Trin
09-19-2005, 10:06 AM
The gaming galaxy according to Trin - Entry 2
or
"Those who don't like the revolution are soulless close minded husks."
This past week was exciting for gaming. With TGS starting, so many gamers were waiting with bated breath for announcements from their favorite companies. Two such announcements were particularly high priority on my list: details on Metal Gear Solid 4, and the final unveiling of the Nintendo Revolution controller.
The revolution has been an oft speculated console, mostly because the intense secrecy surrounding the console's launch library, functions, specs, and most importantly, its control device. While Nintendo had said several times that the Revolution console on the whole would include a number of gaming revolutions, many of the console's biggest features would be included in the controller.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/522/522559/igncubes-nintendo-revolution-faq-20050525023040785-000.jpg
The Revolution console revealed at E3 2005. It was exhibited in six different colors.
When the console was unveiled at E3 2005, many in attendance were disappointed to find that the controller was nowhere to be seen. It seemed it was still being worked on, and until the Xbox360 and PS3 were closer to releasing, Nintendo didn't feel it was financially prudent to reveal it. Finally, this past thursday, during Nintendo's press conference just before the start of the Tokyo Game Show, the revolution controller was finally revealed.
The controller surprised everyone. Speculation had been swarming for months, including a console with changable button configurations, a controller that used a touch screen, and other much wilder ideas. The controller that was revealed, had mixed reception. At first glance, the controller looks like a DVD remote. Exhibiting only two buttons, (A and B), the controller, to some, looked like the last nail in the coffin for the company that brought gaming back from the dead in the early 80's.
What they didn't realize until later, was the controller's actual functionality. It had been speculated for a long time that the revolution controller would use gyroscoping function, but beyond the ability to tilt the controller as an action, no one had any idea what the controller would be capable of. What they were in for was the shock of their life.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/651/651301/revolution-controller-at-a-glance-20050915061313807-000.jpg
The average first reaction: A remote? What the hell?
The controller itself does in fact use gyroscoping technology, but to an effect far past that of what most people had imagined. The game would be able to translate the exact place on the screen the remote points, with startling accuracy, making aiming with it possible. On top of that, the gyroscoping technology is so well implemented, that a game can understand pitch, yaw, roll, movement towards and away from the television, as well as altitude. The controller itself is completely wireless, so freedom of movement could not be any better.
The controller's purpose is to take arbitrary button mapping for a regular controller, and map it to intuitive hand movements. Instead of pressing X to stretch your arm out, B to grab an object, and X to retract the hand, the controller would let the player reach in with the controller using lean in motion, grab with the B trigger button, and drag the object towards the player by pulling back with the controller. To make the experience even more immersive, the controller even includes a rumble function.
Imagine using the controller as a sword, swinging at enemies on screen as Link, cutting them down using your own fighting style, based on the movements of your arms, using the controller as a sword handle. Now, imagine feeling the controller rumble each time you connect with the sword. The inclusion of tactile feedback adds another dimension to the experience. Not only are you able to intuitively interact with the world, there's both visual and tactile feedback that responds to the player, telling them "yes, what you just did has a real effect on the playing environment." The satisfaction one could get from realistic affecting the world in that manner could be immeasurable.
In addition, Nintendo also revealed the analog stick peripheral, which will ship with the controller. The peripheral is a small handle that plugs with a wire into the bottom of the revolution controller. The top of the handle as an analog stick, and two Z buttons (Z1 and Z2) on the front, where the index finger will rest. The peripheral is designed for games like First Person shooters. One demo that Nintendo previewed was Metroid Prime 2 running with revolution controls. The stick was used for movement, while the remote was used for aiming and head movement. From reports of the demo, control was not only intuitive, but also insanely accurate.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/651/651301/revolution-controller-at-a-glance-20050915061319963-000.jpg
The analog stick peripheral and the controller in tandem. Let the gaming sweetness commence.
Sadly, so many people still call the controller Nintendo's swan song. Why? Most people have trouble thinking outside the box. I've heard many people cringe at the sight of the revolution controller, yet practically salivate at the thought of holding the Xbox 360 controller. I'm as much a proponent of refining ergonomics as the next gamer, but the thought of taking a derivative (but admittedly well shaped) controller over an incredibly huge leap in control mechanics saddens me.
Do most gamers really just want the same thing over and over again? Do they really just want the same controller each generation? Have gamers become so scared of change, that we only look forward to sequels of sequels, and even sequels of consoles? I'm not a fanboy, as I inevitably buy every console, but it just saddens me that many gamers have become so afraid of the future, that they aren't willing to play with a controller that doesn't have a handle, 4 face buttons, and at least 4 shoulder buttons. Have we become so stuck in our ways, that we aren't able to understand that gaming needs to evolve and change? Gaming is art, just like writing, painting or sculpting. We can't kid ourselves. If art doesn't evolve, it will die.
The future looks bright, though. Hideo Kojima and other developers have expressed excitement for the controller. many developers see the controller as a definite step in the right direction for the future of gaming. The controller is so vastly different though, that it takes a much different approach to gaming design. I'm eager to see what games are shown at the next trade show. Now that TGS is pretty much over, it's likely the next show for Nintendo to showcase its next game is E3, as Nintendo hasn't actually hosted a Spaceworld (nintendo's exclusive trade show, akin to Microsoft's X03 show) since 2001. Who knows? With the new console on the way, perhaps now is the time to revive the Spaceworld tradition. :)
or
"Those who don't like the revolution are soulless close minded husks."
