One final Revolution rumor (hopefully)

by Ross Miller { Sep 15th 2005 at 4:30PM }

Update: for the sake of steering the comments away from the pictured controller, which is likely a WaveBird prototype (thanks, Kirk), I have changed the picture to relate to the rumored presentation slide. It makes more sense, anyways, as it could actually be true.

If you live in the United States, then 10:00 p.m. ET is the very time when, halfway across the world, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata will take the stage at the Tokyo Games Show and almost certainly reveal some details on the Nintendo Revolution. There has been talk that he will discuss the controller and what makes it so enigmatic.

Of course, if Mr. Iwata divulges any information on the Revolution, that will be one less piece of concept art to pass off as "the real deal actual Revolution controller" that he got from his brother's girlfriend's half-cousin whose father works for some independent developer that just so happens to have good connections with Sega who happens to be working with Nintendo of Japan and knows exactly what the controller looks like because their upcoming project fully utilizes the unique functions thereof.

You know you are going to miss them, all those pretty concept drawings and flavorful predictions of the features � at this point, if it was revealed that the Revolution controller was actually two electrodes that attached to your forehead and read your brainwaves, would anyone be surprised? If the controller was in fact a miniature clone of Shigeru Miyamoto, would anyone bat an eye at this point? So, for maybe the last time, here are two final rumors on the Revolution.

The first comes from a picture by Total Video Games (via Evil Avatar) and shows a slide supposedly from Iwata�s presentation tonight and looks to be a page demonstrating Nintendo�s online service for the Revolution � you can see the words �offline,� the Nintendo logo and even the Revolution logo. On the bottom of the screen is a cartoon icon of a controller and a faded icon to its right that says �wi-fi connection.� Could this be real? Maybe, but why is the date and time on the top left 08/19/2005 � seems a bit dated.

The second comes courtesy of Joystiq reader JimbQ, who had previously did a sketch of a Revolution controller as �someone who said works at a games company.� Later, an anonymous poster sent him a very similar image. There is a Nintendo logo in the middle, some strange track ball thing where the C stick used to be, and the grips have some sort of button/detector on them, it seems to be a natural evolution of the GameCube controller. Then again, the back is really bulky.

In all honesties, I do not know how true either of these are, and I am more than comfortable just waiting it out and finding the truth out tonight, if even just a tiny scrap of it. So this may be the last time you get a chance to make a ludicrous accusation about the Revolution controller � so, please, be creative, and comment away.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

btmnky @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

That's an edited version of an early WaveBird prototype. Apparently. Wouldn't be surprised. Only 5 and a half hours to go and we'll probably all know, anyway.

mat @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

That picture is an obvious fake. The start and select buttons look like they're floating there.

metal_gear_jello @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

That would have been a good gamecube controller, but nothing too revolutionary.

Plus I hate trackballs.

Spiza @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

thats not the new rumor pic for the article. Click the picture link in the article.

PickyPants @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

So what this article is saying is....

Nothing?

Nice, thanks for keeping us posted on the news that something will be newsworthy soon.

=p

jay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

fake, i was going to say the 2 middle red buttons seem to look too photo edited. too bright.

my final guess is that OLED black controller that looks uber purdy. or im going with the dual gyroscopic controllers, i keep thinking no way, but it would work TOO good with Zelda and Metroid specifically. it'd feel real.

Rhine @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Confirmed Faked i think its an edit from a game show a while ago

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Shigeru, who is my neighbour in my apartment complex, told me there is actually not going to be any controller at all. Backwards compatibility is provided through the Cube controller while Revolution games are controlled using real life Pikmin :)

flyNN @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Nintendo has revolutionized the controller kingdom at each system release (except GameCube), but never touted that it would... Now that they actually claim they will, I'm highly suspicious. I think many of the ideas thrown about here have been truly revolutionary, but not along the lines of "non-confusing / less buttons". A less confusing controller = boring for games. The revolution Nintendo hopes for is acceptance by non-gamers like what iMac did for Apple. I expect nothing revolutionary from the revolution.

Spencer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

"The Revolution controller is an office whiteboard that plugs into the mains and provides an RSS feed." -- From the Prior-Art-O-Matic

(http://thesurrealist.co.uk/priorart.cgi?ref=the+Revolution+controller)

That is all.

nix @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

So it's 5.5 hours to go? I'm in New Zealand and I'm trying to nail when Iwata's keynote is... I thought it was Friday US time!

