Functional Revolution controller mock-up

We've been known to get a little anxious waiting for new gadgets, but we usually don't take it as far as building them ourselves. Tsietisin wanted to know how the new Nintendo Revolution controller would actually play. Luckily he already had an assortment of bizarre controllers. By combining a Gyration mouse with an ASCII Grip one handed Playstation controller and a custom keymap he tried playing Half-Life 2 deathmatch. Aiming proved to be more difficult, but Tsietisin feels that, with a little practice, gamers will love this new controller layout. Oook.

[Draous @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Sweet, I'm kinda interested in the controller, but PS3 will be my main choice.

[Darian_TruBlade @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

A toast to the creative capabilities of the human mind is in order I think. That was a rather igenious setup the man had there.

If a random gamer can do that with a mish mash of equipment, imagine the sheer brilliance of what Nintendo will show us.

[vrf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Yeah, I think the Rev controller will be much better than current console gamepads for FPSs, but will still be a bit short of a mouse on a flat surface (because the mouse will unrealistically stay in one place if you leave it).

Although, if Nintendo has some kind of "anti-shake" technology in place--basically software that'll ignore the subtle shakes--then this could be about as good as a mouse.

Anyway, it'll be very realistic. What's more realistic than pointing a "gun" and pulling a trigger? A real gun would shake slightly, too.

[Andrew Camacho @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

The shakiness actually makes sense if you think about it. In all these FPS's you are always standing up and shooting, but anyone who has ever gone to a range and shot before, knows that even while laying down/sitting down, it's hard enough. Standing up and shooting is actually really hard, maybe games should incorporate.

If someone wants to camp behind a crate waiting for someone to walk by, that's fine, but now their arm will get tired like in real life. You can't just let the mouse sit there.

[chase @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

If it works pretty good.. I hope (and i know this is a long shot) ..I hope that they release a PC version of it. Or at least some company rips off the design and does it well. That'd be cool.

[Embassy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

so how long until your arm gives out from holding that and pointing..??...30 mins..???..

[krisprols @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Actually, this one has 'only' tilt sensors, the revolution one have tilt + 3D space positioning ...

[Killr0y @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

This is stupid. Nintendo is well known for creating trash that looks good on paper. Remember the Power Glove? Virtual Boy? R.O.B?

Who wants their arm getting tired 5 minutes into a game? This is nothing more than a niche product akin to the Donky Konga bongo.

[R @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Nintendo didn't make the Power Glove. Mattel did. Nintendo controllers have always been very well designed, durable and responsive.

Good to see that this mock-up gives us a kind of proof-of-concept and that the author is enthusiastic. I really don't think tired arms will be a problem, as press reports seem to suggest small movements of the wrist are all that's required in most instances (try resting your hands on your lap and changing the orientation of a remote control in your right hand).

[Nimoshi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

I wodnt think it would be totally necessary to move your whole arm. You could just let your arm rest and move your wrist, think about it! Same as holding a controller (almost.)

I imagine it would feel about the same as playing a NDS (While holding it up with one hand).

[Embassy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

man no one is gonna sit there with thier hands in theit lap in an FPS...when u really get into an FPS ur leaning forward and totally fixated on the screen and im sure holding that device out in front of you and moving with the on screen action...which sounds GREAT on paper...until u get cramps and arm/wrist fatigue...

[Fortyseven @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Power Glove was a Mattel creation, not Nintendo.

That aside, who cares? Nintendo is actually making an attempt to do something *new*, instead of the same old crap we've been doing since the mid-90's.

They aren't simply grafting a bigger dick onto their previous generation like Sony and MS are doing.

Because of this, when Sony, MS, and Nintendo release news at the same, Nintendo will have my attention. There's a good chance that out of the three of them, what THEY have to say will spark my imagination.

That's why we're supposedly here -- why we play games.

[vrf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

If KillR0y's arm gets tired after five minutes, then he's a bigger wimp than I thought possible.

