Games - http://maxpages.com/sheikshideout2/Nintendo_Dolphin_Part

Part two of INGs report on the Nintendo Dolphin

Where does the handheld market fit in?

Nintendo recently announced that it is in development with a next-generation version of its extremely popular handheld called Game Boy Advance. The portable will be able to hook up with Dolphin for optimal interactivity. For full details, click right here. Also, be sure and check out IGNpocket's Game Boy Advance FAQ.

How much will Dolphin cost?

Exact pricing for the console is not yet known, but it's going to be marketed cheap. "While our new Dolphin hardware will be extremely powerful," said company chairman Howard Lincoln at a Nintendo held press conference last May, "it will retail at a mass market price for home videogame systems." A rumored $200 price-point is likely.

Lincoln also noted that Dolphin software would sell at a competitive price. "Let me assure you that this is a critical objective for Nintendo -- as is the need for flexible and quick manufacturing turn around of Dolphin software and strong and effective counterfeit protection. All of these objectives will be achieved under the Nintendo-Matsushita alliance."

When is Dolphin's release date?

An early 2001 release date in Japan and a "first half 2001" release date in the US. The system was previously scheduled to hit retail shelves in fall of 2000, but has since been delayed.

What is the probability of Nintendo meeting its projected Dolphin release date?

With Microsoft's upcoming XBox console debuting in the US late 2001, Nintendo would be wise to release the Dolphin system as soon as it can afford to. With this in mind, it's entirely possible that the company will in fact release it as planned during the first half of 2001.

What developers are officially backing Dolphin?

At a pre-E3 press conference held May 1999, Nintendo officially confirmed that four development teams were already underway with Dolphin software. Those teams include:

Rareware -- The maker of franchise hits Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Rareware is rumored to be working on a sequel to Perfect Dark and Donkey Kong 64 for Dolphin.
Retro Studios -- Headed by Iguana Entertainment's founder and former president Jeff Spangenberg, Retro is heavily backed by Nintendo and has snapped up talent from all over the industry. The company is rumored to be working on five Dolphin games ranging from a racer and first-person shooter to a baseball game and RPG.
Left Field Productions -- The developer of Excitebike 64, one of IGN64's Top Five favorite N64 games. Left Field is working on a sports game for Dolphin.
NSTC (Nintendo Software Technology Corporation) – Nintendo of America's internal studios. The company is in the works with at least one Dolphin project.
Other since announced second-parties include:

Silicon Knights -- Developer of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and the forthcoming N64 release Eternal Darkness. SK is rumored to be working on a Dolphin version of its now-cancelled PlayStation game Too Human.
NDCube -- An odd joint venture between Nintendo and Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Inc, hence "ND" Cube. Read our breakdown of the company by clicking here.
Read an IGN64 editorial on the importance of Nintendo's second-parties in relation to Dolphin by clicking here

Additionally, the console will be heavily backed by Nintendo Japan's development studios, EAD. Also, Acclaim Entertainment and Titus Software confirmed months ago that they have every intention of fully supporting the system. Developer Factor 5, which is licensing its sound tools for Dolphin development, is also in the works with Thornado, a 3D adventure title, for Dolphin. Read what Factor 5 has to say about Dolphin by clicking right here. Finally, 3DO's Trip Hawkins recently confirmed that the company will be creating software for Nintendo's next-generation console.

What developers/companies are rumored to be making games for the console?

Though unconfirmed, all of the following companies are rumored to be linked to Dolphin development.

Capcom
Midway/Atari Games
Boss Game Studios
Konami
Ubi Soft
For IGN64's Dolphin wish-list, click here.

What games are being made for the console?

Very few games have been confirmed for Dolphin thus far. However, IGN64 has compiled a list of software that is almost definitely on its way to the console. The titles featured on the list come to us through a combination of announcements, rumors, and comments from development houses. You can read all about the games by clicking here.

Here's a breakdown of some of the games on the way:

Nintendo, Disney Interactive and Nintendo recently announced a deal by which Rare would develop 13 Disney-licensed vidoegames across all Nintendo platforms well into the year 2001. Given that Dolphin's release is scheduled for mid-2001, it's safe to assume that at least one of these games will arrive for the console.
Developer Retro Studios is rumored to be in development with multiple sports games for the console, covering baseball and football among others. Retro also has a first-person shooter underway and is said to be in the works with a Dolphin "multiplayer RPG."
Thornado, a 3D action title, is being developed by Factor 5.
Nintendo 1080 Snowboarding team terminated work on an N64 sequel in order to design software for Nintendo's "next-generation machine" more than a year ago. At this time, there are no details regarding what software EAD might be creating for the console.
Finally, Shigeru Miyamoto and team are currently in the works with a Dolphin incarnation of the Mario and Zelda franchises. First details regarding the Mario title can be found right here.
Are the pictures of so-called Dolphin games posted on the Internet real?

No. No screen-shots for any Dolphin software -- conceptual or not -- have been released. Any Dolphin screens circulating the Internet are either completely fake or simple mock-ups of what Dolphin games could look like, created by parties unrelated to the project.

When will more Dolphin information be released?

At a pre-E3 '99 press conference, Nintendo chairman Howard Lincoln closed with the following:

"We've lifted the curtain a little on Dolphin. But we aren't going to lift it all the way. We're going to continue to be very circumspect in revealing all of Dolphin's specs... for a very simple reason -- there are more technological surprises to come, and we'd like to keep them just that -- surprises -- for you and especially for our competitors.

"But as I stand here this afternoon, I think Nintendo is very well positioned to take on Sony and Sega. And with partners like ArtX, IBM and Matsushita, I'm very confident we'll do very well in that coming bout. In fact, we can hardly wait!"

Dolphin will be unveiled in playable form at Nintendo's Spaceworld show beginning August 24. Details here. In the meantime, though, you can read IGN64's editorial, Top Five Reason's Not to Underestimate Dolphin, to keep your spirits high until the big unveiling.

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

Shadowofthekorn@aol.com

Visitors: 01641

Page Updated Tue Sep 26, 2000 7:54am EDT