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Nintendo's iQue in stock and shipping: iQue opened and exposed [picture gallery and videos inside]

Fri Nov 21 2003 20:26:44 Hong Kong Time - GameCube



The iQue Player (or in Chinese "Gods Playing Machine") is a new Nintendo console that has been released in Shanghai this week. The controller-style console plugs directly into the TV and comes with a 64 Mega Bytes Flash Memory Card to store the games. Games are not available in the traditional way, but can be downloaded via Download Stations to the Flash Memory Card in Nintendo-affiliated retail, compact disc and bookstores throughout China. There are also plans to sell games online.



After receiving the units we decided to open one up and take a closer look. At the end of this article you will also find a few links to videos, provided by our chinese friends in form of 500 Mega Bytes (!) XVID format files. We don't mind you playing around with your brand new broadband ADSL lines, but we have recompressed two of them into much smaller Windows Media now ;-)



The packaging and presentation



The iQue is packaged similar to the GameCube console and contains the following items.



iQue (with 64MByte Memory Card inside)

A pack including the warranty card and a money card which can be used to purchase game downloads

A 10-page instruction manual

Power Adapter

AV/power cord



Click on the images to open a larger view:









The console is packed with styrofoam packing to avoid damage during transit and is of high-quality. The instruction manual that comes with the unit is very easy to read and is filled with easy to follow instructions to use the console.



The money card included in the console is to be used for future game updates and allows you to download new games from authorised resellers to the included memory card.





A prototype of the KIOSK terminal.



The controller design



First looking at the controller, it appears very similar to the original Dreamcast controller, only thinner and looking somewhat like a UFO. Our first impression was "wow, this is huge", however we found when holding it, the controller was very comfortable in our hands and all buttons could be used at ease.







The controller has the power and start buttons in the centre of the controller. On the left side is the analogue controller and on the right side, the A + B buttons and a digital "C-stick" similar to the Gamecube's C-stick but with only 4 directions.



Below are shots of the controller and its comparison to a standard GameCube controller, a GP32 and a GBA SP.







The iQue Memory Cartridge



The memory cartridge that came with the iQue looks at first very similar to a GameCube memory card and contains a 64Byte of flash memory.







After opening the cart, we found it contains a 64MByte 48pin TSOP from Samsung.







Inside the iQue



Next was to open the iQue itself and take a look inside. After taking the 8 standard screws off the back of the controller, we popped the top off and could see the board.



At first there was not much to see with a metal plating covering most of the main board. Of course this was only a small obstacle and a few seconds later the plate was removed.



Inside we could finally see the main processor, a CPU made by NEC and the video memory chip made by Samsung.







As usual, the quality of both the components and the packaging of the iQue is of great quality and contains the Nintendo High Quality Seal.



In the next few days we will have a review of the games and use of the console including new screens and videos for you to enjoy.



The iQue is currently available in two different packs and shipping within 24 hours.



iQue Player with 64MB Flash Card w/ ALL 5 games - US$ 119.00

iQue Player with 64MB Flash Card w/ 2 games - US$ 99.90



Video files (Windows Media Player required):

iQue: Playing Mario (10.6MB)

iQue: Menu Screens (2.3MB)



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Printer friendly version NeOak - Sat Nov 22 2003 03:39:39 Hong Kong Time

About the 64MB chip: In the screenshot, the chip is 48 pins, not 42. Johan - Sat Nov 22 2003 13:20:45 Hong Kong Time

Please find out how to play SNES and N64 games and make a portable iQue! Gluecifer - Sat Nov 22 2003 14:35:20 Hong Kong Time

2 Questions:

Is there any chance of some how adding extra controllers for multiplayer games?

