The Nintendo Revolution controller -- no, really!
By Barb Dybwad 
posted September 15th 2005 11:09PM
posted September 15th 2005 11:09PM
Okay, after many (many, many) false starts, the Nintendo Revolution controller is finally here, in the flesh. And it looks kinda like one of those things you use to adjust your Posturpedic. It's in two pieces, with a thumb controlled analog stick in one hand and a remore control-looking button controller in the other. The analog stick is actually a detachable part of the controller, and other attachments are going to be able to plug into the bottom of the main controller unit. The controller part acts like a mouse as you move it around in 3D space. So that's it, people — whaddya think?
Are you serious?
UUUUUGGGLLLLYYYY. i hate it.
i hate it too. they better do something amazing with this thing.
its.... revolutionary?
Nintendo just ensured that the revolution will see NO ported games from the xbox360 or PS3.
No standard analog control, only two face buttons, and the need to but "attatchments" to play various games.
No thank you. I am happy that retarded cripples in comas will have a controller that they can work but I think I'll pass.
Nintendo just ensured another last place finish.
Goodbye Nintendo. R.I.P. 2006.
I am not impressed. I do not think I can use this to play a game. This looks uncomfortable.
wow nintendo must have really lost their minds. They must not want an action game. How the hell do u play w/ that thing? looks like some one was drunk @ nintendo
errrrr what? can u picture u and ur 3 closest friends sitting in a room playing with this?
only if afterwards you strangle each other.
O.K. so what happens when you get that itch you need to scratch real quick mid-game? I'll tell you what happens...dangling controller or itch driving you insane. Nintendo have lost their minds.
Scrap! I'm going to have to start saving now.
People,remember, you buy a console for fun, not for how shiny it looks.
But I'm curious as to how it can play SNES and N64. It might need another attachment for that.
huh
Its amazing. You guys just think about it for a day or so and you'll see all the possiblities.
There may not be many PS3/X360/REV releases, but I can see many Rev exclusives coming up.
I'm a big Nintendo fan, but I must say that this controller took me aback. I know N has been pushing fore more simplistic controls, but I just don't see myself waving the remote around as a legit input device; I like lying in my couch and just pushing buttons. Add to that the fact that ported games are basically gone...and I must say that I am not a fan of this Revolution.
What the F*** is Nintendo thinking? It's ugly and it looks like a wierd t.v remote
I'd suggest that everyone take a look at these hands-on reports
http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275p1.html
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-23521-2567-x-x-x&body_pagenum=1
Before they jump to conclusions.
Well, instead of actually reading up on the controller, (which i felt semi disapointed by too) I learned that it's actually much cooler than it seems. Read all the information before you drop the "Ugly, RIP Nintendo" ect.
That analog extension seems stupid, and the controller alone is much cooler.
augh.........augh....i think i'm going to be sick
I think u are all stupid. see the possibilities. or at least see the metroid demo before u say anything.....
ouch. i can see some uses for having a detachable controller, seems pretty innovative, but not really functional.
how to you scratch your brow, or take a swig of your drink in the middle of a game without ither letting one controller dangle, or losing you place in "3d space" while putting down the other... yikes.
id like to see how this whole thing plays out q;
What the...?!
This is just a bad dream and I'm going to wake up right...NOW!
This looks like some controller you'd see for the Famicom
You know those new game players who physically swing the controler around while pressing the D-pad? Well that will be ALL Nintendo users now!
I think it has, like, good usability, so that if you actually go to play with it, it would work quite weel. But it just doesn't look good at all and might be too "out there" to catch on.
And the analog stick thing really should be detached from the other piece in order to be a little more usable.
I say totally meh. But I'm not a post-1988 Nintendo fan, so don't mind my opinion :-
i thought sony messed up with the ps3 controller but man, nintendo must of gotten CRUNK last night and made up the contrller
Basically Nintendo has decided that they cannot compete with Sony and MS so set out to make themselves as different as poosible.
But just like the DS, novelty only gets you so far.
I like to sit on a comfy couch when playing, does this mean that I will now have to stand to be able to reach the corners of my tv?
OMG, what a "revolution"!!
Hahahaha.
Well Nintengo, keep doing Nintendogs.
I personally love this controller, I can't wait for this to come out. For a full review about it go to gamespot. IT explains in more details what this controller can do and YES it is REVOLUTIONARY!!
wow... after reading the ign article I changed my mind quickly. This thing looks like a very innovative controller.
who wants to play games like that i mean cmon a controller is supposed to be tight in your hands for good control
wtf, its not April 1st...
Wow that makes the first massive xbox controller look like a piece of heaven!! oh my god, what were they thinking? More proof that nintendo is going down the drain.
MADE FOR FPS! THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THE MOUSE AND SURFING THE WEB! OMG NINTENDO U ARE AMAZING!
Okay, so maybe one of the "attachments" is an NES controller? Instant backwards-compatibility. All we need is a PS2 and Xbox controller connector and there are the ported games...
