Is the Revolution Revolving?

[bapenguin]

Well...this really makes you think. CGM claims they know (http://www.cgonline.com/content/view/1067/) what the Revolution controller is. How they came about it, they will not say. Here's the scoop:It's revolutionary in the same two senses that controller rumble is/was revolutionary: first, it's kind of actually not a huge deal, but controllers will eventually all have it because it is pretty neat; and second, it involves revolving. Simply, the Revolution controller will provide resistance to being tilted. No doubt this is done by some application of a tilt sensor such as the one in WarioWare: Twisted combined with rumble technology.

Thoughts?
I think it sounds cool...but it's not going to "change the way we play games"

[Madhatter45]

Eh...for some reason it sounds like this will make the controllers more pricey and games a little more difficult to play. I really get into my games so I move alot while I play. If the games use the "tilt" sensor I am effing screwed.

[Heretic Machine]

Tilt Sensors = Gimmick. A bad one at that... like worse than a touch screen. I doubt that's the real deal though, I think CGM is just blowing smoke up our ass.

[dr_qwandry]

if it's true.
but it seems like something that would be possible.

it seems that nintendo is ahead of it's time in alot of departments.
The thumb Stick
Rumble Pads.
etc.

saying it's a revolution seems a little assinine, but I guess we'll see what becomes of it.

[splatstick]

Eh, I wasn't really expecting too much from the Revolution. I mean, no matter what it should be at least as decent as a gamecube, but with better graphics... I'm sold already.

[EvilBob46]

I don't get it. How is this different from a tilting sensor in some of the GBA catridges?

[Dirty Harry]

Let me just say this, i think pads that have tilt sensors suck, ive never seen a pad that implemented this well or even extremely well EVER. I think this is such a bad idea, because this creates so many diffrent problems. The biggest problem with tilt sensors is that with most controllers you have to be at a certain angle for things to work right. So if you could easily and i mean even a moron could do it, as i was saying calibrate the controller to be at the angle you want it to function then yeah this would actually work very nicely in some ways.

[FunkyPoopMonkey]

I don't get it. How is this different from a tilting sensor in some of the GBA catridges?
Because this one....RESISTS! OOOHHH AAAHHH!

[Kelegacy]

Why are they keeping this thing such a secret. Show us and let us preorder the stinking piece of hardware already!

[bskeillor]

Based on this "info" I am envisioning a controller split in half where the left side has the stick and the right side rotates back and forth. Imagine a racing game where you are rotating the right hand forward to go faster and the further you push it the more resistance you encounter. You could also use it to simulate running faster, boost move in say a hockey game, maybe fishing, or how about a new Pilotwings to pull/rotate back to climb. You could still have the buttons on the right hand side as well.

[Steve_Erhardt]

It *Resists*? So, what, we've got a gyroscope in there now? More moving parts = bad.

[Deadend]

so by resisting... they mean shaking?

I am not quite sure how tilting a controler can resist.

bskeillor, I know what you mean... Namco made that back in the 1990s, and a controller with a steering wheel as well.

I feel my ass asmoking from CGM way...

[FunkyPoopMonkey]

Just FYI, my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro "resists". For example, in a flight sim, when I'm hauling ass, it takes into account the wind resistance, and when I try to pull up or push down or what have you, the stick really needs some forcin'. And this was made in 1998. Nintendo, there had better be more to it then this.

http://www.internity.fr/images/p_pc_feedbackpro_zoom.gif
http://www.microsoft.com/japan/hardware/sw/images/body_fo_fe_pro_02.jpg

[Setzer_83]

guys read the entire article from CGM, i am not saying the controller they showed is the controller, but i still think that is what the controller is. the resistance is like in a motorcycle as they explain it. the wheels revolving keeps the bike standing. with something similar to a rumblepack spinning fast enough set at the right weight displacement (i think thats the right term) will hold the controller at the angle that it should be held. when not held level. the weight gets displaced and the controller will try to correct it. the real revolution of the controller is how they will power it. with a constant revolving wheel in it, its going to drain the batteries like crazy.

sorry this might not make alot of since to anyone else, but it works for me.

