Nintendo has gone on record as stating only 1% of Gamecube owners own the (component) cable needed to showcase that consoles progressive scan capability. Does that not mean there's no market for it?
I don't think so. I think the market is there. Nintendo really hasn't made known to anybody how to get these component cables. I had to order mine from Nintendo.com a couple of years ago after finding out from an EB Games manager that they weren't available in stores. I think Nintendo could have doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled their sales of the cable by just letting people know where to get them. Combine that with the fact that HDTV is relatively new to the casual electronics consumer, and it should be expected that the cables would have sold poorly in this generation. In the next generation, however, people are going to be actively looking for these cables as HDTV will be the standard and the average consumer will know what component cables are.
Classic gamers are sure to read this interview. How do you respond to them since the earliest generations of gamers grew up using RF units and modulators?
I'd just like to remind them of how great it felt to plug those audio/video cables in for the first time; the jump in picture quality was outstanding. Sure, it didn't enhance gameplay, but none of us would be happy going back to an RF unit now. Imagine playing Madden in 720p on your friend's PS3 and having to go back and play it in standard definition on your Revolution. The difference would be frustrating and a little aggravating.
Is HD that important to gameplay, or is it just a way to make games look better?
Like I said earlier, it doesn't affect the gameplay much at all. Games will still be just as fun, and a boost in resolution won't change that much. However, go play F-Zero GX on a widescreen TV in progressive scan and then jump to a regular A/V set without widescreen. The impact of the game feels much less pronounced as it did on the widescreen pro-scan set.
How do you feel about those who think that by debating the lack of HD support, you're a graphics-first gameplay-second person?
I can understand their argument, but I want them to understand a few things. I'm going to support the Revolution no matter what Nintendo decides in the end. I have always loved Nintendo for the innovative and polished content they create, and that won't change for anything. I do believe that Nintendo should offer their fans and developers the best product available, however. Ommitting HD resolutions is just handicapping the system from the get go when compared to the PS3 or Xbox 360.
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