And it's proper bonkers...




Linky linky

I do love Nintendo: they just don't give a s***.

My first thought is that the lack of stability caused by the one-handed design is going to make it a real pain in the arse to do anything that requires fine directional control.

The spacial awareness of the controller could lead to some very interesting and innovative control methods, I just have no idea whether anyone is going to be able to use them in time to allow Nintendo to make a second generation of the idea...

It looks, on first impressions, like we're going to get another Nintendo home-console with some very interesting first-party software and almost no AAA titles from anyone else.

Nintendo are clearly aiming at the sociable party-based market. It's a huge potential area, but I'm not certain that the new buyers are going to get into it. They might convince parents to play along with children, but I can't see grannies picking up a console for their house. Their basic idea, of making the controller look more approachable, is very sound though, so as always it's going to be down to whether anyone can work out good ways to use it given the disadvantages for classic control schemes that a single-handed device will have. As usual, Nintendo are moving gaming into new territory, so it's hard to predict what might be done with it. I find it hard to believe that you're going to get 3D platform games working easily with the interface, but I'd be happy to eat my words.

They are definitely barking mad, but whether its up the wrong tree is another question.

Did you not read the article I linked?



So you have the option of twin hand control (which is good, as I think you'll need it for certain games).

From a macro point of view, I think it's genius. I think that the current videogame buyers will poo-poo the idea, but it's really got the appeal for newbies to gaming, as well as those 30-something disillusioned ex-gamers who don't have the time, money or motivation to invest themselves in a modern console game, which, let's face it, is likely to be impenetrably complex to the uninitiated.

I'm not convinced that it'll be a runaway success, but once again (as with DS), I think Ninty are being clever and shifting their aim such that they're not in direct competition with anyone else. Considering how much posturing and ludicrous claims are already coming from the Sony and MS camps, I can't say I blame them.

As to whether I'll get a Revolution - as always, that depends on the software. Actually, I lie: I think that by marrying Kat, I doomed myself to a lifetime of purchasing Nintendo hardware. Oh well

We have one in our uni labs atm. I went to see it this morning, and its mad. It looks like its going to be a real pain in the thumb, to be honest, and it wasn't as comfortable to be holding one arm up and one arm down at the same time; they could have done this a little better IMHO, but it does look damn cool.

I found the GC controller hard work too, but that was due to the big squashy shoulder buttons not being suitable for action games (double-clicking with them got seriously tiring when you needed to roll away from extended bursts of fire). The move to thumb-only control will be interesting and will limit the interfaces and press-combinations available to designers.

I got the impression from the 'nunchuk-style' comment that the second hand controller would be attached by a flexible lead, so not giving additional stability to the first one.

Like the EyeToy, this controller might suffer from the problems of gamer's physical endurence. I love a quick bash on the EyeToy now and then, but I couldn't play on it for hours. I wonder how long I could play a game where I had to use the controller location as a torch to navigate.

As seems to be my general response the everything from Nintendo recently, it sounds cool and I'm glad they're experimenting with new interfaces but will it really work to widen gaming, will people buy (into) it, or will it just become a novelty platform?

There aren't many games that use the DS touchpad to any great profit, and those that do sometimes reveal the limitations of the interface quite quickly.

I think some of my caution may come from the fact that I'm a 'serious' gamer who likes to spend a few hours with a few beers and a good game. It looks like Nintendo are squarely targetting a maintstream audience, and their design ideas are great, I'm just not sure about their central assumption: Nintendo assumes that people want to play computer games but are scared of the interface, and I'm just not certain that many people are really all that interested.

EDIT: Better pictures:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/16/ni...ion_controller/

I was right about the cable attachment.

I'm going to nintendo.com to see if this is true.

Well, erm... check back with us when you've found out, okay?

I'd definitely have to try it out before I considered buying a Revolution. It does look like a bit of a gamble. Then again, that's what people (me especially) said about the DS, and apparently that's great fun, so who knows?

Just thought I'd link this. It gave me a good laugh over it all.

yay! looks like star wars games will be fun to play. *plays with Nintendo lightsaber*

I'll buy it. I watched the keynote speech where they introduced the controller. It looked awesome. I don't think it will catch on as well as if Nintendo still had a larger base like Sony. Too many people are going to down it because lolnintendosucksHalohalohalo!

I'm intrigued, but I need to experience it. Mata, I don't think that it'll be terribly rigiorous unless the game designer intends it such. A flick of the wrist will probably be sufficient for many things like pointing a flashlight or something. Zelda could be alright with this, and I definitely agree that it could be cool to use it on the next Metroid Prime, but here's my own personal idea:

This could revolutionize (buh - dum - pshh!) dual wielding FPS. Could you imagine playing an admittably unfeasable copy of Devil May Cry? Two pistols controlled by the each controller? The controller being used as the Alastor sword? Hawt.

Anyway, I'm gushing a little too much and if I keep it up, I might lose my air of cynicism.

Still, though, I'm intrigued, but I think I'll be picking up the PS3 first.

Damn, this beats Sony's "boomerang" controller hands-down at horrible design.

Yeah I don’t know how practical this thing is going to be... I thought it was a DVD remote for it when I saw it first. Funky design but pointless gaming controls. What are you supposed to do with it? I can’t see myself playing a fast moving RPG with one hand.

Well if you think about traditional controllers. The left hand side is for using directional controls, but with this design you no longer need them, all control is done via the moment of your hand. Which leaves the right hand to press the buttons.

but i would rather use the old Nintendo feel and control for something classic like Mario or Zelda... but hey, i havn't tried it. Could be good!

You can turn the thing sideways and it is the same layout as an old NES controller. You can get the equivalent on an NES advantage with the nunchuk attachment as mentioned before. It's not that hard.

Ooo, maybe you could have a fighting game where you actually had to swing it around like nunchuks

I remain sceptical but very intrigued.

I am very impressed so far, still waiting to see what games come out, but I think I know where my money is going next gen. Just think how cool a warioware game would be for the revolution, and I might finaly be able to play a decent fps on a console, no more bloody dule analogue sticks.

With the expansion port it can play normal games, nintendo are going to make a "classic style expansion controler" to play snes, n64, gamecube and multi platform games.
Heres a mock up by ign

I'm guessing that they're going to call that 'chimera'?