[GrinR]

"feature" disabled: ON

[amusedtoe]

Well it would have to be really sensitive, finely tuned, and super high end but a wireless controller that could act as a free standing steering wheel could be absolutely killer. Granted it would be hard to pull off at a high quality level, but it would give every Revolution owner a wheel essentially and probably attract a couple great racing games.

guys read the entire article from CGM, i am not saying the controller they showed is the controller, but i still think that is what the controller is. the resistance is like in a motorcycle as they explain it. the wheels revolving keeps the bike standing. with something similar to a rumblepack spinning fast enough set at the right weight displacement (i think thats the right term) will hold the controller at the angle that it should be held. when not held level. the weight gets displaced and the controller will try to correct it. the real revolution of the controller is how they will power it. with a constant revolving wheel in it, its going to drain the batteries like crazy.

And something that does that would be called a gyroscope last time I checked. :)

[Mr.Green]

For fucking out loud, maybe we could actually wait for someone to try the damn thing before we call it crap? Yeah I realize that's asking much... An official announcement perhaps?

[Mason]

I see most of us aren't familiar with the concept of angular momentum. Don't they teach physics in HS anymore?

If they can implement this properly, it'd be fairly impressive. No, it won't be sufficient on its own to dominate this generation, but with the right games it certainly will make the next-gen rumblepack controllers look like weak sauce.

[Kefkataran]

I wouldn't be surprised if this is at least a *part* of the new controller. That said: I'll believe it when it's announced officially.

[Mr_Snuffle]

Tilt Sensors = Gimmick. A bad one at that... like worse than a touch screen. I doubt that's the real deal though, I think CGM is just blowing smoke up our ass.

You're seriously not one of these people that still go on about the touch screen being a just a gimmick, right?

[Dafizman]

I see most of us aren't familiar with the concept of angular momentum. Don't they teach physics in HS anymore?

I agree with you whole heartedly on this one. Everyone:
L=Iw where I=moment of inertia, w=angular velocity, L=angular momentum
Now you needen't act suprised at "mysterious spinning" technology.

If they can implement this properly, it'd be fairly impressive. No, it won't be sufficient on its own to dominate this generation, but with the right games it certainly will make the next-gen rumblepack controllers look like weak sauce.
IMHO it seems nintendo comes out with neat tricks, but dosen't usually nail how to use them right away. Like how the DS is really only starting to get it's good games (me hopes). But man, think about gyroscope controllers done right. Like the way they control the computers in Minority Report.

[trip1eX]

This would be sweet. RAcing games would be fun. How about a platform game where every quick tilt upward makes you jump?

Tilting up/down/left/right could represent 4 different buttons.

OR you could tilt to control a cursor.

I think this tech will in there because Nintendo has released a couple of gyro games for the gameboy lately. They have the tech. They've worked with it enough. It was cheap enough to put into a gameboy cartridge. It's almost a no-brainer that it's in there.

But I also think there's some other tech in the controller. A trackball or touchpad of somekind perhaps.

I like this idea of more physical movement tho to control games. The bongos in Jungle Beat are a blast. It's good to get a mini-workout while playing games. Ok tilting your controller might not be much exercise but ...

maybe some moves would have you shaking your controller frantically.

I don't know.

The sad thing is MS and Sony will just copy NIntendo asap if they do something extraordinary.

[Valchael]

Sure it would be neat if they got it to work, but this still wouldn't address the statement whoever made about putting all the old controlers in a row and figuring out how to get one to work for all them. I think most of you will know what I'm talking about so I don't feel like looking for it. Sorry.

[Mac]

Tilt Sensors = Gimmick. A bad one at that... like worse than a touch screen. I doubt that's the real deal though, I think CGM is just blowing smoke up our ass.

How can you be so sure? Maybe it sounds like one, but with the right execution, who knows? Never know until you try.

[Zeal]

Total gimmick.

[if76]

This site gives a superficial explanation on how this will work: http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/bicycle_wheel_gyro.html
At the very least it proves that it's possible. This example uses a bicycle wheel on a stick. Clearly nothing nearly as big as a bicycle wheel could fit inside a gamepad. Will the wheel then be jutting out from the middle of the controller perhaps?

[if76]

If this is true (which it very well might be) I'm a little dissapointed. I was hoping for something that would give the user more precision (like a mouse) rather than just something that's neat. I suppose if the gamepad still has two joysticks we could now play 3 axis games. Bring on Descent 4!