I have actually been hoping the controller will at least include a trackball, it kinda makes sense with the whole "revolution" aspect, but there had better be more to it. And this had better not be it. :) It also looks significantly different in the slide shown. Can't wait to find out...

Alex ~ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I was just flicking around the interweb and came across a list of accessories for the SNES, if Nintendo already owns the rights to them, who knows?

"Other accessories
Flight-Chair: A special chair for flight simulators. You control it by sitting in a chair and then you lean in different directions! (That means steering with your butt!)

VR-Glasses: Virtual Reality Glasses for the SNES.

Projector: With this projector you can play SNES games on a 1.5 x 1.5 meters big "screen" (= on a wall or something)!

Power-Thumb: A blue little plastic thumb for people who has played Nintendo so much that their thumbs are starting to hurt!"

And of course that pictures fake, thats why it was posted *Rolls Eyes*

Rhine @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

-Nintendo has revolutionized the controller kingdom at each system release (except GameCube)-

Dude wavebird lol wireless everyone usign it now

retro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

If that last one is real, Nintendo is really just a room full of idiots.

The first one, however, could be real, although the controller pictured as an icon is hideous.

panhead @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

i heard from a reliable source that it does have a touch screen. i guess i'll see if he's right tonight.

Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

"Nintendo has revolutionized the controller kingdom at each system release (except GameCube)"

The WaveBird wireless controller, and the button layout. The button layout is just so damn intuitive and useful.

NekoTsukimi @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

What WILL be funny is looking back on all the speculated controller schemes... Reminds me of the months leading up to the reveal of the DS and then looking at all the sillies everyone made.

But the idea of a tiny Miyamoto in my hands, priceless! I'd buy several Revo controllers if only it could be that!

I bet it would be the cutest controller in the world.

Darn it, only a few hours left for me to make it and debut it to the world!

Alex ~ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

#12 Rhine

Attually wireless was first used on the NES using infra-red, Nintendo just updated it, along with the "Family Fun Fitness / Power Pad" dance mat that sony quickly claimed...

http://www.nintendoland.com/nes/access.htm

Kid Dynamo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I bet that's real... it looks real, and it looks EXACTLY like a very believable blogger who has claimed to be leaking Revo information over the past few months. He goes by King Dea (http://theblogs.net/user/kingdea/). According to him, the big deal with it will be gyro control and some sort of left/right haptic feedback. I guess we'll see tonight, but my money says that the pic is a Revo controller prototype (hopefully they'll at least give it a good facelift to match the console's slick ass).

googledotman @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Oh my god im so fucking excited GO NINTENDO REVOLUTION

Kid Dynamo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Rhine @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Kid we know this is a photoshopped its gone through alot o examination o.o

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Well, Mr. PickyPants, the point of this article was so that I could get a chance

to dream of mini Shigeru Miyamotos
dancing on my desk,
singing little songs
and playing tricks in jest.

Damn, that was lame. Sorry =]

ROG27 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

As for the supposed slide shown at Total Video Games, why the hell would it not be in Japanese first of all? And second of all, why would the date be so off. Unless of course this is a slide show from a developer working with nintendo.

xbox360-forums.com @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

hang on, this is all too confusing for me! What time will I have to stay up to in the UK to find out?

Kid Dynamo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Rhine - Really? like you're really sure SURE SURE? Or just 85% sure?
If so, it was certainly created to mimic King Dea's info... and it's good enough to fool me. How can you tell it's a fake?

Stephen @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Actually, Japan is 16 hours ahead, so for Americans (like I) we only have to wait two-three more hours until we get some information. (Two hours for those who want minute-to-minute updates).

mynus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

No no no no! It's all wrong. My Dad's cousin has a trampy daughter who dates some douchewad of a guy that is two timing her with this other girl who is actually married to a guy who works at Nintendo. He says that the new controller is actually more bound to the internet enabled bits of the system. That's right...teledildonics. You know it's true. So just SHUT UP!

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

*** PIKMIN ***

*drools* The controller is so totally going to be a horde of PIKMIN! You grow them using water...like those sea monkeys of the 80's!

PIKMIN!!! MUHAHAHA

Belgand @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

While the Wavebird was definitely neat and a great implementation of a first-party wireless controller the lack of rumble was really a deal-breaker for me. I mean, it's nice, but I'm not prepared to trade vibration for wireless.

