Revolution to launch with 20 titles?
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Apr 8th 2006 at 12:34PM }
Gamefront.de is reporting
that Nintendo's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Elaborate Pie Charts, George Harrison, has stated (via an
upcoming issue of Game Informer) that the Revolution will launch later this year with 20 games, a third of
which will be Nintendo first-party titles. While that doesn't seem like an unlikely number, there are several reasons
to be cautious about this somewhat vacuous information.Nintendo, much like Microsoft, has made a distinction in the past between launch day and launch window, a sneaky marketing move which often renders gamers unsure as to whether or not a game will be available on the day of the console launch or within the first few weeks of the new machine hitting stores. The difference between getting 20 games on launch day and getting 20 within the launch window (however long that is) is a fairly large one.
The other point of interest revolves around the Virtual Console. If one considers a selection of Nintendo classics to be launch games (and why shouldn't you when the Xbox 360 launched with a bunch of current-gen ports?), surely the launch tally would be much, much higher than 20. A likely explanation is that Harrison was only referring to brand new Revolution titles (excluding Twilight Princess, of course), in which case 20 is more than enough to make us forget the Gamecube's meager launch selection.
And no, Luigi's Mansion 2: Even More Sucking has not been confirmed as a Revolution launch title.
[Via GamersReports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
googlybear @ Apr 8th 2006 1:31PM
SICK!!!!
Mario @ Apr 8th 2006 1:32PM
Wow, that's cool!
Garold @ Apr 8th 2006 2:29PM
I liked Luigi's Mansion... except that it was over too soon.
Peter-Paul @ Apr 8th 2006 3:26PM
If you count emulated xBox1 titles as launch titles, why not could GC-titles as such? I don't think you can could previously released titles as launch titles for a new system, or even the games from the Virtual Console. Only new games are new games, period.
Ludwig Kietzmann @ Apr 8th 2006 3:35PM
That's a good point, Peter-Paul. However, I think giving you access to games that aren't readily available (you can't really go to your local Gamestop and effortlessly pick up Duck Hunt) with new enhancements could still be considered as "new". Basically, I'm trying to say that the Virtual Console has a "launch" of its own.
unreal mccoy @ Apr 8th 2006 3:45PM
Luigie's Mansion with the Revmote would be rediculous! I hope they make it...
fischju @ Apr 8th 2006 8:32PM
7 first party nintendo games? wow............uh....thats alot and nintendo doesnt have that many franchises to throw that many out at launch, maybe mario paint and a mario tennis and a cooking sim and they might count LoZ:TP...idk
stewaca @ Apr 8th 2006 9:13PM
I am very surprised by that number of games. I just wonder when it will come out. I hope they sell them out the back of trucks right after E3.
stewaca @ Apr 8th 2006 9:13PM
I am very surprised by that number of games. I just wonder when it will come out. I hope they sell them out the back of trucks right after E3.
Probot @ Apr 9th 2006 12:03AM
The Xbox 360 had, on launch day, 18 games (not counting Live Arcade games). In terms of numbers, I believe that's the biggest launch ever. I can't judge quality because I haven't played them.
List can be found here:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/xbox360launchgames.htm
What's funny is that while looking for the launch list, I found this Joystiq article which asks the same question this post asks:
http://www.joystiq.com/2005/06/14/twenty-launch-titles-for-xbox-360/
20 was pretty close for the 360, so maybe the Rev will get that number as well.
"If you count emulated xBox1 titles as launch titles, why not could GC-titles as such?"
I don't think he was counting emulated Xbox games, which would be like Halo or Halo 2. Those games didn't count towards the launch of the Xbox 360 even though they were compatable with the console.
I think he meant games like Gun and Tony Hawk, which were released on the current-gen and just ported to the 360. I expect there'll be a few games like that for the Rev, including a lot of sports games from EA.