Anyhow, that's why the Rev controller is targeted towards non "hard core" gamers. Guys like you couldn't hack it.

Remember, the rest of the world can actually lift a few onces every once in a while.

[bob @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

"Who wants their arm getting tired 5 minutes into a game?"

if you can't hold that controller for 5 minutes without getting tired don't worry, you'll probably have kicked the bucket due to heart/kidney/bowel failure way before the revolution is released.

seriously, if its an effort playing the revolution you probably NEED this.
I doubt it will weigh much, and even if it does some games will need more energetic control methods, others will require less energetic control.
as with all exercise (you may need to look in the dictionary for a definition judging by your comments) as you get used to performing certain exercises your strength and stamina will improve. so maybe you would be able to play 5 minutes before getting tired, but after several months you'd be more like the average person, and capable of continuing play without getting tired for many hours continuous play.

[steve @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Did you not read what the gaming sites thought of the controller when they used it? Most of them (1UP, IGN) started by waving their arms around, but once they got used to it, they were able to rest the controller in their lap akin to conventional controllers and make smaller movements.

[moomer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Hey, don't be too harsh on ye old trusty power glove. Data gloves at the time cost 10's of thousands of dollars, and i think you still can't pick one up for less than a couple of hundred.

Man, I still remember the adds.

"NOW YOU AND THE GAME ARE OOONNEE!"

[blankoboy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Kilr0y pwned =). Everyone beat me to it, lol.
I have tried this controller and I have to say it is quite unique.

I am still not sure how it well it will stack up to keyboard + mouse for FPSes but it is a step up from what MS is offering.....plain ol' gamepad.

Why the fark is MS not supporting keyboard + mouse for Xbox360. This is the one thing keeping me from flopping down some cash on one. I simply refuse to play any FPS with a sad gamepad.

[Crushed @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Well, this thing uses a D-Pad and a Gyration mouse, which works rather differently from an analog stick/"revmote."

The Revolution controller actually detects where at your TV you're pointing; this just converts tilts into mouse movements.

[Ody @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

I actually have a Gyration mouse and the comparison doesnt seem like a good indicator. The movement you make with a gyration mouse is nothing like the Revolution controllers description of movement. The first thing i did when i heard of the Rev controller was to see if i could mimic the movement with the Gyration mouse.

1) you cant make arm movements with the mouse, its intended for wrist movements, small ones at that.
2) it doesnt matter where you point the mouse, the cursor doesnt follow that. so you could be point the mouse straight up at in the air, and the pointer would stil be at the bottom of the screen
3) you have to press the trigger button on the mouse to actually use it in the gyros form. This becomes quite strange feeling when you have to hold down the trigger button and then click the left mouse button.

So my point is that the mouse is quite far from what the Rev controller is expected to be. The Gryation mouse if quite odd to use for gaming (as i've tried and IMO).

If Tsietisin can use this setup and sees that that the Revolution Controller would work quite well with just a lil practice then you should realize after some points i made that the Rev controllers should be quite intuititve as it claims.

just fyi, im quite proficient with the mouse and use it on a daily basis; using the gyration feature quite a bit for meetings and such. I'm quite charmed by the notion with the Rev controller but i think its more because of when i was 4 and i first play mario bros and swung my arms back and forth to make mario move so the goomba wouldnt kill me.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Posted Oct 24, 2005, 4:09 AM ET by Killr0y

This is stupid. Nintendo is well known for creating trash that looks good on paper. Remember the Power Glove? Virtual Boy? R.O.B?

Who wants their arm getting tired 5 minutes into a game? This is nothing more than a niche product akin to the Donky Konga bongo

---------------------------

.. Holy shit, did you just try to compare the STANDARD controller for their new system to two products from the 80's and one failed thing from 10 years ago?

So I guess the d-pad, analog stick, touch screen on the DS.. all niche products/failures.