I applaud Nintendo for finally jumping off the band wagon. I have been an avid gamer since the days of the NES. I have seen many consoles succeed and fail. The problem with console games these days is that they are trying to compete with a computer. Thats like pitting the Phil. Eagles against some High School football team. Consoles can/will never be able to compete with the computer. I use my computer to play kick butt games that a standard $300 - $500 console couldn't play. The 360 and the PS3 are just the XBOX and the PS2 only faster with better graphics. I could pay $250 to upgrade my computer to better specs then either the 360 or the PS3, however no upgrade will make my computer like the Revolution, thats what makes it unique. I am glad that Nintendo is going to reinvent the console game system. The console industry needs innovation and dare I say it, revolution, and Nintendo is going to provide it. So consider me one of the first people in line to buy the Nintendo Revolution. I'll probable buy a 360 and PS3 also, but Nintendo will always be near to my heart.
Basically Nintendo has decided that they cannot compete with Sony and MS so set out to make themselves as different as poosible.
But just like the DS, novelty only gets you so far.
I like to sit on a comfy couch when playing, does this mean that I will now have to stand to be able to reach the corners of my tv?
my biggest gripe?
the A and a.... sooo confusing
Honestly, I love engadget, but after reading the links #16 posted, I have to say, at the very least, this controller sounds intriguing and the Engadget post is really not very informative. If you have an open mind about these things, please look outside of engadget for more info because so far Engadget just isn't posting the goods. After reading up on it, this controller might not be a half bad idea, and as someone who hasn't bought a console since Genesis, but is thinking of buying one of these "next gen" consoles, I have to say, I'm still considering the Revolution as an option.
I'm just hoping that this thing'll work good. nintendo, i'm hoping this isn't as stupid as it looks
it looks like it could be really cool.
my only worry is if it's fast enough and accurate enough. you know those firefighting games at arcades, where you get to hold a pretend hose? the reticles are always delayed and innaccurate. hopefully these will use a much better technology, or they'll be very frustrating.
nintendo has such creativity!
This controller look crazy, but the potential for great game is awesome. Looks like Nintendo will have to step up first party games, because multiplatform games will probably not come to the revolution, except maybe ea games. I like it.
i dont think you guys really see how it works beyond the pure look of it. ur gonna be able to use it like a modern gun of a light gun. instead of using a thumbstick or a mouse to shoot a target, u just react to it like if u had a gun in your hand. its not just gonna be fun, its gonna be realistic.
i think it's very interesting. Yes, this could make or break nintendo this next round but if they execute right it could be good. It's definitely something to try out before placing judgement. I'm thinking this would be pretty good for flight sims as well.. i'm just thinking of pulling back the stick in a game like ace combat and doing loops around the enemy...
it's an interesting idea and i hope they pull it off. the old analog controller with button is getting a bit old.
To those who think this will keep 3rd Parties off of the Revolution... both Hideo Kojima and Square Enix praised the controller. So... MGS and Final Fantasy on the Revolution? Very possible. And apparently the remote makes for **better** FPS control than a keyboard/mouse, so I'm sure the system will get tons of FPS ports.
Also: the remote definitely solidifies this as the sexiest next-gen system. Especially in white. I don't see how anybody could find this thing ugly.
ign's review said it was really good. and they actually used it
http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275p1.html
if they said it was comfortable, maybe it is. but it does look like a tv remote. i hope sony or someone rips them off because i really dont want to buy a revolution but it sounds like a nice preiphreal.
ign's review said it was really good. and they actually used it
http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275p1.html
if they said it was comfortable, maybe it is. but it does look like a tv remote. i hope sony or someone rips them off because i really dont want to buy a revolution but it sounds like a nice preiphreal.
...modern gun of a light gun...
should be... modern day light gun...
sorry for grammer
Good concept - looks way too unstable. How many times have you dropped your remote control just hitting "play, channel up, down, etc."? Now try frantically hitting "A" many many times in a row while going right then hit "B" (strike that, reverse it). It won't work, and there will be others to dominate.
wow, i already have a tv remote THANKS..
i dont think you guys really see how it works beyond the pure look of it. ur gonna be able to use it like a modern gun of a light gun. instead of using a thumbstick or a mouse to shoot a target, u just react to it like if u had a gun in your hand. its not just gonna be fun, its gonna be realistic.
There's only so far you're ever going to get with a handheld, x number of buttons, controller. Better graphics, maybe better authoring, same games, same paradigms, slowly..wander...off into irrelevance.
I think this is spectacular. 3d interfaces have never happened yet, free-space interfaces have not happene,d and the only way I see them happening is this. See people getting their heads around the potential enough to start changing their paradigms, see kids picking this up the way they did SMS typing.
Every time nintendo does something like this, everyone exclaims that it's stupid because they don't get it. Here's a heads-up. Pretty much everything stupid, you *will* understand. be much warier of the other things.
I'm amazed that they still have it at the size they are now, but they have this consciousness that they are a toymaker. Deprecating them as being a bad or uncompettive computer maker just blows my mind. Who gives a shit about the MIPS in some commoditzed box you hammer out by the thousands to draw race cars and puppies? Making fun of that is like holding up some unusable korean DAP that you can't charge and sync at the same time as superior to the iPod because it gets more gigs to the $.
Folks, see the forest for the trees. It's very possible that you'll remember this post when you gesture vaguely to grab your voicemail ten years from now. Toys and porn advance digital technology. Hats off to someone for having enough balls to do something visionary and not kowtow to the tyranny of the nerds - per ?.s Douglas Adams quote today, a nerd is someone who uses a telephone to talk to other people about telephones. I'm out.