Nintendo's Revolution Controller REVEALED!!!!(UPDATED)

[Stingray]

I wasn't complaing, only commenting that it stinks that the door has to be open when there's a card in there. The separate door is a good idea. I didn't notice it before, thanks for pointing it out.

-S

[Setabs]

Oh well.  I read that on the first page then read like 3 pages of other comments just to make sure I wasn't the 2nd or 3rd point that out.  Instead of trying to make new old controllers that the revalution plugs into they should just make a 10 or 15 dollar  adapter and remake the old controllers and charge 15 or 20 dollars for them.

[SirPoonga]

Oh well.  I read that on the first page then read like 3 pages of other comments just to make sure I wasn't the 2nd or 3rd point that out.  Instead of trying to make new old controllers that the revalution plugs into they should just make a 10 or 15 dollar  adapter and remake the old controllers and charge 15 or 20 dollars for them.

Why not have the gamecube controller ports?  It's all serial data being sent, a new port design isn;t going to change aynthing.  Especially when you main controller is wireless.

[ChadTower]

It will change how much revenue you can generate from new controllers.

[SirPoonga]

It will change how much revenue you can generate from new controllers.

How?  The new controllers are wireless.
If you meant older controllers than I will keep the gamecube hooked up instead of buying adaptors.

[ChadTower]

How?

[SirPoonga]

• Complete GC controller compatibility
• GC compatibility, but new features available on new controllers

One of the things I haven't seen here is whether or not those GC controllers can be used for any Revolution games, or if the Revolution controller can be used to play any GC games.  That will affect all of this too.

Right, because if the GC controllers can't be used, and I read somewhere they can't and are only for GC compatibility, then that only leaves the first option.

[Stingray]

Right, because if the GC controllers can't be used, and I read somewhere they can't and are only for GC compatibility...

Bummer, I was really hoping that they would work with Cube and Revo games.

-S

[ChadTower]

Right, because if the GC controllers can't be used, and I read somewhere they can't and are only for GC compatibility, then that only leaves the first option.

What if Nintendo wanted to add new features to GC controllers?  They could add turbo, macro, and things we haven't thought of yet.  And who says they can't release new GC games that would take advantage of features we don't know about yet?  Just because it's a bit older, doesn't mean they won't do it.  The GC has a known dev cycle and small games can be churned out fast.

[shmokes]

I don't think so.  Nintendo is the last company that would complicate their controllers with little-used features that appeal mainly to PC gamers.

[JB]

I don't think so.  Nintendo is the last company that would complicate their controllers with little-used features that appeal mainly to PC gamers.

Macro is a traditonal PC gamer feature, but turbo-fire is very much for the console side.

Of course, the feature's becoming less and less useful.

[PaulG]

I'm absolutely stoked about this controller.  The only genre that I see having potential issues is the fighting genre (Which has become really niche this gen anyway... at least compared to what it was a number of years ago).  Every other genre benefits greatly.  And the FPS genre?  It'll get me back to playing these things on consoles.  The last FPS console game I played was two years ago.  Because of the impending XBox 360 release, I tried a friend's Doom 3 on the XBox to see what my tolerance level was, and no.  I will give the genre up before I'd play those game on sticks again.

And I'm surprised at so much resistence on THESE boards.  In the last 1.5 years since I built my CP, I've begun to agree with everything Iwata has stated.  And the dual analog joystick.  I respect it as the most utilitarian joystick ever, but it's become my least favorite config ever.  This thing is all about the fun that arcade controls bring.  If they get decent third-party support (And a bunch of big name developers seem school-girl giddy over it), this thing truly could sweep a revolution.

Unless Nintendo has really polished the motion sensing of this unit. I'm thinking it's going to just be another worthless gimmick.

Wired, 1UP, IGN, Gamespot, and Game Informer all had invited passes for hands on with the controller and it seems they have polished it to a fine sheen.

[ChadTower]

I don't think so.  Nintendo is the last company that would complicate their controllers with little-used features that appeal mainly to PC gamers.

Who says those are the only two possibilities?  Those are just the first two that occurred to me.

I could definitely see them sustaining Cube support, with new games overlapping the Revolution release.  You can play them on the Cube or... hey, look, the game has 4 features you can only access on the Revolution!  Plus you need the GC+ controller, which you can also only use on the Revolution.

[shmokes]

If they're careful about it, I suppose.  Kind of like the extra little features you can add to games like Animal Crossing if you have a GBA and a link cable.  But I think they could get themselves into trouble introducing too much segmentation into their market.  It's like MS with their core and premium packages.  Developers don't want to ask themselves, "Okay, which segment of Revolution owners do I want to alienate?  If it's like a rumble pak where a person who doesn't have it can still play the game just fine, then you might see something like that.

..and so on.

