The Wii's brains finally exposed?

Iria · Oct 31, 2006, 05:50 PM

Source: Ars Technica
________
Back in August, a set of alleged specs were leaked for the IBM-designed "Broadway" CPU that forms the brains of Nintendo's forthcoming Wii console. I took a look at what the leaked information said about Broadway's microarchitecture, and noted that this exact same information applied to the GameCube's CPU, codenamed Gekko. Because the leaked specs for Broadway were identical for Gekko's specs, I offered the following evaluation:

There are clearly two options here:

The MaxConsole specs are someone's idea of a joke
The Wii really is just an overclocked GameCube with a DVD player, in which case the joke's on Nintendo.

It appears that, contrary to what I ultimately concluded in the original post, the correct answer is behind door number two.

BlueMak · Oct 31, 2006, 07:18 PM

If this is true, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Judas · Oct 31, 2006, 07:53 PM

we'll see... reguardless, the games are still ultimately superioir gameplay wise.

SFOSOK · Oct 31, 2006, 08:13 PM

At IGN (on an interview) Nintendo's American rep said that it has no DVD player...

~~bobbytomorow~~ · Oct 31, 2006, 08:20 PM

I'd rather have fun on an underpowered Wii than be put to sleep with a generic 360. I think some people will be eating their words when the Wii sales numbers put the 360's to shame

BlueMak · Oct 31, 2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbytomorow

I'd rather have fun on an underpowered Wii than be put to sleep with a generic 360. I think some people will be eating their words when the Wii sales numbers put the 360's to shame

I am sure Wii will out sell both 360 and PS3 in the first year. In fact, who knows, they might do so for longer than that. All I know is I will never buy one, I have lost tolerance for most games that do not have great graphics anymore. (not that it is the only thing that matters to me) Wii does not provide this to me, thus, I don't care for it.

Drakon · Oct 31, 2006, 10:48 PM

You can have your fancy graphics and stale gameplay. Noone's stoppin' ya, mate

OmegaRED · Oct 31, 2006, 11:09 PM

Fancy graphics belong on the PC so we can Wii all over the place.

Lowfat · Oct 31, 2006, 11:24 PM

I am having a hard time believing this. No matter, i'll still buy one.

Randomletters · Oct 31, 2006, 11:27 PM

Im buying one too, didnt get a pre order though supposedly there will be enough to go around.

Zardon · Nov 1, 2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

I am having a hard time believing this. No matter, i'll still buy one.

Why? the console is far from high tech, it doesnt even support true HDTV so its going to look like lego on a huge tv. However this is a moot point, as you can see from a small selection of people in this thread, graphics are secondary, the games are the important thing.

Everyone is different, i guess. it just certainly doesnt seem like a "next gen" console to me, but nintendo have a huge (and violently loyal!) fanbase and its cheap, so it will sell.

Judas · Nov 1, 2006, 12:23 AM

I'll back nintendo for it's gameplay, and like mentioned before, i'll leave my PC to be for the 360/ps3 port overs which will blow the doors off any 360/ps3 console setup for graphics quality.

~~bobbytomorow~~ · Nov 1, 2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

Why? the console is far from high tech, it doesnt even support true HDTV so its going to look like lego on a huge tv. However this is a moot point, as you can see from a small selection of people in this thread, graphics are secondary, the games are the important thing.

Everyone is different, i guess. it just certainly doesnt seem like a "next gen" console to me, but nintendo have a huge (and violently loyal!) fanbase and its cheap, so it will sell.

Negt Gen doesn't just mean graphics imo, and like Judas said we have our PC's for that, hopefully the Wii can bring some innovative fun to the table. Some games you can play with otherwise non-gamers like girlfreinds and family or whatever may be the case.

Zardon · Nov 1, 2006, 12:41 AM

ok, lets count to ten.

1. nintendo
2. nintendo
3. nintendo
4. nintendo
5. nintendo
6. nintendo
7. nintendo
8. nintendo
9. nintendo
10. mario erm nintendo.

Ok is everyone relaxed now? good, because these console threads are becoming almost as irritating as the browser wars threads, with the same crap being said everytime.

I think everyone needs to realise that we all have different views on things and that your own views "aren't always the way it is". everyone has different views on browsers, consoles, women, cars, houses, vacations.

Let's all get the point across without sounding like rabit fanboys, eh? would be nice. When i read people saying "next gen, doesnt mean graphics", well thats a pretty far out there statement, a bit like someone who loves his old car and won't maybe accept that its past its day, but "hey it still goes, so its good enough for me." - if graphics didnt matter we would all still be gaming on the commodore 64, its evolution. progression. Also remember, a console doesnt make poor games, a programming team does.

Graphics technology powers everything, and its vastly important in this industry. Sure its not the be all and end all of playing a game, after all if we have wonderful amazing graphics without any gameplay, then its basically like walking down to the store real life, perfect visuals but insanely boring, right? That said, there are quite a few people who will not accept blocky or substandard graphics in 2006. I may be one of those people but im aware others dont care and might be playing them on a 14 inch portable TV, not a 40 inch 1080 HDTV.

