It's…it's…it's…the Revolution!

292 Comments by Ross Miller Sep 15th 2005 10:52PM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii

Revolution Controller and analog attachment (225)

Earlier, we really did have our last Revolution controller rumor – Mr. Iwata took the stage at the Tokyo Games Show and 50 minutes later completely blew everything out the water. A DVD remote controller with attachments? What else can it do?

The Revolution's controller, coming in 4 colors, is a remote control-like thing with a D-pad, 3 buttons (A, a, and b) and a B trigger below. It works like a gyroscopic mouse, moving and twisting in 3D (think: Kirby Tilt-n-Tumble). It is indeed wireless, and features rumble capability. It should be packaged with one of the endless number of possible attachments: an analog joystick and two triggers to be held in the left hand.

Joystiq's Vladimir Cole is updating right now with his impressions of the event (as he was at the keynote speech – lucky him). IGN and GameSpot had exclusive hands-on with the controller and have both written – with much optimism – about their feelings.

IGN also has a piece taking educated guesses at how different genres could utilize the uniqueness of it, as well as a piece full of comments from developers about the newly-announced controller. Ubisoft, THQ, EA, and Activision all sound head-over-heels in love with it - and since Square Enix and Sega have already commented on it, that sounds like a good bit of third party support already. Hm.

So, now that we know, how do you feel? Do you feel let down? Happy? Sad? Thank you everyone who got excited and chatted along in the previous Revolution rumor articles. Now, go find the concept art that was closest to the real thing � I distinctly remember a black one with a joystick in one hand and GameCube style buttons in the other, I will have to find it.

Take a look at the picture - remember, with this set up, not only can you be a sore loser at Smash Brothers, but you can also strangle your friends with it. And yes, I still say the controller looks akin to an oversized iPod shuffle, but I do kind of like that, as well as the neat white Revolution console. One thing is for sure�Nintendo has balls.

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Jarquin: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

...not to exciting

Moose: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Can anyone say "flop?"

After seeing this, I can with confidence.

swoosh bnd: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

How is this suppose to work for the older games? That is what perplexes me more than anything.

PRAE: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

. : : : P R A Y . F O R . M E : : : .

Andrew Hsieh: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

[siiiiiiiiiiiigh]

Zachary: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

In the time leading up to IGN posting the images I started to feel like I would be very disappointed too, but now I think it's really cool and I can't wait to read more about it!

Scott C.: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

So it's an analog stick in one hand connected to a Universal remote?

How did the XBOX 360 become the best controller overnight? Wow

Rhine: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

flip teh controller on its otehr side to play nes games

Tacticality: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I think you turn it on its side for NES games. Looks like either old controller adapter, new old-style controller, or else no SNES/N64 games.

Jarquin: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

...not to exciting

thies: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

unergonomic crap. not buying.

Jarquin: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

...not to exciting

Threnody: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

IGN has posted a hands-on with it here: http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275p1.html

I think it sounds pretty cool. The flying demo sounds pretty impressive, but it's really one of those things you need to try yourself (with REAL games) before you can judge.

Fuzz: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/15/news_6133335.html

That should give you an overview of what is capable of. I think it's freakin sweet, after reading through that. Sounds like fun. I can't imagine watching somone use that and not want to grab it and try it out.

Einhanderkiller: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

This looks amazing. I can't wait to use it.

I'm not being sarcastic.

Fuzz: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Sorry, this link is better.
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-23521-2567-x-x-x&body_pagenum=2

funkonaut: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

You can even rotate the controller horizontally to play old NES games.

TacoNation: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Sorry, but this is gay. I've been aticipating this like everyone but I think this is a content killer. It's the Power Glove all over again.

Myria: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Stick the fork in...

GlitchCog: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

A 3D mouse? Interesting. But how does that enable you to play NES, SNES and N64 games? I still want my wireless SNES controller.

djk: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

ITS REVOLUTIONARY. no really it does look pretty sweet.
http://www.hack360.com

Einhanderkiller: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

It looks great but I just have one question.

Will it get your hand tired after extended use?

Rhine: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Ok i hated it at first but i just read about teh tech demos i think im in love

jello: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

http://palgn.com.au/image.php?id=3089&media_id=4

fuck yeah

Alkaiser: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

crysalis: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

are you joking me? imagine playin halo with that pos

jello: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

thats what the controller ports are for dumbass. so if there are any ports with lazy as dev's they can just use the GC controller instead

toop: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

OMG ... can you say NINTENDOGS for Revolution ... think about it... instead of the 2d space of the DS you are now interacting full 3d with many more degrees of freedom. This is gonna be a hit.

Metalghosts: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I give Nintendo mad props for doing this. It's good to see them being this audacious with their controller. BUT....I think that we are seeing Nintendo relegating themselves to niche status.

crysalis: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

are you joking me? imagine playin halo with that pos

swoosh bnd: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Yeah, the ports from system to system are definately going to be much more complex if they are ever to be done, seems like porting something from the PSP to the DS, probably not going to happen.

Senor: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Oh. So thats what it looks like.

It aint your dad's Atari 2600 controller.

Lectoid: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

nybody remember that big controller Microsoft came out with years ago, it was called Sidewinder DualStrike. It had a big ball in the middle and the you could tilt one side up, down, left and right. I played Slave Zero with it and it was the best, as good as a mouse. It was nice because you could sit back and play and not be hunched over a keyboard.