[Setzer_83]

this makes me think of joysticks and rumblepads. i think nintendo was the first to use them in consoles. and they were thought of as a gimmick. but look, sony had duped it within a year with the dualshock, and now we cant think of gaming with out joysticks.

i also think anyone who sees the ds as a gimmick should pick one up and play it. Meteos is great fun, along with kirby, yoshi, nintendogs(kinda girly but still alot of fun), seriously, play a ds they are half the price of a psp. it has better games, and unlike the psp all the games arent bad ps2 ports.

[Dafizman]

Clearly nothing nearly as big as a bicycle wheel could fit inside a gamepad. Will the wheel then be jutting out from the middle of the controller perhaps?
L=Iw
I for a wheel is= 1/2 M R^2
if the radius is tiny, and the mass, how can they make the total angular momentum (the important thing) bigger.
Increase angular velocity (w).
It can be tiny because if it spins fast enough, it'll feel really "heavy" when you try to move it off axis. And for comparison your cd player "spins fast enough" for what I'm talking about. It's not a new technology, by any means, it's just not been applied to video games before.

I was hoping for something that would give the user more precision (like a mouse) rather than just something that's neat.
Actually, gyroscopes are some of the most precise devices man can make. They use them in jets and missles to keep track of EXACTLY what angle the thing is currently going. Things like that matter a lot with missles.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

I don't know what the gimmick is and I'm not putting too much stock in this idea. Whatevr it is though, I hope it brings Nintendo back to the forefront of gamers minds when they think of consoles. It saddens me, but I keep thinking of Nintendo as this old man who refuses to get with the times. I want them to stay innovative and keep open their doors for business. The videogame world is so much better with them in it.

[Vandenh]

Rumble might have been cool in the 90s, but in current gen it has not really been used. I hope they drop rumble features... a waste of money and time IMHO. So I wouldn't agree with somebody saying it changed the way we played games.

I am hoping the Rev controller will be something like the Mac Mouse.... no visible buttons, but fully touch aware. That could open some interesting new control tricks.

[Kefkataran]

It saddens me, but I keep thinking of Nintendo as this old man who refuses to get with the times. I want them to stay innovative and keep open their doors for business.

Well, I'd say they are doing a good job of staying reasonably innovative while still mantaining franchises that are making them money. And I don't think they're in much risk of going backrupt. So I think they're doing exactly what you want. Are they right at the front of gamer's minds? No. I'm not sure they ever will be at this point. But it's not such a bad deal as long as we recognize and take advantage of the good gaming they're still providing.

[Zeal]

Nintendo's contribution to the videogame industry in the past few years has been almost nonexistent. It's no coincidence that Nintendo wasn't mentioned when addressing development for next-generation consoles at Quakecon. Nintendo just isn't taken seriously any longer, and this controller idea shows why.

They are now considered cliche.

[Kefkataran]

Nintendo's contribution to the videogame industry in the past few years has been almost nonexistent. It's no coincidence that Nintendo wasn't mentioned when addressing development for next-generation consoles at Quakecon. Nintendo just isn't taken seriously any longer, and this controller idea shows why.

They are now considered cliche.

Cliche? In what ways could you consider them cliche?

[nonchalance]

Nintendo's contribution to the videogame industry in the past few years has been almost nonexistent.

I completely agree.
The analog stick and wireless controller are both entirely pointless creations. No-one wants those things.
Neither is anyone interested in some dog-training simulator, or a touchscreen and voice recognition on a handheld.

[Zeal]

If Mario 45 and Zelda: Again aren't considered cliche, I don't know what is, but a more accurate dscription would be niche.

[Nastyman]

I was one of the people that ripped on Nintendos touch screen when i first came out and now well now I have Nintendogs and AW: DS reserved and ready for me and can't wait. So as long as Nintendo does make it really accurate and simple to use I think it could bring on some really complex gameplay I mean I cant currantly think of anything past flight simulating games or a really awesome control for a Burnout impact time but I've been proved wrong befor and am damn willing to give it a shot.

[CapnBob]

I am shocked at how little imagination people have when they cannot immediately envision what this could be used for. In fact, if this is accurate, I know exactly what this will be used for because I recall that Nintendo has been attempting to build a controller to do this since the early N64 days. They want to make a controller that you can swordfight with and feel the impact when you hit something in the game. The obvious application is Zelda. The other side to this is if they calibrate it properly to sense horizontal and vertical motion then they will have a wireless 3D mouse with a joystick on it, which I'd guess might be useful in a first-person shooter. That said, I'm going to take this with a huge grain of salt until it's officially unveiled.