Everything has its place, so unbunch, let others air their views and get on with your life

TheBlackCat · Nov 1, 2006, 03:35 AM

Let me see if I am reading this correctly. It is the same basic CPU architecture, just somewhat more powerful. Isn't this what Nintendo has been saying all along?

OmegaRED · Nov 1, 2006, 06:11 AM

You don't need a lot of graphics power to make models like these

IMO let's be honest here most Nintendo games rarely were graphical beauties so it makes perfect sense for them to make the Wii underpowered compared to its competitors. As long as it's fun people won't complain.

Judas · Nov 1, 2006, 06:19 AM

i'm more impressed in how nintendo is able to get the developers to stretch the capabilities and use what the gamecube itslef can provide right now to still compete against it's graphically superior rivals, like i've mentioned, metroid vs halo and metroid 2 vs halo 2.

Dark Lord · Nov 1, 2006, 06:49 AM

or even further, RE4 vs almost everything else. that game is still one of the best looking console games out there.

Oct 31, 2006, 05:50 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	The Wii's brains finally exposed? Source: Ars Technica ________ Back in August, a set of alleged specs were leaked for the IBM-designed "Broadway" CPU that forms the brains of Nintendo's forthcoming Wii console. I took a look at what the leaked information said about Broadway's microarchitecture, and noted that this exact same information applied to the GameCube's CPU, codenamed Gekko. Because the leaked specs for Broadway were identical for Gekko's specs, I offered the following evaluation: There are clearly two options here: The MaxConsole specs are someone's idea of a joke The Wii really is just an overclocked GameCube with a DVD player, in which case the joke's on Nintendo. It appears that, contrary to what I ultimately concluded in the original post, the correct answer is behind door number two.

Oct 31, 2006, 07:18 PM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	If this is true, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Oct 31, 2006, 08:13 PM	#4
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	At IGN (on an interview) Nintendo's American rep said that it has no DVD player... __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Oct 31, 2006, 11:09 PM	#8
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	Fancy graphics belong on the PC so we can Wii all over the place. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Oct 31, 2006, 11:27 PM	#10
Randomletters ))<>(( Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,418 Rep Power: 54	Im buying one too, didnt get a pre order though supposedly there will be enough to go around. __________________ <----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Oct 31, 2006, 08:20 PM	#5
~~bobbytomorow~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: vancouver Posts: 450 Rep Power: 0	I'd rather have fun on an underpowered Wii than be put to sleep with a generic 360. I think some people will be eating their words when the Wii sales numbers put the 360's to shame

Oct 31, 2006, 10:48 PM	#7
Drakon DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Floatin'... Posts: 4,957 Rep Power: 0	You can have your fancy graphics and stale gameplay. Noone's stoppin' ya, mate

Oct 31, 2006, 11:24 PM	#9
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	I am having a hard time believing this. No matter, i'll still buy one.

Nov 1, 2006, 12:41 AM	#14
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	ok, lets count to ten. 1. nintendo 2. nintendo 3. nintendo 4. nintendo 5. nintendo 6. nintendo 7. nintendo 8. nintendo 9. nintendo 10. mario erm nintendo. Ok is everyone relaxed now? good, because these console threads are becoming almost as irritating as the browser wars threads, with the same crap being said everytime. I think everyone needs to realise that we all have different views on things and that your own views "aren't always the way it is". everyone has different views on browsers, consoles, women, cars, houses, vacations. Let's all get the point across without sounding like rabit fanboys, eh? would be nice. When i read people saying "next gen, doesnt mean graphics", well thats a pretty far out there statement, a bit like someone who loves his old car and won't maybe accept that its past its day, but "hey it still goes, so its good enough for me." - if graphics didnt matter we would all still be gaming on the commodore 64, its evolution. progression. Also remember, a console doesnt make poor games, a programming team does. Graphics technology powers everything, and its vastly important in this industry. Sure its not the be all and end all of playing a game, after all if we have wonderful amazing graphics without any gameplay, then its basically like walking down to the store real life, perfect visuals but insanely boring, right? That said, there are quite a few people who will not accept blocky or substandard graphics in 2006. I may be one of those people but im aware others dont care and might be playing them on a 14 inch portable TV, not a 40 inch 1080 HDTV. Everything has its place, so unbunch, let others air their views and get on with your life

Nov 1, 2006, 03:35 AM	#15
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	Let me see if I am reading this correctly. It is the same basic CPU architecture, just somewhat more powerful. Isn't this what Nintendo has been saying all along? __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken

Nov 1, 2006, 06:11 AM	#16
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	You don't need a lot of graphics power to make models like these IMO let's be honest here most Nintendo games rarely were graphical beauties so it makes perfect sense for them to make the Wii underpowered compared to its competitors. As long as it's fun people won't complain. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Nov 1, 2006, 06:49 AM	#18
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 125 System Specs	or even further, RE4 vs almost everything else. that game is still one of the best looking console games out there. __________________