Project Revolution is the code name for the next Nintendo video game console. It is rumored to be released in late 2005 or 2006, about the same time as the next Sony and Microsoft consoles. Presently, not much information has been released about Project Revolution. The system is expected to be demonstrated at E³ in May 2005 [1] (http://www.ferrago.com/story/2931).

Nintendo has announced that IBM has been contracted once again with the development of the CPU. IBM was previously involved with the development of the processor in Nintendo's current system, GameCube. Nintendo has also announced that Canadian graphics card maker ATI Technologies is involved with the GPU design.

Though in the past Nintendo has made statements indicating that they would like to beat Sony and Microsoft to market in the next generation of consoles, more recently Nintendo has stated that they will ship their next console about the same time.

Nintendo has stated that they wish for their new console to provide more than simply better graphics over its predecessor. It is not yet known how they will achieve this but it is thought that it may provide new methods of interaction and innovation.

Rumors

• The future Microsoft and Nintendo consoles may use similar technologies or be one and the same. Both Nintendo and Microsoft have contracted IBM and ATI to develop their next-generation hardware. There have also been rumours that Nintendo and Microsoft plan on co-operating against Sony, according to a February 2004 speculation. [2] (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/35460.html)

• Project Revolution will most likely have connectivity with the Nintendo DS, wireless capabilities, and backward compatibility with the Nintendo GameCube.

• Revolution's largest innovation is speculated to be incorporated in the next controller. There is a rumor that the new console's controllers will not have the traditional A / B buttons or the d-pad, which have been present since the NES era in the early 1980s. It's worth mentioning that Nintendo as early as 2001, has invested a great deal of money and resources into the company Gyration, which focus' on creating controllers for the PC using the latest technology in gyroscopes.

References

• N-Sider (http://www.n-sider.com/articleview.php?articleid=344), October 2004 in-depth FAQ, updated on all the known details about the Revolution.
• Gyration (http://www.gyration.com/intl/uk/pr-nintendo_uk.htm), Press release involving Nintendo investment