Revolution Tech Specs Mooted: Uproar Ensues – Full Report

IGN has gone on record to claim it has been privy to some hitherto secret information regarding what will be under the hood of Nintendo's looming Revolution console, offering specifications allegedly obtained from senior development sources which point to a GameCube-based next-generation console.

According to the site:

Insiders stress that Revolution runs on an extension of the Gekko and Flipper architectures that powered GameCube, which is why studios who worked on GCN will have no problem making the transition to the new machine, they say. IBM's "Broadway" CPU is clocked at 729MHz, according to updated Nintendo documentation. By comparison, GameCube's Gekko CPU ran at 485MHz. The original Xbox's CPU was clocked at 733MHz. Meanwhile, Xbox 360 runs three symmetrical cores at 3.2GHz.

Revolution's ATI-provided "Hollywood" GPU clocks in at 243MHz. By comparison, GameCube's GPU ran at 162MHz, while the GPU on the original Xbox was clocked at 233MHz. Sources we spoke with suggest that it is unlikely the GPU will feature any added shader features, as has been speculated.

The overall system memory numbers we reported last December have not greatly fluctuated, but new clarifications have surfaced. Revolution will operate using 24MBs of "main" 1T-SRAM. It will additionally boast 64MBs of "external" 1T-SRAM. That brings the total number of system RAM up to 88MBs, not including the 3MB texture buffer on the GPU. By comparison, GameCube featured 40MBs of RAM not counting the GPU's on-board 3MBs. The original Xbox included 64MBs total RAM. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 operate on 512MBs of RAM.

It is not known if the 14MBs of extra D-RAM we reported on last December are in the current Revolution specifications.

Worthy of note is the fact that both CPU and GPU clock speeds mooted for Revolution are almost exactly 1.5 times faster than the GameCube, leading some to vocalise doubt that IGN's report comprises little more than 'outsider' developer information from a second-hand source at last week's Games Developers Conference.

The fact that no shader technology has been mentioned has surprised many, leaving Nintendo somewhat out in the cold in the eyes of technophiles as the next-generation of home consoles come online.

As you would imagine, the very suggestion that the Revolution will be underpowered when compared to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 has caused fanboy meltdown, in spite of the fact that Nintendo has repeatedly outlined it is focusing on gameplay innovation over graphics. The row over what element of gaming boils the videogame community down into two main factions. Those who care about pixel-shaded sweat beads appearing on the face of Dante in DMC7 and those who would rather play Bishi Bashi-inspired competitive interactive cookery using a magic wand.

The fact that no mass storage has been announced for the Revolution has also caused some to turn their nose up at Nintendo's new machine, though SPOnG believes Nintendo will release a first-party hard disc soon after the Revolution ships. Company president Satoru Iwata briefed some developers during GDC to expect HDD support, explaining that the Revolution can make use of any USB storage medium.

As to whether Nintendo's gamble with power, and understand, it is a gamble, pays off remains to be seen, though SPOnG, for the record, believes it will and in a massive way.

Should these specs prove accurate, essentially every studio on the planet with GameCube experience can begin making games for Revolution. Then bear in mind these games will cost a fraction of those being readied for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The result will be more games available at lower price point. Then throw into the mix the ever-impressive online service from Nintendo and of course, the Revolution's word-defying new controller and a whole new world of quick, accessible fun gaming opens up.

The same games but prettier or a whole new way of playing. A no-brainer for people on both sides of the divide.

We'll leave you with this. Ask anyone who owns both a DS and a PSP which they play and enjoy the most. The technophiles will back PSP and the gamers with take DS every time.