Delivering the keynote speech yesterday at the annual Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata discussed the new controller for the Nintendo Revolution next-generation gaming console. The one-handed interface looks more like a TV remote than a game controller, but Nintendo is confident that it will revolutionize the gaming experience.
“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 stated. “This is an extremely exciting innovation, one that will thrill current players and entice new ones.”
The new controller is designed to be more intuitive than the traditional, two-handed variety. When pointed at the screen and moved around, the wireless unit relays motion, depth, positioning and targeting information to the console. It also allows for a variety of expansions, including a "nunchuk" style analog unit. And since the Revolution will allow gamers to play titles from the NES, SNES, N64 and Nintendo GameCube generations, the controller promises to bring a new element to the company’s library of classic games.
Nintendo says response from all major publishers worldwide has been extremely positive. The new controller allows third party developers the flexibility to use as many or as few of the controller features as they see fit.
“Game control is essential–it’s the area where perhaps the most gameplay improvement can be made,” says John Schappert, senior VP and general manager of Electronic Arts Canada. “While our portfolio represents a full array of titles across all genres, I think our sports titles might be the first to immediately take advantage of what this novel ‘freehand’ type of control has to offer.”
Nintendo is currently riding high on the phenomenal success of its Nintendogs, a virtual pet title recently released for the Nintendo DS handheld device. The company has sold more than 1.5 million units of the software in Japan and North America. More information on the game and Nintendo in general, go to www.nintendo.com.
Leave a Reply