Official iQue Thread

[ChryZ]

Nintendo's iQue in stock and shipping: iQue opened and exposed [picture gallery and videos inside]
Fri Nov 21 2003 20:26:44 Hong Kong Time - GameCube

The iQue Player (or in Chinese "Gods Playing Machine") is a new Nintendo console that has been released in Shanghai this week. The controller-style console plugs directly into the TV and comes with a 64 Mega Bytes Flash Memory Card to store the games. Games are not available in the traditional way, but can be downloaded via Download Stations to the Flash Memory Card in Nintendo-affiliated retail, compact disc and bookstores throughout China. There are also plans to sell games online.

The packaging and presentation

The iQue is packaged similar to the GameCube console and contains the following items.

- A iQue (with 64MByte Memory Card inside)

- A pack including the warranty card and a money card which can be used to purchase game downloads

- A 10-page instruction manual

- Power Adapter

- AV/power cord

There are many pictures of the hardware (disassembled, etc) and 2 movies (Mario64 and iQue's menu).

http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-web-box.jpg><img
The package.

http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-console12.jpg><img
A/V and power cable.

http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-console11.jpg><img
Comparison to a standard GameCube controller.

http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-console5.jpg><img
The money card included in the console is to be used for future game updates and allows you to download new games from authorised resellers to the included memory card.

A prototype of the KIOSK terminal.

http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-open8.jpg><img http://image.lik-sang.com/images/large/ique-open9.jpg><img
CPU made by NEC and the video memory chip made by Samsung.

 

[cthellis42]

Very cute, and an amusing concept. I'm still wondering if they're working on a variant for other markets, to be the "totally new product" they're going to release next year.

 

[Blade]

God, I hope that's not the big announcement.. eheh..

 

[Fox5]

Are the graphics at all improved over N64?(I'd hope for better filtering at least) Also, does it support multiplayer? A lot of the big n64 games were so popular because of multiplayer(though of course, goldeneye and perfect dark probably won't be making it to china), and it would just seem wierd that the n64 was the first major console to ship with 4 controller ports, yet this new version of it is single player only.

 

[Clashman]

The concept is kinda interesting, but the pricing leaves a bit to be desired. 120 bucks for this thing? For that you could get a used n64 and a used gamecube, as well as a game or two, and have numerous advantages over the iQue, (multiplayer, GC games). The only upside is that it appears to be slightly more portable.

 

[Fox5]

Eh, I think $120 is only how much it costs to import(and probably includes games), I think in china it costs around $65, and $5 per game.

 

[Cyborg]

God, I hope that's not the big announcement.. eheh..

This was a product made specifically for china because nintendo wanted a part of that market but didnt want to bring gamecube there due to piracy, so this is their answer. And this was announced at TGS 2003, it aint the 2004 announcement.

 

[cthellis42]

Well it obviously can't be "the" announcement, since it's already been announced, but it might have spawned similar ideas to use in Japan and here. Not a true console, but perhaps a cheap, fun, integrated unit built similarly, which they could use to tap their nostalgia and just have general "fun" interest. Even running with the flash ROM idea, they could--instead of using it as a way of combating piracy as in China--use it instead to distribute old games, and let people freely swap them in and out of the carts. Sell storage/writing units to the stores and let people buy carts of particular sizes to fill up how they want. Nintendo just gets a fun thing that people can play around with, and stores would get a more continuous flow of people to the store in general who would buy other stuff. Could turn it into more of a visual presence and marketing thing that a profit-earner. Maybe charge for some of the more premium games, but if they could get a device that could freely store/swap games dating back to their 8-bit beginnings, they could tap nostalgia in an all new and interesting way, and even people prone to picking up ROMs would probably not care, as they'd get a better control stick and easy hook-up to TV's.

As long as the distribution units are upgradable and the machine itself had expansion ports, they could play around with other ways to connect it them eventually--to each other or to their other devices.

