Slashdot Mirror


Revolution Details By End of Year

Reuters is reporting that Nintendo will announce the price, launch date, and further details about their next generation console by the end of this year. Their tight-lipped attitude this E3 is apparently an attempt to ensure they don't tip their hand to rivals. From the article: "Some gamers and industry analysts had criticized Nintendo for providing sparse details on the new machine, comparing it to Sony and Microsoft's unveiling of slicker, graphic-intense next-generation machines...Iwata said the new console is aimed at customers who hate clutter and find current games and the controllers used to play them to be confusing and difficult."

73 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. User Interface by Nytewynd · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Iwata said the new console is aimed at customers who hate clutter and find current games and the controllers used to play them to be confusing and difficult." To combat this problem, the next generation console's controller will consist of a single giant, red button. Users will rapidly push this button until the game is beaten.

    --
    /. ++
    1. Re:User Interface by MindStalker · · Score: 5, Funny

      And this is different from Tekken how?

    2. Re:User Interface by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

      "To combat this problem, the next generation console's controller will consist of a single giant, red button."

      Sony, on the other hand, has a lot of faith in the hand-eye coordination of its customers. It will have 16 buttons on the face and 4 more shoulder buttons on each side. All the buttons will be clearly labeled with a variety of simple shapes. For example: The rainbow dodecahedron will typically be used for selecting the second menu option for most games, provided they follow any sort of standard.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:User Interface by Reorax · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sweet. All my years of using a Mac have finally paid off!

      --
      This sig is only here so people stop skipping the last lines of my posts.
    4. Re:User Interface by rayde · · Score: 1, Insightful

      hey, if you remember the Atari, that's how it used to be!! maybe they'll just use an old atari joystick and give it bluetooth support or something.

    5. Re:User Interface by SetupWeasel · · Score: 2, Funny

      I once walked onto my friends' dorm room in college and saw a bunch of people playing Soul Edge for the PS1. I had never played it, but it looked cool enough, so I got in line for a turn.

      When I picked up the controller I found the button for "hit person with ax," and I used it... a lot. Then I found out that up was jump, and I formulated a plan! I would jump away then jump back toward the enemy and hit them with the ax. I played against people that prided themselves on knowing all the moves.

      I did not let go of the controller for more than an hour. Everyone lost. Most thought it was hilarious, but I had one person close to tears as he tried over and over to beat me.

      Was it beginners luck? Maybe. Did I have any right to beat these people? Probably not. The fact remains that I kicked fucking ass without knowing a thing about the game. BOO YAH!

    6. Re:User Interface by MindStalker · · Score: 1

      It was intended to be "Funny" obviously moderators are stupid. But either way, its did make sense, while not being entirly accurate.

    7. Re:User Interface by Mitaphane · · Score: 1

      Off-Topic:
      This should be modded Funny and not Insightful...but whatever.

      Slightly less Off-Topic:
      A lot people like blow off Tekken because the way the game is setup it encourages button mashing. Strings(combinations of attack buttons that perform special attacks) have a certain timing to them to get them to come out. In a lot of cases, the next button to press in the string can be mashed until the next part in the string comes out. Because it's easier than learning the timing, newbies tend to mash buttons rather than executing string with precise, timed, button pressing.

      There's also a strategy to button mashing. In Tekken, being predictable is the easy way to get defeated. If an opponent knows you're next attack, they know how to defeat you before you've performed your attack. With random button mashing however, the odds are less likely he'll know what you're going to do and thus he will be more likely to fall for your next attack. This is much more applicable for characters who have moves that chain together(e.g. Eddy/Christie, Jun/Asuka).

      That said, button mashing is still easy to defeat and is far from the end-all be-all attack. Those who learn the timing of their attacks, how to juggle, and how to defend against attacks will easily defeat a button masher.

      I don't see Tekken's controls as a weakness because it allows button mashers to win more easily than some games. I see it as a strength on how easily the game can be approached and played by new people. Of course there are those that have the mindset: "I've played a game for X amount of time so I should be X times as good." And to them I say this: "It's not about how long you've played a game, it's about all that you've learned in that X amount of time."

