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Nintendo fanboys are currently wetting themselves in anticipation for Nintendo's next generation console, currently code named "Revolution".

However, will Nintendo actually deliver on their promise that they will bring something completely revolutionary to the gaming industry? There are a lot of rumors floating around concerning what will be used for this new console. However what is known is that the gameplay will contain some sort of different visualization process and the controllers will not have a directional pad nor A and B buttons.

Many are asking, "Does the gaming community really need some sort of revolution?" The answer is no. The reasons for this come straight from Nintendo as well as their competitors, Sony and Microsoft. All three current generation consoles, the GameCube, PS2, and Xbox have experienced a great deal of success, some even say it has been the best generation of consoles yet. Even so, there was nothing incredibly revolutionary about this set of consoles.

Sure, Microsoft solidified the importance of online gaming through their service of Xbox Live, and Nintendo had its mildly successful but highly criticized Game Boy Advance to GameCube connectivity. However, the titles that are most memorable from each console, for most, weren't so much revolutionary as they were great renditions and some improvement of tried and true genres.

Sony's PS2 has the Grand Theft Auto series, most recently San Andreas, which allowed for unprecedented open-ended environments for a third-person action/adventure game. The Xbox has its over-hyped Halo series, while admittedly fun to play, doesn't bring anything new to the table. Nintendo has the Metroid Prime series which, again while a blast to play, doesn't bring anything incredibly original to the gaming scene.

All of these games have their own merits and provide hours of great gameplay. Not to mention each sold quite well with the exception of Nintendo's software. So maybe it isn't that the current games aren't revolutionary, but perhaps there is something wrong with the way Nintendo is marketing itself, both to consumers and developers.

Then another question has to be asked, "Will Nintendo be able to convince consumers otherwise and will they deliver?" Empirically there is evidence in both directions. Few remember the Virtual Boy. Due to its outrageous cost and difficulty to play on the go, which was its original appeal, it failed and Nintendo has quietly swept it and its history under the rug.

On the other hand, Nintendo was also the company to introduce the analog stick on a home console, as well as the rumble pack which is now included on all consoles out of the box.

Currently Nintendo has also experienced mixed responses for their newly released Nintendo DS portable console. In Japan they have outsold the PSP 2:1, but in the U.S. the release of the PSP isn't until March 24, and sales are already not up to Nintendo's expectations.

The DS has a few problems. The first being its lack of quality launch software. The remake of "Super Mario 64" has been the stand out title for the DS thus far, but clunky controls from the emulated analog stick on the touch screen have kept the title from being a system seller.

Second, the DS hasn't utilized its promise of having wifi support for internet play. Rumors point towards Nintendo opening servers for the release of Mario Kart DS, which would really shoot the system into a great position, but if it doesn't happen soon I'm afraid it's just another broken Nintendo promise.

Looking at Nintendo's track record, it's unsure if the Revolution will deliver on Nintendo's promise this time around. There are a few things that Nintendo needs to have ready on the Revolution in order to keep itself out of Sega's shadow and keeping its consoles on store shelves.

Broadband connectivity needs to be available at launch. Nintendo has had a firm stance against internet gaming, stating it's only a trend. Sony and especially Microsoft have proven this statement wrong with a myriad of great online titles such as "Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal" and "Halo 2".

Nintendo also has to be sure to establish a much more open environment for third party developers. Too many ties have been broken, and while the GameCube has allowed for some developers to come back such as Squaresoft, Nintendo needs to obtain more exclusive software in order to set itself apart from the competition. They're on the right track with the releases of "Resident Evil 4" and "Viewtiful Joe", but even more steps towards combining consumer appeal and innovation need to be made. You cannot have one without the other in order to succeed in the gaming business.

Something Nintendo must do in order to pull ahead of the pack, and almost obviously, they must take the focus off of Sony and Microsoft and onto themselves. While Nintendo may think that their new Revolution approach will work, it seems that software is the key to consumer attention.

Sony had many gamers looking forward to Gran Turismo 4, which released this week years in advance to its release. The same can be said for Final Fantasy XII which still has a great amount of work to be done on it before it can be released. Microsoft was able to do the same thing with Halo 2 and Fable. Even if the games don't deliver on all the hype, it's important to get consumers and developers keeping the company in the fore front of their thoughts.

Nintendo knows this, and for the sake of gamers around the world, I hope that they deliver a phenomenal revolution and prove me wrong.

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