Nintendo Revolution to have SD slot and USB for external drives

If, like us, you were curious as to how Nintendo's expectedly hard drive-free Revolution was going to be able to compete with Sony's and Microsoft's drive-toting next-gen consoles, let your fears be allayed. In a recent CNN Money interview with Iwata-san, the N-man divulged that the Rev would come with an SD slot (which we'd heard) to complement its 512MB internal flash memory (for, you know, downloading games n' stuff), but that it'd also have USB ports for external storage solutions, like flash drives and hard drives. That's not going to be a huge boon if the Rev isn't going to have crazy media features like the 360 has and the PS3 is expected to, but it's still nice to know we're not gonna be left in the lurch on the storage thing.

[Via Joystiq and PSFK]

[Don Sayers @ Apr 3rd 2006 12:12AM]

So does this mean that we will be able to torrent the game files???

just a notion

not the rev games but the old ones...
and eventually rev games...

[Andrew @ Apr 3rd 2006 12:21AM]

I wish the X360 would allow you to plug n' play external Hard Drives. But no, you have to have a media center PC blah blah

[nizzy1115 @ Apr 3rd 2006 12:27AM]

andrew, i have an 80 gb external hard drive for music on my xbox 360, and i dont have media center....

[play free games @ Apr 3rd 2006 12:44AM]

This is nice news. I think the Rev's unique controller, easy expansion ports, and emulation gaming will definitely make it a very popular console with gamers with a 360 or PS3, and for families who just want a simple next-gen machine for the kids without breaking the bank.

[Matt @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:01AM]

512mb is actually plenty, as long as you stick to downloading NES and SNES content, which is what I assume people are going to use the most. Those games are only a couple K each, so unless you're downloading the entire library you're in good shape.

[Andrew @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:02AM]

haha well nevermind then. Just curious though was that plug n' play? Cause I　couldn�t get mine to work...Did you have to get drivers or something from somewhere? Thanks

[jake @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:35AM]

Matt, yes and no on the size thing. the NES roms are only a few k, but the snes roms can be up to about 4M, and the N64 roms were even bigger (16M?). I still think that you're right about 512 being fine if you didn't use the rom thing, but I personally can't really see much of another market for this thing (well, maybe kids). I think the last time I checked, if you get all the games for the NES through the N64, it ends up being like 6G... not that I really expect anyone to get that many games...

also, other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?

[John Morrison @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:44AM]

It's only a matter of time till this baby is hacked and people start running any ROM they want.

Chalk me down for one.

[captain @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:45AM]

bah! 4 and 6 are not completely true. nes and snes games are in bits not bytes. 1 bit = 0.125 bytes, or 4 bits = 1 byte.

[Ivo @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:46AM]

Slow news day? The SD card thing has been known since the system was shown, and the USB HDD thing was announced about a week ago. God Engadget!

[Mr.Ortiz @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:05AM]

other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?

Other than the screen, is there anything a TV can do that a radio can't do?

[Mike Hayes @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:22AM]

#9! since wen does 4 multiplied by 0.125= 1!
4 bits = .5 bytes AND that isnt even true....
I myself am a "PSP hacker" and i do have quite a few roms from nintendo. Most i would say are about 4-5 kilobytes (thats a 1000 bytes "captian") and even though the is no emu for n64 i have downloaded some roms. 24mb is the most ive seen and that was Super Smash bros, 19mb no so far behind was Mario Kart. With that said...
i DO NOT think 512mb flash will be enough but there is always room for an exteranl drive ;)

[zsherwood @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:26AM]

"other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?"

Most of the final secerts haven't been annouced yet for the Revolution. Some rumors said some info maybe leaked on April 3rd (today), but that's most likely false. You'll probably have to wait til E3 to hear and see what the Revolution can really do.

[Justin @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:37AM]

"9. bah! 4 and 6 are not completely true. nes and snes games are in bits not bytes. 1 bit = 0.125 bytes, or 4 bits = 1 byte."

8 bits = 1 byte

[josh @ Apr 3rd 2006 3:06AM]

"also, other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?"

play the newest Zelda, Mario and Metroid games.

