Nintendo Revolution prototype has no working disc-loading mechanism

Joystiq and Engadget got our grubby fingers on the Nintendo Revolution box (yes, the one behind the locked door in the secret room guarded by a beefy muscleman). We picked it up, we played with the buttons, we poked, we prodded, and we slipped a CD into it. Oops! We weren't supposed to do that. Guess what happened?

The CD just fell into the box. No mechanism grabbed the edge of the CD and pulled it in slowly, even though the box was plugged in. The CD just slid in cleanly and quickly except for brief resistance at the entrance. There wasn't any scraping or messy sound to it, so the CD didn't collide with any internal mechanism that one might expect it to collide with were such mechanisms present. To get the CD out, we just tipped the box over and it slid right back out. Really, it was as if the CD had been dropped into a small, rectangular box with smooth sides.

All that glowing slot does is just glow.

When we picked up the Revolution and turned it over in our hands, we noticed that was hefty and had a good, solid feel to it. All of the cables and plugs looked like they were functional as well. There was nothing obviously fake about this prototype except for the funny CD mechanism, but this is certainly curious. We also shook the box vigorously to see if there were any loose or moving parts inside of it but there were no sounds; everything appeared to be fixed inside the box.

Does this mean that the actual unit on display is a pure dummy model with a few weights inside it to give it heft? Does this indicate anything about how far along Nintendo is with the development of the Revolution? If we were to load a disc into the Xbox 360 or the PS3, what would happen? Is the lack of a working slot-loading mechanism worrisome, or typical in a prototype at this stage of development?

Edit: Anybody know if the Xbox 360 or PS3 models have working drive mechanisms?

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Doesn't suprise me at all, It's a prototype. Not a working prototype just a prototype, which basically means right now this is what we think we're going to make it look like. They can always cange their minds. They've already said it's going to play discs so obviously it'll have a wokring one when it comes out.

[Vladimir Cole @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

What is a prototype?

[Dave C @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

why would it have working internals? we know the final design will be smaller and that this 'reveal' was just a stall in the face of sony and microsoft, so I'd be suprised if it was a working box, at no stage were there plans to show it working, they can't show us the controllers for a start!

[klinko @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Nintentdo stated a few days ago that it was empty. I saw it in a Yahoo! news story.

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

HAH OMG NINTENDO SUX!

or rather, its not coming out for over a year. jesus. that box is going to change so much over the next 12-16 months

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

"What is a prototype?"

Holy crap. Google or is more help needed?

[Vladimir Cole @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

#4: This isn't a "ha ha Nintendo sux" post, so don't take it as one. This is just some observation on the state of the prototype that we were shown.

Prototypes have all sorts of purposes. Depending upon the purpose, prototypes may be non-working, functionally working, or both functionally and aesthetically complete.

It's clear that this isn't an engineering prototype, but rather an aesthetic mockup for the gaming community to give Nintendo feedback on what they think of the system.

If this were a functionally complete prototype as well, then that would be telling. It would show a higher level of investment in the "small box" idea and a real committment towards a direction. An essentially empty box shows less committment to this version of the revolution.

In other words, it's clear from this prototype that Nintendo has not invested in miniaturizing the hardware that's going to go into this box. If both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have invested in working prototypes, then that would indicate that those boxes are further along the development pipeline, giving us all a better sense of where the big three are in their launch plans.

[sasha @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I hope they keep that design

[alex webb @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

um. It dosent matter if it has a working slot or not. I mean, its not like its gonna be playing games now if its gonna come out in 2006. Having a box with weights is probably a good idea to fool competitors if the "revolution" component is so good and secret anyway.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

According to IGN the drive works fine. Were you all even allowed into the secret room?

http://cube.ign.com/articles/617/617195p1.html

Nintendo says the final unit will be smaller and lighter.

[Vladimir Cole @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Also, for the record: this was THE box that's being kept in Nintendo's locked room behind roped-off areas.

[Alpha @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Could it be that the "revolution" we saw was only a hoax (and therefore an empty box) and the "real" revolution will be revealed before E3 is over?

[Vladimir Cole @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I doubt IGN actually tried to put a CD into it. IGN wrote, "The interesting bit is that the drive easily takes both sizes without any fuss. Gamers just drop any GCN or Revolution title in and it automatically works."

Since there are no Revolution titles available for dropping into the box, they did not in fact test this out. They can't know that it automatically works.

They are talking about the how the eventual final product will work.

[durka dur @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

You have the best name, Vladimir.

[Colin Hill @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

That is very disturbing...