    8. Re:User Interface by Destoo · · Score: 1

      And you will still be able to use the GC's controllers, wavebirds, bongos and fishing rods (no.. no fishing rod yet), because the ports are still there. (4 of them on top, along with two memory slots, but they're behind a panel)

      The revolution is in the new default controller.
      Doesn't mean they'll drop support for other controllers.

      --
      Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
    9. Re:User Interface by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      That's usually considered one of the advantages of the Soul Calibur series, that beginners can easily pick the game up and beat regular players (no hardcore players though). Some people get beaten by their little sisters!

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    10. Re:User Interface by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      No, it just means the GC controllers actually work when plugged into those GC controller ports.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    11. Re:User Interface by IntergalacticWalrus · · Score: 1

      An advantage?? Oh please. A fighting game where a button masher can beat an expert is a shitty fighting game.

    12. Re:User Interface by urbaer · · Score: 1

      combat this problem, the next generation console's controller will consist of a single giant, red button. Users will rapidly push this button until the game is beaten.
      There's already a pokemon game like this in the arcase made by Banpresto. So this really wouldn't be revolutionary.

    13. Re:User Interface by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      An expert is something different from a regular player. An expert can completely destroy ANYONE who doesn't know what they're doing (and probably even those who do if they can't parry or combo effectively). A regular player may know which move does what but doesn't know the counter tactic for them.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    14. Re:User Interface by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, us Windows users don't know what to do with fewer than three buttons.

      But still, the bongos don't have any obvious control mechanisms at first glance beyond a Big Red Button... hrm....

  2. hmmm mixed blessing by sevinkey · · Score: 1

    while it's gonna be cool to have all the old Nintendo console emulators, I just bought my wife a super nintendo and a bunch of square RPGS! So much for retaining value :D

  3. Re:Clutter by Datamonstar · · Score: 1

    Oh, no... Wireless isn't confusing at all. unless it dosen't work. I really loathe the big push to wireless controllers. Buying remote control batteries is for TV, not games.

    --
    The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  4. I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Their tight-lipped attitude this E3 is apparently an attempt to ensure they don't tip their hand to rivals."

    I can forgive them for that. Shortly after announcing the N-64, the PS1 got the Dual Shock controller and the Saturn got an analog controller.

    "Iwata said the new console is aimed at customers who hate clutter and find current games and the controllers used to play them to be confusing and difficult."

    Normally I would have called bullshit. But then I thought about some of the 'fun' I've had playing San Andreas lately. Hitting the correct shoulder button is an exercise in "Dammit!". I keep hitting the L3 button by accident whenever I make a sharp turn. (Oh, brilliant design there, Sony. Put a button where I can accidently hit it a LOT.) Then I played that damn dancing level where the button shapes would fly by and I had to hit the right one. Yeah Sony, thanks for using heiroglyphics for your button labels.

    Yeah, I'm ready for simpler. I'm also really hoping that the gyro rumor is true. Analog sticks just don't cut it with shooting games.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "No offense man, but if you can't master circle, triangle, X, and square...you aren't going to do much better with A, B, C, D."

      Not true. At least with AB/XY, there's a pattern to it. With Sony's Lucky Charms shapes, you have to memorize specifically where each shape is. Eventually it isn't a big deal, but it sure made getting to know my Playstation a lot of unnecessary fun.

      "I have never had a problem accidentally hitting shoulder buttons."

      L3 isn't a shoulder button. If you push down on the left analog stick (which often happens if you're DRIVING), *click* there it goes. Half the time when I'm in hot pursuit in San Andreas, my car horn's honking. Really f'n annoying.

      "Maybe it is just you. I suggest trying an Atari. It has one button and a joystick. Don't get too upset if you accidentally hit its only button though."

      That's a pretty bold statement for somebody that hasn't dented any of my points.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Insightful

      " I have never had a problem accidentally hitting shoulder buttons."

      Oops, sorry dude, I thought I had deleted my comment on shoulder buttons.

