Nintendo Revolution Controller Revealed

[Ruined]

The Revolution can play standard controller based games too. It's also backwards compatible with older games. I don't think it will be an issue at all, but you do bring up a good point. It would be nice if the games had a fallback option to standard control for these times when you're too tired to do physical motions.

Yeah, the attachment shell won't be able to compensate for the massive gameplay differences that a gyroscopic controller would afford in games. The only way a game would be able to adapt to a "controller shell" is if two totally different versions of the game are programmed on one disc (very expensive as essentially 2 seperate games must be made inside every single game), or if the gyroscopic feature is incredibly underutilized. It's like if Nintendo were to say "just play Pac-Pix or Nintendogs with a controller instead of a touchscreen" - it just wouldn't work right unless they reprogrammed the game from scratch.

 

[SGX-1]

Yeah, the attachment shell won't be able to compensate for the massive gameplay differences that a gyroscopic controller would afford in games. The only way a game would be able to adapt to a "controller shell" is if two totally different versions of the game are programmed on one disc (very expensive as essentially 2 seperate games must be made inside every single game), or if the gyroscopic feature is incredibly underutilized. It's like if Nintendo were to say "just play Pac-Pix or Nintendogs with a controller instead of a touchscreen" - it just wouldn't work right unless they reprogrammed the game from scratch.

I think it will depend on the type of game. For example there is no good way to play a lightgun game with a controller even though games like HOTD has a standard controller option. However fishing games can use a normal control scheme with no problem at all and will not cost much to build the standard controller option into the game. For example SEGA Bass and Marine Fishing have standard controller options built-in to the game.

Oh and for those who are unsure about the inclusion of the analog attachment:

"Our current plan is for each [Revolution] hardware system to be sold with the free-hand-style controller and the nunchuck-style expansion controller," confirms Nintendo of America's senior director of public relations, Beth Llewelyn.

 

[DemoCoder]

His point about using the thumbstick on a controller is completely valid though.

.Sis

Which is why I've said consoles suck for FPS gaming. A new mouse/trackball style controller is needed. I outlined one in another thread. Revolution's controller doesn't fit the bill IMHO.

 

[KimB]

Which is why I've said consoles suck for FPS gaming. A new mouse/trackball style controller is needed. I outlined one in another thread. Revolution's controller doesn't fit the bill IMHO.

Why not? You've got both the precise aiming and quick movement. What else is needed?

 

[pc999]

"Our current plan is for each [Revolution] hardware system to be sold with the free-hand-style controller and the nunchuck-style expansion controller," confirms Nintendo of America's senior director of public relations, Beth Llewelyn.

Is this "nunchuck-style expansion controller"(whatever they call) the joystick that we see with the remote, right

 

[Magnum PI]

yes it is.

the buyers of nintendo revolution will have the remote and the joystick attachment both in the package.

it remains to see if the "classic" attachment will be included or optionnal, i would not bet on its inclusion..

 

[pc999]

Ok, thanks.

 

[Ty]

Why not? You've got both the precise aiming and quick movement. What else is needed?

How does one turn around (i.e. pivot) with this control scheme? Not by moving the wrist, correct?

 

[Mr. Saturn]

"A little off-topic, but to me this issue has the potential for much bigger problems than the controller (re: multiplatform stuff). We know Xbox/PS3 will run UE3 at at least 1280x720 with AA (and maybe 1920x1080 in case of PS3) Translation: unless Rev digs up some HD support, multiplatform games will look like ass (comparatively) on Rev. IF that's the case, hopefully they will really get some unique control or something to compensate (although that's still a tough sell IMO).

As someone else said, this is likely another reason we're not seeing a lot of software right now. It just won't match up and will lose the screenshot wars."

This was posted by a user at GAF and unfortunately I agree with him. Of course there's always the chance Nintendo will surprise us in regards to the Revolution's power.

 

[KimB]

Oh, I'd be highly surprised if the Revolution wasn't close to the other two consoles in terms of processing power.

Consider the Nintendo Gamecube, for instance. It was better than the PS2 and very close to the X-Box on its capabilities, but Nintendo never hyped its graphics capabilities. I think this has to do more with the culture of the company than the capabilities of the machine.