[MrTroy]

If they're careful about it, I suppose. Kind of like the extra little features you can add to games like Animal Crossing if you have a GBA and a link cable. But I think they could get themselves into trouble introducing too much segmentation into their market. It's like MS with their core and premium packages. Developers don't want to ask themselves, "Okay, which segment of Revolution owners do I want to alienate? If it's like a rumble pak where a person who doesn't have it can still play the game just fine, then you might see something like that.

..and so on.

Nintendo would do that with no regards. It's not a case of "You can't finish the game unless you have this." but Nintendo has done that before with... Super Gameboy. Oooh playing portable games on your SNES gives you differentbackgrounds(I'm not sure whatelse it did) But the Capcom Seasons/Ages Zelda games. Play it on a GBA and you get something> I don't remember what. One of the other Zelda games. If you played it on I think Gameboy Color it gave you a whole hidden level. That kinda stuff may not seem like a big deal.

One good thing is though> I can use all 4 GC controllers with my Revolution.

[SirPoonga]

Nintendo would do that with no regards. It's not a case of "You can't finish the game unless you have this." but Nintendo has done that before with... Super Gameboy.

Yes, and Perfect Dark for the N64 needed the memory upgrade.

What if Nintendo wanted to add new features to GC controllers? They could add turbo, macro, and things we haven't thought of yet. And who says they can't release new GC games that would take advantage of features we don't know about yet? Just because it's a bit older, doesn't mean they won't do it. The GC has a known dev cycle and small games can be churned out fast.

It could be possible to add the tilt technology to the controller.  Otherwise other features have been added with 3rd party controllers.  MadCatz have macros.

[ChadTower]

Yes, by third parties.  Not by Nintendo.  I'm talking about first party controllers. 

[Stingray]

Yes, and Perfect Dark for the N64 needed the memory upgrade.

As did DK 64 and Zelda MM.

-S

[SirPoonga]

Yes, by third parties.  Not by Nintendo.  I'm talking about first party controllers. 

Right, but if you go back to what I started this fork in the conversation...

I doubt someone will make a game for a controller with new features unless Nintendo has already made the controller.  And at this time they would have probably mentioned something about it when they mentioned backwards compatibility.
However, if they do something it will be a gimick feature as I'd assume the controller could possibly work in the GC without the feature or a game will have to work on the GC without the features.  If it is a game that uses the feature then it isn't going to be essential to the gameplay, just an extra that makes life a little easier.  Link a rumble pack for Ocarina of Time.  Not needed but makes finding the secrets in the game MUCH easier. 
If it is a game that can only work on the Revolution with a new GC controller that has the new features then it shouldn't be advertised as a GC game since it can't be played on a GC.

I do see nintendo realized they di something good on the n64 that they didn;t do on the GC, expansion ports on the controller.  They realized that was a good thing with the Revolution in that they can add on new ideas/features later on.

I'm still waiting for the day a small color LCD is built into the controller.  The VMU for the DC was cool, but there wasn't much you could do with it.  Now think if you had a decent resolution color LCD.  For a game like splinter cell you can put the spy cam pic on the controller which leaves the main view to watch if enemies come nearby.  Or games like football you can do your play calling/audibles on the LCD so the opponant can't see what you are doing.   Have you seen what cell phones, even the cheap ones, can do these days?

[MrTroy]

I'm still waiting for the day a small color LCD is built into the controller.  The VMU for the DC was cool, but there wasn't much you could do with it.  Now think if you had a decent resolution color LCD.  For a game like splinter cell you can put the spy cam pic on the controller which leaves the main view to watch if enemies come nearby.  Or games like football you can do your play calling/audibles on the LCD so the opponant can't see what you are doing.   Have you seen what cell phones, even the cheap ones, can do these days?

The GBA to GC was  great thing, It had so much potential. Unfortunately it was a case of no one wanted to do things with it cause they weren't sure who had the cable a GBA etc. While that LCD add-on sounds like a great thing. I'd be kinda scared that it'd slip out durring my wild flailings. And another case of the Catch 22 as well. Who'll want to support it. At least with Dreamcast the VMU was also the memory card(Unless like 90% of my friends, you buy a 3rd party one to be cheap).

[SirPoonga]

I'd be kinda scared that it'd slip out durring my wild flailings.

Do you not have a cell phone with a color screen?  I don;t have a flip phone, just a normal Nokia.  The screen is pretty scratched up now, but still works fine.

[ChadTower]

I'd be kinda scared that it'd slip out durring my wild flailings.

Do you not have a cell phone with a color screen?

[SirPoonga]

pretty interesting read
http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651559p1.html

I thought that shell was a photoshop, but apparently it is real.  That ain't too bad then.

It would be cool to make an arcade control that you just stick the revolution controller in.

[versapak]

Well...

That shell pictured IS Photoshopped.