      Well, maybe you can memorize button commands really quickly. Fine for you. However, when you're playing a game and one of the shoulder buttons is 'fire' and the other one is 'turn', it actually is quite easy to hit the wrong button. I don't mean "I hit R1 instead of R2", but rather "Uh.. wait, what does R1 do and what does R2 do?"

      The problem with two shoulder buttons on each side is that they're rarely used intuitively. They're often used for secondary functions, as opposed to using them because their placement implies that function.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Informative

      "Sony made a dual shock in japan before the N64 came out..."

      Thanks for proving my point, though it was unintentional. The N64 + analog controller were shown a full year before it was released. When the N64 finally reached market, the competition had already tried to soften the blow.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    4. Re:I don't blame them by karmafeed · · Score: 1

      At this point in the game I think they should just give us the details. I know that Nintendo has a reputation for being tight lipped but I think that in their current situation, they have more to gain be announcing details than they have to lose while Sony and Microsoft continue to pump out details of their consoles and capturing the imaginations of current gamers.

    5. Re:I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "I know that Nintendo has a reputation for being tight lipped but I think that in their current situation, they have more to gain be announcing details..."

      What could they have to gain? Right now, the XBOX 360 and the PS3 are BFD's. If Nintendo announced details now, they'd be competing with those two. (The fun part of that is that for Nintendo to keep up, they'd have to make up numbers like Sony and MS are.) If Nintendo waits a couple of months instead, they'd have the benefit of the PS3 and XBOX 360 being old news.

      Nintendo doesn't need a year of hype. (It certainly doesn't need it early enough for the competition to rip off their ideas.) When SpaceWorld debuted the GameCube, lots of people had already made up their minds they were going to get it. They didn't need 12 months to sit on the idea.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    6. Re:I don't blame them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sony and MS, capturing the imaginations of gamers with specs? Nintendo has captured, and is capturing the imaginations of gamers by WITHHOLDING specs. And their whole tease campaign about their controllers has got a whole lot of gamers going back and forth with guesses, mockups, and even hoaxes. Sony and MS have left _nothing_ to gamers' imaginations. We know just about everything there is to know about both in terms of hardware, and the software announcements that were made following both hardware unveilings did NOTHING to drum up excitement for either console. I'd go so far as to say that revealing the design of the PS3 controller was to Sony detriment, since it is ass-ugly and reminds those of us who have held similarly-styled "boomerang" controllers how bad they are (there have been dozens of similar third-party designs for PS and PC, all of which felt uncomfortable).

      Consider this: The Revolution is so much smaller than the other two, has already been announced to be backwards compatible with GameCube and all older Nintendo home consoles, and will probably be cheaper than the other two systems. On top of that, the rumor is that it will be between the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in overall power (which is not too shabby, since even the Xbox 360 looks like it will be a powerhouse, despite its strange, bandwidth-constrained unified memory arch). Zelda, Mario, and Smash Bros. were announced, with Smash Bros. being a launch title. Without knowing much more than this, plenty of people in the non-Nintendo-specific forums have been promising that the Revolution is a guaranteed sale, while their decisions to buy the either of the other two are dependent on software. The excitement continues to build, without Nintendo revealing so much as a picture of the controller. That's not just the easiest thing for them to do, it's also the smartest.

    7. Re:I don't blame them by Daetrin · · Score: 1
      and two embedded on each analog stick

      _That_ was about the dumbest controller idea ever. No, sorry, the second dumbest idea ever. The dumbest idea ever was making the buttons in the analog stick cancel what you're trying to do while trying to use the analag stick, so that if you're not very carefull with how hard you press you end up undoing everything. See SSX.

      The third dumbest idea was the GameCube controller having three shoulder buttons instead of four.

      --
      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    8. Re:I don't blame them by blighter · · Score: 1
      But unnecessary fun is the best kind!

      I understood what you were saying, just thought that "unnecessary fun" was a humorous phrase -- and actually a decent band name now that I think of it.

    9. Re:I don't blame them by prockcore · · Score: 1

      I keep hitting the L3 button by accident whenever I make a sharp turn

      After repeatedly jumping out of the car while trying to take a tight turn I decided that Sony's controller is the most evil thing ever devised.