[Pip @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

All early reports have stated that FPS games are actually far more precise and easier to control than a keyboard & mouse setup with the Nintendo Controller.

This mock up is just that, a mock up.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Just a heads up for anyone wanting to try this. Woot has the gyration set for sale today(10/24). 39.99 with the keyboard as well. Refurbed of course.

[Joe Kovell @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

As much as I love the new controller, I fear what Jack Thompson will think about it. Virtual killing simulators? Bah!

[Psiven @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

The gyration mouse is nothing like the revolution controller. The mouse simpy uses a gyroscope to move a cursor over a 2d plane. The controller uses a gyroscope and a lightsensor to mouse a cursor in a 3d plane. This is poor comparison at best and badly represents the revolution.

The revoution should be much more intuitive than this mucky-hack.

[Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Jack Thompson can go suck a dick. And so can all the 'hardcore' gamers that think MS and Sony are the end-all be-all of gaming. Nintendo has revolutionized the industry over and over again. And the Revolution will be just that.

I'll also agree with those that have a gyro-mouse as well, that it is not an accurate representation or proof-of-concept, though the idea does deserve merit in its own right.

[GlitchCog @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Nintendo is hoping to revolutionize the killing simulator market by actually putting a virtual baseball bat in the hands of the cop killers! This is excellent! Think about how much more prepared we'll all be when we actually have to beat a cop down if we've been training by this new controller.

I, for one, look forward to GTA: Mushroom Kingdom, which should be out in late 2006.

[Killr0y @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

All you defending Nintendo by calling me names prove two things: 1) you're Nintendo fangirls and 2) I hurt your feelings by putting down Nintendo's latest piece of trash.

[Crushed @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

You put down "Nintendo's latest piece of trash" with incorrect information and totally irrelevant analogies.

Not only that, but no one called you a name except for one person, who called you a wimp for making an exaggerated post that conveys, once again, incorrect information.

Finally, when arguing, it helps to keep in mind that not everyone who disagrees with your personal opinion is a fanboy.

[jj @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

PLA LEASE!!!!!!!

this looks like crap. no amount of innovation will help nintendo now. Sony is gonna kick the so called big N's butt come xmas.

[WOV @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Wait. They're going to have an entirely new controller, that takes some real familiarization / calibration, and they're going to be selling at least initially to a lot of fanboys...

...will we be seeing Duck Hunt Revolution on release?

[Cyberclaws @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

/sigh Here comes the Sony Jabronis! Know your role and shut your mouth!

[Swifty @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

I think Nintendo are going well to start something new rather then repeating old stuff =)

[s2 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Precision is going to be an issue, and it's going to be interesting to see how Nintendo deals with it.

[Ombre @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

This really isn't all that amazing, as the Revolution controller uses Gyration technology. A few years ago (either 2002 or 2003), Nintendo signed a deal with Gyration Technologies, and everyone pretty much brushed it off as no big deal.

[domer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Is there a review of the Revolution controller being used in an actual game? I read the reviews at IGN from X05 where the press could use the controller on the little demo apps. As they all said, it gave them an idea of how it COULD be used, but without actual gameplay it's a little premature to pass judgement on it (gimic or legitimate revolution).

Personally, I think it'll be the ideal form of control on about 10% of the games and for the other 90%, you'll use the normal gamepad controller casing (FPS included) for a variety of reasons. But until I actually get to try it, I won't pass judgement on it.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Precision is going to be an issue if you are not good at games. The Nintendo controller has an infrared beam/light gun...so you are not just moving your hand around blindly like this guy.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

It's been used on a Metroid Prime mod and it worked fine...all the big sites reported on it.

[Allen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

If you double click the gyro button on your gyration mouse it stays in gryo mode!

[kojo87 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

"This is stupid. Nintendo is well known for creating trash that looks good on paper. Remember the Power Glove? Virtual Boy? R.O.B?

