More info on the Revolution Controller
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 12th 2005 at 10:34AM }
These days if there's even the tinest smidgen
of new information about the Revolution controller there's usually a storm of controversy over whether or not it's
legit. However, this time the information comes from the mouth of Nintendo president Saturo Iwata himself. He spoke to
the UK paper 'The Guardian' last week about Nintendo's new console and it's revolutionary controller. Nothing too
informative but it does reveal what sort of controller they're hoping to create. Reggie says that "there are too many
buttons and sticks on controllers for novice players, which is likely to discourage them from ever playing games at
all". Apparently he wants the Revolution's controller to be accessible to everyone and he really wants people to "feel
like they want to touch and play with it". Luckily that last comment is in context because otherwise I'd be
giggling.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Too many buttons?
The more buttons the easier it is to control.
I hope Nintendo doesn't screw up on this.
jc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I think it will be interesting to see if Nintendo can interest the casual gamer and keep it's hardcore fans.
As a hardcore gamer myself, I look foward to seeing what Nintendo comes up with.
Ghostly @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Not nessisarily John. The more butons you have, the more on off states you can control, it gives you more digital input, but it increases the complexity of the system. sp as you get into more complex input output systems, the control schema becomes more difficult, as you need to have more information ready and be albe to enter it in a binary manner (a button is on or off, not both, not neither) by using non digital methods of data input, we increase functionality and simplify the control shema (an analog stick is more precise and less complex than an digital 8-direction D-pad.)
so while less buttons might be a bad idea, the convention of "more buttons easier to control" is wrong.
Lil Jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
As out there as nintendo has increasingly become in recent years, I really think they are hitting a chord here. I've been gaming since the NES glory days and I really think in certain ways games are becoming too damn complicated. Look at the Splinter Cell series, excellent games, technically stunning but the goddamn control use too many button and an unbelievably unintuitive fashion. Sure I understand the game demands some complex moves but think about it, this is the growing trend with console games and it isnt really benefitting gameplay. Try playing a coop game of splinter cell with someone not completly familiar with the controls, its a diasaster. I like ninendos idea of mass market appeal, more and more.
Jon Wilk @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Nintendo is going to really shoot themselves in the foot if they take away too many buttons, and make the controller too different from the ones that Sony and Microsoft are offering. While many people flock to Nintendo because of their 1st party software (I did w/ N64), many people, especially those who purchase a lot of games, are interested in playing multi-platform, 3rd party software. Nintendo has had a problem getting support from third parties in the past, and this move will only further alienate them. You can complain all you want about Splinter Cell's control scheme, but if UbiSoft feels that it'll be too hard to port their game over to Nintendo's revolutionary/wonderfull/weird controller, then Nintendo fans won't even be seeing such games.
Lil Jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
If the controller is just that out there, i guess you could always plug a gamecube controller into revolution for certain games. I'm sure that wont be encouraged, but its not like the controller is a be all, end all.
Michael McGuire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Brilliant reporting here:
"As far as Nintendo is concerned, the future of multiplayer gaming is in Wi-Fi, not the internet."
Why don't they just say:
"As far as Nintendo is concerned, the future of multiplayer gaming is in TCP/IP, not the internet."
or even:
"As far as Nintendo is concerned, the future of multiplayer gaming is in CAT5, not the internet."
Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Nintendo seem to just make one mistake after another, Sure a lot of people probably think that having a lot of buttons is bad for "Newbies or kids" but for "Hardcore" gamers you need more buttons. Even in a game like Zelda on the N64 a lot of buttons are used (And make the game easier e.g. the secondary item buttons that you have 3 of.. Bombs and such) The only type of game that fewer buttons work for are platformers. How many more Mario games are Nintendo going to release? I mean seriously, you can only take a platform game so far.
Sometimes you need more buttons, yet again Nintendo are going to miss out one 3rd party games as #5 pointed out. Big Big mistake, those 3rd party games are the BIG sellers.
