CNN Hands-On With The Revolution

The Game Over column over at CNN has a hands-on look look at the Nintendo Revolution and its unique little controller. From the article: "By adding an auxiliary thumbstick controller, I was able to play through a level of a retrofitted 'Metroid Prime 2' (a GameCube game). Confession time: When it comes to console shooters, I'm terrible. I can finish them, but I'm nowhere near as competent as I am with my mouse/keyboard setup for the PC. In the early stages of the 'Metroid' demo, it looked like this trend would continue, as I was all over the screen. By mid-way, though, I was better able to move and aim - and enjoyed the game far more than I did with the GameCube controller. ('Metroid' fans... well, you're probably already pretty excited.)"

Comments

We shall see, personally I have my doubts

[SmallFurryCreature]

It is not the controller OR the less powerfull hardware. It is the constant hammering on making games easy to understand. I mean this article suggests that there are people out there who do not understand current controllers and that nintendo wishes to attract them.

Okay, this is going to be regarded as elitist and it is. I just like to suggest the following. If you have trouble figuring out a console controller perhaps you should go back to the field and settle in the soil with the other vegetables.

I know not everyone has an IQ with 3 digits but come on. KIDS can figure these things out.

The gamecubes lack luster sale were not down to subpar software or hardware it was the perception that Nintendo == Kiddy games. Go to a games store and most people will simply pass the nintendo by. The only people that look at it are the ones with kids in the lower grades. It is just not for adults.

Now of course this isn't entirely true and Nintendo has had some titles on it console wich are for an audience that has been potty trained BUT the perception remains.

I have to wonder why Nintendo seems so desperate to attract a market that in the 2 decades of video games has still not be won over while possibly alienating (as they did with the gamecube) the established market.

Here is a tiny little hint for Nintendo. Non-gamers ARE NOT GOING TO BUY THE REVOLUTION ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT BEING TOLD TO BY THEIR GAMER FRIENDS. This is a hard bit to understand but NON-GAMERS do NOT know about games. They are not reading the articles about the revolution, they will not see it in shops because they are NOT intrested. Whatever kept them non-gamer will not be changed.

I haven't met a single non-gamer who turned to gaming on their own. ALL of them were turned by gamer friends.

If the gamers are not playing your revolution then the device will be sitting unsold like the gamecube.

Now their are Nintendo fans who defend nintendo at all costs here but I would like to ask them to consider this. Are you a gamer? Yes? Then nintendo isn't targetting you so how excited you are about the new controller has no merit. By definition anyone who reads this article IS not the non-gamer Nintendo seems to want to attract.

There is room for innovation, the DS proved that, BUT it is pointless aiming this at people who do not game without having the word of mouth advertising from existing gamers to advertise your product.

What I fear will happen is that the games with the revolution will be considered to simple/dumbed down etc for the existing gamers to buy and therefore the necessary word of mouth will not be generated.

How many gamecube owners have the gamecube as their only console? I know that at least with both the DS and GBA that all the people I know who own one have at least got either a PC or a none nintendo console as well. No one I know has only a gamecube or handheld.

So is Nintendo chasing a dream market? Perhaps. It is all going to depend now on the games. Will they be perceived as to cutesy to be played by the existing gaming public? Or will I be wrong and will Nintendo be able to penetrate the huge market of non-gamers (is it that huge? A recent article on game violence claimed that 90% of boys game and 40% of girls, doesn't leave a lot of people, the majority of young people already game)

It would be intresting to see what sales research Nintendo has shown that makes them believe their current products are bought by non-gamers. I see far to many hard-core gamers like myself who buy their current handheld products.