Nintendo unveiled the "revolutionary" controller for its Nintendo Revolution on Sept. 15. The controller, unlike any other seen in the gaming industry, will have players moving their wrist muscles instead of pushing buttons to get gameplay objectives reached.
The primary controller for the Revolution is meant to be a one-handed device. It is designed almost exactly like a TV remote, so that it is ergonomically comfortable for the player. The feature Nintendo was most excited about, however, is what Nintendo president Satoru Iwata called a "direct-pointing device," which Nintendo describes as a "sensor at the top of the controller that tracks its position and orientation."
In simpler terms, players will basically be able to manipulate gameplay by physically moving the controller around in their hands.
According to Nintendo, "When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself."
"You could aim your gun in a shooter by simply pointing at your target, steer your car in a racing game by tilting your wrist, or perform a sword slash in The Legend of Zelda by swinging the controller from side to side," Nintendo said.
On the front of the controller is a "Power" button, to power up or off the system, on the top of the remote, a directional pad, the familiar plus sign shape found on most past Nintendo controllers, and a large "A" Button in the spots most accessible to the players' thumbs.
There are also three buttons labeled "Start," "Home" and "Select" in the middle, and "a" and "b" buttons, like those on the Gameboy systems, near the bottom.
The four lights at the very bottom of the controller will be used to indicate which player the controller belongs to. And on the underside of the controller is a "B" trigger for your index finger.
Although all the button choices may seem like a lot of options for gamers to consider, Nintendo says the amount of buttons allow for games from past systems to be better understood and played on the current system.
"Beyond its other innovations, the new controller gives third parties flexibility, allowing them the option to use as many or as few of the controller features as they desire," Nintendo said, "In addition, incorporated technology will easily allow games from the NES, SNES, N64 and Nintendo GameCube generations to be controlled in familiar fashion."
Another unique feature of the controlling system for the Revolution will be the expansion port that allows for other pieces of the controller to be plugged in.
At the conference at the Tokyo Game Show, Iwata demonstrated the second controller piece that players will hold in their other hands. This piece holds the classic Analog stick, introduced in the N64 and carried over to the GameCube, and two additional trigger buttons.
Although there is no doubt that this concept is innovative on the part of Nintendo, some may wonder if it will be easy to make the transition from the feel of traditional two-hand-held controllers to the one-handed model presented by Nintendo.
Nintendo answers these claims by saying, "It will be less intimidating to those who have never played a game, while also offering a fresh experience for veteran gamers."
However gamers choose to respond, Nintendo said this about its new innovation, "The intuitive, pioneering interface allows players to run, jump, spin, slide, shoot, steer, accelerate, bank, dive, kick, throw and score in a way never experienced in the history of gaming."
"The feeling is so natural and real, as soon as players use the controller, their minds will spin with the possibilities of how this will change gaming as we know it today," Iwata said. "This is an extremely exciting innovation +â-óGé¼" one that will thrill current players and entice new ones."
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