Holographic Projected Rumour Control

Gamespot's always enlightening Rumour Control series tackles several weighty issues this week. Included in their analysis is the backwards compatibility of the Xbox 360, the possibility of 3D Projection from the Revolution, 360 controllers being PC compatible, and the imminent announcement of Diablo III. From the article: "RUMOR #5: Some postproduction work on Diablo III has been completed. Source: Blizzard fan site Diabloii.net. The official story: 'We'd definitely like to revisit the Diablo universe in the future, but we haven't announced any plans to do so at this time.'--Blizzard rep."

Comments

revolution

[Sv-Manowar]

Although projection would fit with the name, and be revolutionary, it would almost surely push the price of the console above the other main competitors. Unless they offered the projector as an additional piece of hardware

Re:revolution

[ZephyrXero]

Releasing the 3d projection/hologram hardware or whatever it is... as an optional piece of hardware would put alot of developers in a tough position, you'd most likely have to design your game for that or a regular TV as the game experience would be completely different. If this is even remotely true, Nintendo needs to pick one and stick with it. The game industry has proven time and time again that peripherals are almost always a failure.

Re:revolution

[goodenoughnickname]

But wasn't it confirmed long ago that Revolution would hook up to a computer monitor? I can't find the original source, but here's a snippet from IGN's Revolution FAQ:

Q: Will Revolution hook up to a television?
A: Yes. It will also be able to interface with a computer monitor. In June 2004 Nintendo engineer Genyo Takeda said: "You'll be able to play [Revolution] not just by linking up to a television but to a computer monitor as well."

I honestly don't think Nintendo's new idea will be in how you look at the games, but rather how you play them.

Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[ZephyrXero]

On of the PC game market's biggest problems is that there aren't any decent controller available, thus making it not very fun to play anything that isn't designed for a mouse/keyboard setup (ie..FPS,RTS & MMORPGs). This could really help alot of small/independent developers who'd like to release console quality games without paying thousands of dollars for the "privalege" to release their games on each console. I just hope someone can come up with an open source driver for the Linux and Mac gamers.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[interiot]

Heck yeah, PC games will benefit. Not least of which will be MAME... PacMan and 1942 with a decent controller, woohoo!

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[demondawn]

You're putting a lot of faith in the unfounded belief that the Xbox 360 controller is a decent one, aren't you?

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[mrgreen4242]

I tend to think that the problem with the console market is the complete lack of any decent controllers. The only thing a console controller is good for is sports games and driving games.

The addition of a keyboard and mouse would make so many games so much more playable on a console.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[ZephyrXero]

Well, being that the Xbox 1 controller (type-s) is the best controller available out of the current generation, I'd say it's a fair bet...

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[SwornPacifist]

The original Xbox controllers were PC compatible, you just had to alter the cord. They were USB-based with a different plug on the end, which is easy to modify or you can buy a fairly-cheap adapter.

The Windows driver is a simple download, and it works really well. Apparently there's a Linux driver as well.

I went this route because I enjoyed the large, original Xbox controllers -- they were the first controllers that didn't feel puny in my large hands.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[ZephyrXero]

hmm... I wasn't aware of the USB adapter... thanks for the tip! ;)

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey I thought I had clicked on the Nintendo story

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[Stolethis]

I'd say the PS2 controller is better, but to each his own.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, and beat-em-ups, and flight sims (though obviously a joystick is better stilll), and platform games, and since you can bundle custom controllers with the game you can have pretty much anything - dance mat, bongos, light guns, maracas, webcam...
Not to mention that it's a lot easier to set up a four-player game with controllers than a keyboard and mouse each.

I'm a huge PC fan but consoles certainly have PCs beaten for versatility of controllers, and diversity of play styles which that allows. You can do any of those things on a PC, but game makers don't seem to take advantage of the platform - they all have USB but when was the last time you saw a PC game released with a custom peripheral?

Ultimately I'd like to see a standardised controller get good market penetration on the PC and have keyboard, mouse and monitor support on consoles - PCs have huge potential that deserves to be fully exploited, consoles provide a standard setup for fair competition.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[Mitaphane]

Agreed. The S-type X-box controller is a solid controller (better than the N-64/Dual Shock hybrid that the GameCube sports), but the X-box's d-pad is worthless. I've always hated those disc style d-pads; You never really feel like your always pressing in the sole direction you want to be going. For that reason alone (that and maybe the original Shaq sized controller with impossible-to-reach-start-button*), the X-box gets 2nd place to Sony's DualShock2.

*impossible-to-reach-start-button is a TradeMark of the Microsoft Corporation.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[SubcomandanteTorta]

I've encountered problems with almost all the pc game controllers that I have used (Belkin, Logitech, Intel, Hercules, Soyo adapter...)