[IndependentGMR]

If Mario 45 and Zelda: Again aren't considered cliche, I don't know what is, but a more accurate dscription would be niche.

I believe that the term cliche refers to an expression or an idea. It's not like their reusing the same ideas over and over again. Their killing two birds with one stone. When they make a new Zelda, their not only satisfying the people that enjoy the series, but also netting themselves a hefty profit. Last time I checked, most video game companies strive to accomplish the same things. Ubisoft is set to release a third Prince of Persia game in only three years. Three Grand Theft Auto games have come out in the past four years. And which Final Fantasy are we on, 12? By your terms, the whole industry is cliche, not just Nintendo.

[Kefkataran]

If Mario 45 and Zelda: Again aren't considered cliche, I don't know what is, but a more accurate dscription would be niche.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Excuse me, I'm catching me breath. Okay.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Whew! Okay! Alright then!

So lemme get this straight? Capitalizing on franchises that sell well = cliche? And this is especially true when those franchises continue producing good, highly-rated and well-loved games 90% of the time?

But those franchises, despite being highly-rated, well-loved, and big sellers are also niche?

And then you're ignoring all the newer stuff Nintendo is creating like Nintendogs and Animal Crossing and Pikmin and Advance Wars and...

Ahem. But yeah. Wow. Okay. Okay.

Wow! So. Okay. I'm going to bed officially after that one. Yes.

[Nessus]

"If Mario 45 and Zelda: Again aren't considered cliche, I don't know what is, but a more accurate dscription would be niche."


Goddamn Nintendo for relying on franchises. Not like Grand Theft Auto: Whatever They Call The Next Expansion Pack For GTA3, Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5, Final Fantasy Fucking XII, Gran Turismo 5, every single Madden game in existance, Halo 3, Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, etc.

[Vilderen]

I am shocked at how little imagination people have when they cannot immediately envision what this could be used for. In fact, if this is accurate, I know exactly what this will be used for because I recall that Nintendo has been attempting to build a controller to do this since the early N64 days. They want to make a controller that you can swordfight with and feel the impact when you hit something in the game. The obvious application is Zelda. The other side to this is if they calibrate it properly to sense horizontal and vertical motion then they will have a wireless 3D mouse with a joystick on it, which I'd guess might be useful in a first-person shooter. That said, I'm going to take this with a huge grain of salt until it's officially unveiled.

Reading through the entire topic, this idea never occured to me, but I agree that i sounds incredibly cool. Imaging playing Oblivion first-person view and being able to control your sword real-time in every direction you want, like the controller is the sword itself with an invisible blade attached to the controller. In games, in which it is possible to mount, it could be awesome if they implented a feature to registrate how much you pull in the bridles. Wouldn't it also be awesome if they implented some kind of temperature unit, that could emit heat or cold, dependig on your environment for example if your walking in a desert, the controller would become hot and if you were swimming it would become cold. Oh my, my hands are getting all sweaty :).

[AlmostSente]

I'm a bit skeptical. Not that it could not be done but if they still can't make cpu fans that don't vibrate or make any sound, how will they manufacture this? Most cpu fans, even expensive ones vibrate a little bit and starts to give away sound after a few hundred hours worth of usage.

Just my 2 cents...

[Zeal]

Let me clarify what I said. I should have seperated my response into two sentences, but I didn't.

I meant that Nintendo continues to rely on the same franchises over and over and that its newer, more 'innovative' titles are obscure and developed to cater to niche audiences. They are not considered mainstream, blockbuster hits.

An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings. It's all a bunch of cutesy, gimmicky, goo-goo gah-gah bullcrap. It's games that the mainstream audience won't take a second glance at. It's kiddy crap, and the game industry isn't preschool.

It cannot be denied that without milking the same franchises over and over, Nintendo wouldn't be here today. Nintendo prides themselves as being the sole source of innovation in the industry. This is untrue.

Oh, and on a personal note, grown men who sit around and play Kirby on their DS aren't worth taking seriously in the first place. Then again, I know a bunch of Nintendo fans who would actually try to argue that, so whatever.

Many would consider such views extremist or anti-Nintendo, but I just look at them as common sense.

