April Fool's: Analyst: Revolution will take lead in 2010

  • By Ike Kidd, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 1, 2006 12:01 pm PT

Surprise prediction from analyst Thomas Runte touts Nintendo's console as winner of next-gen war by next decade.

APRIL 1--In the world of underdogs, few are getting as little respect as Nintendo's upcoming console, code-named Revolution. An overwhelming majority of industry analysts have stated that the favorite to win the next-gen console battle will be the PlayStation 3, with the remaining experts saying that Microsoft's Xbox 360 will take advantage of its head start to market, making it tough to beat.

However, Thomas Runte, a self-proclaimed analyst who frequents message boards under the handle "Miyamoto_Mojo," thinks differently.

"We expect Nintendo's Revolution, based on its price and immense catalog of downloadable games, to be the market leader by 2010," Runte told GameSpot News. "Nintendo is going to be one heck of a competitor for the gaming pie, and from the looks of it, I think they are going to get a rather huge slice."

Runte sees the ongoing concern over prices of consoles and games as the major factor in his analysis. The Revolution is almost guaranteed to be the cheapest console when its hits the market, with some projections going as low as $199 for the system.

"Sony and Microsoft will have game development costs much higher than that of the Revolution. The higher costs to develop for [the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360] will be passed on to consumers. This isn't the case with Nintendo's Revolution," said Runte. "I wouldn't be surprised if its games, first- and third-party, were $39, or even cheaper. If you had the choice to pay $40 or $60 for a game, which would you choose? Nintendo is rocking the game industry. They've got the right idea. Soon their superior strategy will pull them ahead."

Innovation is also a key selling point for the console says Runte. The console's controller, which is shaped like a TV remote, uses motion sensors to effectively simulate swinging a sword, casting a fishing line, or shooting a gun.

"I've heard about the controller and some of the projects that Nintendo is working on. It's really very impressive and should tap heavily into the non-gaming market. The possibilities [with the controller] are almost limitless, and I heard from a source that there are already early builds of the Revolution's handwriting-recognition technology. Gamers will eventually use the controller to 'write' answers, allowing Nintendo to bring its popular Brain Training games to the Rev. That'll definitely move systems in Japan. [Nintendo president Satoru] Iwata is a genius--pure and simple."

Runte also thinks that timing favors Nintendo. The Revolution will be able to play games from Nintendo's older consoles, the Sega Genesis, and Hudson's TurboGrafx-16.

"Remember, today's gamers grew up playing Mario Bros. and Zelda, some of the best games of all time. They're out there now as the industry's main consumers. The ability to play thousands of games, all priced in the five-dollar range, without leaving the house is very attractive. Gamers don't want to buy a PS3. They prefer a good system with nostalgia over a system with prettier graphics. Games are meant to be one thing--fun."

Runte says it's not only that Nintendo has "superior strategy" and is "totally awesome"; it's Nintendo's rivals' weaknesses that give the Revolution the advantage. He dismisses the competition as a non-factor and had particularly harsh words for Sony.

"Sony has yet to come out of the pit stop after the first lap. Folks, when this race started, naysayers said Nintendo would not have enough under the engine to compete with Microsoft and Sony. Trying to one-up Nintendo like they did with them wanting to make a Revolution-style controller after it was revealed and oohed and aahed over... Sony won't let anyone else have time in the light. Down with Sony. I am going to take a bat to my PS2. Nintendo is back in a big way. I think Nintendo will own them all. I believe they are on the path to domination once again. I think they finally are giving people what they want and continuing to give them things they never thought of."

Runte wasn't done touting Nintendo's future after the phone conversation with GameSpot News. In a follow-up e-mail, he wrote, "OMG!!! Zelda on teh DS roolz!!!11!1!!1!1 Chrono Trigger downloadable? :) Nintendo >>>>> M$ and Sony. They don't stand a chance! W00t!"

One pro-Sony analyst, who wished only to be known as "Devil_Dante420," responded to Runte's comments. He told GameSpot News, "Whatever. Runte is such a noob. The PS3's graphics are far superior to the Revolution games. Gamers are getting older, they want a machine that caters to an older, mature audience. Zelda is like totally lame. Final Fantasy, now that's a series that can carry a console."