[ROY179 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Do you think they'd have real hardware for ANYBODY to touch anytime soon? What would happen if that box were to walk away?

None of the 3 systems shown have working anything. And sony went wacko with all sorts of ports on the PS3 lol, but they missed the Firewire and PCMCIA ports that were supposed to be on the PS2.

You're so gullible McFly...

[Andrew McDonald @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Hysterical!

[HDen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

#5, I don't support the idea that Nintendo did not 'invest' in making the necessary hardware for their console. Because a console is empty inside doesn't mean that Nintendo hasn't done anything for the mecanism that goes inside of that box.

Maybe they just wanted to show the look of the console, and if they state that it will smaller in real life, than it will since they cannot just go ahead and say things that will not be true.

A prototype for such a convention is designed when one knows that it will be possible and not only because they 'think' they will be able to fit the hardware inside.

Yes, it's true a functioning prototype would have been better, but does that mean that one that doesn't is equal to no investment in the purpose that the company has set?

[poison @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

when i read that mental article i got a mental picture of some monkeys being taken into a room by nintendo engineers wearing lab coats, and being left in the room alone with the revolution, and they pick it up and start shaking it and poking it and stuff.

also, prototype guys, just wait it out and see what its actually like.

[courtney @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

yeah, it's just a prototype and if it is filled with weights then I am sure it was incase someone tries to run off with it. Did that happen at last years E3?

[Stoneman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Folks,

I've just been told by official sources that the CD-slot is really an X-Box 360 expansion port...

[Kenton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

i hate how people are going out of there way trying to diss nintendo. especially engadget. every article is nintendo sux, lets kiss microsofts ass and the ps3 is a fridge. i know i can at least get one amen on that.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I'm willing to bet the final model will do what it is advertised to do "Gamers just drop any GCN or Revolution title in and it automatically works. Nintendo indicated that the drive is one of the first to intuitively do that."

Nintendo has an EXCELLENT history of making the highest quality hardware of any console/handheld maker.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Um, not to surprise anyone, but NONE of the three consoles shown have working hardware inside. All the demos are being run off of dev kits, which are giant PCs/Macs. All three of them are mock-ups that they'll eventually squeeze the hardware into. This is a non-news item for people who don't understand what's going on.

[Stupor Mario @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I once found a bunch of "pocket modems" for sale at a surplus store for $2.00 apiece. They were weighted plastic mockups of a then-farfetched 2400 baud modem the size of a pack of cigarettes, complete with fake (plastic) parallel port interface and standard DC adaptor socket.

I'm sure they just don't want the example they let people manhandle to get stolen somehow.. who knows, these days someone could pull something crazy! I know you were thinking about it.

[swarmster @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Amen, Kenton. The Xboxes on display were empty boxes, too. The games were running on Apple's G5s.

Is Microsoft doomed, too?

[Kenton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

"Amen, Kenton. The Xboxes on display were empty boxes, too. The games were running on Apple's G5s."

Haha. Microsoft running the games on Apples. Oh the Irony. I heard something about that. :D That you can actually see a shot of one of them in the MTV event.

[Sergio @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

They're all non-functioning prototypes. And no wonder, given that some people keep shaking the things. Wouldn't want any real components to get broken.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

A little disappointed in Engadget, letting an obvious rookie to the business make a "news" post like this.

[Kenton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

#24 "They're all non-functioning prototypes. And no wonder, given that some people keep shaking the things. Wouldn't want any real components to get broken."

Indeed.

[georgy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

this is the worst thing that could have happened...

[Kenton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Yes Engadget, it's extremely unprofessional to pick up the console and try to stick a cd in it. If it's true that you did that, then you are fools. If it is not true then you are liars.

Just my opinion...

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

#25: Agreed. Guys, these things are almost a YEAR away from launch. Of course you can't drop your favourite game into the thing and have at 'er. If they had a working system, why the 2006 launch? This is all PR - I'd be surprised if there is ANY genuine, working hardware in any of these things.

Only a few years ago (before your 'blog revolution') you wouldn't have seen this thing until 30 days before launch. Because everyone is rumour-hungry, these E3 launches happened to fuel the engine you yourself create. "This is what its going to do, and roughly what its going to look like."

So why don't you sit back, relax, open a beer, and say "Neat. Nice of them to give us this insight. I'll stay tuned!"

Yeesh. Get a life.

[Nik Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Oh yeah, I just tried a game on my personal 360. It loaded right-n-fine. :P

[al @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

What i don't get is that they claim it'll be smaller, but since this is a non-working prototype, why didn't they make it smaller already. It's not like they actually need to cram stuff in there.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

"Only a few years ago (before your 'blog revolution') you wouldn't have seen this thing until 30 days before launch."

