Nintendo has joined Microsoft and Sony in using this week's GDC (Game Developers Conference) in San Francisco as the ripe opportunity to disclose further details regarding their next-generation home video game console.  You'll likely already be aware that IBM and ATI will be co-developing a CPU and GPU respectively for Nintendo's next generation Revolution console, which Nintendo today confirms as the "Broadway" and "Hollywood".  No firm Revolution specs have been released as of yet, however.

As expected, the company is still sticking to their philosophy of exploring new gaming markets with their next generation Revolution console.  However, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirms in his keynote address that the forthcoming console will also be backward-compatible with current GameCube games, which could mean that the Revolution may not be as far off-base from "traditional" gaming values as initially feared.  I'm guessing this compatibility will come about through support of GameCube controllers and peripherals, but we will have to wait until further confirmation emerges at this May's E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) convention.

In addition, the Revolution will support Wi-Fi from the get-go, which in theory should allow it to access the Internet through one of the common wireless protocols.  It all depends on Nintendo's stance on online gaming for the Revolution.  At the very least, this will allow connectivity with Nintendo's DS handheld that was released last year.

Speaking of which, wireless Internet access is also in the cards for the DS, which likely gives the handheld the option to tap into universal Wi-Fi hot spots that already exist.  To this end, Nintendo is expected to reveal a special Wi-Fi online service for the DS at E3.