And 2, Is the AV lead a standard nintendo plug type, and does it support scart or true svideo? Jeff - Sat Nov 22 2003 17:20:12 Hong Kong Time

@ Johan. To make it portable you only need to plug into any portable devive/screen that takes AV input. Richard - Sat Nov 22 2003 19:11:51 Hong Kong Time

Currently, I am living in Shanghai. Just one question. Any ideas where I can get a hold of this baby?? Michael - Sun Nov 23 2003 00:28:22 Hong Kong Time

Hello,



can I change the language into English? overture - Sun Nov 23 2003 07:14:43 Hong Kong Time

If nintendo can pull off these sort of graphics in such a small device, they should be able to bring out a new game boy that kicks the n-gage into the hell it so truly deserves! lol - Sun Nov 23 2003 07:48:44 Hong Kong Time

lol Patrick - Sun Nov 23 2003 08:38:54 Hong Kong Time

Y'know, looking at this makes me think that Nintendo has a solution in the wings for the PSP - if these chips aren't huge power eaters, scale it down a bit, add a screen and a battery and hey, GBA64. Yaay! Gilbert - Sun Nov 23 2003 13:20:35 Hong Kong Time

GBA64 with tons of N64 games, it would start right from the scratch with LOTS of good titles, and of course downwards compatible. They would be stupid if they wouldn't do it, so I guess we just found out what the next GBA will look like! Unless I am completely insane, but I guess it is going to happen like I say.



64scener - Sun Nov 23 2003 22:50:26 Hong Kong Time

If thta is true, that could be the return of the N64 scene :) upgrade - Sun Nov 23 2003 23:29:58 Hong Kong Time

to richard: you can go to Shanghai Carrefour Gu-Bei store to have a look.



to Michae:

Simplified Chinese text and Chinese voice only... Link - Mon Nov 24 2003 00:21:03 Hong Kong Time

I hope you can play n64 games on the new GB that would be cool. You just put an n64 game in your GB64 and you will be playing n64. Nintendo should also make new games for gb64. Ow and of course about this iQue......is it cool? walrez - Mon Nov 24 2003 00:28:40 Hong Kong Time

If they're already getting GBA64's then I don't see Super Smash Brothers for a portable system as too very far off and I think it would be a lot of fun to play with friends! :) Redwall - Mon Nov 24 2003 04:40:23 Hong Kong Time

Are the games (words) in Chinese, if not and they are in American language, ill buy it! Skye - Mon Nov 24 2003 08:29:07 Hong Kong Time

I've just ordered my iQue. However - I have a few questions:



1. Isn't Dr. Mario a NES game? I don't remember a SNES counterpart...

2. What games are coming out on the iQue next? On the back of the box I can see Animal Forest, Yoshi's Story, F-Zero X, Majora's Mask and Mario Kart 64...

3. Will Lik-Sang be able to sell those of us nowhere near China flash cards with new releases on them? Otherwise I don't know what I'll do... zyx - Mon Nov 24 2003 12:02:06 Hong Kong Time

It's Chinese, It's Nintendo's way of tapping into the rising Chinese market where merchandise piracy is at a high. Bidule - Tue Nov 25 2003 00:57:09 Hong Kong Time

Will Nintendo realize other games than their own games? Will we see Goldeneye 007 from Rare for example?

By the way, I think a Portable N64 is NOT enough to compete with the PSP from Sony... NA - Tue Nov 25 2003 03:42:05 Hong Kong Time

How can you say that a 4-way DIGITAL PAD is similar to an ANALOGUE STICK? That iQue doesn't have an analogue C-Stick so it ISN'T like the Gamecube's one. DFO - Tue Nov 25 2003 09:30:42 Hong Kong Time

LOL, How can something LOOK LIKE an 'Undefined Flying Object'? KYXX - Tue Nov 25 2003 21:07:25 Hong Kong Time

It's Unidentified Flying object.

and they mean it looks kinda like a flying saucer.

anyway this could be pretty cool if someone makes a PC adapter to play old SNES and N64 roms on it. Mario (it's true!) - Tue Nov 25 2003 23:52:17 Hong Kong Time

It has a USB Port, so that might actually be not so far away from us ! suraimu - Wed Nov 26 2003 13:49:30 Hong Kong Time

There was indeed a SNES version of Dr. Mario. It came with Tetris on the same cart.



