Rev specs may not be released

A Nintendo of Europe executive has stated that the company is staying well out of the scrap over who's got the most powerful next-gen console, and has no plans to start piling in.

In an interview with Dutch magazine [N]Gamer, senior director of marketing Jim Merrick is quoted as saying: "Regarding the specifications, we will probably never 'release' this information as we feel that it is largely irrelevant.

"While some of our competitors enjoy comparing specifications, it has little or nothing to do with how satisfied the consumers will be with the system and the games once they are released."

And there was no budging him, either: "I know people are hungry for information on Revolution and we respect and appreciate that, but we don't want to contribute to the cloud of meaningless information that surrounds the next generation systems." What, you mean it's not "a living entertainment experience powered by human energy that revolves around you and makes you at the center of your experience," like Peter Moore's vision of X360, Jim? For shame.

Merrick said the development of Revolution instalments in the Zelda, Mario, Metroid Prime and Smash Brothers series is "progressing well", and reaffirmed that not all games will use the "freehand" style remote controller - there's the "classic-style expansion controller" as well, of course.

"This option is there for new games that will be created that are most suited to a traditional style of controller. We are not trying to say that the ‘traditional’ controller design is not valid, in fact Nintendo is responsible for most of the features that are found on today’s traditional controllers," Merrick pointed out.

So what of Satoru Iwata's recent comments that Nintendo could follow in Microsoft's footsteps and opt for a simultaneous worldwide release of the Revolution? Well, that depends on what how you define simultaneous.

Speaking to Spanish website MeriStation this time, Merrick said: "What we can guarantee is that the Revolution will be sent in the same four-month period anywhere in the world." Oh.

And there's still a wait in store before we get to see the Revolution's games in action - no footage will be released before the end of the year, according to Merrick. He added that Nintendo has always put the emphasis on fun rather than graphical capabilities, and therefore there won't be any screenshots released before the games are actually playable.

Which should be some time around May, we reckon - Merrick told us back in September that he'd be "very disappointed" if there weren't playable Revolution games on display at E3 2006.

Finally, Merrick talked briefly about the Revolution's multiplayer features. He confirmed that the Revolution will use game sharing technology just like the DS, so you'll be able to face off with an opponent on another console using just one copy of the game. Smart.

Merrick offered no further hints as to when the Revolution will hit the shops, so all we have to go on is Iwata's previous comments that will be out "during 2006, but after the current fiscal year." Roll on post-fiscal 2006, then...