Having more buttons = more control.
People may contest my opinion but that’s what I believe.
Are Nintendo really thinking about their fans? Are they really thinking about what the gamers want? I think Nintendo owe it to their fans to have the BEST they possibly can. They owe us the best Zelda could ever be, they can't do that on a Sub-standard Console.
vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
It's my thinking that they'll avoid the problem of cross-platforming games by using their new revolutionary part to report as something we already have. In effect, different input, same output.
For example, straffing could be controlled by holding a small button on the back that would allow you to tilt the controller and would only react in the horizontal plane, eliminating the need for a similar input on top. If implemented right, it would allow more games to be played on the Rev, while giving it an advantage by immersing the player deeper into the environment.
Akotan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Eh... try to take their lastest console: Nintendo DS. It have 6 buttons, don't counting Power, Start, Select... The same 6 buttons of SNES. And work like a pro. The PS2 joystick has 10 buttons! I have one PS2 and it take a while I got used of it. And still think 10 is way too much...
vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
"Brilliant reporting here:"
Well, strictly speaking, Wireless Fidelity can be used for WLANs and be closed off from the internet. I can see Nintedo trying to install enough wireless routers to maintain a consistent network that is separate from the 'net, which would provide them some security and a lot more control, allow I don't think it'd be worth the cost.
Aren't they doing something similar for the DS?
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Why is it people seem to think that a successful company like Nintendo doesn't know what it's doing? I don't see them "shooting themselves in the foot." If it's not that, they think the company should stop making hardware and just make software.
I, for one, look forward to what they bring out. I love their games and their hardware. I thought the NES, and its controllers, was great. I thought the same about the SNES and the N64. I think the Gamecube is an incredibly compact and powerful machine.
I see no harm in trying to simplify things. I think a lot of hardcore gamers forget about the not-so-hardcore who are often intimidated by complicated controllers and games. I think this plays into why the DS has become very popular and reeled in non-gamers since control for most games just involves the very simple stylus.
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
It's really quite amusing how some people can state things like #5 & 8, I presume they only use Joystiq as a news source or something.
I mean do these people actually think that the Revolution couldn't support multiformat games, wow.
You know it's not like there's a few games that are stated as on all three consoles now, before solid details are even out for us on the Revo.
Lucas Arts and UbiSoft to name but a few are planning to support all next generation systems as well. It's guess work in all honesty but with the latter in mind we'll see a fair few multiformat games from them too.
And just take the DS, it supports one N64 port, a port that did need multiple buttons that now with a little innovation only needs 3 or 4.
Nintendo need to support the N64 games for crying out loud, for those foolishly thinking Nintendo's controller will be lacking multiformat port capability due to button restriction, that's 10 buttons excluding the d-pad and analogue stick.
Now I may be wrong here but is that not the exact same button number as the standard controllers next gen.
We can have innovation and regular gameplay you know, it's not a one or the other type situation.
And I personally like how someone is claiming the console as being sub-standard - does he know something I don't? Did I miss the details on the system and full announcement recently?
Personally I can't wait for the final unveiling so we can put an end to this nonsense, I'll happily save up for the meat and two potatoes (normal, not really exciting but still good) PS3 and the really good experience that is guaranteed from Nintendo as ever.
Jason Zeidan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I played Soul Calibur 2 and Super Smash Bros. Melee with my family yesterday (it was my birthday, so they have to do what I want..), and they were awfully confused with the GCN controller. They didn't know what to press and when, and didn't know which button was which... So, yeah, I see where Nintendo's coming from. When my mom and grandmother played with my DSs, they were having a blast, because it's so simple; you just touch the screen. There are no rules, you get used to it so easily. There's no pattern on the touch panel, so you do what you think is right. And that is what hit me. Revolution WILL attract many new people, particularly people who think today's consoles are far out of their league.
It was so amusing watching my parents playing SSBM, because they forgot some three four times into the game who was who. And with Soul Calibur, my mom thought the game was in the character selection screen (where you can see all the characters and all their outfits).
