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"

Comments

Gamecube controllers work on Revolution too.

[spikestabber]

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.

Re:Gamecube controllers work on Revolution too.

[Joe Random]

If you don't like it, plug in a gamecube controller.

Excpet I'm sure that there are going to be some games that you have to use the 3D controller to play. Not that that's a bad thing, though, as they'll be designed to take advantage of the controller.

The main question here is 3rd party support. Of course, Nintendo makes awesome 1st party games. They always have. But how many 3rd parties will commit themselves to a console where the primary method of controlling the game just doesn't translate to other consoles? They'll either have to

A) make the game primarily for the Revolution, but with a control scheme that can easily be ported (i.e. doesn't take full advantage of the revolution controller)
B) Make the game primarily for other consoles, and hack together a Rev-controller interface (i.e. doesn't take full advantage of the revolution controller) or
C) Make the game a Revolution exclusive, severely limiting their potential audience, and thus potential sales.

The only way out is for this style of controller to become so wildly popular that other consoles create their own versions of the same control style (possible), or license the tech from Nintendo (not likely).

So while I'll be getting a Revolution next year, I don't really suspect that there will be too many games that take full advantage of its revolutionary controller.

Re:Gamecube controllers work on Revolution too.

[FLAGGR]

You do realize that if you put the control inside the wavebird-like sleeve, it still tilts when you tilt the addon sleve? Rigid body physics astounds! I read somewhere EA plans to use the "normal" controller + tilt for their football games.

I'm pretty sure the intention is to have the sleeve addon thing work with all games, i.e. they don't have to specifically support the addon. However I could be mistaken.

Re:Gamecube controllers work on Revolution too.

[Castar]

This is definitely Nintendo's biggest problem (both currently, and with the new controller): third party support.

However, look at the DS. Very few developers are saying "Oh, I can't make my touchscreen/dual screen game for the PSP also! Woe is me!" The DS gets a lot of great games.

Now, partially this is due to the fact that the DS has a large marketshare, and to the fact that handhelds are a lot cheaper to develop for, but still the fact remains: platform-exclusivity is not an automatic killer. In fact, for most of the console world's history, titles have been exclusives (was there anything that was on both SNES and Genesis? Or PS1 and Dreamcast?)

So if Nintendo can make enough hardware sales, and can make the platform cheap enough to develop for (signs point to yes on the second one, at least), then they have a shot even without cross-platform games.

Anyway, 3rd parties might be more willing to step up to the plate than you think - EA has already said they're looking forward to using the new controller features in their sports games, and a number of other large publishers have stated support as well. That's not to say they won't back out if things start going downhill, but of course that will be a lot harder once you've started to develop a game around the controller.

Re:Gamecube controllers work on Revolution too.

[NanoGator]

"The main question here is 3rd party support. Of course, Nintendo makes awesome 1st party games. They always have. But how many 3rd parties will commit themselves to a console where the primary method of controlling the game just doesn't translate to other consoles?"

I think this question actually needs one more little detail: How much will the Rev cost? The GameCube was/is a/an interesting little machine. It has an impressive list of decent games. The GC also started at $200. Now it's only $100. If Nintendo maintains the low cost scenario, then do the 3rd party titles matter as much?

The point I'm getting at is that Microsoft and Sony are trying to be the market leaders. As a result, they're creating really expensive do-all machines. At least with the current generation, it's a lot easier to own a PS2 and a GameCube than it is to own a PS2 and XBOX. Nintendo isn't the market leader by a wide margin, but they're profitable and accessible. One could buy a GameCube and only end up buying 5 games for it, yet they're stil satisfied.

I cannot ignore that 3rd party support is very important to a lot of people. But if Nintendo holds to their strategy, then they stand a good chance of having a really good system on their hands.

too early

[uberjoe]

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.

Maybe?

[Now.Imperfect]

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)

Innovation is a Good Thing

[0rionx]

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.

Re:Remote Control

[neostorm]

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.

Re:Remote Control

[Soul-Burn666]

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?

A Silly Question

[blueZhift]

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.

Re:Shut up you 14 years old... you 14 years old..

[Anonymous Coward]

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!

Re:Loosing buttons for more complicated games

[cowscows]

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.

Steel Battalion?

[Strell]

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!