Steve "4Runner" Downes, another self-proclaimed "analyst," is still sticking with his original projection that the Xbox 360 will dominate the next generation. "The Xbox 360 is just better than the lame PS3 and Revolution. I don't care that they're not even out yet, the 360 is just better. Just watch noobz, the world will stop when Halo 3 is released. [Sony and Nintendo] should just give up now."

369 Comments

  • IvanDraco

    Posted Jun 7, 2009 12:20 am PT

    that's not a joke anymore, it's turning real, I guess we can all lol

  • lunatic656

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 9:02 pm PT

    Worse yet, industry insiders continue to belittle Wii with words like "casual," "fad," "gimmick," and "kiddy," simply to dance around the fact that the Wii has been the most successful gaming platform in recent history. Now everyone is complaining that Nintendo is abandoning the "hardcore." Don't these stupid people realize that that has been Nintendo's strategy from the start of making the Wii? They have abandoned GAMERS in favor of CONSUMERS, which is the smartest business decision that a gaming company can make. You call that abandonment? Backstabbing? Well I can guarantee you that Sony and Microsoft would backstab every one of their hormonal teen male gaming fans in a heartbeat if it meant attracting all of Nintendo's customers (and at this E3, they did just that, except for the attracting customers part. Ouch.) Now that Microsoft and Sony are appearing to try to follow Nintendo's footsteps (although they probably will not wholeheartedly follow through like Nintendo, at least not this generation), all of a sudden motion control is "in" and "the future." Well guess what, the future is here, and it has been here since Nintendo made the Wii, and Microsoft and Sony are unfashionably late to the motion control party.

    Sorry for the extensive analysis. If you disagree with what I've said, just realize that I'm talking about the cold, hard truth of Nintendo's current success. If you disagree, you need to stop thinking like a gamer and start thinking like a businessperson.

  • lunatic656

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 9:00 pm PT

    Wow. This article perfectly demonstrates how BLIND the gaming industry and gaming "journalists" are. And gamers all too eager to drink their kool-aid.

    While Sony and Microsoft were bent on appealing to GAMERS, Nintendo decided to stop playing in such a small field and instead try to appeal to CONSUMERS. A bit of anecdotal evidence: my SISTER, who's last favorite game was 2xtreme for the Playstation, is now saving up to buy a Wii and Wii fit. She could care less what some gaming websites have to say about what is fun and what is not, she's just buying what she knows SHE thinks is fun.

    The fact that both Sony and Microsoft have revealed how they are "tacking on" motion control shows how they see Nintendo's success and still don't get it. Their mission is to pander to a niche group of gamers, and I expect that they will continue to pander to those groups to a fault.

    When will the gaming industry realize that their focus on HD graphics, online play, and "epic storylines" (which are really just tricks to make gamers feel like they are indulging in "art" to justify their investing so much time in games...and by the way, the stories for the most part all suck), are alienating the average consumer? In fact, I think the gaming industry KNOWS that it has abandoned the average consumer, and it has been perfectly content with doing so, and that is why they lost this round to Nintendo. .

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 4:56 pm PT

    Ye speaketh truths, when ye pretend to mock! Of course, we all know GameSpot can predict the future. Just look at Guitar Hero DS.

  • renger6002

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 11:55 pm PT

    ahahahah... all lollers eat their words

  • anshul89

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 11:11 pm PT

    lmao. ms and sony fanboys got owned.

  • Sig12047

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 10:34 pm PT

    haha

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    wow lol this is true wii owned this gen i guess.

  • kejigoto

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 7:09 pm PT

    Didn't even take till 2010 for it to take the lead.

    Greatest April Fool's post ever.

  • Shadow_Crimson

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 12:53 am PT

    Exactly! I love to see how people kept telling that Nintendo should retire and look now! Ahhhh, the sweet joy of listening to people drown in their own words =) Funny part is that still now I hear from some fanboys that Sony will manage to take the better hand at this! lol

  • Mike1978Smith

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 10:52 pm PT

    The best part is the 7 pages of comments saying how this would never come true!

    Eat it, guys!

  • Superdude475

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 12:23 pm PT

    Roflcopter! 3 years later and look at it now!

  • Serraph105

    Posted Feb 16, 2009 9:51 pm PT

    indeed rockguy92
    personally if I were gamespot I would have taken this down by now and pretend it never happened

  • rockguy92

    Posted Feb 16, 2009 6:33 pm PT

    Definition of OWNED.

  • Master-Thief-09

    Posted Feb 16, 2009 5:28 am PT

    OH ****!

