Interview with ATI PR about the Revolution GPU

[midrael]

After the Comsumer Electronics Show, Revolution Report interviewed (http://www.revolutionreport.com/articles/read/254) ATI's Public Relations Manager for Consumer Products, John Swinimer, about their work on the Revolution's GPU codenamed Hollywood.

Here's the part of the interview that I imagine most interested people would be looking for. Unfortunately, since this is the PR Manager being interviewed, there's a large amount of PR speak involved.

Revolution Report: A number of Web sites have inferred that Revolution will be significantly inferior graphically. While it certainly seems like Revolution won't output in HD, is it safe to assume that Hollywood will not feature a comparable polygon count or the same amount of graphical effects as the Xbox 360's GPU?

Swinimer: What I can say is that ATI is focused, as is Nintendo, in making [Revolution] a great, gaming entertainment platform. I know that a lot of journalists are very focused on specs. It's the big thing; as a geek, I look for that too. The key thing to keep in mind is that Nintendo, with ATI's help, is trying to create a game console where you don't have to look at [specs].

From a broader perspective, we share in Nintendo's position that this console will be devoted to the general gamer. When you have a game developer developing [for] this, the goal is to ensure that they don't have to worry about the complexity that is required to develop the games by making them "jump through hoops." That was one of the benefits of working on the GameCube; developers were saying that it is quite easy to develop for and there are not a lot of complexities so they could produce titles easily. That being said, we want consumers to look at the game, play the game and be involved in it. We are doing our very best to make this Nintendo gaming experience the very best it can be.

[Blade]

He dodged the question.

I'd expect "great" graphics, but not on the level of PS3 in the end.

[midrael]

Yeah, I noticed that myself. The guy apparently is the public relations manager so I'm not too surprised. I've dealt with marketing folks before in my line of work, and getting a straight answer sometimes seems comparable to getting cows to fly.

[overdrivechao]

The Revolution is the only guaranteed system. They could build a shiny new sleek looking cereal box, and as long as it plays Mario, Metroid, Zelda, etc., it will sell millions. People have been underestimating the controller as well, which for all intents and purposes will be the most revolutionary concept in console gaming since the Dual Shock for PS1. I'll be getting a PS3, since Sony releases a ton of original titles I really enjoy. But that Revolution is looking better and better, despite the spokeshole talk.

[LilAbner]

An interview with a PR guy? Come on.

[Varsity]

He dodged the question.
On the contrary. The answer is "yes".

[phantomhitman]

On the contrary. The answer is "yes".

on the retrary, he said woobulation.

[UnderHero5]

LOL, am I the only one who finds the code name hilarious?
Hollywood?
LOL

[YoungAlCapone]

Well, that answered alot, I'm glad that this Swinimer character was given the opportunity to clear up so much of the gossip and rumors about the tech specs of the Revolution.

I understand that people are curious about the power that the thing is going to have. However, we have nothing, and speculation gets nothing done. It is fun to speculate, yes, however that does not change the fact that it gets nothing done. I felt the need to say that before this thread gets all covered in stupid.

[UnderHero5]

I felt the need to say that before this thread gets all covered in stupid.
Sorry, I think my post is contributing to that cause.

[Blade]

Hollywood, and the CPU is called Broadway. Hah.

[Deadend]

All it needs now is Vegas, for the online component.

[YoungAlCapone]

Sorry, I think my post is contributing to that cause.

No, actually. Your post made me realize that Hollywood is a hilarious name for a GPU.

On a completely unrelated note, whenever one of my friends is talking on his or her cell phone at an inconvienient time I enjoy calling them (yes, I understand that gramatically this is wrong, however, I would rather explain myself in parenthesis than just fix my grammer) Hollywood.

[if76]

People have been underestimating the controller as well, which for all intents and purposes will be the most revolutionary concept in console gaming since the Dual Shock for PS1.

I hope it's a LITTLE bit more revolutionary than the dual shock.

[Deadend]

I hope it's a LITTLE bit more revolutionary than the dual shock.

