that they can use and because there not trying anything diffrent game developers will be able to create games easier quicker and look good for the Revolution. The thing is only time will tell exactly what will happen but I am sure that Nintend will debut perhaps before or after PS3 doesn't matter the games will look amazing and we might see some Awesome new titles come to the System. Plus coupling of the new controller brings all kinds of amazing new idea's for game developers. I think what we will see is Sony competely dropping out of the whole thing because to expensive system there profits are constantly low lately and the PSP isn't really doing as well as they would have hoped. So I am pretty sure you will see em drop out, I would be suprised if they didn't.Though Microsoft is trigger happy and brought the system out with more power than most people can harness I think they have a good fan base and good foothold in the gaming market to make it to the next Console war. As for Nintendo, well they have been hear for a long time as despite what most people think there going to be hear for a while longer. Nintendo Didn't try to buy into making a system with more power then they could harness so they setteled for Tommorow's technology instead of trying to re-invent tommorow's technology by making have more power than is possible to use. The only thing that I don't know how it will do is the Controller, it seems like an amazing idea and yet I don't know how it will do. I just know that Nintendo was successfull for all these years and I am sure they will be succesfull for the years to come. The price they have set with coupled with everything else will surely make this console a winner in the war Microsoft Kicked off in November.



-The Real Lenbot

[macattacks10 @ Dec 31st 2005 6:58PM]

#20, the GameCube can compete with the PS2 and Xbox this gen in power. The Xbox and GCN both by far have noticeably better graphics than the PS2, and some effects are much nicer on the GCN than the Xbox. While the specs on the GCN might be lower in some ways, they have tricks to make it much more efficient. The PS2 is pretty lame over all because the graphics and controller are much more weak than the GCN and Xbox.

[Illan @ Jan 1st 2006 1:03AM]

"The GameCube couldn't compete with the XBox or the PS2 in hardware" there a little error there.. the Gamecubes is more powerful that the ps2. Anyway nintendo did the samething with the gamecube it was cheaper that its main competidors. i think the revolution will be fine. cant eait to see it

[Cadallin @ Jan 1st 2006 6:36PM]

Baumann, What are you smoking? The GC easily competed with the PS2 and Xbox on performance. The important figures from that generation were quantity of RAM, and the specs on the GPU. Regardless of Hype, the PS2's GPU was dog.



The terrible irony is, the Revolution will easily compete performance-wise with the next generation. Cell is a dog, just like the Graphics Synth of the PS2. While it can post some impressive benchmarks in custom programs, those aren't games. And the available performance to GAMES will only be than 2X the Gamecube. The actual POWER component of CELL is very anemic, it's sub G3 level stuff, and the vector units are almost worthless for anything useful. The vector units are there because Sony thought they could save by using multiple CELL's as the graphics part, and then discovered that performance sucked, and replaced it with an OTS unit. The XBox 360 is better off, but not much, as it has 3x the same Anemic POWER CPU of CELL, without the useless vector fluff.



The great question remains, will the revolution use a G5 derived part as it's main CPU, or a crap CELL derived part? If it's a G5 part, it'll stomp the PS3 and XBox in CPU performance, particularly floating point. If it's a cell derived part, it will be merely competive at about 2x-3x the Gamecube's performance, no better and no worse than the competition.



At any rate, the GPU's are far more important at this stage and the Revolution is going to use a normal OTS component and will therefore be competitive.

[gamerG @ Jan 3rd 2006 7:31AM]

Maybe MS and Sony in their quest for power have actually missed out on the key demographic ie not older hardcore gamers but the millions of 10 to 17 year olds who want something to play in their bedrooms!



The 360 and the PS3 with their HD outputs and Blue ray player (ps3 only) are features that will be lost on these gamers and its them that drive the market imo.



The difference in quality of graphics will not be noticable on an SDTV I feel, and I cant see millions putting HDTV's in bedrooms!





If Nintendo can come out with a cheap consolse, good games and players take to the "wand" then they may do alright