Nintendo Revolutions Controller, Lets check it out.. Options

[EddieV]

The new Nintendo Revolution's Controller looks really interesting. Nintendo said they want to change the way we play video games. I think out of the three system, Nintendo to me looks the most promising. The X-Box 360 only has a few new features and slightly better graphics. But basically everything is the same. Here's a link to the Nintendo Revolution's new controller.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143782

[*mipadi*]

I find it a bit hypocritcal that a common response to people who criticize the controller is "Well, you can't comment, because you haven't used it yet," when the people who like it yet haven't used it yet either. It seems, by that logic, you can make no comment about the controller.

Frankly, I don't think it's such an amazing design either, and several gamers I've talked to agree. It's interesting, but I don't see it revolutionizing the game industry--especially since no one is going to buy a console due to its "revolutionary" controller, and it seems most people are watching the Xbox 360 and the PS3; the Revolution is the dark horse in the console race. It's not going to make an impact on gaming unless it becomes widespread, and that's not likely to happen, given Nintendo's dismal showings the past few years.

[*kryogenix*]

I find it a bit hypocritcal that a common response to people who criticize the controller is "Well, you can't comment, because you haven't used it yet," when the people who like it yet haven't used it yet either. It seems, by that logic, you can make no comment about the controller.

Frankly, I don't think it's such an amazing design either, and several gamers I've talked to agree. It's interesting, but I don't see it revolutionizing the game industry--especially since no one is going to buy a console due to its "revolutionary" controller, and it seems most people are watching the Xbox 360 and the PS3; the Revolution is the dark horse in the console race. It's not going to make an impact on gaming unless it becomes widespread, and that's not likely to happen, given Nintendo's dismal showings the past few years.

How so? Most of the people who like it say they like it because of all the applications it can be used for. Most of the people who say they don't like it state that it will be awkward to use. You don't need to actually hold the thing to dream about it's potential, but saying it won't even function properly with only the information that has been released to the public is a whole different thing.

It seems like you're missing the point of the controller. People buy consoles for good games. The controller is means of, well, controlling the game more naturally. Therefore, if the use of the controller makes gameplay better, people will buy the console. People won't say "Wow that controller looks different, I'll buy it!" No, the'll say "I'll feel like I'm actually in the game with this controller, I'll buy it!" The plan for the controller is to attract people who gave up on console gaming (ie me, as I skipped this generation of consoles) or people who have never tried it yet.

Microsoft and Sony are already looking into controllers similar to the Revolution controller; Microsoft is making a wand for media center pc's and Sony is making a wand for use with Eye Toy.

[*mipadi*]

How so? Most of the people who like it say they like it because of all the applications it can be used for. Most of the people who say they don't like it state that it will be awkward to use. You don't need to actually hold the thing to dream about it's potential, but saying it won't even function properly with only the information that has been released to the public is a whole different thing.

How is your imagining how much fun and easy to use it will be in certain applications any different from my imagining how akward and ungainly it would be to use in certain applications?

I'm not saying that we shouldn't comment on the controller; but stifling criticism by saying that "you haven't used it yet, so you can't no" is hypocritical and inaccurate. Sure, I don't know precisely what it will be like, but having played videogames for nearly sixteen years, I have a pretty good idea of how it might be to use one, and what I am looking for in a console.

It seems like you're missing the point of the controller. People buy consoles for good games. The controller is means of, well, controlling the game more naturally. Therefore, if the use of the controller makes gameplay better, people will buy the console. People won't say "Wow that controller looks different, I'll buy it!" No, the'll say "I'll feel like I'm actually in the game with this controller, I'll buy it!" The plan for the controller is to attract people who gave up on console gaming (ie me, as I skipped this generation of consoles) or people who have never tried it yet.

No, I'm not missing the point at all--I know that's what the controller is for. And I still think it's a bad idea. Just because I disagree with Nintendo on this, doesn't mean I have no idea what their aim with this "revolutionary" controller is. I'm just saying that no, I don't think it will be interesting enough to make people buy a console; I don't think the gameplay with it will be so much better that people will abandon the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in droves to buy the Revolution. It's sad, because I love Nintendo, but I think the GameCube had its flaws (mainly the lack of DVD playback and the use of non-standard discs), and I think the Revolution's controller is a flawed approach to gaming.

Being at college, I'm around people that play games a lot. It's how we kill time. I haven't even gamed since I was in ninth grade or so, but I've started to get back into it because of the immersion. And very few people I know are seriously looking at the Revolution. No one is saying, "I bet the gameplay with the Revolution will be so much better than the PS3 and the Xbox 360 that I'm going to buy a Revolution instead." So if that's the goal of the new controller, it's not doing a good job of attracting people to the platform.

The Revolution may be critically acclaimed and innovative, but that won't necessarily attract people. Look at Apple: Apple's products are critically acclaimed, and they're one of the most innovative home PC makers--yet their market share still hovers around 3%.