Apparently, you don't recall that the PS2 was unveiled in 1999 (released more than a year later), and the PS1 was announced and (sort-of) unveiled in *1993*! (Concept drawings of the Sony/Nintendo project were released by Nintendo at that time... obviously, the final system was significantly altered before it was actually launched.)

If you want to go way back, the Atari 7800 was also announced two years before it was unveiled, then wasn't actually released until two years after that! (Yes, *four years* from announcement to launch.)

So I'm not sure where you're getting your info from; the "blog revolution" has nothing to do with seeing consoles so early.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

True story:

I once toured a machine shop we were evaluating to see if they could do some work for us. One milling machine was putting out thousands of small blocks of steel about 4" x 1" x .5", with a threaded hole in the middle. I asked the guy what they were for, and he picked up a black office phone from a table. The blocks attached to the inside of the case. They were weights designed to make the phone feel like a substantial, high quality piece of equipment.

[DWA @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Nintendo couldn't afford to be left out when Microsoft and Playstation each have working models now. They should have. They should have kept their design a secret. By the time the new nintendo comes out people are going to be less excited about the other two, and a spectacular unveiling would send people rushing to the stores....sadly they've kinda ruined that.

[DWA @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Nintendo couldn't afford to be left out when Microsoft and Playstation each have working models now. They should have. They should have kept their design a secret. By the time the new nintendo comes out people are going to be less excited about the other two, and a spectacular unveiling would send people rushing to the stores....sadly they've kinda ruined that.

[Kenton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

#33 & #34. Not really. Nintendo has actually revealed basically nothing. They could still blow our brains out. Iwata said it will be a while before they reveal what it is that is so special about the Revolution. Check the IGN interview. Probably we won't know until next year. I choose to be optimistic.

[SetupWeasel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

When Nintendo said that the final design would likely be smaller than that mockup, it was very telling. This means that Nintendo has put together the Revolution, got the hardware working, and fit it into a box. If they had not gotten the hardware to work in that box, what would be the point in telling you it would likely be smaller. The stragety then would be to make the box as small as you thought it would be in the end and call it a day.

When the DS hardware was finally introduced, it was clear that it was much farther along in its development than the PSP which was announced a whole year before. Nintendo simply won't show it working until they are ready to show you. That is the way they are. The empty box has no bearing on how far along Nintendo is in development.

[extrmb7 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

an address to #23 and #24...don't forget that all those games are still in the alpha stage, and not the final version. They were all made on G5s, and are probably not playable on 360s until the final version.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

who cares? all the sytems are prototypes.. slow news day?

[evox @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I thought it was common knowledge about weights in products. Logitech ALWAYS has had weights in their optical mice. It does make them feel more soild, but take em out for gaming!

Anyways. Did you smell the console? I smell everything and I want to know the next gen systems will smell like...even the prototypes. Also...How many cds does it take to jam a revolution? I bet i can fit 6 in the slot at once.

[evox @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

I thought it was common knowledge about weights in products. Logitech ALWAYS has had weights in their optical mice. It does make them feel more soild, but take em out for gaming!

Anyways. Did you smell the console? I smell everything and I want to know the next gen systems will smell like...even the prototypes. Also...How many cds does it take to jam a revolution? I bet i can fit 6 in the slot at once.

[Justice @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Maybe I'm missing something, but how is this any different than the Xbox 360 systems, which were actually a couple of G5s hidden under a table?

[Petrica @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

If you want to go way back, the Atari 7800 was also announced two years before it was unveiled, then wasn't actually released until two years after that!

[rye&ginger @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

Fools.

I got friends who work for Rockstar and Radical games, and they say all they get is wares for PC/Mac to create the games with. with well over 6 months even for the 360 to arrive, To have a working hardware prototype is not a big issue. Optical disc drive tech is not that Revolutionary...is it? :D

[Petrica @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

They should have kept their design a secret. By the time the new nintendo comes out people are going to be less excited about the other two, and a spectacular unveiling would send people rushing to the stores.

[NesstheMess @ Dec 19th 2005 2:43AM]

You know, I've always assumed that people misunderstood what the blue light was. Note the rectangle in the centre of the front face? The one that looks VERY MUCH like a cd/dvd drive? Ohhhhhh. Right.

I realize that EVERYONE ELSE thinks that the blue light is where the discs go, but .... wouldn't that DRIVE be a useful place to put them?

If so, this article is BS.