  • PlzDuntBanMe

    Posted Feb 15, 2009 8:30 pm PT

    lol! Its true!

  • fbigent34

    Posted Feb 15, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    oh no... gamespot can i have a crystal ball?

  • carljohnson3456

    Posted Feb 15, 2009 10:38 am PT

    This article predicted the future.

  • Tork_110

    Posted Nov 4, 2008 7:21 am PT

    It says A LOT about analysts when only an April's Fools article was right about the future. No one saw Nintendo's disruption strategy.

  • PENGUINKK

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 4:15 pm PT

    There is really nothing sweeter than seeing people eat their own words.

  • porphyrous

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 6:01 pm PT

    I just thought it would be really cool to revisit this "April Fool's Joke" and compare it with reality.

    How much of this article has come true? Hmm?

  • suprsolider

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 2:15 am PT

    Ironic isn't it you god damn snot nosed people. You all think lightly of the sleeping giant, but the GIANT is CRUSHING both PS3 and 360, and IS THE MARKET LEADER.

  • Heydanbud92

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 4:02 pm PT

    Ike has been pwned

  • PBSnipes

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 3:22 pm PT

    Anyone else find it deeply ironic that the "analyst" in the April Fool's joke had a more accurate prediction than any real analyst?

  • Hoobinator

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 2:24 pm PT

    Gamespot is Nostradamus without realizing it.

  • soldier-dark

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    The author of this is a prophet!

  • darkIink

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 7:58 am PT

    juanfraino are you laughing?

  • goblaa

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 10:50 pm PT

    I guess we should take analysts more seriously...

  • karasill

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 8:59 pm PT

    Very funny that this little April Fools joke turned out to be right. lol.

  • nyaede

    Posted Apr 23, 2008 9:48 am PT

    This is really scary. How true this has turned out to be.

  • ping5000

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 5:07 pm PT

    So, this was a joke?

  • TheBombisStever

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 4:30 pm PT

    Hmm. Look whose laughing now?

  • fewer92

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 1:31 pm PT

    LOL, i wonder how stupid the person who wrote this article feels right now

  • g_max_

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:40 pm PT

    This is old of course - just ran across it - but it's amusing in retrospect. Makes one wonder if it was actually intended as backhanded prophecy...

  • Vilestorm

    Posted Apr 15, 2007 8:38 pm PT

    I knew this was going to happen when they posted it. Right now it is really looking very likely.
    As for the PS3, this video says it all
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R98qC0fd_1w

  • Daxter32

    Posted Apr 1, 2007 8:41 am PT

    lol, I think this "April Fool's joke" is becoming a reality

  • gnarlychar

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 12:11 am PT

    Juanfraino better start laughing >__>

  • matteld2006

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 11:38 pm PT

    Thats funny...it is.

  • juanfraino

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 6:08 am PT

    Im gonna lol @ gamespot if this really happens

  • mariomaniac92

    Posted Apr 29, 2006 2:44 pm PT

    How can they make a joke out of reality?

  • ShamanSaix

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:26 am PT

    i think da ps3 'n' revolution will be fightin' fa 1st place but inthe end NINTY will win.

  • Tryxer

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    There's no way Nintendo can be counted out just yet. And as for a "machine that caters to an older, mature audience"? There's plenty of games for the GC that aren't childish (if you actually look you would know). Also, the Xbox 360 is already collecting dust >.>

  • jackassultima

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 1:23 pm PT

    Maybe Nintendo fanboys wouls shut up about the backwards compatability since the ps3 as standard is backwards compatible with every single playstation games ever made - you dont have to buy them again to download onto your 512mb revolution storage! I fear this is just wishful thinking though....

  • BlankXII

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 8:28 am PT

    I want the Revolution to take the lead in the next-gen console wars now, just to show up Gamespot, who have so little faith in the company I'm suprised they even have pages for their consoles.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 3:38 am PT

    April Fool's from four days ago.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 3:14 am PT

    Most of they analyst don't no what there talking about.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 3:10 am PT

    It not going to happening. Maybe it will closer than we think. Seen there going to sell it for under $199. They may keep it close. The PS3 will be #1, and 360 #2, and Rev a close third.

  • DrinkDuff

    Posted Apr 2, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    They had me until: "self-proclaimed analyst". Funny.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Apr 2, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    Ha HA

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