Revolution Games Come Cheap

Nintendo's new console may not be the most powerful beast around, but at least the game's won't be expensive.

One of the advantages of the Revolution having underpowered hardware, relatively speaking, is that developers will be able to make games more easily and more cheaply. The costs savings won't be used to please shareholders, though, as Nintendo is planning to pass it along to gamers.

Nintendo's own Revolution games will, at most, cost what its games do now, company president Satoru Iwata said recently.

"In the US, we're going to see the next generation cost an awful lot," Iwata told CNNMoney.com. "I really don't think that there's going to be a lot of acceptance by current customers of the $60 price tag. They may allow that for a limited number of premium titles, but not all."

"I cannot imagine any first party title could be priced for more than $50 [£29]," Iwata said. He conceded that other publishers would be able to set their own prices.

And keeping those publishers happy is important to Nintendo. Revolution will come with a Virtual Console that lets you download NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Mega Drive and TurboGraphX games. So far Nintendo has only said that games made by Sega, Hudson (co-creator of the TurboGraphX) and Nintendo will be available, though it's talking to others to get them on board.

"A number of different publishers are now interested in participating in this virtual console system," Iwata said. "As far as the details, though, I believe we will wait for another opportunity before discussing them."

One of the carrots being dangled in front of third-party publishers is the idea of limited-time downloads. Nintendo has put the technology in place so that games you download would only work for a limited time.

"We can set some limitations as to the time period a piece of downloaded content can be played," said Iwata. "Or, we may opt to let users play as long as they want. This gives us a flexible business model."

Iwata said Nintendo will answer some of the remaining questions later this year, most likely at the company's pre-show conference at May's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games