My family will LOVE revolution. They will play it as much as they play DS. It will take some time for them to accept playing it because after all it takes a bit of a hastle to get the controller, turn on the TV, insert a disc, turn on the console... and play, while with DS, you just pick it up, turn it on, and you're in. But at least they will like it more than GCN.
Jon Wilk @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Zell-
I think you bring up a point that is often overlooked, Nintendo seems to be happy with not being the number 1 console anymore, as long as it is profitable. Simply put, a console cannot win without 3rd party support, a problem that Nintendo has faced in the last 2 generations. That does not mean that if Revolution has similar problems, it cannot be a successful console. I know when I see Zelda or Mario for Revolution I'm going to want one no matter what the controller is like. I just don't plan on it being my main console (if I end up with more than 1) since there is a good chance that I won't be able to play a lot of really good games.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
They were rumored to be doing something like that for the DS, but then they just changed it to "We'll be using GameSpy to host our online gaming".
"but if UbiSoft feels that it'll be too hard to port their game over to Nintendo's revolutionary/wonderfull/weird controller, then Nintendo fans won't even be seeing such games."
Everyone seems to be missing the KEY point anyways... The Revolution is going to be incredibly meek in terms of power compared to the X360, which is equal if not completely less than the PS3... Which puts the idea of 'cross platform' right out the window. I mean, SURE, they could pull a cross-platform approach like a game with the same name is released for GameCube and GameBoy Advance... That's probably what will happen, a completely different iteration of the same game. It'll compensate for the lack of buttons, probably be developed by a different team as well. EITHERWAY, they could always throw back to the GameCube controllers anyways, since it has a port/hook up for them(so you can still use periprials like the GBA Link Cable to play your Crystal Chronicles / Zelda Four Swords).
As for the WiFi comment, they're talking about they were going to have it so you can talk to other Revolutions up to like 50 yards away (150 feet or so). This gives you the ability to play your neighbors, or link together Revolutions without all the wirey mess. Lets not forget that the GameCube only had ONE LAN enabled games, and one online game. I think they're looking to broaden that area after seeing the success Halo gets from 16 man LAN parties at all the frat houses.
Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
@ #13.. I didn't say that Nintendo wasn't going to get 3rd party support; I was saying that a lot of 3rd party games wont come out on the Revo.
The gamecube is proof of this.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
As for being sub-standard console as mentioned(i didn't say it), ATI said that the X360's GPU was going to be 5x more powerful than the rest of the next gen's GPU... And they're also developing the Revolution's GPU. Basing off of that, they openly said that it'll be a 5th of the power than that of the X360, which is undoubtedly less then.
You gotta remember, nintendo isnt making the powerful console. They're aiming for a cheaper list price and quality games over overly costly hardware. It wouldn't be suprising if the Revolution was 1/2 to 2/3rds as powerful as the X360 in terms of hardware honestly.
But I agree, I can't wait to see the revolution unveiled. I'll definitely be picking up a PS3 and a Revolution though. The 360 is doubtful though (as of right now, the Mistwalker RPG may sway my opinion)...
norebonomis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
nice comments, good reading.
Mo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I hear what people are saying about the relative power of Rev compared to PS3 and XBox360.
I think it's almost certain that it won't be anywhere near as powerful as PS3 or 360. Think the power of Nintendo DS compared to PSP and apply that to the console market and I think that'll be pretty close to what the Rev's power will be compared to PS3 / 360.
In other words, it'll be the Revolutions controller feature-set and game creativity which follows from that which will set it apart from the competition.
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
about less buttons and more fun, play Katamari and Kirby Canvas curse. They use two analog stick (mainly, there are shoulder buttons to do a 180 etc.) and a touch screen respectively, that's it.
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Danny Boy.
True enough, but frankly we buy Nintendo for the awesome games like Zelda and Metroid and not for rubbish like Destroy All Humans.