    10. Re:I don't blame them by urbaer · · Score: 1

      hen I played that damn dancing level where the button shapes would fly by and I had to hit the right one.
      I fully agree. San Andreas was the first game I bought for the PS2 (there's lots of reasons I took this long to buy a PS2 that I'm not going to detail here) and that friggin dancing level drove me nuts. I'm sure it's fine if you've been using the controller everyday for years, but..
      Wouldn't it have just been simpler to have BU, BD, BL and BR? the "bottom button" is much easier for me than X.

    11. Re:I don't blame them by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "At least with AB/XY, there's a pattern to it."

      As I've pointed out before, in their scramble to copy the SNES controller, they actually used the same exact pattern.

      Put the letters in alphabetical order, then put the shapes in increasing order of the number of lines (curves) in the shape. Circle, 1 is A, cross, 2 is B, triangle, 3 is X, and square, 4 is Y.

      Every time I'm in a game where a "mash the buttons in the right order" scene comes up (limit breaks in FF games, for example), I remember that map and it gets me through.

      At least Sega did their own thing, going for us left-to-right readers as opposed to all those crazy right-to-left folks they have in Japan.

    12. Re:I don't blame them by grumbel · · Score: 1

      ### Not true. At least with AB/XY, there's a pattern to it.

      The worst thing about the PS2 buttons is actually not even the labling, but that games make different use of the buttons. Some games use X for 'Ok', other use [], 'Back' is sometimes O and sometimes X and sometimes /\, which makes it quite confusing. With the Gamecube controller on the other side there is never such confusion, since the primary and secondary buttons are so damn clear, that its basically impossible to assign them in missleading ways.

      If I understand this issue correctly it dates back to the SNES, where Y was primary and B secondary for european games, but where A was primary and B secondary for japanese games. Since Nintendo keep pretty strickt quality controll it never became an issue, since all games that got released in europe where changed to follow the other mapping, with PS2 however every developmer seems to assign those buttons as they see fit, which can turn quite confusing, especially if you are not a 24/7 gamer.

    13. Re:I don't blame them by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "The problem is, analog sticks existed before that too. MS even had controllers for PC. Atari had one"

      Never said Nintendo invented them.

      Nintendo added them because they had a 3D system and they needed a 3D friendly navigation interface. The PS1 was a 3d system, but they didn't think that far ahead.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  5. Release Date...... by DeadBugs · · Score: 3, Funny

    So this is an announcement about the release date for the release date?

    I hate slow news mornings :-(

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
    1. Re:Release Date...... by telstar · · Score: 4, Funny

      You think that's bad ... wait until it gets reposted.

  6. Re:Clutter by Gr33nNight · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What if the controllers are rechargable like the GBA-SP? You get 30 hours of play time before you have to recharge. Sounds good to me.

  7. Re:Clutter by Datamonstar · · Score: 1

    Even then, what about issues like input lag. I play a lot of fighting games down to the Framedata (Capcom vs SNK2 roll canceling) and any input lag makes higher level play frustrating. As of now, most wireless controllers behave this way. I hope there's no noticible lag cause of the wireless signal on next gen controllers, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. I seriously doubt the console developers have these type of issues as a priority when they design their controlers.

    --
    The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  8. Too difficult? by Ghost429 · · Score: 1

    The controllers used to play them to be confusing and difficult A, B, L, R, Z, a D-Pad, and 2 analog sticks. I'm not sure how the level of difficulty can go down without sacrificing usability...

    --
    I already know i'm going to hell, now i'm just trying to get cable down there.
    1. Re:Too difficult? by Txiasaeia · · Score: 1
      Ikaruga, one of the most complicated games for the Cube, uses three buttons (fire, change state, missile) and the D-Stick. I'm extremely confident that you can take away a few buttons and still have a usable controller, unless we're talking about games like Soul Calibur or Metroid Prime, for instance.

      Speaking of which: somebody else here said that they wished that the gyro rumor were true, b/c it would make shooters much easier to play. Honestly, coming from twenty plus years of PC gaming (right back to Jumpman and Seamus, baby!), the control scheme for Metroid Prime is *extremely* intuitive. It's amazing how challenging the game is even with the auto-lock feature.

