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Revolution Roundtable
1up.com is running a piece talking to six professional game developers, where they discuss the possibilities and possible pitfalls of the Nintendo Revolution. From the article: "I don't think it will be difficult at all to make full length titles for the Revolution. First of all, Nintendo has hinted that they will provide an add-on for the controller that will mimic a "normal" controller, like the GameCube's Wavebird controller. Second, as long as the device is light, movement based input is not that tiresome. I have used a gyroscopic mouse for many years, and can successfully play many games with it. I would presume that games specifically tuned for the Revolution's controller will be easy to use for extended periods of time. As a bonus, gamers who play that long will end up with impressive looking forearms!"
"As a bonus, gamers who play that long will end up with impressive looking forearms!" I thought gamers already had impressive forearms thanks to some of the other activities they do.
Considering how well the DS has fared, despite initial bemusement or cries of gimmickry, I think that the Revolution has a good chance of making waves. Even I was skeptical of the DS at first. I bought it with the rationale that it would either be an excellent system, or that it would be so terrible that, years from now, I could point to it as my friends point to their ancient Virtual Boys.
The DS is doing insanely well. It's practically flooded the PSP out of the market, and must-have games are coming out in droves. That touch screen isn't a gimmick: it's a whole new world of gaming. I know several people who consider their DS to be their primary gaming platform.
Sony is coming late to the field with an expensive system and ill will from their DRM fiasco. Microsoft arrived early with an unstable, overheating, overpriced system and a mediocre launch lineup.
Both systems are hellishly expensive, and many of their titles will overlap. I can't imagine that many people will bother to have both: the only real deciding factor is between Halo/Xbox Live or Final Fantasy n+1.
The Revolution, however, will be massively cheaper and offer games that can't even be emulated on the other systems. Nintendo would have to go out of its way to ruin the launch.
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It sounds a lot like these developers haven't even seen a dev kit for the revolution. Which to seems odd to me if we are going to see a system in roughly 6months, and the 3rd party dev's don't have the dev kits; then how are they going to have decent launch titles? Maybe they need to interview developers who are going to have launch titles, but maybe big N has these people locked down on what they can say about the new system.
...working out at the gym?
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"So tell me again, why is it your right hand is so much more developed than your left?" *cough*
"As a bonus, gamers who play that long will end up with impressive looking forearms!"
And tennis elbow!
impressive looking forearms... I think we're overlooking one of the revolution controller's biggest disadvantages. Before all we had to worry about was a bad case of Nintendo thumb. Now what? Carpal tunnel syndrome? Tennis elbow? A sprained shoulder? Will I have to get Tommy John surgury to play MVP 2007??
It makes real cupcakes, with a 40 watt bulb, and there's icing packets....but the secret ingredient is love.
Everyone keeps referring to the quick Nintendo video showing the exaggerated motions with the new controller. They weren't real. They were just that, exaggerated motions to better illustrate the new controller.
The fact is that all reports point to being able to use it resting your arm with minor motions, just like current controllers. Sure some games will allow for the dramatic sword fights and whatnot... but it is no big deal. Think about it... have you ever played tennis or ping pong? No massive forearm strength is needed, plus the game has built in pauses to rest.
There are many more examples, but for christ's sake even if you are a geek I think you should be able to wave a 4-6oz. controller around for a couple hours even with no massive strain - we aren't talking about a cinder block here. If you are too weak to handle that, then it is really time to put the game console away and go excercise.
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"...gamers who play that long will end up with impressive looking forearms!" Will also enjoy spinach, and attempt to woo impossibly skinny women.
Everyone always seem to ignore the fact that all gamecube controllers will work on the Revolution. It is suppose to have 4 ports for Cube controllers. Save your wavebirds because you can use them on it. So there is no reason to worry about the funky Rev controller since you can use the Wavebird still. Thats a good thing since its about the best controller ever made. They will probably rebadge the Wavebird and sell it as a Revolution controller too just so there isn't much confusion.
"When the going gets Weird, the Weird turns Pro" - Hunter S. Thompson
It's been brought up, many times. The answer is that we really don't know yet, and can't really tell until we have more data. A lot of these recently noticed (medical research speaking) injuries are do to the very cramped nature of inputs our hands have been forced upon in modern times.
It's entirely possibly that naturally waving one hand and pushing one or two buttons in a 2' range will result in less injuries than unnaturally cramping all ten fingers to reach all 10 different buttons, two analog sticks and a d-pad in a 2" range.
Bottom line, jury's still out.
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I think the claim of impressive forearms cause by repeated motion is unfounded. I've been doing that for years without any impressive resluts. As a matter of fact, it's only ended in shame.
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Nintendo is being extremely innovative with the Rev, and they are very good at innovating successfully. Take the DS, for example. It's innovative, and it is/was successful.
Past success in innovation does not guarantee future success in innovation. Remember the Virtual Boy?
plus the game has built in pauses to rest.
So did games on the Virtual Boy, if that's any indication.
Gosh, it's a good thing all previous human activity has been limited to a tiny range of motion for our thumbs and forefingers. What would our early ancestors have done if they couldn't kill antelope with their B button? Now that we're really pushing the limits, who knows what kind of muscles we'll develop? Maybe some on our big fat butts, from walking around! The mind boggles. ;-)
I do agree, and this would be repetitive motion -- but carpal tunnel syndrome, oddly enough, is a problem associated not with tennis or baseball or other active pursuits. It's skyrocketed with the basically sedentary use of traditional input devices this controller doesn't resemble much. Seems like we're maybe worrying the wrong way around...
"Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
Wow, 7 years and you don't have the balls to post your little pat on the back as yourself but as an AC... That makes it all so credible. *rolls eyes*
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Amen and pass the gravy!
However, we all now will be modded downward so that this intelligent discussion never sees the light of day. I mean who wants to see and hear some real discussion when there are so many "insightful" and "funny" replies to mod up?
I know it is a panacea, but it really wouldn't take much to turn this place around and right the ship. Now, don't get me wrong I don't miss the Natalie Portman/Hot Grits/Goatse days, but at least they were good fun and the place was alive and kicking... it just seems so sterile and bland these days.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
Y'know, speaking of DDR, this would be a great game with the Revolution controllers. One of the problems with DDR is it looks like you're doing that Irish dancing when you play -- it's all in the legs, and your arms can just hang down at the side. But what if you played DDR on the usual footpad but you had a Revolution controller in each hand. There would be on-screen actions for both your feet and your hands. That would be cool, and a better workout to boot!
Well, if it is of any matter to you i actually have a Slashdot ID in the very low numbers but don't use it in favor of this one... so it doesn't matter at all to me... but AC is just that Anonymous Coward. It's a stupid website, if you really place that much value in karma or any silly shit, then that's your own deal.
If you think Zonk is doing a good job, that is your opinion. I was a game reviewer for many years and I can honestly say Zonk's "reviews" are barely passable and never would have made it past any editor I know of.
Add to that the constant posts covering the exact same subject matter, the dupes, and the fact that most "news" is at least a day late on the games section... and you have a pretty poor section. And no matter your view on Zonk, there is absolutely NO reason for one of his wonderful "reviews" to be on the front page news. NONE.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea