Possible Revolution Virtual Console patent revealed

[dtd72]

An article (http://www.revolutionreport.com/articles/read/198) from the Revolution Report (http://www.revolutionreport.com/) points out a recent patent filing (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=2&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=ptxt&S1=Nintendo.ASNM.&OS=AN/Nintendo&RS=AN/Nintendo) by Nintendo. The article discusses the possibility of it being related to the Virtual Console function in their next-generation console, Revolution.

[sTubbs]

Why is this news? It has been known since e3 2005 that the Revolution is going to be backwards compatible all the way back to the NES. As the patent clearly states, it is for emulation technology to do just that. It does not sound that different from other emulation technologies currently being used.

[WileE.Coyte]

It's because the title makes it sound like the Nintendo "ON" video.

[Murtaug]

Is backwards compatible the right word to use? When I think of backwards compatability, I get this image of sliding a NES cart into the front of the Revolution. It just features some emulation. Have they said if the Revolution will play Gamecube discs? I can't remember if the system had a slot load drive or not and I am far to lazy to look it up.

I am rather intrigued by the Revolution of late, if only because I like the idea of being able to play some of my favorite classics from over the years again.

[Harlan Hoyt]

The Revolution will support GameCube discs, and it does have a slot load drive. I don't know what kind of devilish magic (some call it "technology") that Nintendo has cooked up to let it do that, but apparently it does. I'm curious about how that works.

Frankly, I'm looking forward to this almost as much as the actual Revolution games. I've got me a powerful hankerin' to play Castlevania 3. I hope Konami is onboard with this virtual console buisness. I don't know why they wouldn't be -- just put all that stuff out there, charge $3 a game and let people go wild. Konami hasn't made money off their NES games in years. Here's a chance to do so. Any virtual Nintendo console without Castlevania 3 and Contra, or even Mega Man is a pretty poor one, indeed.

[sTubbs]

It's because the title makes it sound like the Nintendo "ON" video.

Yes, but the patent description makes it sound blatantly like plain old emulation technology.

[bobbler]

The Revolution will support GameCube discs, and it does have a slot load drive. I don't know what kind of devilish magic (some call it "technology") that Nintendo has cooked up to let it do that, but apparently it does. I'm curious about how that works.

Frankly, I'm looking forward to this almost as much as the actual Revolution games. I've got me a powerful hankerin' to play Castlevania 3. I hope Konami is onboard with this virtual console buisness. I don't know why they wouldn't be -- just put all that stuff out there, charge $3 a game and let people go wild. Konami hasn't made money off their NES games in years. Here's a chance to do so. Any virtual Nintendo console without Castlevania 3 and Contra, or even Mega Man is a pretty poor one, indeed.

I'd bet a lot of money GC game code is run natively on the system (without any sort of emulation needed), and all previous systems are run through a normal emulation scheme. They may call it virtual console but it isn't anything special really -- they call virtual console what the rest of the world calls emulation.

[KDups]

How come those patent images misspell Koopa ("Kuppa") and Mario Kart ("Mariocart")? Are they done by the patent office?

[MajSheppard]

This is going to be one of the coolest things ever to us Old school types.
I would also like to see something like a dollar for orginal games, 3 for updated versions, and like 5 for third party.

[Opty]

"Kuppa" is Koopa's name in Japan. Probably "Mario Kart" is "Mario Cart" there as well.

[alienchild]

oh, and Mega Man is "Rock Man".