      --
      Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
    2. Re:Too difficult? by Fred+Or+Alive · · Score: 1

      Ikaruga can be played with two buttons, you can also have it setup so that Fire+Change is the "smart bomb". IIRC the Dreamcast (and arcade?) version is always like that, althoúgh you do still have a seperate "smart bomb" button as well (not sure about the arcade). It was obviously dumbed down for the GameCube. ;-)

      --
      10 PRINT "LOOK AROUND YOU ";
      20 GOTO 10
    3. Re:Too difficult? by bVork · · Score: 1

      I've played stupid amounts of Ikaruga on Dreamcast. The bomb/homing/whatever (since its effect differs based on how much you have charged) is also mapped to the right trigger by default.

      By the way, Radiant Silvergun (on Saturn) is better.

    4. Re:Too difficult? by Fred+Or+Alive · · Score: 1

      I mostly played with the Dreamcast Arcade Stick. The Dreamcast pad is awful for anything like 2D shooters or fighters, I'm glad I got a stick for them. I can't say I own every Naomi->DC conversion however, you must have an impressive games collection.

      I haven't really played enough Ikaruga recently to compare the controls, all I know is that the Gamecube D-pad is even worse than the Dreamcast one, it's good you can use the analouge stick. I think the Gamecube one appears to be a slightly better conversion as well. I must dig it out at some point, at the moment my Gamecube is gathering dust as I'm mostly playing Xbox games.

      (As for bomb buttons, the DC version does have one (R / C), but it's not actually needed, A+B fires the bomb, which isn't the default behavior in the Cube version IIRC, but you can switch it back if you want.)

      --
      10 PRINT "LOOK AROUND YOU ";
      20 GOTO 10
  9. Re:Clutter by brkello · · Score: 2, Interesting

    From what I hear, they should be fairly solid. They aren't the IR controllers of the past that required line of sight...and quite frankly were awful. But I don't think they are going to force you to use wireless controllers. Just get a wired controller and don't worry about it.

    --
    Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
  10. Re:Clutter by Gallandro · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree with you there. Conceptually, a wireless controller is a Good Thing, but there are a lot of cases where I would greatly prefer a wired controller. Especially with little kids around my house. Right now my Xbox controllers are tethered to the machine, but who knows where the little wretches will take controllers not connected to anything.

    I just hope the controllers on the new systems come with a 'page' feature like cordless phones do. Fat chance of that.

  11. Re:Clutter by Txiasaeia · · Score: 2, Informative
    I bought a Wavebird for my Cube back in February, and haven't needed to change the batteries yet (AA, not sure what you mean by "remote control batteries"). Not only that, but I've never had any missing "keystrokes" or lag *at all*.

    Speaking as a parent of a 14 month old wire-pulling boy, I'm extremely glad that I bought that Wavebird, and happy to hear that the Revolution is going wireless as well.

    --
    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  12. Re:Clutter by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

    Use a Wavebird. I used to think the same as you, I really did, but that controller is as responsive as the wired ones. The care that Nintendo puts into their hardware is phenominal.

  13. Re:Clutter by Zangief · · Score: 1

    I don't have exact numbers, but Nintendo's Wavebird is responsive at all times, except when the batteries are low. With Duracell batteries, This only happens every two months.

    That said, I don't like CVS2 on the Cube. The cube controller doesn't give itself to fighting games, where every button has the same chance of being pressed (Instead of normal games, where the most used buttons go in the A and B buttons, secondaries to the X and Y, etc).

    Sooo...unless Sony and Microsoft are extremely stupid, they should provide good wireless controllers.

    Why Nintendo doesn't patent those things? I'm sure they could have patented the Wavebird, because every wireless controller before it sucks, so they must be doing something different.

  14. Real story by metamatic · · Score: 1

    I reckon it's taken them this long to decide the name and what it should look like. Now all their engineers are about to start the longest weekender in history.

    --
    GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
  15. Yoshi's Island by goodenoughnickname · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Get her Yoshi's Island -- it's the Trojan Horse to girls playing video games. "Awwww, Mario's a cute widdle baby! OK, I guess I'll give it a try..."