Now, just to be clear, games like Pro Evo are phenomenal, there's several talented third party developers/games that sadly don't come Nintendo's way. But that's what Sony are for anyway, a nice little back up to catch the other good 'uns.
As for this power thing, seriously there are games slated for all three. Financial departments wouldn't dream of allowing a cut down port to a Nintendo game without solid information - way too big a risk. Companies have been told / shown that the system can handle ports, I'm sure of it.
How much extra juice is going to HD for starters, then all the other processes that could come from running a "media hub".
Show me proof I'm wrong and I'll accept it, but as it stands now logic depicts that the system will be relatively up to scratch.
A link to that report/comment would be good though (#18), I've never heard that one before :)
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Mo-
I wouldn't say the Revolution won't be 'anywhere near as powerful as PS3 or 360.' I think it might be just as good, even if it isn't reflected in the tech specs. I've played all three current generation systems. Some Gamecube games like Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and Resident Evil 4 (and even the upcoming Zelda: Twilight Princess) have no trouble matching the quality of Xbox games.
While Nintendo is harldy in the pissing contest for first place, like the other two, it doesn't mean they plan on getting lost.
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
for multiplatform games they will probably use the old GC controller, which will likely also be used for oldschool downloadable games, aswell as GC games of course.
pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
18 , the quote of X360 gpu being 5 times better than any next gen ati stuff is coming from the product manager of ati's X360 group.But he said himself that he has no idea of what is going on in the Nintendo ati group. with all of ninty's secrecy i'm sure that their ati group is far removed from anyone associated with the microsoft product. Especially the product manager
Mo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Zell-
I wouldn't disagree with any of that. Nintendo know how to develop pretty stunning hardware in terms of "bang for your buck".
I'm just continually amazed that truly stunning games like RE4 on GC are completely seamless with no loading screens whatsoever - and all this on 40MB RAM AND without a Hard Drive. Truly incredible feats of software design but also a testament to Nintendo's vision in terms of hardware design.
Nintendo design their hardware and get their software people to make the best possible use of that hardware.
There's no doubt in my mind, going on past record, that the Rev will be a pretty special piece of kit (this time it looks it too). So when Nintendo say (to paraphrase): "It's not raw specs that count it's what you do with it", I can pretty much give them the benefit of the doubt.
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
#24.
Actually it's the Revo's controller for downloadable retro titles. Reggie himself stated this much speaking to EGM:
*EGM*:
And then third-party support. It definitely got better with GameCube than N64, but how are you going to keep that momentum with Revolution when we haven't really seen the controller but we know it's going to be...it's going to make our head explode? Say, a popular franchise like Splinter Cell, which kind of requires a conventional controller. How are you going to make third parties support a system with such an innovative setup and controller?
*Reggie*:
The thing that I always find surprising, and certainly in the last year I've had wonderful opportunities to spend quality time with a number of our key third-party publishers, is when you sit down and share the innovation with them, just how excited they get. I saw it firsthand with DS; we're seeing it now with Revolution. The fact that you and your fans haven't seen the controller doesn't mean that no one else has.
I mean, again, and Mr. Iwata did this during his presentation on Tuesday—if you just think about it, we're going to have the ability through wireless internet to download all of your great games from NES, SNES, N64. Think about it: Each of those controllers were different. How are you gonna play? That captured some the imagination of what our controller needs to be able to do, and certainly as you get into the meat of that type of innovation with the developers, their eyes truly light up because they start to imagine what's possible with that type of configuration, which is vastly different than a sheer horsepower type of game."
**
Good read that, you can't help but think some form of user crafted device I suppose, but in reality that would be hard to pull off for a few reasons.
Oh and I also like the "your great games from.." bit and how it's not "our", one thing that I really like with the new Nintendo is their stuggle to be focused on us and not themselves/the competition.
Sure they want our money at the end of the day but they also seem like the only company left with us in mind etc.
