RSSIBM Begins Shipment of Wii Processors
By Ed Oswald | Published September 8, 2006, 1:01 PM
IBM said Friday it had begun shipping the first processor chips to Nintendo intended for use in its next-generation "Wii" gaming console. The chip, code-named "Broadway," is said to offer a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption.
Big Blue's processors can now be found in every next-generation console. The Wii sports a processor based on the PowerPC architecture; Microsoft's Xbox 360 is a triple-core PowerPC processor running at 3.2GHz; and Sony's PlayStation 3 includes a cell processor that IBM co-developed with Sony and Toshiba.
The Wii is expected to ship around the same time as the PlayStation 3, and retail for under $250 USD. Its low price alone may put a serious dent into the sales of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which retail for as much as two or three times the Wii's base price.
"The first chips are in our possession," Nintendo's Senior R&D Managing Director and General Manager Genyo Takeda said. "Today's milestone marks the final stage of our drive to reach both core and nontraditional gamers with an inviting, inclusive and remarkable gaming experience."
Nintendo's agreement with IBM calls for millions of the chips to be produced, which would employ IBM's power-saving Silicon on Insulator technology. All processors would be produced at the company's East Fishkill, N.Y. production facility.
"The IBM team has worked hard to design, develop and deliver this customized Power microprocessor for the worldwide launch of Nintendo's new system," IBM Technology Collaboration director Ron Martino said.
The agreement is not the first time the two companies have worked together. In 1999, IBM negotiated an agreement to produce the "Gekko" chip at the heart of the Nintendo GameCube console.
Well im going to buy 2 of these little guys... Great little machines. Its no match in graphics to an XBOX 360, or a PS3.. But I bet its going to be a whole lot more fun to play. I think play ability is much more important then graphics some times.... I still play old atari 800XL games (i.e. Mule) -- So...
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Curses, I thought I hit 'Post a Reply' but my drunkenness seems to have taken over...
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I read an article last night that said the processors have been shipping since July.
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Got a source?
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PS3 and Final Fantasy 13
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Exactly. This was caused many Nintendo supporters to adopt the PS1 (FF7). The Final Fantasy series sells many many systems. That's why I'm going to get a PS3.
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#1 = Wii and Zelda TTP
#2 = Xbox360 and Halo3
#3 = PS3 and ?
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Unreal Tournament 2007?
Half Life 2?
F.E.A.R?
Gran Turismo HD?
Devil May Cry 4?
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First three are on PC too, better on the PC in fact. A driving game isn't exactly impressive since it would be almost identical to previous incarnations barring graphics.
Let's go with DMC 4.
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Xbox 360 actually has so much more to offer than Halo 3. Brother in Arms, Call of Duty 2 & 3, GOW. But I agree I haven't seen anything on the PS3 that really impressed me. I am considering giving the Wii a purchase also but I am still undecided.
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I personally bought a new PS2 just to play GT4 alone.
Of all the games ever made I would say it's the most complete and accurate.
This to me makes it a selling point on its own.
Some would (and probably will) call me a sucker, but I took an educated decision as to how much I would appreciate and get out of the game before I took the plunge and bought a new PS2.
I will of course wait until the PS3 is cheap(er) and get it then, like the sensible folk, but you shouldn't discount it as a good launch game.
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PS3 = Metal Gear Solid 4
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Excellent, this further enforces the rumored November release.
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