[Babbster]

And I thought I was engaging in trollish behavior characterizing a few people as "whiners" today. Thanks for lowering the bar, Zeal!

[Meshyf]

I am shocked at how little imagination people have when they cannot immediately envision what this could be used for. In fact, if this is accurate, I know exactly what this will be used for because I recall that Nintendo has been attempting to build a controller to do this since the early N64 days. They want to make a controller that you can swordfight with and feel the impact when you hit something in the game. The obvious application is Zelda. The other side to this is if they calibrate it properly to sense horizontal and vertical motion then they will have a wireless 3D mouse with a joystick on it, which I'd guess might be useful in a first-person shooter. That said, I'm going to take this with a huge grain of salt until it's officially unveiled.
@_@ Holy shit that sounds sweet.
How many games can they make that would use things like that though? Or how fast would the wow-factor wear off? As a matter of fact how long is the damn thing going to last in my house? Seriously I've had the same N64 controllers forever thats quality, with all these extra things how long could this controller possibly last?

[Zeal]

And I thought I was engaging in trollish behavior characterizing a few people as "whiners" today. Thanks for lowering the bar, Zeal!

I never troll, moron. I simply have a different view of the industry than many. I respect the opinions of others and encourage alternative viewpoints, even when I don't agree with them.

The popular opinion is that Nintendo is the most innovative game developer today. I am providing the minority perspective.

It would do you well to learn the posting history of users before pre-judging them so quickly.

[LilEvilFish]

I've got a great idea for a revolutionary controller! It uses a digital d-pad and has six buttons on the right, maybe a start button. Not one button is analogue and it's nice and flat thanks to doing away with stupid vibration motors... oh.. it's a mega drive (genesis to our cousins) pad.

[LilEvilFish]

Based on this "info" I am envisioning a controller split in half where the left side has the stick and the right side rotates back and forth. Imagine a racing game where you are rotating the right hand forward to go faster and the further you push it the more resistance you encounter. You could also use it to simulate running faster, boost move in say a hockey game, maybe fishing, or how about a new Pilotwings to pull/rotate back to climb. You could still have the buttons on the right hand side as well.

Sorry just had to quote ya, what you're describing sounds like that Namco joypad that came out with ridge racer back on the PS1, twisted in the middle but acted like a steering wheel. A huge none of my friends bought one.

[Babbster]

I never troll, moron.
An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings. It's all a bunch of cutesy, gimmicky, goo-goo gah-gah bullcrap. It's games that the mainstream audience won't take a second glance at. It's kiddy crap, and the game industry isn't preschool.

Seriously, if you don't think the above quote is a troll, you're a victim of self-delusion in addition to poor taste.

While I can respect everyone's right to have their opinion. When the opinion is a huge over-generalization ("entire line of DS offerings") or is based on falsehood (I don't understand how Pikmin is "gimmicky" or "goo-goo gah-gah"), then the opinion is not worthy of respect. Opinions can be based on a reasonable difference of taste or reasoning, but they can also have no basis at all - the above-quoted paragraph is far more the latter than the former.

PS- Posting history or not, your post was a troll. I'm capable of making that judgement because I toss out a troll every once in a while, along with some flamebait - hopefully scattered amongst more reasonable offerings. The difference, apparently, is that I'm willing to own up...not everyone can, but it would be nice.

[bapenguin]

I completely agree.
The analog stick and wireless controller are both entirely pointless creations. No-one wants those things.

We've had this discussion many times. Not Nintendo.

The more I think about this...the sweeter it sounds. It's like taking forcefeedback to the next level by implementing the feedback as control. Pretty neat. Lets hope it pans out.

[jacktion]

If this is it it will be overhyped but it could be cool. If it had a gyroscope with amazing tilt sensors it could replace the analog stick. You could just hold the pad in front of you and turn it in the air and it could be a steering wheel. Plus the spinning gyroscope inside of the controller could open some interesting properties. Has anyone ever held the axle of a bike tire while it was spinning and tried to twist it in the air? It resists and moves of its own accord. If they utilized this technology you could have force feedback on your "steering wheel" that you are holding in the air. That would be crazy. Or if you were in an fps and you didn't know which way to go, you could feel the controller push against your hands to the right so you know to turn that way. It has some potential cool applications but it is not really a revolution.

