Do they sound true? Well, they're pretty general, and they are consistent with other rumors and facts that have been released. A 128-bit processor, Rambus RAM (which was used in the Nintendo 64), built-in rumbling, and networking (internet) capability have been pretty much confirmed thus far. Nintendo is also known to have enlisted Netscape and Alps to develop networking software. Whether the processor is 400 MHz is up in the air, and the bit about the storage medium is probably false. If Nintendo were to use DVD (and by all accounts, they're strongly considering it), they certainly wouldn't use a version that only held 1.5 GB when the standard single-layer, single-sided DVD holds 4.7 GB normally. While a proprietary medium might make sense (to combat piracy), crippling the format to that degree does not. What's possible, however, is that whoever reported this rumor made a mistake and is instead referring to the proprietary 1.5 GB disk that IGN64 said may or may not offer rewritability (a feature that Nintendo is very interested in), one of two mediums Nintendo was considering (the other being DVD). In any case, remember that these are only rumors. Check out the news below for IGN64's N200X report.

IBM to Produce N200X CPU?
March 30, 1999 - At Next Generation Online's Nintendo forum, some people have agreed that they've heard rumors about Nintendo talking to IBM about making the next generation Nintendo's CPU. One person in particular heard the rumor from a friend who is employed by IBM (though he emphasizes that it is only a rumor). This issue has also supposedly been addressed in Business Week (I hope to get my hands on a copy of the magazine soon to confirm this). The rumor in question also states that Nintendo/IBM is considering a 400 MHz processor, which is consistent with information that IGN64 has obtained (check out the news below).

I assume that the chip they're discussing is not the chip ArtX is developing, as Nintendo has definitely confirmed that ArtX is working on the hardware. If the IBM rumor is true, one can assume that the main CPU will be the IBM chip and ArtX will design the graphics co-processor and the rest of N200X's motherboard. Allying with IBM would be a smart move towards outpowering the Sony/Toshiba-designed CPU for the next generation Playstation. As Sony is employing advanced .18 micron technology to manufacture its chips, Nintendo could use IBM's copper circuitry technology (check it out at IBM's website) for greater performance. Expect an update to this story by the end of this week.

Retro Studios Working on an RPG?
March 26, 1999 - The rumor report at IGN64 has released information about a possible multiplayer RPG for the next generation Nintendo machine. "Multiple sources" are supposedly saying that in addition to the sports game(s) that Retro Studios is developing, an online RPG will launch with the N200X.

I went through the archives of IGN64's rumors (called "Ed's Rumor Report" if you're not familiar with it) to see how many of their rumors had come true. Unfortunately, I can't say their record is all that good. It could mean, of course, that those rumors are still being kept secret, but I've become accustomed to not taking too much stock in what they speculate. Still, this news is exciting, and makes enough sense to (perhaps) be true. As many people know, the N64's lackluster sales in Japan (and in the U.S., for that matter) can be partly attributed to a lack of RPGs. Clearly, Nintendo doesn't want to make that mistake again. They'll get somebody to make an RPG; the question is, is it Retro Studios? After all, Retro was founded by two former employees of Iguana, a company with no RPG background. Retro's been doing a bit of hiring, though, and maybe they'll bring in some talented RPG designers. The other issue, that of online gaming, is also intriguing. This goes hand-in-hand with Nintendo's networking strategy, so I would assume that this part of the rumor is true as well. Still, don't get your hopes up too much. As with all rumors, take them with a grain of salt.
Read the full rumor at IGN64

Miyamoto Talks About New Nintendo
March 23, 1999 - IGN64 spoke to Shigeru Miyamoto about Nintendo's next-generation video game console and learned that the famous video game designer is currently working on the controller for the new machine. He also noted that he works on many projects simultaneously and does not know which games will be released for what system. Finally, when asked about how he would deal with the greater loading time of a medium like DVD, Miyamoto responded that he hopes clever ideas can reduce those loading times.

