Revolution patent reveals ports

by Christopher Grant { Feb 14th 2006 at 4:45PM }

Nintendo filed a European patent in November for the Revolution, their upcoming "Electronic games apparatus," which was approved earlier this month... and we all know what that means. Pictures!

No real world shots here, folks. Just some clean, simple line art revealing some of the lesser-seen areas of the Revolution. The side of the unit features Gamecube memory card and controller ports, while the rear of the unit features the familiar power and A/V ports, along with 2 USB ports and--the soon to be object of much speculation--a mystery port!

While there aren't any images of what's beneath the front flap, there are several pictures--from different angles--of the console's stand.

Patent galleries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

[Thanks, Spence]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ryan @ Feb 14th 2006 4:49PM

The "mystery port" is for the controller's sensors.

Duh.

Stacey Donovan @ Feb 14th 2006 4:52PM

Cool!

Rikrok @ Feb 14th 2006 4:53PM

Doesn't just about every console have a port just sitting there for the purpose of add-on peripherals or upgrades. PLaystion had that port where u stuck the gameshark. Genesis had that port used to connect Sega CD. SNES, N64, PS2..they all had some kind of proprietary port. I bet that's what this thing is.

greatslack @ Feb 14th 2006 4:55PM

Hmmm, that AV port doesn't look like the analog or digital AV out ports on the GCN... does this mean that we can't use the same cable we've been using since the SNES to hook up our nintendo systems to our TVs? Also, does this mean that there will be no hi-def/progressive scan supported or that there will simply be one AV out port for both SD and HDTV?

VGM @ Feb 14th 2006 4:56PM

#1 Either that or it's for the DVD-playback use...

Wonderflex @ Feb 14th 2006 4:57PM

The mystery port also only appears in that one picture. Others of the back show none.

Wonderflex @ Feb 14th 2006 4:59PM

#3 - there is no HD support.

madcow486 @ Feb 14th 2006 4:59PM

Actually, the mystery port looks exactly the same as the "digital av out" ports on the earlier versions of the GameCube (used for higher-def graphics on some games).
HIGH DEF POSSIBILITY???!?!?!?!!!?????!?!?!?!??!? :P

I'm kind of disappointed that it doesn't stick with the
_______________
| |
|______ ______|
|_|
type of port on the SNES, N64, and GCN (less cord clutter: just take it out of one, and put it in the next one.

Steven @ Feb 14th 2006 5:01PM

Hmm, looks a bit like firewire to me. Can you say, "iPod your Revolution"?

Alfred @ Feb 14th 2006 5:03PM

I think the mystery port is simply a symbol etched in. When the artist realized his mistake he just left it out. Either that or we are talking about the fan for the heat inside the system.

OpnickC @ Feb 14th 2006 5:03PM

#5 - No HD, but 480p (EDTV) was supported to my understanding. Which would require more than an SDTV output.

madcow486 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:03PM

crap. picture didn't turn out right

Blizz419 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:04PM

there is no HD support greatslack it will support up to 480p, but no higher, and as ryan said and should of been obvious right away, that "mystery" port is for sensing the controllers 3D movements.

vidGuy @ Feb 14th 2006 5:05PM

Looks to me like USB2.0B, the side that is square and is primarily used for things like printers. It may be for later use, may be to connect the sensors (though I figured those would be wireless?), or it could be a mistake/prototype port.

Paul @ Feb 14th 2006 5:09PM

It is shown in all of the pics that show the back, and does look to have depth, so it must be a port for something. That aside, it is located right above the a/v port, so I would assume it has some a/v functionality. Maybe for that virtual reality headset everyone is dying to see. Please please be the case

Bryon @ Feb 14th 2006 5:10PM

it could be a weird looking optical it does have dvd support this time and maybe its for digital sound. on the topic of sound the gamecube digital port had no sound capabilities. you have to run a regular set of rca's or s video cable just for sound so maybe this is the alternative for sound.

martinj88 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:10PM

are these just prototype pic's because i cant see where the SD cards are going to go

katoh @ Feb 14th 2006 5:10PM

That port could be for the sensor(s) but then again we don't know if the sensors are even plugged in(like those theft detector stickers) and it could be for additions but would'nt that be why they added the USB ports, Hmmmmmmm......... Oh and regarding the video port, thats for both 480p and Normal TV's like the X-Box 360.

macattacks10 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:12PM

Well it is shaped kind of like a Firewire 400 port, but obviously it has to be a video port, somehow you have to hook the system up to the TV... Drawings don't necessarily show what the final shape of it will be.