[demios @ Apr 3rd 2006 3:18AM]

As great as this sounds. It will only be worth it if many developers jump on the bandwagon to use the HDD compat.

[XMyth @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:19AM]

My entire SNES collection of roms (~700...that I uhh, own the game for :) fits on a 700MB CD.


As you said, NES roms are FAR smaller. For NES and SNES roms...512MB is plenty if you're picking and choosing games as Nintendo wants you to do. And yea, the N64 games will definitely bulk it up but you could still squeeze a lot of good ones on there with room for probably every SNES and NES game you want.

Imagine Golden Eye 007 with the Revolution controller... ::drools:: (if it works that way)

[Perrey Z. @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:22AM]

I have a close friendship with a sales executive at Matsushita Electric in Japan for 10-years now and she had informed me a few days ago that Panasonic and Nintendo are eager to create another hybrid console just like the Panasonic Q from 2000.

When i asked her about this, she replied by simply saying Blu-Ray and 1080p resolution should NOT be counted out as possible specifications and features implemented to the Revolution project and the result from their partnership will not be seen before spring 2007.

The news about the SD card slot and USB port are indeed signs of a Panasonic/Nintendo partnership already in the works. Panasonic is working to improve their 1080p 50" and 58" plasmas for 2007 and i'm sure they will be introduce in the U.S. as part of the ONYX XVS series at CES 2007, along with Nintendo's introduction of their Revolution consoles.

Even though nothing is solid or 100% confirmed, {But i'm sure Junko will keep me inform.} it's still great news over the miss-and-hits, dissapointing news from the Sony PS3 camp.

[Alex K. @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:37AM]

for more E3 2005 coverage, check out engadget to up to the last year updates!

yeah....we kinda knew about this already.

flash memory, sd, and usb all announced last year, before the controller was shown. although it was unclear what the USB was for. but come on, that was kind of assumed

[DJ @ Apr 3rd 2006 9:20AM]

Every nine year old, including mine, is gonna love the USB ports. They'll be able to continue games started at one kid's house at another's just by popping on and off their funky little flash drives. The best part is that as a parent, I won't need to spend a large fortune on proprietery storage media. Once again, Ninentendo proves that simpler really is better.

[flymolo @ Apr 3rd 2006 11:07AM]

The way I understand it (from previous articles). Once you buy and download a game on the VC it's yours and you can delete it and re-download it any time you want. This makes the 512mb a bit more realistic.

[Mike Ray @ Apr 3rd 2006 11:13AM]

"Imagine Golden Eye 007 with the Revolution controller... ::drools:: (if it works that way)
"

Unfortunately, Goldeneye will not be downloadable on Nintendo's download service because it was made by Rare which was acquired by Microsoft! I am sure someone will eventually figure out how to use illegal ROMS on the device...I am definately really into the Revolution and I have never even bought a console before.

[thispaceforsale @ Apr 3rd 2006 11:33AM]

Is Nintendo embracing piracy, modding and hacking?

[Grover @ Apr 3rd 2006 12:17PM]

Exactly how old is this information? We've known about USB ports and SD slots on the Revolution since it was unveiled.

[Jake @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:38PM]

Mike Ray: Do you have a source for that? I know that the game was made by Rare who was bought by Microsoft, etc., but by that reasoning, the early Donkey Kong Country games wouldn't be available either. I believe Nintendo, as the publisher, has the rights to those games still.

[Lee @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:39PM]

Everyone criticising the half a gig internal memory on this thing may not get the point of this article. That alone will give you plenty for save-data, and all the best NES/SNES/and N64 games, even IF flymolo is wrong about the redownloading purchased games (pretty sure he's not).

For the more hardcore, the ones that are literally spending loads of dollars on retro gaming (I can't see many people buying more than half a gig of retro games), the flash drives, SD cards, and hell, large USB hard drives will do the rest of the work.

It's more than enough, Nintendo seem to actually be getting all of the numbers right, keeping costs down but still delivering on everything they said they would.

