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Revolution Roundtable

Posted by Zonk on from the they'll-have-to-develop-for-it dept.

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!"

12 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Gamers by JExtine · · Score: 5, Funny

    "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.

  2. Considering the DS... by Schezar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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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    1. Re:Considering the DS... by Pxtl · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Agreed. I love my DS. The DS is the first console that can really naturally play PC-style titles - the stylus is the ideal replacement for the mouse, so it opens the world to PC shooters and strat games. The Metroid Hunters demo is everything an FPS should be, without having to compromise the gameplay with slow movement and autoaim hacks like TV-console games do.

      The Rev will be my next console. While MS and Sony put out just another iteration of the same thing, Nintendo's branching out in a new direction with a proven ability to succeed in that direction.

      My only complaint is that the second stick will be practically _necessary_ for conventional gameplay - the wand on it's own is just a little too simple for most console-genre games.

      I'm looking forward to it.

    2. Re:Considering the DS... by Phisbut · · Score: 3, Interesting
      My only complaint is that the second stick will be practically _necessary_ for conventional gameplay - the wand on it's own is just a little too simple for most console-genre games.

      But that is the whole point of the Revolution. We don't want EA to go and make yet another batch of traditional "console-genre games", we want a whole new breed of console genres. The "second stick" or whatever controller add-on one can plug in should always be secondary, or it should be as innovative as the wand. I'd really hate it if games required a regular controller to plug into the wand, and then only use the controller for regular gameplay.

      --
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    3. Re:Considering the DS... by tansey · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Nintendo would have to go out of its way to ruin the launch.

      I think more accurately, the developers would have to go out of their way to ruin the launch. It seems to me that with the stale game market these days, developers would have to be tied up to keep them from flocking to this console.

      Just imagine the current proposal for a game now: "Ok, it's a [insert genre] game where you play a [insert catchy character type] who has to [choose: save, kill, defeat] this [choose: victim, enemy]."

      Now think about some of the game ideas you could have with the Revolution--just from the unique controller: Drums player (2 controllers for sticks), pilot games (tilt/turn the plane with the controller).

      Then there are the improvements to current games: aiming a rifle, using a sword, etc.

      All that needs to happen is for a decent initial lineup of games to come out, which will attract a lot of users, and a lot more companies will follow. If all that can happen, the Revolution may really live up to its name.

    4. Re:Considering the DS... by Iriel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      For all the nay-sayers that think the motion based control in Nintendo games is childish, gimmicky or stupid: They said the same thing about DDR. I'm married and have an 8-year old son, and my wife and I compete with our son's friends in DDR still.

      Suffice to say, you gotta drop the hardcore gamer image sometimes to rediscover what's fun. I can't wait to the NR game line up.

      --
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    5. Re:Considering the DS... by Deliveranc3 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Nintendo could mess things up pretty well with even slight flaws in their controller, if performance isn't up to snuff the lag will destroy them, if wireless conflicts are a problem that will kill them.

      Most critical is how accurate this controller can be, if it has poor quality tracking people will have to lower the sensitivity (Totally destroying the fun) or simply will hate the thing.

      But it's damn good to see that the biggest problems they're likely to have are technical which is how it should be, there will be killer games for this system the fps control scheme alone practically guarantees huge interest.

      And the DS is really a feather in their cap, it's not totally dominating (yet) but it's technical acheivements are increadible in how seamlessly it handles things that would be considered a problem in another system,two systems (GBA and DS in one), two screens, two cpus, and two control schemes. Brilliant, I love mine.

  3. A Revolution in the bedroom... by astroblaster · · Score: 4, Funny
    From TFA:
    Karthik Bala (Vicarious Visions): "... It could be the system in the bedroom with the HD-based system in the living room..."
    Two words: rumble pak.
  4. Time to develop? by FadedTimes · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  5. A whole new realm of video game related injuries by HappyCakeOven · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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??

    --
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  6. It's not that difficult... by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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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  7. Wavebird on the Revolution by Launt · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

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