JodyAnthony @ Feb 14th 2006 5:14PM

I love these things.

i don't know what other people are planning, but after the xbox 360 fiasco, i'm definately preordering day one.

fable2323 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:18PM

Seems to me the mystery port is not a port at all. Instead look at the shape of the console and then take a look at the shape of the port. Looks like they are one in the same. The other thought is it could be for 5.1 surround...but doubt it.

Admomatic @ Feb 14th 2006 5:19PM

The a/v port is exactly the same as the gamecube's component out port; and the "mystery port is most likely for the sensors... but oddly it is only shown in galley 1.

katoh @ Feb 14th 2006 5:20PM

Mabye that is a firewire port(going by the size and shape) and Nintendo somehow decided/managed to not use a television with the Revolution as a default.... Or mabye the little thingy over it is the video port.

Art Guy @ Feb 14th 2006 5:23PM

Shouldn't there be a button to eject by the memory card slot? Or are the memory cards going to stick up, making it impossible to close the top and ruin the aesthetic lines of the system?

Lou @ Feb 14th 2006 5:24PM

Um... that "mystery port" is for optical digital audio. The component cables don't pass-thru sound. Looks like those Dolby 7.1 rumors may be a possibility afterall...

jason @ Feb 14th 2006 5:27PM

I hope with the USB ports, we will have the ability to hook up a HD to it for game saves and the virtual console. that'd be nice.

Les Doodis @ Feb 14th 2006 5:27PM

Am I just an idiot or should there be an ethernet port somewhere? Is Nintendo planning on online support? How else will they port all the old NES games to the Revolution?

Nolan Benbrook @ Feb 14th 2006 5:28PM

I can almost gaurentee that it is a port to insert DS carts.

Lou @ Feb 14th 2006 5:30PM

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/xpress/

fiber-optic digital audio cable

Blizz419 @ Feb 14th 2006 5:31PM

" I can almost gaurentee that it is a port to insert DS carts."

stupidest post all day, seriously

coyurtney @ Feb 14th 2006 5:31PM

I don't really mind if there is no HD support, games will be fun, but I do hope it still has comp. cable support, so I can use the same Game selector I have.

Lou @ Feb 14th 2006 5:32PM

um, Nintendo HAS announce wireless internet connectivity from the beginning so an ethernet port is not a requirement

hate to sound like a fanboy but...you have to pay for the 360's wireless adapter if you bought the core system...

yjs @ Feb 14th 2006 5:35PM

And if you bought the Premium system as well.

Enigma @ Feb 14th 2006 5:49PM

#29

MS did the smart thing. What good is an all wireless system, when the majority of the world does NOT have broadband, let alone wireless networks in their houses. They are alienating the demographic. Wireless users are a teeny % of the broadband users out there (far more wired users). Thus you WILL need to buy a wired adapter by Nintendo. Typical of them to cash in on the majority.

Looks like they are sticking to more "cliche" than the demographic.

Desert @ Feb 14th 2006 5:51PM

Finally a slot load drive. Trays are so cheap.

LongshotX @ Feb 14th 2006 5:54PM

Since when is wireless faster than Ethernet? It's not asshole. Who cares if Wireless G didn't come standard on the 360. Have you ever tried to download HD movies on Wireless? No you probably haven't. It's slow as hell.

As for that port you see it is a self destruction switch. With a flick of the wrist you can send your crappy Nintendopod to Hell in flames.

vidGuy @ Feb 14th 2006 6:00PM

It's funny to see people complain about Nintendo being "ahead of the times"... :)

Personally, if you have the HiDef to support the 360 (otherwise, it's a piece of crap), you should have the wireless network to support the Revolution.

And who would pick up an Ethernet card for the Rev when you can buy a wireless router (with the ports for your current wired network) for $30? Then you wouldn't have to worry about keeping the Rev where you have the wired network.

Hiro Protagonist @ Feb 14th 2006 6:05PM

They will most likely put a USB kind of thing to connect to the computer so you have Wi-Fi.

Just like the DS.

Doesn't matter to me though, ill put my shiny white Revo next to my Computer screen and Wi-Fi router.

Anticrawl @ Feb 14th 2006 6:18PM

Well the SD cards probably in the front under the self loading disk drive, in the first gallery you can tell the little rectangular box under the disc drive has a place where you could fit a fingernail to pull it down. And I imagine it will pop in and out like the ds cart in the ds(or any sd compatible camera for that matter). Then again in some of the pictures it doesn't show that, but they seem to be older because they are missing the "mystery port". In any case the pictures don't have to show the entire console exactly as it will be to get the patent. They could be holding some stuff back from us.

I don't think the "Mystery port" can be a firelite because it's size in comparison to a standard usb port is almost the same where that port is much smaller.

