GamesRadar: Revolution controller details finally revealed

[randycat99]

Silly little rabbits!...gyroscope, shmegmascopes. Is it giving too much away for them to just say they will incorporate an integrated x/y/z accelerometer?

The revolutionary part they didn't mention is obviously that the controller will not be of plastic construction, but rather a finely shaped ball of pure energy plasma, presumably held in place by global-positioned superconducting magnets (a spinoff technology, courtesy of the Star Wars Defense program era). Naturally, this will require the user to wear rather thick and sturdy zero-K field battle gloves to provide the necessary protection from hot plasma upon the user's hands. It may seem ungainly on paper, but hey, what could be more revolutionary than holding a ball of plasma in your hand to control a Mario character on your screen?

 

[patsu]

Guys, read the patent I linked above, which is the source of this article. Its for the GBA.

Perhaps. But there's no stopping Nintendo from reusing the same thing elsewhere. The gyro sensory control rumor has come up more than once.

I just realize it might be a good way to control in-game camera (in some situations)... if the technology is built into the Revolution controller also.

Edit: change gyroscope to gyro sensory control. What was I thinking ?

 

[Megadrive1988]

gyro sensory controls were, at one point, rumored to be part of Dolphin (Gamecube) controller before it was revealed.

 

[jpr27]

I agree it would be different and for some games wouldnt be that bad but for something like say a fps it might take alot of getting use to or a downright pain in the &%$#. My only problems comes when Nintendo talks about the backwards compatability portion. No analog stick (did I miss that somewhere in the info?) of any kind? Depending on a tilt or movement sensor (gyro?) by itself would be just a little to much. I think there needs to be an inclusion of at least one analog stick in there somewhere. :?

The mention of buttons along with a d-pad, sensory device, LCD screen (maybe touchscreen?), and a analog stick, could really open up a nice set of possablilities but guess we will just have to wait and see

P.S. I really like the feeling of the triggers of the Xbox controller whether its for driving sims or fps trigger action. I think it helps bring in the gamer experience so I hope both the PS3 and Nintendo choose to incorporate it in their next gen controllers in some way but for some reason I have my doubts the will

 

[Evil_Cloud]

Miyamoto said there was not going to be any touch-screen in the controller, so I find this hard to believe. Also, did anyone uncover the details of Microsoft's and Sony's new controllers through patent office? I think not.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Ignoring claims this is the new Revolution controller, which there's no reson to believe at all, I'd say gyro's don't make a new revolution in gaming. The tech has been used before in several applications (gaming orientated) and haven't taken the world by storm. They have benefits and are a nice inclusion, but don't revolutionise gaming. I would say EyeToy is far more revolutionary in that it offers a totally different way of interfacing with games. Nintendo needs something similar - very different to what people are used to and which works in a way very far removed from existing methods. Otherwise it's just a (smallish) evolutionary step.

 

[mckmas8808]

OMG great point Shifty. You're right the EyeToy does offer more gameplay oppourtuinties than a gyro controller. Look at Sony's E3 conference for proof anybody. The cups thing is far more impressive than a gyroscope controller.

Has anybody been to the ESPN Zone? Ok if you have you probably played or seen a game that you can box a character standing up with real boxing gloves. The game has a little camera and you have to physically throw a punch and litterly duck punches to avoid being hit.

With a mat and an eyetoy Fight Night 3 could be the most innovative boxing game to date. The mat could be used to walk around the ring (four arrows on the mat). You step on the left arrow and your man walks left etc. And the Eyetoy could view your punches, blocks, and bob and weaves in real-time.

Wow now that's innovative. I need to work for EA.

 

[Magnum PI]

i do not feel comfortabel with the idea of removing the analog stick, and most buttons..

anyway i would wait for the announcement of nintendo, further more the first gameplay demonstration.. there is only speculation for now.

 

[PC-Engine]

This sounds like what they'll put in the Evolution aka GBA2. The Revolution controller might have gyroscopic control but I doubt it will have an LCD.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

This is bullshit or Nintendo's in BIG trouble.

 

[Guden Oden]

This controller sounds like the dumbassest idea I ever heard. With no analog sticks and four buttons the gameplay would be seriously hampered in almost every 3D genre there is. No walking, panning the camera and shooting at the same time. Imagine turning around in a FPS game with this thing by dragging repeatedly on a god damn touchscreen, yeeccchhhh... It makes my whole body shudder.

How about you walk around near the edge of a cliff, the phone rings, you shift in your chair to put the controller down, and as you do it tilts and you go over the edge of the cliff. How NOT great an idea such a control scheme is!


Either Nintendo has gone completely mad, or this is just some trashy article written by someone who is simply speculating - and I am really hoping for the latter.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't know that Nintendo wants to cater for FPS players and racers and whatnot though. I think they want to provide only new games for new gamers who don't already have any console because they don't like the existing games (FPSes, racers, etc).

 

[wco81]

Anyone remember those little spheres with gyroscopes which were used to exercise your wrists and forearms? You spun an exposed edge of a wheel and you did this rotation motion while holding the thing, which would provide resistance.

Nintendo is trying to make gamers develop Popeye forearms! A video gaming device which aids in physical development is surely a revolution.

Yeah the idea of an LCD makes no sense. Soft buttons or controls with no tactile feedback is a big step back in usability. And forget about having mini games on the LCD because who wants to divert eyes from the TV screen?

 

[jvd]

I don't know that Nintendo wants to cater for FPS players and racers and whatnot though. I think they want to provide only new games for new gamers who don't already have any console because they don't like the existing games (FPSes, racers, etc).

thats just stupid .

