Comments on: Testing out the new Revolution controller

GameSpot had a chance to use a working prototype of the controller and found that it just might be revolutionary after all.

Hey C|Net?Here's an Idea

How 'bout a picture of the thing? When you can buy a 1 megapixel
camera at Toys'R'Us for 80 bucks, how can you publish so many
stories without images?

D:)

[keith.hummel]

Same Here

I was thinking that same thing

[ackmondual]

uhmm, u guys using text only browsers?

There's a small, imbedded image in the article u can click to bring up a picture gallery (4 images in this article) of the controller (multi-view angle, with the analog attachment, and with all 5 colors).

Am I the only one seeing this?

[amhed]

OMG!

Ok, I just saw the picture.

WHAT THE HELL IS NINTENDO THINKING? SURE!! LET'S BEAT SONY AND MS BY TURNING MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CONVENTIONAL CONTROLERS INTO AN INFRARED REMOTE WITH AN OPTIONAL TRACKBALL!! :D

[DarkHawke]

Weird, yet cool!

When I finally got a look at this thing (on ign.com!), I thought, "***? A remote?" But after looking in on the details and how it was presented to those lucky few to get their hands on it, this could be the coolest controller in 20 years. Near the end of the Atari 2600's cycle, they had something like this, though naturally there was only one button and it was wired. There's something of an Apple aesthetic to the whole design of the Revolution, and the remote-like look of the controller will probably make it more accessible to those who aren't currently gamers. I could wish for a more rounded look, though, simply for the ergonomics of its potential uses.

If they can get the devs behind it, or do first-party games that are compelling and aren't suffused with their cutesy-pie, in-every-frakkin'-game company mascots, they might have something here. However, learning from the past, Nintendo had better hit the market with games to match this new and innovative controller but quick, before Sony horks it and leaves them in the dust...again!

[Christopher Hall]

Ahhh, the issue of developers

I had a rather lengthy discussion with a friend of mine on this exact subject matter. I'm not concerned, and here's why.

The issue of develophers is a valid fear. I see Nintendo and Sega really taking the ball and running with it. They're some of the most creative development teams on the planet, so I think they'll produce wonderful things. Capcom will probably be a close runner-up to them (Viewtiful Joe, anyone?), along with Retro Studios and possibly a few others. Ultimately, if Nintendo's as devoted to developers as they say they are, this won't be a problem. But third-party support is a must for this system. Microsoft has tons of third party on its side for the 360 and Sony practically embodies third party support. It needs games, and being unique when there are two fairly similar competitors may not be a good thing.

However, I don't think things could get any worse than they were for the GameCube. Support essentially evaporated as you saw previous "exclusives" jumping ship (Resident Evil and Viewtiful Joe come to mind). So the support profile we'll end up seeing for this system is close friends and developers with exceptionally deep pockets, like EA. Unless, of course, Nintendo opens up the playing field for a new developer who can code exclusively for the Revolution. That would make the console quite a contender, although time will tell.

The one thing that could really work in Nintendo's favor is if they can get some Nintendo-dedicated development upstarts on their side. That would be like going back to the old days, almost, where studios got their start with Nintendo. That equals loyalty, relatively easy money, and an open playing field, since most development teams for the other systems won't be able to touch the Revolution-specific development studios.