Yet Another Batch of Project Cafe Rumors…and it’s a Big One

Just minutes after our last batch launched, we’ve got more! As always, we’d like to remind you that these are JUST RUMORS, but some pretty exciting ones at that. I wouldn’t necessarily buy into all of them, but a lot of them seem fairly believable.

Among these rumors are system specs, new information about the controller, and a list of games in the works that includes a Zelda title. Without further ado, here’s the full motherload of rumors:

The System:

• Uses a custom IBM triple-core CPU running at 3.6GHz per core
• The development kit contains 1gb RAM, but Nintendo have hinted that the console will actually have 1.5gb
• Nintendo will be releasing games that will run 1080p natively. Sources say that with Nintendo’s art style and the power the system has, the games look ‘stunning’.
• The system does run on AMD R700 card, but the architecture is slightly different and the clock speeds are much higher.
• The System resembles JPN/EU SNES machines in color only and not in shape.
• The development kit is about the size of a 360, not the console.
• Close sources say it’s as if Nintendo is in “damage control” with 3rd party developers.
• Nintendo is trying really hard to get 3rd parties on board to develop games and have offered incentives such as not releasing big-title Nintendo games in holiday seasons to compete against 3rd party titles.
• Nintendo went to many 3rd party developers on guidance on what they were after with the new console in terms of system specs, controller and online system.

The Controller:

• Nintendo have been keeping this really quiet and have only given developers controller prototypes to start designing games. However, the final controller build with all the features have only been given to Nintendo 1st and 2nd party developers for now.
• Nintendo had planned on inserting a screen on the controller back when the Gamecube was in development, but opted out due to technology not being advanced enough to be functional.
• The controller that’s been given to developers has a large 5.7inch hd (960x640pixel) screen, 2 analogue sticks, 4 face buttons, 3 middle buttons (select/home/start in that order), 2 shoulder buttons and 2 triggers.
• The triggers aren’t as deep as the 360’s triggers, but have plenty of push.
• The big thing about the screen is that it’s a multi-touch screen, contains it’s own battery and is detachable from the controller unit.
• The screen when detached contains its own memory so developers can store data on it, so gamers can play whatever the developer designs for the screen-only use.
• When the screen is attached to the controller it works by streaming content directly from the console.
• Nintendo are giving developers ideas other than just having it function as a quick menu screen for games while attached, or as a simple tamagochi-like mini-game when detached.
• The controller contains a gyroscope, but motion controls isn’t the focus of the controller like it was for the Wii.

Games:

• Nintendo will release a Mario platformer as a launch title which hasn’t been done since the N64.
• The Mario platformer looks to be the spiritual successor to Mario 64.
• Gamefreak and EAD are hard at work developing a Pokemon online RPG.
• The Pokemon RPG is not an MMO, but does have a large online emphasis and will be Nintendo’s flagship title when showing off the online capabilities of the console.
• There will be at least one new IP Nintendo will reveal at E3.
• Nintendo is working on a new Zelda, but didn’t reveal anything to developers.

Other:

• Some developers have had the Wii 2 dev kit for going on 2 years now. When the Wii 2 is released in late, that’s 3 years to develop games on.
• Because of such generous development time, Nintendo have pushed 3rd parties to develop high quality games to be released at or near launch.
• Nintendo have sourced an external company to develop their online network, which the developer has commented, surpasses both the PS3 and 360 in terms of speed and functionality.
• Nintendo is pushing for the console to be online 24/7 and have seamless online integration with many of their games.
• Friend codes are confirmed to be gone.
• Nintendo has been toying with the idea of a game where the main character is your Mii.
• Nintendo will be pushing their Pokemon RPG to showcase their online network.
• Rockstar are supposedly hard at work in bringing

Props to Quick Jump Gaming Network for the list.

A lot of the talk about 3rd party developers and the online network line up with what we’ve heard in the past. This could be a good sign that it’s all true, or just someone putting a slightly different spin on an already popular list of rumors. But given Iwata’s comments about the online network recently, I’m inclined to believe most of the stuff related to that is true. Nintendo seems committed to proving they can compete with Sony and Microsoft in the online market…if they just get a little outside help.

I’m skeptical to believe anything about the controller until I hear it from the mouth of a Nintnedo employee directly, but again, nothing listed here seems too outlandish. I find the gyroscope rumor to be especially interesting, given that the 3DS has similar function.

And of course then there’s the game lineup. I think it’s fairly likely that Nintendo WILL launch with a Mario title. They won’t make the same mistake of having a weak launch lineup as they did with the 3DS. I am also inclined to believe that to a LIMITED extent there’s work being done on a Zelda game. I don’t expect it to have any sort of foundation though. Think early stages of discussion, and don’t get your hopes up too high for an E3 reveal.

The Pokemon talk intrigues me, but it’s skeptical interest. Pokemon developers have stated rather recently that the core Pokemon games are going to remain handheld. So IF there is a heavily online-based Pokemon RPG in the works, I wouldn’t expect it to be a full-blown Pokemon adventure, but some sort of spin-off. That’s not to say that it can’t still be a great game, but I don’t expect the developers to change their minds on giving us a core Pokemon game on a home console.

All in all, these rumors definitely have me even more excited than I already was for E3, and I believe quite a few of them could be true. Still, this is the time of year when lots of things get thrown around that are nowhere near the truth. What do YOU think of these rumors?