Biggest issue is that PC games don't support controllers very well. To get a lot of games going you need to do some kind of voodoo to get one of the sticks to emulate a mouse sometimes and then a joy axis at other times (like Morrowind - which sucks because it's a console game as well) and even then sometimes your game will still do funny shit and ignore your mappings or refuse to allocate keys (Tomb Raider AOD and Emperor's Tomb - also console games that should know better) or the sensitivity between axis and mouse movement is so extreme switching between the two is impossible.

If a game claims to support a gamepad, it should be completely playable and you shouldn't have to touch the keyboard at all except for maybe chat or advanced functions. All the menus etc should be navigable with the gamepad. The only two PC games I've played that had this functionality were Emperor's Tomb - ONLY with a Belkin controller - and Final Fantasy online - both with a Logitech that died, and with a soyo Dualshock adapter.

Second most annoying problem is that each controller enumerates the buttons differently, sometimes it's impossible to remap, even using a combination of windows drivers mapping keys and directinput in-game.

It's like the antithesis of plug and play, and as far from a console experience as could be.

If Microsoft has any brains, when we plug this new cross platform XNA Xbox360 pad in, it shouldn't require any drivers, it should have one of the analog sticks mapped to emulate MOUSE MOVEMENT (maybe with a button to switch modes like the intel), and two or three buttons mapped to left/middle/right, and maybe some kind of scroll wheel, and the dpad maybe mapped to WASD. A standard config of buttons and controls, completely transparent but with available functions for the programmers to offer an enhanced interface. A standard array of buttons. Like a console. Usable without any special driver voodoo or remapping if so desired. The intel gamepad was really good at the mouse emulation, but it just didn't have enough buttons.

And as far as the hardware goes, on everything but the soyo to dualshock adapter, the analog sticks always croak after a while, and no amount of recalibration will save them. I don't ever want to start spinning crazily in the middle of a fight with Dagoth Ur. The pads need to be tanks. Like a Model M. I'm tired of pads croaking on me or perfectly good pads not working cause the game won't let you remap the wonky controls.

In this case, I think standardization will be a good thing. Too bad it's going to be an xbox pad though.

...

Wow.

Sorry.

Guess I had some buried passionate feelings about gamepads.

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[RevKa]

>*impossible-to-reach-start-button is a TradeMark of the Microsoft Corporation.

they also applied this technology to the S controllers. ITR patented black and white buttons.

curse my (impossible-to-game) mitts!

Re:Xbox 360 controller for PC games

[drinkypoo]

The Saturn 3D Control Pad was very good for large hands, also. they have seven buttons, d-pad, analog, and analog triggers.

NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[spineboy]

I finally kicked the Diablo II habbit after 4-5 years, and now they want to bring it back again. ARRRGGH!!!. I've been clean and Diablo free for 6 months and now this. NOOOOO!!!

Crap - I bet it's gonna be fantastic - I can already feel my finger clicking away.

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't get why Diablo nuts don't just go play Angband.

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[Physician]

I wish they'd spend their time on making Starcraft 2 instead.

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[Retroneous]

"Diablo Player In 'I Can't Read Since Playing Diablo II' Shocker" "The official story: 'We'd definitely like to revisit the Diablo universe in the future, but we haven't announced any plans to do so at this time.'--Blizzard rep."

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[goodenoughnickname]

I've always wanted Diablo OS. I mean, think about it, in both Diablo and in an OS' GUI you're moving the mouse and clicking -- but it's so much funner in Diablo!

Imagine! A new quest appears: "Retrieve your new email message." But the chest containing your new forum password is deep in the swamp, surrounded by those little sons of bitches with masks on.

Oh man, solitaire would be obsolete!!!

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[RevKa]

haha, i know what im doing is actually counter productive, but when it comes to rumors I _am_ Mr. Skeptic. that said, i know blizzard employees and the word is they are revisiting the diablo universe. they are still very tight-lipped on details though (who can blame them?).

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[ZephyrXero]

I wish they'd spend their time working on something new instead of sequels....

Re:NO!! NO!! NO $&%@#Diablo III !!!

[theVP]

I sincerely doubt they will do something THAT innovative. Keep in mind that each sequel they have made usually has a TASTE of the one before it, with a completely new game experience in the next. Warcraft 3 was vastly different from 1 or 2, but still had the taste of warcraft. And of course, WOW is NOTHING like the strategy series. Starcraft still burns bright in my heart, but instead of getting a sequel like I WANT, I'm going to have to suffice with an FPS on the xbox in Starcraft Ghost. Each storyline that they have made: Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo; have all been completely enthralling. The story pushes the games almost as much as the actual gameplay. I'm betting they're working on a new story to tell, but I sincerely doubt that they'll say anything about it until it is just as enthralling as their other 3.

BTW, where the hell IS Starcraft 2???? I want a 3d strategy sequel, dammit!! And this time it doesn't have to be overhead view!!!

