The Greatest Mystery of the Age...

[FrustratedPoet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4251720.stm

The slim controller can be used one-handed or can be fitted with an extension cord that links it to a familiar thumb-controlled joystick.

I'm not exactly sure how to interpret that. However, you obviously won't be expected to play every Revolution game with nothing more than a poor-quality HiFi remote control.

[FrustratedPoet]

Don't get me wrong, I still think it's one of the most stupid things I've ever heard of.

It would be nice to use it as a virtual stick to beat a Nintendog to death with, though.

[Bkeela]

It doesn't matter that there will be a shell like device to fit the remote into. Nintendo will develop their games to incorporate the gimmick. It is not like there will be an option to play Mario 128 with the remote or with the traditional controller. The game will have features that necessitate pointing, twisting, swivelling, slashing the stupid remote device. Thus it will be for most of the Revolution library I assume.

The DS does have games that don't require the touch pad, but they are few and far between. I imagine the same will be for the Revolution.

From what I gather, the entire philosophy behind this gimmick is to make gaming more friendly to casual gamers. Nintendo is bending to serve the lowest common denominators of society, who might be seduced to point and click in a game, rather than just channel surf with their beloved TV remote.

The reason I am so annoyed over this development is I have adored Nintendo ever since I played Game & Watch. In recent years they have stood as a unique alternative to Sony and Microsoft. Now they have become too unique I feel.

From a marketing perspective, this is probably the only way Nintendo can survive. They can no longer compete with the big boys.

[Sandman]

Here's a pic with the analogue add-on.

What if you want to scratch your nose?

[Felch]

This new controller looks amazing. I'm excited, and I honestly think I'll go with a Revolution in the next console cycle.

It looks like it would really be a lot like playing with an old flight control joystick only wireless. And I think that playing an FPS with a remote would be a lot more fun that with a regular controller or a mouse and keyboard. Practically like laser tag.

I like Nintendo, they understand that games are games and not something to get all worked up about.

Miyamoto et al. remind me of Willy Wonka, and that's a good thing.

[Kataphraktoi]

a tv remote

[snoopy369]

It's not in any meaningful sense a TV remote. It's a gyroscopic controller that allows those of us who used to play games by leaning back and forth to try and edge our (whatever) over a bit more can actually do so again *and get him to move over*. Allows the user to get more into the game, rather than just chomping buttons. It's weird, and it's different, but I like it, and hope the PC gets something like it someday

[Asher]

The way I interpreted the comments was this would be the standard Revolution controller, and an optional, extra addon would be a controller shell to make it more...normal.

I still think it's a gimmick, I have little interest in waving a remote around to play a game. It'll go the way of the light gun, which supposedly would revolutionize shooters.

Nintendo and its partners have also already stated that Revolution would not support high-def (I'm done playing games in 640x480...this is 2006 launch we're talking about, come on Nintendo), and that the console will not be technically that powerful compared to its competition...

[snoopy369]

The light gun wYnw

And I can DanS just as well as you :P

Nintendo has never (well not recently anyway) had the best graphics. They just have interesting games, and usually ones aimed towards younger audiences. I think Nintendo is smart, and knows their niche market ... letting Sony and Msoft fight over the super-high-res market.

[Asher]

It's not a "smart" thing to do to target a shrinking "niche" market while your competitors set record sales...

[Sandman]

It seems rather strange to complain about Nintendo going for a niche market, then complain about them not providing HDTV support...

Still, I think that they've made a mistake here. Basically, they've missed a generation. They should have done a more normal joypad with motion sensor component, before making a grand leap into unknown territory. The history of gaming is littered with machines that were before their time, so playing it a little safer would have been my strategy.

This 'better than a mouse' stuff sounds a lot like 'fields of real-looking grass'. In other words, it's hype. The gaming press generally shy away from serious criticism of Nintendo; their reaction here could be that of in-denial Star Wars fans after the Phantom Menace.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Sandman

Here's a pic with the analogue add-on.

What if you want to scratch your nose?

You can still scratch your nose -- just hold onto to both parts of this fangled thing, and rub your nose with the back of one of your hands.

[Sandman]

What if you want to scratch inside your nose?

[MrFun]

Pause the damn game, and then put the fangled thing down to pick your nose or whatever else you want to do with your nose!!

[Asher]

Originally posted by Sandman
It seems rather strange to complain about Nintendo going for a niche market, then complain about them not providing HDTV support...

HDTV is becoming increasingly popular and cheaper, and over the period of the "next generation" it will be anything but niche...

LCD TVs with HDTV support fall in price by huge amounts every year.