Nintendo wants to cater to everyone . You will see all the games on the normal systems and then games that appeal to other segments . Think nintendo ds . They have fps , platformers , racers and everything else that you think of when u think of games. Then they have dog simulators , party games , puzzle games and other things you don't really see on modern systems

 

[Teasy]

Guys this was proven to be false 6 posts in yet we're still getting the "Nintendo is teh doomed" posts a whole page later...

Though I'm pretty sure one of the mentioned features will be in the real controller. That being Gyroscopics and how this feature can be seen as bad is beyond me. This kind of control would be great for so many games, including standard stuff like First Person Shooters.

My only problems comes when Nintendo talks about the backwards compatability portion. No analog stick (did I miss that somewhere in the info?) of any kind?

Revolution has 4 GameCube controller ports, how do people keep missing this?

OMG great point Shifty. You're right the EyeToy does offer more gameplay oppourtuinties than a gyro controller.

Like what?, I've seen very few uses for Eye toy outside of party games.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Nintendo is trying to make gamers develop Popeye forearms! A video gaming device which aids in physical development is surely a revolution.

Been done already...Nike Kinetic on Eyetoy

hvd : Though I agree with you generally that Nintendo will endevour to cater for all, I think the balance is very much on the new markets. After all they've said they're not going head-to-head and are onepning up gaming to new audiences with revolution. Providing the same games as on XB360 and PS3 is going to head to head if there's no way to differentiate (control wise), yet the control systems needed for those games aren't the friendly intuitive ones Nintendo are wanting.

That's why a cutback, few buttons system wouldn't surprise if it was true.

I think they have this view : Pretty much everyone watches films and listens to music. Only a small percentage of that everyone plays computer games. Assuming they would all play computer games if given the right games, finding what they will play, different to existing games, means a much bigger audience that isn't seduced by the competitors. Therefore cater to this new audience first, and the hardcore later. Make choices first and foremost for the new breed of gamer, and only in a secondary capacity for what appeals to existing gamers.

At least, this philosophy ties in with their general announcements, unless all those announcements are PR bunk and they'll provide a console like any other with nothing more revolutionary than a controller with 2 more/less buttons than their rivals, despite all their promises.

 

[jvd]

Providing the same games as on XB360 and PS3 is going to head to head if there's no way to differentiate (control wise), yet the control systems needed for those games aren't the friendly intuitive ones Nintendo are wanting.

You can have both. Actually nintendo will have both. Gamecube controllers and these new ns5 controllers

That's why a cutback, few buttons system wouldn't surprise if it was true.

adding a touch screen to a controller can make it simpler and more complex at the same time . Depending on how big the touch screen is , you can move "buttons" around the screen or remove them depending on the need .

Therefore cater to this new audience first, and the hardcore later. Make choices first and foremost for the new breed of gamer, and only in a secondary capacity for what appeals to existing gamers

I don't agree. Nintendo makes criticly aclaimed video games. I don't see nintendo stoping the loz , marios , smash bros , metriods and what not for this new audiance. They will support both. Nintendo sells millions of sead games each release and its thier berad and butter.

 

[scooby_dooby]

gamespot has debunked this rumour...

the original areticle has been modified
"While at first excited from potentially new confirmation of what the Revolution’s controller would finally deliver, certain things - other than the date - just didn’t add up.

Hidden deep in the depths of jargon few would bother to read to, details of cartridges and CPUs complicated matters. While potentially this could have been describing some sort of extra power for the Revolution controller, it is actually describing tilt technology for a game that makes use of Game Boy Advance and Gamecube compatibility. "

 

[patsu]

This controller sounds like the dumbassest idea I ever heard. With no analog sticks and four buttons the gameplay would be seriously hampered in almost every 3D genre there is. No walking, panning the camera and shooting at the same time. Imagine turning around in a FPS game with this thing by dragging repeatedly on a god damn touchscreen, yeeccchhhh... It makes my whole body shudder.

Alright. Even if it's fake, I can still discuss the technicality of such a "thing".

If someone were to emulate analog stick with a touch screen, then "holding it down off center" would probably spin/turn the player in the right direction continuously. So we don't really have to repeat the same drag action frantically while reacting to an ambush.

I played Metroid with the thumbpad and DS touch screen. It can work rather smoothly but takes getting used to. I still don't quite like it though.

The thing is I can't feel the buttons, and so may be doing the wrong thing by pressing the wrong area unless they dedicate the whole touch screen to 1 single control (just the analog stick) at any particular moment.

How about you walk around near the edge of a cliff, the phone rings, you shift in your chair to put the controller down, and as you do it tilts and you go over the edge of the cliff. How NOT great an idea such a control scheme is!

Well, I'd say the gyro-sensor control is only applicable in certain situations (i.e., not in use constantly or we'll get Nintendo Wrists/Arms in addition to Playstation Thumbs). e.g. As an altenative camera control _where it makes sense_

Or during an intense moment such as a light saber fight. When the phone rings, you take a step back and pause the game... or just ignore the call.

 

[Ty]

You can get gyros on a 'chip' - tiny little things used in robots. I guess that's what they're using.

Interesting. That would certainly reduce the amount of power needed.

On the other hand, it would also reduce the feedback you get with a gyroscope - which could be very important for the "feel". At least with an analog stick, you get more tension as you move further away from the origin. (Though with a normal gyroscope I don't believe you get more tension related to the distance from the origin).

Therefore I'm guessing it's a bit of a crippled gyroscope as it has the detection aspect but not the necessary feedback.


And yes, I believe this is a fake - I'm just responding to the gyroscope idea.