Wasn't the N64 controller first?

[score]

^ I'm sensing a feeling of deja vue
(cue a heated thread discussing who did what first)

[Dark Hamlet]

^ I'm sensing some deja vu
Lol, I know what you mean.
"Nintendo did that first!"
"no, Sony did!"
"Actually, if you look at the history of every joystick ever made..."
"Blah, blah, blah...Virtual Boy!"

Omg. I can't believe I actually read the entirety of the thread that held this argument.

Let's make a rule against Rev/DS2 controller arguments for this thread. All in favor say "aye."

[YoungAlCapone]

arrr....er....aye.

[trip1eX]

Well, that answered alot, I'm glad that this Swinimer character was given the opportunity to clear up so much of the gossip and rumors about the tech specs of the Revolution.

I understand that people are curious about the power that the thing is going to have. However, we have nothing, and speculation gets nothing done. It is fun to speculate, yes, however that does not change the fact that it gets nothing done. I felt the need to say that before this thread gets all covered in stupid.

hehehe. so true. That guy said nothing and he makes the news.

Hey there's hope for us all.

****
Anyway they either don't want to say the specs because Nintendo knows there's are going to be weaker because they are sticking to 480p and coming in at a low pricepoint (the boring common sense scenario

...or

they have some super secret sht that's going to hit the Rev and specs won't matter because it's holographic 3d from Mars graphical wierd Japanese tech.

[midrael]

...or

they have some super secret sht that's going to hit the Rev and specs won't matter because it's holographic 3d from Mars graphical wierd Japanese tech.

Woot! Sign me up for that!! :D

[YoungAlCapone]

they have some super secret sht that's going to hit the Rev and specs won't matter because it's holographic 3d from Mars graphical wierd Japanese tech.

I like the idea of a holographic, Japanese martian display. That is tech that makes the news, not multicore processing....

[mister_slim]

they have some super secret sht that's going to hit the Rev and specs won't matter because it's holographic 3d from Mars graphical wierd Japanese tech.
Or they're going to release the hallucinogen they've derived from Miyamoto's blood.

[Montgomery_Python]

No, actually. Your post made me realize that Hollywood is a hilarious name for a GPU.

On a completely unrelated note, whenever one of my friends is talking on his or her cell phone at an inconvienient time I enjoy calling them (yes, I understand that gramatically this is wrong, however, I would rather explain myself in parenthesis than just fix my grammer) Hollywood.

The ideal name would have been, of course, Meatloaf.

[IndependentGMR]

If I'm not mistaken, there is a new Zelda coming out for GameCube. Last time I checked, the graphics were pretty sweet (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-5.jpg). Honestly, for being on the "lowly" GameCube, it still looks damn good (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-2.jpg). My point is that even if the Revolution is only 2 times as powerful as the Cube, the graphics will still be pretty good.

[overdrivechao]

If I'm not mistaken, there is a new Zelda coming out for GameCube. Last time I checked, the graphics were pretty sweet (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-5.jpg). Honestly, for being on the "lowly" GameCube, it still looks damn good (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-2.jpg). My point is that even if the Revolution is only 2 times as powerful as the Cube, the graphics will still be pretty good.

I thought for a while they would just wait and release LoZ:TP on Revolution, but you gotta know the screenshots being produced are being done on Desktop PC or Mac in production... the end result on the cube might be a little fuzzier... Maybe they should do a version on each? You know how Nintendo does it. Look at Nintendogs. 3 games, which are the same, millions of parents buying 3 of the same!! Go N

[Sl1pstream]

If I'm not mistaken, there is a new Zelda coming out for GameCube. Last time I checked, the graphics were pretty sweet (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-5.jpg). Honestly, for being on the "lowly" GameCube, it still looks damn good (http://www.generationmp3.com/generationds/images/news/autre/zelda/z2006-2.jpg). My point is that even if the Revolution is only 2 times as powerful as the Cube, the graphics will still be pretty good.

Last time I played that Zelda (november), I was a little dissapointed with the graphics.