Hig @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Gawd, I cannot take much more of this. Everyone complaining about which console is more powerful, or how they have/love the PS3 boomerang, or how the Revolution's controller is going to kick/eat ass. GAMEPLAY! This is what *GAMES* are for, the enjoyment.
I don't really care if I can see a pimple on Kilik's SoulCaliberIII nose; I care whether or not beating the comp with a stick is fun or not. Sure, some game may look excellent on the PS3 or X360, but if I can get the same enjoyment on the Revolution for $XX.xx less, that's what I'm gonna do. If I cannot stand the Revolution's controller (something I doubt, I'm very flexible when it comes to that) I'll probably play my PS2 awhile longer until something acceptable comes by. When will this "Pissing contest of the impossible-performance-numbers" end? Probably not until they're released...I'm guessing.
Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
A lot of people say "Nintendo should give us what we want." My question is, do you or we really know what we want? For example, if we still had the D-Pad and Nintendo said we are going to be releasing a new controller with a joystick. That's it. How do we know we want it or not? How do we actually know that less buttons don't make a game better? Do you see what I'm saying. I never said, "No, no, D-pad are way better than stupid joysticks. Joysticks would just screw up the games controls." Same thing with first-person shooters. Everyone said it can't be done on consoles. Yet, Goldeneye for Nintendo 64 was a best seller, and so is Halo for the Xbox. Again, this all boils down to my final point: Do we really know what we want?
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Excellent point, Matthew. I guess that's why I'm sitting and waiting patiently.
someguy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Video game violence is escalating? What's wrong with that why can't Nintendo realize that video games arent for kids. I want an M rated Mario game!
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Uhm, pray tell, what kind of activities would the plumber be doing to warrant an M rating? Pimping out Princess Peach? Laundering with Luigi?
Mario and gang are the same to me as my favorite childhood cartoons. I like them innocent, thanks. I don't need Mario blowing the heads off anything with a shotgun to enjoy the game. There has to be some oasis. I say this having played through Resident Evil 4 three times already. It's still good to switch from a game like that to a game like Animal Crossing.
Shame that partly due to these violent games trends gems, like Homeland, stand little chance of making it over here.
Cooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
My girlfriend said, "Its not all the buttons, its the fucking games. That's what keeps people from playing games."
Tommy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
In terms of power, keep this in mind. Xbox 360's target will be 1080i (1920x540) at its max resolution for HDTV. After all, performance can't be bad at any resolution for a console, so you'd think they'd optimize for the max. PS3's target should be 1080p (1920x1080) since it will support it. The Revolution will only have to handle 640x480 as its max since it won't support HDTV. So the 360 has over 3 times the pixels to plan for, the PS3 almost 7. And that's leaving out the fact that antialiasing isn't as needed for standard TV so, although the 360 can have it nearly "free," the Revolution shouldn't HAVE to worry about it, and that developers can make small changes or optimizations for cross-platform titles to run better--PLUS having fewer polygons is less noticeable at a smaller resolution. Factor in that the GPU isn't all that matters and you've more than accounted for a proclaimed 5x performance hit or, accounting for the 360 GPU being in charge of nearly the whole system, even higher of one. PLUS cross-platform titles usually look as good as the weakest link (differing max resolutions would keep them looking good in terms of next-gen), and they don't need to use all the power of any system and never do, and they won't be relying on a "unified pipeline" considering only the Xenon has it and is probably the main reason a 5x performance superiority was ever proclaimed. Phew, that was messy.
Foltzie @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Nintendo's Idea/Theory on Next Gen gaming in formula:
More Buttons = More control
More Control = Higher Learning Curve
Higher Learning Curve = Narrower Demographic
Narrower Demographic = Fewer People Playing
Fewer People Playing = Fewer Game/Consoles sold
Fewer Games/Consoles sold = Less profits
Less Profits = Bankruptcy
Remember games on the NES? You could pick up a controler, play, and have fun. GBA games are fun, aren't they? I'm not worried about to few buttons.