And Rev VS modded Xbox? Try asking that of modded Xbox VS 360. All of the media playback features 360 boasts my Xbox has been doing for years, and then some.

Finally Mort, 1Tb Revolution possibilities? Given the aforementioned fact that all the NES/SNES/N64 roms add up to about 6gb, and Rev isn't really pushing media playback, your other 990 gig is a bit wasted sitting there by your Rev. Leave it in your PC.

[monkeypox @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:04PM]

#28, read this:
http://blogs.ign.com/Matt-IGN/2006/03/26/7367/

[Pinky @ Apr 3rd 2006 2:27PM]

Also Iwata said that there would be original content delivered via the VC. This means entirely new games, so the option for the HD drive is very useful.

[Matt @ Apr 3rd 2006 4:55PM]

I'm sure the downloaded stuff will be signed in some way. The question is, do USB hard drives/other USB devices have a unique, unchangable identifier?

[Mark @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:06PM]

#26. How is Nintendo embracing piracy, modding and hacking?

The ability for memory expansion doesn't mean they are embracing the above, but in fact means that they're allowing users to download content and play it on other Revolution consoles. If someone decides to use a system for purposes other than it was designed for, through piracy, modding and hacking, it doesn't mean that the company is embracing such things by implementing features that open a path to do so.

I assume there will be a security system in place to prevent misuse (although there is the possiblity that someone will break it eventually).

[idioteraser @ Apr 4th 2006 3:37AM]

Don't worry Nintendo is very good at foiling pirates. Microsoft and Sony consoles handhelds get cracked in a week.

Also since Nintendo will be selling a product any attempt to get around it will carry heavy penalties. Say 20-25 years in jail minium.

As for Rare guess what Microsoft has a major problem since Nintendo was the publisher of those games. As publisher Nintendo can make life very difficult for Microsoft if those games are put on the live arcade unless a deal is reached.

Rare games are put on the GBA and most likely the DS. Microsoft is a business once they see they cannot offer those games they will make a deal.

Also any Nintendo characters such as Donkey Kong those games will be on the Revolution.

[Brent @ Apr 4th 2006 9:20AM]

I'm still waiting for my Gamecube memory card SD adapter, announced about 5 years ago!!!

[haywood jablomey @ Apr 4th 2006 6:16PM]

11. other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?

Other than the screen, is there anything a TV can do that a radio can't do?

Posted at 2:05AM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Mr.Ortiz 0 stars

Nice...

I'm really excited about the Revolution. Can't wait!

[ez flash @ Apr 6th 2006 11:08AM]

external IO is built into the system meaning easy hacking without even opening the Revo case - super cool!

[Nitrouz @ Apr 8th 2006 11:35PM]

I'm looking foward to the REV. I might even buy it.

Hey gamers and anyone else, check out my site:

http://s11.invisionfree.com/InteractionGaming

Members needed. There's a new post everyday so the site is pretty active. Peace

[nintendoDZ @ Apr 9th 2006 11:44PM]

FINALLY, a new nintendo system not built to be really small, like all the others(except for gamecube.)

[myscrnnm @ Apr 14th 2006 3:19AM]

Wow, big deal. SCEI's PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system already had support for external HDDs like six years ago. Not to mention the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system will feature an SD card slot, a Memory Stick slot, and a CompactFlash slot (for both type I & II, the MicroDrive). Which means Nintendo is basically still several steps behind the competition.

[Drakkenfyre @ May 8th 2006 9:12PM]

#12,

The two biggest Nintendo 64 games are 512Mbit (64MB), and those two are Conker's Bad Fur Day and Resident Evil 2, but seeing as how Rare retained ownership of Conker's BFD, I doubt very seriously you will ever see it for dl,

-Drakk )))

[Chris @ May 20th 2006 5:50AM]

Well, if the built in memory isn't enough, you can probably transfer the saves onto a USB drive and into your computer!
Booting saves from CDs would be good too

[alexanderpas @ Jun 24th 2006 4:41PM]

"also, other than the controller, is there anything the revolution can do that isn't doable on a modded xbox?"

being cheaper!