The cool thing is if you put a gyroscope with motion sensors in the controller it opens up more factors of control than an analog stick. It would essentially be two analog sticks in one. One, because the angle you tilt the controller at in space would be the same input as an analog stick, and two, because as you move the controller through space it could register as a secondary level of input. So you could move the controller around in front of you in a plane to aim your cursor in an fps, and also twist the controller around its own axis to turn your whole character's body. You could play with one hand, potentially. There is a lot that could change about our controls in the next few years.

[MosBen]

I'm skeptical. Will this be an addition to controllers like the analog stick, that is, hugely useful in practically all games, or will it be like rumble technology, sometimes useful/imersive, but mostly a gimmick? I certainly don't know at this point, but I do seriously doubt it could be an addition to console gaming as huge as the analog stick was.

[HumpYourWay]

If that is the Nintento "Revolution" it is pretty pathetic... but enough for the nintendo virgin boys to brighten their sad lifes...

Originally Posted by Zeal
An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings. It's all a bunch of cutesy, gimmicky, goo-goo gah-gah bullcrap. It's games that the mainstream audience won't take a second glance at. It's kiddy crap, and the game industry isn't preschool.

I can only agree on that. But dont forget to point out the hilarious fact that it is mostly grown american men who begin to drool when they see the faces of luigi and mario on their screen.... nintendo whores are really the worst...

[Kefkataran]

An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings. It's all a bunch of cutesy, gimmicky, goo-goo gah-gah bullcrap. It's games that the mainstream audience won't take a second glance at. It's kiddy crap, and the game industry isn't preschool.

While it remains to be seen how niche Nintendogs is in America, calling it niche as a whole would be a rather ridiculously large mistake seeing as how it's made them a RIDICULOUS CRAP-LOAD OF MONEY over in Japan. But, I mean, if you're against that sort of thing, whatever.

[Bone]

All I know is that WarioWare Twisted felt fresh and new just because of the tilting control scheme- the way it was applied to driving, spinning things, etc. I found myself wishing more games would use it, and now they will. I'm happy.

[Dracula-X]

I'm going to have to remain skeptical on this one, at least till some more info is known...

[automaton]

Oh, and on a personal note, grown men who sit around and play Kirby on their DS aren't worth taking seriously in the first place.

This has to be the single most ignorant thing I have ever read on this site. Congrats.

You must be very young. Too young to remember grown men standing in line to play Pac Man, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, & Frogger. I long for a day when people judge a game by things like play mechanics and the overall experience, not by how much blood appears on screen.

[Mr.Green]

I never troll, moron.
If by never you mean usually then I agree.

[metroid composite]

Well I think the problem with the rumble technology is that it can't do very much and it isn't very realistic. A controller that vibrates during certain parts of the game isn't a very big deal, and that's why it's mostly ignored. But if the technology were expanded so that the controller could pull/jump/tilt realistically in response to the game, that could be a very big deal. Imagine something like a fishing game, where the controller would actually be pulled by the fish on screen, and pulling the controller would pull the fish, as if the controller were a real fishing rod.
While I do understand angular momentum, I don't see how you'd pull off a controller that pulls away from you. In theory angular momentum only means that it's harder to rotate the controller about certain axes.

[Kefkataran]

Oh, and on a personal note, grown men who sit around and play Kirby on their DS aren't worth taking seriously in the first place.

Have you seriously played Kirby on the DS? To say it's not worth playing is to be... well... I'll go ahead and say it... a dumbhead.

Yes, I know I've said it, there's no turning back now, but it's the truth. Zeal is a dumbhead.

[if76]

I am shocked at how little imagination people have when they cannot immediately envision what this could be used for. In fact, if this is accurate, I know exactly what this will be used for because I recall that Nintendo has been attempting to build a controller to do this since the early N64 days. They want to make a controller that you can swordfight with and feel the impact when you hit something in the game. The obvious application is Zelda.

These controllers have tilt sensors not motion sensors. You couldn't do a horizontal slash just by swinging the controller as if it was a sword. If you did this but kept the controller perfectly level, the game woudn't detect any input at all.

Now perhaps if they added a motion sensor to the controller, it could do what you're saying.

[if76]

I can only agree on that. But dont forget to point out the hilarious fact that it is mostly grown american men who begin to drool when they see the faces of luigi and mario on their screen.... nintendo whores are really the worst...

