Nintendo Revolution Controller Revealed

Hands-on the Revolution Controller
We take Nintendo's innovative new peripheral for a joy ride. Find out why it could change the way we play games forever.
by Fran Mirabella and Matt Casamassina

September 15, 2005 - It was a rare opportunity. Yesterday, just outside of Tokyo, Japan, Nintendo invited us to experience the Nintendo Revolution controller for ourselves. Joined only by Shigeru Miyamoto and a few executives, we attended a sort of schooling on the controller, the centerpiece of the Big N's next-generation platform. It has long been speculated on, but now it's actually something tangible that we can understand -- or, try to understand anyway.

For months, years even, we've been hearing Nintendo reiterate that it does not want to be part of the same battle that Sony and Microsoft are deeply entrenched in. However, with a system like GameCube, the comparisons are inevitable. With Revolution and its one-of-a-kind approach to the controller, drawing these parallels just became a lot more difficult. This was an important message from Nintendo in our meeting. It wants to explore uncharted waters, be a blue ocean company, and not find itself sailing the bloody waters where the competition resides.

Revolution guarantees this. The main source of input is nothing short of unexpected and untraditional. It is essentially a wireless, square remote that works something like a computer mouse would in 3D space. Imagine sticking your hand into a virtual box and having your TV understand how it's moving in there. Now you're getting the idea.

Main Controller Features

* 3D Pointing. Sensors understand up, down, left, right, forward and backward.
* Tilt Sensitive. Controller can be rotated or rolled from side-to-side.
* Buttons Included. Has a trigger on its backside, face buttons, and a D-Pad.
* Multifunctional. Has an expansion port which can be used with different types of controller peripherals. Analog stick with two trigger buttons planned for left hand.
* Wireless. Totally wire-free. Currently there are no details on the max distance, source or power, or otherwise.
* Rumble Built-in. Included as a standard in all the controllers.


Images:http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275/imgs_1.html
Video: http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html
Source: http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275p1.html

TOKYO, Sept. 16, 2005 – Every gamer who plays. Every one who used to play. Even those who have yet to play, Nintendo is your bet.

As the cornerstone of his speech today at the Tokyo Game Show’s annual event, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata elaborated on the theme of the company’s aim and proven ability to broaden the population of video game players. Two shining examples highlighted in his keynote include the smash-hit sales of the highly innovative Nintendogs game for the portable Nintendo DS system, and the new controller that will be central to the company’s upcoming console system, code-named Revolution.

Nintendo breaks with more than 20 years of video game history by abandoning the traditional controller held with two hands and introducing an all-new freehand-style unit held with one hand.

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,” explains Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president. “This is an extremely exciting innovation – one that will thrill current players and entice new ones.”

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.

The controller also allows for a variety of expansions, including a “nunchuk” style analog unit offering the enhanced game-play control hard-core gamers demand.

The response from all major publishers worldwide has been extremely positive. 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. In addition, incorporated technology will easily allow games from the NES, SNES, N64 and Nintendo GameCube generations to be controlled in familiar fashion.

Nintendogs for the DS, a virtual and sophisticated dogfest, has taken the gaming world by storm, already selling more than 1.5 million units in Japan and North America combined. The game, just as Iwata believes the Revolution controller will do, is exciting current game players and attracting hordes of new consumers into the playing world.


Source: http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articl...K&page=newsmain

thuper gay!

I mean its a motherfucking remote

omfg look at that shit! This is so stupid, I cant believe nintendo would even think this is okay.

They ripped off tv remotes!

They didn't rip off remotes

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Oh my. Perverted Nintento, fucking with everyone's minds like that.

That controller is butt-ugly

They lost ALOT of supporters when they revealed it.

WOW OMG what the mother fuck are they thinking...........Nintendo what are you doing!?!!?!?!?


I'm not going to school today........I'm in mourning...........

Ok upon reading all the articles......I just can't imanjine that dildo being a good controller. It's okay though because its a brand new thing that just came out, I'm a little confused, I'm a little defensive and scared, afraid of change and innovation of new technology, I wanted something that looks like a sony or microsoft controller so they can compare...etc etc

But I think I will actually buy a revolution to try it out, the people that have used it have said that it feels alot like a mouse like on the pc, and that is really cool, So I expect Nintendo to be releasing a wide variety of pc games on the revolution. I want Real Time Stratgey games, First Person Shooters, and God Games! Don't let me down Nintendo.