This past week was exciting for gaming. With TGS starting, so many gamers were waiting with bated breath for announcements from their favorite companies. Two such announcements were particularly high priority on my list: details on Metal Gear Solid 4, and the final unveiling of the Nintendo Revolution controller.
The revolution has been an oft speculated console, mostly because the intense secrecy surrounding the console's launch library, functions, specs, and most importantly, its control device. While Nintendo had said several times that the Revolution console on the whole would include a number of gaming revolutions, many of the console's biggest features would be included in the controller.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/522/522559/igncubes-nintendo-revolution-faq-20050525023040785-000.jpg
The Revolution console revealed at E3 2005. It was exhibited in six different colors.
When the console was unveiled at E3 2005, many in attendance were disappointed to find that the controller was nowhere to be seen. It seemed it was still being worked on, and until the Xbox360 and PS3 were closer to releasing, Nintendo didn't feel it was financially prudent to reveal it. Finally, this past thursday, during Nintendo's press conference just before the start of the Tokyo Game Show, the revolution controller was finally revealed.
The controller surprised everyone. Speculation had been swarming for months, including a console with changable button configurations, a controller that used a touch screen, and other much wilder ideas. The controller that was revealed, had mixed reception. At first glance, the controller looks like a DVD remote. Exhibiting only two buttons, (A and B), the controller, to some, looked like the last nail in the coffin for the company that brought gaming back from the dead in the early 80's.
What they didn't realize until later, was the controller's actual functionality. It had been speculated for a long time that the revolution controller would use gyroscoping function, but beyond the ability to tilt the controller as an action, no one had any idea what the controller would be capable of. What they were in for was the shock of their life.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/651/651301/revolution-controller-at-a-glance-20050915061313807-000.jpg
The average first reaction: A remote? What the hell?
The controller itself does in fact use gyroscoping technology, but to an effect far past that of what most people had imagined. The game would be able to translate the exact place on the screen the remote points, with startling accuracy, making aiming with it possible. On top of that, the gyroscoping technology is so well implemented, that a game can understand pitch, yaw, roll, movement towards and away from the television, as well as altitude. The controller itself is completely wireless, so freedom of movement could not be any better.
The controller's purpose is to take arbitrary button mapping for a regular controller, and map it to intuitive hand movements. Instead of pressing X to stretch your arm out, B to grab an object, and X to retract the hand, the controller would let the player reach in with the controller using lean in motion, grab with the B trigger button, and drag the object towards the player by pulling back with the controller. To make the experience even more immersive, the controller even includes a rumble function.
Imagine using the controller as a sword, swinging at enemies on screen as Link, cutting them down using your own fighting style, based on the movements of your arms, using the controller as a sword handle. Now, imagine feeling the controller rumble each time you connect with the sword. The inclusion of tactile feedback adds another dimension to the experience. Not only are you able to intuitively interact with the world, there's both visual and tactile feedback that responds to the player, telling them "yes, what you just did has a real effect on the playing environment." The satisfaction one could get from realistic affecting the world in that manner could be immeasurable.
In addition, Nintendo also revealed the analog stick peripheral, which will ship with the controller. The peripheral is a small handle that plugs with a wire into the bottom of the revolution controller. The top of the handle as an analog stick, and two Z buttons (Z1 and Z2) on the front, where the index finger will rest. The peripheral is designed for games like First Person shooters. One demo that Nintendo previewed was Metroid Prime 2 running with revolution controls. The stick was used for movement, while the remote was used for aiming and head movement. From reports of the demo, control was not only intuitive, but also insanely accurate.
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/651/651301/revolution-controller-at-a-glance-20050915061319963-000.jpg
The analog stick peripheral and the controller in tandem. Let the gaming sweetness commence.
Sadly, so many people still call the controller Nintendo's swan song. Why? Most people have trouble thinking outside the box. I've heard many people cringe at the sight of the revolution controller, yet practically salivate at the thought of holding the Xbox 360 controller. I'm as much a proponent of refining ergonomics as the next gamer, but the thought of taking a derivative (but admittedly well shaped) controller over an incredibly huge leap in control mechanics saddens me.
Do most gamers really just want the same thing over and over again? Do they really just want the same controller each generation? Have gamers become so scared of change, that we only look forward to sequels of sequels, and even sequels of consoles? I'm not a fanboy, as I inevitably buy every console, but it just saddens me that many gamers have become so afraid of the future, that they aren't willing to play with a controller that doesn't have a handle, 4 face buttons, and at least 4 shoulder buttons. Have we become so stuck in our ways, that we aren't able to understand that gaming needs to evolve and change? Gaming is art, just like writing, painting or sculpting. We can't kid ourselves. If art doesn't evolve, it will die.
The future looks bright, though. Hideo Kojima and other developers have expressed excitement for the controller. many developers see the controller as a definite step in the right direction for the future of gaming. The controller is so vastly different though, that it takes a much different approach to gaming design. I'm eager to see what games are shown at the next trade show. Now that TGS is pretty much over, it's likely the next show for Nintendo to showcase its next game is E3, as Nintendo hasn't actually hosted a Spaceworld (nintendo's exclusive trade show, akin to Microsoft's X03 show) since 2001. Who knows? With the new console on the way, perhaps now is the time to revive the Spaceworld tradition. :)