The main downside would be reinforcing their perceived "kiddy" ways and being "the company of the past," which could be a bad thing to offer against a serious challenge to them in the portable category and going into the next generation of machines, but I still find the concept amusing and with room to play around. ^_^

 

[zurich]

Anyone else think the iQue is a precusor to an N64 based GBA2?

 

[PC-Engine]

I think the iQue is a test platform for secure flash technology that could be used in the next GBA.

 

[ChryZ]

I would like to point out, that the iQue's SOC is fabbed by NEC. Indicator for future platforms?

 

[cthellis42]

I rather don't think they'll get enough storage-for-cost out of flash in the future--especially if the PSP is viable and popular and they see themselves able to save a lot AND have plenty more headroom.

 

[DeadmeatGA]

...

Edited by moderator

Deadmeat, I will not allow this thread to be ruined by you. I happen to enjoy the discussion going on in the thread. This is a warning. Check your pm's!

 

[ChryZ]

Moderator, thanks for the clean-up. Back to the topic ... this article was released before the iQue's launch, but it is still interesting:

http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20031107S0039[/URL]]Nintendo launches iQue game player in China

By Yoshiko Hara
EE Times
November 7, 2003 (3:04 p.m. ET)

TOKYO — A new game player developed by Nintendo called iQue will soon hit the Chinese market.

The iQue player, which looks much like a game controller, is designed exclusively for Chinese market. Each iQue player comes with a 64-Mbyte flash memory card that works only with a counterpart player. Nintendo designed a new system-on-chip as the core of its game player, but disclosed no details.

Users will be able to download titles at a iQue franchise and stored on a memory card that can hold only once game at a time. Previous games are erased each time a new one is downloaded, Nintendo said.

The card maintains a download log, so users can regain the previous game titles again free of charge if they want to play them again. Nintendo expects the system to help prevent the pirating of game titles, a major problem in China.

The "business environment is quite different in China from countries such as Japan, the United States and Europe. We believe that we have to challenge the Chinese market with a brand-new business scheme," said Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo.

Nintendo established a Chinese joint venture company named iQue Ltd. in Suzhou, near Shanghai, with local investors about 18 months ago to lay the foundation for it the game business there. The joint venture is evenly divided between Nintendo and its Chinese partners.

Nintendo plans to use of older game software and technology for iQue. The joint venture will eventually manufacture the iQue game player and also develop game software for China.

The game player and a bundled blank card will sell for 498 yuan (about $60), and one game title will cost 48 duan (about $6). The games will initially be available in largers cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou later this year. Sales will be expanded throughout the country next spring.

By introducing an affordably priced game player and software, Nintendo said it wants to quickly expand sales in Asia.

 

[Deepak]

Isn't piracy a BIG problem in China?

 

[StefanS]

Isn't piracy a BIG problem in China?

Well, Nintendo believes that moderate price (5$ per game) and secure technology will lessen the demand for piracy of IQue games...

 

[akira888]

Isn't piracy a BIG problem in China?

Not just China...

Does anyone know any details with regards to the chipset of this thing or which old Ninty systems it supports (obviously N64).

 

[Fox5]

Supposendly they're supposed to be porting both n64 and snes games to it.....maybe it'll see some gba games or original games though, but I think classic gameboy games/gameboy color or nes games would be too dated to port without enhancements(which would probably go straight to gba anyhow), and I doubt they want to touch anything from virtual boy.

 

[Fox5]

Edit: Double post

 

[ChryZ]

Isn't piracy a BIG problem in China?

Not just China...

Well, maybe Nintendo grabbed the problem at it's feet and turned it upside down. Instead of making money with (written off, old, unsellable to the west anymore) software, they'll make it with hardware. I am sure the the protection will be hacked soon, but the hardware is not duplicted that easiely ... so any pirate must buy the iQue and Nintendo gets eitherway their cash. Of course this would only work, if they are not selling the iQue under cost

Too crazy?