When launch approaches next year, I think we'll all see that it has quite enough processing power.

 

[DEO3]

"A little off-topic, but to me this issue has the potential for much bigger problems than the controller (re: multiplatform stuff). We know Xbox/PS3 will run UE3 at at least 1280x720 with AA (and maybe 1920x1080 in case of PS3) Translation: unless Rev digs up some HD support, multiplatform games will look like ass (comparatively) on Rev. IF that's the case, hopefully they will really get some unique control or something to compensate (although that's still a tough sell IMO).

As someone else said, this is likely another reason we're not seeing a lot of software right now. It just won't match up and will lose the screenshot wars."

This was posted by a user at GAF and unfortunately I agree with him. Of course there's always the chance Nintendo will surprise us in regards to the Revolution's power.

Considering how heated the screenshot wars have gotten recently, the point is well taken. But when it comes down to it, the Revolution software will likely only look inferior to PS3/360 software when both are displayed on a HDTV. Sure, the PS3/360 will clearly be more powerful systems, but a lot of that extra power will be going into rendering thier games at 1280x720/1920x1080, where as the Revolution is only going to be rendering its games at 640x480. And therefore on SDTVs, which aren't capable of of displaying a picture at a resolution greater then 640x480, and as far as I know still outnumber HDTVs 10 to 1, the graphic quality of the Revolution will most likely be identical to that of a PS3/360.

But, as we've seen in the past Nintendo hasn't always taken full advantage of its hardware. Even though the Revolution has the potential to match the visuals of the PS3/360 on a STDV, there's no saying Nintendo will acctualy take advantage of that potential. Look no further than the Gamecube to see a fantastic state of the art system (as showcased in games like RE4), that was wasted all throughout its life (as showcased in games like Paper Mario). Personaly I love the simple artist style of a lot of Nintendo's games (Paper Mario included), but such games don't fare well in screenshot wars. Si in the end, when it came time to reveal the Revolution, Nintendo was right to focus on the interface itself and not its graphical prowess.

 

[KimB]

Why don't you think Nintendo's going HDTV with this console?

 

[Sis]

Which is why I've said consoles suck for FPS gaming. A new mouse/trackball style controller is needed. I outlined one in another thread. Revolution's controller doesn't fit the bill IMHO.

I don't think a mouse/trackball solution is optimal, merely "the one most familiar". The fact that the controller is worse for an FPS game (a given) does not lend credence to the mouse as the optimal input device. Instead it only means that a controller sucks more than a mouse.

.Sis

 

[compres]

Considering how heated the screenshot wars have gotten recently, the point is well taken. But when it comes down to it, the Revolution software will likely only look inferior to PS3/360 software when both are displayed on a HDTV. Sure, the PS3/360 will clearly be more powerful systems, but a lot of that extra power will be going into rendering thier games at 1280x720/1920x1080, where as the Revolution is only going to be rendering its games at 640x480. And therefore on SDTVs, which aren't capable of of displaying a picture at a resolution greater then 640x480, and as far as I know still outnumber HDTVs 10 to 1, the graphic quality of the Revolution will most likely be identical to that of a PS3/360.

But, as we've seen in the past Nintendo hasn't always taken full advantage of its hardware. Even though the Revolution has the potential to match the visuals of the PS3/360 on a STDV, there's no saying Nintendo will acctualy take advantage of that potential. Look no further than the Gamecube to see a fantastic state of the art system (as showcased in games like RE4), that was wasted all throughout its life (as showcased in games like Paper Mario). Personaly I love the simple artist style of a lot of Nintendo's games (Paper Mario included), but such games don't fare well in screenshot wars. Si in the end, when it came time to reveal the Revolution, Nintendo was right to focus on the interface itself and not its graphical prowess.

How can you claim that? Nintendo has said nothing about HDTV support thus far. I can't believe how many people are claiming this with zero proof, or is there any proof? Have I been completely uninformed about this for so long?

You even say the software will end up looking inferior. I mean come on people do we even have any pictures? Good thing this kind of comments dont really hirritate me anymore.

People seem to forget so fast, this kind of ignorant claims were made at the start of last generation, and we can see now how good the gamecube hardware really is specially compared to the overhyped sony ps2. Just for the sake of the point you are trying to make, show me some proof.