My question - can anyone tell if that thing is using the N64's natural (low) resolution or a higher one? I can't tell from the .wmv because it's so low quality. Nintendork - Wed Nov 26 2003 19:56:43 Hong Kong Time

Where's the Z button? JasonT - Wed Nov 26 2003 23:09:39 Hong Kong Time

The Z button is at the top left below the L button. Just where the L2 sits on a PS/PS2 controller. Matt - Thu Nov 27 2003 00:24:08 Hong Kong Time

I think the iQue is a really cool product. If it came over here in the U.S., I'd buy that thing in a sec. I think it's truly exciting! Matt - Thu Nov 27 2003 00:34:42 Hong Kong Time

I think this iQue is really cool. I hope that they release it outside of China, and you know, the U.S... I have to say, it looks pretty exciting, and I wouldn't mind playing a game of Mario 64 again.. The portability is amazing. Just awesome! Kooper113 - Thu Nov 27 2003 05:30:00 Hong Kong Time

There also was a Dr. Mario 64 jc - Thu Nov 27 2003 10:22:09 Hong Kong Time

are they realising this in the U.S.? pedro silva - Thu Nov 27 2003 21:18:41 Hong Kong Time

yeah, the PSP is somewhere between PS2 and PS3, so I guess about gamecube power, if they want to compete with that power they'll have to make a portable GC, but... in the past most gameboy concorrents where more powerful and they failed mainly due to gameboy price and large amount of games, but as we know sony has almost unlimited amounts of money and they meant to use it, nintendo is in danger, as they live almost of the portable market, sony is trying to kill nintendo like they did with sega, they probably will be trowing ports of both psx and ps2 ports to that shitty device so old games will be coming out very often, at almost no work by the programmers, so it looks very apealling to them, nintendo is really in danger Inocent Bystander - Fri Nov 28 2003 16:06:41 Hong Kong Time

Nintendo to suvive needs to get some real aggressive strategies boast the best cube and gba succesor and spare no expense their only chocie is to make ther next gen hardware very powerfull and to be able to kick sony and xbox asses, (i have a ps2 and love it but i like nintendo more grew up with it) same thing with next gba a lot of games and game media with a buttload of space 26 gb or so ive seen ps3 specs they look brutal, so if nintendo wants to get on the top again the must use everything theyve got its not about compelling games and systems anymore its war phAdEd - Fri Nov 28 2003 17:31:00 Hong Kong Time

i think its pretty sweet looking im gonna buy one soon man that sure is sunting nintendo made they never fail to impress me at the least nintendo is 1337!!!! lol ichi - Sun Nov 30 2003 10:22:22 Hong Kong Time

what about multiplayer, will we be able to play 2 player 007? shoust - Mon Dec 1 2003 20:01:49 Hong Kong Time

From my Point of view, it looks like a japanese XBOX controller, and besides, as Sony may not go with their plans on the PSP, just look at the PS2, it looked like an original Playstation with buttons on it before it looked like it was now, to be honest, I think its a great idea playing the SNES and N64 games again, just in case anyone missed it beforehand, long live nintendo! Phalanx - Mon Dec 1 2003 20:19:06 Hong Kong Time

i thought the PSP was actually similar to the ps-one, no way would it be more powerful than the ps2, it's specs are very similar to ps1, except for the fact it's media holds upto 1.8GB, which would be cool for things like high quality fmv and sound.

But the iQue would be more powerful since it's the N64 compacted into a controller. but once again, as the N64 was....it's limited to cartdridge storage. still.....I will get one because it's not going to be available outside of china, because this is their version of the n64, and every other country already has an n64 so there wouldnt be any point and sales probably wouldnt suffice back name email url comment

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