As I said before, Live Arcade games didn't count for the 360 launch, so I'm sure VC games won't count for the Rev launch. However, I certainly see VC games outnumbering the Live Arcade launch. LA only had 21 games on day one. Considering the hundreds of games Nintendo has at its disposel, I can't imagine them short-changing fans.
This is just wild speculation, but here's how I see Nintendo's first party games:
Super Smash Bros.
New 3D Mario game
Donkey Kong music game
Mario Party 8
Pikman 3
Mario Paint (stole idea from fischju)
F-Zero
Although most of this list isn't based on anything, I think all of these games are probable at launch.
Pantsman @ Apr 9th 2006 1:05AM
From memory, the Gamecube had 20 titles available when it launched in Australia, although thats probably a function of the launch being close to 6 months behind the US. I'm not sure about US launch numbers
Probot @ Apr 9th 2006 1:50AM
Wikipedia says there were 12 GC launch games in North America, 2 of which were from Nintendo.
Probot @ Apr 9th 2006 1:50AM
Wikipedia says there were 12 GC launch games in North America, 2 of which were from Nintendo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamecube#Launch_titles
Exo @ Apr 9th 2006 11:18AM
360 didnt really have 18 laucnh games most of them were current gen games with barely enhanced graphics.
Id call those rip offs, not launch titles
Oma @ Apr 9th 2006 11:32AM
Explain me please the difference between launching day and launching window
Rivendale286 @ Apr 9th 2006 12:50PM
Launch day is the games that release exactly the same day the Rev will... Launching window is around the same time as the console launch. Probably within the same quarter of the year or so...
One of the 7 games from Nintendo is probably going to be Nintendo's Pennant Chase Baseball:
Nobody has talked about it, but I am announcing it as a launch title (or soon thereafter). Clues: If was supposed to release last year on Gamecube, and was delayed indefinitely. Remeber the first Rev video, with the guy swinging the baseball bat?... Yeah, just wait until I'm right at E3...
Probot @ Apr 9th 2006 1:50PM
"360 didnt really have 18 laucnh games most of them were current gen games with barely enhanced graphics.
Id call those rip offs, not launch titles"
Call them what you want, but I expect the same thing from the Rev launch. Like I said earlier, Fall is right around the time EA releases its sports games, so we'll probably see a few of those.
Tony Hawk and Gun were the most complained about 360 games, and both were made by Activision, a company that has shown strong support for Nintendo. Using that logic, it wouldn't surprise me if Activision did something similar for the Rev.
@Rivendale286,
Nintendo's Pennant Chase Baseball is replacing F-Zero on my list of probable launch games. The baseball game using the Revmote makes more sense than a racing game.
SetupWeasel @ Apr 9th 2006 8:29PM
Pilotwings was a "launch window" title every time it was released in Japan and the US.
It will be a "launch window" title for the Revolution.
Chris @ Apr 10th 2006 4:41AM
You are forgetting new IP's from Nintendo. Pikmin (OOOO, I love this game)was a biggie for the GCN, lets see what they can cook up this gen.
Exo @ Apr 10th 2006 5:10AM
"Call them what you want, but I expect the same thing from the Rev launch. Like I said earlier, Fall is right around the time EA releases its sports games, so we'll probably see a few of those."
Except teh rev versions will actially be diffrent and use a diffrent control scheme altogether, also I dont think rev games will be 60 bucks
Probot @ Apr 10th 2006 5:58AM
"Except [the] rev versions will actially be diffrent and use a diffrent control scheme altogether, also I dont think rev games will be 60 bucks."
Unless a company uses the shell for the Rev rather than the freehand controller. That will eliminate the uniquness of some of the games, but it will make them easier to port to the Rev.
And why wouldn't you expect them to be $60? Certainly Nintendo won't charge that price, but neither did Microsoft. Most publishers see this console transition as a introduction to higher software prices. That will only take hold if they stay consistent for each console. Even the games that had little imporvements over the current gen were still $60 on Xbox 360. I would be genuinly surprised if they were any less on the Rev.