Nintendo has not yet released official imagery of what the controller shell might look like. However, we've created a mock-up (above) based on what we know of its functionality. The real controller shell is likely to connect to the free-hand-style pointer in a very similar fashion. Please note that we realize our model is not entirely to scale, but this is the best we could do on short notice.

-IGN.com

[Stingray]

That picture may be Photoshopped, but Nintendo has said that something like it will be available. That should make everyone happy controller-wise.

-S

[SirPoonga]

I like the gun concept ign has done too.

That's why i like this controller, it's expandable.  You can make it into whatever control you need.

[shmokes]

Yes and no.  In theory the controller can become the engine, so to speak, inside a myriad of shells, but in practice it won't happen.  Developers have little interest in deliberately shrinking their potential market.  A few variations will emerge, a fishing reel, a gun, a steering wheel maybe, but that's about it.  Probably 99% of revolution software will only be compatible with the remote thingy and the included analog stick attachment.

So, IMO, you shouldn't give it too many points on expandability because, while I agree that developers CAN make it whatever control they need it to be, I do not believe that they will.  I think that for the most part you should judge it based on its potential out-of-the-box, since that's what the vast majority of developers will program around.  Fortunately, that potential is still enormous even without the expandability.

[SirPoonga]

You haven't seen nintendo's past, have you?  ROB, Power Pad, Mario Paint, any lightgun.

Also look at the games that were released that forced you to buy something like the ps/2 harddrive and ethernet controller or Perfect Dark forcing you to get the memory upgrade for the N64.

So this nintendo controller makes it easier on the hardware designers.  It should make creating a new peripheral easier and cheaper.

[ChadTower]

You're both right in a way.  Third parties will not make heavy use of that ability, and third parties make most games.

Nintendo, on the other hand, has a history of making special controllers and out of the box games.  They also have a history of making most of the best games on their own platforms.  It is the first party games that drive Nintendo sales and it will be first party games that drive new controllers.  It fits perfectly with Nintendo's history and this controller's design.

[SirPoonga]

That is true.  But there will be third parties too.  Like I said, it didn't stop some companies for releaseing games on the ps/2 that required the hard drive or ethernet controller.

Of course most games or going to use whatever controllers Nintendo offers.  That's traditional.  You aren't going to make money if every game has it's own controller.

[SirPoonga]

I'm going to predict that the best game to use the new features of the controller will be from the Zelda team.  Just because there are so many actions in a Zelda game that could benefit from it.  Everyone has been saying it would be cool to use it to slash the sword.  Yes, it would.  But think about all the mini games in a Zelda title.  Like Ocarina of Time, it probably would make the target shooting and fishing minigame fun.

[ChadTower]

A Wario World update would be able to make 1000 uses of it, and very simple ones at that.

Mario Party would take on a whole new level of partiosity (dig that word).

[Stingray]

A sequel to Luigi's Mansion that uses the new controller would be fantastic.

-S

[shmokes]

You haven't seen nintendo's past, have you?  ROB, Power Pad, Mario Paint, any lightgun.

But in a way, you reinforce what I am saying.  Look at that list.  Pretty short when you're talking about a 20-year history.  Further:

ROB:  Abject failure
NES gun: Included with every system -- no segmenting the market
SNES gun: Abject failure
Mario Paint: Kinda cool, virtually no third party support (of first party support beyond the one game)

I think the memory upgrade is the best example of a peripheral actually working out.  Acclaim was the first company to take the risk and require it for a Turok game, IIRC.  It actually sold in large enough numbers that other developers saw it as reasonably viable.  Then Donky Kong 64 was released and was actually bundled with the memory pak.  At that point so many people had it that it wasn't a big deal to require it for a game like Perfect Dark (which was made by the same team that populated so many N64's with the memory pak via DK64).

There will, of course, be specialized controllers, but there will not be many and the ones that are made will probably only ever support a single game and perhaps a sequel, a la the Gamecube Donkey Konga bongos, and will be sold as a bundle with the game. 

[SirPoonga]

There will, of course, be specialized controllers, but there will not be many and the ones that are made will probably only ever support a single game and perhaps a sequel, a la the Gamecube Donkey Konga bongos, and will be sold as a bundle with the game. 

But that was my point about stressing the expandability.  We will probably see more of things like this because it should be cheaper or create a custom controller as the wireless and such will be coming from the revolution controller.

[shmokes]

Could be, I suppose.  If bundling some kind of controller shell only added a few dollars to production costs maybe it'll turn out to be relatively common.  More and more potential for creativity with this thing all the time.

[Felsir]

Nintendo, on the other hand, has a history of making special controllers and out of the box games.

[ChadTower]

ROB:

[SirPoonga]

right, if the gun came with every system why are there dedicated duck hunt carts?

[ChadTower]

The same reason they sold SMB at retail... because they could.