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Webmaster's Corner

May 13th, 1999

Things are happening at E3! Geez, I miss being there. Maybe next year. Anyways, the big news is of course Nintendo's Dolphin project, or their Next Generation system. The specs are (so far) as follows:

CPU:

  • IBM Custom Processor (Extension of Power PC Architecture)
  • 400MHz Clock Speed
  • Semiconductor Process 0.18 micron Copper Technology
Graphics:
  • Full-Custom Chip jointly designed with ArtX, Inc. in the US
  • 200 MHz Clock Speed
  • Semiconductor Process 0.18 micron Embedded DRAM Technology
System Memory:
  • High Speed DRAM Technology
  • Memory Bandwidth - 3.2GB/second
Software Medium:
  • DVD Medium with Matsushita's DVD Technology
  • Enhanced Counterfeit Protection
So what is my take on this? It's great! Absolutely and positively good news! The best thing about it is that it will actually play DVD movies! It will probably also be cheaper. Meaning:
  • Sony will probably have to include DVD playback.
    • Because of their consumer electronics division, Sony were probably not planning on including DVD movie playback. The PS2 would then cut into the low end of the DVD market and hurt sales of their low end DVD players. Of course, with a competitor with similar specs and performance including DVD movie playback, Sony would look like idiots not including it on the PS2, since it has the technology for doing so. Thanks Nintendo!

  • Sony can no longer charge a premium price for the PlayStation 2.
      I'm not saying they were planning to, but with any new and more advanced technology, usually a premium is charged the first few months to harvest profit from the early adopters. Of course, with the "from scratch" approach of Sony they might have to charge more than Nintendo, but it shouldn't take long before the two products are price matched. This time Sony will follow Nintendo, and not the other way around.
Worried about the next Nintendo outperforming the PS2? Don't be, both machines are above and beyond anything avilable today, the extra 100MHz won't be that noticeable. I'm betting the Sony graphics chip has the upper hand on the ArtX design, so it should even out. The difference between the two machines will of course be software. And I know which platform has the superior software! A platform without Myamoto titles!

Looks like E3 attendance next year is a must, with both of these machines being on display, probably along with the upgrade for the Sega Dreamcast. Can't wait! I'll post more info as it comes up.

- Nils

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