Nintendo: Ready to Start a Revolution - A Controller to Change Gaming
(Page 3 of 4 )
Nintendo stayed quiet for quite a while about what the Revolution controller would look like. Nintendo fans guessed at what it could be, designing some Photoshops and mock-ups that looked a lot like N64 and Xbox controllers. What Nintendo showed at E3 last year was much cooler and more innovative.
The controller is shaped like a remote control, and it has fewer buttons. It has motion trackers, so aiming it around or moving it can affect things on screen. There is a directional pad, an A button up top, and a B button down in the trigger position. Four lights show which player number the controller corresponds to. That analog stick attaches to a port on the bottom, and it has two triggers. They are aiming at making a controller that is more inviting for a newbie to pick up and learn quickly. Instead of learning complex button mappings, a familiar object like a TV remote control is something anyone, even your 80-year-old grandma, can pick up and understand.
There has been a little speculation about how well the new controller will catch on. Will people try it as a novelty and then wish they could just trade it in for a regular one?
First, let’s keep in mind that Nintendo has led the way with refining game controllers. When the NES controller was introduced, it was more than a bit of a change from the joysticks and paddles of the Atari system, but it was accepted and copied by the Sega Genesis. The SNES put your index fingers to work, and soon you saw this happening on Playstation controllers. When the N64 introduced analog controls next to the buttons, Sony and Microsoft both took a clue and added this to their own new systems. The Revolution controller is a big step away from the norm, bigger than adding index finger buttons and analog sticks. Still, Nintendo has basically been the company to change the face of game controllers, and sometimes it's the big risks that really pay off. If anyone is going to really revolutionize interface devices and have it catch on, it’s them.
Second, Nintendo has said that it will offer traditional controllers too. Playing old NES games with a remote might be a little tough, and game developers—like players—might want to stick to normal control pads. Also consider the Game Cube controller ports, which may be used in more than just Cube titles. But don't forget that Nintendo is not trying to impress any seasoned console gamers.
Honestly, I think the new controller shows a lot of potential, more potential than having an extra 2 processors inside. There are plenty of fans who are excited about it, and developers have said that it looks like a lot of fun to work with. All around, it seems to be going over well, and game programmers sound ready to design for it. Imagine the added control this device would have in aiming guns in first person shooters. You could actually aim at your target instead of using directional pads. The controller is inviting for add-ons too. The ideas have inspired some concept art.
Free-motion steering wheel adapter concept
Pump gun accesssory concept from IGN
Plug-in gamepad concept
Imagine carrying that shotgun around in Metroid Prime and using an analog stick to walk around. It would add a level of playability and intuitive control that Halo just doesn’t have on the Xbox. Besides plugging into a gun and a steering wheel, ideas have also flown around that it could work as a wicked sword that you can swing around, or you can use it as a bat to club police in GTA. The controller will help to make this system great, since it offers gameplay you can't find on other consoles or the PC.
Next: A Market Apart from Microsft and Sony >>
More Opinions Articles
More By Developer Shed
/ 30 