Please enlight me.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Nintendo has said nothing about HDTV support thus far.

http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p2.html

"It is accurate that at this time we will not support high-definition [on Revolution]," confirmed Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, in early 2005.

"Nintendo's Revolution is being built with a variety of gamers' needs in mind, such as quick start-up time, high power, and ease of use for development and play. It's also compact and sleek, and has beautiful graphics in which to enjoy innovative games," Kaplan said. "Nintendo doesn't plan for the system to be HD compatible as with that comes a higher price for both the consumer and also the developer creating the game. Will it make the game better to play? With the technology being built into the Revolution, we believe the games will look brilliant and play brilliantly. This can all be done without HD."

There's a little more there about how HD support is still undecided because apparently not everyone is in agreement. That's still a rumor, though.

People seem very, very quick to forget that Silicon Knights and Factor 5 left the Nintendo fold. There is reason for this, and I doubt it's because they hate the controller. It still might be a number of different things, but the most prominent is easily that the Rev just isn't built for power.

 

[compres]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p2.html

"It is accurate that at this time we will not support high-definition [on Revolution]," confirmed Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, in early 2005.

"Nintendo's Revolution is being built with a variety of gamers' needs in mind, such as quick start-up time, high power, and ease of use for development and play. It's also compact and sleek, and has beautiful graphics in which to enjoy innovative games," Kaplan said. "Nintendo doesn't plan for the system to be HD compatible as with that comes a higher price for both the consumer and also the developer creating the game. Will it make the game better to play? With the technology being built into the Revolution, we believe the games will look brilliant and play brilliantly. This can all be done without HD."

There's a little more there about how HD support is still undecided because apparently not everyone is in agreement. That's still a rumor, though.

People seem very, very quick to forget that Silicon Knights and Factor 5 left the Nintendo fold. There is reason for this, and I doubt it's because they hate the controller. It still might be a number of different things, but the most prominent is easily that the Rev just isn't built for power.

Well then thats a real deal killer for me, no HD = no N at least for me.

 

[BlueTsunami]

It will suck that Rev will not have HD (hopefully there will be some policy change). I'll have the 360 and PS3 to use with my 27" and 60" HDTVs but I would have really liked playing Zelda, Mario etc etc in High Definition (as would alot of people). I say thats a serious flaw considering about 80% (a rough estimate) of Gamecube games are able to output in 480p (not HD but better than SD). I would expect the Rev to do 480p...but 720p would have made me very happy.

 

[Rur0ni]

I'll live without HD this gen. I intend on playing many retro titles. Next gen will be HD though surely. The rev can be my archive machine with its own tv.

 

[Rodéric]

Although we are getting off-topic, latest news was that Nintendo asked IBM & ATI to find a way to get the Revolution to have HD.
Whether that information is correct or they'll suceed doing that is another matter, but it can't be ruled out just yet.

As for the controller, let's just wait & see (and try), Nintendo is not in such a position it can make a wrong move these days.

 

[gurgi]

Just a little historical note.

The more 3rd party support Nintendo has had, the better their systems sold. Once they started losing that 3rd party support they have steadily fallen to last place.

Do you really want them to lose even more 3rd party support? Their console sales are bad enough as it is, can they even afford to lose more?

N64-> Gamecube, sure. I think they are pretty much at thier fanbase now. My point was though, that this kind of innovation only *helps* them re: 3rd parties. Being the same as the other two consoles, all trying to pretend they are the most powerful or whatever, without offering anything new, is precisely why the gamecube's 3rd party support dwindled to practically nothing. That strategy may work for 1st place, but not 3rd. Not even sure it works for second place. Take a look at MS' profits for this gen.

I think ERP is on to something when he says that Nintendo is trying to distance themselves from the competition. It is all well and good to play like you are saving gaming, or saving the industry, but it is pretty obvious they are trying to save themselves. Playing 2nd fiddle may have been an option, but 3rd fiddle? I guess they just figured more of the same just wouldn't pay off as much as some unique ideas. And there is always the small chance that consumers go nuts for it. Best console for web browsing, though? No game application? Kinda hard to hear that coming from a developer, maybe that's why I'm playing so many boring re-hashes these days. <shrug>