    Pretty soon she'll be humiliating you in Mortal Kombat 2. Seriously, your penis will shrink.

    1. Re:Yoshi's Island by hollismb · · Score: 1

      Amen. Stupid girls wo always kicked my ass with Mileena, that cheap ass Sai-throwing whore.

    2. Re:Yoshi's Island by sevinkey · · Score: 1

      Nah dude, she's a lot more into Mortal Kombat than I am, and she kicks my ass at it.

      But our vs games of starcraft last hours and hours and hours.

      and no, you guys can't have her number :)

    3. Re:Yoshi's Island by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      My daughter is in her teens, and has friends over to the house fairly regularly...

      Two of them became absolutely addicted to Halo/Halo 2. The competition is what got them addicted, and they were frickin' crazy to watch. So intense, and they REALLY cared if they won or lost.

      One of them was already into games, and she picked it up pretty easily. For the other one, it was only the 2nd or 3rd game she had ever played, and it took her a while to get the hang of it.

      They would come over for hours and hours...even to the point where I was saying "No, I can't play anymore." (My daughter was getting pissed, because they would come over and play Halo, which she has *no* interest in.)

      Finally, I had to hide the Halo disks...and when I did, one of them got their own Xbox, and they started playing over at her house. 6 months later, they are still playing tons of Halo 2 on Live.

      Before then I had never seen a girl/woman addicted to games...just the 'oh, I love Pac Man' type...I would say that these Halo girls were actually a little scary...

      But I just wanted to point out...not all girls need a cute game to get started with video games.

      --
      No reason to lie.
  16. the n-game and the hunt for the prize by brs165 · · Score: 1

    This site http://mozlapunk.web-log.nl/ has been quite the center for information regarding the conspiracy that the Nintendo Revolution(NRV) is/was going to be shown this week. It also looks at and picks apart that fake Nintendo ON video.

  17. Re:Trust me, guys. by Iscariot_ · · Score: 1

    I highly doubt it because that would be MORE complicated than a static controller that you can at least memorize after enough time.

  18. Re:Trust me, guys. by KDR_11k · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Touchscreens can report only one button press at a time and lack tactile feedback, not even Super Mario Bros. would be playable on that since you'd want to hold run AND jump.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  19. Re:Trust me, guys. by devnull17 · · Score: 1

    I doubt it. The lack of tactile feedback would make such a controller pretty hard to use.

    Touchscreens are also relatively expensive, can't record more than one touch at a time, and might not stand up too well to button-mashing in certain games.

  20. Gamecube controller... by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 1

    This is why I love the Gamecube controler. I know what every button is based on the shape of the button. The big button is "A" the smaller button is "B", Z is skinny button on the top and so on. On the other hand, I wish the analog sticks were parallel to each other like the PS controler instead of off centre.

    I am not sure how Nintendo is going to improve their controler scheme and maintain backwards compatiblity, but they say they will.

    1. Re:Gamecube controller... by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "I am not sure how Nintendo is going to improve their controler scheme and maintain backwards compatiblity, but they say they will."

      The cheap way would be to put GC controller ports on the unit.

      They could also build on the existing design. Leave the button layout the way it is, put touch sensors on the handles, and a gyro sensor somewhere in there. (Frankly, I'd settle for just the gyro. Anybody who's tried to use the sniper rifle in San Andreas knows what I'm talking about.)

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  21. I'm Pretty Sure this won't be the Official Logo by hubs99 · · Score: 1

    I'm Pretty Sure this will not be the Official Logo.
    Slightly off topic but too absurd not to post

    http://www.cafepress.com/larevolution

  22. Re:Clutter by Naikrovek · · Score: 1

    oh man. i stopped buying wireless controllers after the third time my kid pulled my ps2 off its shelf by grabbing the wired controller and running.

    now: wireless wireless wireless.

    he even dropped the thing in the toilet, where it sat for about an hour before it was discovered. it was turned on. after pulling it out, drying, cleaning, and disinfecting, it still works great.

    no more wired controllers for me, not until my kids have moved out, anyway. no more open bathroom doors either.

