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

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

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

[ZephyrXero]

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