Nintendo's NEW (Revolution)controller

[ringsyde]

Check out the remote for the Nintendo Revolution:

media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275/img_3073860.html

This is definitely a different approach to videogaming, BUT is it a good one? Thinking outside the box is one of the big N's specialties, but is this a little too far outside the box?

[Chris Ingersoll]

I love it. Remote power on/off of console, built in light gun, adaptable design... this thing will probably go down in history as the greatest gaming control idea since the D-pad (also Nintendo's).

[Thad Killian]

Dude...it looks kinda weird...but after reading the capabilities and some of it's bells and whistles...it sounds awesome!

[Vidtek]

I have trouble keeping up with my TV control, now Big N is giving me a game controller that looks like it should work my DVD player? I'm sorry, but I'd loose it. Pass.

[CaseyJones1]

Nowhere near ergonomic enough

[ringsyde]

I'm concerned about ergonomics, too. I mean, this thing looks and sounds awesome, but how does it feel as you're playing Zelda, Mario or Day of Reckoning?

[Chris Ingersoll]

Not ergonomic?! It's a one-handed device! You wrap your fingers around it, placing one on the trigger and your thumb on the D Pad and main A button; what's more ergonomic than that? It's not that different from a basic flashlight. (This is of course not taking the attachments into consideration.)

Are you basing your judgements just of that one picture (linked in RingsYde's post)? Check it out from different angles if you haven't already.


None of the hands-on discussions mentioned it being awkward in any way, and these people play games for a living.


Additionally, you can't really apply current games to how this thing will operate and feel, as they weren't designed with it in mind. On the other hand, Zelda gameplay on the N5 (they've all but confirmed that "Revolution" will not be thefinal product name) could very well feature actual sword-swinging, bow-pulling, hookshot-firing controls; DoR3 could do away with the moronic button-mashing in favor of twisting and pulling the "remote" to simulate applying pressure to a submission hold or even swining a steel chair.

Don't worry about how you're going to play your old games with this; besides, the N5 still has ports for GameCube pads the lasttime I checked.

[CaseyJones1]

You don't hold flashlights or TV remotes for hours at a time playing games-this thing looks like it would be a total pain to actually play with just from where the buttons are pressed and stuff.

I like nintendo, but they're so going to end up like Sega if this doesn't pan out.

I liked the touchscreen idea w/config buttons better. They have touchscreens for cars that somehow you can actually feel the buttons on(no idea how that works, but it does) and that would make an awesome controller...this is just eh and developers are NOT going to like it.

I can't imagine trying to play a wrestling game with that...that's for sure.

[ringsyde]

Chris, I'm left-handed. Therefore, I'm banking on some issues with ergonomics.

I'm not sold on no complaints yet. I recall the videogaming world declaring the Gamecube controller the best ever to be made during the last wave of new systems. It's nice, but there are more than a few ergonomic issues hampering a GC controller.

Granted, the new Revolution games will work with this controller like hand in glove. Nintendo will, at very least, insure that first party titles will work with this controller like butts with seats.

[Chris Ingersoll]

First of all, many developers -- including representatives from Sega and EA -- have already said that they DO like it.

Secondly, here's another hands-on report. (Find post 636.)

Finally, how do you play a wrestling game with this? First of all, you plug in the analog extension (which has two buttons on the back). Then you probably do exactly what you've been doing for the last ten years: moving with the analog stick, using the buttons to strike and grapple, and whatever. The gyro sensors replace the c-stick commands, and the D-pad on the "remote" does what the D-pad on the current systems do.

Or, y'know, someone could actually innovate something and come up with a control scheme that uses this to its ptential. (I'm not betting on this option, sadly.)