It's certainly reassuring to see that Nintendo is continuing to develop the new console with their best talent and that they're fully committed to a massive storage medium. Shigeru Miyamoto and EAD may not be too keen on such slow storage devices, but the future came a long time ago, and Nintendo missed it with N64. They can't afford to do that again.
Read the full story at IGN64

Left Field Productions Developing for Next-Gen Nintendo
March 22, 1999 - Left Field Productions is officially a developer for the new Nintendo machine. A Nintendo second-party developer, Left Field was responsible for Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside. Like Retro Studios, expect Left Field to develop a sports game for N200X's launch.
Read the full story at IGN64

Miyamoto's GDC Speech
March 18, 1999 - Shigeru Miyamoto gave his keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, CA today. The bulk of his speech consisted of his experience in the video game industry and his thoughts on video game design. It's certainly a must-read for any Nintendo fan (or an aspiring video game designer) as Miyamoto discusses the development of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and what direction he believes video game design should take. Most interesting for next generation Nintendo watchers is this quote:

"Shall I begin making Zelda for our next generation hardware? At this point, the answer to that question is no. The reason for my saying this is that all of the elements for which Zelda has received so much praise for had already been incorporated into the game more than a year before completion, when I felt the game was not fun to play. I think that a lot of the reasons that Zelda has been so praised are not related the N64�s level of expression, the unique camera systems and auto-jump system, nor the gorgeous cinema scenes and spectacular boss fights. It is true that some other team may realize the level of expression that we achieved with Zelda, but of course it will not be the exact same as Zelda. With improved hardware, I can imagine Zelda having more detailed graphics and a quicker response time, but when it comes to increasing the degree of fun, I cannot be certain of that at this time. This is something that I feel we as designers must reconsider."

This certainly does not mean that we'll never see a Zelda game for the new Nintendo. Rather, Miyamoto wants to be sure he can deliver a new and better gaming experience. However, it's disappointing to hear that Zelda will not be launching with the new machine and that it may be some time before we see a new Zelda game. It was a six-year wait between A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. Hopefully, we won't have to wait until 2004 to see Zelda again.
Read the full speech at IGN64

Metroid Maybe?
March 18, 1999 - At the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, Shigeru Miyamoto, the conference's key-note speaker, revealed that a Metroid game was in the works for a Nintendo system by an internal development team at EAD. Note that he said a Nintendo system, not specifying whether it will appear on Nintendo 64 or the next generation Nintendo machine. He also said that while he is not directly involved with the game's development, he does check on the work every now and then.

If Shigeru Miyamoto has even the smallest input on this game's creation, it will be unlikely to disappoint. EAD is very talented in its own right, so I expect the very best out of this new Metroid game. As for what system it'll appear on, I speculate that Nintendo 64 will most likely be home to the game. However, it's strange that Miyamoto didn't state this outright, which hints at the possibility that it may be an N200X game. We'll just have to wait and see.
Read the full story at IGN64

IGN64 Reveals N200X Info
March 15, 1999 - IGN64 has a feature article explaining what they know on the new Nintendo console. It's rather long, and any attempt of mine to summarize it won't do it justice. I have, however, listed some of the most important points. For the full article (as always) click on the link below. So what do we know?

