A Nintendo community
by the fans!
           
  Forum main
 + 
Possible Project Cafe Release Date and Price
 
Between $350 and $400, and coming out late October/early November. Plus some possible hardware and design specs. Nintendo hasn't commented on this, so who knows if it's true.
Source

Size is comparable to an original Xbox 360, and the touch screen on the controllers deal is being reaffirmed.

Edit: rumor

-Anon


URL to share (right click and copy)
04/21/11, 23:09    Edited: 04/22/11, 00:37
 
   
 
The more I think about this the more I am convinced that this will be Nintendo's solution for 3D console games. If the screens have 3D functionality similar to the 3DS, then players could choose to play their games in 3D by choosing the stream to controller option. If they tire of it, or don't want 3D, just look at the big screen. This way there are no worries about people buying 3D ready TVs.
04/22/11, 05:10   
Wouldn't 3D in a controller make for some insanely expensive controllers?
04/22/11, 05:18   
If the rumor is true, I think a 6" HD screen is already going to make for insanely expensive controllers.

I just don't see a practical use for them other than throw-away features like NFL play selections, mini-map/inventory screens, etc. I mean, you're either looking at your TV or at the controller screen. Why would I want to be staring at my 6" controller screen for inventory management when I've got a 42" 1080p screen right there in front of me at the same time?

I don't know. If anyone can pull it off, it's Nintendo. But this one just has me scratching my head.
04/22/11, 05:24   
@New Forms

I think once we got used to it, we wouldn't be 'staring' at the screen on the controller if it was used for inventory (more like quick glances, if that). Personally, I think this method is more intuitive and seamless, and the less stuff we have to interrupt the flow and pace of the gameplay the better.

Other than that, streaming to controllers instead of split-screen allows for more than 4 players at the same time while saving processing power.
04/22/11, 05:32   
Edited: 04/22/11, 05:34
@Zero

If what people have said is true, it only costs Nintendo about $100 to manufacture each 3DS. That's two screens plus all the processing guts, wireless stuff, and whatever features they have stuffed in there. The screen would be the most expensive part of the controller, and then maybe a wireless adapter. Other than that it's just buttons, accelerometer, and a rumble motor, for the most part. I mean I understand there is more to it than that, but not too much that is costly.
04/22/11, 05:41   
Edited: 04/22/11, 05:42
@casper884

Ha, yeah. How funny would it be if 5 years from now everyone is saying, "Remember when you actually had to press pause to get to your map and inventory? Talk about the Dark Ages!". I mean, I see the extra convenience, but part of me feels like on the level I'm illustrating, it's not really a problem that needed to be solved.

Who knows, Nintendo knows what they're doing so I trust them. Heck, it could also just be a false rumor at this point anyway.

Either way, gotta give 'em credit for shaking things up once again.
04/22/11, 05:59   
@New Forms

Well, for me, I've always wished there was a way to access my inventory in games without interrupting the gameplay. The DS addressed this somewhat, but it was also used for other things. This controller would pretty much make it a standard, which it should be. It also helps to allow the games to be more immersive when you don't have the HUD/Inventory cluttering up the main screen and need to press start, making it painfully obvious that you're still playing a video game. The supplementary info on the controller screen can be integrated/implemented in a way that makes the selection of certain actions/choices/items seem very natural. Almost like using your PDA in real life.

EDIT:

And then there's the whole privacy thing, for sports games and such, like football, so you can make plays with your local buddies without them seeing it.
04/22/11, 06:06   
Edited: 04/22/11, 06:08
@FINlos I really doubt it only costs $100 to manufacture a 3DS, but either way, manufacturing is just a piece of the costs. Shipping, retail, etc. Basically controllers already cost $50 without screens and 3D, throw that in and it'd be expensive!

