Slashdot Mirror
Responses To Nintendo's Revolution Controller
Gamasutra has reactions to last week's Question of the Week, discussing the Nintendo Revolution Controller. While there were a lot of mixed feelings, overall the response seemed to be positive. From the article: " I certainly hope [the controller will be beneficial]. More of the same thinking in terms of developing the future of games can only take us so far. As a lifelong gamer and game developer, I urge everybody in our industry to support the innovation and risks taken by Nintendo on sheer principle. We always lament that there is no creativity and innovation in the games industry anymore. Guys, we have to rally around these initiatives. It brings a tear to my eye that somebody out there in this big brutal word of ROI and risk management still dares to go out on a limb like that to push gaming further. And my mouth waters when I think of designing for such hardware. -Marque Sondergaard, Powerhouse"
Wow! You have a remote that senses movement in 3d space as well as rotational directions?
I don't see what people have to hate about this controller design. If you don't like it, plug in a gamecube controller. Nintendo has this thought out well for everyone, including people that dislike their new controller.
A very accurate comment on the form of the thing, while compleatly ignorring the function of the device. Pretty insightful there.
If forums teach us anything, it is that logic and critical thinking should be required courses in the public schools.
I'll have an opinion once I use one. But my general feeling is that if the games are designed with this controller in mind and can take advantage of its features then it will be a good thing. Playing older game cube games that were made for the old style controller probably would not be so good. So I guess it all depends on the developer.
The days of the digital watch are numbered.
I don't really see how it's good or bad, the only direction I'm vaguely excited in is the world of FPS games. I hate console FPSes and this could be just the thing to improve FPS gaming IMHO. I Suppose I agree with the article in the idea that we should encourage attempts at innovations such as this. (though I for one found the plethora of "touching is good" ads for DS somewhat creepy)
And as the original article states, you at least have to give Nintendo props for being willing to take risk and try something radical. The game market has been sorely lacking in innovation for a long time, so even though I'm not particularly impressed by Nintendo's newest offering, I still applaud them for being unique.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. However, don't hate on Nintendo because they're doing something new and different. It's that kind of thinking that has kept the gaming industry in the vicious cycle of endless clones and knock-offs that don't offer anything new but a rehashed graphics engine. If this venture becomes successful, it will in turn inspire other companies and publishers to go out on a limb with ground-breaking ideas. As it is, everyone is too afraid to take a big risk on an unproven concept, so we just keep getting fed the same old crap over and over.
Now, all that said, there have always been great games coming out, but in recent years they seem to have been continually dwindling in numbers. Bottom line: innovation is always a good thing. It's what's driven our economy and fueled growth and technological development more than almost anything else.
The Slashdot Limerick
You know, even if it were *just* a remote control (which on that, you're incorrect to begin with - though I sense your statement is more of an attempt to defame, rather than one of ignorance), it would still be a departure from the norm. What the article is saying, or at least the quote in question, is that we should move on any opportunity to support a departure from the norm based on that alone.
He makes a good point that people continuously want a new experience. The revolution controller as a step in the right direction by bringing gamers closer to real interactivity, which is the entire reason and purpose of video games in the first place.
Just like commenting on the PS3 controller:
"Ooooh! A banana-rang, how innovative!"
or on the X360 controller:
"Ooooh! It's white and um... ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and huge)"
Looks aren't everything, and no offence, didn't your mom tell you that?
^_^
Okay okay, it looks like a remote control, but can you actually control the TV with it? Seriously, I think that is a feature that would complete the set. The more I think about it, the better I like this new controller and really want to see the games. So if a person can just pick this up, turn the TV on with it, adjust the volume and channel, turn on the Revolution, and play, that would be perfect! Wow, imagine that people start using this as their primary remote, then they'd always be a click away from playing a game. You know, that's where Nintendo might be going with this. Gaming becomes as casual as using a TV remote.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
You just gave me an idea for a TV commercial. It starts off quoting your post, fades to black, and a narrator says "This is your brain on drugs." Think how many kids will be scared straight!
Correct, you are not the target audience. And you know what? For every hardcore gamer in the world, there are probably 10 people who are not hardcore gamers. If Nintendo can grab the interest of even 10% of that potential market, then they are doing as well as Sony and Microsoft put together.
You demand hardcore stick-tilting, combo-memorizing, button-mashing game controls? Buy an XBox 360.
Certain genres of games might be difficult with this controller, yes. Tekken style games are a good example. But try and look past established genres and imagine that this different controller system just might allow whole new genres to form. But even if you can't do without Tekken 6 or whatever, MS and Sony will be more than happy to sell you a system with controllers chock-full of buttons.
You're too caught up in the current controller mindset. The revolution controller is giving up some of the detailed control that buttons provide, and replacing it with the detailed control of a mouse, plus a third dimension. I think this is a pretty decent trade off, and hopefully a lot of developers will agree.
If you took away video games and my computer, I'd pretty quickly find that very few of the things I interact with day to day involve that many buttons. If the revolution lives up to its potential, i don't think I'll be missing X, Y, L, or R very much.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
Oh, you mean the one that has it's OWN CONTROLLER? ... WITH A BAZILLION BUTTONS? ... THAT COSTS 200 BUCKS?
Right, I use that to play Tekken ALL the time!
I'm not scared of anonymous cowards.
It seems to me that in order for them to not work for Revolution games, Nintendo would have had to design the system and expend extra effort with that particular goal in mind. (Such as actively disabling the ports when a non-Gamecube disc is detected in the drive.) This seems to me so completely self-defeating that it's inconceivable as a possibility.
If the ports are there, any software made for the system should be able to access them if they so desire.
Of course, nobody really cares about "respect" on slashdot anyway- especially if you've already got extra karma points.
Let me comment on his first complaint, a prediction that it will painful to use for long times, as lightguns are.
1. If true, some customers would consider that an advantage. Many Nintendo buyers will be parents of children, and they'd enjoy knowing there's a natural limit to how long gameplay will last.
2. To some extent, it's already true with existing Nintendo controllers. I've probably done PC games like FPS for practically 8 hours, but get stiff and painful after barely four on SNES. I suppose that PC controls are more relaxing because you've got a desk to hold the controls off of the floor, instead of needing to use your fingers to keep it up. This means you can take micro-breaks away from the controls during very brief pauses in the action, without them falling onto the floor. Controllers newer than SNES must be even worse, because they have that "rumble" motor intentionally making it harder to grip. (Yes, you can partly sit it in your lap, but that wouldn't be very stable)
3. In arcades, lightgun shooting games are #3 in popularity, below DDR and driving, and above fighting. Even if lightguns are tiring, so is DDR, so apparently exhaustion isn't necessarily a big problem.