[MW Forums]

Nintendo has radically changed the controller design for its upcoming Revolution console. more

[macnuke]

so years of gaming habits all have to be re-learned...
I can just see all the black eyes from sitting on the couch too close to your opponent /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
interesting concept tho

[leary]

I agree it's interesting, although I have to wonder if this won't lead to some form of RSI. If the controller can detect the location at which the device is pointing, wouldn't you end up playing with your arm in the air all the time? just wondering...

[uchuugaka]

what and thumb sticks and buttons don't do RSI?
nintendo has always been inovative with controllers.
it's core to their philosophy.
if anything this controller will do more for hand-eye coordination than any controller before.
it builds on some arcade machines (don't see those in the US anymore) here in japan that have motion detection systems, one that is interesting has the player hold a wired sword handle and swing it to fight samurai. another is a standard gun game, but you have to move your body to dodge eneymy shots.
I think it is interesting, but it will have to be very a very good system to be so radical and attract consumers.

[chasesequence]

"I think it is interesting, but it will have to be very a very good system to be so radical and attract consumers."
It'll have to be a GREAT system to get US gamers to actually sit up and move their asses around a little.
For my money, the best controller EVER was still the N64 controller. It was the first one that made me actually WANT a home game system. I can't stand control pads -- give me a joystick any day.

[Dubbalubagis]

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For my money, the best controller EVER was still the N64 controller.

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Hi,
I would have to agree with you there. That controller was set up flawlessly and was extremely comfortable.
I worry about Nintendo and their ideas of innovation. They aren't the big guns in town anymore and I don't know how much they will be able to fork out to "innovate" the industry. Concepts like new controllers take time to get users to accept them. Nintendo must have deep pockets to get away with this and they must stick to their guns. Nintendo is going to have to create games that make use of the controller very well otherwise it will look like another gimmick like the DS has so far. Only a few games have made real use of the dual screen.
I also think this new controller is sort of ugly actually. Looks very old school like an NES square gamepad. Either way I will purchase a revolution because I am one of the biggest Nintendo fanboys and I hope all goes well in Nintendoland!
Dubbalubagis
Apple iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz, 768MB, 30GB, Combo Drive, and an iPod shuffle 512MB
Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

[Reenee]

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They aren't the big guns in town anymore and I don't know how much they will be able to fork out to "innovate" the industry.

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And they don't care. Hey, they said it themselves. Or something around those lines.
They're in the business to try something new. And look at them: they're STILL around, aren't they?
AND, don't forget: the Revolution is the cheapest of the three next-gens, making this console accessible and competitive.
This peripheral makes you physical, and not just in a Dance Dance Revolution sort of way. This peripheral changes the way you play video games entirely.
Also worthy of note is the few A and B buttons (not the B trigger). Turn the controller 90 degrees and, "Hello there, classic games."

[Dubbalubagis]

Hi,
Well after doing a few short minutes of research and watching some video clips of this baby at it's best I am feeling much better about the idea. What a great concept for first person shooters, it could be just like using a mouse as FPS's were intended on computers. Console controllers have been just wretched for me with any FPS.
Anyway at least I feel a little better...
Dubbalubagis
Apple iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz, 768MB, 30GB, Combo Drive, and an iPod shuffle 512MB
Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

[Peter Cohen]

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AND, don't forget: the Revolution is the cheapest of the three next-gens, making this console accessible and competitive.

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No one knows that for sure. Nintendo hasn't volunteered a price for the Revolution, and Sony hasn't said how much the PS3 will cost. There's been plenty of speculation, but no hard facts.

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Also worthy of note is the few A and B buttons (not the B trigger). Turn the controller 90 degrees and, "Hello there, classic games."

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Classic NES games, anyway -- and to that end I agree. Nintendo has said since introducing the Revolution that emulation of older Nintendo game systems is going to be key to its strategy. But let's face it, as good as that controller might be for NES games, which only used a D-pad and two buttons, it'll probably be less ideal for SNES games, since the SNES added more buttons and top-edge paddles. If you get the analog attachment, it'll work okay for N64 games, in all likelihood.