If more buttons = More Sales, then wouldn't Computer Games out-sell video games? (a keyboard has more "buttons" than any controler will)
Ares @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Alright heres my 2 cents. A lot of guys here like Mathew r very intelligent and kno wat they are talking about, case in point, people stop assuming things and saying false things wiether they are positive or negative. Because even if we were market experts we couldnt imagine how Nintendo is going to do. Now on the controller. I believe Nintendo knows wat they are doing control wise cus they always have known wat to do. So for those fans who feel uncertain dont worry cus ur gonna get wat u want and for those Rev flamers...just stfu cus u dont even kno enough to flame it.
Chad @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Hey guys, did you see the FAQ thing on IGN.com? They stated that one of the developers told them that the controller is going to be customizable because it needs to incorporate the buttons from the old SNES, NES, N64, and the other roms that it will support. Since it is emulating those roms, TONS of different button combinations from all those different console controllers will be needed to play the games successfully.
What I THINK is going to happen, is Nintendo is going to come out with some sort of multi-part controller that comes appart and lets you click into place the different types of buttons. So, if you want a basic controller, you can click in the basic A, B, START, and L and R pieces. And then if you want a certain joystick, the C buttons, etc, then you can take certain parts on or off depending on what you want. So its like a "build your own controller" type thing.
Thats what I think.
Ryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
In my opinion, it doesn't matter how many buttons you use, just as long as the new controller deals with the basic problems all controllers have, which is mostly from the button arrangment. For example, when you're useing the directional pad, it temperarily 'handicaps' you from useing the primary joystick and that's just one of the many problems. Still, we can bull shit all we want, the thing is is that the people at "Nintendo" are makeing it and not actual gamers. Thats a scary thought!
richard ford @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again-If Nintendo puts out something along the lines of the DS with a hoaky little crochet hook pointer thingy as a controller, they will fail miserably! There is an awful lot of us 40s to 50s out there with a whole lot more bling $$s than they realize! Might go down well with 8 year olds tho! thnx RGF
Ryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
you know, i really don't know why the hell people keep thinking that they have to use the stylus when playing games on the DS. That's what the thumbpads! However, i don't think I would want to use a thumbpad or a stylus when it comes to useing the Nintendo revolution controller
Jorge @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Lets not forget people....Nintendo will forever set the bar and DEFINE AND REDEFINE what video games are....... there has yet to be ANY GAME That compares or even come close to any that nintendo.... just think about it.... we used to sit and play games like super mario and kung fu forever..... games you can go through in 20 minutes nowadays.... Most games (ps2, xbox) nowadays are simulation machines, NOT video game machines...... theyve gone too far and are progressively getting less and less enjoyable....Mario can turn anything (even golf and tennis) into a VIDEO game...not a simulation..... enough said, dont think i need to get into the whole contoller speculation ... There are only 3 VIDEO game systems currently.... the Gamecube, gameboy SP, and Nintendo DS.... the others are simulation machines
Dan The Man @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Some of you have no idea what you are talking about. Nintendo has always come through with innovative solution to the problamitc garbage that other disorganized companies have to offer. #4, #12 and #35, excellent points. If everyone is so concerned about WiFi multiplayer and all, then don't you think a simpler controller will only attract new gamers and increase the net amount of players? Nintendo doesn't fool around with their consoles. Revolution will truly revolutionize video gaming and I can't wait until they unveil it, so that all the doubters can be silenced and Nintendo will reign supreme once again.
Kenman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I think that Nintendo will do just fine. #41 has a point about the consoles. Nintendo has good consoles. It may be considered 'cooler' to have an Xbox, but if you want to sit down and have a bit of fun, then GCN is your console. I think that SSBM and Zelda and Sonic Adventure 2 are some of the best, most fun games out there, yet neither Xbox nor PS2 have anything like them.
