One-handed controller: Talking 'bout a Revolution

"Kick-ass," "stupid," and "weird" are just a few of differing adjectives bloggers are using to describe the one-handed controller Nintendo revealed for its next-generation "Revolution" console. Where they seem to agree, however, is in describing the device as "unconventional."

The announcement was made by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata at the Tokyo Game Show. The controller resembles a TV remote and has motion-detector sensors that let a player wield like a sword or swing it like a baseball bat, depending upon the game, Iwata told the crowd. It's mainly operated by sensor as a "direct pointing device," but also has a control pad and buttons," Reuters said. "It also has an expansion to plug in a joystick-like second device.

And it has the potential to revolutionize the way in which video games are played.

Blog community response:

"Weird, eh?...But the more I think about it, the more genius I realize it is. It's shaped and sized like a normal one-handed TV remote, making it easy and intuitive for anyone--hard-core gamer or newbie--to pick up and play...Just think about it. You can use it as a sword, a light saber, a knife, a gun, a drumstick, a fishing rod. It's awesome."
--Jeffthejiff

"Nintendo has now taken the time-honored format and changed it to a remote control for a TV. An act similar to rearranging the stars on the American flag so that they make the shape of a bull's penis...Nintendo has always been one for taking chances...I hope they prove my wariness wrong on this one."
--Nerd-life.com

"That's the dumbest controller I've ever seen. How am I supposed to play Super Mario Bros. on that? Or Zelda Windwaker? This totally ruins the backwards-compatible thing that I was so excited about."
--Reader Bryant Casteel at News.com

"I'm just in awe at how this could possibly attract the 'non-gamer' market...In the past, Nintendo has spoken of how intimidating a game controller can be and this new controller utterly destroys that preconception...Nintendo really raised the bar with what they've shown today...Touché Nintendo??Well played."
--Gluetree.com