gonna be a revolution
Sorry. That was terrible. But it's hard to avoid these awful puns when talking about the Nintendo Revolution — the console's name makes it bad-prose compatible out of the box.
Anyway, the controller has been announced, and it's weird. But also intriguing. Don't be put off by the pictures — actually read the text. It sounds kinda cool. There's also a video here, which my enfeebled computer refuses to play. But I'm confident that it's awesome.
Nintendo seems to be aiming for the nongamer audience with this move. I think it's a good strategy — this actually does look like something I could get my mom to play. But I'm pretty excited about the implications for first person shooters, as well. As this guy points out, Nintendo is responsible for pretty much every controller innovation since the joystick. It's hard to imagine that they'd make a serious misstep in this area.
I'm still on board for the Xbox 360, first and foremost. Nintendo's software lineup is simply too weakened for any serious geek to consider it as a console of first resort. But the Revolution is supposed to be pretty cheap. If I somehow stumble across an extra $150, I could now easily see myself blowing it on one of these things.
Comments
By the end of the article I actually feel confinced that the "nunchucks" controller setup would work pretty well with Metroid.
Yeah. And the wire will make it ideal for the left-handed.
Also, for those who don't like change, there's apparently a flip-top panel that lets you plug in gamecube controllers, should one be so inclined. Not sure how that'd work with games that require the new controller's full six degrees of freedom, but presumably it'd be fine for a lot of games.
Hmm. So are game companies going to make the effort to rejigger the games written with Xbox and PS in mind to be compatible with Nintendo's whack-o controller? Or does this ensure that Nintendo is moving toward proprietary games?
I don't think anybody knows, although that's definitely a concern. The fact that gamecube controllers can be used implies that games will be designed to optionall offer more conventional control schemes.
Also, this indicates that at least some developers are on board (although clearly one shouldn't put too much faith into quotes ginned up for a press release).
Developers seem somewhat excited, and that includes the big name quote people and guys in the trenches. 3rd party games sold poorly on the Gamecube...I think one of the Madden's only sold 50K?
I'd hope Nintendo were trying to draw in new, distinct IP from developers but are publishers willing to fund these ideas on a weaker, oddball console versus perhaps a cheaper port between X360 and PS3? No clue. Though quotes from two of the largest publishers, ubisoft and EA Canada, give some hope.
Yeah, I doubt we'll see the biggest sports franchises take advantage of this... but I could see a breakout sports hit. One comment I read suggested a basketball game where you hold a button to indicate that you want to hold onto the ball. You could go up for a shot and actually simulate the proper point of release AND flick of the wrist to give the ball backspin. It'd be pretty cool. I can imagine a similar mechanic with throwing a spiral in a football game.
Other awesome proposed uses: swordfighting (or drawing back a bowstring) in zelda; using two controllers in a punchout sequel; simulating a joystick for flight sims; or adding a glowstick to DDR. Okay, that last one might be a bridge too far for me. Still, there's a huge amount of potential here.
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