Admittedly, there is some fun in watching people get their heads blown off (I.E. Vice City) but you can't be violent/horny all the time. You have to have some fun also, and I think Nintendo offers that part of gameplay the most.
In any event, Nintendo will do just fine. Nobody has any idea what their technical specs are or what the controller will look like (And I know that we are all dying to see what Nintendo comes out with, even people who think the Revolution will be a crappy system) so there really is no point in saying "Hey look x system is gonna suck!", wether that x be filled with Xbox 360, PS3, or the Revolution.
All in all, what you should do is maybe state your oppinion and get on with your life. There will be other consoles, other games. As long as I have fun, I don't care.
David @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Hey everyone! I agree that nintendo should not screw this project up! I am a true fan of nintendo, and I know that the people behind creating the controller will do some pretty amazing things; however, will these things be too amazing? Will they be too complex? Well, from the article I don't think so! Nintendo, after all, is aiming towards the casual gamers. Get ready for a gaming console lilke no other, and more fun than all others!! I play games to have fun!!
David @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
oh hey again, yeah i have an idea... nintendo say they will put need to make the controller compatible withall of the previous nintendo titles...well whats wrong with the current buttons of gamecube???? it has all of the basic buttons and C stick and Z button..there you go...uh is there anything wrong with that...???? just wondering??
The Digital Ranter @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
OK.
Everyone shutup.
Just please... wait a minute.
Let's get some facts staright.
1) PS3 is going to be a lot less powerful than it claims to be when that console turns on in the public. If you disagree... remember when the PSP had 666 mhz of speed? Yeah. It's 333 in reality.
2) Power is nice. But... while Nintendo released it's affordable, reliable systems (see early nineties, even little mid/late nineties), other companies (Neogeo, Sega, TurboGraphX, Atari Jaguar... the list goes on...) released bigger more powerful systems sooner! That costed $$$$$$! Anyway, out of the five companies I just listed... one is still a console maker.
3) Give the BIG N time. Miyamato won't let Revolution go down. Be patient... it's virtue. You will know all soon.
4) Who... Which one of you wrote "video games arent for kids"!? Are you nuts? Yes! They are for kids! That's who is the main buying factor! Of course... older people do, whether it's greasy teens, frat members, or middle aged men! Moron!
So... don't worry. Will know all soon.
Rant on.
tepidfox @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Imagine grasping a controller with both hands and swinging it wildly about to control Link's sword fighting, or using the motion and accuracy of your own hands to throw fireballs as Mario.
Equally, imagine a game that reacts to your level of excitement, perhaps by detecting how hard you squeeze as your white knuckles wrap around a novel controller during a flurry of battle in Smash Brothers or by detecting the level of volume in the room as you and your friends trash talk each other at the top of your lungs.
Nintendo is NOT going to make the Revolution inaccessible to 3rd party support but even if they did - wouldn't these experiences be worth it?
I am not half as creative as a room full of artistic Japanese guys who get paid to think this stuff up. Have faith in Nintendo. As another commentator so insightfully put it, they seem more concerned about what is best for we the people who want to have fun playing video games - not the geeks who are hopelessly fantasizing over the number of pixel shader pipelines that can be squeezed into a giant corporation's latest souless attempt to suck dry the wallets of poor, unsuspecting computer enthusiasts and fraternity members everywhere.
Dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Look at Nintendo's Storied Past. They have done something right to get this far.
Imagine how many hours we have spent flipping through Nintendo's expansive library, playing NES, SNES, N64, GameCube and even Gameboy games. Now, look at where the Revolution is going. Bringing both the storied past with the glorious future. Nintendo Revolution is a Backwards Compatibile, Big John Stud. Heck, doesn't that sound like reason enough to buy one? And even still, why did people buy the SNES when they had NES? Why did people buy N64 when they had SNES? Why did people buy GC when they had N64? Because they knew Nintendo would bring their 1st Party Root Beer Floats to those lame Ice Cream Socials everyone else was having. Who doesn't wait in expectation for Zelda: Twilight Princess? And you are saying that Nintendo won't bring something to the table that is worthwhile for the Revolution? We have all adjusted to input troubles in the past. And if what I read is true, this controller is going to be something no one on this board can even comprehend right now. It could be all of Nintendo's Controllers wrapped into one super fully adjustable device. Personally, I feel that PS3 and their Blu-ray Disc are stepping out on a limb, asking for 3rd Party Troubles faster than Nintendo is without leaking controller specs at the moment.