It would also have been incredibly wise to have made it rechargeable. I doubt Nintendo (or anyone else) plans to make them require batteries. Corded operation with recharge (ala the XBox 360) sounds like the standard.

Yami Pegasus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I've got it! This is what the new controller will look like!
http://storm.prohosting.com/coleco/nes/glove.jpg

1984 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

sweettt!

Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I have to say, that slide looks very convincing.

PvpMan22 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

OOOO BOY!!!!!! THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!!!!!!!!!! CANT WAIT!!!!!!
How long have we waited for this day?(maybe not even this day) But it seems like this is the only place they will give us some info(if not all of it) hopefully some specs or interface or game demos or ANYTHING INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone have a Great Day

paralipsis @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I think the new controller will be a pair of ruby slippers that will let you wish for whatever kind of controller you like.

Mojo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Just to clarify: Even if you don't live in the United States, 10pm EDT is still the very time of the presentation.

matt t @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

is it okay to assume joystiq will be liveblogging this?

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Joystiq's own Vladimir Cole will be at the Saturo Iwata press conference, so unless the connection goes straight to hell (and it could), trust us, we are all going to do our best to get the information up as soon as the words come out of his mouth.

joe h @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Just curious, but I thought (according to IGN) that Iwata's speech begins at 7PM eastern time.

JimbQ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yey i was mentioned! Cheers Joystiq.
oh yea, i live in the UK and its 00:30am, how long will i have to wait for the conference, what time would it be for GMT?
Thanks to anyone who answers this for me, ill stay awake all night if i have to!

JimbQ

funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Are there any web sites that will be doing real-time updates during his speech, much like all the Apple news sites do whenever Jobs speaks?

BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

IGN and Gamespot are going to be in with any breaking news in mere minutes, according to IGN Matt.

ph[i]l @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

hint to "jimb q" -i am from the uk as well egerly awaiting the keynote speech. just a word of wisdom - this site (joystick) is saying that the speech will start at 10.00pm. this means that whatever part of america that joystick is located in (there are numberous time periods accross america) the time that the speech starts is 10pm. so if you want to know how long you have... just enter a post like this, and the "time of entry" which is displayed will be the clock by which joystick is running. then all you have to do is see how many hours are left (using the joystick clock) and work out the time for your own clock - got it :)
hope this helps and by the way - my clock reads 1:18am so lets see what joystick's clock reads (how many hours are they behind)

Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yeah, these articles and comments are sort of clashing. What's going on, Joystiq? What time will it be HERE the moment Iwata begins his speech LIVE in Japan? <- That's the best way I could think of to word it.

Does anyone know? I'm hearing different times from different websites. It's the time change that's messing everything up.

However, I personally am pretty sure Joystiq is right - Iwata will being speaking live from Tokyo at 10pm HERE on the east coast of the US. Sorry, I can't answer anyone else's questions that are from different countries. No offense but your questions are throwing everyone off track. Just keep checking back to Joystiq in about 2 hours.

Do you guys think Joystiq will have info up by 11? That's when I'd like to hit the sack :P but I want to KNOW what's up!!!

AHHH THIS IS SO EXCITING - YET STRANGELY SAD BECAUSE ALL THE HYPE WILL FINALLY END TONIGHT - AHH WHAT IF NINTENDO'S CONTROLLER IS JUST LIKE.. SOMETHING BORING? AHH!!!!

Sorry - Excitement and anxiety taking over!!!

ph[i]l @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

so according to this clock.. (the post time) there is two hours to go. so for me that means 3:00am. BUT REMEMBER - the speech has to be RECORDED FIRST before it can be uploaded to the site... so im going to check back at about 4am as the speech is apparently about 50 minutes long (ten minutes for uploading to the site) i would recomend returning in about three hours as well.... :)
see you at the revolution :) :) :) :)

Psiven @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yo warez teh tendo newzies? Gaaaar!!!!!

JimbQ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Ah ok, cheers "ph(i)l", i think that was it, cant be bothered to scroll up and check. So according to your calculations...it should start at 3am british time? if not, correct me please, i dunno how long i can stay awake for lol.
cheers

JimbQ

Al @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Just to comment about the date...Let's say this is an authentic slide and the date is in fact August. How come nobydy thought of maybe Nintendo is more ready to launch then you think. What if they actually do plan to launch for the holidays. Imagine Microsoft's reaction :)