Edit: I'm still not going to school though Image file not present in the recovered backup

Sorry for triple post.

Ok rob I edited your post to include this video http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html

Man ok after spending all day checking this thing out I have to say sorry Nintendo for being predjudice about the revolution. Now I think I want this more than any of the other next gen consoles.

My new lineup:
1. PS3
2.Revolution (Once I see some actuall games being played on this my opinion might change.)
3.Xbox 360

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!

LOL BJ watch the video and read some its pretty cool actually.

I think Nintendo will always be the company that moves gaming foward, Instead of Sony and Microsoft who are only trying to make games with the best gfx and systems with the biggest specs.


The way you control games now actually IS broken. We now have technology that can depict almost hyper-naturalistic scenes. The graphical and aural capabilities of these new systems is incredible. However, the way we control these hyper-representational games is so far behind where it should be. Using the standard two analog stick controller is now far more limiting than it should be, it is akin to telling someone where to move instead of actually moving yourself, it is two or three generations removed from what is happening on screen.

example: I want a character to move right. In the current landscape of console control we only have the ability to indirectly influence the action. The character moves right when your thumb moves a joystick to the right, or your character jumps when you press the jump button. You are suggesting what is to happen on screen... although this form of control is very responsive and old hat for many people.

... but if games now have the ability to present an artificial reality that corresponds fairly close to 1:1 with real life (visuals, audio, physics... etc.) then don't you think there should be a new form of control?

If you don't like the Nintendo controller on aesthetical grounds then that is one thing, but the concept is far advanced. If the standard control scheme sticks throughout this generation of consoles... and even in to the next, then the gaming industry will be stuck in creative rut. You have all this ability to create these worlds, but the way you interact with them is archaic and far too rigid.

So, congratulations to Nintendo. If not for the new controller design, then for the actual idea and concept that other developers will be looking at in the future.

When I first saw it I thought it was some joke... But after reading about it and seeing what other people are saying... I think ill like it. After all its called Revolution so maybe it will change everythng.

Only one way to find out and thast to use it and give it a shot. I remember when the N64 came out and everyone complained about it... Now its seen as the best controller of all time....

We will see though

Gayer than corny

I don't think that exist........

I watched the video, and I still think it's stupid. It's gonna get so confusing.

It has TWO A and B buttons.

A while back, I forget who but one of the Nintendo big shots said they wouldn't use A and B.

It also says it's ENTIRELY wireless. Theirs a wire connecting the two pieces

I'm waiting for the PS4.


Controller looks shocking, but as nuggeto says, its in a whole world of its own as far as concept goes.

ps4, damn dude you will be waiting till like 2010

Oh but I want virtual reality now!

That is something I wish I will live to see, a highly advanced VR gaming system.

While the technology Nintendo is useing is not new it is still advanceing the way we play games.

Remember how it is spoused to be able to play classic nes games? yeah well turn the controller on its side and viloa you have the a & b buttons for classic nes gaming.



OMG They changed a & b to x & y what am I going to do!!! Image file not present in the recovered backup

STFU if you don't like change and innovation then go play the Xbox360.........

hahah how gay looks like Nintendo is really going downhill with these things.. like the DS and shit.

Fuck getting a revolution, I don't wanna use a tv remote to fucking play a games console. How ridiculous.

The console looks awesome, but game play will suck campared to PS3 and 360. True, the PS3s controller may look a bit like a boomerang but I'd take that over a tv remote anyday.

Features of the Rev Controller You MIght have missed if you looked at the picture then ran away in fear.

1. Turn the controller on it's side. Now you have an NES controller.
2. Peripherals port allows added buttons like an analog stick.
3. Laser and gyro tracking lets the controller act as a light gun.
4. Laser and gyro tracking lets the controller act as a mouse.
5. Laser and gyro tracking lets the controller act as a fishing rod.
6. Laser and gyro tracking lets the controller act as a sword sim.
7. Laser and gyro tracking lets the controller act as a (you get the idea).
8. Remote is ambidextrous in design, great for righties and lefties.
9. Remote is different from the controllers from SUCCESSFUL and WELL USED systems, and different then other controllers found in this generation.

NES CONTROLLER!!! I was just thinking that. Fuck that! The amount of blisters n painful hands I used to get afer hours of gaming with a plastic rectangular brick sucked ass. Controller edges have to be moulded.