Controller adapters

[tepples]

On of the PC game market's biggest problems is that there aren't any decent controller available

The Xbox controllers are USB with a different shape plug. Splicing a USB extension cord onto the wires of the Xbox controller works, as someone else pointed out.

Online stores sell USB adapters for PS1, N64, PS2, and GameCube controllers. Go get the EMS USB2 adapter, and you'll be able to use two PS1 controllers, such as the digital pad, the Dual Shock, and dance mats, with any Windows game that uses DirectInput or with any other operating system that supports USB HID joysticks.

X-Box 2 controllers on PC for sure

[Anonymous Coward]

At GDC, Microsoft discussed pushing a standard cotroller scheme for PCs they called the "Common Controller." It will be the same configuration as the X-Box 2, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if X-Box 2 controllers could actually work on PCs, and if any PC controller that meets this standard could work on the next X-Box.

As for Nintendo, am I the only one that remembers them doing research for projecting 3D images about 10 years ago? Around the time the virtual boy game out, they talked about researching this technology but deciding they would not go with it. The research was with another company, I believe it may have been Hasbro (I may have the name mixed up).

I'm guessing it's more so a control change

[goodenoughnickname]

To add, everybody knows how to look at a TV, but not everybody knows how to play a video game. Iwata has stated time and time again that one of Revolution's goals is to expand the target market -- to get the casual- and non-players playing more. Some sort of 3D projection system/put these glasses on your face way of playing video games isn't going to fly with casual gamers. Nope, Nintendo's next system will be much simplier than everyone is predicting.

I'm saying that Revolution will be a sleek, non-Gamecube-looking box that hooks up to your TV. It will accept the same media as the Gamecube (to insure backwards compatibility). And what's the big "revolution"? A simple, ergonomic controller that's not controlled by sticks and buttons, but by a touch screen and a gyro. Instead of pushing "A", you push "Jump". What supports this claim? If you look at first party games like Wind Waker or Super Mario Sunshine, you'll notice that in a corner they always have the controller buttons attached to images, letting you know what to press to perform that image's action. But when Mom plays the game, she has to SEE that the X button changes the water cannon, and then she has to FIND X before she can press it. With that information on the touch-screen, alls Mom has to do is press the image of the cannon and see it turn into the water-backpack*.

And as for the gyro: Ever see Mom play a racing game? Yeah, this idea should have been implimented years ago!

* denotes that I don't know the official terminology of Super Mario Sunshine because that game was really bad.

Re:I'm guessing it's more so a control change

[PhotoBoy]

I wonder how well backwards compatibility would work if the new system only has a touch screen and gyro to control games? There must be some traditional buttons on the pad (or maybe you will be able to plug GC pads into the Revolution, but supposedly it's wireless...)

Another problem I could see with using a touch screen to have "dynamic" controls is that it's not tactile, you can't learn the position of the buttons by the feel because it's a flat surface. From playing Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS, you have to take your eyes off the top screen to locate the area you tap to switch to missles or go into ball mode, if this is Nintendo's plan I think it could backfire.

Re:I'm guessing it's more so a control change

[goodenoughnickname]

I agree, and I know it's cliche to say it now, but we're talking about the company that made Virtual Boy here. Check out this 1995 press release:

"[Virtual Boy] will transport game players into a 'virtual utopia' with sights and sounds unlike anything they've ever experienced..."

It's all sounding the same, isn't it?

I agree with Nintendo that having 3 systems with nearly the same capabilities and control scheme is stupid. Console choice today depends on brand name and first-party titles; the casual gamer can own any system and still get a good crop of games. However, I can't shake the feeling that Nintendo's ideas are more innovative than practical. Their big secret to Mario Party 6 was a microphone. Yes, it works, but yelling "Lasers!" or "Move Left!" into a microphone is only fun the first couple times. Likewise, I personally find using a standard controller to be easier and more comfortable (therefore funner) than any new control scheme that has been hinted to.

Of course, I could be wrong. Hell -- as long as I get a new Smash Brothers out of the deal, I'll be happy.

Re:I'm guessing it's more so a control change

[ZephyrXero]

I imagine from what I've heard that it will probably be a standard sized gamepad with an analogue pad on the left and 4 buttons (not sure if they'll stick with the GC style or go back to diamond) on the right. You'll have at least two triggers just like the GC. The major difference will be that instead of the d-pad and c-stick you'll have a big lcd touch screen in the center. Think of the Dreamcast's little LCD screen in the controller, but to the next level. Couple that with the gyros and wireless...and it's not really THAT weird an idea...but could still be very revolutionary in the posibilities of what you could do with it.

Re:I'm guessing it's more so a control change

[millennial]

The gyroscope idea seems like a valid possibility, seeing how WarioWare Twisted and some Yoshi game that are soon to be released on the GBA will have gyroscopes built into the cart. Nintendo likes weird things...