Miyamoto unveils Nintendo's Revolution controller

GameSpot ^ | 09/15/05 | Ricardo Torres

[Sofa King]

Though the Nintendo Revolution was partially unveiled at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, its controller is the final piece of the venerable hardware manufacturer's next-generation puzzle. Speculation about the device has run rampant, because its manufacturer has made a point of keeping it well hidden. Nintendo has chosen only to drop hints that it would be an integral part of the Revolution's unique gameplay experience.

[Sofa King]

"It has 8 buttons, the same as xbox and ps2. And when is the last time you used two analog sticks for any game???"

LAST time? Pretty much every current generation game uses two analog sticks. I can't think of the last 3D game that I've played that hasn't used two analog sticks. It also only has 8 buttons if you count the direction pad as 4 buttons, which an xbox or ps2 controller has in addition to it's other buttons. If you take a direct inventory of the buttons it goes as follows:

Xbox-
2 analog sticks
1 direction pad
4 main buttons
2 triggers
2 auxillary buttons (the white and the black, which are a bit out of the way)
2 start/select type buttons

Rev-
1 analog stick
1 direction pad
1 main button
3 triggers
2 auxillary buttons (The B and C, which are entirely too far out of the way for quick use)
2 start/select type buttons
1 power button

No matter how you slice it, it's short on controls, especially the fast-access ones most important in gameplay.

[aft_lizard]

On the PS2 I hardly ever used both analogs, or even all four of the triggers.On the Gamecube I rarely liked using the camera toggle. I guess its all in ones taste. Well Nintendo is also releasing a dock for the main controller that is essentially a wavebird.

PS2 Controller:
4 main buttons
4 triggers
2 analogs
1 gamepad
1 start
1 select

Revolution Controller:

4 main buttons
1 a
1 b(the third trigger you call it)
another a and b although its going to be renamed x and y
Z1
Z2 triggers

1 analog

1 gamepad

start, select, and another
and power on/off


You arent missing enough to cause any more trouble for programmers than they already have by recoding games for other systems. Remember gyroscopic control usage is an option to program not a mandate.

I myself look forward to using the wand as a flashlight and the analog stick as a gun in an fps.

[Sofa King]

"I guess its all in ones taste."

No, not really. I don't know what games you're playing, but I've yet to play a 3D game where the automatic camera worked anywhere near well enough that the camera toggle was optional.

"You arent missing enough to cause any more trouble for programmers than they already have by recoding games for other systems."

Your inventory is completely inaccurate. Where are these x and y buttons that you're talking about? It has an A button near the top, and a B and C near the bottom. You're also counting the B and C as main buttons, but they're too far out of the way to be used as a main button. So you still only have 1 button.

Either that, or you're counting the triggers as main buttons, in which case the Rev is short of triggers.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The old games are so much better than the new, over-graphic, over-hyped ones. Especially from the original NEC.

[sittnick]

The NEC... wow! One of the best systems that never went anywhere! (Joining the way ahead of its time Bally, Vectrex and Atari Lynx)

[aft_lizard]

another a and b although its going to be renamed x and y >>

Reread that again, another a+b button that will be RENAMED x and y.

No, not really. I don't know what games you're playing, but I've yet to play a 3D game where the automatic camera worked anywhere near well enough that the camera toggle was optional.>>

YES really, it is all in ones taste always has been always will be, what works for you wont work for others. GAmecube offers a camera toggle on its pad, look it up, its the yellow analog controller.

No the b+c are not to far out to use(they are not called b+c btw look at the controler again) You must be thinking this thing is monstrous, it isnt.

There are rumours that the controller shell will be included with the system.(the following are all mock-ups and are not the final product)

[aft_lizard]

[freestyle]

Pretty crazy...

Seems more innovative then is necessary. I'd like to see Nintendo focus on innovative games that will be classics... Instead, they just keep trying to revive past successes... mario, zelda, metroid... what's new?

[aft_lizard]

I find games now adays uninventive and unimaginative, rehashes of old games and thems. Thats why this idea by Nintendo is great, all the game ideas are geting old, might as well make the way you interact and play with them fun and different.