'Revolution' details due by year's end

Nintendo earlier this week unveiled its console, code-named "Revolution," and said it will launch in 2006, giving users access to more than 20 years of games from past Nintendo consoles.

The Revolution, roughly the size of three stacked DVD cases, will feature wireless controllers, built-in wireless Internet access, and an add-on for DVD playback.

"We plan to give details on when we will launch it, what the price will be, what the controller will look like and how games can be played on it by the end of the year," said Nintendo's Satoru Iwata, speaking to Reuters at the Electronic Entertainment Expo annual trade show, known as E3.

Some gamers and industry analysts had criticized Nintendo for providing sparse details on the new machine, comparing it to Sony's and Microsoft's unveiling of slicker, graphic-intense next-generation machines.

But Iwata said he didn't want to tip his hand to rivals.

Iwata said the new console is aimed at customers who hate clutter and find current games and the controllers used to play them to be confusing and difficult.

"In the past we tried to entice new users with increasingly sophisticated graphics, improved sound, and complex storytelling, but to a big extent, I think we've pursued that as much as we can," said Iwata.

"Right now, game consoles are important for the game fan, but for the rest of the family, it's just a piece of nuisance that's loud and eats up electricity...We want to create games for people who haven't played games but are curious about them."

He said the company was already talking to third-party game publishers about including their old Nintendo-compatible games in the downloadable archives.

That would allow users to play original versions of "Pac-Man" and "Donkey Kong," for instance.

While pricing has not been decided, he said the company could charge users per game, sell pre-paid cards in stores or give some games away as part of promotions.

Nintendo's new Game Boy Micro, which the company also unveiled this week in a surprise announcement, is intended to capture casual gamers, Iwata said.

"We have no plans to discontinue Game Boy Advance SP," he said, referring to its current model. "We think the two will be compatible."

Analysts have suggested the Micro should be priced lower than Game Boy Advance SP, but Iwata said he hoped users "would see its value," adding that the Micro was more expensive to manufacture than SP.

Nintendo has not decided on the price for the Micro, he said.

Nintendo had said in January that games for DS--a paperback-size device that it launched late last year--were not selling as well as expected, in part because of free games that came with it. But Iwata said sales in Japan had been stronger in March and April.

"The U.S. market will see new games in June and of course Nintendogs will launch in August. I hope people will wait to make a judgment until then," Iwata said.

"Nintendogs" is one of its latest games that allow users to play with a virtual dog. The launch of the latest "Legend of Zelda" game is expected to affect results in the second half of its business year, ending March 2005.

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