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Cutting Through The Next-Gen BS
ConfusedFX wrote to mention a great feature at GameDaily that is trying to cut through marketing BS and get to the truth behind the upcoming next-gen systems. From a piece on the Revolution's street-date: "Now Nintendo is saying that a near final version of the Revolution will be on display and working at E3 2006. If the company expects to release in the US before Thanksgiving then it has to have a working model at E3, but exactly what does that mean for attendees of the annual expo? We expect to see Zelda: Twilight Princess running on Revolution with the new features discussed a couple weeks ago, and maybe Smash Brothers and a Mario title with a couple of little mini-games like we saw at the Tokyo Game Show. We may also see a handful of classic Nintendo titles to promote the Revolution download service Nintendo has vaguely discussed in the past. If we can play Smash, Mario and some Nintendo classics on the show floor we'll be happy Nintendo. Don't let us down!"
Perhams something is needed to help people see the truth. Games marketing, just like most marketing has become a matter of hyping up every aspect of the game/system. Whenever a new console comes out it's the one that's supposed to kill all other systems, and whenever a new game is out it's supposed to be the last game you'll ever need. So the best way to know if hype is BS or not is to actually try out the thing in question
Go home and shave your giant head of smell with your bad self
That is Nintendo's way. If you remember Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Zelda: Oracle of Seasons for the GBC, if you put them into the GBA (which was out or very close to out at that time) you could get access to a special store that was closed when you played with a GBC. They've done stuff like that a few times now.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
As of yet I have seen no type of game which could not have been made without the new controller.
Don't think of it like that. There isn't any game that couldn't be emulated on another system to some extent. DS games could be played with a mouse on a PC, but the lack of direct input would hinder your performance.
Think instead of how the controller will help existing games. Imagine a Pilotwings where you hold the controller like apaper airplane instead of using clunky analog sticks. Imagine a Mario Kart where you hold the controller by the ends and turn your hands to steer. Imagine a Madden game where you can simply point to the open reciever, a FIFA game where you can aim a shot by pointing to a location on the screen as if it were the goal (flick the controler to give it a little english), or an NHL game where you can reliably pass to the right wing from the left wing, because you can point to the player you want and not rely on a clunky analog stick passing system. Hell, imagine how much easier menu navigation in RPGs will be.
Think of what you wanted to do when you first picked up a controller. Ever point at the TV? Shoot that guy! Him! Right there! Now you can and it will count. Ever try to dodge a punch by wrenching your controller to the side? Now you can and it will count.
In my mind the Revolution controller is about making games easier to while actually increasing gameplay depth. Again think of Madden. Easy mode - Point somewhere and throw to the nearest reciever. Expert mode - Where you point is where you throw. That has been attempted before. Remember John Elway's Quarterback in the 8-Bit era? Now, however, you have a quick and accurate control system to make it work.
There will be games that will be new, but they won't be new because they couldn't have been done before. They will be new, because they couldn't have been done well before.
Think of the Revolution controller that way and you might get as excited as I am about it.