Spend ten minutes with Kirby's Canvas Curse and then say that. Seriously. But hey let's just forget about compelling innovative gameplay. You'd probably be happy with a generic Gameboy sidescroller as long as it had guns and swearwords.

[Dafizman]

These controllers have tilt sensors not motion sensors. You couldn't do a horizontal slash just by swinging the controller as if it was a sword. If you did this but kept the controller perfectly level, the game woudn't detect any input at all.

Now perhaps if they added a motion sensor to the controller, it could do what you're saying.
Uh, gyroscopes would detect perfectly level motion. Any motion sensor I know which dosen't directly involve optics or magnetic flux involves gyroscopes.

[01010]

Wow Zeal. It must suck to be you, I play games for FUN, what do you play them for? You sound very immature, evidently you haven't been playing games from the start.

I'm no Nintendo fan but I find it fantastic that someone is finally trying to make controllers more immersive. I adore my DS, I loved my GBA:SP but I gave my Gamecube away due to the fact that I never played it.

[Blue]

Perhaps I'm the old man not willing to get with the times here or something - at the ripe old age of 24, no less - but I just want my controllers to have buttons, a d-pad of some sort (be it the traditional cross looking thing or analog, whichever), and that's all. I don't care if it rumbles and I don't want to have to mess with swinging it, tilting it, whatever just to play my games. I want more side-scrollers.

I think it's cool that Nintendo is trying to do something different and mess with the industry some, but I would rather the ability to add said feature to my controller if I wanted it there. If I had to play, say, Oblivion (I know it's not going to be on the Rev, making a point) by jerking my controller back and forth, I'd shut it off. That doesn't sound appealing in the slightest. I could easily be reading into this incorrectly so if I am then ignore this, but I dislike the fact that Nintendo's revolutions/gimmicks/whatevers aren't optional but rather forced, in some respects. Sure I don't have to purchase the game, but with the DS - I loathe the touch screen. It's a hassle for me. I know some swear by it and I think that's great that people out there are using it and enjoying their gaming experience, but I haven't picked up a DS because some of the games that initially piqued my interest, I have to run my face across the screen to play. I would rather see them design a game that can be handled traditionally and then if it adds the option to play it in a more 'unique' style, that would simply be icing on an already tasty cake.

As said, maybe I'm just unwilling to change and step away from what I deem traditional. It's neat that they're doing new things and hitting a market that doesn't really seem to be used by most other companies (ie - non-conventional gaming experiences, I suppose), but I would rather them stop trying to reinvent the wheel and show us how to really make a game using the most basic of mechanics.

[AboveAvgCharles]

I predict that whatever the end result of the Rev controller is, it's not going to be that big a deal. Sure, the gimmick will be sure to be built in with every 1st party Nintendo game that comes out, but if you're playing a port? Or a 3rd party title? Chances are the "scratch-n-sniff" function is going to be trivial, togglable, or just outright skipped over, and half the time we're not going to even have to think about it.

It's a big deal right now, because nobody knows what it is. Once the Revolution is here, though, I think people are going to lose interest in the novelty pretty quickly. Remember how Segways were going to revolutionize (there's that damned word again) personal transportation? Yeah, that was successful.

[Zeal]

I've played games since the beginning of the industry. I also stand by my opinion.

Grown men who stand around in public and play games designed for children can't be considered resonable people. I'm sure Nintendo fans wouldn't agree with me, but I'm also sure psychologists would lol.

And besides, what I said is true. It isn't a stab at Nintendo fans, it's just a general statement. 30+ year old people who enjoy playing Pokemon and Nintendogs are obviously considered a NICHE audience.

[mister_slim]

Rumble might have been cool in the 90s, but in current gen it has not really been used. I hope they drop rumble features... a waste of money and time IMHO. So I wouldn't agree with somebody saying it changed the way we played games.
There have been some good uses. Ico, 1080: Avalanche, and Oddworld: Stranger come to mind. Most developers have no idea how to use it though.

An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings. It's all a bunch of cutesy, gimmicky, goo-goo gah-gah bullcrap. It's games that the mainstream audience won't take a second glance at. It's kiddy crap, and the game industry isn't preschool.
Thank you for explaining that. Developers, take note: to attract women gamers, make 'kiddy crap'. And remember: Mainstream actually means 16 year-old boys.

