nintendo revolution controller
Nintendo finally revealed the newly designed, much speculated about, controller for the upcoming next gen console, the Nintendo Revolution. As you can see from the photo below, it is certainly unconventional. The majority of initial public reaction is bad, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I think it’s the best thing to happen to console gaming interface since the first (and perfect) Playstation controller.
The main controller is the part on the right. It’s wireless, obviously, can has far fewer control buttons than usual. The big innovation is that waving it around controls a pointer on screen, like a wireless presentation mouse, and it knows its total spacial orientation: left, right, up, down, forward, back, angle, etc. It means that, for example, you can point it around in a first person shooter, just like pointing a gun. Dope. Combined with various optional secondary controllers, like the one shown here on the left, add additional control functionality. In this example, the secondary controller is used for moving the 1st person shooter character forward and back, and strafing left and right. Dope.
A huge problem with normal game controllers is 1st person shooter aiming accuracy. There have been many examples, but hardcore games know that to get real accurate twitch gaming aiming, you have to use a mouse on a traditional PC. This controller changes all that, and I love it.
IGN did a great review/breakdown of the functionality and the various demos they were shown at the Tokyo Game Show. Well worth the read if you’re interested in such things.
Bravo Nintendo. Now try making some good games that don’t have Mario or Link in them…
[via engadget.]
[…] I wrote about the new Nintendo Revolution controller the other day, and since then, there has been a flurry of opinion from all over. I still contend that the controller is, well, revolutionary, and the gameplay possibiliites are near limitless. First-person shooters were the application I was excited about, but this teaser trailer for the new system has my mind racing. Swordfights, fishing, music, shooting, fighting, it’s seriously incredible, and for what it’s worth, it’s a also a pretty great ad. Enjoy. […]
I couldn’t agree more with you Chris. At first I was sceptical about this new controller. I mean, look at it, it is a frickin’ remote controller (I use this to switch between football games), but after deeply analyzing and becoming more knowledgeable about some of the possiblities (thanks to IGN). I have to say this is definitely a step in the right direction for game consoles. Just looking at the possibilities makes me giddy like a little school girl. I haven’t been very impressed by the next-gen consoles of Sony and Microsoft. First off the price is way too much for this college boy, and it is just a bunch of hugh performance numbers being thrown out there. This is why I prefer Nintendo’s approach, let them two fight it out and break the mold. And at first look at Nintendo’s new controller scheme, they have definitely done that. I am extremely excited about this and can’t wait to see it in action and even get the controller in my own hands, excuse me, hand.