  23. Nintendo's Controller by MBraynard · · Score: 1
    In describing the controller, Reggie said that the new console will access the entire Nintendo Library history. He said if you looked at all the controllers going back to the original NES and lined them up, it would give you a hint about what the new controller would have to look like.

    I am guessing it's some kind of dynamic surface that will have be able to create a raised and lit up surface depending on the needs of the game. Or maybe it won't have a the ability to raise itself, just the ability to display different interfaces.

    Any other theories?

    1. Re:Nintendo's Controller by cowscows · · Score: 1

      It would have to have some sort of ability to modify its physical shape. I don't think it'd be possible to use a controller where you couldn't locate the different buttons just by feel.

      If it was just like a touch screen that each game configured, you'd have to constantly be looking down at your hands, it'd be much harder to develop muscle memory, and it would seriously detract from the fun. Plus, how would you know how hard to push the button down. Would just brushing over it be enough? Could it be pressure sensitive? Although I'm sure nintendo could come up with some new game types that worked in that sort of setup, it would not be the least bit desirable for older games.

      All of Nintendo's controllers are what I would call "backwards compatible" with all of its predecessors. They've basically been changing the general shape, and adding/moving buttons. The only think missing would be the select button from the NES/SNES, but there's plenty of new buttons to choose from to substitute for it.

      The revolutionary part is going to have to be in addition to everything we've already got. I think the gyroscopic movement sensing stuff is the most likely of all the rumors I've heard, and if that is the case, I have faith in Nintendo to really develop that idea into something beyond the novelty that it's been in the past, and into potential for some really cool gameplay.

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

    2. Re:Nintendo's Controller by Yorrike · · Score: 1
      I just lined up the NES, SNES, N64 and GCN controllers and I can see a pattern:

      The SNES controller was a vastly improved NES controller, the N64 controller was completely different.
      The GC controller is a vastly improved N64 controller...

      So I'm guessing the Revolution controller will be completely different. Like nothing we've seen before. I think this comment is a bluff, as all games could be played comfortably on the GC controller, and the revolution has GC ports, so in designing the controller, all they have to do is release a revolution branded GC controller and the complete backwards compatibility problem is solved.

      Since the Revolution controllers will be wireless, I'm guessing the Wavebird will work natively without the required receiver (which, if the console shell doesn't change, wouldn't fit the GC ports anyway).

      We have a few more months to wait, but I am certain, that if the controller is not completely mind blowingly different, they wouldn't have included the GC ports.

      --

      Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?

    3. Re:Nintendo's Controller by GreenHell · · Score: 1

      We have a few more months to wait, but I am certain, that if the controller is not completely mind blowingly different, they wouldn't have included the GC ports.

      See, I thought that too (and still think that), however, a friend of mine thinks differently. His opinion is that the GC ports are only there so that the GBA link cables can be used with GC games.

      We'll all just have to wait and see, I guess.

      --
      "I won't mod you down - I feel the need to call you a twit explicitly, rather than by implication."
    4. Re:Nintendo's Controller by Yorrike · · Score: 1
      I think the Revolution will be designed to talk to either the DS or the next generation Gameboy (which is rumoured to appear for next year's E3). This means wireless all the way.

      But as an aside, it does let you use the GameCube games with added GBA functionality, like Crystal Chronicles or Wind Waker. We can but wait :)

      --

      Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?

    5. Re:Nintendo's Controller by Jakeypants · · Score: 1

      OK, let's see...

      NES: 4 buttons, rectanular.
      GB: 4 buttons, rectangular.
      SNES: 8 buttons, mostly rectangular.
      Virtual Boy: 6 buttons (I think. I actually have one of these.), semi nurbish.
      N64: 10 buttons, nurbish.
      GBA: 6 buttons, semi nurbish.
      GCN: 8 buttons, very nurbish.

      So for the GCN, they turned the four C buttons into a joystick.

      I think this means that the new system will distill things even further and just be six joysticks, no buttons.

    6. Re:Nintendo's Controller by Lucractius · · Score: 1

      You werent paying enought attention i think.