Here is a link I just found
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00002SX0B/103�

I wonder if Microsoft is kicking themselves for not developing this idea more.

polvo: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Why is everyone so worried about playing old games. It's the future games and possibilities that make this exciting. Was everyone really expecting the head mounted VR version?

Nintendo rocks. It's not about how fnacy your graphics chip is. It's about how good the games are. Wasn't the Turbo Grafix 16 more powerful than the NES? Damn it, I just dated myself.

MosquitoControl: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I repeat, too few buttons. It needs 3 across, like the genesis, not one big A button, though I'm sure the dpad functions as four buttons.

To people wondering how it functions with traditional games - it doesn't. That's why there are GC controller ports on the Revolution.

Metalghosts: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

jello....great, so devs are going to hope that every consumer out there buys the appropriate controller add-on? I don't know....very, VERY risky.

KD: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

It looks very intuitive and easy to use. It looks like it has the feel like using a mouse on a computer.
I Think it'll work.

Dan Choi: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I'm playing with... an upgradeable iPod Shuffle? =) I'm just trying to imagine four or more people holding "nunchakus" in front of a living-room TV set, swinging their left-hand (right for lefties?) attachments all over the place. Interesting... and I'm someone who plans on buying the machine! More pretty/quirky pictures here:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/15/screenindex_6133335.html

..including some fruity-looking remotes!
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/15/screens_6133335.html?page=5

thetrash: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I can see this being the next big thing honestly. As a gamer I am intrigued, but from an outsiders point of view, this thing is gonna be hot. "Regular people" are gonna love it, and that my friends sells units, which in turn makes shareholders very happy.

Apoklypse: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Don't you see? The Wavebird and standard GCN controller are already compatable with the Rev, not to mention capable of all the things the PS3 and 360 controllers are (sans that one shoulder button). Ports from other consoles can utilize the old control- the NES, SNES, and N64 games can as well.
BUT, the Rev ports can offer this secondary form of control as well, making any game that utilizes it a wholly different experience. You can clearly use this thing to play RE5. Now think of it being released on all 3, with Capcom adding Remote support and maybe it controls best with this thing.

Trump Card.

Nat: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

How's anyone going to port a game to this from the Playstation 3/Xbox 360?

Let's see...I'm a dev. I can take the easy way out and have it work on 2/3 of the consoles out there, or tough it out, and make it work on 1/3?

Code written for XBox360 will be hell to port to PS3, and vice-versa, due to PS3's dual core architecture. It's gonna be port-unfriendly all around.

jello: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

risky or not im sure we are all going to see new games and ideas never seen before, something those other 2 consoles wont be able to replicate for some time

Alkaiser: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

Jello:

You're not very forward thinking.

So Nintendo's going to have to bundle in the "standard controller" adapter with the console. (otherwise every GC port of a game is going to have to come with two versions: with and without controller.) On top of that, devs who make games that take advatange of the Revolution's unique features are going to be boxed into making EXCLUSIVE Revolution games.

If someone wants to take advantage of Xbox Live, can they still port the game to the PS3 and make it basically the same game? Yes. Same goes for the PS3 to the Xbox.

If someone makes a game that has a gimmick that uses the Revolution's 3D mouse will that translate to any other console? No.

The devs are taking a risk on the thing right out of the gate, meaning you're going to see very, very few non 1st and 2nd party games coming out for the Revolution.

None of those things spell success to me. You're hacking off portions of the size of your potential developers right and left. This looks really, really bad.

etathed: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I think Nintendo should be given some kind of award just because the thing never got leaked. And it is Definatly interesting. But seriously how did it NOT get leaked.

Rhine: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

it did but no pics a few horus before on gamespot or ign dont remember

Mark: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

It looks like a REMOTE CONTROL! OMG! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! (Who's already thinking like me that third-parties will release a more traditional looking controller for the Revolution?)

Carl Winslow: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

This may be fun for FPSs. I was thinking about Doom 3's gun & flashlight. You would move with the analog stick on the left, and use the the "remote" (as I have no other word for it), to aim the gun or light around the screen. This *may* actually work.

Metalghosts: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

And I quote from IGN:

"This is a bold step for Nintendo. It will seemingly exclude the Revolution from a lot of third-party release. They'll all have to be tweaked if they hope to work well at all. So, this creates a rather large uphill battle for supporting the system with a consistent flow of content. "

Hmmm, so something that Nintendo is lacking in a big way right now, 3rd party support, is being further limited by this controller.

I repeat, I give them mad props, and I don't necessarily think that it won't be successful, but Nintendo will not be in what I call the console race anymore. They will be a niche player. That doesn't mean that they won't be successful necesarily, but MS and Sony don't have much to worry about anymore.

Slashbunny: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

RTS SUPPORT: Controller used as a pointer on the screen to select and move units. Easily done.

FPS SUPPORT: Controller used to look around. Sensors physically detect when you move the controller up and down in 3D space. Analog controller to move forward/back and strafe. Controller itself used to look around, like a mouse. Instead of moving the mouse forward to look up, you would move the controller upwards to look up. Instead of moving the mouse towards yourself to look down, you would move the controller downwards. Basically a 3D mouse. Use the trigger to fire.

Nintendo managed to make a controller that can play RTS and FPS games pretty damn close, if not just as well as a PC.

Ross Miller: Dec 18th 2005; 10:08PM

I kind of think this will still work if companies want to port their games - the analog joystick/remote combo has five buttons, an analog joystick, a d-pad, and you could mimic the gyroscope to be a c-stick second analog stick - I don't see too huge of a problem with ports - just don't know how much exclusive content will be given to it.