VJ @ Apr 10th 2006 3:57PM
Super Smash Bros.
New 3D Mario game
Donkey Kong music game
Mario Party 8
Pikman 3
Mario Paint (stole idea from fischju)
F-Zero
All those games frickin suck! When are Nintendo gonna bring some decent games to their consoles, u kno tht most ppl actually want to play? Ill burn all the Revs in the world if they port over all tht DS crap to the console.
Where are the original "innovative" titles you ppl always go on about. Yeh i used the word "innivotive" coz thts the word u ppl have been touting around. You're such a bunch of followers!
Nintendo go we want anew way to play games, and all u suddenly go: "oh.... yeh we want new ways to play games too! The revmote is gonna re-invent the game industry!" Bollocks! The DS was supposed to be "innovative" but all those games are pure crap! It feels like ure playing dot to dot with the stylus! How is tht fun?
God, nintendo are a bunch of crap ass pansies.
Paul Gale @ Apr 11th 2006 2:24AM
This is excellent news for Nintendo Revolution fans. If we actually get 6 Revoloution titles from Nintendo, 13 from various 3rd parties, and 1 enhanced GCN forward-compatible title, "Zelda: Twilight Princess", at launch, it could be the best thing ever! Whether or not it's day one or within the first 6 weeks is another story, but it's still pretty sweet.
Paul Gale
1up.com
huZZah @ Apr 11th 2006 8:59AM
VJ nice flame bait, but I'm sure you realize that those are one person's quess as to what the launch titles might be. I personally do believe we'll see at least one Mario game and most likely some kind of 3D platformer (if my memory serves though I think Shiggy mentioned the next Mario will be a more mature game) but whether it's cartoony or cellshaded, realistic, or whatever I'd say the odds are good that it'll be fun (and hopefully online and multiplayer). Other than that though I think it's wide open, I think we'll see some of the familiar IPs and most likely Metroid Prime 3, but they may use classic characters in new ways (think Donkey Kong Jungle Beat) and then probably have a couple wackey, experimental new games with a new IP and something original and unanticipated... but it's really hard to predict Nintendo's moves because they rarely do what is expected, and that's all part of the appeal (and at times the confusion and frustration).
VJ @ Apr 11th 2006 1:20PM
"VJ nice flame bait"
Thank you!!
Here have a read of this, i think its really interesting! The guy writes a great article!
http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/games/fanboy.html
X_Arre @ Apr 15th 2006 7:54AM
I agree with Exo. Nintendo won't kack up the game prices like that. New game will probably stay at $50 Where they hav been for GC. And you can't count GC games as launch titles, they won't be remade because all agmecube games are already playable on the rev, and you can even plug in your Gamecube controller, So I think when they say launch titles, they actually mean Revolution games, nothing less.
X_Arre @ Apr 15th 2006 7:56AM
Also, Super Smash Bros is gonna rock to the extreme. I'd like to play you all online when it comes out ;D
X_Arre @ Apr 15th 2006 8:12AM
To VJ:
You are pointing in a direction of something saying people are hating on other systems and games for no reason, when you are doing the exact same thing. I'm not a nintendo freak. I don't defend sucky games just because they are "nintendo games". I like certain games because they are good games, not because of the logo on them.
You randomly come in here and diss all of those games with no real reason, Using the immature "They just suck!!" attitude. Now if you can come up with some rational reason why you personally will not like those games (You haven't even played them yet), then you can come on a site called REVOLUTIONfanboy.com and talk smack about all nintendo games.
kid @ Apr 27th 2006 4:59PM
the wii is gonna be awsome plus nintendo doesnt usually cost 600 bucks for a new system
wii lover @ Jun 20th 2006 7:07PM
here r the launch titles for the wii so far http://www.wiishfulthinking.com/2006/05/16/wii-launch-game-guide/
we're only missing mario and smash bros. other than that,this is the best launch lineup nintendo has ever made. they're really going in the right direction with the wii.