[Sinael]

Grown men who stand around in public and play games designed for children can't be considered resonable people. I'm sure Nintendo fans wouldn't agree with me, but I'm also sure psychologists would lol.Tell me, what kind of gamer would you qualify as "resonable"? I'm not convinced that you comprehend what reason is.

Are grown men who sit around in their basements and play games designed (ostensibly) to sate bloodlust more reasonable, somehow? I know that's not the reality of say, Battlefield 2--it's just another legitimate way to compete and have fun doing it--but on the surface, it looks just as absurd.

You, my friend, are a dandy gamer. It's clear that care most about how your gaming experiences look; how you personally come across as a gamer. You may fool the other dilettantes with your fashionable vitriol, but as far as I'm concerned, you're the ridiculous one.

[dr_wily]

link dead.

[Kefkataran]

Grown men who stand around in public and play games designed for children can't be considered resonable people. I'm sure Nintendo fans wouldn't agree with me, but I'm also sure psychologists would lol.

Yeah, you're a real fuckin' psychologist here.

Listen, play Kirby DS. I fucking dare you. Play some of the later, difficult levels, and then come back here and feed us crap about how it was designed for children.

Christ, what a dick. I seriously want to know what your list of owned games is so I can shudder at the mediocre crap that must cloud it par your fear of playing anything you deem 'kiddy' without ever actually touching.

[splatstick]

Everyone's missing the point. The Gamecube sold fine without any major innovations, regardless of what the real "Revolution" is people will buy the console. If the actual "Revolution" is something cool, more power to us. If not, who fucking cares, it's going to have the Nintendo polish on all the games anyway.

[Kelegacy]

I've played games since the beginning of the industry. I also stand by my opinion.

Grown men who stand around in public and play games designed for children can't be considered resonable people. I'm sure Nintendo fans wouldn't agree with me, but I'm also sure psychologists would lol.

And besides, what I said is true. It isn't a stab at Nintendo fans, it's just a general statement. 30+ year old people who enjoy playing Pokemon and Nintendogs are obviously considered a NICHE audience.

Anyone who uses the acronym "lol" in a post shouldnt be making fun of adults who play Nintendogs.

[Zeal]

Yeah, because laughing is just so childish and weird.

[Kefkataran]

Yeah, because laughing is just so childish and weird.

Yeah, because typing is laughing.

[nonchalance]

They are not considered mainstream, blockbuster hits.

An example would be nonsense like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs (lol), the Pikmin series and its entire line of DS offerings.

Nintendogs sold 181,000 units in the first week of release in Japan alone.
It boosted DS sales by 60,000 in that week.

That's a mainstream, blockbuster hit, whether or not you personally like the game.

[jwbxx]

Wake me up when smash bro's is online, then maybe ill care.

[Kefkataran]

Wake me up when smash bro's is online, then maybe ill care.

Holy shit will that be a good day though.

[ElectricMonk]

it seems like the most obvious controller advance that has to do with revolving would be to add a trackball

[Bone]

Grown men who stand around in public and play games designed for children can't be considered resonable people. I'm sure Nintendo fans wouldn't agree with me, but I'm also sure psychologists would lol.

Grown men standing around in public and playing games designed for children is the definition of video gaming. Your geek ship has sailed, and with it the ability to make fun of Nintendo fans while wearing your Final Fantasy t-shirt.

[Kamalot]

It's a big deal right now, because nobody knows what it is. Once the Revolution is here, though, I think people are going to lose interest in the novelty pretty quickly. Remember how Segways were going to revolutionize (there's that damned word again) personal transportation? Yeah, that was successful.Segways are farily damn expensive aren't they? I'm willing to bet you can pick up a Revolution for less than any of the other Next Gen consoles and for 10x less than a segway.

[Xerxes]

I take a game without running and shooting somebody in the head isn't adult enough for Zeal. You know there a sue happy asshole who would say you are the unstable one.

[AboveAvgCharles]

Segways are farily damn expensive aren't they? I'm willing to bet you can pick up a Revolution for less than any of the other Next Gen consoles and for 10x less than a segway.

Yeah, but I don't think price was really the major deterrent for buying a Segway. More likely it was overhyping and lack of usefulness. As you can see, that's the parallel I'm drawing to the Revolution controller.

Of course I'm just speculating, as I only know as much as you do. Fingers crossed that I'm wrong, though.

[Bone]

If a Segway was 150 bucks, I'd probably buy one. Buy two and have demolition derbies even.