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Nintendo Revolution Details Reaffirmed
Nintendo President Iwata has reaffirmed details already released about the upcoming Revolution console. Gamsutra has details from his talk, where Iwata touches on the wireless capability of the Revolution, the designer friendly attitude of the console, and the secretive nature of the console's controllers. From the article: "For the next-generation console, we plan to introduce a friendly user interface so that, for example, a mother who's watching her child playing a game might say, 'Oh, I'd like to try that too.' However, user interfaces are devices that can be easily imitated by other companies, so I can't reveal any details right now." GamesIndustry.biz also has coverage on this topic.
"For the next-generation console, we plan to introduce a friendly user interface so that, for example, a mother who's watching her child playing a game might say, 'Oh, I'd like to try that too.' Somehow I get the feeling that we can say goodbye to duel thumbsticks...
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"Sounds like he said absolutely nothing. "
What he said was really clear: The Revolution system won't be a generic controller like the XBOX or PS2 controllers.
He also mentioned built in wi-fi, but I guess it's easy to overlook that when you're needlessly criticizing a press-release.
"Derp de derp."
"Somehow I get the feeling that we can say goodbye to duel thumbsticks..."
It's about time! It takes forever to kill somebody with a thumb stick.
"Derp de derp."
Also of interest,1 12.html
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Rumor Control: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/25/news_6121
Same story from Gamespot: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/29/news_6121
More Rumors and speculation from IGN: http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p1.html?fr
The latter has some interesting theories and "leaks", as well as some drawings of interest.
If you want to make free on-line gaming work, game developers were need to make it so that a PC can host their games. I doubt many people will want to dedicate a Revolution system towards hosting games 24x7.
"Derp de derp."
I think I figured it out. To continue on the bongos and stylus themes of innovation, while making it interesting for a mother, they will use a NEEDLE AND THREAD controller. Think of all the innovative sewing, knitting, darning, etc games that could be made!!! Nonstop ACTION!
I don't think the thumbsticks complicating today's controllers. They are very easy to understand and use. I think the real complexity is in the number and position of the buttons.
You have no idea how long I tried to honk my car horn on GTA3. when I found out that the left control stick was "L3," I yelled, "What fucking asshole invented this? It makes no sense."
Taken from the poster:
However, user interfaces are devices that can be easily imitated by other companies, so I can't reveal any details right now.
That's probably the truest thing about Nintendo. Look at the SNES controller design, near perfect. Sony sees that and copies it for the PS. Why nintendo didn't continue using that idea is beyond me. It's definitely done a good amount for Sony.
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At this pace, Nintendo is going to innovate themselves into the ground. Sony has been moving forward in a very conservative manner, and it's only lead them to greater success. The PSX controller was essentially a SNES pad with two extra buttons. I forget which game introduced the dualshocks, but again, an incremental update to the standard design. The Dualshock 2s were similar.
The advantage here is ports from arcade games, especially fighters. Smash bros proved that if you take the time to think and examine the hardware, you can brainstorm up something really great and really platform specific. Mortal Kombat proved you don't need to think nearly that hard to get millions in sales, as long as the controller fits the same style they used ten years ago.
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Accelerometers in controllers -- steer your Mario Kart by tilting the controller.
Thats because after Sony copied the SNES controller design to make the original PS1 controller, Nintendo one-upped them by blowing people away with the thumbstick AND a Z-trigger. Suddenly people could play FPSs on their consoles and not get bashed on by their PC playing brethen (at least, not as much). Soon after, Sony releases the 'analog' sticks and after Starfox64 is released with a free packaged rumble pack, the 'dualshock' is created. Fast forward to today and Sony is still basicly using the same controller design they basicly ripped off of Nintendo. Course other game companies aren't innocent of this either. The Dreamcast took the Z-trigger a step farther removing the shoulder buttons in exchange for a second trigger and the X-Box simply added a second thumbstick and the black and white buttons.
What I want to see... nay, hear... is voice recognition. It might not work for any online games, but most of the kid- and family-oriented games, i.e. Mario Party, would rock with voice commands only. Then the adults could get something from Rockstar Games with obscene voice commands. Fun for everyone.