@New Forms I'd be all for quick access to inventory, not to mention the potential for doing something like 4 Swords without connectivity (not sure if you have played it, but it kind of relies in being able to run offscreen and not have your fellow players see what you are doing...) and other assorted stuff. BUT not at a hefty price! I feel like this 6 inch HD touch screen is a rumour and 3D seems almost like a definite no, but I could see a small cheaper touch screen.
04/22/11, 06:08   
Edited: 04/22/11, 06:10
@Zero

It would be interesting if they took a loss on the controllers. Probably not gonna happen though.
04/22/11, 06:09   
Edited: 04/22/11, 06:09
casper884 said:
@New Forms
Other than that, streaming to controllers instead of split-screen allows for more than 4 players at the same time while saving processing power.

But does it? From my understanding of (2D display) 3D games, the processor(s) would still have to do all the math associated with the polygons being rendered from X points of view (plus piping it to X different addresses).

Unless of course the machine just computes everything in the entirety of the game instance then simply provides X window-like vantages. Which would be something new, I think.

Even if the controller was simply displaying information, that's still an extra load on the processor(s). Of course, I'm not saying it's not possible.
04/22/11, 06:34   
Edited: 04/22/11, 06:42
@autokymatic

Well the screens on the controller have to have some kind of chip, at least for the display controller, even if they have enough just to raster. It depends on if they the stream the data or stream a compressed video. If it's the former, than the console itself could generate all of the graphical instances of the game, but they wouldn't actually be rasterized until they reached the display on the controller.
04/22/11, 06:50   
I'll be shocked if Nintendo reverts back to supporting dual-analog sticks as a standard.
04/22/11, 06:53   
So I've had time to mull this over and I absolutely think this is all real now. I think those pics show the actual controller and console. I'll actually be very surprised if these don't turn out to be the real deal.

Also, wouldn't the controller require headphones? What if I wanna stream from my console and play Dead Space 3 at night?

So has the power rumour been "confirmed" yet? I still really want this to be a lot more powerful than PS3 or I'll be pissed. The $400 price tag is comforting but not enough of a confirmation to me.
04/22/11, 07:00   
Edited: 04/22/11, 07:03
@carlosrox At least admit to yourself that some of this is probably rumour man. Come on. You're setting yourself up to be uber disappointed.
04/22/11, 07:03   
@Zero
But which parts? It all actually adds up. Everything I've heard so far.
04/22/11, 07:03   
@carlosrox

IGN is now the second source saying that 'Stream' is using R700 architecture. The class of GPUs is very broad in terms of power. It would be anywhere from 2 times more powerful than a 360 (bare minimum) to 10 times more powerful (highest-end card). The GPU is supposed to be custom anyway so there's not much to go on. But even if they went with the highest-end card (which is incidentally codenamed 'R700') it's still a few years old, so it wouldn't be crazy expensive (although introducing a dual-GPU into a console presents a few problems).
04/22/11, 07:09   
Edited: 04/22/11, 07:10
@carlosrox What do you mean which parts? If I knew what was fact and what was fiction I could set myself up as the ultimate authority and no one would ever have to play the rumour game ever again, I could just tell everyone in advance and always be right. Anyway, anything can "add up", doesn't mean it's actually true. It's just general practice with this kind of thing that some of it ends up false.
04/22/11, 07:11   
@Zero

Yeah, even if all of the rumors are 100% true at this point, that doesn't mean that they will be when the system is revealed. Thus is the nature of leaking unconfirmed/confidential information.
04/22/11, 07:15   
@Zero
Um I mean which parts strike you as total rumour at this point? Unless these people all teamed up to make a fake console, all of this seems to add up. Even the codename adds up. The leaked pics add up with the rumours as well. Even the Stream name adds up.

Most of these features add up. I'm also not seeing any other radical theories. What we've heard from the beginning has been touch screen controller, more power, HD, streaming games, and that's about it really.
04/22/11, 07:34   
Even though these rumors are fun to ponder upon I'm going to stay patient and wait for an official announcement.

You know, screens within the controllers would do away with split screen play. The controller design and assumed price just doesn't sit well with me.

Tomorrow IGN will reveal Nintendo's new marketing campaign, "Wii would like to Stream." Hey wait...could this new console somehow piggy back off of the Wii console? Nah...
04/22/11, 07:39   
  Forum main
 +