      Reggie Pulled the new GBA out and showed it off to quite a lot of applause from the croud.

      Its as he said a little smaller, and 2 thrirds the weight of an iPod mini with a slightly larger screen than the current GBA and it will be even brighter, have custom changeable covers... oh and it features fully integrated wifi networking to match the DS and the Revoloution... What were any of you saying about cords?

      Nintendo are setting some serious goals here. Including a major deal with a large ubiquitous behmoth online gaming company that garantees free wireless gaming with GBAs and DSs in a ton of places. They arent just going to have console pads. in theory just as the GBA could be a pad for the Gamecube... Its practicaly garanteed there will be similar, if infact far more advanced, uses with Revoloution games, all without having to get any more plugs adapters or anything.

      --
      XML - A clever joke would be here if /. didn't mangle tag brackets.
  24. no its not by rawmule · · Score: 1

    - that controller(Wavebird) is as responsive as the wired ones

    I was able to happily use a Wavebird for wind waker, metroid, and pretty much any other game. But, I picked up a Wavebird to play Smash Bros with and within a day was back on the wired controllers. The button response if fine, but there is still a slight delay in the analog stick response (the other people who I play SSBM with all agree, no one will use the Wavebird for SSBM). I'll admit that this was only noticable to people who had played the game alot, and it was very slight, but enough to throw off our game. This may be due to subtle differences in the controller rather lag per se, but the Wavebird is not exactly like the wired controllers.

    Given that Smash Bros is appearantly the big revolution launch title, I have faith that Nintendo will get the analog (or touch screen, gyroscopic, thought recognition, whatever) response as good as a wired controller's.

    1. Re:no its not by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      I didn't have the same problems, but I'm not as hardcore as some.

      I have a questiion to ask you though. If the GC only had Wavebirds from the start would you have noticed it, or is it only noticeable in comparison to the wired controllers. If it is only noticable compared to the wired controllers, I wouldn't see that as a problem for you with the Revolution, even if it has the same reaction time. If it would be noticable to you anyway, that might be a problem, because Nintendo seems pretty pleased with the results of the wavebird. I wouldn't expect them to tweak it much more.

    2. Re:no its not by rawmule · · Score: 1

      I would not have noticed the difference had I not maxed out the play counter on SSBM with wired controllers before going to Wavebird, as there would be no basis for comparison, and like I said, the difference on the analog is very subtle. But I was contending that Wavebird is not exactly the same as wired controllers, as parent suggested.

  25. Re:Modern Controllers by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

    Great. You're one of the five people who intuitively know which button to press when the PS2 throws its stupid labels at you but the rest doesn't. It takes me a few seconds to figure out which button is meant when it just throws a shape at me (e.g. it asks you to input a combination).

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  26. Re:Modern Controllers by yoyhed · · Score: 1

    The exact same button configuration has been around since Playstation was released in 1995, and again with PS2 in 2000. TEN YEARS. And we're talking the two bestselling consoles, with the most games, of the last decade. If you haven't learned it by now, just play for like an hour. The shapes also color-coded, so there's two ways to remember.

    --
    WHO NEEDS SHIFT WHEN YOU HAVE CAPSLOCK/ DAMN1
  27. Re:Modern Controllers by wheany · · Score: 1

    The only button that is easy to remember on the PS controller is the triangle, and that's because it's at the top, so the shape of its glyph points to the right direction. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most rarely used buttons.

  28. Re:I'm Pretty Sure this won't be the Official Logo by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

    Ehhh... it looks better with Reggie. As cool as Mario is, he doesn't strike me as the ass-kicking, name-taking type.

    Personally, I wanna see the 3-letter code on the bottom of the thing to turn out to be "REG." :)

  29. Re:Clutter by DarKnyht · · Score: 1

    The images that are up on Nintendo's site show that the top of the Revolution will open up to reveal 4 game ports. Now if this is only for Gamecube support or not, I do not know. I guess we will just have to wait for the Revolution and see.

    I just cringe at the thought of constantly buying batteries or replacing my controller yearly because I wore out the rechargeable batteries in them.

    --
    Voting them all out of office, now that's change I can believe in.