I am more curious about to rectangles on the bottom. They seem like they might have debth and could possibly be expansion ports(I'm haven't really payed attention if this is already known and if I'm wrong), or just simple stickers advertising ATi and IBM or something and the little serial number/warranty sticker.

Hmm, I just can't wait for E3. Wanna hear all about the Revolution and curious about what Sony is going to do and if the public is right about it's current status in development for the ps3. Not to mention some news of Huxley for the 360 and pc. Damn that's a good idea, mmofps, been wishing for years.

Pixels for my people,
Anticrawl

Anticrawl @ Feb 14th 2006 6:27PM

Hahaha, people complaining about wireless internet connections. Ahaha. For the record wireless is and will always be faster than any wired connection in a practical sense. There is only so fast data can travel when being restricted by physical binds. But when it comes to wireless there is pretty much no limit, as the way I see it. Now your wireless connection may be terrible because you are running an a or b router and out of the recoomended range or have something disrupting the signal. I for one am running off a super g wireless router with a super g card in my computer about 150 feet apart and I get a standard of 57 mbps. My isp only provides 6 mbps. So really I think the whole wireless thing is working great for me. Plus the last time I ran a wired connection we lost our modem and ethernet cards do to a storm from lightning, and that was on 4 computers so it wasn't to fun, plus it fried a few other components.

Pixels for my people,
Anticrawl

Kye @ Feb 14th 2006 6:28PM

Just wondering:

Joystiq - What are the star ratings next to everyone's name for? The number of times they blog? Or the validility... validity... valid-ness ( mo-fo's you know what I mean) of their comments?

And why does everyone have zero? Even me?

I mean... it's me, man! ME! *he points at his own chest with both hands*

Back to the topic at hand...
I agree with #1 about the mystery port. Put me down for �2 and a free pizza coupon on the "its for the controllers' sensor" answer pls.

Your friendly neighborhood Kye :)

alex @ Feb 14th 2006 6:28PM

first off, the speed of your internet connection is likely a lot slower than even an 80211b network, therefore wireless will have zero impact on download times. secondly, if you don't already have a wireless network, the nintendo adapter is only $35, a hell of a lot cheaper than the $100 microsoft demands for adding the same capabitlity.

Stu L Tissimus @ Feb 14th 2006 6:29PM

I'm nearly positive that Nintendo said the Revolution would have USB ports. Oh, and also, I have to point this out: This design defintiely matches the parts that were shown off in that leasked booklet the other day. Proving that said booklet is definitely real. Sweet.

JonathanEx @ Feb 14th 2006 6:32PM

Revolution has built in Wi-Fi capabilities remember, and it should would with the USB adapator. If not they'd send out a firmwear update for them, which they have a few times with bugfixes.

Kris Aubuchon @ Feb 14th 2006 6:41PM

Yeah, it could be any of the above. I would just like to reiterate the fact that it could be for the controller sensor(s) - people seem to be forgetting those exist all of time - but I clearly remember those existing. It could also easily be digital audio.

The Rev. won't really need to download movies, it's a gaming system - pure and simple... Have you guys forgotten what company is making the thing? I am nearly postive the thing will be pure wifi - as stated above, routers are dirt cheap - why don't you have one?

#31 The majority of the world doesn't have food, let alone broadband. This is being sold to Japan, US, and Europe. So don't go throwing around "worldwide" statistics. Oh, and it will work with other routers - you don't own a DS or know anything about Nintendo WiFi do you?

Dnice @ Feb 14th 2006 6:41PM

For the record wireless can will give you the same speed as if you where connected to the router with your path cable. The only difference is that wireless may not provide consistent connectivity as plugging the patch cable to your gaming system from the router.

As for the ????? part on the back of the Revo...hmmmm it's not for ventilation since the fan is taking care of that. IF the connector below it is for video using the same component connectors like gamecube... then it could vary well be for audio.

that guy @ Feb 14th 2006 7:02PM

'MS did the smart thing. What good is an all wireless system, when the majority of the world does NOT have broadband, let alone wireless networks in their houses.'

Kind of like how Microsoft is pushing HD until the cows come home, making every game support hi-def, when the majority of the world does NOT own hi-def TVs? Yeah, thanks for coming out.

Oh, and the Revolution will work with the same wireless system as the DS. Their whole Nintendo WiFi connection job-y isn't just for the DS, it's for Revolution as well. I would hazard a guess that the USB connector that many people use for their DS can be used seamlessly with their Revolution online connection. No fuss, no muss.

Hiro Protagonist @ Feb 14th 2006 7:17PM

I find it hard to believe its for the controller sensors.

The controller should be in relation to the screen and not in relation to the console itself.

Right?

Kinda weird moving it forward and seeing the game go backwards if the Revo is behind you.