• N200X is planned to arrive in October 2000 in Japan, but this target date is unlikely to be met
• Design specifications written in early 1998 estimated raw polygon output at around 20 million polys/sec. These number may be quadrupled before the system is released. Let's hope so. With the next generation Playstation pushing upwards of 75 million polys/sec, 80 million would be a good number to settle for.
• Rambus RAM will once again be used in the next Nintendo machine. The total amount of RAM that the machine will feature hasn't been finalized yet. Rambus, best known for their high-speed memory, also produced Nintendo 64's RAM.
• ArtX has experimented with hardware NURBS conversion (NURBS being a particular way of representing free-form curves) but whether or not the new machine will support NURBS in hardware is unknown.
• The new machine will NOT have a dedicated sound chip. Like the N64, sound will be handled by the co-processor. This isn't as big a problem as it was with N64, since with a larger storage medium (more on that later), sound can be streamed right off the disk. I still would have liked to see a sound chip, however, for those companies who wanted to use MIDI for their music (for example, those who want to implement interactive music that changes with the situation).
• Nintendo has narrowed down their choice of storage medium to two choices: a proprietary 1.5 GB disk that may or may not offer writability and DVD. Apparently, many Japanese developers have actually recommended that Nintendo use DVD. Though offering a writable disk goes hand in hand with Nintendo's internet/network strategy and would once again put Nintendo in the position of the console industry's innovator, if developers want DVD, I say give it to them. N64's poor performance in Japan can be attributed to its usage of cartridges (and third-parties' unwillingness to embrace it). Nintendo doesn't want to alienate third-parties again. Writability may be implemented on a second drive or as an add-on (as speculated by IGN64).
• The new Nintendo may interface with the Game Boy Color through the portable system's infrared port. This would be a perfect (and in my opinion, superior) answer to the Sega Dreamcast's VMS and PlayStation's PocketStation (which, if you don't know, are handheld devices that interface with the console and allow the player to, in effect, take part of the game with them). With the Game Boy Color as popular as it is, this feature is definitely something Nintendo will want to retain.
• "Networkability is at the top of the list for the new console," Nintendo of America says. Nintendo is working with a networking company called Nexus to develop networking and modem technology for the console. You can certainly expect N200X to offer some significant internet and networking capabilities, as this is the direction that all consoles are seemingly aiming towards.
• No word on how the new Nintendo will be controlled, though two things are confirmed: internal rumbling and at least two analog buttons. Remember how long it was before N64's controller was unveiled? If the new controller is even half as innovative, expect to wait a while.
• Now the most important part: games. No actual titles have been announced, but a list of potential developers follows. First is of course EAD, Nintendo's premier development team. They're likely already working on a new game (see the Games section for more information). Retro Studios is also very likely already starting work (read about them). Some possible, though unconfirmed developers are: Rare (they're Nintendo's closest second-party developer), Ubi Soft, Acclaim (Iguana), Midway/Atari Games, Capcom (woo hoo!), Konami, Factor 5/LucasArts, Looking Glass Studios. Remember, except for Square (who Nintendo is purportedly trying to improve relations with), Japanese developers don't have anything against Nintendo. The only reason N64 lacked Japanese third-party support was because it used costly, limited-in-size cartridges. With a console designed to be as developer-friendly as possible, things should be different next time around.

These highlights are lengthy, but read the full article for even more details. With development teams expected to receive development kits before the end of the year, more information on the new Nintendo should be released soon. Keep coming for more news.
Read the full story at IGN64

A Hint of N200X's Power
March 09, 1999 - Along with the annoucement that N200X will not use cartridges (that's no surprise), a Nintendo spokesperson made these comments about the upcoming Nintendo machine:

"Nintendo's successor to Nintendo 64 has been in development for a while already, and that development is ongoing. The console will be at least as powerful, if not more powerful, than the PlayStation 2 specs that we've seen. The next generation Nintendo console will also be at least the same price as, if not cheaper than PlayStation 2's price. And that's worldwide, by the way."

The reaction that most people might give this announcement is one of indifference. It's coming out almost a year later than PSX2, so it has to be more powerful, right? It's not quite so simple. The new Playstation is purportedly using technology that nobody can yet mass produce (.18 micron process). Sony is also establishing a joint venture company with Toshiba for the sole purpose of manufacturing PSX2's CPU. Since it's far too late for Nintendo to make any changes to the hardware they've been developing for the past few years, the fact the next generation Nintendo console will be as powerful (if not more than) and cost as much (if not less than) PSX2 is incredible. Nintendo's hardware is currently being developed by ArtX, a company formed by former employees of Silicon Graphics (the developer of Nintendo 64's hardware).
Read the full story at Next Generation Online

Retro Studios
Anyone who knows Nintendo 64 knows about Iguana, the talented developer who created the Turok and NFL Quarterback Club games on N64. Some time ago, a few guys at Iguana left to form a new company. As you've probably guessed from the headline, that company's name is Retro Studios, and they've got some interesting plans. Find out why you should care.

New Nintendo Specs to be Released This Year
March 08, 1999 - At a sales conference in Italy, Nintendo of American chairman Howard Lincoln confirmed that specifications for Nintendo's next video game console will be released before the end of the year. This is positive news, since with the seemingly insurmountable power of the Next Generation PlayStation, Nintendo will want to begin courting third party developers as soon as possible.
Read the full story at Next Generation Online