News > Geek > Nintendo Reveals Revolution Controller; Fanboys Hyperventilate

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15 2005 10:03 PM

Nintendo Reveals Revolution Controller; Fanboys Hyperventilate

Submitted by aegies

Edited by Shal

For more than a year, Nintendo has insisted that the survival of the gaming industry would rely on innovation in gameplay, rather than advances in graphics and sound. Speculation has centered around a rumored drastic change in the control mechanism for their next console, codenamed Revolution. Internet conjecture has been rampant for months, with messageboards and game news sites alike buzzing with unfounded statements, guesses, and cousin's-brother's-roommate's-college buddy sources with fabricated mockups and theories about the new controller. Today, at the Tokyo Games Show, all that speculation was finally put to rest.

The controller for Nintendo's upcoming Revolution home console system is a cordless remote-control-like device designed to be used with only one hand. Two small sensors placed near the TV and a chip inside the controller track its position and orientation, allowing the player to manipulate the action on screen by physically moving the controller itself. For example, you could slash an in-game sword by actually swinging the controller from side to side, turn a race car just by twisting your wrist, or aim your gun in a shooter by pointing the controller where you want to fire.

An expansion port on the bottom of the unit allows for add-on hardware to compliment this "remote controller" (our word for it, not Nintendo's), like a second controller piece Nintendo demonstrated that comes equipped with an analog stick and two trigger buttons (currently labeled Z1 and Z2, for those of you keeping track). When the two controller pieces are attached, the so-called 'Nunchaku' configuration (the two bits are connected by a short cord) can work similarly to current controllers, just with the second analog stick replaced by actual movement of the Revolution controller. Nintendo also mentioned that the controller stick could be slipped inside other, more conventional controller shells, dance mats, bongos, or other peripherals.

Nintendo has a history of bucking conventions with their consoles, including the cartidge-based N64 and the MiniDVD-based Gamecube. Only time will tell if this controller will be the savior of true gaming and accessibility that Nintendo claims it will be, but it's going to be interesting to see exactly how this gets implemented. I think a lot of us won't be getting rid of our Gamecubes any time soon, though.

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Comments

DrZaius_

Shallotte, NC

OLD SKOOL

SEP 15, 2005 10:16 PM

Great. another remote type thing to get lost in the cushions. Looks cool though

Keith

Hooker, OK

August 2002

SEP 15, 2005 10:19 PM

I'll just reprise my comment from the gamers group, because this thread will inevitably head in similar directions:

Oh noes! Not a new idea! OMGWTF! I just want my Playstation 12 and my XBox 4,000! I want the same old shit with better graphics! I want Halo 6 and GTA 9! Don't anybody try to do anything different, now!

</brinstar>

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 by Keith]

Vestril

Coronado, CA

February 2003

SEP 15, 2005 10:21 PM

Wow, the duck hunt technology has finally been taken to the next level

Edit: well then screw the gamers group, I think this looks really cool, it almost makes me want to drift away from my beloved PC...but I'll just mooch off of my friends.

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 10:22PM]

FreakPirate

Canada

November 2002

SEP 15, 2005 10:24 PM

Keith said:
I'll just reprise my comment from the gamers group, because this thread will inevitably head in similar directions:

</brinstar>

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 by Keith]

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

That said... I honestly would end up losing that thing. But I'll give it a try.

acetracer

Hollywood, FL

January 2004

SEP 15, 2005 10:26 PM

They've tried that shit before; without much success.

But then again, I thought two screens on a portable gaming device was stupid. Still do.

BottleCaps

Portland, OR

November 2003

SEP 15, 2005 10:27 PM

I usually love Nintedo's innovative ideas, but this looks fucking retarded. Even the Nintendo fiends in my house hate this. We will have to see how it is when it comes out.

The_Incubator

I'm lost

October 2004

SEP 15, 2005 10:31 PM

If Nintendo were more aggressive with the adult audience, that looks like the makings of a wicked BDSM simulator. And I can finally slit me some throats a little more realistically.

Nick

SexyBeast

Covington, LA

July 2004

SEP 15, 2005 10:38 PM

I love nintendo. They are always coming up with great ideas, but they seem to do great on one part, but mess up the rest. I loved the way they stayed with catridges, but the games just didn't to it. Then the mini-disc, which I liked, but still the games didn't do it for me. Now a new controller, I've loved all of nintendo's controllers, I just hope they improve the games.

I'll always be a loyal nintendo fan, but that's almost only because of the original nintendo and the super nintendo. I've never liked any other systems as much.

aegies

Oakland, CA

June 2004

SEP 15, 2005 10:38 PM

Keith said:
I'll just reprise my comment from the gamers group, because this thread will inevitably head in similar directions:

</brinstar>

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 by Keith]

somewhere, his ears are burning. and i could swear i didn't use "fanboy" in the title of the article (i thought i made it a point to stay away from that specific word).

FallFromGrace

Seattle, WA

March 2004

SEP 15, 2005 10:40 PM

The_Incubator said:
If Nintendo were more aggressive with the adult audience, that looks like the makings of a wicked BDSM simulator. And I can finally slit me some throats a little more realistically.

Nick

what does murdering people by slitting throats have to do with BDSM?