[Peter Cohen]

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... the best controller EVER was still the N64 controller.

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And thanks to the Adaptoid, you can hook up your N64 controller to your Mac and use it as an HID-compliant gamepad. I don't know if you can still buy one anywhere but their Web site is still online.

I have one and it worked great the last time I hooked it up a couple of months ago (their Web site needs updating, since it still talks about InputSprocket technology from Mac OS 9).

At $30, it's really cheaper just to buy a new controller. I'm quite fond of my Mad Catz PC Con. It's a clone of the Xbox Controller S, which I find very comfortable to use.

[Reenee]

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No one knows that for sure. Nintendo hasn't volunteered a price for the Revolution, and Sony hasn't said how much the PS3 will cost. There's been plenty of speculation, but no hard facts.

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Very true, yes. But the speculation was that since Nintendo doesn't put emphasis on elaborate things like the Cell processor, or just a better setup from its predecessor with the Xbox 360, the console would be cheaper. The Revolution is only 3 times more powerful than the Gamecube.
Also, don't forget the fact they aren't supporting high-def. This cuts cost and there's less to put into the console. Maybe you all don't know it, but the Gamecube subtly removed the component video port...mid-2004 I believe. Nintendo has been using the same type of video cables since the NES.

[Peter Cohen]

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Console controllers have been just wretched for me with any FPS.

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It's funny, because this dovetails with a conversation I had with a friend this morning about the new Revolution controller.
For the most part, I agree with you, Heck, when Quake 3 Arena came out for the Dreamcast, I ended up getting a keyboard and mouse for it to play. But there's a big exception to this in my book: The two Metroid games for GameCube from Nintendo. Why? Because both of them were designed from the ground up for the GameCube, using a GameCube controller.
Many, many FPS's have been ported to multiple systems and use control schemes that are generic enough that they work, albeit poorly, regardless of which controller you use. One thing I really appreciate about the Metroid games is that they know what hardware they're going to work with so don't require any thought beyond that. The end result is an FPS that's eminently playable on the GameCube.
And this is what makes Nintendo different from Sony and Microsoft: They're their own biggest software developer. Frankly, I don't buy too many "ported" games for the GameCube -- my library contains mostly GameCube originals. Because for my money, those are the games that have the most innovation and the best gameplay.
Not coincidentally, though our GameCube library is much smaller than our PS2 or Mac game library, the GameCube stuff gets played the most -- not just by me, but my kids too.
As far as the new Revolution controller is concerned, I'm optimistic, though I'll reserve final judgment until I actually have my hands on one. I can say this, though: I'm looking forward to swordfighting games, the rebirth of shooting games like Time Crisis and House of the Dead, and I'm willing to bet any amount of money that Sega is working on a new bass fishing game as we speak.

[Dubbalubagis]

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designed from the ground up for the GameCube, using a GameCube controller.

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Hi,
Fantastic point Peter. Nintendo is a lot like Apple as in they make their own hardware and software so everything is able to mesh well. We do end up with sort of an Apple software syndrome type of problem where there is a limited amount of software but it is quality software. I would rather own 5 great games than 20 mediocre games.

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I'm willing to bet any amount of money that Sega is working on a new bass fishing game as we speak.

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I sure hope so!
Dubbalubagis
Apple iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz, 768MB, 30GB, Combo Drive, and an iPod shuffle 512MB
Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

[sigma8]

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For my money, the best controller EVER was still the N64 controller. It was the first one that made me actually WANT a home game system. I can't stand control pads -- give me a joystick any day.

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Wow I'm surprised people think that. I thought the N64 was the worst controller ever. I think it's the only controller where there were two distinct ways to grip it, and either way you gripped it, you didn't have access to like 10% of the buttons.
And if you preferred d-pads, but liked the trigger, you were SOL. I vastly preferred the sony dual shock controllers. Comfortable, and all controls were accessible without a radical grip rearrangement.