I may get rid of PS2 and XBOX when the PS3 and XBOX 360 come out. I will probably end up buying all three, to get a taste of the best of them all. But, to credit Nintendo, I have never sold a single Nintendo console and Revolution will be bought and kept like a prize winning pig just like in the past. Like something worth it's weight in gold, Nintendo's plastic consoles are like a timeless art pieces.
Nintendo has yet to bail out of the race, even when the Microsoft and Sony have come to spoil their reign. When they bring Mario and the rest of the Nintendo gang to the party, what Nintendo die-hard isn't going to buy a Revolution? Regardless of the control? Suck it up. Don't be a weiner and tell me that is going to stop you from playing "Mario Kart: We Just Revolutionized Cartoon Go Karting Over Again and It Is Still Cooler Than Import Tuner Racing Games". Or "Zelda: I'm still better than another cheesy spin of Metal Gear Soft Stool"
Nintendo has always brought something that was different. I can't wait to see how different it is from both XBox and PS3. Let them be different. Let them continue to capitalize on party games and cartoony games that has drawn them so much heat. But I believe that the Revolution will be more than just another Gamecube. Heck, even if you doubt that, buy it because it is a Gamecube, ohh wait, and a Nintendo 64, and a Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and a Nintendo Entertainment System*. (* with a small fee of course :) )
666 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Good points, good read!
Now for my rant/vent on the Nintendo sitch;
Even if the Revolution IS a revolution, will people be listening to actually make it a gaming revolution? I hope so..
Anyway, it's not buttons that increase control over a game, but interface, which is all buttons are. Now if there's a more efficient form of interface that can do in a nice and simple way what 7 or 8 buttons plus control sticks can do and offer more flexability and new experiences, then Nintendo are on a winner. I'm hoping that the Rev. proves this theory, and delivers a nice shock that'll give us a fresh take on gaming. I don't care if it can't play current games, i'd like something with a valid and new approach. I always turn on my nintendo for nintendo games, which are basically a genre to themselves.
But on the other hand, there is 20 years of evolution with the config of a control stick/pad & button combo that people have adapted to, and I think Reggie is wrong when he says people are put off by buttons, but agree with casual gamers and little kids wouldn't use all the buttons on a control, and therefore don't get a deeper enjoyment out of the game. So if they've got a way around that, then they'll be fine, but the games have to be in front of the casual gamers to turn them onto it. Catch 22, they're not going to go out searching for a games console.
The hugely annoying fact is that the same casual gamers that Nintendo looks to 'liberate' are the ones who blindly go 'ooh, playstation is powerful' or more to the point, just buy what their friends buy and use a console as a piece of their techno-status. I get this with Gamecube with friends reacting with excitement at my ps2 slim, but go 'oh, a gamecube? No one bought them'..
Some of my favorite gaming moments these days are playing a bit of Mario Kart with my girlfriend, so i've got faith that Nintendo, with their commitment to the social aspect of gaming will make something new and exciting.
I'm kind of going off on a stream of conciousness rant now, but Nintendo have definitely gone in a new direction with the DS, with games like Electroplankton & Nintendogs, and I can't help but think it'll be games in the vein of these that will start to define Nintendo in the future, which isn't bad, just different.
Rum? Is that you calling me?
Beardy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Pesonally the NR will be exactly what it says it will be (and so will the controller) Nintendo are THE only video game and hardware corporation that really look to what the gamer wants. Their golden age will come again......................!