Killr0y, are you truly this ignorant? not only does the Revolution look good on paper, it works well in game play. read any article about it,(IGN, Gamespot, CNET, etc.) provided that you are witty enough to find them, and then see if you have the guts to show your face here again and back up your comments. listen to the people who have used the thing and know what they're talking about. not just your anti-creativity Sony/MS fanboy buddies.

and did you really think that you were gonna get away with your stupid comments and not have everybody jump all over you?

[some guy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Killr0y has officially been owned.

That is all.

[T.H. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Killr0y, did you realize that most of the controller concepts you take for granted on "standard" controllers today were created by Nintendo? Cross directional control (Nintendo patented), shoulder buttons, analogue stick.

As with any company, Nintendo is not perfect. It has it's fair share of failures but when you're trying to innovate instead of extending your e-digit with a "bigger & faster" mentality you're going to fail some time. Given some of the different concepts that Nintendo has put out, games and technology wise, it's a wonder they have had that many successes.

Sure, they're not top dog anymore but you can't be on top forever. Eventually you're going to get pushed off the mountain. It's amazing how some of Nintendo's 8bit games are still incredibly fun to play. The original Zelda and the original Super Mario Bros are still excellent games.

[pi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

This is air mouse + one hand keybord .

Air mouse. it's don't know movein in moveout or rotation ... It's not 3d capture. Just air mouse.

One hand keybord. don't know analog or able to change layout.

and all that price under 200 ?

I realy like this wire full controler for fps game. It's look like revo's controler

But
it nothing new.

[Nathanael_L @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Nintendo shouldadd a vibrator to the controller. When you get shoot in the game or shoot a friend, the vibrator will shake the controller, and when you�re using a powerful gun, it will be more realistic.
And it wolud be fun to play driving games with it, using the external joystick to controll the camera and holding the controller on the side.

[Nathanael_L @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Nintendo shouldadd a vibrator to the controller. When you get shoot in the game or shoot a friend, the vibrator will shake the controller, and when you�re using a powerful gun, it will be more realistic.
And it wolud be fun to play driving games with it, using the external joystick to controll the camera and holding the controller on the side.

[Nathanael L @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Sorry for spamming...
By the way:
Anybody that has played a shooting game on an arcade machine, with a gun that you hold in your hands?
I have tested this type of arcade games, and with the IR, gyro and the sensors next to the TV-screen, the gyro controller will be even more accurate, assuming you�re IQ are above 5 (if you can read what I�m writing here, don�t worry, you�re IQ is definitly over 20, unless you still are saying that Nintendo sucks.).

Everyone that says that the rev. controller sucks, has now offically been owned.

[Nathanael L @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

A last post:
Have anyone seen the official Resident Evil controller for GameCube?
Then imagine this:
An official sword shaped controller for Zelda, with all buttons and joystick on it.
Imagine a Zelda vs. game in multiplayer with it...

[Nintendo god aka lil - h @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

THATS COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mutantmonkey @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

I magine a lightsaber design...

I just realized; the rev controller will b able to add a dimension to FPS neva seen b4 - u could move the gun aswell as aim... u could stick the gun round the corner or over a wall or even hold it sideways!

This'll b the best console 4 sport!

PS. It has a rumble device, which can b switched off to save power

[Cypher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

I personally wasn't going to buy a revolution at all until they unveiled the controller. I think its a great idea and as long as they can develop the games for it, it'll be great. I consider myself a hardcore gamer, I'm fairly sure now that i'm going to buy every next gen system and I think the price point on the revolution is definitly going to be a plus. As of right now they say its either going to debut at either 99 or 199, I'm leaning towards 199 of course but still thats not a bad price for a next gen console with a sweet controller.

[Cypher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

The only thing i'm really worried about with the system is turning full around in an FPS I mean how the hell are you going to do it is the controller just going to keep moving around when you tilt or what.